I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 127: The Competition Isn’t Just Shire

Chapter 127: Chapter 127: The Competition Isn’t Just Shire

At this moment, Simon came in and said something to Francis, causing Francis’s eyelids to twitch and his teeth to grind. He said, "Is this true?"

"Yes!" Simon nodded in response. "The military’s ’Holt 60’ are all purchased from Shire Tractor Factory, currently a total of 1000 units, each priced at 2500 francs!"

Francis didn’t say anything. He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was bleeding. He didn’t even have the courage to calculate his losses.

"Sir!" Simon suggested, "We still have a chance. If the military has such a large demand, we can bring back the workers to start production again. We can produce 500 units per month..."

Francis gently shook his head. Simon might be a good steward, but he was definitely not an excellent businessman.

"The military’s demand has been almost completely absorbed by this batch of tractors!" Francis said helplessly. "Next, our competition will still be Shire’s ’Holt 75’. Who do you think the military will choose when faced with two types of tractors?"

Simon was speechless. Even a fool would know to choose the more powerful and faster ’Holt 75’.

In other words, Francis had been completely kicked out of the tractor industry by Shire!

It’s unimaginable that a large factory operated for decades by the shrewd and cautious business genius Francis was defeated by a kid who had been in business for just over a month and started from scratch, and defeated soundly!

Before Francis seems to have only one choice: to sell off the redundant factory buildings and production lines, keeping a small part to focus on tank production.

Embarrassingly, who would want to buy the outdated ’Holt 60’ production lines?

It seems only Shire Tractor Factory would be willing to bid. They could upgrade part of the production lines to convert them to ’Holt 75’ production lines.

If he wanted to sell it, Francis would have to approach Shire. Otherwise, he would have to throw the production lines away like garbage!

Francis seemed to have thought of this too. He snorted, his face becoming more grim.

How much would Shire pay for the production lines?

Fifty thousand francs? Even less...

Francis planned to discuss it with Grevy and Arman first. Maybe they would buy it, or they might know someone willing to buy it. Who knows?

This was the only thing Francis could be thankful for: his aristocratic "friends" had not abandoned him!

However, when Francis’s car was about to leave the factory, it was stopped by several French Soldiers.

Simon, who was driving in the front, turned back to explain: "They came to set up a post in the early hours today, saying it’s to protect the safety of tank production."

"Sir, your documents!" A Lieutenant stood expressionless in front of the car.

After looking at the documents Francis handed over, his gaze turned to the file bag next to Francis’s seat and he asked, "What is that?"

"You don’t need to know!" Francis replied impatiently.

That was the new tank blueprint he planned to take to discuss improvement plans with Grevy and others.

"It’s necessary, sir!" The Lieutenant’s voice was cold. "Our task here, aside from protecting your safety, also includes protecting the country’s secrets!"

Helpless, Francis could only hand the file bag to the Lieutenant.

The Lieutenant opened it, drew out the documents, glanced at them briefly, and immediately became alert. His eyes fixed on Francis, he asked, "This is..."

"Tank design drawings!" Francis responded truthfully. "I am planning to make improvements to them..."

"I apologize, sir!" The Lieutenant handed the design drawings back to Francis. "You cannot take them out. If you must do so, you need to file in advance, detailing the contents of the documents, where you are going, and the purpose. We will send someone to accompany you!"

Francis, already in a bad mood, instantly flared up. He roared, "Lieutenant, I am merely producing tanks to sell to you. You have no right to interfere with my freedom..."

The words couldn’t be finished; the latter few words gradually softened and finally disappeared because the Lieutenant had already stood up, holding the gun holster at his waist, and several soldiers in front of the car had also taken down their rifles from their shoulders.

The Lieutenant’s voice turned severe, with a hint of command. "Sorry, sir! Indeed, you only sell the tanks to us, but we pay the money and risk our lives on the battlefield. If the enemy learns about the tanks’ weaknesses, our soldiers will die in batches on the battlefield. Do you still insist this is your freedom?"

By the end, the Lieutenant’s eyes even showed a bit of killing intent.

Helpless, Francis could only have the steward drive back home and leave the tank design drawings at the villa.

This time, the Lieutenant added a procedure of body search, saying, "I have reason to suspect you might carry the design drawings on your body, sir, after all, it’s just a piece of paper!"

Francis gritted his teeth but did not speak. He knew it was meaningless to say anything to these soldiers!

...

When he arrived at Brad Manor, Francis’s first sentence was, "Can you get rid of the soldiers at my door? They are as annoying as flies, nearly costing my life over a document just a while ago!"

Arman knew nothing about it and asked in confusion, "What soldiers?"

Grevy, who had been to Shire’s factory and knew some of the situation, sat by the fireplace, elegantly warming his hands by the cozy fire, and responded calmly, "Who do you think those soldiers belong to?"

"Whose?" Francis didn’t understand the meaning of this question. "Aren’t they sent by the government?"

"They are Gallieni’s confidants, Francis!" Grevy laughed. "They are there to protect Shire!"

Francis suddenly realized, Shire, again Shire, everything was because of Shire!

Then he thought, why did Pierre’s conscription issue, which had already been settled, suddenly encounter problems?

Clearly, it was also because of Shire!

Francis felt he had been fooled. He even wanted to confront Shire immediately.

But Grevy showed no concern for these matters. He removed his white gloves and threw them onto the side table, stood up, walked over to the fireplace, stared at the fire thoughtfully, and said, "We are in trouble, gentlemen. Our competitor is not only Shire!"

Francis looked at Grevy in doubt. He didn’t believe anyone other than Shire could manufacture tanks.

Grevy then provided the answer: "Schneider Company, gentlemen! They have gained the support of Xia Fei and the Automobile Technical Service Department, and are developing a new type of tank!"

Everyone was shocked!

Schneider is an old military enterprise in France that manufactures artillery and warships. It has funds, strength, and technology.

Xia Fei is the Commander-in-Chief of France.

The Automobile Technical Service Department is the government department that manages military vehicles.

Combined, it seems no one can compete with them!

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