In the few days that Dong Ku handed over lathe equipment and prisoners to the US military, the British successfully shot down hundreds of German bombers with close-fire shells, which shook the stability of the German army's air supremacy. And they didn't make any money, the bombing they organized was also shot down by the other side countless planes, although the air defense used was not a close-explosion shell, but it was a delayed fuse shell that automatically exploded in the air, and it had steel balls in it, causing shrapnel steel balls to fly sideways in the airspace, and the planes that were lucky enough to get back were all full of holes.

After the successful start of the Great Retreat, the British army was already stretched thin. They could not afford to produce planes quickly, they could not afford to produce tanks to compete with the Germans. Thousands of semi-finished helicopters lay in the workshop, but they could not be completed quickly.

Countless tank designs remain on drawings and cannot be tested and produced. Artillery, shells, also began to have difficulties with production.

The electronic components in the close-to-explosive shells are too small to be reached with the current British technology, and there is no financial resources to research them for the time being, and the production of bullets and shells is enough for them to choke, which has to tighten their belts. Then all that remains is to buy, to buy from the weapons company. But what about money? People only need gold, so where can Churchill get it?

At this moment, Churchill was excited by the news that a new Swiss bank, the Eurasian Development Bank, had just negotiated a low-interest loan of 5 million pounds with the Bank of England. It is said that the business is limited to large banks and the state, and the financial resources are quite strong, and the reserves reach the amount of a thousand tons of gold.

Churchill did not hesitate to order to meet with the president of this bank and meet him in person to see if he could get a loan from this bank.

Sassoon met Churchill, and his characteristic English gentlemanly taste convinced Churchill that he was not an impostor.

"Mr. Bruce, I wonder how much your bank can provide a loan? I think the amount we need will be very large. ”

Churchill said in a slow tone.

"Mr. Prime Minister. There is no doubt about the strength of our bank, as long as we can provide sufficient guarantees, we can provide a lump sum loan of less than one billion pounds. ”

Bruce? Sassoon smiled and said: "We also believe in your country's ability to repay and the credibility of a gentleman, but as a business, then we must reassure both sides, at least the current war situation is for the British Empire." It has not yet gained the upper hand. ”

Bruce's words made Churchill feel angry, and he dared to expose it in front of him. But the other party's billion-pound loan made him suppress his anger, smiled and said: "Mr. Bruce, the mortgage of the Bank of England's five-million-pound loan is a securities, I don't know what we need to mortgage if we take out a loan?" ”

Sassoon groaned slightly, took out a form and handed it to Churchill.

Churchill took a brief look at it, and his eyes stayed on the loan of gold.

"Mr. Bruce. Do you also offer gold loans? What about the quantity, is there a limit? ”

Churchill pointed to a sound behind him and said with interest.

"Mr. Prime Minister, this is one of the business scope of our bank, and our bank can provide gold loans to the state, but only for the state, not for the consortium."

Bruce? Sassoon said calmly: "As for the quantity, our bank's standard is a maximum of 500 tons at a time, but there must be a corresponding mortgage. Gold is different from paper money, so. Securities and other items that cannot be used as collateral can only be used as jewelry and cultural relics, and the state is not limited. ”

Jewelry and cultural relics as collateral?

Churchill weighed his mind, and he looked up and asked, "Well, if I want both gold and sterling loans." What do you need as collateral? ”

"Less than five million pounds can use securities, or other real estate certificates, including patents, more than five million, too risky. Not only should there be gold bonds, but also physical objects such as cultural relics and jewelry that can be used as collateral. ”

Bruce? Sassoon looked at Churchill and said calmly: "As for the quantity, the one-time loan is the same as before, and the maximum amount of gold is 500 tons at a time, and the pound is one billion, which is for the safety of gold transportation." ”

Churchill didn't pick up, he thought quietly. The arms companies had already paid for the previous deals, and South African gold was designed to further expand the deal. But the gold disappeared mysteriously, and everything that made him calculate and make a good fortune was affected.

The weapons companies, on the other hand, only want gold, they don't want any currency, and they don't mention jewelry. It's a headache. Now this bank that popped up can provide loans, but the collateral is a bit cumbersome. But if he doesn't get the gold, the weapons company can't trade there, so his supplies will be stretched thin, and ammunition will be difficult.

The amount of 300 tons of gold in the country cannot be reached in a short period of time, so the gold transaction will continue on their side, and they can only borrow it.

But although he understands the collateral, he is a little reluctant. However, if he borrows money from the United States, he is unwilling to let the United States stand up too quickly and replace his hegemonic position. In contrast, he prefers to deal with banks that are pure business, so as not to create a strong enemy for himself.

Thinking of the collateral, he understood very well that he would provide cultural relics that were not of very high value as a guarantee that Britain would not be able to repay them when the time came, so that they would not lose too much. After all, the other party is a pioneer in interests, not a long-term investment in the country.

This condition is not harsh, and at this time, Churchill did not hesitate to sell the cultural relics, not to mention a mortgage. He still has countless negotiable securities in his hand, and those personal wealth that have been looted from various banks and said to have been destroyed by bombardment, it will not be difficult to redeem them at that time, and at most he will pay some relevant fees.

Besides, the treasures and relics brought by de Gaulle are all in his hands, so what does it matter if they are used as collateral? Anyway, the French army now has no weapons base, and they all have to be provided by him, and there is nothing wrong with occupying their jewelry and cultural relics.

Thinking through the various joints, Churchill put down the paper and said with a smile: "I think, the conditions of your bank are acceptable, and the valuation of the goods requires professionals from both sides, as for the loan, we will borrow 300 tons of gold in the first installment, 100 million pounds, I wonder if it is difficult to do this amount?" ”

"Mr. Prime Minister, this is within the scope of my bank's business, the quantity is not a problem, the only thing is whether the gold will be transported to the British mainland, which needs to be known in advance."

Churchill groaned, and he suddenly remembered that the bank was in Switzerland, and the arms company also demanded that the gold be deposited in a Swiss bank. Wouldn't it save you the trouble if you could pay directly there?

"Mr. Bruce, I am very glad to have the support of your bank, then, I will arrange for someone to discuss the specific details with you, and at the same time prepare the necessary collateral, as for the gold, maybe it does not need to be shipped to the British mainland, and the specific time will be discussed."

"It's good, I look forward to our happy cooperation."

Bruce? The Sassoon gentleman got up and took his leave, not even leaving for luncheon. He knew that Churchill was anxious to get the money in place, or he would meet him personally.

Sure enough, the negotiations went very smoothly and ended in two days. But Churchill did not realize that his economic power would fall into the hands of the Eurasian Development Bank. The 100 million pounds of loans and 300 tons of gold in front of him did not shake the financial capacity of Britain, but he did not know that from the very beginning of borrowing, it would become a thirst-quenching pit and a bottomless pit.

With a large number of jewels and artifacts on the ship to Switzerland, the Eurasian issuance of pounds was one step ahead.

With the money, Churchill's waist became stiffer, and at the same time, he began to buy a sufficient amount of close-explosive shells from the weapons company, and purchased weapons and M3 tanks that were higher than the M2 that the United States was studying to replace the M3, and the M3 continued to increase, and the tanks that could be close to the Tiger were directly modified Fireflies,

As a result, Dong Ku successfully bypassed the Lend-Lease Act of the United States, deprived the United States of the opportunity to provide assistance to the British battlefield, and prevented their industry from absorbing the advanced technology of the British and developing rapidly.

It was said that the borrowed money was easy to spend, and that Churchill's negotiators, having found a spokesman for the arms company, got the intention that the deal could be made at this development bank, without going to a Swiss bank, as long as the development bank issued a certificate of payment in place, they could deliver the goods.

This saved Britain a lot of trouble, they didn't have to transport funds all over the world, they directly transported the collateral to Switzerland, deposited it in the Eurasian Development Bank, and the bank settled the accounts directly with the arms company, they saved a lot of trouble, just signed documents and transported cultural relics.

This also led to the arbitrariness of the British purchases, 500 tanks, shells and all kinds of supplies were vigorously purchased, and money flowed out like water. It's just that Churchill didn't know what to say, and the money was just a left-handed hand-to-right-handed.

As for the purchase of so many supplies, this is Churchill preparing, preparing for a brilliant counterattack that would prevent Germany from achieving a total victory in Europe.

At the same time that Lao Xi nervously sent troops to occupy the entire territory of France, he began to move against Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria, and it is estimated that this will be his world in half a month at most. Romania's fuel will ensure its ability to use by land, and high-standard aviation fuel has already begun to be delivered by weapons companies. The underground oil pipeline and train track will be completed in a month at most, at which point the island of Plaue will be closed and no more vehicles will enter or leave the country. The airfield will also be completed at the same time, which will facilitate the assembly and take-off of large bombers.

Italy has followed in the footsteps of Lao Xi to start the war, Lao Mo has completely surrendered to Lao Xi's ability, and while expanding his force with all his might, he is also unswervingly clinging to Germany.

In just a few days, the situation in Europe was already completely biased in favor of the frenzied German army.

After Dong Ku took care of Britain over there, when he got the news, he knew very well that as long as he avoided the United States, it would be difficult for Roosevelt to intervene again.

Now wait for Lao Xi to make a move against Soviet Russia, as long as there is a war, then everything will move forward according to his own design. (To be continued......)