Chapter 112 Gallieni's money is not easy to earn

Carter's flying club is in the 10th arrondissement.

Paris Gare de l'Est is in this arrondissement. Carter believes that airplanes and trains are both means of transportation, and that the flying club may gain more business if it is opened here.

The fact is that many people only know that there are such things as airplanes. When they see an airplane flying in the sky, they may be surprised to shout: "Look, there is a big kite."

However, if they want to spend money to fly, they would rather choose to ride a horse.

After the bank's people showed up at Eric's aircraft factory, Djoka immediately realized that Charles might be right... If the aircraft factory has no business opportunities, the bank will not be willing to increase the price to acquire it.

Therefore, Djoka is a little worried that the flying club will be in the same situation.

"We have to hurry up!" Djoka said: "The bank's people may have already negotiated the price with them at the flying club. That Carter... I hope he will recognize you like Eric!"

Djoka stepped on the accelerator to the bottom, wishing to treat the car as a plane and drive to the flying club immediately.

But Charles was not in a hurry at all. He advised Deyoka: "Don't worry, father! The people in the bank will not be interested in the flying club!"

"Why?" Deyoka turned his head slightly and looked at Charles in confusion: "What is the difference between them and the aircraft manufacturer?"

"Of course!" Charles replied: "The aircraft manufacturer can achieve a monopoly on technology, and the flying club is just a piece of land. The military can easily find another place to replace it!"

"But there are still pilots!" Deyoka objected: "There are not many people who can fly a plane!"

"Pilots can be trained in batches!" Charles cast his eyes on the pedestrians on both sides of the car: "Perhaps the most worthless thing in the world is people. The capitalists are not stupid enough to compete with the military for people!"

Deyoka felt that what Charles said made sense. After all, the military has the right to recruit. The capitalists who compete with the military for people will not only not make money but may also bring trouble to themselves. This is obviously unwise, very unwise!

Thinking of this, Deyoka was not so nervous and relaxed the accelerator a little.

Sure enough, when the car drove into the flying club, no one from the bank was found.

The flying club was in a mess, full of pilots. There were many aircraft of various models parked at the airport. When they saw Charles' car coming in, they cheered and raised their hands to salute Charles.

They were all pilots near Paris. They heard that Charles would give them high salaries, so they all came one by one.

Charles accepted everyone who came. He asked Carter to check and keep all the talents who could really fly planes or had relevant skills, such as the ability to repair aircraft, maintain aircraft or manage airports.

Deyoka felt a little guilty. He pulled Charles aside and said in a low voice: "Charles, we only have more than 2 million francs in total, most of which are deposits from motorcycle factories. Today we spent more than 500,000 in one go and signed so many pilots. It will be a continuous expenditure. Are you..."

"We don't need to bear the pilot's salary, father!" Charles interrupted Deyoka: "The club is also needed by the military!"

"What?" Deyoka looked at Charles in confusion: "So, are you signing them on behalf of Charles or the military?"

"Sometimes I don't know!" Charles said honestly: "General Gallieni asked me to be in charge of this matter, but many things were not made clear. He only said that it might be transferred to military use in the future..."

After thinking for a while, Charles explained: "I think he meant that I should sign them in my personal name first, which is conducive to confidentiality and will not let the Germans find out our preparations in this regard too early. Wait until they play a role in the battlefield and meet the military's expectations, and then transfer them to military use!"

Deyoka was a little disappointed, which meant that the club and pilots were only Charles's tasks rather than business.

What he didn't know was that the flying club that Charles bought from Carter for 100,000 francs today would be purchased at an estimated price of 300,000 francs if the military found it "useful" in the future.

Pilots really have nothing to do with business. They were the people the military wanted from the beginning, and no one could take them away.

Soon, Charles found that this money was not so easy to make. Gallieni was famous for being stingy when it came to military spending. Before that, he was famous for always quarreling with capitalists.

Charles spent most of the day signing contracts, and finally screened the pilots and signed 137 people. In addition, he also bought back the planes in good condition from the pilots, including various models: "Dove", "Gaudron", "Breguet", and even the German "DD Albatross".

(Note: Before the outbreak of World War I, the "DD Albatross" set many world records in a few months, so it was very popular among flight enthusiasts)

Charles reported the results of the contract to Gallieni, and explained which planes could be used for reconnaissance, which planes could be used for combat with rockets, and some planes could be used as trainers to train new students.

"Very good!" Gallieni listened while reading the report, nodding and praising from time to time: "I am very satisfied!"

"Then..." Charles raised the document in his hand: "Twenty-one planes were purchased, and 173,000 francs were spent, plus the pilots' first salary, a total of 181,500 francs!"

Charles meant, where should the money spent be reimbursed?

This does not include the money for purchasing the flying club. Are you going to return the original price of 100,000 to me now or buy it back for 300,000 in the future? There must be an explanation!

Unexpectedly, Gallieni replied leisurely: "You know, Lieutenant, the military has recently purchased a batch of tanks and a large number of sidecars, plus recruited many new soldiers. Now it is in serious deficit and unable to pay other expenses!"

"But General!" Charles looked at the documents in his hand: "I have already spent the money..."

"Yes!" Gallieni said: "Of course I won't let you spend this money in vain. Look, how about calculating it at a loan interest rate of 5%? It is considered a loan from the military to you!"

Charles refused without thinking: "This is the lowest interest rate, it is difficult to borrow from the bank!"

Charles is a capitalist who knows the future trend. He can make money with money at a very fast speed and make it grow rapidly like a snowball. Therefore, it is not cost-effective to lend money at an interest rate of 10%, let alone 5%.

"Then..." Gallieni said: "I may need to send a staff officer to talk to you and let him convince you to accept this plan!"

Charles raised his eyebrows. It doesn't matter who you send. I can't agree!

Unexpectedly, Gallieni closed the document in his hand, stared at Charles and said: "Lieutenant, you go and complete this task!"

Charles was stunned, and instantly understood what Gallieni meant. He sent Charles, the "staff officer", to persuade Charles, the "capitalist"!

Can you still do this?

Isn't this one of the reasons why you recruited me as a staff officer?

This old fox!