Chapter 52: This is called a

Dejoka didn't know where Charles got the news from. He only knew that he received a call back soon after the telegram was sent to Joseph:

"The other party agreed to sell it for 250,000 francs. Do you want to buy it?"

Dejoka replied "yes" very straightforwardly, then jumped on the car and rushed to Paris. He was going to the bank to handle cross-border payments.

(Note: European cross-border payments developed in the mid-19th century, using the agency model, which has continued to this day)

Dejoka hesitated when signing at the bank counter.

He didn't understand why Charles was willing to spend 250,000 francs to buy a technology and product that was about to be eliminated!

However, considering that Charles insisted on this matter even though he knew it, he must have his considerations. Dejoka finally signed and remitted the money.

Charles did have his considerations. His purpose of buying "Holt 75" was not to produce tractors, but to produce tanks and armored vehicles.

What he really needed was engine technology, and in this regard, "Holt 120" did not have a great advantage over "Holt 75". The former was more about physically superimposing the engine size to obtain greater output power.

This is also the reason why the "Holt 75" was not really eliminated until ten years later.

Djoka spent an afternoon running back and forth between the town of Darvois and Paris, and did not return home until dark.

Charles was locked in the room for a whole day, and even when he asked to go to Paris with Djoka, Camille rejected it without hesitation.

"You are not needed for these things, Charles!" Camille said, "Your father can handle it alone!"

Then Camille joked, "Don't worry, Charles! Djoka will always grow up, it's time to let him do something!"

Djoka raised his head and protested with a "ha", but he felt sour in his heart.

Camille at least told part of the truth, he did rely on Charles' decision.

But that was Charles, the child I raised, and it was also a kind of pride to see that he was better than me!

...

The next day, Charles was finally allowed to go to the factory with Djoka.

After a simple breakfast and waving goodbye to Camille, they got in the Ford car and drove to the factory.

The car drove on the street, and neighbors kept waving and greeting them. Aunt Elisa, who was selling croissants, waved enthusiastically: "Master Charles, would you like a croissant? It's for you!"

"I just had breakfast, thank you, Aunt Elisa!" Charles turned his head back in the moving car to express his gratitude.

"She is fulfilling her promise!" Deyoka, who was sitting in the driver's seat, turned his head slightly.

"What?" Charles didn't understand what this meant.

Deyoka explained:

"Aunt Elisa's son is a wounded soldier. His palm was cut off by shrapnel and he couldn't continue to serve. She hopes to find a job for her son in the motorcycle factory, and I agreed!"

"She said we can enjoy her croissants for free, as long as we want!"

Charles said "Oh", remembering that he had promised to work for those wounded soldiers in the field hospital before.

Deyoka asked curiously: "How do you plan to deal with the wounded? It is difficult for them to adapt to the work in the motorcycle factory, and some of them even need to be taken care of by others!"

Charles didn't think much: "We can set up a hospital for the wounded, manage the wounded together, and give them some simple parts and machines to process, and charge them by piece!"

Deyoka hesitated, then nodded: "A good way, let them work hard to support themselves!"

"Yes!" Charles said: "This is no loss to us, or the loss is not big. Only in this way can it be sustainable. Otherwise, we will not be able to support so many wounded soldiers, and there will be countless wounded soldiers who need our support in the future!"

Deyoka agreed: "They will be grateful for this, Charles, you gave them the opportunity to be self-reliant!"

Charles unconsciously thought of Matthew. Would he accept this kind of "supporting himself" life?

That would be just another kind of waiting to die for him!

At this time, the car suddenly slowed down. Deyoka looked forward through the window, with a panic in his tone: "What's going on?"

Charles looked forward along Deyoka's gaze. In front of the factory, a group of French soldiers in red pants and red hats appeared at some point. They set up checkpoints on the road leading to the factory with live ammunition, checking passing vehicles and workers one by one.

"What are they looking for?" Deyoka looked around: "German spies?"

Charles didn't understand what happened at first, until he saw an officer with a bruised face.

"That's Laurent, father!" Charles said, "They were sent by General Gallieni!"

Galieni introduced Laurent to the two that night and knew he was trustworthy.

Deyoka said "Oh" and then saw Laurent.

Soon, Dejoka was a little worried again: "Shouldn't he keep his distance from us? Why did he send his confidants?"

Charles raised his eyebrows: "That's normal, father! This is where tanks and sidecars are produced. The military should be worried that German spies will infiltrate and steal our technology!"

Dejoka nodded and agreed with Charles.

At this time, Laurent saw Dejoka. He walked to the car with a stern face and asked expressionlessly: "Your ID, sir!"

Dejoka took out his ID from his inner pocket and handed it over.

(Note: France was the first country to use ID cards. It was created during the French Revolution. It was used to prove citizenship and prevent tax evasion. However, it was paper and easy to forge)

Laurent took the document and unfolded it, but he glanced at both sides secretly. Seeing that no one was approaching, he whispered: "Don't worry, sir, we are ordered to protect you! However, our attitude may be a little problematic!"

Laurent straightened his waist and raised his head, and said loudly:

"Are you Deyoka? The one who sold the motorcycle to us for 550 francs!"

"You capitalists never consider the difficulties of the people, but only think about making more money!"

Laurent threw the document hard in Deyoka's face:

"You vampires! I warn you, don't play any tricks!"

After that, he didn't forget to spit on the ground, and several nearby soldiers also laughed in cooperation.

However, Laurent did not notice that the workers around him looked like they were ready to kill. When Laurent was about to say something, a worker shouted:

"Hey, watch your attitude, you bastard!"

"They are the heroes who saved France, show some respect!"

"Put away your arrogance, you ignorant and arrogant guys!"

...

The workers shouted louder and louder, and then they pushed the soldiers forward one by one in anger. Laurent was even knocked to the ground by a strong man who rushed over, and his hat was thrown far away.

The soldiers did not dare to confront the workers with guns, and hurriedly grabbed Laurent, protecting him and retreating in a panic amid the workers' curses, while the workers cheered like a victory.

Deyoka and Charles looked at each other. Laurent called this a "small problem"?

Or did he not expect this result at all? !