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

The negotiation went smoothly. Shire exchanged 30 "Camel" fighter planes for five artillery production lines, three of which were dismantled and transported by the British.

Of course, Shire would not hand over all 30 "Camels" at once. He specified in the contract that before the three production lines arrived in Paris and successfully went into production, the 30 "Camels" would be in training status, which means they would be used to teach British pilots to fly and ground crews to maintain.

After all, the person doing business was the Minister of the Navy, whose notorious greed was globally renowned. Post-World War II, he was infamous for causing nearly ten million Indians to starve to death.

Dealing with such a shameless and ruthless person, Shire had to be extra cautious.

...

The afternoon after signing the contract, Shire went back to Davaz Town.

Shire didn't go home but headed directly to the tractor factory to find Dejoka.

Perhaps out of habit, Dejoka treated the tractor factory as his headquarters, even though there were also an aircraft manufacturing plant and a newspaper office in Paris.

When it came to Steed's munitions factory, Dejoka did not interfere much. Dejoka believed that as long as Shire maintained his advantage in the military, Steed would not "change his mind".

However, the affairs of these factories alone were enough to keep Dejoka busy, and recently, he had to acquire bankrupt or struggling insurance companies to enter the insurance industry, making him so occupied that he didn't even have time to drink a coffee. He even worked overnight a few days without going home, even though his place was just a stone's throw away.

Regarding this, Camille couldn't help but complain:

"I heard our assets have already reached hundreds of millions. Don't you think that's satisfying enough?"

"What do we need so much money for? Aren't we eating the same food and living in the same kind of houses?"

"At this rate, there will never be an end. I don't see what's the point!"

...

Sitting at the dining table drinking onion soup while reading the newspaper, Dejoka had to stay updated on social events, even if it was just a fire, for advancing into the insurance business.

As for Camille's words, they went in one ear and out the other; he didn't pay attention to them.

Noticing this, Camille angrily snatched the newspaper from Dejoka's hand and raised her voice, "Did you hear what I said? You should stop and rest for a while, both you and Shire!"

Dejoka stared blankly at Camille, it took him a long time to adjust his thoughts and recall part of Camille's complaint.

"Rest? Have we earned enough money?" Dejoka shook his head, looking serious, "No, Camille, it will never be enough. If we rest, it's not going to be now. You don't understand, we are on another battlefield."

"Another battlefield?" Camille looked puzzled.

"Yes," Dejoka explained, "Many capitalists are openly and secretly targeting Shire, even wishing to harm him. We have just gained some traction, and Shire has finally been able to intimidate those capitalists. We must use this opportunity to grow stronger. And you want us to rest?"

Dejoka concluded, "We are not doing this for money, Camille, although you could say it is for money. More importantly, it is for the struggle against capitalists. Do you understand? It is not much better than the real battlefield Shire is facing, perhaps even more dangerous!"

Camille nodded somewhat understandingly, feeling the danger within and knowing Dejoka was not exaggerating.

After hesitating for a while, Camille silently handed the newspaper back to Dejoka and began to clear the plates.

The competition among capitalists can indeed be considered another battlefield. It is filled with brutality and bloodshed, only without visible smoke.

Being from a merchant family, Dejoka deeply understood this, thus he devoted himself entirely to factory management.

Sometimes even Dejoka felt destiny played tricks on him. He chose to stay away from the deceit and treachery of the business world, yet now found himself unknowingly pulled in and deeply entangled.

Was it because of Shire?

Perhaps it was at first.

But now, Dejoka found himself enjoying it.

It was a reflection of his self-worth, seeing those once arrogant capitalists overtaken and defeated by him, Dejoka felt a strange sense of pride and fulfillment.

...

That day, while Dejoka was busy instructing the acquisition of Nini Insurance Company over the phone, he was surprised to see Shire, in military uniform, walking into the office and waving at him.

Dejoka hurriedly gave his instructions over the phone, then greeted Shire with a smile, "What, finally have time to check on your factory?"

While speaking, Dejoka glanced at Shire's military rank, noticing two stars. This was the first time he saw Shire wearing the rank of Brigadier General, bringing a sense of pride and a trace of envy to his eyes.

The height Shire had reached was something he could never touch in his lifetime.

(The image above shows the Brigadier General rank with two stars. The French military rank originally had a single star, specifically for brigade commanders, while the two-star Brigadier General typically commanded a division and was also called "Marshal of the camp". Later, the two-star Brigadier General became the brigade commander, and the single star rank was canceled, thus skipping directly from the golden epaulet of the field officer to the two stars of the Brigadier General.)

There was an empty desk next to Dejoka's desk, which was Shire's desk, with the lamp Shire chose when he first moved in.

If not for the few books that Shire often read piled on it, he almost wouldn't have recognized his own desk.

Shire took the coffee handed over by the assistant and sat down casually, asking Dejoka, "How is the insurance company acquisition going?"

"Very smoothly!" Dejoka replied, "We have acquired three insurance companies at low prices, all from Dunkirk. They were scared stiff by the German bombing, eager to sell quickly."

Speaking, Dejoka picked up a form from his desk and handed it to Shire.

Shire took a look, three insurance companies combined for only over 10 million francs, indeed cheap.

However, Shire wasn't interested in this, he tossed the form onto the desk, took a sip of his coffee, and asked, "Have you heard about the Germans bombing London, Father?"

"Of course," Dejoka nodded, "It was last night's event; it has already spread throughout France."

Shire murmured an acknowledgment and continued to drink his coffee.

Suddenly, Dejoka understood, he turned to Shire and asked, "You wouldn't be thinking of developing the insurance business in London, would you?"

"Why not?" Shire countered, "Now is the best time to bottom fish!"

Dejoka thought about it and agreed.

The Germans bombed London with zeppelins, and the British were helpless against them.

Everyone believed that the Germans would soon expand the scale of bombing.

This caused panic in London, and there were even rumors that the Germans had hundreds of zeppelins ready to bomb London simultaneously.

Opening an insurance company in London now would have people lining up to throw money in!