After introducing two bullet production lines to the military factory to strengthen the production capacity of the military factory, Eder is preparing to participate in exercises organized by the army that will be completed this year.
Within two days, Edel came to Iasi to watch the drills of the just-completed 14th Division. Chief of General Staff Previn and Chief of Advisors Ludendorff also watched the drills with the crown prince.
"General Turiaf, your soldiers are well trained." The chief of general staff put down his telescope and told the commander of the 14th Division, Poli Turiaf.
"All this depends on His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's concern for the army and the training plan formulated by the Chief of General Staff. We just train according to the standards." As a senior officer, Poli Turiaf is not at all flattering.
vague.
"General Turiaf's training plan, the person you want to thank is not me, but Colonel Ludendorff, so you are flattering the wrong person." Plesan pointed out with a smile that Colonel Ludendorff told the truth.
"Chief of the General Staff, this is not my fault alone. Many of them were also added by you. I dare not take the credit alone." Ludendorff did not dare to accept the teasing of the Chief of the General Staff. After all, he was only a consultant.
Not the top brass of the Romanian army.
"Okay, you two can't just brazenly compliment each other like this. The officers below will be shocked if they see it." Edel couldn't stand it anymore and stopped the two of them from complimenting each other.
Although the crown prince stopped their flattery, Pleshan really admired Ludendorff. After getting along for more than three years, Pleshan was impressed by Ludendorff's shrewd insight and thoughtful design. At the same time,
In conversations with his friend Prossi, he often talked about Ludendorff's extraordinary staff skills.
In the following exercises, it can be seen that the commander of the 14th Division, General Turiaf, has worked hard. The soldiers are very good at military skills and movements, and the junior officers also have a thorough understanding of tactics. During the exercise
It is also reflected.
After the exercise, Edel said to Turiaf, the commander of the 14th Division. "General Turiaf's ability to train soldiers so well is a reflection of your ability. I like capable people very much. I hope that in the next exercise
Able to perform better.”
After speaking, he took the initiative to shake hands with him. Turiaf was very happy to receive praise from the crown prince. He knew that he had left a good impression on the crown prince and laid a solid foundation for his future development in the army.
"Please rest assured, Your Highness, the Fourteenth Division will perform outstandingly in the future."
"I'll see, General."
After inspecting the exercises of the 14th Division, Edel and his party got on the train to return to Bucharest. On the train, Ludendorff told the Crown Prince that the German General Staff was going to transfer them back to the country in batches.
"As a friend, Ludendorff, I would like to ask you, do you really want to go back?" Edel hoped to be able to persuade him to stay.
"Your Highness is very grateful for your regard for me. It is an honor for me to be a soldier and serve the motherland." Ludendorff and Edel have been together for more than three years. He knew what the crown prince wanted to say, so he made his decision known in advance.
"Okay then, I respect your decision. And you are right, it is everyone's honor to serve the motherland." Edel saw that it was strictly forbidden, so he could only build a good relationship with this talented general. Edel looked at
Ludendorff continued, "Then let me know when you leave, and I will see you off."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Let’s go back to what the Crown Prince of Bucharest said to the Chief of Guard. “Let people investigate who will be the next head of the German Advisory Group.”
"Okay, Your Highness."
Since the head of the advisory group did not need any confidentiality, he could easily find out if he was interested. Within two days, Kallust put the results on Edel's desk and attached a brief introduction to his life.
Colonel Markenko von Stry was born into a small landowning family in East Prussia in 1867. He attended the Junior Military Academy at the age of 13, and later graduated from the Army Noncommissioned Officer School. He enlisted in the army the following year and was awarded the rank of second lieutenant. Before coming to Romania
He serves as the deputy director of the Third Division of the General Staff Headquarters and is a typical military officer with a Juncker aristocratic background.
"It seems that the Kaiser really attaches great importance to Romania." The Crown Prince said after reading Colonel Sterry's information.
A week later, the officer who replaced Ludendorff came to Romania. In a four-story building on Crudall Street where the advisory group was stationed, Ludendorff was hosting a banquet in honor of his colleague.
"Stree didn't expect you to replace me. Remember it was almost 10 years ago when we first met." Ludendorff told Stree, who was sitting next to him, about the time they had known each other.
"I remember that the name I heard the most when I entered the General Staff, besides General Schlieffen, the Chief of General Staff, was you Ludendorff." Colonel Sterry said of Ludendorff's glory at that time.
"General Schlieffen retired not long after I came to Romania. This time I wanted to go back to Romania to see him." Ludendorff thought that he could do such an outstanding job in the General Staff, and it was inseparable from the then Chief of General Staff Schlieffen.
appreciation.
"I heard that he was still improving the plan after retirement, and I heard that he planned to add automobile transportation to it this time." Sterry whispered to Ludendorff, because he knew that Ludendorff had helped Schlieffen improve his plan many times.
.
"When I have time, I will help him improve the plan. In Romania, there is a fast mobile division equipped with 800 trucks. During the exercise, this division was twice as fast as the ordinary division. On this point, the Romanians walked ahead of us.
." Ludendorff talked about the current situation of the Romanian army.
"I heard that the current Chief of General Staff, General Maoqi, is also adding trucks as a means of transportation for the army in China." Sterry said about the actions of the current Chief of General Staff, General Maoqi. The newly appointed General Maoqi is also very interested in emerging things.
I'm interested, but the current trucks are too expensive, so I can only purchase them in small quantities for logistical transportation.
The two acquaintances sat together and happily talked about the past few years. Ludendorff also told Sterry about his experience in Romania. "In the Romanian army, Crown Prince Edel and Chief of General Staff General Plesan,
They are the people you must make good friends with. You need to pay attention to the Romanian army, the Guards Division Commander Burungat, and the Principal of the Military Academy Prosi..."
"Thank you, Ludendorff." Sterry said to Ludendorff gratefully. He knew that this information could help him start his work better.
"You're welcome."
After spending two days handing over the work at hand, Ludendorff was preparing to take the train back to Berlin that morning. On the platform, many officers from the advisory group came to see him off. At this time, someone saw Preshan and the Crown Prince also leaving.
coming.
"Ludendorff, General Pleshan and I are very grateful for everything you have done for Romania. This gift is a little bit of our gratitude." Edel walked up to Ludendorff and said while taking it from the captain of the guard.
A small box was handed to Ludendorff.
"Thank you to Your Highness and the Chief of General Staff for coming to see me off." Ludendorff said his thanks after taking the small box.
"Ludendorff, open it and take a look." General Pleshan reminded Ludendorff.
Ludendorff opened the small box given by the Crown Prince and found a medal. Ludendorff recognized this medal. This is the Romanian Gold Knight Medal. This is a medal awarded only to Romanian soldiers. During these three years, Ludendorff
I have seen silver knighthoods awarded three times, but never gold medals.
"Your Highness, isn't this too heavy?" Ludendorff felt it was a bit heavy.
"This is what you deserve. The Crown Prince and I have the most say on this point." General Plesan said to Ludendorff.
"Thank you to the Crown Prince and the General for valuing me." Ludendorff is not a hesitant person. Besides, any soldier who doesn't value medals will quickly put them away.
At this moment, the train made a buzzing sound, and the Crown Prince said to Ludendorff, "It's almost time to get on the train. I hope you will do better in Germany."
Ludendorff boarded the train at the reminder of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince and Preshan waved to Ludendorff who was standing at the window and watched the train slowly start to move, traveling further and further until it was out of sight.
