Mediterranean hegemon

On January 12, 1924, the British newspaper The Times reported two news stories in a joking tone:

The first was the news that the provisional government of Munich in Germany was extinguished by the Weimar government’s defense forces. During the entire rebellion, including the losses caused by the Berlin garrison and the suicide trucks, the total number of casualties of the defense forces exceeded 1,500, almost the same as the casualties of the National Socialist Party. The Times reporter wrote mockingly: "The well-equipped, well-trained government army, which is known as the elite of the German Empire, fought 1:1 with the mob they called it, and finally had to rely on numbers and point spreads to win."

"What is even more surprising is the attitude of the German people. Adolf Hitler, the leader of the National Socialist Party, had fled the scene, but later returned to surrender to the military and called on other party members to lay down their arms and surrender. On the day he was escorted to Berlin and imprisoned, more than 3,000 people formed a parade and held signs to express their support for him - Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist Party will always be in our hearts... According to public opinion analysis, due to the huge casualties, Adolf Hitler is very likely to be sentenced to death for treason. It is reported that the first trial will be held in March...

The government army's suppression of the Munich rebellion did not change the trajectory of the German mark falling into the abyss. Now the exchange rate between the mark and the US dollar has exceeded 1 trillion marks: 1 US dollar. There are so many zeros on the mark banknotes that it is more cost-effective to use them for burning than to directly buy wood..."

The second piece of news is the news that the Italian government sold three Queen-class battleships to the United Group for US$4.7 million through complex operations such as preferred shares. All observers were delighted and thought that the United Group had made an extremely stupid deal - purely in terms of price, $4.7 million to buy three third-rate battleships seemed a good deal, but if they were used as scrap steel, their value would far exceed their own value. The question was, what would a United Group do with three outdated battleships?

The newspaper wrote in a teasing tone, "In the future, the Mediterranean naval structure will undergo the following changes: First, the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet; Second, the Italian Navy; Third, the French Navy Mediterranean Fleet; Fourth, the Greek Navy; Fifth, the United Group Navy...

Considering that the United Group already has the United Airlines as the second air force, and the Young Italian League Volunteers as the ground force, and now has formed a second navy...This newspaper believes that starting next year, it is necessary to comprehensively evaluate the military strength of the United Group - from the perspective of strength and integrity, the difference between the military strength of the group and the German Defense Force is only two Austrian Defense Forces.

This passage is obviously a satire on the low combat effectiveness of the Weimar Defense Force, and also a satire on the United Group's wasteful spending, but ordinary readers will all respect the United Group after reading it - this is the first large group company in Europe with a complete three-service armed force!

"Master, what do you think of the satirical article in the Times?"

"Not very good... They just stated a fact. "Contini smiled, "Uncle Antonio, don't be nervous. This is how newspapers and public opinion in democratic countries are. A dog biting a man is not news, but a man biting a dog is news. There is nothing to be proud of when Seeckt's defense forces overwhelm the National Socialist Party. It is news that they are bitten back by the National Socialist Party. The British are now mocking the weak strength of the Weimar Defense Forces, and they dare to expand their army by 25,000. Sooner or later, they will suffer in the future. "

"But... Italy?"

"The leader doesn't care about it, and the heads of the three armed forces are also very satisfied, so this will not hinder us. "Contini smiled, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has helped me contact and sell the Vittorio Emanuele to the Bulgarians for 1.5 million US dollars, to be paid in three installments."

"Master..."

"I know what you want to say, you lost money, right?" Contini waved his hand indifferently, "It's just a few hundred thousand dollars, a small matter, the US stock market will make it back in one day. Besides, when do we not lose so much? Last time, Corfu donated 10 million liras, which is also 500,000! "

Antonio was speechless. This was not an exaggeration: before Christmas, the 45 million US dollars of stocks invested by Contini in the United States had gone out of the bottom area, and even had a 7% floating profit on the books, which increased by more than 3 million US dollars at once. However, Contini did not care about this. Instead, he took out another 1,000 US dollars from the 3,000 US dollars from the Pope and invested it, intending to buy another 30 million US dollars of stocks to bring the holding position to more than 80 million (including the floating profit).

"But last year's annual report is ugly..." Antonio said, "Although the accountants are still doing the final calculations, no matter how they calculate it, it is impossible to be less than a loss of 200 million liras. If this news leaks out..."

"It doesn't matter... Let it go out openly and say that I lost 200 million liras." Contini smiled slightly, "The investment amount of this group this year is 700 million liras, of which the expected loss is 300 million! ”

“Master, you…”

“Uncle Antonio, you can’t just look at the losses, you have to see what’s behind the losses…” Contini counted on his fingers and listed them one by one,

“First, the United Home flagship stores in 8 major cities have been opened. Whether they make money or not, they have always been very popular. When all 17 stores are opened this year, they will be everywhere;

Second, the Milan special line has been completed, and the Rome special line is about to be completed. The effect brought by this is well-known. We are the only group company with three armed forces, and there is no other group company in Europe that has exclusive city lines;

Third, six civil aviation bases have been built, and the daily parcel delivery volume of United Express exceeds 100 pieces. These are all gratifying achievements. It is expected that the civil aviation will be fully rolled out this year;

Fourth, 1,800 sets of workers' housing have been built, and it is expected that another 3,000 sets will be built this year. Our workers' new village is a European initiative;

Fifth, United Power has completed preparations, and United Chemical, United Steel, United Shipbuilding and even United Electric have completed the first phase of civil engineering. These are all gushing forces;

Sixth, the number of United radios owned has exceeded 20,000, which is unique in Europe. Italy has come from behind to achieve a curve overtaking in the broadcasting industry. What is it based on? It is based on the United Group's unremitting promotion at a loss;

Seventh and the last thing, the United Group has a very close relationship with the three armed forces. In terms of time and seniority, Fiat, Ansaldo and other companies have cooperated with the military for many years and have long been consolidated for many years, but do they have such a deep relationship with us? ”

Antonio shook his head: These companies are counting on making money from the army, how can they have such a good relationship, but the relationship of the United Group is also completely built with money.

"Then keep spending money. In this world, you can do whatever you want if you have money!" Contini smiled, "Sooner or later they will realize the power of my model."

"But loans must be repaid, and preferred shares must also pay dividends, and then..."

"Repay the money? I never thought about it..." Contini smiled, "With 100,000 workers in the United Group, do they need to pay back the money? Who will collect the debt?"

"You..." Antonio was stunned.

"Besides, isn't it said that the United Group has the armed forces of the three armed forces? As long as the Italian Defense Forces don't show up, which banker has the ability to collect violently? The court? The government? There are all our people there!" Contini laughed, "Uncle Antonio, don't be nervous. When I turn the United Group into a national policy group, it will be owned by all Italian people. Isn't the loan from the left pocket to the right pocket? Talking about repaying the money hurts feelings? ”

This logic is really impressive. Antonio looked helpless, but he couldn't say a word - the words are rough but the truth is not rough!

"You won't really keep the other two warships, will you?"

"No, the Naples is going to be sold, and someone has found a buyer for me." Contini added, "As for the last Roma, I have also arranged a place for it."

"Who are you going to sell the Naples to? The Romanians? Yugoslavia? Turkey can't sell it..."

"These two poor guys can't pay a penny. The Romanians said they would exchange it with oil, but the problem is that it will last for 20 years, which is too long. I can't stand it." Contini explained, "I plan to sell it to the Far East. Someone in China will need it."

"China?" Antonio was shocked. "Isn't there an arms embargo there?"

"Who said I sold weapons? I sold a scrap ship. Can the scrap steel of the navy be called arms? "Contini made an exaggerated gesture, "The bid has been sent out, 2,500 silver dollars per ton of naval scrap steel, sold as a whole, free shipping worldwide, door-to-door delivery!"