The Expected Completion Date Will Be Delayed

"Your Majesty, what are you thinking about?"

On the way back, Chancellor Max could not help asking when he saw Eitel lost in thought.

As imperial chancellor, he had a duty to help His Majesty shoulder his various responsibilities.

If His Majesty truly needed him.

At Chancellor Max's question, Eitel's furrowed brow relaxed.

"Mr. Max, I was thinking about converting and restructuring the factories in our country."

"Do you know how many registered factories there are in the country now? A full two million!"

"The waste from duplicated labor and the drain on production capacity among them amount to an enormous loss. I was thinking..."

As Eitel spoke, he looked toward the arms factory they had just visited.

"What if we merged and restructured some of the small factories and workshops with similar functions and products, improving their efficiency and production capacity?"

"Then we could support the established, fully registered large factories and encourage unregistered small and medium-sized factories to register as well, making it easier for us to manage them uniformly. What do you think?"

Having finished, Eitel looked at Chancellor Max with an inquiring gaze.

Chancellor Max looked thoughtful at His Majesty Eitel's proposal.

As Max considered it, Eitel did not interrupt, merely waiting quietly beside him.

This was his first time seriously considering a nation's affairs, and there were bound to be some oversights. He urgently needed advice from these veteran ministers who had weathered the ups and downs of politics for so long.

In this, Chancellor Max did not disappoint him. After thinking briefly, he raised his head to look at His Majesty Eitel.

"Your Majesty, your idea is excellent, but there are still some difficulties in implementing it at present."

"Look, this is the German Empire as it stands today. Within these borders, there are countless small workshops and factories."

"Restructuring and converting factories can only proceed after systematic calculations and adjustments, and who will take charge of these factories afterward is another question."

"My suggestion is to gather statistics and make calculations in advance, then establish a set of industry standards. We must not oppress the owners of those small workshops, while also encouraging production and providing support and encouragement to factories that meet their production targets."

Musk traced his hand across the map, outlining the factories' general distribution for Eitel.

Listening to Musk's account, Eitel nodded in understanding.

Seeing that His Majesty Eitel said nothing, Musk thought his words had dealt a blow to His Majesty Eitel's confidence and hurriedly added, "Your Majesty, your proposal is still excellent, and many people wholeheartedly support you."

"Once this period has passed and stability has returned to the German Empire, I believe your great talents and bold vision will have more room to unfold."

Musk's reassurance made Eitel smile. He leaned back and stretched before saying, "Don't worry about me. After all, I'm merely someone putting forward ideas. Actually implementing them still requires the efforts of ministers like you."

"If everything required me, I should have fired you all long ago."

With that, His Majesty Eitel and Chancellor Max exchanged a glance and laughed together.

For a moment, the car was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

As the car traveled along Berlin's streets, His Majesty Eitel gradually stopped laughing and gazed out through the window.

There was no air of tension throughout Berlin, nor had any news of the Red Guards or the Freikorps reached his ears.

Eitel knew that the stability increase from his national focus had played a part, while his efforts over this period accounted for the rest.

He had always devoted himself to safeguarding the German Empire's interests. Even in parliament, he had not allowed the German Empire to sign such a harsh treaty as it had before.

Thus, these military organizations had not emerged as they had in the original history.

Still, there were many matters he needed to resolve at present.

Just then, Chancellor Max suddenly leaned closer. "Your Majesty, in accordance with your earlier orders, the Krupp Company and the Rheinmetall Company have already begun their conversions."

"According to the figures I compiled this morning, the time required to convert the Krupp Company and the Rheinmetall Company into agricultural machinery and civilian machinery companies has suddenly increased for some unknown reason, and a substantial amount has been added to the conversion costs."

"Should we send someone to inspect these two companies next, to see whether anyone is taking the opportunity to line their own pockets?"

Max carefully made this suggestion. According to the previous estimates, even at the fastest conversion pace, dismantling would take a month and a half, the subsequent conversion and start of production would take over five months, and achieving stable civilian output across all lines would require ten months.

Yet the pace of conversion had now suddenly begun to slow. If things continued at this speed...

Then there was no way they could finish the dismantling on schedule before the Allied inspectors arrived.

In that case, the high-precision equipment, artillery boring machines, and hydraulic presses for heavy gun carriages they wanted to conceal in secret would be forcibly destroyed.

This was no small matter, so Max had been looking for an opportunity to tell His Majesty Eitel about it.

Having just seen that His Majesty Eitel seemed to be in a fairly good mood, Chancellor Max gritted his teeth and brought it up.

Yet the anger he had expected from His Majesty Eitel did not materialize. In response...

Eitel merely waved a hand and said, "I already know about this. They aren't to blame."

"But this is a good opportunity to have their people in charge come to Berlin as quickly as possible. I have some instructions for them."

Chancellor Max was somewhat surprised by Eitel's words. After all, this information had only reached his hands that morning.

He actually obtained firsthand information even earlier than I did. Just how many more means does His Majesty Eitel have at his disposal?

His Majesty truly must not be underestimated.

Looking at the stillness of an ancient well on His Majesty Eitel's face, Chancellor Max could not help marveling.

With that thought, Max quickly put away his earlier relaxed manner and grew serious.

Eitel noticed Chancellor Max's change. Though he was somewhat puzzled as to why Chancellor Max, who had been perfectly fine just moments ago, had suddenly become so serious...

He did not dwell on it now. More importantly, Eitel was examining the Civilian Economy Act's debuff in his mind.

[Military and civilian factory conversion costs +30%, civilian factory construction speed −30%]

He had several debuffs that felt oppressive just to look at.

Once I finish the Economic Miracle path, everything will be fine. This is merely a small early investment.

Having thought it through, His Majesty Eitel closed his eyes and began to rest.

After all, he rose earlier than the roosters every day, and he truly was a little exhausted.

"Chancellor Max, I'll have to trouble you to notify the people in charge of the Krupp Company and Rheinmetall and have them gather in Berlin."

"It is my duty, Your Majesty."