"Father, I am convinced that little Ziano has landed and appeared in New York, and has also held talks with New York Governor Al Smith and people in the business community, during which little Ziano has made wild remarks, announcing that he will make big purchases in the United States and double the strength of the United Group in the short term!"

"Double it again?" Old Agnelli smiled, "He has invested nearly 1.5 billion lira, and if it doubles to 3 billion, where can he get so much money for him to squander?" And what do you see he produces? In addition to newspapers and radio stations, there is only one product, United Motorcycle, so how much can it be sold for? 40 million lira? 50 million lira? ”

Agnelli obviously underestimated the production of United Motorcycles, and under the full speed of the United House, the overall sales of Fast and Furious have exceeded 100 million lira, but because of the huge investment in the early stage, the actual profit margin is only 21% - the book profit margin is a loss, and Leo has achieved tax co-ordination in the form of transfer payment, which has flattened the losses of other industries.

"Now United Motorcycles has launched a second product – but the main customers are the military, police and government departments." Little Agnelli knew more about the situation than the old Agnelli, but he didn't rush to add the previous sentence, but took out a photo, "No, this is this product, the code name given by the United Group is called United Force X1, according to my understanding and the news from other channels, the original design of this model was an idea proposed by the German BM company, and was later dug up to Italy by the little Ziano with the drawings." ”

BM company is considered to be a solid pit by Contini: the first to take back the R32 was transformed into the Fast and Furious series S1 by Italy, although the R32 and S1 were unveiled almost at the same time, but due to Contini's momentum and the strong debut of the black paratroopers, the popularity of the S1 far exceeded that of the R32, coupled with the Ruhr crisis in Germany, the currency depreciation is worth a mess, BM can not fail to receive more technical licensing fees from the best-selling S1, but also put hundreds of technical talents into it.

As for the X1 launched by United Motorcycle, it is a sidecar motorcycle built on the relevant ideas of BMW, and the target market is the military, and BM has not yet thought about putting this design into practice because of the double blow of crisis and talent. While the X1 doesn't have the level of technology or performance that Contini is familiar with, it's built – a standard sidecar bike! The United Group has applied for patents from appearance to technology, and if someone in Italy dares to imitate it, it is guaranteed that the lawsuit will be fought until he goes bankrupt!

However, the information that little Agnelli has is not comprehensive, and United Motorcycle actually has a third product ready to exit: the elegant M1. The design idea of this product is completely put forward by the two anchors of Vivian and Adriana, although Fast and Furious is very cool to ride, but as a woman, especially an elegant Italian intellectual woman, it is inconvenient to straddle like a man, let alone elegant, so the two pestered Contini and wanted the designers to design a product specifically for women.

If it is an ordinary corporate consortium, this excessive request must be clicked directly, but it is not a problem here in the domineering president, and the clever Contini spent half an afternoon sketching a scooter for women, although the picture is ugly, but the engineers and designers understand it - through the pedal structure, the two legs do not need to be horned apart, although the power and speed will be worse than that of men's motorcycles, but it will look much more elegant, and in addition to controlling noise and weight - Not many ladies like the roar and the weight that is hard to grasp.

The design required adjustments to the engine layout, but the engineers felt that there was a way to do it, and the weight reduction was not particularly difficult - the joint laboratory had developed a variety of aluminum alloys, including Dura aluminum, which were intended to be used to build aircraft skeletons.

Contini set a deadline for the launch of this product in 1925, and in the future, United Motorcycles will launch a new product every year as a commercial route, while the original product line has delineated a three-year mid-term improvement and six-year upgrade strategy.

Old Agnelli squinted his eyes and looked at the sidecar motorcycle: "The idea is good, and the United Group still has a lot of good things, such as the United Motorcycle...... But their financial and cash flow balance is a piece of shit, and I suspect these people don't understand a healthy financial system. ”

"It stands to reason that it shouldn't, little Chiano doesn't understand, doesn't Antonio understand? Don't other managers and CFOs understand? ”

"With little Ziano's domineering character, it is a ghost to be able to listen to the persuasion of others......," old Agnelli thought for a while, "Since they have coped with the first two, then find a way to push the next few up - but this time we have to change our thinking, don't say that relending is not allowed, but ask for a little increase in the interest rate first, such as adding half a point, after all, the market interest rate is now rising, and Fiat is also starting to lend, so it is understandable that the tide is rising......"

Little Agnelli immediately understood and went away.

Contini, who was far away in New York, was unaware of the changes in the country and still visited and waved a checkbook around New York:

On July 17, the United Group signed a $1 million contract for oil exploration services and a $3 million additional extraction contract with Standard Oil of New York (effective once an industrial crude oil well is discovered).

On July 24, the United Group signed an agreement with Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd. to build power plants for the four major industrial areas of the United Group (Rome, Milan, Genoa, Venice), with a total installed capacity of 1.4 million kilowatts;

On August 2, United Group signed an agreement with General Electric to introduce a series of motor technologies and products, with a contract value of 5 million US dollars;

On August 18, United Group signed an agreement with Wright Company to introduce 9-cylinder air-cooled aero engines;

On August 24, United Group initialed an agreement with General Motors to build a new truck and large bus production line worth $6 million......

In addition to these economic contracts, Contini also announced the establishment of a $1 million Italian-American Youth Friendship Exchange Fund: American scholars and experts are welcome to come to Italy for study, exchange or short-term teaching, and to provide financial support for outstanding Italian students to study in the United States.

But he couldn't say it to his face, because Contini made a political contribution of $20,000 to publicly support his candidacy for the 1928 presidential election - at the recently concluded 1924 Democratic National Convention, because of Al Smith's Catholic faith and anti-Prohibition ideas, and the pro-Prohibition candidate William Gibbs McAdoo had a long standoff, neither of the latter two was nominated, and the ambitious Al Smith decided to make a comeback, and Contini of course had to do what he liked. $20,000 for a favor......

The whirlwind of the United Group even reached the fashion industry and the commercial streets: because Contini was busy with business and political dignitaries every day, Ada, who could not say anything, except for a few night views accompanied by Contini, boating in New York Harbor or going to the opera house to enjoy performances, was reluctant to attend several high-class parties, but it was too small, and the guests had nothing to greet except smiles, plus she was Mussolini's daughter and had a domineering president by her side, There were no open-minded high-class disciples to offer their courtesy, so in the end they couldn't participate in anything - reluctantly letting him participate could only be a living sin, so he went to the big mall to buy and buy with Monica.

Every time the two appeared, they were followed by 20 vigilant-looking bodyguards, and then the major stores immediately closed their doors to receive them.

The two never looked at the price when purchasing, so much so that they left an unforgettable legend in the mall: "Don't want this, that, and that, and all the others should be packed!" In the end, the bodyguards piled things up the truck and left in a crowd of Mercedes-Benz bulletproof cars.

Luxury?

It depends on how you understand it.

Ida has no concept of money, and she is a little constrained in looking at things, everything is handled by Monica: the latter is much more profitable, in addition to Ada's share, there are also Vivian and Adriana's, as well as gifts for Mussolini, Ziano, Antonio, the company's main management, as well as Monica and several other secretaries, it is not easy for everyone to come to the United States, of course, there is a share of the meeting - the domineering president is still very generous to his subordinates.

In the words of Contini: "Buy, buy hard, don't go back home if you don't buy enough $1 million – this is the advertising cost of the United Group!" ”

Without this whirlwind of procurement and the performance of spending money, how can it be worthy of the heritage of the United Group - in fact, in terms of luxury, Europe is the world's fashion center, and the big purchase in the United States is to support the scene.

Even the always conservative Antonio agrees with this kind of pomp: you say you have money, but you dress very ordinarily, you have a very ordinary car, and you always think carefully about spending money, even if you are really rich, others will not believe it. For the United Group, an enterprise that relies on funds to roll in, image and reputation are everything! Why did the young master charter half a boat, why did he bring so many guards, in addition to bulletproof cars and airplanes, this is all part of the strength of the enterprise. What is 1 million? Wouldn't it be good to deal with advertising expenses and social expenses?

What's more, Contini's big purchase ostensibly cost more than $20 million, but in fact, a large part of it has been re-earned: General Electric, General Motors, Westinghouse and other stocks have all reacted significantly in the stock price because of the stimulation of contract factors, and they are already in the upward channel, because the real contract has risen more well - and the shares of these counterparties, Contini has a large position!

With a $20 million deal negotiated, the United Group's prestige and signboard have been launched, and now it's time to negotiate financing with Wall Street and bankers......