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20-April-1921
''Thanks to the continued research of my colleagues over the last few years and to the studies financed by your State… I must say that great advances have been made in the study of polymers. Focusing a good part of the research in these facilities on that area shows that we are on the right path'' said the chemist Friedrich Hofmann, looking extremely pleased as he began showing me his work.
''No flattery, Hofmann. Remember that the budget and facilities you were given will be everything you receive this year'' I said with a slight smile.
''He, he, it is not flattery, mein Herzog, it is reality. My colleagues have spent almost four years carrying out continuous research in these petrochemical facilities, studying the elastic and tensile characteristics of numerous materials, something that has helped my own research immensely. I must say that some of these discoveries would be greatly appreciated if they were published before the scientific societies. I am certain they could begin a new era of investment in this field'' Hofmann said while continuing to walk.
''Yes, but a good part of this research falls under military technology and, therefore, cannot be distributed until it is considered obsolete. The improvements in polymers are being used mainly to produce defensive equipment for the infantry, such as polyamides, which have shown an enormous improvement when it comes to stopping shots. And although we still have a very long way to improve, I am looking for even stronger and more durable polymers that can be used to improve soldiers' armor'' I said while walking behind the scientist, listening to the boots of my guards echoing behind us.
''Yes, I am aware of my colleagues' research. Ignoring, of course, the fact that there are some complaints about several of the scientists here remaining against their will while carrying out these investigations, he, he'' the chemist said as he kept walking.
''They are nothing more than irrational complaints from that group of researchers. They have direct orders from the Kaiser to remain here until I decide that their participation in the research has ended. Their families have been resettled in some of the local villages and live perfectly well, but even so, those men believe they should return to Germany, taking with them their abilities and, above all, all the knowledge they have acquired during these years of study. I have no intention of allowing such costly research to end up in the hands of those who have invested absolutely nothing in it'' I replied while shaking my head, remembering that, in practice, some of those chemists were practically prisoners because they wished to return to Germany.
''Leaving that aside, my own research continues to advance. After leaving behind my former employer, we have achieved considerable progress in what you pointed out to us and, in fact, now we are advancing much faster, since here I have at my disposal numerous facilities that I previously lacked. We have advanced enormously in producing butadiene from petroleum, so we have also taken great steps in the creation of synthetic rubber, far surpassing the methyl rubber we managed to produce during the war'' Hofmann said while stopping and pointing toward the area where they were working on the production of synthetic rubber.
''I know that properly made synthetic rubber can far surpass many of the characteristics of natural rubber, especially by following the research branch we have. But I need to know when we will have a prototype formula that will allow us to begin mass production of rubber'' I asked while looking with satisfaction at the enormous chemical progress we had achieved thanks to one of the earliest investments I had made.
''Considering our discoveries, we should be close to being able to deliver a chemical formula and a synthetic rubber production method that are reliable enough and that, of course, meet the durability conditions you demand. I would say that by the end of the year we should already have a formula, but I hope you understand that sometimes the desired advances are not achieved even when we do everything possible to continue'' Hofmann said while smiling widely.
''Yes, I understand. It is just that this is a very important project for the continuation of our work, so make sure everything continues as it has until now and, as soon as you are certain you can give me a satisfactory chemical formulation and an idea of what will be necessary to build an enormous petrochemical plant dedicated to rubber, inform me. The funds have already been allocated for when that moment arrives'' I said while nodding.
''I understand… Then, mein Herzog, if you allow me, I will return to my work. There are some experiments I would like to be present for so I can give my opinion on them'' said the chemist, who soon withdrew after saying goodbye and entered the testing area, where it seemed they were studying whether the synthetic rubber met the characteristics I had requested.
''Well, we are finished here. I will review a few more works and with that we will return to Riga'' I said while looking at my guards and beginning to review the projects more focused on producing something we already knew: the polymers that were trying to approach the characteristics of Kevlar, which remained one of the most important works of that petrochemical plant.
After approximately an hour of reviews and observing different projects, we returned to Riga by train. It did not take me long to return to the palace to continue working.
''You are back, finally'' Manstein said, as he was reviewing multiple books together with some of his officers, who seemed to already be thinking about what they would spend the budget I had given them for their research on.
''Yes. It seems the chemist I brought is advancing in great strides with his research into synthetic rubber. It is likely that by the end of the year we will be able to begin mass production, also taking advantage of a good part of our polymer research. It seems we will begin to harvest the fruits much sooner than I expected'' I replied, quite pleased, while taking off my coat and leaving it on a coat rack.
''And why do you want to research synthetic rubber so much? It is an enormous expense, especially because natural rubber prices have not stopped falling since the war ended. The overproduction our enemies have had has been very noticeable, and the price of rubber has fallen considerably compared with what it cost barely two years ago'' Manstein said while staring at me and taking another book.
''Yes, if we consider only the current price of natural rubber, all this investment seems quite stupid. But you only have to remember that a good part of the world supply is in the hands of three countries, and none of those countries are us or Germany. That means that, if we want to expand any industry dependent on natural rubber, we will have to depend on them. And if they discover that some of our operations are financed with our money, well… things could get quite ugly and they could completely block our access to the British market and that of their allies. Especially if one day they decide to impose a complete blockade. But the most important thing is that this forms part of our strategy of constant pressure against the British'' I said while looking at Alexander, who had just brought me several books I had to review.
''Such as?'' Manstein asked while tilting his head slightly.
''If we manage to produce synthetic rubber and offer it in European markets at a lower price than British rubber, we will begin pushing them out of part of the market. That will make a portion of their investments in rubber plantations start going to shit and leave hundreds of thousands of workers and small producers tied to those plantations with a product worth much less than before. That reduces British income and, at the same time, forces them to look for new ways to economically sustain their colonies now that one of their products no longer provides them with the same profits. With that, we attack one of their sources of income and, in addition, cover the second problem that is now appearing'' I said while clenching my teeth as I saw that, once again, the price of oil had fallen.
''Oil, right? I had heard Alexander talk about that'' Manstein said while handing some books to his officers, who soon withdrew.
''Indeed, Generalfeldmarschall. Oil has fallen again and it seems it will be a trend that will continue in the future. The Russians control Baku again and have begun extracting oil like never before. It is likely that the Baku wells will quickly return to their historical highs and, in addition, the general increase in the wells being exploited is causing a considerable fall in the price of oil'' Alexander explained.
''Then that makes our investments in the Ottoman Empire also… a disaster, it seems. A great deal of money was invested there and this very year we sent even more funds to the company to continue building extraction wells. Would it not be convenient to withdraw part of those investments?'' Manstein asked, seeming thoughtful about the latest investments we had made.
''No, it would not be convenient. It is better to take advantage of cheap oil to produce things through petrochemistry. The lower the prices of our raw material, the cheaper we can manufacture many of our products. Besides, the greater the productive capacity in our hands, the greater our ability to contain British commercial influence within Europe. After all, our strategy consists precisely of offering raw materials and basic but important products to the European market. We have to keep pressuring the British in every possible way'' I replied while reviewing some of the books Alexander had left in front of me.
''If we manage to negotiate for them to lift that thirty-three percent tariff the British imposed through the Safeguarding of Industries Act, then we could begin thinking even of competing directly against some of their national industries. But, for the moment, our ability to hurt them lies mainly in attacking their commercial links and taking markets from them on the continent'' I added.
''Speaking precisely of that, we have the latest report from our diplomats. It seems new advances have been made in the mission to secure more trade contracts'' Alexander said while straightening slightly.
''Summary?'' I asked thoughtfully.
''New trade agreement with Poland. They have agreed to buy canned products, butter, flour and other similar goods. They finally have a new government that seems relatively stable and, apparently, they are willing to forget that we invaded them not too long ago if that gives them agreements that are also beneficial to them'' Alexander replied while beginning to review his notebook.
''We have also renegotiated all contracts with Germany and unified the agreements we previously maintained separately with Austria. Now we have practically the same commercial conditions throughout German territory. The situation has stabilized somewhat and, in addition, we have received several thousand tractor orders intended to encourage the modernization of German agriculture''.
Alexander turned a page before continuing.
''Hungary has requested an increase in its tractor purchases and offered to expand our list of tariff-free products to include wine between both States. With Bosnia and Croatia, new contracts were signed to sell trucks and railway material destined for the Balkan States. In Bulgaria there is nothing new; all existing agreements remain unchanged''.
''We are also negotiating with Switzerland the sale of coal and oil while looking for more buyers for our raw materials. With Belgium, we continue buying Flemish rabbits to use on the communal farms, expanding their reproduction even further to increase the amount of meat available to the population''.
He continued reading for a few seconds.
''The negotiations with the Kingdom of Italy failed and, according to our reports, talks for a union between the two Italian States are advancing, so there is a considerable possibility that Italy will soon be reunified. France rejected any trade agreement between our States and seems to intend to impose severe tariffs on our products within its domestic market''.
''Negotiations have also begun with the Spanish and Portuguese to reduce some tariffs on certain of our products. In addition, the Spanish State is facilitating documentation for us on the population that has continued arriving in the Duchy during the last few months'' Alexander continued while going over our foreign trade policy.
''Denmark, Sweden and Norway are negotiating agreements to sell us part of their fish catches and use our broad industrial capacity to process and can them, with the intention that a good part of those products will later be sold back in their own markets. And finally there is the treaty with the Ottomans, but you directed that one personally, so you know its conditions perfectly''.
Alexander finally closed his notebook.
''Other than that, there is not much more to report regarding important changes. Everything seems to remain within our expectations''.
''And what about the latest advances in the pressure policy?'' I asked while looking at Manstein.
''In Ireland, the saboteurs have already withdrawn and preparations are being made. Those men will return to the Duchy and train a regiment in sabotage and infiltration for future missions. A scientific mission has already been sent to Africa with British approval to study local diseases and develop some medicines and vaccines that will allow our forces to operate better in the area. The troops in the Middle East are still acclimatizing before beginning their operations against British oil interests in Persia. What has happened is that, let us say, some British prospectors who were traveling through Ottoman territory studying possible exploitation zones have disappeared without leaving a trace, so we are gaining some time against the British so ours can establish all the extraction centers necessary'' Manstein said, seeming to know the report practically by heart.
''And in the United States, everything seems to be going well. For now, they are focusing mainly on settling the espionage and sabotage cell and it may soon begin, to a greater extent, to become a headache for the local administration'' Manstein finished.
''Good. It seems that, despite the bad side of some considerable price drops, our plans are going quite well. Let us hope the Irish achieve something with their rebellion, but we will no longer help them further. We obtained the information and experience we were looking for; now we have to use our resources to apply pressure in other areas. Continue as you have until now'' I said while looking at the two of them.
I let out a small sigh before focusing again on the documents in front of me.
''Well… time to keep working on our response to the shortage of rain.''
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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