Chapter 99: Befriending Skoda
Currently, all the conditions discussed between Lelouch and Undersecretary Stephen Briain are still just a private draft with no legal effect.
At best, it counts as an unsigned secret negotiation memorandum; it will only be binding after consultation and approval from Baria and Duke Rupprecht.
Of course, the matter isn’t complicated enough to require approval from the Germania Emperor. Because the Germania Empire sending troops to reinforce its ally Austria—this major direction has already been finalized by the Emperor and Parliament. Dispatching troops mainly from the Baria Faction to reinforce Austria is also settled.
The subsequent differences are only in details like “how many troops Baria will send, and how the troops’ use and deployment will be specifically allocated,” all within Duke Rupprecht’s personal discretion.
After negotiations were settled, Lelouch took Briain’s requirements and prepared to take the train back to Germania.
Ferdinand Porsche, having received Lelouch’s guidance, focused intently on seclusion, tinkering with his “diesel engine powered half-track tractor” design.
Porsche had already invested several months in the high-power heavy artillery tractor beforehand, so the vehicle body structure and other design drafts were mostly complete. This time, it wasn’t starting from scratch, just a major blueprint revision, so it wouldn’t take much time.
Porsche estimated himself that the new design could be completed within two months, with samples trial-produced, and within three months, a small batch trial run of dozens of vehicles.
Finally, before formally leaving Austria, people from Skoda Company, under Porsche’s matchmaking, sent several relevant persons in charge, all coming to Vienna for a banquet and a brief meeting with Lelouch; everyone got familiar faces.
At the banquet, Lelouch was also very enthusiastic, giving heavy gifts to numerous technical and business persons in charge at Skoda, to build good relations.
In just one evening, three guests left a deep impression on Lelouch.
First was Skoda’s naval equipment research and development department head, Virgil Pope. This man was responsible for planning Austria Navy’s artillery technical requirements; it was he who initially proposed the triple main gun turret on the “United Forces class” battleship.
Triple main turret isn’t that easy to achieve.
Even without considering later far-range accuracy issues, artillery shell shockwave and turbulence interference issues.
Before 1910, the world couldn’t even solve the triple main turret’s muzzle blast problem, or how the three barrels independently elevate. These two key problems were exactly what Virgil Pope overcame.
Virgil Pope specially designed a “cradle-style” gun carriage structure for the three barrels to independently elevate; he also adjusted the turret structure, planning new muzzle flame diversion and pressure relief paths—showing he wasn’t just a technocrat who sets targets and makes requirements, but someone who could really guide overcoming specific technical difficulties.
Besides Virgil Pope, another technical expert Lelouch befriended was named Otto von Gruler; he was Skoda’s veteran artillery engineer, with even more seniority, but not very knowledgeable about naval affairs; he started with land cannons.
After Virgil Pope solved the structural issues of the triple naval main turret, the design and production of the remaining new barrels were handed to Otto Gruler; the two had been old colleagues collaborating across departments for years.
The last guest Lelouch met wasn’t any technical big shot, just a playboy named Kurt Wittgenstein, an Austrian Army artillery captain.
This man was born in the 80s, in 1883, nine years older than Lelouch; now 32 and still just an artillery captain, clearly not a serious career soldier, but drafted halfway after the war broke out.
However, for someone just enlisted half a year to serve as captain and artillery company commander, he must have family backing—this Kurt Wittgenstein’s father, Karl Wittgenstein, was once Austria’s Steel King, owner of the Bohemia steel mill.
Fifteen years ago, when old Karl retired, realizing his sons weren’t business material, he took the opportunity of the Austria Defense Ministry leading the establishment of “Austro-Hungarian United Steel Company” to sell the Bohemia steel mill, convert to cash and transfer it to neighboring Switzerland. But he still had quite a few companies in Austria, holding some equity, establishing a trust.
When the Wittgenstein family sold the steel mill back then, the Austrian government couldn’t come up with that much money at once; it relied on Austria Trust Bank finding Rothschild Vienna branch for financing and subscription.
A few years later, Skoda grew further and received state-owned shares injected by the Austrian government; Skoda then merged Austro-Hungarian United Steel Company.
When the Wittgenstein family sold their steel mill, they only gave up control but retained a small amount of equity unsold, becoming minority shareholders who only get dividends without participating in operational decisions.
During Skoda’s merger, their shares were naturally exchanged for shares in the new parent company Skoda; so, the Wittgenstein Steel King family remains, to this day, an insignificant minority shareholder of Skoda.
Precisely because the family holds shareholder status in Skoda, Austria’s cannon-making king, after the war broke out, Kurt, wanting to join the military, quickly got promoted to captain and artillery company commander after brief military training and troop break-in.
In reality, this guy is just a rich kid escaping real life in the army.
Considering the Wittgenstein family originated as Steel Kings and has certain equity ties to Skoda, Lelouch also spared some effort to befriend Kurt well, even mentioning that if he later gets into steel mills or cannon-making, they could deepen cooperation with the Skoda faction.
Kurt also hit it off with Lelouch at first sight, chatting happily over drinks; whatever Lelouch suggested, he patted his chest and boldly promised to take the lead.
The Wittgenstein family in Austria has plenty else, but wide connections.
Seeing the Wittgenstein family agree so readily, Virgil Pope and Otto von Gruler naturally followed suit, saying that if Lelouch later really gets into steelmaking or cannon-making, everyone could exchange notes and share technology.
Skoda’s triple main turret structure and muzzle blast management technology could be exchanged with Germanian advanced metallurgical technology.
Finally, the banquet ended with host and guests all delighted, cooperation a win-win. One night passed uneventfully; the next day, Lelouch boarded the train, finally heading home.
Austria’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Briain, was still very courteous, personally seeing him off to Vienna train station; before parting, there wasn’t really any business to discuss, since everything was settled.
Briain just, in a personal capacity, reminded him: “Colonel Lelouch, I’m afraid you’re not familiar with Vienna’s circles and don’t know some playboy situations. When cooperating with Mr. Wittgenstein, you still need to be careful.”
Lelouch was initially puzzled, then Briain hinted:
That Kurt guy seems to have some orientation issues. His reason for enlisting as a Steel King family playboy, instead of enjoying a life of wine and women, isn’t just patriotism. With their family’s power, dodging military service would be too easy.
Kurt is 33 and still unmarried, precisely afraid of staying home idle and being forced into marriage by family; enlisting avoids that hassle.
Hearing this, Lelouch felt a chill; no wonder the other agreed to all his suggestions without thinking—turns out it’s because he is too handsome. Better keep distance from such people.
In the future, only talk cooperation, only exchange interests and military merit, but absolutely cut off personal friendship.
“Thank you for the reminder, Undersecretary Briain; I’ll be careful. Farewell.”
Lelouch finally waved in thanks; the train attendant closed the door, and the train rumbled away from Vienna.
……
One day later, Lelouch first arrived in Munich.
Originally, on this return trip, there was no need to linger in Munich; per agreement with Minister Baden, he should go straight to Berlin to report for new duties.
But Undersecretary Briain’s matter intervened, forcing Lelouch to temporarily adjust his itinerary. Extra two days to report to and convince Duke Rupprecht to agree to deeper military cooperation with Austria.
After arriving in Munich, Lelouch first took his family to Schwangau town, over 50 kilometers southwest of Munich, checking into a lakeside villa in the town.
Schwangau town is where Neuschwanstein Castle is located; the royal castle sits on the mountaintop south of the town, while the town is at the foot of the mountain.
North of the town is a snow lake common in the Alps, with four months of ice-covered surface each year, even allowing ice skating and skiing on the lake.
The Baria Royal Family has much real estate in the town; since Lelouch gained the duke’s favor, the duke granted him a snow lake villa as residence during his Munich stay.
Rural land isn’t expensive; the villa with a small garden pasture totals just worth tens of thousands of marks, already pocket change for current Lelouch.
After settling the family, out of courtesy, Lelouch still instructed his sister and brother-in-law: “Tomorrow I’ll go to Neuschwanstein Castle to see Duke Rupprecht; the royal family might have ladies attending, so I won’t bring you.
You rest here for two days, then go with me to Berlin, back to the Western Front to take post and take over the steel mill. Tomorrow I’ll only bring Nanalie to the royal gathering; the duke’s eldest daughter is about Nanalie’s age, they might get along.”
Sister Cornelia was very understanding, immediately saying no problem: “We didn’t want to see the duke or crown prince anyway; skating and ice skating here is great.
Didn’t expect skiing possible even in March; the Alps environment is just better than big cities like Vienna.”
Cornelia said so, but still handled things; that evening, she personally helped her little sister pack, trying to pile on all the luxury goods and haute couture bought in Vienna.
Lest her sister, going as guest tomorrow, be outshone too much by the crown prince family’s little princess.
The next day, March 12, afternoon. Lelouch took Nanalie to visit the duke’s home, to report on military and national important matters.
