Chapter 111 Capitalist Price War
(The above picture is a map of the administrative districts of Paris. The wind direction in Paris is usually southwesterly, so the wealthy areas of Paris are the 7th, 8th, 15th, and 16th districts in the southwest corner where the air is good, especially the 16th district where aristocrats and politicians gather. The poor can only live in the northeast corner where exhaust gas and smog are concentrated, and the 18th, 19th, and 20th districts are the most obvious, and housing prices and prices are also cheaper)
Eric's aircraft factory is in the 20th arrondissement of Paris.
District 20 is a poor area, and Eric believes that setting up an aircraft manufacturing plant here will allow him to employ low-paid workers.
The reality is: if he can't sell a single plane, he can't afford to hire even the cheapest workers.
When Charles went to the factory to sign the contract, he called Djoka. Charles' money was with Djoka, and he could only pay by calling him, otherwise Charles could not afford to buy anything.
Deyoka happened to be applying for industrial property rights for the rocket at the town hall near the headquarters: the Congreve rocket had nothing to do with Charles, and the airplane had nothing to do with Charles, but taking the rocket on an airplane and launching it to hit balloons did have something to do with Charles.
According to industrial property law, if the Allies wanted to use this method on the battlefield, they had to pay Charles property fees, which was one of Charles' important sources of income.
Charles called home and learned from Camille where Djoka was. He immediately sent someone to the city hall to ask Djoka to drive over with his checkbook.
When Djokovic learned that Charles was going to spend hundreds of thousands of francs to buy an aircraft manufacturing plant and a flying club, he was so surprised that he could fit an apple in his mouth.
"Have you made up your mind? Do you really want to spend 400,000 francs to buy the aircraft manufacturing plant?" As the car drove to the factory, Djoka asked anxiously, regardless of Eric sitting in the back seat.
"Yes, father!" Charles answered firmly, "As long as it can produce airplanes!"
Eric was touched. Everyone knew that an aircraft manufacturing plant was not easy to run, but this little guy was still insisting on keeping his promise even though he knew he would lose money!
He didn't know that Charles had already received an order from the military and was anxious to get the factory up and running.
Charles and Deyoka were surprised by what they saw when they arrived at the factory. The factory was well protected and even the machines were brand new without any rust.
"It can produce about fifty aircraft every month!" Eric introduced, "As long as we recruit workers, we can start production immediately!"
Deyoka was a little unconvinced. He asked Eric, "I heard that your factory didn't sell many planes and even owed a lot of money to the bank. Why is the factory well maintained?"
Eric answered with a bit of embarrassment: "That's because I've always wanted to sell it. I know no one would be willing to buy a bunch of junk, so whenever I have time, I will maintain them. A few months ago, I also borrowed money to buy the Grom rotary engine production line, which enables the factory to produce 'Avro' aircraft. The price is that I will be homeless from now on..."
Charles was a little confused: "Uncle Eric, you already knew there was no market for airplanes, why did you do this?"
Eric smiled helplessly: "Lieutenant, do you know the mentality of gamblers? They always want to make a comeback in the last round, so they will keep throwing money at the gambling table. I can be considered a gambler, but I am gambling with the factory instead of the gambling table!"
Ciel nodded in understanding.
Some businessmen do have this mentality. They think that since they already owe the bank so much money that they can never pay it back, why not take another gamble? Maybe they can turn things around!
Eric bet on the Avro because he knew it was an excellent aircraft that would be inexpensive to produce.
However, in the end, it lost miserably because there was no market.
If he just holds on a little longer, ten days, twenty days, or at most a month, he will usher in the spring of airplanes. Then he will really get rich, and orders will come to him in an endless stream.
But even at this turning point, he was planning to sell almost his life's efforts and hopes for a low price of 400,000 francs, but he was still full of gratitude to Charles!
This made Charles feel a little guilty.
However, Charles quickly abandoned this unnecessary guilt. He understood that this was how business was done, and he knew that this was the only way to seize business opportunities in the future.
Eric didn't know that he would eventually sell the aircraft factory or have it taken over by a bank.
At this moment, a man in a suit and tie carrying a black briefcase appeared at the door. He knocked on the door, fixed his eyes directly on Eric and said, "Mr. Eric, I'm from the Bank of France!"
Eric asked doubtfully, "Come to confiscate the factory? I'll have money to pay you back soon!"
"No!" The man in the suit glanced at Dejoka and Charles, took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to Eric, saying, "We plan to acquire your factory. I wonder if you are interested!"
Eric took the document and flipped through it, then looked at the man in the suit in surprise: "450,000 francs? You plan to buy the factory with 450,000 francs?"
"Yes!" The man in the suit nodded: "After deducting the 350,000 francs you owe to the bank, you can still get 100,000 francs!"
The man in the suit even took out a contract and a pen from his jacket pocket, handed it to Eric and said, "If there are no problems, please sign here!"
Charles suddenly understood why Gallieni had discussed those matters with him in the lounge.
The military has no secrets for capitalists, even the headquarters. Capitalists will grasp the needs of the military at the first opportunity, which means business opportunities for them.
Now, the capitalists know that the military needs planes, and they need a lot of them.
They even knew that Charles had purchased the Eric Aircraft Factory for 400,000 francs, so they offered 450,000 francs and planned to snatch the aircraft factory from Charles.
Djokovic looked at Charles in shock, as if asking, should we continue to raise the price?
Charles shook his head slightly. If they raised the price, the bank would immediately raise it again. They couldn't engage in a price war with the bank, as it was the Bank of France!
Charles nodded to Eric and said, "That's normal, Uncle Eric! You should accept the money. Congratulations!"
As he said that, he planned to leave with Djokovic!
Unexpectedly, Eric called out to him before he had taken a few steps: "Wait, little guy!"
Eric handed the contract and documents back to the man in the suit: "Sorry, sir, you are a little late. The factory has been sold! If you want to buy it, you should find its real owner!"
As he said this, Eric winked at Charles.
The man in the suit didn't understand this. He had clearly arrived on time and offered a price 50,000 francs higher than the other party, but was rejected!
"Are you not satisfied with the price?" the man in the suit asked doubtfully, "We can still talk about it..."
"No sir!" Eric interrupted him. "Like I said, I sold it!"
Afterwards, Eric said to Charles: "This is not for you, little guy! I just don't want to cooperate with capitalists. They must have bad intentions!"
But Charles knew that he did it for the sake of promise. He believed that Charles helped him when he was in the most difficult time, and he could not betray Charles at the last moment!
No wonder he couldn't be a successful businessman!
However, as a capitalist, Charles really needs an assistant and partner like Eric.
(End of this chapter)
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