Where is the really cheap technology?
Of course, it is in the hands of the defeated countries. Technology salvage in the UK is a bit like picking up leaks. It depends entirely on luck and can only find technology that others have ignored.
But the defeated countries are different. The defeated countries are like the treasure house of the Eighteen Thieves. As long as there are funds and channels, not only can many cutting-edge technologies be introduced, but also cutting-edge talents can be introduced together.
Don't talk about Germany. Even at the moment, Italy, which has just been defeated, is like a treasure boy. One attracted George's attention. What attracted him was a piece of news in the newspaper.
"In order to alleviate the government's financial difficulties, the Italian government will sell various official assets including merchant ships..."
Looking at this news, George thought of a statement he had read before. In July 1943, a coup took place in Italy, and Mussolini was arrested and detained. The former Italian Chief of Staff Badoglio organized a new government.
Two months later, the Badoglio government announced an unconditional surrender, and then the German army occupied Rome. Badoglio took the royal family and cabinet members in five cars, fled Rome in the dark, headed for the Adriatic coast, and then boarded two Allied speedboats to escape to the south.
Although the Badoglio government later officially withdrew from the "Axis" alliance and declared war on Germany. Moreover, the governments of Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union also issued declarations recognizing Italy as a joint combatant. However, since the Allied High Command did not trust Badoglio very much, the Badoglio government was not treated better than the Mussolini government.
In addition, the Badoglio military government did not receive the support of the people. The Allies used various means to shake the Badoglio government in order to replace a prime minister that satisfied them, and economic means were one of them. The Badoglio government that retreated to the south, although it had a king and a prime minister, had nothing except the name of a legitimate government.
In this situation, the Badoglio government could only survive with the financial assistance of the Allies, but the Allies had no intention of funding Badoglio. Except for a few million dollars when he first arrived in the South, he did not provide a penny. In the end, it was the financial difficulties that led to the fall of the Badoglio government.
From beginning to end, the United States and Britain did not say a word, but just refused to give money. In order to maintain the operation of the government, Badoglio ordered the sale of government assets including merchant ships, but no buyers bid under the intervention of the Allies.
"Merchant ships... these are merchant ships!"
Looking at the news in the newspaper, George immediately became interested in these ships. The reason was that he needed merchant ships.
Whether it was the future immigrants in North Borneo or the transportation of machinery and equipment and various materials needed for post-war reconstruction, merchant ships were needed.
Except for the Italian merchant ships in front of him, no country would sell merchant ships to him at the first time after the war. Even if there was a big sale of post-war materials, it would take 46 years.
"By then, the cucumbers will be cold...Italy, Italy..."
George said, tapping the newspaper lightly with his fingers.
"It seems that Italy is inevitable!"
However, how to get to Italy is a problem.
Why are there no buyers?
In addition to the intervention of the Allied forces, there is a very important reason, that is, it is wartime and transportation is inconvenient.
However, as long as there is money, there is nothing that cannot be done.
You don't even need money, just a take-off permit - Cobham's aerial refueling company has two planes, as long as there is a take-off permit, you can take off, and this is not a difficult task. After all, for Cobham, whose six planes were requisitioned, the military needs to repay his favor.
So, after Cobham came forward, it took only half a day to get a flight permit - a temporary permit to fly to Spain.
Although the plane is an old-fashioned plane before the war, it can definitely fly to Spain, and then take a plane from Spain to Italy - the scheduled flights between Italy and Spain have not stopped because of the war. After all, Spain is considered half an Axis power.
At the end of 1943, George finally boarded a plane to Brindisi, Italy. However, he was not a representative of Zhenhua Company at that time, but just an ordinary passenger.
The engine of the old ju-52 aircraft made a coughing sound. Although it was old, the plane flew very smoothly. George looked through the information in his hand from time to time. These materials were official information obtained after the plane landed in Sicily.
64 merchant ships with a total tonnage of 287,000 tons, these are merchant ships owned by the Italian government, these ships were not confiscated by the Allies - at least in name, Italy is now an ally, and the Allies can't confiscate the assets of the Allies. Although the Allies have done a lot of mean things to pit their allies, Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union have done a lot, but at least on the surface, they still have to put on a great and glorious appearance.
At this time, Alfonso sat next to him again and said.
"Sir, we will arrive in Brindisi in about three hours."
"Yes,"
Nodding, George did not speak. Alfonso was the manager of the Spanish company he acquired. After arriving in Spain, the first thing he did was to acquire a Spanish company, and then go to Italy in the name of the Spanish company to buy merchant ships of the Allies.
Why go through so much trouble? To put it bluntly, it is to avoid causing dissatisfaction on the part of the Allies. After all, George still has to do business with the Allies. So a company from a neutral country is needed as a disguise.
"When you get to the place, you can just bid directly."
After that, George closed his eyes and silently calculated at what price to buy those merchant ships.
Even in the war, capital is waving its sickle. As long as there is a chance, it will harvest wealth everywhere. If it were not for the war blocking the route, a large number of capitalists would have poured into Italy now.
Just like in the UK-hundreds of agents of American consortiums are waving US dollars in the UK and acquiring everything they are interested in. What is the final result? The British won the war but lost everything.
Even now, on this plane to Brindisi, there may be vultures from the United States among the other passengers. As for how they got to Spain, it is still unknown, but anyone with a sensitive sense of smell will try to bite off a few pieces of flesh from the Italian corpse.
Opening his eyes again, looking at the guys in suits and speaking fluent English in the cabin, George raised his lips and thought to himself.
"It seems that things are not as simple as I thought!"