After Schulenburg explained the loan plan and the Lend-Lease Act, Stolypin shook his head.
v.e Company often makes surprising moves, and they always prove to be right in the end, but the package proposed this time was still beyond the scope of his imagination.
The Home Secretary asked cautiously:
"Can I understand your company's plan this way - your company will lease guns and cannons to us, and after the war is over, we will return the weapons to your company?"
"That's it, Your Excellency."
"I've never heard of such a thing."
It's normal. Until a few days ago, no one in this world had ever heard of such a thing. It was so unbelievable that it was normal to not understand it at once. Even the elders of the Dragon Clan and the company's top executives reacted when they heard such a plan.
The reaction is similar to that of Stolypin.
"Excuse me, Mr. Representative. But I have to say, this sounds a bit... whimsical."
After careful consideration, he used a relatively neutral word and did not describe Li Lin's plan as crazy talk.
"But this is a good plan for the principality, Your Excellency."
The top student from the Stasi Economic Ministry smiled and promoted the various advantages of the Lend-Lease Act.
"The principality only needs to spend a small price to obtain weapons. Generals can experience it personally, or deliver small batches to frontline troops for actual combat testing. After witnessing the advantages and disadvantages of the weapons, they can decide whether to purchase or lease more such weapons."
"Sounds really good."
The old fox in the officialdom quickly understood the implication of Schulenberg's words. Compared with the traditional weapon and equipment process, the economic and time costs of renting weapons for actual combat have dropped, and the army will improve its combat effectiveness much faster. More importantly,
, due to smaller expenses, officials who propose leasing weapons do not have to
Like purchasing weapons, they were worried that their decision or the implementation of a national decision would result in the purchase of a batch of useless waste, which would seriously threaten their political future and even their lives. On the contrary, they used a smart and cheap method to avoid being fooled by cunning arms dealers.
, the Tsar and the Council of Elders will reward them for this.
From all aspects, this plan is indeed good.
Although leasing weapons brings much smaller kickbacks to officials at all levels compared to direct purchases, the accompanying political benefits will make bureaucrats feel tempted. For the principality, in addition to leasing itself saving money, the reduction in kickbacks is also a factor.
This saves money in disguise.
Of course, as long as there is intention, kickback is just a small problem and can be solved at any time.
"One more thing. After the war, if the public is satisfied with the leased weapons and your government agrees, they can buy them."
Another bait, but not enough to completely sway Stolypin.
"Mr. Representative, I have a few more questions."
"Excuse me."
"If after the war the government decides to purchase the leased weapons, the selling price will be based on the original price or the price after deducting the rent."
"Of course it's the original price."
There is no doubt that only a fool would deduct the rent and then reduce the price.
"However, based on the long-term cooperative relationship, based on the on-site conditions and the intentions of both parties, we can offer a discount."
Before Stolypin's eyes narrowed, Schulenberg once again offered an irresistible temptation.
For countries like the Ross Union and the Principality, the company did not expect them to purchase the leased weapons at the original price from the beginning. The bears are always like this. They always like to take advantage in transactions and do not give the bears who are short of money a sweetener.
There's no way to get them to take the bait.
But this is not a problem. First raise the price, then discount - this is the simplest promotion method. Anyway, the price of the weapon is set by v.e company, and there is no object that can be referenced and compared. To formulate a relatively
It's high, but the "original price" is within the bearable range of the bears.
If there is a little more kickback to pave the way, the matter will be completely solved.
"If after the war, our army decides to return all the weapons, but some of them were consumed during the war, lost or captured by the human army, do we need to compensate according to the original price?"
"Of course, Your Excellency. But we can provide discounts according to the situation."
Still the same as the previous question.
After lowering his head and thinking for a moment, Stolypin said:
"Thank you very much for your explanation, Mr. Representative. I have one last question. You said before that this leasing business includes other aspects besides weapons and ammunition. Can it be understood as your company's trains, equipment and instruments and other industries?"
Products are also included.”
The old fox finally showed his trump card, and the Stasi's economic experts sneered inwardly.
I am afraid that few people know that the decision-maker for the principality's attempt to transition to industrialization was Grand Elder Count Witte, and even less well-known is that the promoters were Interior Minister Stolypin and Oklana Director Dzerzhinsky.
It is left to these two to implement. In addition to the fact that they are both supporters of the industrialization policy and trusted by Count Werther, a very important reason is that their personalities are very close. They both have a steel-like tenacity and enough ruthlessness.
Provide strong policy implementation impetus for this country that is already showing signs of sluggishness.
The interior minister worked tirelessly on industrialization attempts. The progress of every project and experiment was engraved in his mind and he would never forget that no matter how busy he was, he would always take time to inspect relevant work. Efforts in Stolypin
Under this situation, the principality's technical level has been improved to a certain extent in some aspects.
However, will and reality are two different things. For a major decision like industrialization, which involves all aspects, it is impossible to quickly obtain results by relying only on hard work and whips, time, technology, capital investment, talent... and the most important foreign technical support, or
It is said to be machine tools and work machines.
The most important thing for modern industry is equipment such as machine tools. Although Alfheim has long been able to manufacture high-end equipment such as 10,000-ton forging presses, high-precision metal cutting machines, machine tools, and punch presses, so far only
A small number of original drilling equipment for making guns was exported to Albion and Charlemagne, just to prevent the leakage of core technology.
Now, this old fox wants to use the Lend-Lease Act to get something that was absolutely impossible to get in the first place, and to complete the task that Dzerzhinsky failed to complete? I'm afraid he will be disappointed again.
The reasons are almost ready.
"Sir, of course we are willing to rent equipment, but..."
Schulenburg put on a strange expression and whispered:
"The workers in your country are really..."
"..."
Stolypin fell into silence.
Another fatal factor restricting the principality's industrialization: the lack of skilled workers who can accurately manufacture parts according to blueprints.
For a country that has long disdained production and manufacturing, has strong nomadic habits, and has a fanatical taste for alcoholic beverages, it may be difficult to correct this problem, at least in wartime.
However, the principality has always been an important customer of the company, so it would be unwise to refuse it like this.
Schulenburg leaned forward and tried to persuade the troubled Interior Secretary in as gentle a tone as possible.
"Sir, we have an alternative that you will definitely be interested in."
Just as he said, only a few minutes later, the Home Secretary's tense face began to smile. (To be continued...)