Chapter 300 Merchant

Things really happened as Qin Chuan said. When Annette brought the news back, it immediately caused an uproar among French businessmen.

"We are finished!" said Bertrand, a member of the Chamber of Commerce: "The Algerians will rob us of our property and throw us on the street!"

"Come on!" Benoit, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, replied: "You should be glad that we are thrown on the street!"

"Yes!" The businessmen answered one after another:

"They will kill us!"

"Those workers will not let us go!"

...

Which factory in this era is not a sweatshop, especially the factories built in the colonies, especially in France... According to the armistice agreement between Germany and France, France must pay 400 million francs of "protection fees" to the German branch every day. It goes without saying where these "protection fees" come from, of course, it is to increase the taxation of capitalists.

And increasing the taxation of capitalists will eventually evolve into the cruel exploitation of workers by capitalists.

Therefore, even the French in France were overwhelmed at this time, not to mention the colonies like Algeria... The capitalists simply used the Algerians as slaves, and none of them did not owe a few lives.

Therefore, compared with the Germans, the French were more afraid of the Algerians.

"Then we have only one way to go!" Bertrand said: "Escape back to France!"

This immediately aroused opposition from the businessmen:

"Are you crazy? There are Germans everywhere, how can we escape back?"

"Even if we escape back, can the Vichy government protect us?"

"Pétain will even arrest us and send us back, because only then will the Germans spare his life!"

...

It is indeed sad for a country to reach this point.

"But what else can we do?" Bertrand said: "Are we waiting here for those Algerians to come and settle accounts with us? No! I don't want to die in their hands, never!"

Everyone was silent after hearing this.

After a long while, Benoit stood up and said, "Gentlemen, I think we still have a way out... Seek the protection of the Germans. You know, the Germans are the masters of this land!"

"But..." Bertrand objected, "What good will this do them?"

Merchants actually understand the relationship of interests better... Only if they are useful to the Germans, the Germans will be able to protect them.

"I think!" Benoit said, "We can only stand on the side of the Germans completely!"

Merchants could not help but discuss.

Although the French at this time were generally biased towards the Allies, a considerable part of them, especially the upper class, were still hesitant between the Allies and the Germans like Darlan... They could not judge who would win the final victory, so they could not decide.

To say that they were because of "patriotism" or "liberation"... Forget it, merchants only have interests in their eyes, otherwise, there should be no armistice agreement between France and Germany, but they should stick to the end like Greece, and even organize guerrillas to persist in the struggle even if the entire territory was occupied.

"Are you still worried about being liquidated after the war?" Benoit said: "Forget it, if we don't do this, we may be liquidated tomorrow!"

The merchants agreed one after another, and now it is indeed time to make a choice.

"But will the Germans agree?"

"They can let the Germans take over our factory!"

"We are dispensable to them!"

...

"We have the ability to make Algeria's industry and commerce run better!" Benoit said: "For example, we can earn more profits by doing business with France, but it is difficult for the Germans to take over the factory!"

"And we have an armistice agreement with Germany!" Someone added: "In principle, we are not a belligerent country!"

The merchants agreed one after another, and these two points re-established the confidence of the merchants.

"Who should we talk to?" Bertrand said, "Major General Oxter?"

"No!" Benoit said, "He doesn't even know that Algeria wants independence!"

"Yes!" Someone said, "We should find Colonel Slain, the commander of the First Infantry Regiment!"

Benoit shook his head, "I think we should find that lieutenant, he is the one who can make decisions and solve problems!"

In fact, Qin Chuan was already talking to Zema Muche at this time.

"I want to know how you will deal with those French!" Qin Chuan asked Zema Muche, "I'm mainly talking about French businessmen!"

"If Algeria becomes independent, that's our business, isn't it?" Zema Muche replied.

"It's your business indeed!" Qin Chuan replied, "But we have a common goal, which is to defend Algeria! We talked about this issue before... If we can't resist the attack of the Allied forces, Algeria is likely to become a French colony again!"

"Does this have anything to do with whether Algeria can be defended?" Zermamouche asked back, "Do we need those merchants to go to the battlefield?"

"No!" Qin Chuan replied, "But they can provide us with clothes, food and other necessities!"

"Lieutenant!" Zermamouche replied, "These things are all produced by Algerians, they just..."

"Colonel!" Qin Chuan interrupted Zermamouche: "You studied in France, so what do you think the Algerians will do if they are allowed to manage these factories?"

Zemamuche was speechless for a moment.

"You don't even have the opportunity to manage!" Qin Chuan said, "Because they will divide up everything in the warehouse at the first time, smash or sell the machines, and then... in a few days, you will have to rely on Germany for everything you need. Do you think this has no impact on the war?"

The answer is obviously no. If you want to transport a large amount of supplies to feed the entire Algerian people, where is the extra transportation capacity to transport ammunition, and Germany, which is short of supplies, cannot feed the entire Algerian people.

"What do we need to do?" Zemamuche asked.

"Keep everything the same!" Qin Chuan said, "You have gained power and are now able to resist their oppression, but... you still need them."

After a pause, Qin Chuan added, "Moreover, now that you have won freedom from the French, I think they no longer dare to oppress the Algerians as before!"

"If they are still like before..." Zemamuche looked at Qin Chuan.

"This requires you to talk to them!" Qin Chuan said, "Both sides should make some agreements!"