I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France

After listening to Tijani's plea, Shire calmly replied, "Your father is right; you should consider things from his perspective."

Tijani looked at Shire in disbelief, "He's right? You actually...support his side?"

Unbelievable!

What am I doing? A clown pleasing no one?

Shire analyzed, "You must have heard about the recent significant increase in steel prices..."

"I know." Tijani interrupted Shire, "The shipyard needs steel, and fluctuations in steel prices affect the shipyard's profitability. Is that what you are getting at?"

Shire did not deny it.

"Our argument has never been about this." Tijani explained, "His vision shouldn't be so short-sighted, only seeing the immediate benefits and neglecting the future. He doesn't lack this money!"

"You think it's a matter of money?" Shire looked at Tijani with interest, realizing that this young man might not understand the business logic behind all of this.

"Then what is it?" Tijani became more agitated, "The shipyard can even pass these costs on to the military. If the steel is more expensive, the warships built will certainly be more expensive. What's he losing? Nothing at all!"

"Survival, General." Shire replied calmly, "At this rate, it won't be long before Brest Shipyard ceases to exist. All you and your father will have left is money."

"What?" Tijani still didn't understand.

Moreover, with money, there's nothing that can't be accomplished, right?

"Just answer one question." Shire said, "If the performance of the same warship is similar, and Schneider Shipyard's price is one-third cheaper than Brest Shipyard or even more, who would you choose?"

Tijani was stunned, he understood Shire's point.

The military would of course choose Schneider, and then Brest Shipyard would have no reason to exist because its ships are always more expensive, with the same quality and performance.

Eventually, Wells would lose everything—voice, influence, power... He might still have money, but could do nothing, only be at the mercy of others.

"We have torpedoes." Tijani still held onto a sliver of hope, "We successfully improved the torpedoes using your method. They are currently undergoing tests, and it can be determined that their range has increased two to three times, reaching three kilometers!"

Then Tijani added, "Additionally, we have landing crafts and amphibious landing ships. We hold the industrial patent for them and maintain technological leadership..."

"Useless, General." Shire reminded, "They all require steel, and special steel at that. Moreover, even if the military is willing to continue cooperating with Brest Shipyard, the shipyard might be limited to these fields."

For centuries, Brest Shipyard has been building warships for France, dating back to 1624 under Louis XIV.

Now, it might end its shipbuilding history in support of Shire and transition to producing landing ships, landing crafts, or torpedoes... This means it will be kicked out of the naval battleground.

Shire concluded, "They control the lifeline of Brest Shipyard, General. Although I can offer the shipyard a future, they can decide the shipyard's life or death. If it were you, which would you choose?"

Tijani fell silent.

Without survival, there can be no future, and the future would be meaningless.

But without a future, surviving at least offers a glimmer of hope.

Thus, Wells can only hesitate between the two, preferring survival without a future at critical moments.

"One day," Shire said, "if you inherit Brest Shipyard, you too will act this way because you have no other choice, no other path to take."

"You mean we will become enemies in the future?" Tijani laughed and shook his head, "I'd rather end it!"

"You don't understand, General," Shire said, "When that day comes, doing so would actually help me."

Tijani was initially stunned but quickly began to grasp the meaning of these words.

Ending Brest Shipyard would indeed throw away all influence, making oneself an outsider, and then wanting to do anything for Shire would be futile. One might even need Shire's protection.

This is the cruelty of power struggles; it is more about "having no choice" rather than the "freedom" Tijani imagined.

Gradually, Tijani began to understand Wells.

He leaned back in his chair, his tone filled with some dejection, "So, we can only let this all happen?"

Suddenly, Tijani sat up straight and looked at Shire with hopeful eyes, "You must have a solution, otherwise you wouldn't be this calm!"

"What more can I do?" Shire raised the documents in his hand, "I'm stuck in the military camp and can't even return home, let alone take care of my business."

Tijani gave a bitter smile, "Don't you find it ironic? You've been running around saving France, while the capitalists you protect are undermining you behind your back, and you plan to resign yourself to this?"

"Provocation won't work on me, General." Shire smiled and turned his attention back to the instructions on the gas masks.

"I think we should conduct some tests." Shire said, "We need to know the effective duration of gas masks under gas exposure; this might be useful on future battlefields."

After pausing for a moment, Shire added, "Also, the concentration of the gas, the effective time should vary with different concentrations. Knowing these will allow us to devise specific countermeasures."

But Tijani did not respond; he stared blankly at the map of France hanging on the wall, holding a pencil and shaking it, as if contemplating something.

"Hey, are you listening, General?" Shire reminded, "This relates to many people's lives!"

"Other people's lives have nothing to do with us, Shire." Tijani replied slowly, "You've saved enough; it's time to think about yourself."

Then he added, "If you don't want to, then let me think!"

"Alright." Shire asked, "What have you thought of?"

"Steel!" Tijani replied, "You said it is the lifeline of the shipyard."

"Yes."

"So, if we solve the steel problem, wouldn't we grasp the lifeline in our own hands?"

"The key is how you solve the steel problem." Shire countered, "Buy a steel plant? From Schneider or the Wentier family?"

At this time, no one would be foolish enough to sell a steel plant. If anyone did, it would be at an unrealistic price, and it must include iron mines.

Tijani drew a small circle on the German-controlled zone on the map with his pencil, "You seem to forget something, Mr. Shire, 68% of France's steel industry is concentrated in the northeast, now under German occupation!"

Shire smiled slightly; Tijani had progressed, their thoughts were coinciding!