Three months later, Porsche merged several car manufacturing companies owned by Lyon, and Porsche was born eight years ahead of schedule.

Two months later, Porsche wrote to Lyon that the "crawler tractor" had been designed and that a prototype had been built, in which he reminded Lyon again that if there was no market for the "crawler tractor", the nascent Porsche would face bankruptcy.

After receiving the letter, Lyon privately used the money allocated by his superiors for the purchase of rifles and rifle ammunition, and ordered 20 "tracked tractors" from Porsche at a sky-high price of 25,000 marks.

When Lieutenant General Strauss learned of the news, he immediately ran to the office in Lyon angrily and asked: "Andrés! I've done everything I can to get you to the equipment, but look what you've done?! You bought me 20 tractors for a full 500,000 Reichsmarks?! We are soldiers! Not a farmer! ”

Leon smiled and said to Lieutenant General Strauss: "General, I wonder what your image of the tanks in the last big war is?" ”

Lieutenant General Strauss replied suspiciously: "Tanks? The tanks of the British, who fought last time, were very powerful, and we suffered a lot. But what we're talking about now is the problem of this damn tractor, not tanks! Besides, the contract says we can't equip tanks anymore! ”

"Of course I understand the terms of the contract, that's why I bought 20 tractors, and don't you see that this tracked tractor is exactly the same as a tank except for the lack of a turret?"

Lieutenant General Strauss was stunned and asked: "That's right, but it's not a tank after all, it has no weapons, and it can't bring us actual combat effectiveness!" ”

"No, it may not be able to form a fighting force in our hands, but it can be in his hands!" Leon answered Lieutenant General Strauss's question unhurriedly.

"Who?"

Leon became serious and said: "A company commander of the 6th Infantry Regiment of the Wehrmacht. His name was, Fritz Erich von Manstein! ”

Lieutenant General Strauss was visibly unconvinced: "Infantry commander? Are you sure he can? ”

Leon looked at Lieutenant General Strauss fixedly: "It's better to wait for the tracked vehicles to be produced in two months, I will hand them over to Manstein, you use ten times the strength of the attacking infantry to establish a defensive line, if Manstein can break through your defense, then you have to promise me to equip more tracked vehicles!" ”

Lieutenant General Strauss looked directly at Lyon and said, "And what if you fail?" ”

Leon said seriously: "Then I will find a way to return the 500,000 Reichsmarks to you!" ”

Lieutenant General Strauss smiled: "I promise your conditions, I will see how you come up with 500,000 marks!" ”

The 6th Infantry Regiment of the Wehrmacht was stationed.

Manstein was watching the troops train, when his battalion commander ran over to Manstein and said, "Manstein, do you know anyone in the War Department?" You have been told to rush to Berlin as soon as possible. ”

Manstein was stunned for a moment and replied: "War Department? How did I know those idiots? ”

The battalion commander frowned: "Captain, pay attention to your words!" ”

Manstein smiled indifferently, he had always believed that it was the strategic mistakes of the predecessor of the War Department, that is, the General Staff, that would cause the defeat of Germany. He had always believed that Germany should have vigorously developed its armored forces in the last war, rather than waiting until the later stages of the war to rush to equip tanks.

However, despite Manstein's prejudices against the people in the War Department, he was a superior after all, and he left for Berlin the next day.

After half a day of turbulence, Manstein saw the officer who wanted to see him, but he didn't expect the major to be so young, so young that he subconsciously thought that he was in the mix, which made Manstein have a little deeper prejudice against the war department.

"Hello, Captain Manstein, my name is Leon Andrés." The major greeted Manstein with a smile.

"Hello, Mr. Major, I don't know what you are looking for me?" Manstein said with a frown, as a professional soldier, he didn't want to have too much interaction with such a person with mixed qualifications.

Leon ignored Manstein's indifference and asked Manstein the same question as Lieutenant General Strauss: "Monsieur Manstein, I wonder what you think of such a new weapon as a tank?" ”

Manstein became serious: "Mr. Major, I think tanks will completely change the face of war. In the past, when we attacked and occupied a position, it was always accompanied by huge casualties among the troops, but with tanks, we can greatly reduce the casualties of the troops. Manstein paused, and continued: "In the past, the army was always moving slowly, and the road and rail mobility requirements were very high, maybe we could create a unit composed entirely of tanks, so that the mobility of the troops could be greatly improved!" ”

"Yes, you have a point, so what would you do if I told you that I was going to put an armored unit in your hands?" Leon put away his smile and looked straight at Manstein.

Manstein was a little overwhelmed by the sudden appointment: "Sir, this is ...... I'm afraid I won't be able to do it well. ”

Leon walked up to Manstein's side, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "I'm sure you can do a good job!" I made a bet with Lieutenant General Strauss that you could tear a gap in the line of pure infantry that was 10 times your troops! ”

When Manstein heard Leon believe in him so much, he couldn't help but be moved: "Mr. Andrés, since you believe in me so much, then I accept this task, and I will let you win this bet!" ”

Leon smiled and replied, "Of course, I will win, let's go, I'll take you to see your comrades." After saying that, he took Manstein to the German training base on the outskirts by car.

Damn, this thing is a tank? This was Manstein's first thought when he saw his "armored" troops, Leon saw him with his mouth open, guessed his thoughts, and said helplessly: "No way, the Treaty of Versailles stipulates that we cannot have tank troops, this is the best way I can come up with." ”

"But this thing doesn't even have a turret, how can it fight?" Manstein pointed to a row of tractors with a look on his face, "You're teasing me".

"Don't worry, the drill will simulate that it has a turret." Leon reassured.

Phew, Manstein breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that if you really let me drive a tractor to the field, I would definitely find a tree and kill me.

Unbeknownst to Manstein, he was slowly becoming convinced of Leon.

In any case, the Germans finally had their first armored units after the war, although they did not even have a turret. Even when Manstein and Leon were too old to talk about this alternative armored unit, they would laugh happily. Of course, that's all for later.