Rise of the Argentine Empire

At the car's launch ceremony, Saint-Hesse stood to the right of the Latta official, his expression not changing much, while Derek · Carman stood to the left of the Latta official.

Saint-Hesse was dressed in formal attire, his height of over 1.8 meters making him relatively tall in the crowd. His build was sturdy yet slender, without excess fat or obvious muscles, highlighting his spirit and temperament.

He held his daughter's hand; Britney · Cohen was already two years old, able to walk and call him "Papa."

He watched the factory workers drape red ribbons over the brand-new cars, adorning them like bridegrooms in ancient Xinhua Xia, a feeling of excitement rising within him.

Years ago, when he was still in Cordoba, his mood often fluctuated, and his emotions were unstable. But now that he had reached this position, he had become increasingly calm, his emotions no longer easily revealed.

Every move he made affected the livelihoods of nearly 600,000 people, and he considered the overall gains and losses more and more when doing things.

Now, everyone regarded Saint-Hesse as the number three figure in La Pampa Province, and many said he would be the next high-ranking official.

After the rollout ceremony, there was a press conference.

Saint-Hesse had Thunder Shield Motors rent out the largest exhibition hall in Blanca City, the Blanca City Civic Hall located in the most prosperous West District, a super venue covering 10,000 square meters.

The entire hall was crowded with people, a sea of faces.

Although Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Rosario, and La Plata were the real big markets, the press conference was still held in Blanca City.

If you were to say where the most nouveau riche were in Argentina, Blanca City would definitely be at the top of the list. Many people could afford cars. Saint-Hesse was already preparing the second and third production lines. A few tens of thousands of cars a year was just small-scale stuff. As long as the Fiat 600 brought in enough money, he would have enough funds to set up his own car production line. After all, constantly transfusing blood would not work, and he could not withstand it.

The hype was huge.

Completely Argentine-made cars.

Cars were the dream of many Argentine middle-class families.

And the Fiat 600 was too beautiful.

But this was only the price in the United States. If imported to Argentina, the price would increase by about 1,000 US dollars. For example, the Beetle sold for 1,700 US dollars in the United States, but in Argentina, it was basically 2,500 US dollars or more, and it was still in short supply. Smuggled cars could be sold for 2,300 US dollars, but you couldn't buy them.

Many European cars were the same. Argentina imported many cars every year, which suppressed demand. Former President Bilon even had to find someone to buy smuggled cars.

Smuggled cars were very popular in Argentina now. If calculated according to import tax, a Beetle would basically cost 3,000 US dollars.

The Fiat model itself had the potential to be a hit. Many Argentine wealthy people had already paid attention to it when it was released in Geneva last month.

Moreover, this car was very much in line with the aesthetic of Argentines, and now the price was very cheap, very cheap, only about 100 US dollars more expensive than the local price in Italy.

At 1599 US dollars, most high-wage Blanca City families could save enough money to buy one in about three years.

Wages in Blanca City were considered high now, with many earning ten to twenty thousand pesos a month. Generally, those who bought cars were in their thirties, and they would choose to buy the Fiat 600M series, which only cost 1699 US dollars.

A 600M could seat 7 people, making it very suitable for ordinary Blanca City families.

The basic model could also seat 5 people, which was completely enough. Moreover, the basic model had a radio function, which was very cheap.

If you chose a installment loan from Balun Bank, that was also possible, although the annual interest rate was a bit high.

Former President Eduardo still did a good thing. After not printing more banknotes, the peso's exchange rate against the US dollar stabilized and even appreciated a bit. Although it was impossible to return to the era of 1:50, a rate of 1:90 or so was also pretty good, at least ensuring Argentina's export competitive advantage.

Moreover, Argentina had a large civil service team, and their wages were first-class, allowing them to sell a lot every year and even export to neighboring countries like Brazil.

The Fiat 600 had a clear symbolic meaning for Italians, and it also had milestone significance for Saint-Hesse.

Blanca City Business Daily commented:

"We have finally ushered in an Argentine-made car, with a body length of 3432 mm, a body width of 1450 mm, and a curb weight of only 580 kg. The power comes from a 0.767-liter 4-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 32 horsepower. The transmission system is a 4-speed manual gearbox, with a top speed of 96 km/h and an acceleration time of 43 seconds from 0-80 km/h.

Last month, the first-generation Fiat 600 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. It was filled with the beautiful wishes of Italians rebuilding their homes after the war, and a small and lightweight car design concept of 'small appearance, large connotation' was proposed.

As Italians, they will never forget Felice Casorati's famous poster, Turin at night, its sprite-like charm.

The Fiat 600 was designed by the famous designer Dante Giacosa starting in 1951. After 4 years of effort, it finally received the critics' evaluation of 'unorthodox outstanding design'.

When the 600 returned to Italy with honor, Italy was in an uproar, looking forward to building a new life with it. At that time, Italy was undergoing a huge transformation from rural to urban, and the 600 naturally became a 'status symbol' of that era's society."

This car was very popular in Europe, and now it is popular in many countries. In addition to Italy, it is also very popular in Central and Southern European countries, and has swept to Spain, Yugoslavia and other countries.

In less than 10 days, 10,000 Fiat 600s were pre-ordered, and they were still increasing.

That is to say, as long as it can be produced, it can recover nearly 18 million US dollars, and the annual sales will be 200 million US dollars, only more, not less.

Saint-Hesse finally realized that cars are really good.

The factory buildings were also ready, waiting for the production line to be in place.

The car R\u0026D center also stood up.

He wanted Thunder Shield Motors to develop better cars, with more affordable prices and more advanced engines, to seize the market.

Now, the prices of many raw materials in Blanca City were quite cheap, and there were many parts factories, allowing for reckless expansion.

As long as the quality of the Fiat 600 is guaranteed, he estimates that this car can sell at least 2 million units, which is 3 billion US dollars, with a conservative profit of 500 million to 1 billion US dollars.

Therefore, Saint Hesser is already preparing in large quantities, waiting for the car sales to return funds.

The first batch of 3,000 vehicles is also being rushed out on the assembly line.

The production line will be replicated and pasted more than three times, at least to produce 10,000 cars per month as soon as possible.

The main problem is still the three major components. Once they are solved, other problems are no longer a problem.

Engine production, car body manufacturing, and gearbox.

All need to be finalized as soon as possible.

Now is the time to race against the clock.

Only after the domestic market is satisfied can exports be carried out.

......

His wife, Elena, did not appear on the scene. She is now a teacher in the Physics Department of the National Southern University, busier than Saint Hesser every day, and only occasionally returns home on weekends, so Saint Hesser now takes his daughter to work.

In fact, Elena's more important job is to provide theoretical support for the nuclear physics laboratory and cultivate outstanding students. Saint Hesser is still reluctant to let his wife go to the nuclear physics laboratory because radiation is too dangerous, so he arranged for her to enter the National Southern University.

The nuclear physics laboratory belongs to the highest level of secrecy, SSSSS top secret, in all of Saint Hesser's institutions and organizations.

Moreover, engaging in nuclear weapons is a very money-burning activity, with annual investment no less than acquiring a German automobile alliance company.

Only the most core intelligence groups and top agents of the Falcon Bureau and the two major security companies are qualified to be responsible for the defense and security of the laboratory and production plant, and their official external position is Blanca Mining Company. At the same time, Saint Hesser also established the Lanka City Secret Security Bureau to be responsible for external protection.

All personnel of the Secret Security Bureau are Saint Hesser's most core subordinates, trained according to special agent standards.

The work of collecting Argentine nuclear physics experts has accelerated since Peron stepped down last year. This is the most confidential work in Saint Hesser's hands.

The laboratory address is located on a mountainous farm in a certain area of La Pampa Province, where he built a very concealed underground facility.

Saint Hesser clearly knows that engaging in nuclear weapons is gambling with one's life. The United States and the Soviet Union are both paranoid about other countries engaging in these, and the ideas of many countries have been extinguished by them. Some physicists in South Africa, Nigeria, the Fertile Crescent, and Persia have been assassinated by them.

"Are you willing to be anonymous for the rest of your life?"

This is a very famous saying in New China. By the time this sentence was decoded, New China had already entered prosperity.

When Saint Hesser was screening nuclear physics experts to participate, he also asked this sentence. Those who hesitated were sent by him to National Southern University to be professors, still with generous salaries.

Compared with New China, Argentina can obtain more research resources. Enco Electric from the United States secretly smuggled large computer equipment from classified information and equipment from the United States and Canada.

Argentina has many uranium mines, and a secret task of Thunder Mining is to mine uranium and send it to underground facilities for purification.

The American's intention was behind Israel's bombing of the nuclear facilities in the Fertile Crescent, because Gaddafi, who offended the five permanent members by messing around with nuclear weapons, was physically transcended, and even his chrysanthemum was gone miserably.

In later generations, only the five permanent members and a few countries were tacitly allowed to possess them. South Africa and Ukraine, which once possessed nuclear weapons, were fooled out of them, even the American's loyal younger brother Canada was not allowed to possess them. It should be known that Canada's nuclear physics strength is among the best, and Canada was also one of the victorious countries in World War II, and its comprehensive national strength was also the strongest at that time, and its status is still very high now.

Under the condition that the national strength is not enough, holding this nuclear weapon is like a child holding a machete, so it must be strictly kept secret, but this thing must still be possessed.

Two years ago, when I was in Blanca City, it was small, and it was enough to find a place to be hidden. Now, Blanca City is full of people, and even many foreign spies, so I can only migrate. He had been prepared for this.

The company building the underground nuclear facility is also Saint Hesser's confidant, Cohen Construction Company.

Saint Hesser also asked San Martin Aircraft Factory to set up an aerospace department internally to reserve some rocket launch technology. There are still some people under Dr. Tank who have experience with V-2 rockets, but they did not have the conditions before. At the same time, they did not give up the method of aircraft delivery and carried out technical research to see if the Arrow 2 could be transformed into a bomber. You must have delivery equipment if you have weapons.

......

Saint Hesser has now moved to the suburbs of the West District, which has been specially designated as a Blanca City civil servant community for the civil servants of Blanca City to live in. The original West District civil servant community is no longer able to accommodate them and has been converted into a residence for the civil servants of the West District.

This area is built around the river and is very vast. The periphery is a high wall, and there are soldiers patrolling around the wall. The buildings are relatively luxurious, and a garden has also been specially opened up.

Saint Hesser's residence is a villa. The main structure of the entire villa is a three-story building with a unique shape.

He also handles some official business at home.

Blanca City has introduced a lot of foreign investment.

For example, many local families in La Pampa moved their capital from Santa Rosa to Blanca City for investment, especially in the emerging Ajerich district. Although these families are not ranked in Argentina, they have accumulated more than a hundred years of property.

Many factories and companies in Buenos Aires Province have also moved here.

When the 4th thermal power plant in Blanca City was completed, Blanca City had become the first city in Argentina that would not have a power outage at night.

Blanca City's complete power grid and advanced power management will provide stable and reliable power supply for citizens and factories, and the power supply price is more than half cheaper than other Argentine cities.

The 5th, 6th, and 7th large thermal power plants are also under construction in the Alta, Posca, and Maclo districts.

In contrast, there is also the Salado River Hydropower Station, which intercepts the Salado River with huge investment. After the completion of this large hydropower station, in addition to the power generation function, the tight water resources in the western part of La Pampa Province will be greatly reduced.

Cheap electricity is also a powerful tool for Blanca City to attract investment. Australian coal for sea transportation is quite cheap. Southern Energy Company has never stopped building thermal power plants, and its technology research and development is also quite advanced. It has introduced and independently developed power grid technology, high-voltage transmission and transformation technology, and is already catching up with the world's advanced level.

Now many Blanca City people are "night owls", which is not an exaggeration at all. They usually eat dinner after 8 pm, and start going out for activities at 9 or 10 o'clock, often playing until late at night.

Blanca City has now almost become a veritable city that never sleeps, with brilliant lights at night.

600 Fiat 600s have been sold in Blanca City, and there are many more vehicles on the road.