Gravedigger of the Empire

A military vehicle slowly pulled up in the Bureau of Investigation compound, next to Kahn's old Mercedes.

The car door was pushed open, and a captain stepped out, carrying a briefcase, and quickly walked up the steps in front of the office building.

The guards on both sides raised their chins and stood at attention to salute him. He returned the salute hastily and walked through the gate.

He quickly stood at the door of Kahn's office and knocked twice.

After being granted permission to enter, he pushed open the door and entered the room. He took off his hat and smiled at Kahn, who was sitting behind his desk: "We meet again, Lieutenant Kahn."

"Oh! Captain Guderian! I didn't expect to see you again so soon." Kahn stood up, showing his enthusiasm.

"I've run into some work difficulties, so I've come here seeking answers." Guderian wasn't here to reminisce, but to conduct business.

Kahn hadn't expected the famous WWII general he knew to suddenly show up at his door, and he was full of curiosity: "No need to be so formal here, please make yourself at home!"

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Guderian took off his military cap and placed it on the coffee table, then propped his briefcase up at his feet.

He sat down on the sofa and began again: "You know, I work in the transportation department, but the transportation department is short of... a lot of cars."

"Shouldn't this be under the logistics department's jurisdiction? How did you end up here?" Kahn didn't return to his seat, but leaned against the edge of his desk and asked with a smile.

His office is now quite nice. It's spacious enough, has plenty of furniture, and is fully furnished.

A map of Germany hangs on the wall, with the East Prussian enclave standing out conspicuously.

German soldiers hated this map because it represented their shame.

"That's the trouble," Guderian coughed a couple of times, somewhat embarrassed, and adjusted his speaking pace: "I've been studying some theories."

"Oh?" Kahn asked curiously.

"About...the future, war." Guderian didn't think Kahn would know these things, so he described his research direction as plainly as possible.

"I believe that future wars should be based on the high-speed mobility of troops. The ability to deploy a sufficient number of troops to the most critical positions in a short period of time will determine the outcome of the war." Only after saying this did he have the courage to look up at Kahn's expression.

His ideas were so ahead of their time that none of the old fogies in the military agreed with them.

Many people looked at him like he was a clown, and no one paid attention to or supported his latest plans.

"You plan to use vehicles to solve the problem of troop and supply transportation." Kahn didn't mean to mock Guderian; he just nodded subconsciously.

"Let the soldiers ride in cars, follow the tanks at high speed, get off at the closest point to the front line, and cover the tanks as they crash into the enemy's lines... Unfortunately, Germany doesn't have any tanks now." As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Guderian's eyes almost gleaming.

The creator of the German armored forces in World War II looked at him with such intense, almost piercing gaze.

Guderian was incredibly excited. He truly hadn't expected that the first person he would encounter who understood him would be someone within the Bureau of Investigation!

Moreover, the lieutenant in front of him, who was more than ten years younger than him, had actually seen through his latest idea in one sentence!

Yes, tanks! He had been searching for the key to solving the problem, and the inspiration came not long ago after he read Liddell Hart's articles on mechanization.

"All you can find right now are some outdated armored vehicles... but that's alright, they can make do for now." Kahn's voice trailed off as he noticed Guderian's gaze had become completely strange.

"Now I know why you're a lieutenant at this age!" Guderian stared into Kahn's eyes, his admiration completely undisguised.

"Your vision is both advanced and accurate! You were even able to deduce the new technology of tanks from just a few words I said!" His voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

"Uh..." Kahn was a little embarrassed: Could he have accidentally enlightened the father of the German armored forces by showing off his advanced knowledge of blitzkrieg?

"I have no way of getting you a tank!" In the end, he could only struggle for a moment.

Guderian, however, was quite philosophical: "No! Not necessary! Lieutenant Kahn! I don't need tanks right now! I just need your help to get some extra vehicles!"

"I asked General Sickett, and he told me to go to Lieutenant Colonel Burke to solve my problem." He explained why he was there: "Lieutenant Colonel Burke said you have a way."

"Alright! I'll figure something out... How many do you plan to get?" Kahn was helpless, but he couldn't refuse.

This is a mission, an obligation of the R organization, and his job.

"Two hundred vehicles!" Guderian gave a well-thought-out figure.

He felt that this was already low enough. After further reduction, the number became very reasonable.

"Take away the young master?" Kahn's voice rose.

Just kidding, finding cars from the old supplies stockpiled from World War I is difficult enough! Let alone finding 200 of them?

Back then, cars were still very expensive! And their numbers were extremely limited! Unlike the 21st century, where annual car production is in the millions or even tens of millions!

"Two, two hundred vehicles." Kahn's loud shout made Guderian lose his confidence.

"Where am I supposed to find so many cars for you? One or two, I can get you right away, ten or eight, I can figure out a way..." Kahn said with a worried look, "That's two hundred cars! Two hundred cars!"

"I know this is difficult, otherwise Lieutenant Colonel Burke wouldn't have pushed this onto you." Seeing Kahn on the verge of collapse, Guderian blurted out what was on his mind in desperation.

Indeed, this was the case: Lieutenant Colonel Bock, one of the heads of the R organization, was indeed trying to shirk responsibility; he genuinely didn't want to get involved in Guderian's mess.

Two hundred cars—how many units in the modern German army could that meet their vehicle needs?

All these vehicles need to be gathered together, just for a lowly captain in charge of transportation to "mess around"? Are you kidding me?

"You know it's 'difficult' too?" Kahn couldn't help but think to himself.

"Please, please help me! Lieutenant Kahn! Consider it... I owe you a favor!" Guderian pleaded, his eyes filled with longing.

Scratching his hair, Kahn thought he must be going crazy: "Fine!"