Gravedigger of the Empire

Some things still need to be done by people. After Kahn had settled everything in Berlin, he needed to find additional sources of goods.

While the arms stockpiles near Berlin are plentiful, they are not inexhaustible.

Therefore, he tries to collect as many goods as possible from the surrounding area to enrich his "business".

To put it simply, it's about finding sources of supply and making good use of the weapons that are stockpiled elsewhere and waiting to be destroyed.

Angermünde is a small town less than 80 kilometers from Berlin, where a defense force is stationed.

Kahn's beat-up little car came to a wobbly stop in front of a military facility on the outskirts of the town, where he saw two officers standing to greet him.

A captain and a second lieutenant.

With the addition of Lieutenant Kahn, the junior officer ranks are now complete.

"Lieutenant Kahn! Welcome to Angmind!" The captain extended his hand, adopting a businesslike demeanor.

Kahn gave a cursory military salute before extending his hand to shake hands with the other man: "Hello! Captain Erich!"

He didn't really think much about it, because the name was so common in Germany.

There were about fifteen Williams in one bar, and at least three of the others were named Erich.

But the Captain Erich in front of him looked somewhat familiar... or rather, quite familiar.

"We have everything you need: ten thousand Mauser rifles, only half of them are new, and the other half are used ones that we've phased out, and they're in pretty good condition," Captain Erich said as he led Kahn into the warehouse.

"The transport team will deliver the goods to Rostock..." he said, lifting a canvas to reveal the wooden crates inside.

The wooden crates contained neatly stacked rifles, displaying the refined sophistication characteristic of the Germans.

To be honest, Kahn is now truly feeling the same resentment that followed Germany's defeat in World War I.

Unlike World War II, they were far from being at their wits' end, yet they still lost the entire war.

Losing is not the root of their pain; the root of their pain comes from losing their last shred of dignity.

When the German aristocracy and big capitalists surrendered, they never imagined that what awaited them was the Treaty of Versailles, a dog leash around their necks.

Nobody wants to be tied down, at least not forever. Especially those who were once powerful and arrogant, aspiring to be number one.

Germany's pride remains! Germany's ambition is not dead! Germany has not fallen! At least not yet.

Therefore, even before the mustache appeared, as early as 1919, or even 1918, there was already a group of people fighting for the resurgence of Germany.

They were not Nazis, but a group of simple patriots, or rather, a group of simple militarists, a group of simple warmongers.

Sickert famously said during this period: "No peace treaty, no enemy, can take away from us what—unwavering conviction! When fate once again calls upon the German people to arm themselves, that day will surely come, and it will see warriors, not cowards, firmly grasping their loyal weapons! With hands and will of steel, it doesn't matter what weapon is used!"

Kahn knew that the Germans later embarked on a path of self-destruction, but their departure was indeed made all the more "spectacular" by the existence of predecessors like Sikert.

"Have you... seen me somewhere before?" Captain Erich frowned, staring at Kahn, who had been scrutinizing him.

When he frowned, revealing more wrinkles on his face, Kahn immediately remembered why he had this familiar feeling.

That familiar corner of the mouth, those eyes that droop slightly downwards!

Yes, he had seen this person before!

In his previous life, Kahn had met this person!

In another life, Zhou Zhuo also saw this person's photo!

"You look familiar..." Kahn squinted, pretending to recall something.

Then, with a look of sudden realization, she asked, "Weren't you working in Berlin last year?"

"Yes, I did work in Berlin for a period of time." Captain Erich was also trying hard to recall when he had seen the young lieutenant in front of him.

"I've seen you before! Captain! You may not remember me! But I have indeed seen you before! Captain Erich von Manstein!" Kahn called out the other man's full name directly.

Manstein paused for a moment, then adopted a warm demeanor: "I really can't remember where I've seen you before, Lieutenant Kahn! But it's an honor to see you again!"

This kind of politeness is the same as saying "Nice to meet you" or "I've heard so much about you." If someone knows you, you can't just say "We're not acquainted," can you?

"It's normal not to remember. You came to Berlin with Chief of Staff Rosberg back then, and I had only been in the army for a short time," Kahn said, spouting nonsense.

He was indeed a new recruit at the time, but he was only serving in the Berlin garrison and had no chance of meeting Manstein.

But sometimes people are like that; they can fall into a self-affirming trap based on other people's "snapshots".

With Kahn's "reminder," Manstein immediately recalled his glorious past.

Back then, he was a staff officer in the Empire's 2nd Group, which was much more prestigious than it is now.

Because of the downsizing of his unit, he can only serve as a lowly company commander here now, but for him, this is still a "promotion"!

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant Kahn!" Manstein extended his hand in goodwill.

"Kahn Miles!" Kahn shook hands with the other man and formally introduced himself, thus truly getting to know the young future Marshal of the Third Reich.

"We're not like Berlin here, and we don't have anything decent..." Manstein seemed to want to treat everyone, but he also seemed to be short of money.

"Speaking of which! I almost forgot! Sebastian!" Kahn pointed to the driver who was standing by the car outside the warehouse door, then waved.

The other party immediately understood and turned around to take a beautifully packaged cardboard box from the back seat of the car.

He carried the box into the warehouse, looking very strained.

"These are gifts I brought for you both from Berlin." Kahn gestured for you to enter, a bright smile on his face.

This time, he was genuinely laughing, because this was the second time he had seen such a well-known "big shot" since he had transmigrated to this world.

The lieutenant glanced at his superior, Manstein, then walked over and opened the cardboard box.

Inside were neatly stacked boxes of tin canned goods—high-quality canned beef.

"It can be stored for a long time. I know you may not lack food here, but... you know, the world is in chaos right now, and this stuff is definitely hard currency," Kahn explained.

"Well... thank you, Lieutenant Kahn." Manstein hesitated for a few seconds, but finally accepted the expensive "gift."