Chapter 50 Improvisational Performance

What Charles didn't know was that Dejoka had a fierce "battle" with Gallieni when he registered industrial property rights in Paris.

Gallieni acted very quickly, just as he said to his staff: "The Germans are retreating, gentlemen! We urgently need sidecars to catch up with the Germans, not tanks that can block bullets. This matter cannot be delayed, because as long as the enemy is given a few days, they can build a line of defense that our sidecars cannot cross!"

Therefore, Gallieni submitted the application for purchasing sidecars to the government early the next morning and followed up the whole process.

The process was smooth, thanks to the uniqueness of sidecars, and even Charles was the only motorcycle factory, so Gallieni's application was approved soon, and Gallieni obtained the power to independently purchase sidecars on behalf of the military.

Then, Gallieni learned that Dejoka applied for industrial property rights at the City Hall, and he immediately rushed to discuss the purchase of sidecars.

"We may need 2,000 or even more. You should sell it cheaper, Mr. Deyoka!"

"No, General!" Deyoka refused bluntly: "800 francs per car, not a centime less, it's already very cheap!"

"Cheap? Do you think I'm a fool?" Gallieni gnashed his teeth in hatred, and excitedly tapped the desktop with his fingers: "A sedan only costs 900 francs, sir, you actually sell sidecars at the same price as sedans!"

"You can buy a sedan, General!" Deyoka refused: "It's expensive because it's worth the money. Nothing can replace it, including sedans!"

Deyoka was telling the truth. The passability and off-road performance of a sedan can't be compared with a sidecar, and the front-mounted engine of a sedan is a big target, and any bullet can paralyze it on the battlefield.

"I know the motorcycle only costs 220 francs, and you just added a sidecar to it, which costs at most 300 francs..."

"The point is that we are the only ones who have it, General!" Deyoka emphasized proudly: "If you are not satisfied with the price, I suggest you go ask somewhere else!"

Galieni was furious: "Do you know what this is, sir? You ignore the safety of the soldiers, the danger of the army on the battlefield, and the distress of France..."

"I am a member of France, General!" Deyoka objected, and he began to list the good things he had done: "We raised food for the French army out of our own pockets, invented tanks to help France win this war, and we also helped the French win the war. In the battle, he also helped the wounded in the field hospital, and even donated 100 sidecars to the military for free to repel the Germans who tried to counterattack... You actually accused me of ignoring the army, ignoring the soldiers, and ignoring France? "

Gallieni retorted: "Then you shouldn't raise the price of sidecars to 800 francs at this critical moment. This price makes all the good reputation you have won go down the drain. Now you are no different from those profiteers!"

"Okay!" Deyoka chose to give in: "700 francs, no less!"

"It's still too expensive, what we need is not a small amount!"

After a verbal battle, General Gallieni finally lowered the price to 550 francs.

This was just a play. 550 francs was the price agreed upon by Charles and Gallieni last night.

The cost of a sidecar is about 270 francs. Gallieni may have given a purchase price of 800 francs out of the mentality of compensating Charles.

"This is acceptable to the military!" Gallieni said, "It's much better than the capitalists making four or five times more!"

Dejoka's eyes lit up instantly. The profit was considerable. A sidecar made 530 francs, and 1,000 cars was more than 500,000 francs. The military's purchase volume was definitely more than 1,000 cars. This was much more cost-effective than selling industrial property rights.

However, Charles thought for a while and said, "550 francs per car!"

"What?" Gallieni felt that this was not true.

"Charles..." Dejoka thought he had heard it wrong.

Charles turned his eyes to Dejoka and said, "Too much profit will bring us a lot of trouble, father!"

Dejoka looked confused. Businessmen only complain about too little profit, how can they worry about too much profit?

Charles analyzed: "If the profit of a sidecar reaches 530 francs, there will definitely be capitalists ready to move. They can import motorcycles from overseas and transform them into sidecars to compete with us. Even if this requires freight and high import prices, they can still make money!"

Deyoka suddenly realized: "If we lower the price to 550 francs, the profit will be compressed to 280 francs, and they will not be able to import motorcycles to compete with us, because they can't make money at all!"

"Yes!" Although Charles' voice was immature, his tone and actions were quite mature: "In addition, if capitalists want to imitate, they must build a factory and a production line in France, and finally bypass our industrial property rights. In the case of small profit margins... After comprehensive consideration, they may choose to give up instead of following up and becoming our competitors!"

"Brilliant strategy, Charles!" Gallieni praised: "Now, I know where your strategic and tactical talents come from. The mall is simply another battlefield!"

The price of 550 francs was set.

The next morning, what happened at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris was not pre-planned. Dejoka and Gallieni had an impromptu performance.

Paris was well-informed. The big capitalists would soon know about this and think:

"That's what Gallieni is. This fool always quarrels with the capitalists over the military's money."

"The three-wheeler only sells for 550 francs? This unlucky Djoka has cut off everyone's money!"

…

The Ritz Hotel on Place Vendôme in central Paris.

In a luxurious conference room, Francis leisurely enjoyed his favorite Algerian coffee, looked at the military representatives sitting opposite with a smile, picked up a cigar and lit it.

Francis was responsible for negotiating the price of the tank with the military. He was pushed to the negotiating table by Grevi in ​​order to make others mistakenly believe that the property rights of the tank were still in the hands of Charles.

Grevey promised Francis a 1% commission.

Francis calculated: one tank can be sold for 6,000 francs, and 1,500 tanks are 9 million. This means that his commission is 90,000 francs, 90,000!

The military representative looked anxious and sighed feebly: "Mr. Francis, it is difficult for us to accept the unit price of 6,000 francs. If you can..."

Francis didn't even bother to reply. He just raised the smoking cigar in his hand to indicate that there was no possibility of price reduction.

It’s not me who is anxious, but you, Francis thought. Every minute we wait here, countless soldiers will die because there are no tanks. This is my bargaining chip!

At this time, a signal soldier came in. He glanced at Francis, then walked towards the military representative and bent down to whisper a few words in his ear.

The military representative's eyes lit up, and he immediately stood up and said to Francis: "Sorry, sir, I'm going to take a call!"

Francis was sensitive to the fact that things had changed, and that they were developing in an unfavorable direction.

What could it be?

When he was doubting, an attendant hurriedly opened the door and walked in. He came closer and said to Francis: "Mr. Greville's instructions are: 5,000 francs, sign the contract immediately! Immediately!"

Francis' expression changed, things might be worse than he imagined!