Chapter 7 – Expanding Production
No matter what Bismarck or Prussia decided, the fire of German nationalism was already burning brightly. The entire German region was swept up by this movement, and public opinion carried the people along. At this moment, everyone in Germany had become a "patriot."
At this point, the Prussian nobles and capitalists were not going to hold back. With Prussia developing rapidly, it urgently needed new land and markets. Schleswig was already an economically developed and densely populated area, making it a natural target for the Kingdom of Prussia—especially since Denmark's attempt to annex Schleswig through a new constitutional law gave Prussia the perfect excuse.
Military buildup was inevitable. Thanks to Prussia's top-tier mobilization capabilities, the army was already well-prepared for war. Naturally, this was kept quiet—after all, Prussia was known across Europe as a soldier's state, and troop movements rarely raised eyebrows abroad.
Meanwhile, Prussian arms factories had already begun ramping up production behind the scenes, and Ernst's own factory was also working overtime as a result. This time, Ernst directly pulled in help from his father, Prince Constantin. After all, to get his newly produced cigarettes and lighters into the army, he would need connections.
Ernst thoroughly explained the advantages of his products to his father, confidently claiming that if Prussian soldiers were equipped with his cigarettes, their combat performance would improve significantly. He didn't mention the addictive nature or health risks—he focused on how tobacco could refresh exhausted soldiers. He emphasized how machine-made cigarettes were cheaper than handmade ones and could be mass-produced and supplied to the front lines affordably.
Prince Constantin didn't think much of it, but since it was his own family's business, he agreed to help promote it to a certain extent.
But when Ernst showed him the kerosene lighter, Prince Constantin's interest was piqued. He picked it up and examined it closely. Ernst had specially designed a compact version that fit easily in a pocket and came with a convenient hemp strap to attach to a belt. The lighters were originally intended to go with the cigarettes, but they could also be used by soldiers for lighting fires.
Both the cigarettes and lighters were customized for military use. For example, cigarettes were offered in large packs (50 per box) and small packs (5 per pack). The lighter was designed in the shape of a bullet, and Ernst even added two shell-casing production lines just for making the lighter bodies. For marketing purposes, he created a special edition for officers. Civilian versions retained a more classic style inspired by later designs. The military version was made specifically for easier transport and distribution. Kerosene lighters were chosen not only for practicality but also to reduce costs.
Prince Constantin concluded that this type of lighter would be very useful on the battlefield. Compared to matches, which were fragile and easily dampened, the kerosene lighter would definitely be popular among soldiers.
The next day, after discussing a few casual matters with Ernst, Prince Constantin returned to the Prussian royal palace—this time taking both the lighters and cigarettes with him.
Indeed, having a high-ranking noble father backing you was a blessing. Soon, Ernst received new orders from the army for both products. Cigarettes and kerosene lighters that had already been produced and stored in the warehouse, along with small kerosene tanks, were immediately shipped in batches to military camps and logistics centers.
Ernst thought to himself: This is why so many people get rich during wartime. The military pays generously. Of course, this only works in a country with order—otherwise, if the government just seized your goods by force, you'd be left with nowhere to cry.
Just one round of military orders was enough for Ernst to recover his initial investment. Now it was time to expand production. Wars don't end in a day or two—more orders would surely follow. At the same time, he needed to boost sales through other channels as well.
Austria, Prussia's temporary ally, was not to be overlooked. Since they had worked together before, Ernst planned to keep that cooperation going. With a single command from him, the departments of the Hexingen Development Company sprang into action.
The sales department was now under greater pressure. The new products needed to be sold faster, and advertising became a top priority. Salespeople were organized into a growing network spreading out to neighboring German states. Looking at all of this, Ernst couldn't help but recall the traveling salesmen from his past life who went from village to village selling water purifiers.
Luckily, Ernst's products were the real deal. Once people tried them and got used to them, they were hooked. It was that classic truth: it's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back—unless you're truly poor.
His factories were working overtime, but Ernst still wasn't satisfied. It wasn't just about expanding production—he already had the capacity to meet demand. What he really wanted now was to open up new fronts.
Money was no longer an issue. All his ventures were turning profits. That meant it was time to start spending it wisely.
Ernst decided to establish a dedicated R&D center and began recruiting engineers to work on developing time-tested consumer goods from his previous life. No sooner said than done, he selected a quiet, scenic location on the outskirts of Berlin and began constructing the facility.
Unlike factories, which needed raw materials, energy, and access to transport, the research center was built for experimentation. Inside, it would be divided into small studios focused on various types of projects—designing principles, drafting blueprints, and recording step-by-step production methods.
Ernst organized the facility by function: one section for clothing design, another for household items, another for special metal tools, and so on.
With the Second Industrial Revolution in full swing, Ernst also wanted to expand into the field of electricity. He planned to allocate funds for a power research institute nearby. To attract talent, the Hexingen Development Company began putting up job postings all over Berlin, Bonn, Stuttgart, Munich, and beyond.
This marked the company's first step toward industrial upgrading—moving toward a research-driven business model.
While the Hexingen Company grew rapidly, Prussia and Austria were also busy preparing for war. Railways across Germany were being heavily used, with carts and soldiers moving constantly, and military drills being carried out on a large scale.
War clouds loomed over the Jutland Peninsula, ready to disrupt Europe's fragile peace at any moment. Ernst had already started mourning for the poor Danes in advance—but in truth, he had only one thought: "Good."
Without Denmark's "assistance," there would be no fortune for him to make. War was the best catalyst, and Ernst's company was about to claim its share from the coming conflict.
In fact, Ernst hoped Denmark would fight harder and not lose too quickly—so he could milk the opportunity for all it was worth. That was the cold, ruthless heart of a capitalist.
No wonder the Americans in his past life were so eager to start wars. Once you had made money from it, you would naturally want to encourage it.
This war, at its core, was exactly what the Junker landlords and capitalists behind Prussia had been hoping for. Everyone wanted a piece of the feast.
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