I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 172: Purchasing an Automobile Company

Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Purchasing an Automobile Company

(The picture above shows a racing car produced by Aston Martin Car Company in 1914)

"Buy a team?" Eric looked at Shire in disbelief, his tone tinged with a bit of helplessness: "Lieutenant, some things are not obtainable with money. If what you want are low-level talents or some workers, I believe you can get them quickly. But what we need may be a top group in this world, and you don’t even know where they are..."

Shire interrupted Eric: "Have you heard of Aston Martin Car?"

Eric shook his head blankly: "No, never heard of it. Is it famous?"

"No!" Shire replied calmly: "It is a car company just founded last year, a British car company."

"So..." Eric shrugged, meaning what’s the point?

Shire continued walking towards the depths of the factory, watching the busy workers while saying: "Although it was only founded one year ago, it can already produce racing cars, participate in competitions, and obtain good rankings."

"And then?" The more Eric listened, the more confused he became. What does this have to do with developing airplanes?

Shire stopped and looked at Eric, revealing the answer: "I heard they plan to sell all the company’s machines and signed technicians."

Eric suddenly realized: "You mean, we are going to buy this car company?"

"And their technicians." Shire added: "All capable technicians who have worked in this company!"

"But..." Eric was shocked and stumbled over his words: "This is a car company that is about to go bankrupt, and only one year old..."

Shire quietly looked at Eric without speaking.

Eric suddenly remembered that his airplane manufacturing plant was also a company on the verge of bankruptcy, but Shire bought it, and now it is thriving.

"Alright!" Eric felt a bit awkward: "It may have potential, but they manufacture cars. They might know little about airplanes..."

"They don’t need to know about airplanes, Uncle Eric!" Shire replied: "They only need to know how to produce engines. They developed a powerful racing car engine within a year. That’s exactly the team we need!"

Eric fell silent, thought for a while, and nodded: "This might be feasible, but the required funds may exceed our imagination..."

"That’s my problem!" Shire interrupted Eric: "I need you to take some people to negotiate with them, buy this company, and bring them here!"

"Alright!" Eric answered helplessly: "If you insist on doing this."

He always thought this was too absurd, spending a huge sum to buy a car company as an airplane development team, and the company is bankrupt. It seemed like a money-wasting business.

But Shire knew the facts were not like this.

Aston Martin Car was not an ordinary car company. Historically, it was bought by Britain’s Sopwith Aircraft Company.

Then, under their efforts, the "Claggett" air-cooled radial piston engine emerged, and the "Camel" fighter that was based on this engine also successfully took to the sky.

From then on, Britain started to dominate the German Army Air Force. Even the famous ace pilot of the German Army, the "Red Baron," was shot down by the "Camel" fighter.

Shire knew that from the invention of airplanes to now, it has only been more than ten years. Its engine is just starting, and most of them are not dedicated engines.

If a team can develop a powerful racing car engine in a short time, their technical level will be no worse than anyone’s.

Shire certainly would not let this team slip through his fingers, nor let the German Fokker fighter dominate all the Allied aircraft like in history once it came out.

...

Business trips seemed simple to Eric. Others would need a car, a train, a ship, then back to a train and a car to reach Britain, taking a week or two.

Eric only needed to bring an assistant, prepare some food, and fly a plane.

Before departing, he waved at Shire: "I might arrive at my destination tomorrow morning. Wait for my good news. I hope their asking price won’t shock you!"

Shire responded confidently with a wave. During this period, he earned over six million francs through selling tractors, planes, motorcycles, etc. Buying a nearly bankrupt car company was more than enough.

When the plane was entering the runway, Eric looked back and shouted at Shire: "You might reconsider, Lieutenant. I think this is unwise. Maybe you should discuss it with Mr. Dejoka first!"

Shire responded with a smile.

He had already discussed it with Dejoka, or rather informed him.

Dejoka was sitting on the sofa reading the Merit Newspaper. He bought a copy of each issue, dumping the previously collected newspapers into the trash.

"If it’s a lie, there’s no need to keep it," he said.

Camille agreed, but he didn’t understand why newspapers about Shire had to be purchased at a high price on the black market.

When Dejoka heard Shire say he wanted to acquire Aston Martin Car Company, his expression was as shocked as Eric’s, as if saying, was Shire crazy? Buying a racing car company to merge it with an airplane manufacturing plant!

But Dejoka didn’t say a word in opposition, not even one.

He just paused for a while, then calmly replied: "Do as you say!"

This made Shire instead feel a bit uncomfortable: "You don’t think this is a moment of impulse?"

Dejoka continued to stare at the newspaper and asked: "When have you ever acted impulsively?"

Then Dejoka spread the newspaper in front of Shire, describing in detail the process of Shire tricking the German Army’s "Big Bertha" into firing range during the Battle of Antwerp.

"You think someone who can come up with this would impulsively buy a company? No, I don’t think so!"

Then Dejoka added: "Moreover, it is your money, Shire. You have the right to dispose of it. And, in a month, you will be of age. Then you can open an account for yourself!"

A month?

Shire felt no difference between being an adult and a minor!

Then Shire thought of something: the parliament promised not to need direct participation in combat because of his underage conscription.

So, if he becomes an adult, does that mean he might be sent to the battlefield?

Thinking of this, Shire felt that being underage was better!

(The picture above shows the British "Camel" fighter)