Rise of the Argentine Empire

Sheng Hexi had people register an aircraft industry company in Buenos Aires a few days ago, and then had Constantine set up the San Martin Aircraft Manufacturing Plant in Maria City. He had to keep this design and development team.

Currently, Maria City's hardware environment is one of the best in the country. The number of people has increased several times compared to before, most of whom are workers and their families. The current employed population of Maria City has exceeded 20,000, while Cordoba has about 50,000 workers.

Currently, due to the economic crisis, the national industrial employment population is less than 1.5 million, which is 350,000 less than the peak in 1947. The scale of foreign trade is only 2 billion US dollars, which is 1.2 billion US dollars less than in 1948. In terms of trade,

the import and export trade volume of Pralier International is less than 100 million US dollars, which has great potential. The rapid increase last year was also due to the import of a lot of steel smelting equipment, tractors, and motorcycles. The total export value is about 60 million US dollars, mainly from light weapons, food, tobacco, and clothing.

The only thing that Maria City lacks is a scientific research environment, but the situation is changing. Now it is also preparing to set up a formal university, and the name has been decided: San Martin Institute of Technology. Currently, Maria City and San Martin County have been integrated. By arranging for each factory to donate some funds, and with funding from the Maria City government, it can be set up.

Maria City is very close to Cordoba City, and can make full use of Cordoba City's academic and scientific resources, such as the cooperation between Pralier Foods and the Department of Bioengineering of the University of Cordoba (researching various additives).

The Maya Plastics Factory (formerly Maria Plastics Factory) and the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Cordoba have established a research institute, which are both models of industry-university cooperation, as well as the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the like. The level of universities in Argentina is not too weak. Several companies under Sheng Hexi have also established cooperation with several major departments of the University of Buenos Aires through the New Youth League.

As a newly emerging industrial city, there are almost no so-called caudillo families here. Even if there were, they have been expelled or even purged by Sheng Hexi. Even though Cordoba Province is already considered one of the most rampant provinces in Argentina for caudillo forces, Klose expelled the family forces represented by the original mayor as soon as he became mayor. They once occupied most of the farms in San Martin County, which now basically belong to the City Hall.

Churches and church schools have not flourished at all, because Sheng Hexi doesn't like them, and strictly restricts missionary activities. In just a few years, it has become one of the most dynamic and advanced cities in the country.

After more than two years of construction, the city has expanded greatly, filling in a large number of buildings, but the height of the floors is not very high, and there is a lack of basic steel such as rebar.

As long as the La Plata Steel Plant is successfully built, it will further promote the construction of Maria City. Sidek Cement Plant has also set up a branch here, with a production capacity of 500,000 tons.

Maria City has also been wooed by several political parties. Finally, under the instruction of Sheng Hexi, the Radical Party won, but the existence of the Republican Party and the Socialist Party is also allowed.

This negotiation with Tanke is to retain this elite design team and keep the entire aircraft manufacturing industry in Cordoba Province. Cordoba Province takes into account national defense security and a certain economic scale, and is currently the third largest economic province in the country, second only to Buenos Aires Province and Santa Fe Province.

Now Maria City has almost completely become Sheng Hexi's independent kingdom. In addition to the police department led by Constantine, the Maria City Defense Force has also been established. This is the right that all Argentine cities have, as stipulated by the constitution.

The police force and the Maria Defense Force currently have a scale of 500 and 1,000 people respectively, and are secretly managed by Sheng Hexi's people.

Maria City's fiscal revenue has risen against the trend, increasing more than twenty times in less than three years, from less than 1 million pesos a few years ago to 22 million pesos, mainly contributed by several large factories. The gross national product has also exceeded 270 million pesos. With sufficient fiscal revenue, it is second only to Cordoba City in Cordoba Province, and is likely to reach 500 million pesos this year.

Maria City's development in recent months has also started a new round of construction and expansion with Sheng Hexi's large-scale investment, especially in the textile industry, clothing industry, chemical industry, mechanical processing industry, and food industry. A large number of industrial equipment is transported here by rail.

Argentina has always had a "Greater Argentina" plan, which has now completely gone bankrupt. The so-called Greater Argentina is to establish a "South American Group" led by Argentina, including Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and eventually become a political entity. This idea appeared in 1909, and was proposed again in the 1940s, but now it is completely over.

"Hello, Mr. Sheng Hexi."

Tanke looked haggard. He tried to persuade Bilon, but failed. Now he can't even see him. San Martin Aviation Industry Company, he had never even heard of it. If it hadn't been for the contact from the former Cordoba boss, he would have thought it was a scam company.

He was a little surprised by Sheng Hexi's fluent German, but he didn't care too much. He planned to leave Argentina anyway. The death of the test pilot and the disbandment of the project were a big blow. Argentina is not Germany after all. Even France is much stronger than Argentina today.

"It's an honor to meet you. I wonder if Dr. Tanke has heard of Rhein Arsenal? I am the owner of Rhein Arsenal."

Sheng Hexi didn't care about Tanke's attitude. For him, it's right to bow your head before you have strength. He directly added a layer of weight to himself. The San Martin Aircraft Factory is an empty shell, but Rhein Arsenal is not. Rhein Arsenal is already one of the most important military factories in Argentina, with a mysterious background.

"Oh? I have heard of Rhein Arsenal, but the quality of the weapons produced is not very good. I heard that there are still many German descendants working there."

Tanke did know about Rhein Arsenal. It was just a factory producing light weapons, producing imitations of the Stormtrooper assault rifle. Even the technology content of the Arrow III's autocannon is much better than the STG-44.

"What if I can solve the material problem? I can build an aluminum alloy factory within two years to produce the materials needed to manufacture airplanes. I will also have the most powerful mechanical processing plant."

Now, Argentina's Peron's ambitious Second Five-Year Plan has vanished without a trace. This large-scale, yet impractical, heavy industry plan was truly a pipe dream for the Argentinian people.

In the past few years, when the financial situation was better, Argentina's military expenditure accounted for 1/4 of the national fiscal expenditure. Now, it is unsustainable, but without war, the huge military expenditure cannot be converted into economic benefits, or rather, the return cycle is too long, and Argentina's economic development cannot keep up, so it has fallen into a stalemate.

Saint Hesser wasn't just boasting. The metal smelting industry chain (steel, aluminum) and the machinery processing industry are the key industries to break through in the next few years. He plans to open a new factory in Bahía Blanca, a huge investment with huge risks.

"Is that true? Argentina's current industrial base is too weak, with many problems, but the Arrow III project can actually be further optimized through design and improvement. I think it only needs 10 million US dollars, no, 8 million US dollars to continue optimizing, provided that we use the equipment of the Argentine Military Aircraft Factory, and the support of the Air Force."

"In fact, the biggest problem with the dissolution of the aircraft factory's design team is the lack of funds."

"I can also solve the military cooperation. I will set up the factory in Maria City. I can provide enough funds. As for the equipment, don't worry, I am negotiating with the Cordoba Military Department, and I can solve the Air Force's problems."

Making money has never been a problem for him. The financial crisis in the United States has already begun, and he can make another fortune. Moreover, this year's established goals can definitely be overfulfilled, and Balun Bank is accelerating its expansion, which can provide loans to the aircraft factory.

With General Thompson in the military, there is no big problem. The most difficult thing is the military aircraft factory. It is very difficult to swallow an elephant with a snake.

"The Arrow 3 is a very excellent aircraft. We Argentina needs this aircraft. Rhein Military Industries can also provide the necessary equipment. By the way, we have cooperation with La Plata Steel Plant. We can provide more metal materials starting in the second half of the year."

In the future, the fuselage shells of combat aircraft will basically be made of high-strength aluminum-magnesium alloys, the main body of the fuselage will be manganese steel, and the more powerful one is titanium alloy. The Soviets used stainless steel (the famous MiG-25, which the Americans thought was black technology), but most fighter jets still use aluminum-magnesium alloys.

These German designers are not particularly expensive in terms of salary. The main investment is actually in raw materials and processing production lines, which need to be re-recruited, and the education level cannot be low.

"Then, happy cooperation, I am willing to join."

Tank stood up and shook hands with Saint Hesser. After all, Argentina is a very suitable place. The weather in Cordoba Province is similar to that in Germany, even a little better.

The two had a long conversation, talking about future plans.

Tank was very interested in Saint Hesser's unconstrained thinking. Saint Hesser revealed to him some future development directions of aircraft, which made Tank completely take it seriously.

Superpowers the United States and the Soviet Union are developing a new generation of fighter jets. Others including Canada, France, and the United Kingdom also have excellent aircraft industries. It has been almost ten years after World War II, and the aircraft industry is developing rapidly and updating quickly.

For Tank, it is difficult to start over in other countries, and it is difficult to lead a project.

The wealthy Saint Hesser allocates 8 million pesos to the San Martin Aircraft Factory every month to maintain the work of this team. The factory will also slowly add various equipment, draw drawings, and restart the project.

At the same time, Saint Hesser sent senior executives from Rhein Military Industries to continue negotiating with the Argentine Aircraft Manufacturing Factory and the military, intending to purchase or even directly procure their equipment, hollow out this aircraft factory, or even directly merge it, which would be the best. As for the price, it would be the real bottom price.

With the help of General Thompson, I believe there will be no big problems. The big problem of the military engaging in business still needs to be solved.

After communicating these things, Saint Hesser also completed a wish and directly prepared to go south to Bahía Blanca. Now the opportunity is just right.

Dr. Tank also reassembled most of the original staff of the aircraft factory and arranged them to a newly built large industrial park in Maria City.

Rhein Industries still has mechanical processing equipment here, and some metal materials will also be imported from abroad.

As for the Bahía Blanca City Council, there is no big problem.

Several local families have also been severely damaged by the economic crisis, and their strength has been severely damaged, and they are looking for someone to take over.

Now the opportunity is indeed very good.

The Radical Civic Union did not perform very well in this economic crisis, with many problems, which disappointed Saint Hesser. The Radical Civic Union is not only internally divided, but also has other problems.

The people of the Radical Civic Union also pin their hopes on the Americans, but they do not realize how harmful the British and American monopoly capital is to the Argentine economy.

At present, Argentina's food exports are mainly meat, and almost more than half of them are joint ventures of American capital slaughtering and processing plants. Most of the profits are earned by the Americans. The most terrible thing is that the United States itself is Argentina's largest competitor in the meat processing industry.

This is almost equivalent to sending bullets to the enemy.

In addition, the church has also begun to collude with British and American monopoly capital. It can be said that the whole country feels a bit precarious. Internal problems are greater than external problems.

In Saint Hesser's view, this is a huge opportunity, seeking wealth in danger.

On August 22, Saint Hesser led his newly formed staff team to Bahía Blanca, setting off a storm in the south.