Chapter 573: Charles is not a lamb
Perhaps it was the urgency of the war, or perhaps he knew that another meaning of "Charle" was profit and wealth, but Stokes built a laboratory for the development of special tank guns in just two days. He decided to shorten the breech block based on the French 75 gun, and if possible reduce the weight and increase the service life.
Matthew also put the "Char B1" tank on the agenda.
With blueprints, engines, and the foundation for producing tanks, and using ready-made artillery, it can be pieced together almost like building blocks. Matthew estimates that a prototype of this new type can be produced and put into testing in a month or two.
Joseph was sent to America to develop the business.
Joseph believes that with the help of FN, he is confident that he can quickly gain a foothold in the United States.
But these are not the point.
Although FN cooperated with Steed Arsenal and followed Sharma's lead, this branch was far away in the United States, not in Belgium.
Charles has absolute control over Belgium. FN head office does not even have the capital to resist. They know that obedience is the only way out.
The situation is different for the American branch. Joseph's opening of an arsenal in the United States may even form a competitive relationship with it. It is only under pressure from the head office that it has to help Joseph on the surface.
What really played a key role was that Charles contacted Colonel Johnson of the US military, the head of the tank research laboratory, who had previously purchased the production license of the "Charr A1" tank from Charles.
…
The Tank Research Laboratory located on the north bank of the Potomac River in Washington, USA.
(The above picture shows Washington, D.C.)
Although the laboratory is called a "laboratory", it actually looks more like a military camp.
The gates here are closed all year round and the courtyard is surrounded by high walls. There are patrols and sentries everywhere outside the walls, but from time to time, rumbling sounds and soldiers' shouts can be heard from inside the walls.
It was filled with barbed wire, trenches, and anti-tank trenches, like a small battlefield.
Colonel Johnson was commanding the 1st U.S. Tank Regiment in a simulated attack on "enemy positions."
He frowned, holding a document in his hand and constantly checking it, and occasionally he rudely shouted at the lazy American soldiers on the field: "Move your legs and keep up with the tanks, you bastards, or I will shove the tank exhaust pipe up your ass!"
The staff officer put away his binoculars and reported helplessly: "Colonel, we can't get through the anti-tank trench. I think the only way is to buy a bridge-laying vehicle from Charles."
Colonel Johnson shook his head slightly. “You don’t understand, Ryan. There are so many things that need to be purchased.”
Almost everything had to be purchased, including armored reconnaissance vehicles, submachine guns, machine guns, and even helmets.
Although the United States has money, the point is that there is no war pressure now, and Congress will not approve these funds. It took the military a lot of effort to buy the tank production license from Charles.
what to do?
Colonel Johnson fell into deep despair as he looked at the soldiers in front of him who were making fun of the war.
The soldiers had no idea how cruel war was. 100,000 casualties a day was just a number in their eyes, and they still had no idea about it in their minds.
If these new recruits were to go to the battlefield one day, they would be scared to pee their pants the first time!
At this time, the signalman handed Colonel Johnson a telegram: "Colonel, a telegram from France, Charles said he intends to open an arsenal in the United States. I wonder if we welcome it?"
Colonel Johnson, who was looking at the training ground with a worried look on his face, suddenly turned around and asked, "What did you say?"
Then, without waiting for the signalman to speak, he stepped forward and snatched the telegram from the signalman's hand. After reading it twice to confirm that it was correct, he took a few deep breaths with a smile on his face and shouted excitedly: "Great, we are saved!"
Colonel Johnson waved his fist nervously, thrusting his hips forward a few times, and suddenly pointed at the signalman and ordered: "Call back immediately: you are most welcome. If you set up a factory in our country, the government and the military will most likely give your company the greatest preferential policies!"
As soon as the signalman turned to leave, Colonel Johnson turned to the staff and ordered: "Drive the car over and go to the headquarters immediately. General William will be very happy!"
…
More than three hours later, Charles received the latest reply from Colonel Johnson: "I have contacted my superiors. The military welcomes you to set up a factory in our country. We have secured a series of preferential policies for you, including subsidies for purchasing real estate, priority in hiring workers, and legal assistance from the military."
The most considerable of these should be "military legal aid", which represents the support of the military. With a military background, they will provide professional lawyers to protect Charles' factory all the way.
But Charles was still not satisfied. He called back: "I still have some concerns. You know, there is no war pressure in the United States, which means your purchase volume is not large."
Ciel knew how to bargain.
This time it took a little longer and I didn’t receive a reply until the next day.
Later, Charles learned that the military had negotiated with the Federal Taxation Bureau overnight to secure benefits for Charles:
"We can exempt your company from taxes for three years. In addition, we guarantee a minimum purchase quantity for each piece of equipment your company produces. The specific quantity will be discussed in detail. Please rest assured, General, we will not let you go bankrupt!"
Judging from the telegram, Colonel Johnson seemed to be more anxious than Charles.
Charles had expected this outcome.
Although the United States was deeply influenced by the "Monroe Doctrine" and remained neutral behind closed doors, it has always been a country unwilling to lag behind.
At this time, the United States had the world's leading industrial production capacity, even surpassing Britain, which was known as the world's number one, but its technology and military equipment lagged far behind European countries.
(Note: This has a lot to do with not participating in the war. Equipment and tactics are rapidly updated in battle, while the United States stagnates in peace.)
The United States was trying to keep up with the world, so it purchased the production license for "Shire A1" from Shire.
However, as the battle deepened, advanced equipment emerged one after another, including grenades, mortars, light machine guns, fighter jets...
Even the wealthy United States cannot buy the production licenses for all these things.
Now, Shire is actually going to set up a factory in the United States.
My god, this is a gift from God!
Workers will acquire skills during production, and at the same time, a large number of productive talents will be trained for the United States, as well as equipment, concepts, and even tactics.
(Note: Military products are different from other commodities. When they are equipped to the troops, they often require soldiers to be trained to use them. Therefore, tactical diffusion is inevitable.)
Even if we take a step back and say that one day the United States were to shamelessly confiscate all these factories, Charles would be unable to do anything about it.
So this is definitely a lamb delivered to your doorstep, why wouldn't you welcome him?
What the US military doesn't know is that Charles is not a lamb, he is here to be fleeced!
(End of this chapter)
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