Chapter 722: Money Really Allows You to Do Whatever You Want
"Why should our destroyers be handed over to Japan for production?" Charles frowned, with anger in his voice.
"That happened a few months ago," Wells replied.
“The Navy wanted to import destroyers to meet escort and combat requirements before we decided to produce them.”
“But neither the UK nor the US can build it for us.”
"The UK has a strong demand for its own warships. Every warship in the shipyard is eager to be launched for combat. There is no extra capacity to build ships for us."
"The United States is also making great efforts to prepare for escort missions in the Atlantic Ocean. The procurement plan has already reached 400 ships. We will have to wait at least two years."
"This is still the case when the United States can produce and deliver normally."
(The above picture shows the situation of the United States building a large number of destroyers during World War I. Although the United States was not the world's most powerful country at that time, its GDP had always been the first. The most important significance of GDP statistics is actually production capacity, that is, the country's production capacity. The United States' production capacity was extremely terrifying at the time. Even without full production, it could complete more than 20 destroyers a month.)
"Can't France build it herself?" asked Charles.
What puzzled him was that the plan for the new destroyer had been given to Wells for some time. If it had been built at the American speed, it would have been almost completed by now. How could it be interrupted just like that?
Wells, however, responded:
"We have been making preparations during this period."
"You may not be aware of the state of the shipyards, Admiral."
"After the war broke out, most of the supporting factories changed their processes to produce ammunition and equipment for the army. We need time to recover."
Charles' eyes darkened, which meant that the production of destroyers was still in the preparation stage, and was competing with the army for production capacity.
No wonder Congress had reason to hand over the construction of the destroyer to Neon.
Wells went on to say, "Just at this time, the Neon ambassador's military attaché to France took the initiative to find the Minister of the Navy and proposed to produce warships for us. So..."
There is no need to say more.
The Minister of the Navy was a Toulonite who did not want the Brest shipyard to regain its vitality, so he went with the flow and gave the order to Japan.
Charles was silent.
This seems fine on the surface.
Neon has excess production capacity and technology, and France is at war with scarce resources and production capacity. Accepting Neon's production can be said to be beneficial rather than harmful, at least in the eyes of the general public who do not understand military affairs.
(Note: At this time, the Neon Navy was ranked 4th, even higher than France which was ranked 5th.)
However, Charles understood.
Once these 10 warships cannot be launched at the Brest Shipyard, the Brest Shipyard may sink.
No matter what shipbuilding plans Charles has in the future, they will be handed over to Neon like they are now, again and again.
Even if France needs to restart warship production in the future, the Toulon shipyard will be used.
When Charles was in trouble, he suddenly remembered what Wells had just said.
"You said that the Neon Ambassador's military attaché took the initiative to contact the Minister of the Navy?" Charles asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Wells said confidently, "We did not seek help from Japan. We even sold warships to Japan more than a decade ago. The navy generally looked down on Japan's craftsmanship and technology, so of course no one would ask Japan for help."
Hearing this, Charles seemed to understand.
Neon is looked down upon by Europe and the United States, and Neon has a servile nature. It hopes to break away from Asia and learn from the West in all aspects.
(Note: Japan's "de-Asianization and Europeanization" theory began in March 1885, when Fukuzawa Yukichi published "De-Asianization Theory" in Jiji Shinpo)
At this time, Neon also had a similar mentality to Romania.
They believed that the Allies had won great victories on both the eastern and western fronts, and Romania had declared war on the Central Powers. On the surface, it seemed that the Central Powers were in imminent danger, and in the near future, the West would surely be dominated by the Allies.
If you don't show your courtesy and make your position clear now, you may never have another chance in the future.
So he took the initiative to show goodwill to France.
Then Charles remembered that at this time in history, Japan had indeed produced warships for France.
I remember it was the "Arab" class, which was produced quickly, of good quality and very cheaply, but in the end the French still laughed at them by picking a lot of bones out of their eggs.
Neon is the kind of person who has a thankless job.
(The picture above shows the prototype of the "Arab" class destroyer produced by Japan for France during World War I. A total of 12 ships were sold to France)
Charles never considered himself a superior person, not even when he fought alongside the colonial army on the battlefield of the Dardanelles.
But if someone is risking his life to show his loyalty, why not satisfy it?
If you don't look down on it, it will be frightened. On the contrary, giving it a few cold eyes can make it satisfied. Why not do it?
Thinking of this, Charles said to Wells: "Continue to complete your project and ignore the interference from the outside world."
"But General." Wells replied awkwardly: "The Secretary of the Navy..."
Charles interrupted him, saying firmly, "This is my money, Wells. If the Secretary of the Navy decides anything, let him pay for it. Do you understand?"
Wells suddenly realized.
Considering the authority, no one can influence the decision of the Minister of the Navy.
Whether it was Wells, General Gueprat, Charles, or even Gallieni, there was no exception.
The military couldn't even contact Wells, the capitalist, directly; they had to place orders with the shipyard through the government parliament.
However.
If these warships were donated by the capitalist Charles, he would have the right to decide which shipyard to place the order for.
Even the Minister of the Navy and even Parliament have no right to interfere.
Charles could have said, "I donated warships, not money. Now that I haven't donated the warships, they are still my private property. What right does Parliament have to decide my property?"
"I understand, General." Wells breathed a sigh of relief.
With Charles' words, it was a foregone conclusion that the Brest Shipyard would resume the production of warships.
"Also, have the Neon Embassy's military attaché contact me." Charles added, "I'll talk to him about building warships."
Wells' voice was a little hesitant: "General, the Japanese military attaché contacted the Minister of the Navy."
Charles's behavior was tantamount to challenging the authority of the Minister of the Navy.
Is it useless for the Japanese military attaché to contact the Minister of the Navy and should he talk to Charles instead?
Let the whole world know that Charles' power is above that of the Minister of the Navy?
Allow Charles to trample on the dignity of the Minister of the Navy?
"You tell the Minister of the Navy that." Charles replied calmly: "Bernard Group plans to use another sum of money to purchase Neon's production capacity, so I need to discuss the specific matters with the Neon military attaché. Whether to do it or not, the decision is in the hands of the Minister of the Navy."
Wells was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with joy.
Good idea, the Minister of the Navy had no reason to refuse, after all, it would add 10 warships to the French Navy.
Even though it was embarrassing for the Secretary of the Navy, he had to agree.
Money really can do whatever you want!
(End of this chapter)
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