Fang Lang offered to ask Fitt Henderson to help with the opening of a cigar store for his own reasons.

Since the spread of tobacco to Europe in the 16th century, Britain began to export tobacco to the colonies and gradually established a monopoly on the tobacco trade.

But in the early 17th century, other European countries also began to enter the tobacco trade market and threatened the British monopoly. In order to protect its own interests, the British government began to regulate tobacco to ensure its control over the tobacco trade in the colonies.

The main means of control was the imposition of high taxes on foreign tobacco sold to Britain's extreme colonies.

In 1901, the U.S. Tobacco Company used its power to compete with British tobacco companies by cutting prices, offering free gifts, and discounts on sales.

British tobacco companies felt strong pressure, and the UK's thirteen largest tobacco companies held a meeting at the Queen's Hotel in Birmingham, at which a merger agreement was finally reached.

After the merger, British Tobacco changed its name to Imperial Tobacco, and other tobacco companies chose to join.

Throughout 1901 and September 1902, Imperial Tobacco waged a vigorous trade war with American Tobacco Company around the world, which ended in the victory of Imperial Tobacco.

In 1902, a delegation from Imperial Tobacco visited the United States. After the defeat of the United Kingdom, the American Tobacco Company decided to negotiate with Imperial Tobacco.

In September 1902, an agreement was reached that the American Tobacco Company would abandon its commercial activities in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Imperial Tobacco would cancel its plans to enter the American market in addition to the tobacco leaf procurement business.

Imperial Tobacco received the rights to sell American company products in the United Kingdom, while American tobacco companies obtained the rights to sell Imperial company products in the United States. A new company, British American Tobacco Limited, is incorporated in the UK.

Through the cooperation between Imperial Tobacco and British American Tobacco, they have established a near-monopoly tobacco network in Europe and the United States. The company's business began to grow rapidly.

Of course, the development of anything cannot be smooth sailing, because of the emergence of the anti-monopoly law, the business of the two companies has been affected to a certain extent.

The Second World War had a profound impact on tobacco companies, severely disrupting their business in Europe. In the Far East, British American Tobacco lost contact with companies occupied by the Japanese.

In 1937, the company sold more than 55 billion cigarettes in its hometown. After that, due to the Japanese invasion, British American Tobacco's sales in the hometown were interrupted for more than four years.

After the end of World War II, the trade environment was extremely difficult. Tobacco companies have to contend with inflation, high tobacco prices, and the need to rebuild assets lost in the war, all of which have taken a toll on their earnings.

It is in this situation that Fangyuan Group, which has mastered the tobacco resources of Brazil, has the opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

At the same time, another American tobacco company called Philip Morris also rose.

When it comes to the name of this company, many people may not be familiar with it, but the products of this company are definitely the top name, that is, "Marlboro" cigarettes.

The three companies mentioned here are the world's top three global tobacco giants in the future.

According to Fang Lang's plan, he was also planning to use the opportunity of the European aid plan to extend the tentacles of Fangyuan Tobacco Company to the United Kingdom.

But this time he didn't come here with this purpose, but he didn't expect Mr. Fett Henderson to take the initiative to mention that he wanted to hold a cigar tasting for his products, which can be regarded as an unintentional willow!

Fang Lang immediately realized that this was a great opportunity for Fangyuan Tobacco to enter the British market.

And his Fangyuan Tobacco wants to enter the British market, which is actually very convenient, because now Fangyuan Tobacco has occupied a considerable market in other European countries.

After all, his products followed the footsteps of the Allies and entered Europe step by step, and now Italy, Germany, and France have obtained sales licenses.

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It is not too simple to transfer goods from France to the United Kingdom to sell.

Of course, the Hendersons also have a certain understanding of the British tobacco market, and after hearing Fang Lang's words, the two glanced at Fit Henderson and nodded indifferently:

"No problem, you can rest assured to open a store boldly, and our Henderson family guarantees to help you settle the formalities."

When Fang Lang heard this, he glanced at Fit Henderson and Mrs. Henderson, and said with a happy smile:

"Thank you so much!"

In fact, from the eye contact between the two, Fang Lang already felt that his invitation to come to the UK this time should be the opinion of Fit Henderson and Mrs. Henderson, as for the specific reason, he still does not know for the time being.

Otherwise, they would not have been able to greet them at the airport as a family, and they could have been entertained at home after they had been picked up by Enghardt.

In this way, Fang Lang will definitely not have any opinions.

Now this situation, according to Fang Lang's understanding, belongs to the meaning of "courtesy to others, must have something to ask".

However, when the other party didn't speak, Fang Lang was also happy to pretend not to know, just waiting to see when the other party couldn't help it and took the initiative to speak.

Seeing Fang Lang's happy smile, Fit Henderson coughed lightly and continued to speak with a smile on his face:

"Fang, as far as I know, you are now a rear admiral in Brazil, leading a complete aircraft carrier battle group, right?"

I don't know if the other party wants to talk about the right thing or do homely things, Fang Lang still pretended to be heartless and replied simply:

"Yes, but my aircraft carrier battle group is still in the initial stage, and even the naval aviation has not yet completed training.

Therefore, it did not form a real combat effectiveness, and compared with the British Royal Navy fleet under Uncle Henderson, it is really incomparable. ”

The British Navy has dominated the world for a hundred years, and of course it has its own pride, although its performance in the second war is not as bright as that of the US military, but it is also a real world naval power.

Therefore, what Fang Lang said was definitely not a compliment.

After hearing Fang Lang's words, Fit Henderson also seemed very useful, and said with a smile on his face:

"Ten years of the Army, a hundred years of the Navy. It is true that if the navy wants to form combat effectiveness, it will not be achieved overnight, but it doesn't matter, with the relationship between our two families, if your fleet encounters problems, you can raise it.

Where I can help, I will not shirk. ”

Hearing this, Fang Lang's heart moved, could it be that the other party wanted to promote the exchange between the two navies? Want to increase the influence of the British Navy on the Brazilian Navy?

As mentioned above, although the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States is consistent in the general direction, it also has its own small calculations.

If there is an opportunity to plant a nail in the backyard of the United States, South America, the United Kingdom will definitely be happy to see it. After all, World War II had exhausted the last vestiges of Britain's strength.

They are no longer able to maintain the intransigence of the empire, and the continuous decolonization of the United States is clearly further weakening Britain's power and influence.

This forced Britain to start using its global political influence to act as a global-stirring stick.

And strengthening Britain's influence in South America, the US sphere of influence, is obviously an indispensable part of the-stirring stick plan.

If Fang Lang remembers correctly, the first aircraft carrier of Brazil in the future was the Giant-class aircraft carrier "Avenger", which Britain sold to Brazil.

Of course, these were just passing in Fang Lang's mind.

Although relations between Brazil and the United States are now good, its fleet has also improved rapidly due to the presence of American instructors. But for the idea of the Chief of Staff of the British Royal Navy offering to help, Fang Lang could not refuse.

It's the same thing as not being able to put all your eggs in the same basket.

In international relations, Brazil cannot only be friendly with the United States without in-depth exchanges with other countries.

If this opportunity can be used to establish contact with the British Navy, it will also be beneficial to Brazil.

Therefore, he said without hesitation:

"Really? If I can get help from the Royal Navy, I really can't ask for it.

When I came to the UK this time, the Ministry of Defense arranged for me to visit the British shipyards, and I wonder if Uncle Henderson can help arrange it. ”

Fang Lang's words obviously shocked Fit Henderson's spirits, and his sitting posture was unconsciously correct.

"Oh! Fang, you came here this time, and you also came with the mission of visiting British shipyards?

As far as I know, it seems that all the warships of your Brazilian Navy are purchased from the United States, so why would your Ministry of Defense arrange for you to visit our British shipyards? ”

The performance of the other party made Fang Lang's conjecture in his heart a little firmer.

I wonder if the British are also like the United States, and they want to sell some obsolete warships to Brazil.

But he is the majority shareholder of the Shata company, how can he harm the interests of his company and push Brazil to purchase warships from the United Kingdom!

Isn't it said that the British M16 intelligence bureau is very powerful? Why don't you even know that you are a shareholder of Shata?

However, since the other party asked about the purpose of Fang Lang's visit to the British shipyard, Fang Lang was not prepared to hide it, and said frankly:

"Uncle Henderson must know about my Universal Shipyard, right?"

Seeing that the other party nodded, Fang Lang continued.

"Our family has set up a shipyard in Brazil in a joint venture with Universal Shipyards, and in addition to undertaking the manufacturing of some container ships, we recently received an order from the Brazilian Admiralty to start the construction program of the first autonomous destroyer.

However, the destroyer was built in imitation of the American Fletcher-class destroyers. It is not the most advanced destroyer, so I came to the UK to visit the shipyard this time to learn and absorb some of the latest British destroyer construction knowledge.

See if we can give some reference to the destroyers of our own construction. ”

Fang Lang's words disappointed Fitt Henderson, who was originally a little excited, and his posture that had just sat up straight was slightly relaxed.

Seeing this situation, Fang Lang once again determined the guess in his heart.

"The Fletcher-class destroyer is already the most advanced destroyer! Now in Enhart, they are still using such destroyers for their missions. ”

Hearing this, Fang Lang couldn't help but be stunned, when did the British Empire's requirements be so low, and the Fletcher-class destroyer could indeed be said to be one of the most successful destroyers in World War II.

But now it's definitely not the most advanced!

The United States has already sold the Fletcher clearance sale. The new Keeling-class destroyers have also been in service for a long time, and you dignified British Royal Navy, even saying that the Fletcher-class destroyers are the most advanced, isn't this talking nonsense with your eyes open?

In fact, this is also the situation that Fang Lang does not know much about Britain, World War II has hollowed out the last bit of the empire on which the sun never sets, and the British economy that has suffered the trauma of the war is sluggish, and it can no longer maintain huge military spending, and the naval strength is naturally deteriorating.

In the more than 70 years after World War II, Britain built only 29 destroyers of Type 4. They are 8 destroyers of the "County" class, 1 destroyer of the "Bristol" class of Type 82, 14 destroyers of the "Sheffield" class of Project 42, and 6 destroyers of the "Daring" class of Project 45.

Not to mention that compared with the superpowers of the Cold War era such as the United States and the Soviet Union, it is far inferior to the current East Asian countries.