I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France Chapter 179: Price War

Paulina organized the docunts, compiled them together, and then walked into the office, handing them to Jas who was signing papers.

"Sir!" Paulina said, "These are the decisions Shire made in the past two months. He first bought a motorcycle factory and soon developed a sidecar; then he bought a tractor factory, leading to the ’Mark I’; after that, he bought an aircraft manufacturing plant and a flying club..."

Jas stopped his actions, a serious look appeared on his face, and he interjected, "Which led to the invincible ’Machine Gun Aphro’ and the First Flying Squadron?"

"Yes!" Paulina continued, her tone slowing and voice lowering, "Now, he has sent people to Britain, intending to acquire Aston Martin Car Company."

"Car company?" Jas took the docunts and flipped through them, finding the information on Martin Automobile Company, frowning slightly.

After considering for a while, Jas ordered, "Contact the British office imdiately!"

"Yes, sir!" Paulina responded.

Then the price war began.

"Sir, Shire is offering 1.2 million francs!" Paulina reported from a few ters away after receiving a phone call.

Without thinking, Jas ordered, "1.4 million!"

"1.4 million!" Paulina conveyed the order.

Jas stood up and looked out the window. He was sowhat puzzled, why did Shire insist on this car company? Even at the cost of a price war with him!

Could it be that Shire didn’t know it was Schneider who was bidding? He should have given up long ago!

At this mont, Paulina called out again, "Shire has offered 1.7 million!"

"2 million!" Jas snorted coldly, this reckless man.

After conveying the latest offer, Paulina suddenly felt sothing was off. Hesitantly, she said to Jas, "Sir, Shire must have noticed sothing..."

Paulina’s reminder woke Jas up abruptly, and he quickly ordered, "Abort! Abort imdiately!"

But it was too late, the offer of 2 million had already been sent to Martin Automobile Company, and there was no further response from Shire.

Jas raised an eyebrow, "It seems we’ve been duped."

"Not entirely." Paulina replied, "He originally intended to buy, and upon discovering our involvent, deliberately raised the price..."

Then Paulina’s face changed, "He might be buying sothing more important!"

Jas nodded slowly, he had just figured it out, Shire’s move was not to drain Schneider’s finances, which was insignificant to Schneider.

Shire was using this thod to attract Schneider’s attention, causing them to focus on the car company.

Therefore, Shire must have other intentions.

Paulina’s face changed drastically, she exclaid:

"Technicians, what he wants are the car company’s technicians!"

Paulina rushed to the phone and ordered, "Sign the Martin Company’s technicians, imdiately!"

But Jas shook his head helplessly, "It’s too late, it’s hard for us to even find these people!"

Sure enough, the responses on the other end of the phone were all that the car company’s technicians could not be found.

(Note: In the era without cell phones or pagers, when technicians were out for a conference sowhere, it was very hard to pinpoint their exact location if the eting site was changed secretly)

At 3:40 p.m., more than half an hour after the end of the price war, the news was confird.

With a helpless expression, Paulina reported to Jas, "Shire signed 29 technicians at a monthly salary of 200 francs, except for a few who were unwilling to work in France due to family reasons, the core technicians were all included."

Jas nodded and sat back on the sofa, smiling to himself, "Interesting, this little fellow seems to be using the sa tactics against as he does against his enemies!"

Paulina asked, "Sir, should we contact these technicians further..."

There was still a way, offering the technicians a higher salary, the penalty fees would be covered by Schneider, and they could still be poached.

But Jas shook his head, stopping Paulina from such a "violent" approach.

"So of the technicians will know what’s going on, Paulina." Jas’ voice had a touch of lancholy, "They are highly skilled personnel and understand that Schneider is doing this to suppress Shire, not valuing them, whereas Shire values their abilities!"

Although unwilling, Paulina nodded in agreent.

There are always insightful individuals among the skilled personnel, they prefer to go to places where they can truly be utilized, which represents longer-term developnt and better opportunities to show their potential.

Although Schneider has money, signing them might only treat them as ornants. One day, when Shire advances to the next stage, they would lose their value and be discarded.

Shire, on the other hand, is the one who can truly utilize them.

Therefore, even if money was thrown at the problem, ultimately, so technicians would still fall into Shire’s hands, possibly the most insightful and capable ones.

At this mont, Jas was only interested in one thing. He lit a cigar and said thoughtfully, "What is he planning to do?"

Paulina, standing beside him, answered, "I think it’s about planes, sir, he sent Eric to manage the aircraft manufacturing plant!"

"But ..." Jas coughed lightly in the smoke, "But, his ’Machine Gun Aphro’ is already invincible. No enemy can confront it, no one can compete with it!"

That was what Jas couldn’t figure out.

"Maybe!" Paulina replied, "He is competing with himself."

...

Both of them guessed wrong; Shire rely knew that a crisis would arise in the future, so he prepared in advance.

Engine technology requires technical accumulation, talent reserves, and ti for research and developnt. When problems arise, it’s too late to scramble for solutions, by then the enemy and competitors will have left you far behind.

When Shire learned that Steed had successfully signed 29 technicians, he finally felt at ease.

With talents, everything else can be solved. Machines and equipnt can be bought. Even if Schneider suppresses them, purchasing through Saint-Étienne would be no problem.

Major Fernan asked beside him, "The factory matter?"

"Yes!" Shire replied.

Major Fernan nodded, got closer, and whispered, "You’d better prepare, Major, otherwise, co warti..."

"Understood, Major!" Shire nodded gratefully.

Major Fernan was right, a military command is different from other places. Private matters shouldn’t be brought in, especially in warti, this is military discipline.

However, to be fair, what Shire was doing now wasn’t entirely a private matter: as the commander of the First Flying Squadron and a strategist, considering the future developnt of fighter planes and making efforts towards it, seed like duty!