Mediterranean hegemon

With these two promises, Mussolini was very satisfied. He patted the "future in-laws" on the shoulder, gave a meaningful smile and ended the meeting.

As soon as this happened, old Ciano sent an urgent telegram to Contini, asking him to come back: he had stayed in Switzerland for a month and a half, just to accompany Vivian, and the leader could not give him an explanation.

Contini slapped his head and finally remembered this matter. He regretted that he said it too quickly last year. However, going to the Far East would definitely not work. It would take too long and would delay many things. He thought calmly for a long time and replied to the telegram: Please tell the leader that I plan to visit the Soviet Union and take Ada with me! The time is set in late July and I will return home next week!

"You're going to the Soviet Union? Why?" Facing Contini who came from Switzerland to report, Mussolini was a little surprised, but he was very tactful not to question Contini's whereabouts during this period, let alone the illegitimate child. The leader was still very open-minded about the relationship between men and women. He even thought that this was in line with Contini's temperament and image. If such an excellent young president was not pursued or pestered by anyone, then the Italian girls were really blind. He dared to bet that as long as he spread the word tomorrow that he did not intend to have this son-in-law, other senior executives would definitely flock to old Ciano's house to propose marriage.

Isn't that what politics is all about?

"Two reasons. First, after the Russian Civil War, Lenin proposed the New Economic Policy and invited me to invest in Russia last year, but I didn't agree. Now that Lenin has passed away and Stalin has become the supreme ruler of Russia, he has again extended an invitation through other channels. I think it's okay to go and give the new red tsar some face. Second, apart from a little ideological disagreement, we and the Russians actually have no political, historical, or military disputes. We can develop bilateral relations purely, which is beneficial to expanding Italy's international space. Turkey, which has fought more than ten Russo-Turkish wars and has a blood feud with the Soviet Union, can establish diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, so why can't we? Britain, France, and the United States are hostile to the Soviet Union, but the Soviet Union still exists. This kind of relationship cannot be changed by will. It is better to face up to the existence of the Soviet Union; the third and most important point is that Italy has the industrial technology needed by the Soviet Union, but lacks resources. The Soviet Union has abundant resources but lacks an industrialization system. I think the two sides are mutually beneficial and complementary. "

Mussolini nodded after pondering, but still raised a concern: "If we approach Russia first, what will other major powers think?"

"In fact, it is not us who are approaching, but Germany... At most, we are just normalizing our relations. Besides, our relations with Russia are not very stiff, otherwise the last meeting on Russia would not have been held in Genoa."

After being reminded by Contini, Mussolini suddenly remembered: the Fakda cabinet held an international conference in Genoa to discuss European economic issues between April and May 1922. On the surface, it was a discussion on the European economy, but in fact it was a discussion and communication meeting on the unified policy line towards the Soviet Union after the failure of Russia's international intervention. The meeting was held in Genoa, but the leader was still the British. The real intention of Britain was to use diplomatic means to force the Soviet Union to return to the capitalist camp by taking advantage of the fact that the Soviet Union was in urgent need of foreign aid due to its economic difficulties, so as to achieve the reconstruction and revival of the capitalist economy throughout Europe, on the premise that the Soviet Union recognized and repaid the foreign debts borrowed by the Tsarist government before and during the war.

The Russian side cleverly did not use the term "directly defaulting on debts", but instead raised the issue of international intervention and counter-compensation, that is, countries need to pay compensation for interfering in the internal affairs of the Russian Revolution, and the compensation should be exactly the same as the debt owed by Russia to foreign countries, which is definitely not negotiable. The only result was that Germany, which was also isolated in Europe, reached the "Rapallo Treaty" with the Soviet Union outside the conference, which forgave each other's debts and recognized each other, and opened the prelude to the Soviet-German rapprochement, so Contini made the comments just now.

"You mean we can establish diplomatic relations?"

"I think we can. As a big country, Italy can't always follow Britain and France as a follower, right? Establishing diplomatic relations does not mean that we recognize Bolshevism. Didn't the British establish diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union (by the Labour Party MacDonald government)..." Contini smiled, "Isms are ideologies, and business is business. Aren't there still people in the United States who don't like us? But when did they become dissatisfied with greenbacks?"

Mussolini felt the same way, so the topic shifted to the economic interests of the Soviet Union.

"I won't go to invest in a factory. Italy itself has a lot of work to do. Recently, because of the Libyan oil fields, I have discussed future mining ideas and road construction with a group of experts. Standard Oil's mining equipment has been shipped, and it is expected that Italy will be able to use Libyan oil by the end of this year at the earliest. Coupled with the complete port dredging and road construction, Libya will become our energy base and lifeline in the future." Contini emphasized, "This is a great achievement of the leader's governance. Under your wise leadership, Italy has thrown off the label of an oil-poor country, and your instructions on focusing on the development of overseas territories have been implemented. Politically and economically, Italy has made great progress. This is a welcome breakthrough in terms of economy and national security. This is also the core and key of the United Group's foreign investment in the future. "

"However, we can do other business with the Soviet Union. For example, iron ore, coal, agricultural products and other raw materials are all materials we urgently need. Before the large-scale production of oil in Libya's oil fields, there is also a need for trading. The United Group decided to import coke, steel ingots, aluminum ingots, crude oil, etc. from the Soviet Union in the form of barter trade. These things are shipped from the Black Sea, through the Turkish Straits and the Mediterranean to Italy. The distance is not far. The price is definitely cheaper than following the market, and it can also get rid of the British control of market prices. "

"What do we have to offer the Russians?"

"Some of the machinery and equipment, as well as vehicles, I believe that Fiat's cars and United Motorcycles will be products that the Soviets need, and the other is technology." Contini lowered his voice, "The Russians are very interested in reviving their maritime power. I think This business can be done. In addition, they also have a lot of interest in aviation power. I think it can be exported..."

"Want to build warships for Russia?"

Contini shook his head: "This is impossible. At most, we can export the design and let the Russians build it themselves, and provide appropriate technical guidance. Let alone shipbuilding, it is currently very difficult to sell old ships to the Russians..."

Although building ships for Russia does not violate the regulations, the Soviet Union is not a signatory to the "Washington Naval Treaty", but Contini believes that this matter is very sensitive, and he does not want to challenge the nerves of Britain, France, and the United States. As for selling ships, the Soviets are not China, and they have 4 The Gangut-class battleship is slightly better than the Dante, which the Italian Navy is considering scrapping next year, and is barely comparable to the Count of Cavour-class, which is currently the main force of the Italian Navy. Therefore, there is no market for selling the ship, and the Soviets will not want it. But he believed that the resumed construction of the Caracciolo-class battleship would be attractive to the Soviets, both in terms of the warship itself and the 381mm Ansaldo naval gun carried on it.

In fact, even if the Soviets were crazy and wanted to buy old ships, Contini would not dare to sell them. Selling ships to China and selling ships to the Soviet Union are completely different things in nature. In the former case, the great powers could pretend not to know about it and get over it with laughter. It would definitely cause an uproar.

Mussolini quickly understood the intention of Contini's package deal: many Italian companies had these technologies, but they had no interest in Soviet supplies. They wanted money, but the Russians couldn't give them money, so they accepted the Russian money. The United Group, which provides materials in installments, plays the role of lubricant and installment credit guarantor.

"Are you sure that exporting naval gun technology to Russia will not cause other problems?"

"As long as the Russians are willing to pay, even if we don't sell, others will sell it. Will the Czech Republic, which owns Skoda, sell it? Will Germany, which owns Krupp, sell it? Will France, which owns Schneider, sell it? Those 381mm Ansaldo's The naval gun is not a great unique weapon, why don’t you exchange it for some money?”

"I think it's okay..."

"The second thing is that I want to report to you about the follow-up issues of Libyan crude oil extraction..." The contract signed by United Group and France will definitely be known to Italian senior officials. If they only pay 1 million US dollars, they want to occupy all the Libyan oil fields. Go, that's too naive. Contini has never thought that way. He doesn't want to take advantage of the country. There is no need. The future will be his. Does the left pocket have the nerve to take advantage of the right pocket?

Therefore, the price he gave Mussolini was not low: 50 years of exclusive mining rights, a 6:4 share of oil production, and the United Group itself would handle Libyan road construction and port dredging! However, the government must promise to eliminate unstable factors in Libya. In addition, he has made additional demands. Before large-scale construction begins, 3,200 oil field guards must be sent to Libya! The reasons are quite good. Libya is not peaceful, and tribal armed forces are emerging one after another...

Mussolini closed his eyes and thought for a while, thinking that the price was fair: after all, the port dredging and road and railway construction proposed by Contini would cost a lot of money, and the government could just sit back and enjoy its achievements.

Seeing that he was a little moved, Contini whispered in his ear: "Leader, there are still 60 million lire of original shares. Do you want to think about it? I have caused you a lot of trouble and have been deeply uneasy. Others I can't help you, but I can still help you improve your life... You have been focusing on national affairs for many years, working hard for the Italian people, never considering family, personal enjoyment, and never caring about personal gains and losses. In my heart Very sorry.”

Mussolini originally wanted to counteroffer 55:45, but he couldn't speak after hearing this and hesitated: "Isn't this not good?"

"Leader, we come out to make revolution. Of course we are serving the country and the people, but our family must also be stable. Your children are getting older and have their own careers. Your wife must match the image of the first lady of the European powers. This is no small matter. . Only without worries can a leader serve the Italian people wholeheartedly. I especially hope to have the opportunity to serve the leader's family... Poverty is not the essence of Fascism. If a leader wants to lead the entire Italian people on the road to common prosperity, some people must first To get rich, if the leaders can’t get rich, how can they convince the Italian people?”

Mussolini nodded and patted Contini on the shoulder: "That's so troublesome for you. By the way, I will help you settle the matter in Switzerland with Ada. You are still young. You must pay attention to your image. In the future, the country The burden is for you to shoulder..."