I was a tycoon in World War I: Starting to save France

Charles had dinner on the plane, which was a few pieces of cake and a can of fruit syrup sent by Wells before he left. These were a luxury for Charles, who had been eating dry bread for a long time.

However, it was not easy to eat in an open cockpit like the Avro. Charles had to shrink in the narrow belly of the plane and stuff it into his mouth like a thief. He didn't even dare to open the fruit syrup, because he was worried that it would splash all over his body as long as the plane bumped.

After dark, the fleet, including the four escorting Camel fighters, landed smoothly in Paris.

The location was not the airport of the flying club, but the aircraft manufacturing plant.

Eric, who received the news, brought people to greet Charles. When he saw the plane landing, he happily greeted it, with brisk steps and a face full of expectation and joy.

However, when he saw Charles jumping off the plane, he was stunned. The whole temperament of this little guy was different, not only because of the general uniform on his body, but also because of his confident look with his head held high and his calm eyes seemed to be looking down at everyone around him from another height.

"What's wrong, Uncle Eric?" Charles stepped forward and patted Eric on the shoulder: "Can't recognize him?"

"Yes, General." Eric seemed a little embarrassed: "You, you seem to have changed."

"People always change." Charles replied, sighing in his heart.

He could understand Eric's strange feeling, which was the maturity tempered by the battlefield and political struggle. Even Charles himself felt that his mentality was different from before.

Some of the "conspiracies" set up before were at the cost of the deaths of soldiers and officers (referring to Jean Blue's seizure of power).

If it were before, Charles would definitely not choose these "cruel" methods.

But now, he doesn't even feel guilty when using them.

The reason is that Charles has seen the world clearly. He knows that if he wants to survive here, he must do everything he can, otherwise he will become a fish at the mercy of others.

Eric led Charles into the office, and Charles sat in front of the stove to warm himself. He was almost frozen after flying in the sky for several hours.

Looking up, Charles was surprised to see Eric walking towards the bookshelf. He took away a few books on one of the shelves and took out a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses from the secret compartment.

"Would you like a drink?" Eric smiled and raised the bottle to Charles: "Margaux from Bordeaux."

"Okay." Charles replied, and then asked: "I thought you had quit drinking."

Eric smiled and put the glass on the coffee table beside Charles, and replied proudly while pouring: "This is my secret."

Charles smiled knowingly, it seems that he spent a lot of time hiding it.

Or, Mrs. Eric actually knew, but as long as Eric could control the amount, she would turn a blind eye.

"The aircraft manufacturing plant is doing very well." Eric sat down opposite Charles, raised his glass and gently touched it with Charles, his eyes full of respect and gratitude: "We have reached the top of this industry, General, people from all over the world come to us to buy aircraft, I never dreamed that the factory could develop to such a height."

Charles said "hmm".

This was within his expectation. Other domestic aircraft manufacturers were not to be mentioned. They could not compare with Charles' aircraft manufacturer at all.

Abroad, even the first power, Britain, had to buy aircraft from Charles Aircraft Factory. There was no dispute at the top of the industry.

(Note: At this time, the world's first industrial power was the United States. It was only because the United States did not participate in the war that its military industry and technology lagged behind Europe and was still in a state of being big but not strong)

But Charles had no interest in this. He said, "I am not here for business, Uncle Eric."

Charles did not expect the aircraft manufacturer to make money. After deducting the investment in research and development funds, there was little left. He expected it to make money only after the air war with Germany was fully launched and the losses increased significantly.

But it could not be without it, because it was the most important strategic equipment, which could not be measured by money.

Eric was not surprised by this. He laughed and said, "Is it because there are new needs on the battlefield?"

Charles looked at Eric unexpectedly.

Eric raised his chin: "Please, General, this is not difficult to guess. The engine has reached 225 horsepower. Everyone is guessing what new model you will come up with, especially those in the research institute."

Charles said "Oh", it turned out to be because of the improvement of the aircraft engine.

"I may disappoint you." Charles smiled: "At present, our fighters are still ahead of the enemy. We only need to change to a closed cockpit to further increase the speed. There is no need to come up with a new model."

After a pause, Charles said: "However, I think the research institute should be divided more finely."

"Yes." Eric agreed: "I have the same idea. They have to design aircraft while upgrading the engine. The two can be separated."

In the early stage of aircraft development, everyone was an expert, usually knowing both this and that.

But when it develops to a certain extent, as the technology becomes more mature and the equipment becomes more advanced, it is not necessary and impossible for everyone to know everything. It should be "specialization" so that it can develop better and more professionally.

Charles added: "We will also set up a torpedo attack aircraft research and development department."

Please...collect 6...books...!

This was Charles' main purpose for coming to the aircraft factory this time.

"Torpedo attack aircraft?" Eric was stunned: "New model?"

Charles just said there were no new models.

"No, it's not a new model." Charles' answer was simple and clear: "Just use the Caproni bomber, replace its engine with 200 horsepower, and let it carry torpedoes."

Historically, Italy used the Caproni to carry an 800 kg torpedo when the engine was upgraded to 150 horsepower.

The total horsepower of the three engines is 450.

It's just that it was a bit reluctant to carry it, the speed was not fast, and all machine guns and redundant equipment had to be removed.

Now, Charles replaced the engine with 200 horsepower, and the total horsepower reached 600, which is enough to carry a heavy torpedo.

Eric didn't react for a long time after hearing this. He said with difficulty: "General, you mean, use bombers to carry torpedoes to... attack warships?"

He always thought that bombers could only be used for land operations, but he didn't expect that they could also be used for naval battles, and they were used to attack warships.

Charles was a little puzzled. Isn't it normal to use fighter bombers in naval battles?

Then he thought about it and realized that this concept alone was ahead of its time.

There were almost no fighter planes involved in naval battles of this era. If there were, seaplanes were used for reconnaissance. Their machine guns were just scratching the surface of the tough warships, so no one cared about the development of seaplanes.

(Not only at sea, many people in World War I questioned the role of aircraft on land)