Chapter 60 Big Crash (16)
Contini knew very clearly that in history, the Soviet Union successfully copied the bottom of the US crisis. Not only did it buy a large number of equipment and patented technologies, but it even introduced nearly 200,000 skilled American workers and engineers and other professionals. With this batch of equipment, technology and talents, the Soviet Union became the first industrial power in Europe (non-level scale) after two five-year plans. This industrial foundation created a steel torrent of the Red Army. If it were the industrial foundation of Tsarist Russia in the first world, it would be easy for Germany to defeat the Soviet Union in World War II.
Looking at the future, he must weaken Stalin's power as much as possible. It is easy to assassinate Roosevelt and Churchill, who are not of great importance at present, but he never thought about assassinating Stalin - this is impossible under the numerous guards, and Stalin cannot kill him. Who will carry out a great purge after he kills? To limit the power of the Soviet Union and the determination of the Iron Comrade can only start by limiting the industrialization of the opponent. He cannot stop the industrialization of the Soviet Union, but can cause trouble for Comrade Stalin.
The first trick to increase the tumult has been issued: the Soviet Union had to impose a 20% channel tax on primary products sold through the United Group. The reason is high-sounding - the market is not good now, and the United Group may not be able to sell it, so we need to make more losses. Of course, the Soviet Union understood and saw changes in the international market. He is still hesitating, but this first trick actually implied a secret trick: Since the pricing basis is 20% off the international market price, it means that it can be activated. Given that the current market is generally indifferent, Contini has some ways to continue to fight the market! If the battle is taken here and 20% off there, it will greatly limit the Soviet Union's export and foreign exchange capacity. If Stalin's father still has as much money as before, he will at least pay twice or even twice the resources.
This is to work hard from the source.
The second trick to make things worse is currently being done: before the Soviet Union, the United Group bought heavy industrial equipment in a large scale. Because the Soviet Union had no extra foreign exchange at hand, it was necessary to apply for foreign exchange and go through the United Group's entrance or look for other financial systems. This is far from the quickest way Contini was in the United States to acquire directly. Moreover, what the Soviet Union purchased still needs to report, discuss, and make a decision. It is impossible to make a decision without 3 weeks. Contini himself is in the United States and only makes a decision. For bankrupt banks and enterprises that are desperate, it is good to have one minute earlier, which is a big lead. As for those light industrial equipment, if the Soviet Union wants it, it would be better to give it to them. Contini is open to this - it can't let the steel comrades not buy anything, right?
Historically, the Soviet Union was able to buy at the bottom calmly because no one competed with him. Now it is different. A coalition group emerged. Whether it is buying assets or immigrating abroad for employment, everyone is definitely willing to choose Italy, which is more familiar, friendly, and closer to the United States, rather than going to the Soviet Union, which is inconspicuous at all. If you are willing to go to the Soviet Union in this way, it will definitely be a true and red element - Contini is not welcome.
When Contini first grabbed the cheapest old equipment, if the Soviet Union wanted to buy it, he had to buy old equipment or new equipment that was not cheap. The effect of 1 dollar was completely different, but it seemed to be fine on the surface, and he was even thinking about the Soviet comrades. After all, no one in the world is a fool. Take tanks as an example. If you release the obvious garbage, no birds will be birds. But if according to Contini's idea, the new tank prototype with multiple lever suspension and staggered overlapping wheels was shown to the Soviet comrades, and they would not be able to walk on the road. It is easy to use! It has strong load, stable driving, low center of gravity, and good concealment. Isn't it a good design?
But the question is, is this design really suitable for the Soviets? During the large-scale war, the Soviet Union needed the simple, durable, easy to produce and easy to maintain. What does it mean to stuff a tiger-type? Of course, it is good, but after a group of people are exhausted, where can I find qualified repairmen and tank soldiers? Where can I expand production easily and quickly? I am afraid that the production quantity will not be 20,000, at most 2,000 years. Ivans are terrible to be equipped with 20,000 T-34 or 2,000 kv (assuming that it has tiger-type performance) terrible? Contini has his own understanding - it is definitely the former!
So if Dad Stalin wants to buy the new equipment ordered by United Group, he will never mind - this will quickly squeeze the Bolshevik cash flow!
The third trick to make the problem is to intercept personnel. Equipment alone is not enough. There must be people who understand equipment, especially old equipment, and those who use these equipment need to be mastered. Contini recruited the best engineers, technicians and skilled workers to Italy. Due to the president's reputation and the United Group's statement that the United Group did not lay off employees in the crisis, the American working class now admires Italy very much. He heard that he could go to Italy to work, and those who could go to Italy would never go to the Soviet Union. Of course, Contini could not take all Americans away. He only had the best group, which invisibly weakened the Soviet Union's talent acquisition ability.
At the same time, the Soviet Union's acquisition of technicians was also an important way to spread communism. Why did so many Bolshevik spies and sympathizers in the United States later come from brainwashing at this time? It even secretly developed many spies. Now there are certain obstacles to spreading it - because the three flags are currently louder than the Bolsheviks. For the American elite, although both fascist and the Bolsheviks should be eliminated, fascist is slightly better in comparison. At least the latter does not oppose private ownership, nor does it have the desire to expand or export revolution - relatively safe.
As for the Soviet Union's direct export to the United States for equipment, industrial capitalists may be willing, but agricultural capitalists promised that it would be booming. Contini is now negotiating with the farmers to purchase agricultural products - this is the country's agricultural products are exported at a lower price, and the other is the further import of Soviet agricultural products. Southern farmers must burn the White House, and Hoover must not agree with this.
The US Bank of America issued loans to the Soviet Union and was also scared by the Soviet history of debt-debt. Besides, because the stock market plummeted and the bank was corrupt, who still has the money to issue loans? Why not issue loans to United Group? Because United Group has already announced that it will continue to issue long-term bonds with an annual interest of 5%. Since United Bank's status and reputation have withstood the test in the stock market crash, those terrified investors are now preparing to buy them.
These three-pronged approaches, especially the financial hindrance, limited the Soviet Union's procurement capabilities - not absolute restrictions, but relative restrictions.
In fact, although Russia was weak before, it was actually quite rich. During World War I, more than 1,000 tons of gold were transported to Kazan. Unfortunately, whereabouts were unknown. If the more than 1,000 tons of gold could be released for large-scale purchases, the purchasing power would be great - unfortunately, no Comrade Stalin could only use agricultural products, including raw materials for foreign exchange, and occasionally secretly dumped a little scrap steel to Zhang Dashuai in the Northeast. Unfortunately, Zhang Dashuai now has a high vision and looks down on the scrap steel of the Soviet Union. He only wants Italian tractors and planes.
Originally, the scrap steel of the Soviet Union could still be sold to Chang Dashang of Huangpu, but at the turn of May and June this year, Chang Dashang launched a coup in Guangzhou to arm the Qing Communist Party. This made the Soviet Union suddenly change its attitude and oppose Chang's rule, but the scrap steel of the Soviet Union could not be sold.
Chapter completed!