I was a tycoon in World War I: Starting to save France

Chapter 25 Getting a bargain

In the end, the motorcycle factory sold the deal for 35 francs.

During this time, Charles repeatedly advised Djokovic earnestly:

"Father, the war is still going on and the outcome is still undecided. Won't you consider it again?"

"We may not even be able to find all the workers, they have almost all fled!"

"Cars are already selling for 910 francs, can we expect a good price for motorcycles?"

……

Charles was telling the truth, but Djokovic was known to be soft-hearted. He answered reluctantly:
"Charles, we should have a factory of our own. Mr. Francis is in urgent need of funds. Let's buy it!"

Although Francis agreed with Dejoka, he was laughing at him in his heart: "Do you know why I put you aside? If you do business with this attitude, everything will be handed over to the other party, you fool!"

Francis had no idea that this was all performed for him, and Charles took advantage of his mentality that Djoka would be "emotional" and lower the price.

Djoka is no longer the Djoka of the past!

At this time, Djokovic seemed to have lived the life Francis hoped for: taking revenge on the Bernard family, especially Francis, with hatred!

The reason why I say "seems" is because Djoka's starting point is to protect Charles. He doesn't want Charles to repeat his life or even worse!

After signing the contract and writing the check, Charles was still angry and full of resentment.

Francis raised his eyebrows at Charles smugly, as if to say, "You are right, Charles! I completely agree with your point of view. The problem is that you are a minor, and there are some things you can't decide!"

The two of them went downstairs in silence. Djokovic took the joystick and started the car from the front, while Charles got in the car without saying a word... Ford cars at that time needed to be started manually, and electric start cars would not be invented until 5 years later.

After the car drove some distance away, Djokovic and Charles smiled at each other.

"Great cooperation!" Djokovic said, "You are born to perform!"

"You're not bad either!" Charles replied.

This time he got a bargain. The original price of the motorcycle was about 100 million francs. Francis exchanged it for 50 francs. He wanted to sell it for 60, but he was bargained down to 35...

From Francis' point of view, he did not lose money. He was just cutting his losses in time. What he really needed was the machine gun factory, which was continuously supplying machine guns and bullets to the military. It seemed reasonable for the motorcycle factory to lose 15 francs.

What Francis didn’t expect was that the motorcycle factory would also be a big success.

"It's up to you now!" Dejoka turned his head and looked at Charles while controlling the steering wheel: "Do you have any plans? I mean the motorcycle factory!"

"No need for planning!" Charles replied, "We just need to produce and then wait!"

Djoka looked confused. Is it that simple?
It's that simple!
During World War I, the army's communication equipment was extremely backward. Although there were telephones, they were expensive and only wealthy families could afford them. The special nature of military operations meant that they could not be used on a large scale.

This meant that communication between troops had to rely on people and vehicles, and flexible and fast motorcycles became the preferred means of transportation for signalmen. During World War I, the British Army alone was equipped with 2 motorcycles.

The French army had no upper limit. Although they were only equipped with 3 vehicles during World War I, that was due to insufficient funds and insufficient production, and they had to import them. Otherwise, 3 motorcycles would be far from meeting the needs of an army of six or seven million!
With such a huge market in front of him and Charles owning the motorcycle factory, does he still need a plan?
Deyoka suddenly thought of something, and asked Charles, "Aren't you worried that Francis might have prepared the Holt 75 tractor you mentioned yesterday?"

Charles understood what Deyoka meant. As the first importer of Holt tractors in France, Francis should pay attention to the development of Holt tractors.

If Francis also knew about the Holt 75 and bought it first, Charles' plan might have failed.

Charles replied calmly: "He knows, but he won't introduce it!"

Dejoka said "Huh?" and the car shook because of distraction.

"Drive carefully, father!" Charles reminded, and then explained: "This is easy to understand. All of Francis' equipment is used to produce 'Holt 60', as are the skilled workers. If all the equipment and workers were replaced to produce 'Holt 75', this would not be something Francis could afford, at least not at the moment!"

Djokovic suddenly realized.

The key point is that Francis' tractor factory has a monopoly in France. "Holt 60" occupies 70% of the market share in France, and no other tractor factory in the country can compete with it.

Francis can maintain his lead as long as he continues like this, and there is certainly no need to upgrade the "Holt 60" to the "Holt 75".

Especially since it was still a war, tractors were unsalable and there was no money or motivation to upgrade them.

No one buys tractors, not because they are not advanced enough, but because there is no demand under the threat of war, and upgrading tractors becomes an unnecessary and stupid thing!
Therefore, although Francis knew that the "Holt 75" was already popular in the UK, he would not pay the price to introduce it. He even blocked the news to make French farmers think that the "Holt 60" was still the best tractor in the world.

"You seem to be able to think of all the problems!" Djoka smiled and said, "I really don't know what's in your little head. Why don't I see that you are so smart in studying?"

"Because learning is not business!" Charles replied: "It is torture for me!"

Djokovic looked helpless: "Who cares? The purpose of studying is to make money..."

Before he could finish his words, there was a sudden burst of fierce artillery fire from the direction of the Marne River, one after another like thunder. A few stray bullets hit the south bank with a whistling sound, and exploded in a field not far from the town, scaring the residents so much that they screamed and fled in all directions.

Deyoka also became nervous. He stepped on the accelerator to speed up the car while cursing: "Damn it, our army has launched an attack on the Germans! At this time!"

The car stopped at the door of the house, and Camille came up to it at a loss.

Djokovic almost dragged Charles out of the car, running and shouting to Camille: "Go back, to the basement, to the basement!"

The three of them hurried back into the house, opened the basement door and went in. When they closed the door, Djoka was gasping for breath, but he finally felt relieved.

The sound of artillery fire was still ringing outside, and there were faint shouts and gunshots.

Camille was shaking with fear, but he mustered up the courage to whisper to Charles: "It's okay, it's okay!"

Deyoka turned on the light, and the flickering light illuminated the messy clutter in the basement. The air was filled with mold and dust.

"Don't worry!" Djokovic comforted, "It's safe here!"

Soon he added: "We must have confidence in the army. They will soon defeat the Germans and drive them away!"

Many people thought so. General Gallieni transferred the 6th Army from Paris, and they joined the 5th Army to attack a German army.

With two armies fighting against one German army, isn't victory a matter of course?
However, war is not as simple as they think, nor is it a game of numbers or a comparison of military strength!

(End of this chapter)