Chapter 46: Agricultural factory
By December, Diesel had finally managed to enhance the reliability of his two-cylinder, 30-horsepower diesel engine. Intrigued by the progress, Edel, the crown prince, paid another visit to assess the development. Despite his high hopes and even considering the possibility of allocating funds from Volkswagen to support the project, he realized that with the ongoing development of 3-5 ton vehicles, the financial strain was too significant. Reluctantly, he concluded that he would need to wait a bit longer due to the excessive expenditures already committed.
It wasn't until March of the following year that Carust, who was responsible for speculative investments in rubber, brought some much-needed good news to the crown prince, allowing him to resume his ambitious construction projects. "Your Highness, our operatives have begun to withdraw the investments. The first batch of funds, amounting to 1.57 million pounds, has been successfully transferred to our account after several transactions," reported a weary and gaunt-looking Carust in Edel's office.
"You have done a commendable job, Carust. The team will be rewarded upon their return to Romania, but you have truly outdone yourself," Edel responded, acknowledging and expressing his gratitude for his Chief Guard's diligent efforts.
"It's all for the good of Romania, Your Highness. It hasn't been hard," Carust replied, reassured that his efforts were worthwhile.
After discussing the rubber market and dismissing his chief guard, Edel returned to his desk, contemplating the well-being of his loyal servant. He considered arranging a joyful marriage and a vacation for Carust upon completing his mission, as a token of the royal family's appreciation. With this thought in mind, Edel penned a note to his mother, Queen Elizabeth, detailing his intentions.
Once that matter was settled, Edel turned his attention to the allocation of the newly acquired funds. The first priority was to settle the outstanding payment for the construction of a power plant, as Siemens had recently issued a reminder. Another pressing need was to establish a diesel engine factory to commence the production of Diesel's invention. He was painfully aware that the utilization of agricultural machinery in Romania was woefully inadequate, with only 3.1 units per thousand people—a stark contrast to the figures in Russia, Austria-Hungary, and certainly far behind Western Europe and the United States.
Reflecting on these financial commitments, Edel lamented internally about the swift disappearance of funds. Managing a country's economy, he mused, was akin to playing a complex strategy game—a game that was proving to be quite challenging.
After some contemplation, Edel summoned General Manager Minoba of the Volkswagen factory via telegram, instructing him to prepare for the construction of an agricultural machinery factory in Romania. He even considered naming it "Dongfanghong Tractor Factory," but opted for a more locally resonant name, "Ploiesti Machinery Plant," which would specialize in agricultural machinery production.
The following day, after a prompt train journey, Minoba stood before Edel, inquiring about the purpose of his urgent summons. "Your Highness, may I know the reason you have called for me?"
"Minoba, Dr. Diesel has developed a new diesel engine. I plan to install this engine in agricultural machinery to address the scarcity of such equipment in the Romanian countryside. We need to establish a new factory for this purpose. Given your expertise, what do you think of this plan?" Edel explained.
Minoba, understanding the implications, acknowledged the strategic importance of the new factory, especially since Volkswagen's current scale in Romania was substantial, with over 30,000 employees and nearly 90,000 factory spaces.
He inquired further about the diesel engine's performance, and after Edel provided detailed statistics along with the pros and cons, Minoba pondered the information thoughtfully. Edel patiently awaited his expert opinion.
"This is indeed a promising use of the diesel engine's capabilities," Minoba began, affirming the crown prince's idea but also expressing a concern about the potential high cost of such advanced agricultural machinery.
Edel addressed this concern by suggesting a modular approach where the tractors could be equipped with detachable carriages for various agricultural tasks, thereby enhancing their utility and cost-effectiveness. He also hinted at a financing strategy that involved installment payments, which he believed would facilitate broader accessibility.
Minoba, convinced by the crown prince's thoughtful strategies, supported the idea enthusiastically. "Your Highness, this could indeed drive significant sales not only in Romania but across Europe. It's a very promising product."
Pleased with Minoba's support, Edel disclosed his primary reason for the meeting: "Minoba, upon completion of the new machinery plant, I would like Volkswagen to deploy staff to support this venture."
"Of course, Your Highness. I will arrange for three thousand of our best to aid in the establishment of the new enterprise," Minoba agreed without hesitation.
After Minoba returned to Volkswagen in Constanta to begin preparations, Edel contacted the Ploiesti government to initiate the groundwork for the new factory. The equipment, similar to that used by Volkswagen, would be sourced from Germany.
Construction of the new factory on the outskirts of Ploiesti commenced in early April. Edel invested 370,000 pounds initially, with an additional 250,000 pounds lined up from the proceeds of the rubber investment. The plan projected that the Ploiesti Machinery Plant would be completed in seven months, with an additional month for commissioning the equipment, aiming for an annual output of 40,000 diesel engines and 20,000 tractors.
With this new venture, Edel was confident that the European agricultural machinery market was poised for a significant shakeup, heralding another profitable venture under his strategic leadership.
In the grand scheme of the automobile industry, the dissatisfaction with the soaring rubber prices had been brewing for a while. Henry Ford, along with other European and American automobile manufacturers, had long expressed their discontent. It was only a matter of time before they took a stand. On the 12th, all the major players in the auto industry publicly announced their frustration with the rubber prices and their plans to explore alternatives. This collective stance caused the rubber prices to plummet, resulting in a massive financial upheaval where speculative funds evaporated, culminating in a total loss exceeding 55 million taels of silver, an increase of 10 million taels over what history had recorded. The Romanian royal family, having invested heavily, bore the brunt of this financial debacle, losing nearly 3% of the 15.8 million taels of silver they had put in.
In his office, Edel, the crown prince, addressed his slender bodyguard, Carust. "You've truly outdone yourself this time, Carust. Everyone involved in this operation deserves recognition."
"Your Highness, what do you think would be an appropriate reward?" Carust inquired, noting the prince's slight discomfort. Striking a balance between showing gratitude and managing the financial implications was no easy task.
Carust, observing Edel's hesitation, suggested, "Perhaps a modest financial reward complemented by honorary titles could suffice."
Edel found this proposal sensible. After some contemplation, he decided to award the frontline operatives with the Royal Knight Medals and a bonus of 100,000 lei each. Other involved personnel would receive royal medals with a reward of 60,000 lei. These honors were established by King Carol I in 1891, on the 10th anniversary of Romania's elevation to a kingdom, to recognize military and civic contributions to the Hohenzollern family.
Once the decision was made, Carust arranged for the personnel to receive their medals and bonuses upon their return to Romania.
A month and a half later, Fei Lei De Lisi and his companions took a circuitous route back to Constanta aboard the Bambruno ship. The sight of the familiar Romanian landscape stirred a mix of emotions in them, compounded by over a year of being abroad. Upon their arrival in the United States, they had resumed using their real names and had formally introduced themselves to one another. Felidrich learned that Stocker, the man in charge of their funds, was actually named Anskell, a decade-long servant of the royal family from Ubak County. This was his first speculative venture. Felix, whose real name was Biseacou, hailed from the port they had just arrived at and had joined the guard three years prior.
As they disembarked, Biseacou extended an invitation. "Once you're on my turf, we must celebrate properly. My family owns a lovely manor on the outskirts. You must try my mother's homemade cheese bread and prosciutto."
"Don't worry, Ansker and I will definitely come and sample your mother's cooking," Felidrich responded, affirming the plan on behalf of Ansker as well.
"That's settled then," Biseacou smiled, pleased with the arrangement.
"We'll definitely be there," Ansker added, just as a voice interrupted their plans.
"Gentlemen, I hate to break up the conversation, but the chief guard awaits your presence in Bucharest," a young man informed them.
"Tucaster, I didn't expect you to be the one to come get us," Biseacou expressed his surprise.
"Yes, I requested to pick you up. Are you touched?" Tucaster said, stepping forward to embrace his friend.
After the reunion, Biseacou introduced Tucaster to Felidrich and Anskell. "We've been friends since childhood and joined the guards together," Tucaster explained.
"Let's not keep the chief guard waiting then," Felidrich suggested, and without further delay, they took the day's train to Bucharest, arriving by evening. On the journey, Tucaster shared that they would receive the Royal Knights Medal and a bonus of 100,000 lei each for their successful involvement in the operation.
The three men were more intrigued by the medals than the monetary reward. They had spent lavishly in the vibrant Shanghai, and now the prospect of receiving a medal, a lasting symbol of their endeavor, appealed greatly to them. They imagined sharing stories of their exploits with future generations, medals in hand.
After a night's rest in Bucharest, Carust met with them early the next morning. He commended them for their significant contributions and handed each a thick envelope containing their bonuses. "This may not be a fortune, but it represents the kingdom's appreciation. Remember, Romania's industrial advancement requires collective effort," Carust explained.
Feidlisi, curious, asked, "When will we receive our medals?"
Carust, smiling at his eagerness, replied, "Tomorrow, at the palace. His Royal Highness himself will bestow them upon you. It's an honor you've truly earned."
The next day, dressed in their newly issued uniforms, the trio, along with other operatives, gathered at the palace. At precisely nine o'clock, they were ushered into the grand hall by a palace guard. As they lined up, the crown prince, accompanied by Edel and two guards bearing trays of medal boxes, began the ceremony.
Edel expressed his gratitude and satisfaction with the operation, emphasizing the royal family's commitment to Romania's future strength. He then proceeded to award the medals, personally affixing each to the recipients in the first row, offering words of thanks and encouragement. When it was Felidrich's turn, Edel specifically acknowledged his significant role, much to the envy and admiration of the others.
After the ceremony, as the crowd dispersed, Carust pulled Feidlisi aside, asking if he was willing to continue serving the royal family. "Of course," Feidlisi replied, eager for future missions.
Celebrations followed, with Biseacou inviting his friends to his family's manor, promising a feast. The three friends, bonded through shared experiences and now honored as heroes, looked forward to enjoying a well-deserved break.
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