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

Chapter 52 Is this called a “small problem”?
Deyoka didn't know where Charles got the news from. He only knew that he received a reply soon after sending the telegram to Joseph:

"The other party agreed to sell it for 25 francs. Do you want to buy it?"

Djokovic replied with a straightforward "yes", then jumped in his car and rushed to Paris. He was going to the bank to handle a cross-border payment.

(Note: European cross-border payments developed in the mid-19th century, using the agency banking model, which has continued to this day)
Djokovic hesitated as he signed at the bank counter.

He didn't quite understand why Charles was willing to spend 25 francs to buy a technology and product that was about to be eliminated!

However, considering that Charles knew about this matter but still insisted, he must have his considerations, so Djoka finally signed and transferred the money.

Charles did have his considerations. His purpose in purchasing the "Holt 75" was not to produce tractors, but to produce tanks and armored vehicles.

What he really needs is engine technology, and in this regard, the "Holt 120" does not have much advantage over the "Holt 75". The former is more about making the engine larger and physically superimposing it to obtain greater output power.

This is also the reason why the "Holt 75" was not truly eliminated until it was discontinued ten years later.

Dejoka spent the afternoon traveling back and forth between the small town of Darvois and Paris, and did not return home until dark.

Charles was locked in the room for a whole day, and even when he asked to go to Paris with Djokovic, Camille rejected it without hesitation.

"You are not needed for these things, Charles!" Camille said. "Your father can handle it all by himself!"

Then Camille joked: "Don't worry, Charles! Djokovic has to grow up, it's time to let him do something!"

Djokovic raised his head and made a "ha" sound to express his protest, but he felt a little upset in his heart.

Camille was at least partially truthful, he did rely on Charles's decisions.

But, that's Charles, the child I raised. It makes me proud to see that he is better than me!
……

The next day, Charles was finally allowed to go to the factory with Dejoka.

After a quick breakfast and waving goodbye to Camille, they got in the Ford and drove to the factory.

The car drove on the street, and neighbors kept waving and greeting them. Aunt Elisa, who was selling croissants, waved enthusiastically: "Master Charles, would you like a croissant? It's for you!"

"I just had breakfast, thank you, Aunt Elisa!" Charles turned around to express his gratitude while the car was moving.

"She is fulfilling her promise!" Djoka, who was sitting in the driver's seat, turned his head slightly.

"What?" Charles didn't understand what this meant.

Djokovic explained:

"Aunt Elisa's son is a wounded soldier. Half of his palm was cut off by shrapnel and he can't continue to serve. She hopes to find a job for her son in the motorcycle factory, and I agreed!"

"She said we could have her croissants for free if we wanted!"

Charles said "Oh", remembering that he had promised to work for the wounded soldiers in the field hospital.

Djokovic asked curiously, "How are you going to deal with the wounded? It's hard for them to adapt to the work in the motorcycle factory. Some of them even need to be taken care of by others!"

Charles didn't think much about it and said, "We can set up a hospital for the wounded, gather the wounded together for management, and give them some simple parts and machines to process, charging them by the piece!"

Djokovic hesitated, then nodded: "It's a good idea, let them work hard to support themselves!"

"Yes!" Charles said, "This is no loss for us, or not much. Only in this way can it be sustainable. Otherwise, we will not be able to feed so many wounded soldiers, and there will be countless more wounded soldiers who will need our support in the future!" Dejoka agreed, "They will be grateful for this, Charles, you gave them the opportunity to be self-reliant!"

Charles couldn't help but think of Matthew. Would he accept this kind of life of "supporting himself"?
That would be just another way of waiting to die for him!

At this moment, the car suddenly slowed down. Dejoka looked forward through the window, and asked in a panic, "What's going on?"

Charles looked forward along the direction Deyoka was looking. He saw that a group of French soldiers in red trousers and red hats had appeared in front of the factory. They were armed with live ammunition and set up checkpoints on the road leading into the factory, checking passing vehicles and workers entering the factory one by one.

"What are they looking for?" Djoka looked around: "German spies?"

Charles didn't understand what was happening at first until he saw an officer with a bruised face.

"That's Laurent, father!" said Charles. "They are sent by General Gallieni."

Gallieni had introduced Laurent to the two men that evening and knew he could be trusted.

Dejoka said "Oh" and then saw Laurent.

Soon Djoka became worried again: "Shouldn't he keep his distance from us? Why did he send his confidants?"

Charles raised his eyebrows. "That's normal, father! This is where tanks and sidecars are produced. The military should be worried about German spies infiltrating and stealing our technology!"

Djoka nodded and agreed with Charles.

At this time, Laurent saw Deyoka. He walked to the car with a stern face and asked expressionlessly: "Your ID, sir!"

Djokovic pulled his ID from his inside pocket and handed it over.

(Note: France was the first country to use identity cards, which were created during the French Revolution to prove citizenship and prevent tax evasion. However, they are paper-based and can be easily forged.)
Laurent took the certificate and unfolded it, but he glanced at both sides secretly. Seeing that no one was approaching, he whispered: "Don't worry, sir, we are ordered to protect you! However, our attitude may be a little problematic!"

Laurent straightened his back and raised his head, and said loudly:
"Are you Dejoka? The guy who sold us the motorcycle for 550 francs!"

"You capitalists never consider the difficulties of the people, you only think about making more money!"

As he said that, Laurent threw the document fiercely in Dejoka's face:

"You vampires! I'm warning you, don't play any tricks!"

After he finished, he spat on the ground, and several nearby soldiers laughed at him.

However, Laurent did not notice that the workers around him looked like they were ready to kill. When Laurent was about to say something, a worker shouted:
"Hey, watch your attitude, you asshole!"

"They are the heroes who saved France. Show them some respect!"

"Put away your arrogance, you ignorant and arrogant fellows!"

……

The workers shouted louder and louder, and then they pushed and shoved the soldiers in anger. Laurent was even knocked to the ground by a strong man who pounced on him, and his hat was thrown far away.

The soldiers did not dare to confront the workers with guns. They hurriedly grabbed Laurent and protected him as they retreated in a panic amid the workers' curses, while the workers cheered in victory.

Djokovic and Charles looked at each other. Laurent called this a "small problem"?
Or did he not expect this result at all? !
(End of this chapter)