On the afternoon of September 3, 1942, when the sun was unleashing its own vitality, the test site of the BadBerka Panzer School near Eisenach in the Third Reich had entered a very different state.

Surrounded by sentry posts, occasional wheeled armored vehicles of the Sd.Kfz.223 type patrolling the streets passing by, and at major intersections there are gendarmes armed with MP38s, wearing "dog tags" and focusing on checking special passes.

Originally, Hoffman didn't want to work so hard, but since he was bombed in the Eagle's Nest base camp and cracked the traitorous plot, the leaders of the National Socialist Party have paid special attention to his safety. At Baumman's insistence, the security measures were strengthened as never before, and the responsibility of Major Gensher became more important.

Spirited but tired-looking, Speer struggled out of the Mercedes-Benz 770 sedan. Since 0:00 two days ago, the Third Reich has fully transferred to the wartime system after the general mobilization, and all industrial enterprises, especially military industrial enterprises, have begun to change from the "one-shift system" to the "three-shift system"; in order to coordinate the relations between all aspects, especially to ensure the supply of energy, raw materials and other daily necessities for key enterprises, and to keep the train timetable updated synchronously to adapt to the new economic rhythm, the economic head of state has made great efforts, and he has not closed his eyes for two days and two nights, and finally can only take a quick nap in the car. When he was woken up by the adjutant, he felt his head still dizzy.

After Hoffman initiated the wartime system and made it clear that the Ministry of Armaments was under the control of all military industries, the management of all core armaments production was gradually transferred to the Ministry of Armaments: after the reorganization of aviation armaments, the production authority of the Air Force Equipment Department was transferred to the Ministry of Armaments; After the Marshal of the Navy visited the Führer a few days ago, the right to prioritize the production of naval equipment was also handed over, and in addition to the tank armament reorganization bill that Speer had forced through with a bet at the beginning, the Ministry of Armaments now basically controls the production of various equipment. Without his consent, not a single tank or plane could be produced. As a result, he became the leader of the German economic circles, not only in the eyes of various economic tycoons from an unknown private architect to a hot figure, but also in the eyes of various economic tycoons, his political status also increased rapidly - after the fall of Goering, the outside world has called Himmler, Goebbels and Speer under the Führer as the imperial triumvirate, and his position in the party has even vaguely overshadowed the old foreign minister Ribbentrop and the always active party director Martin Baumann. The Mercedes-Benz 770 he is riding in now was a gift from Mercedes-Benz in order to curry favor with him, and the other party originally wanted to give him the top-of-the-line 770K, considering that it was the Führer's car, Speer wisely refused - his limelight was already too much, and the Führer might not mind what car he was sitting in, but he didn't want to provide others with a handle to attack him.

It was a good feeling to be in power, but Speer had a clear understanding, and he clearly knew the origin of his rights and status, and he also reciprocated: not only did he carry out the production tasks assigned by Hoffman himself, but he also tried to find time to accompany Hoffman when he went out to inspect armaments and industrial production. Although old-school politicians and conservative officers called him the Führer's "echo worm" behind his back, he didn't bother to care, and only smiled contemptuously in return.

Looking at Speer, who was pale and his eyes were bloodshot, Hoffman said with concern: "Your face doesn't look good, maybe you should take a good rest?" ”

Speer shook his head with a wry smile, and said resolutely: "Since you have given me the right to produce armaments, then I must do my best to do this work well, and my body can hold on." ”

"The wartime system is not going well?" Hoffman stopped and asked sensitively. He knew that many people were dissatisfied with Speer's control of the entire economy, and they were openly and secretly resistant, and even Baumann would comment on Speer in a jealous tone from time to time, but this was a figure he personally selected and proved by history, and it was also the authority of the Führer, and Hoffmann would never allow any slander or wavering.

"There was a little bit of a difficulty, but I believe it can be overcome." Speer glanced at everyone, and saw not only Field Marshal Keitel and others from the Supreme Command, but also Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, founder of Porsche, and Dr. Kurt Arnold, the representative of the Henschel factory, who were attending the meeting.

"The wartime system must be strictly promoted, and all those who interfere with and undermine the wartime system, no matter who they are, no matter what position they have, and what positions they have held before, you can ask Comrade Himmler to cooperate in dealing with them, and if he is not capable of handling them, please report them directly to me." Hofmann had said this several times in private, and now he brought it up again in order to save face for Speer in front of these industrial tycoons and high-ranking military officers.

The Führer's words were not unforgiving, and everyone was well informed: Hjalmar Schacht, who had been Minister of Economy and was now a Minister of Cabinet and had inextricable ties with industry, had been arrested a few days ago on charges of treason, and it was the Führer himself who had issued the order, and Himmler and Speer had played a role in the process. Opposition to the Ministry of Armaments' control of military industrial production, in fact because Schacht financed the conspiracy through secret channels, and was arrested by the mayor of Leipzig, Dr. Gödler. Walther Funk, who was the Minister of Economy and had a sympathetic relationship with Schacht, tried to intercede with the Führer through Goebbels, but was repeatedly reprimanded by the latter for being "confused" and never dared to speak again.

"Thank you very much for the support of the Führer." After the two sang and sang the double reed, a large group of people finally poured into the conference room.

The meeting on the technical validation of the new tank was chaired by the Sixth Division of the Weapons Test Department of the Army Weapons Directorate, and the briefings were conducted by two technical officers, Colonel Thomale, and Professor Eberan of the Technical University of Dresden, who were also the main technical leaders of the Tiger prototype when it went to the Wolf's Den for the first demonstration on April 20.

"Colonel Tomaller, Professor Eboan, I remember your ......," Hoffman warmly shook hands with the two men, "I have seen the report you have submitted, and it is a very valuable report. ”

"My Führer." Colonel Tomaler didn't expect the Führer to remember himself, and he was suddenly a little overwhelmed with excitement, but the silver-haired Professor Aboan had seen the world and was very peaceful, and after hearing Hoffman's evaluation, the eyes behind a pair of small round eyes flashed with fine light, "Honorable Führer, thank you very much for your affirmation of our report, but what I'm curious about is that you have read all the boring reports carefully?" ”

"I ......" Hoffman was full of doubts, it is true that as the professor said, this report is a bit lengthy and boring, but because of the clear comparison and comment on the products of Porsche and Henschel, he is very impressed by this, and he is sure that he has finished reading it, precisely because he has different opinions and requirements for the development of the Tiger tank, otherwise he would not ask for another technical verification meeting, but what does the professor imply?

Technocrat Colonel Tomale didn't expect Professor Eboan to embarrass the Führer at this moment, his old face flushed and sweating profusely, and he could see that he wanted to stop the professor next to him from going any further, but the latter was obviously unmoved and continued: "Dear Führer, I don't mean to offend you, I just heard rumors that the Ministry of Armaments seems to be intent on prioritizing the order of 100 test cars from Porsche? ”

As soon as he heard this, Hoffman's face turned red, and Dr. Porsche's face behind him was also very unsightly, and now Hoffman knew the crux of the problem: because Dr. Porsche had a close relationship with Hitler, and because he was also the chief expert of the German Tank Development Committee and the chief adviser to the Führer on tank issues, he was very influential at the top - the doctor not only planned to produce 100 tank chassis on his own before the finalization, but also bypassed the Ordnance Bureau, In the name of Porsche, a contract was placed directly for the production of 100 upper bodies and turrets at the Krupp plant. The intention was clear: the contract would fall into the hands of Porsche, and Hitler did not hesitate to approve it after receiving a phone call from Dr. Porsche.

The atmosphere at the scene gradually fell into awkwardness.