Chapter 1: Turning to military industry is the best way out

On September 1, 1914, exactly one month after Germany declared war on France, the German army adopted the Schlieffen Plan of "first the west and then the east" to quickly penetrate Belgium and invade France.

At this time, the German vanguard was only about 30 kilometers away from Paris, and all efforts made by the main force of the French army to stop the German right wing had failed.

Paris was in danger!

…

About ten kilometers east of Paris, the small town of Darvoise on the Marne River.

Old Francis sat on the sofa with his clothes on, holding a lit pipe in his right hand and silently watching the flames jumping in the fireplace. His eyes were empty and deep, as if he was making a difficult decision.

Beside him sat the two sons of Bernard's family, the eldest son Pierre and the second son Deyoka.

But they didn't speak, and darkness and silence occupied most of the living room.

Francis' expression was slightly stiffer than usual. He slowly put the pipe to his mouth and smoked gently, and his two scimitar-like white beards danced rhythmically in the firelight.

The eldest son Pierre finally couldn't hold back any longer. He stood up and said:

"Make a decision, father. Staying here is not a wise choice."

"Government officials have left Paris, which means they have given up here. Now everyone is running away. It will be too late if we don't leave!"

The second son Djoka, who had been sitting next to him, turned sideways and leaned forward slightly, with a request in his tone:

"Pierre is right, father. Leave, you can't stop the German army. Nothing is more important than being alive!"

Francis calmly moved his pipe and exhaled a long puff of smoke, responding in a hoarse but firm tone:

"You didn't experience that period. I was only 20 years old at the time!"

"Although I was young, I already had a textile factory, the largest textile factory in Paris."

"Do you know what happened?"

"Just like today, the Germans came over, they took away everything they could take away, and then they were crowned in Paris with arrogance!"

At this point, Francis coughed a few times, and Djoka handed him a glass of water considerately.

Pierre frowned. He knew his father was talking about the Franco-German War 43 years ago. He was born at that time and certainly didn't experience it, but every French person knew about that war and always regarded it as a shame.

(Note: The French call the Franco-Prussian War the "Franco-German War")

After all, France paid 5 billion francs and ceded Alsace and Lorraine.

Since then, everyone in France from top to bottom has the desire to defeat the German army and avenge the previous shame!

However...

"It's meaningless to mention this now!" Pierre was a little impatient: "The point is that the Germans are coming again now. They will attack Paris like last time and take away our factory again!"

Francis took a sip of water and put the cup on the coffee table next to him, saying calmly:

"Last time, I left my factory and left. This time I plan to stick to the end!"

After the Franco-German War, Francis started from scratch again and spent nearly half of his life to run an agricultural tractor factory.

Now, the factory has more than 2,000 employees and can produce more than 500 tractors every month.

This is Francis' life's work, and he will not give up easily.

Never!

Pierre looked at Francis in disbelief. This may be what people often call the generation gap.

He even thought that his father dared to stay because of selfishness.

The 63-year-old father didn't have much time to live anyway, but the younger generation didn't deserve to do so. They could sell everything they had and enjoy the rest of their lives.

Deyoka patiently persuaded:

"Father, if you lose your life, there is no point in keeping the factory and the machines, and even the money is meaningless..."

Francis just snorted and put his face down.

They won't understand.

He is not purely for money and not for life. This time may be an opportunity, an opportunity to double his assets.

The greater the risk, the higher the return is an unchanging rule in business. Now is the time to take risks!

Unfortunately, his two sons did not consider this. They did not have the courage and vision. They simply regarded him as a stubborn old man...

At this time, a slightly childish voice sounded softly:

"Mr. Francis, if you plan to stay here, why don't you bet a little bigger?"

Francis was stunned. Someone actually saw through his mind?

Turning his head to look at the corner where the voice came from, it was the grandson he did not recognize.

Dyoka hurriedly stopped:

"Shut up, Charles. This is an adult's business!"

Dyoka turned his eyes back to Francis and explained carefully:

"Camille went to take care of her mother, so I took Charles..."

Eighteen years ago, Dyoka married Camille, a maid, despite Francis's opposition. Francis has always been brooding over it and unwilling to admit this marriage.

This is why Charles called Francis "Mr." instead of "Grandpa".

Francis ignored Djoka and asked the boy, "So, how do you think we can make the bet bigger?"

Djoka looked at Francis in fear. His father took Charles' words seriously.

Djoka was about to say something, but Francis stopped him with his eyes: "Let him talk!"

Charles, who was originally sitting on a chair covered with a blanket, exhaled and stood up slowly. His mature tone was very inconsistent with his age:

"Sir, as far as I know, there is a large motorcycle factory adjacent to your tractor factory. It has recently been temporarily converted to the production of machine guns, right?"

Francis' eyes immediately lit up:

"Yes, Xidaqi Motorcycle Factory!"

It switched to the production of machine guns half a month ago.

After the war broke out, the government found that ammunition and firearms could not meet the front-line supplies, so it transferred some firearms and ammunition to private enterprises for production. Xidaqi Motorcycle Factory is one of the private enterprises fortunate enough to receive government orders and equipment support.

Charles walked slowly to the fireplace and squatted down, calmly added two firewood and said:

"During a war, the most profitable thing is arms. Don't you object, sir?"

Francis said "Huh", this was obvious, but then he frowned:

"What if my reserves are nowhere near enough to buy this motorcycle factory and its machine gun production line?"

He's reluctant to admit that he doesn't have much liquidity, even though that's what he means.

Charles did not expose Francis, but he knew what the tractor factory was facing.

Two months ago, a shot was fired in Sarajevo, and the whole of Europe was shrouded in suspicion of war.

Farmers or ranchers don’t know who the land will belong to in the future, and they don’t know whether they will be drafted into the army and go to war. Of course, no one wants to buy a tractor for farming.

Tractors have been unsalable and a large number of orders have been cancelled, which has put tractor factories in trouble.

Turning to the military industry is the best way out for Francis!

Charles turned around. Half of his handsome face was flushed red by the firelight, but the side facing Francis became darker. He made a suggestion:

"I heard that sir, there are two branches in the south. Why don't you exchange these two branches with it?"

Francis looked shocked:

"These two branches combined are less than half of what is needed..."

Charles interrupted Francis:

"He'll be willing to change, sir. This is Paris, and the Germans won't advance here."

"In other words, the two branches in the south are safe!"

Francis instantly understood what Charles meant.

Although the two branch factories are only half the value of the motorcycle factory, the key point is that they are safe.

What is more valuable than security in times of war?

Francis hesitated for a while, then stood up with a "Teng" sound, then quickly walked to the clothes rack and took off the bowler hat and coat:

"Give me the flashlight, Djoka!"

"I should go talk to Sidaqi. Later, maybe that guy will leave the factory and run away!"

Pierre wanted to stop him, but Francis had already taken the handed flashlight and opened the door and went out without looking back.

Pierre and Djoka looked at each other. They didn't expect that their father was still thinking about business at this time, and he also wanted to bet the few remaining safe assets on the gambling table.

Djoka turned his eyes to Charles, his eyes full of doubts. He didn't recognize his son!