I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 108: The Capitalist’s Price War

(The image above is a map of the administrative districts of Paris. The prevailing wind in Paris is the southwest wind, so the wealthy districts of Paris are in the southwest corners with good air quality, including the 7th, 8th, 15th, and especially the 16th district where the nobility and high-ranking officials gather. The poor can only live in the northeastern corners where exhaust gas and smog are concentrated, with the 18th, 19th, and 20th districts being the most obvious. The housing prices and cost of living there are also cheaper.)

Eric’s aircraft factory is located in the 20th district of Paris.

The 20th district is a poor district, and Eric thought that setting up the aircraft factory here would allow him to hire low-cost workers.

However, the reality was: if he couldn’t sell even one airplane, he wouldn’t be able to afford even the cheapest workers.

Shire called Dejoka along when going to the factory to sign the contract, as Shire’s money was with Dejoka, and he wouldn’t be able to pay for anything unless he brought Dejoka along.

Dejoka happened to be at the city hall near the headquarters to apply for industrial property rights for the Congreve Rocket: the Congreve Rocket had nothing to do with Shire, and neither did the airplanes, but taking the rocket onto a plane to launch it at a balloon was related to Shire.

In terms of industrial property law, if the Allies wanted to use this method on the battlefield, they would have to pay Shire a property fee, which was one of Shire’s important sources of income.

Shire called home and learned from Camille where Dejoka was, and immediately sent someone to the city hall to have Dejoka bring his checkbook and drive over.

When Dejoka found out that Shire was going to spend hundreds of thousands of francs to buy an aircraft factory and flying club, he was so shocked he could fit an apple in his mouth.

"Have you thought it through? Do you really want to buy the aircraft factory for 400,000 francs?" Dejoka anxiously asked on the way to the factory, ignoring the fact that Eric was sitting in the back seat.

"Yes, father!" Shire answered firmly, "As long as it can produce airplanes!"

Eric felt a wave of emotion in his heart; everyone knew that operating an aircraft factory was difficult, but this little guy was still holding on for the sake of a promise, even knowing he would lose money!

He didn’t know that Shire had already received orders from the military and was eager to get the factory into production.

After arriving at the factory, the condition they saw surprised Shire and Dejoka. The factory was well-protected, and even the machines were new without any rust.

"It can produce about fifty planes a month!" Eric introduced, "As soon as we hire the workers, we can start production right away!"

Dejoka was somewhat skeptical, so he asked Eric, "I heard your factory hasn’t sold many planes and you owe a lot of money to the bank. Why is the factory maintained so well?"

Eric answered with a trace of embarrassment, "That’s because I’ve always hoped to sell it. I knew no one would want to buy a pile of junk, so whenever I had time, I would maintain it. A few months ago, I even borrowed some money to buy the Grom rotary engine production line, which gave the factory the ability to produce ’Aphro’ airplanes. The price was that I became homeless..." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Shire did not quite understand, "Uncle Eric, you knew there was no market for airplanes. Why did you still do this?"

Eric smiled wryly, "Lieutenant, do you know a gambler’s mindset? They always want to win back their losses in the last round, so they keep putting money on the table. I suppose I can be considered a gambler, just not at a gambling table, but gambling with the factory!"

Shire nodded, indicating he understood.

Some businessmen indeed had this mentality. They thought that since they already owed the bank so much money and couldn’t repay it anyway, why not take another gamble? Maybe they would turn things around!

Eric bet on the ’Aphro’ because he knew it was an excellent aircraft with low production costs.

However, in the end, he still lost terribly because there was no market.

If he had held on for just a while longer—ten days, twenty days, a month at most—he would have seen the spring of aviation, and then he really would have made a fortune with orders flooding in.

But at this critical juncture, he planned to sell almost his entire life’s efforts and hopes for a low price of 400,000 francs, yet he was still full of gratitude towards Shire!

This made Shire feel somewhat uneasy in his heart.

However, Shire soon abandoned this needless guilt. He understood that this was how business worked, and he knew the future, so he could seize the opportunity.

Eric didn’t know that he would eventually have to sell the aircraft factory or have it confiscated by the bank.

At this moment, a man in a suit and tie, carrying a black briefcase, appeared at the door, knocked, and directly locked eyes with Eric, saying, "Mr. Eric, I’m from the Banque de France!"

Eric asked in confusion, "Come to seize the factory? I’ll soon have the money to repay you!"

"No!" The man in the suit glanced at Dejoka and Shire, stepped forward, took a document from his briefcase, and handed it to Eric, saying, "We intend to purchase your factory. Are you interested?"

Eric took the document and flipped through it, then looked at the man in the suit in surprise, "45,000 francs? You plan to buy the factory for 45,000 francs?"

"Yes!" The man in the suit nodded, "After deducting your 35,000 francs debt to the bank, you will still get 10,000 francs!"

As he spoke, the man in the suit even took out a contract and a pen from his coat pocket, handing them to Eric, saying, "If there are no problems, please sign here!"

Shire suddenly understood why Gallieni discussed those matters with him in the lounge.

There were no secrets for capitalists, even at headquarters; capitalists would grasp the military’s needs at the first opportunity, which was a business opportunity for them.

Now, capitalists knew the military needed airplanes, and needed a lot of them.

They even knew Shire was buying Eric’s aircraft factory for 400,000 francs, so they offered 450,000 francs to snatch the factory from Shire.

Dejoka looked at Shire in shock, as if asking whether they should continue to raise the price?

Shire shook his head slightly. If they raised the price, the bank would immediately increase the price again. They couldn’t compete with the bank in a price war, as it was the Banque de France!

Shire nodded at Eric, "This is very normal, Uncle Eric! You should accept the money, congratulations!"

With that, he prepared to leave with Dejoka!

Unexpectedly, just a few steps away, Eric called out, "Wait, little guy!"

Eric returned the contract and document to the man in the suit, "Sorry, sir, you’re a bit late. The factory has already been sold! If you want to buy it, you should find its real owner!"

He said this and then winked at Shire.

The man in the suit didn’t understand. He had clearly arrived in time, offering a price 50,000 francs higher, but was rejected!

"Are you dissatisfied with the price?" The man in the suit asked in confusion, "We can still discuss..."

"No, sir!" Eric interrupted him, "As I said, I’ve already sold it!"

Later, Eric told Shire, "This wasn’t for you, little guy! I just don’t want to cooperate with capitalists; they definitely have no good intentions!"

But Shire knew, he actually did it for the promise. He thought Shire helped him during his most difficult time, so he couldn’t betray Shire at the last moment!

No wonder he couldn’t become a successful businessman!

However, as a capitalist, Shire very much needed an assistant and partner like Eric.