Chapter 229: Full Speed Ahead
Trieste.
As June arrives, ship after ship of grain from East Africa begins unloading at the docks of Trieste's port. Then, by a dedicated rail line, it is sent to the Vienna Food Company's factory on the outskirts of Trieste.
"Everyone, work harder for these next two months. We need to raise output by sixty percent," the supervisor says, standing in the factory.
It is already dark, but electric lights illuminate the entire building, and day and night shifts alternate smoothly.
With summer's heat, the ovens make the air even hotter, filling every corner of the plant with sweltering temperatures.
"Francis, keep feeding coal to the boiler."
"Mars, organize people to get the finished products out of the oven at once, let them cool, then package them."
"Larry, clear out the warehouse for me, and keep it dry."
…
Meanwhile, all Hechingen-owned factories in German lands are also boosting production, especially in military goods, grain processing, and alcoholic beverages. Even the factory that used to produce cheap East African militia uniforms is now mass-producing knockoff Prussian uniforms—stockpiling them for delivery two months later.
Prussia is eager to wage war on France, especially Bismarck and the Prussian generals with their bold ambitions. The Franco-Prussian War is unavoidable, spurred on by gambler-like attitudes. The Ems Dispatch incident—where Bismarck revised King Wilhelm I's note to Napoleon III—fueled French anger, igniting war. If something like that happened in East Africa, Ernst would shut down that "self-important" official—like a typical autocratic approach. Yet it's Prussia's internal matter, and Bismarck's moves only reflect the entire Prussian leadership's will. So war is inevitable. Plus, Emperor Napoleon III's overconfidence helps.
In the previous timeline, Prussia gathered nearly a million troops to fight, all young men abruptly drafted, which strained that year's autumn harvest. Ernst, seeing a chance, decided East Africa could fill that gap and find more buyers for its goods. The Franco-Prussian War happened fast, with both sides insufficiently prepared, but post-reform Prussia had an effective mobilization system and efficient railroads, giving it an edge. Summoning a million troops vastly improved its odds, but the supply burden grew. That's where the Hechingen Consortium, with plenty of stock, could sell its goods to Prussia's army. They wouldn't even have to raise prices—just sell at normal rates. As long as, two months from now, they had the inventory when the army started procurement, they'd profit.
Relying on East Africa's and Austria-Hungary's huge raw materials—and two newly completed integrated grain-processing zones—Hechingen's costs stay minimal. A half-year war also boosts related sectors, perfect for making war profits. In the end, Prussia, if victorious, can recoup losses from France, so any industrial or agricultural damage from the conflict can be ignored.
…
"Your Highness, we've developed the compressed biscuit rations as you requested. But East Africa's flour tastes a bit rough, so to make it palatable, we added crushed corn and ghee. That makes it more fragrant, yet who knows if it will sell?"
"As long as it's edible. Mainly it needs to be portable, have a long shelf life, and taste better if possible."
Ernst picked up a piece to sample.
"Mm, not bad, though a bit light on salt."
"Too salty wouldn't help the army. Salt is easy to carry and doesn't take much space."
"Right. So how's the packaging?"
"We wrap them in oiled paper, then put them in a wooden box with desiccant. The box can be reused and is easy to stack on trains for shipping to the front."
"Excellent. How about your other products?"
"Over here we have our latest ready-to-eat items, mostly meat-based, lasting six months or so."
"What's in this can?"
"Beef stew with potatoes—one can feeds a squad for a meal. Open it with a can-opener to find beef, potatoes, and beef fat. Smells nice, no heating needed."
"And that one?"
"That's green peas with ham."
"How's the cost?"
"Don't worry, we're using lots of scrap meat and trimmings. Prices won't be high."
Then Ernst examined the liquor production.
"Cheapest 'Horseman' vodka is what we want. Low cost and high alcohol content—that's the best selling point. Out on the battlefield, soldiers drink what the quartermaster buys; cheap liquor keeps the army happy with strong potency."
"Right. We'll also produce more of the 'Green Lime' soda. Sugary drinks can be extremely tempting to soldiers. Especially in July and August, it's summer, so that refreshing lime taste will please them."
"True, but I doubt it'll beat liquor or coffee in popularity," a sales manager said.
"It's only starting to shine in summer. Last year we launched it near summer's end, so we didn't see much effect. But these two months, sales have soared, and the iced version is a huge hit," a department head added.
"All right, keep it up. Focus on convenience, flavor, and value in our foods."
"Yes, Your Highness. Our R&D team will keep working to meet consumers' needs, providing good, cheap products."
"Also, advertise more. Pay attention to public opinion so we're not smeared. Industrial foods may be cheap and convenient, but people might not trust them—especially housewives, who can be picky. We should emphasize their nutrition."
Though Ernst said that, in the next few months they'd mainly supply the Franco-Prussian War. He was even considering how to supply France so he could profit from both sides.
Selling to France meant setting things up early: create a shell company in France, rent some warehouses, then once the French mobilized, use friendly French nobles as contacts. Yes, it sounded workable. Ernst planned to consider it thoroughly when he got back.
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