Chapter 163

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January 30, 1912.

"Your Majesty, this is the application report sent by Setubal for the expansion of the steel plant."

After working hard for a long time, Pedro came out of the office and sat in the garden to rest for a while when he saw a guard coming over with a document.

Pedro rubbed his eyes, stood up and said, "Show it to me."

"Your Majesty, why don't you take a rest first?" The guard carefully comforted His Majesty the Emperor when he saw him looking tired.

"No, you go out first!"

After receiving the answer from His Majesty the Emperor, the guard walked out of the office. Pedro picked up the expansion report and read it.

In this report, Varane, the general manager of the steel plant, mentioned that thanks to the establishment of many factories in Portugal in recent years, especially the consumption of industrial buildings, the steel plant is now operating at full capacity.

Nowadays, Portugal's steel supply has reached its limit and funds are needed to expand production capacity.

However, since it is a state-owned enterprise that needs to hand over profits, and the government is currently strapped for funds, there is currently insufficient funds, and I want His Majesty the Emperor to approve the factory to cut off funds.

"Isn't this the responsibility of this local government unit? Why was it sent to me?" Pedro felt something was wrong after seeing the application report.

However, if you don’t understand, let someone who knows come. Pedro called the guard and asked him to invite Ankara, the Second Minister of Industry.

An hour later, Industry Minister Ankara came to His Majesty the Emperor's office. "I have met His Majesty."

"Ankara, why is this construction report on my desk?" Pedro asked him, taking out Varane's report.

"Your Majesty, can you show it to me first?" asked the Minister of Industry, who was a little confused.

"You take a look at it first." After finishing speaking, Pedro handed the report to him.

After taking the report and reading it at a glance, Ankara said to His Majesty the Emperor with a smile. "I did deny the expansion of production. I think that is the case, and that is why Varane took your Majesty's path.

"

"Can you tell me the reason?" Pedro knew that Tony's nephew was also a smart and capable man, so there must be a reason for his refusal.

"In fact, the main reason is that Varane did not state in the report that the smelting equipment purchased this time was purchased from Austro-Hungarian products, and it is second-hand equipment. Although the price is cheap, it is 80% of that in Germany."

"Go on." Pedro looked at Ankara who looked confident and continued to ask.

"According to theory, the price is reasonable. However, I learned that the equipment this time is a bit backward. It is equipment that the Trieste Steel Plant is planning to eliminate. I think these equipment are not of much use to Portugal, so I did not approve it.

But I didn’t expect that the final report on production expansion and construction would be handed over to His Majesty the Emperor through various channels.”

After listening to Ankara's words, Pedro made some judgment in his mind.

"Ask Ranbir to come here." After seeing off the Minister of Industry, Pedro ordered the guard.

Not long after, Ranbir, the Portuguese Golden Shield, came to His Majesty the Emperor's office and said after saluting.

Since this guy has someone next to the emperor's father, and while doing practical things, he also works for his own benefit, so naturally he has to start this expansion project.

After an Austro-Hungarian businessman, True, purchased equipment that was intended to be eliminated at the Trieste Steel Plant, he contacted Varane and planned to sell it to the Setubal Steel Plant at the price of second-hand equipment. Among them, Mr. Varane

He received 70% of the price difference, while the Austro-Hungarian businessman only received 30%.

It's no wonder that after being rejected by the Ankara minister, he still planned to submit the application through various channels. The kickbacks involved were really too big.

After receiving the investigation report, Ranbir immediately went to the palace to report to Emperor Pedro.

After hearing Ranbir's report, Pedro was surprised. He could now understand the various strange behaviors of domestic officials he had seen in his previous life.

This is not because they are ignorant, but because some people have some backers and think they can earn more by doing their so-called job well.

There are people above, and as long as things are done fairly well, some people will certainly think they have these small rights.


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