Chapter 191: Amass Provisions (Patreon)

"Central and South America?"

"It likely refers to Mexico."

An ordinary person would naturally interpret this as a warning "not to use Mexico to provoke America." But the military department was clearly not so docile.

"That's actually a good idea. Mexico lost vast territories in the war with America, didn't it? We could use Mexico to issue a warning to America."

"What on earth did you all hear? This is a reminder for us to be cautious, not an instruction for us to act! Moreover, Mexico is currently in the midst of a civil war."

The so-called civil war referred to the Mexican Revolution sweeping the nation. Various factions were locked in chaotic warfare, with regimes changing frequently, making any unified will impossible.

"As long as there is a righteous cause, personal desires can naturally be set aside. Couldn't everyone just unite?"

"It's precisely because they can't that things have come to this!"

"Tsk. Truly a continent-bound nation without roots, not even understanding righteous causes."

Once again, military men and politicians fell into dispute.

"Finally, there is a request from Archduke Karl."

"A request?"

"He hopes we can dispatch Dr. Fritz Haber, along with a company, to the occupied territories."

...

In the Ukrainian occupied territory under Karl's control, the severe cold still blanketed the land, and no significant changes had occurred on the front lines. Though sporadic skirmishes happened, they were merely insignificant probes.

After all, anyone with eyes could see.

Those Russian Imperial Army troops had already been scared out of their wits. They were just timidly extending their claws, putting on a false show of strength with a few scratches.

In their hearts, they were probably praying that this harsh winter would never end.

Because everyone understood that once the weather warmed, the long-prepared offensive of the Austro-Hungarian Empire would surely descend like thunder once more.

Karl left the headquarters today. Though it was called a front-line inspection, his true destination was not the trenches, but the vast land itself that had already fallen under his control.

The vastness of Ukraine was truly astonishing. This land hailed as the "breadbasket of Europe" stretched endlessly with black earth. Later statistics would show that over seventy percent of it was plains, a heaven-sent fertile ground for large-scale agriculture.

Since it was already in hand, there was no reason to let it lie fallow. Allowing such fertile fields to remain empty was itself an unforgivable waste.

Moreover, the timing was perfect.

Ukraine's traditional agriculture centered absolutely on winter wheat. This crop, sown in autumn and harvested in early summer, held a dominant position here.

In contrast, spring wheat, with its longer growing period, did not suit the local climatic rhythm.

The wheat seeds sown in autumn, after sprouting, would enter an adaptation phase as temperatures dropped below ten degrees, then fall into a quasi-dormant state under the cover of ice and snow.

Although there would be losses of about ten to fifteen percent, winter wheat's high yield per unit area and relatively lower labor requirements perfectly matched Ukraine's conditions of vast land and sparse population.

The problem lay with the former ruler, the Russian Empire. This country had boundless territory but a relatively scarce population, primitive and backward infrastructure, and an extreme shortage of even basic machinery like tractors.

Under such constraints, relying on winter wheat, which required less manpower, became almost the only viable choice for maintaining agricultural output.

Additionally, winter wheat itself was tenacious, with few pests and diseases in winter, offering significant advantages. But this didn't mean one could rest easy the entire winter.

Once spring arrived, timely application of fertilizer could significantly boost yields.

But now was wartime.

Where would the fertilizer come from? And the manpower?

All warring nations faced the same dilemma. Already strained manpower and resources were being relentlessly diverted to military production, often resulting in the collapse of overall production capacity.

But Karl looked further ahead.

Grain, in war, was a harder currency than gold.

As the war dragged on, its price would inevitably soar. In the later stages, a situation akin to the historically infamous "Turnip Winter" experienced by the German Empire might even emerge.

That was a difficult period when, due to tight blockades and food crises, people were forced to subsist on turnips. Not just Germany, but the entire Central Powers camp could be dragged into the abyss.

As long as they weren't starved into collapse, it would preserve a sliver of vitality for any potential protracted war of attrition.

Although Karl didn't believe the war would necessarily sink into such a quagmire, given they already held the advantage, what was wrong with solidifying and expanding that advantage?

Moreover, the southwestern region of Ukraine they occupied—areas like Odessa, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia—were precisely the traditional core production areas for winter wheat.

Thus, Karl proposed to the German Empire: make full use of the occupied territories to dramatically increase grain production capacity.

After all, the sea lanes were already blockaded; they had to find another way.

The only hidden worry was that this area was too close to the front lines. But they had the Dnieper River as a natural barrier behind them, and—

Who said they could only defend?

Since they would advance sooner or later, why not press forward all the way, placing the grain-producing areas in safer rear positions?

As for labor? The local residents remained, and there were hundreds of thousands of captured Russian Army soldiers.

The daily grain consumption of these people was already a huge burden. Rather than supporting them for nothing, it was better to have them create value.

"Your Highness, it seems we are almost there," an adjutant reported, trotting up.

The originally silent plains were soon broken by clamor. The roar of numerous trucks and tractors approached from afar, merging into a continuous din.

At the head of the motorcade were representatives from the German chemical giant BASF, along with other guests Karl had specifically invited.

The German Empire had accepted his proposal.

"If only they could listen to advice so readily on the matter of unrestricted submarine warfare," Karl couldn't help but feel a twinge of helplessness.

To be honest, he had even felt the impulse to go to Germany itself to intervene. But such an action would undoubtedly be seen as a rough interference in their internal affairs, so he had to let it go.

At that point, someone would probably retort coldly to his face: Your Highness, you are not the heir to the German imperial throne.

After all, the German Empire was not like Romania or Bulgaria, which had clear subordinate or hierarchical relationships with Austria-Hungary.

If anything, in many past affairs, Austria-Hungary had often been the one following Berlin's lead.

Coupled with the already myriad complexities on the Eastern Front, if it predictably provoked a backlash from the German side...

Ultimately, some things were still beyond his power for now.

Karl turned his gaze back to the roaring machinery and the boundless black earth before him, deciding to focus on the chips he could grasp in the present.