As expected, the grain-stockpiling plan received Ernst's approval. Others might not know, but Ernst understood perfectly well that from the very beginning, he had only ever had one hypothetical enemy in mind: Japan.
And Japan simply did not possess the ability to sustain a prolonged war. By the time Japan went to war with East Africa, it would probably already be the final stage of World War II.
As for one risk in the grain-stockpiling plan—that Japan might occupy and seize East Africa's wartime grain depots—Ernst considered that acceptable as well.
East Africa, Rhine City.
Ernst looked over the documents sent back by the Alaska Governor's Mansion and said to Crown Prince Friedrich, "If feeding future war criminals can spare most of Alaska's people from disaster, then losing some extra grain is an acceptable price."
For an agricultural power like East Africa, grain truly was not a scarce resource. Besides, international grain prices had remained sluggish, with supply exceeding demand.
International grain prices had hit bottom two years earlier, around 1933 to 1934. Although they had since rebounded somewhat, there was still no profit to be made. For a new round of growth to arrive, they might have to wait until World War II fully erupted before entering a new cycle.
Crown Prince Friedrich then suggested, "Grain itself is also a sharp weapon for the Empire to manipulate international politics. Alaska currently has a considerable shortfall, so we can purchase from countries whose governments are friendly toward the Empire."
"Especially countries in South America. Uruguay and Paraguay are both important grain producers. We can include those two countries and use this transaction to test the attitudes of Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and others."
Within East Africa's sphere of influence, only two countries possessed the capacity to export grain on a