Fang Lang had his own reasons for asking Fit Henderson to help open a cigar store.
Since tobacco was introduced to Europe in the 16th century, Britain began to export tobacco to its 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 posed a threat to Britain's monopoly. In order to protect its own interests, the British government began to regulate tobacco to ensure its control over the colonial tobacco trade.
The main means of control was to impose high taxes on foreign tobacco sold to Britain and its colonies.
In 1901, American tobacco companies used their powerful power to compete with British tobacco companies by using price cuts, free gifts, and sales discounts as weapons.
British tobacco companies felt strong pressure. As a last resort, the thirteen largest tobacco companies in the UK held a meeting at the Queen's Hotel in Birmingham, and finally reached a merger agreement at this meeting.
After the merger, the British Tobacco Company was renamed Imperial Tobacco, and other tobacco companies later chose to join.
From 1901 to September 1902, Imperial Tobacco and the American Tobacco Company launched a vigorous trade war around the world. In the end, the trade war ended with Imperial Tobacco's victory.
In 1902, a delegation from Imperial Tobacco visited the United States. After the failure in the UK, American tobacco companies decided to negotiate with Imperial Tobacco.
In September 1902, the two parties reached an agreement that the American Tobacco Company would abandon its commercial activities in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In addition to its tobacco leaf procurement business, Imperial Tobacco also canceled its plan to enter the U.S. market.
Imperial Tobacco gained the rights to sell the American company's products in the UK, while American Tobacco gained the rights to sell Imperial's products in the US. A new company, British American Tobacco Limited, was incorporated in the UK.
Imperial Tobacco and British American Tobacco have established a near-monopoly tobacco network in Europe and the United States through their cooperation. The company's business began to develop rapidly.
Of course, the development of anything cannot be smooth sailing. Due to the emergence of antitrust laws, the business of the two companies has been affected to a certain extent.
The Second World War had a profound impact on tobacco companies, and their business in Europe was severely damaged. In the Far East, BAT lost contact with the company which was occupied by the Japanese.
In 1937, the company sold more than 55 billion cigarettes in its hometown. Afterwards, due to the Japanese invasion, BAT's sales in its hometown were interrupted for more than four years.
After World War II, the trading environment was extremely difficult. Tobacco companies faced inflation, high leaf prices, and the need to rebuild assets lost in the war, all of which took a toll on corporate profits.
It is under this circumstance that Fangyuan Group Tobacco Company, which has mastered Brazil's tobacco resources, has the opportunity to take advantage of the situation and rise.
At the same time, another American tobacco company called Philip Morris emerged.
Speaking of the name of this company, many people may not be familiar with it, but its products are definitely famous, and that is "Marlboro" cigarettes.
The three companies mentioned here are global tobacco giants that have been among the top three in the world for generations to come.
According to Fang Lang's plan, he was originally planning to take advantage of the European aid plan to extend Fangyuan Tobacco Company's tentacles to the UK.
But this time he didn't come here with this purpose, but he didn't expect that Mr. Fit Henderson would actually take the initiative to hold a cigar tasting session for his products. This can be considered unintentional!
Fang Lang immediately realized that this was a great opportunity for Fangyuan Tobacco Company to enter the British market.
It is actually very convenient for his Fangyuan Tobacco to enter the British market, 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. Now Italy, Germany, and France Fangyuan Tobacco have obtained sales licenses.
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It’s really not that easy to transfer goods from France to the UK for sale.
The Hendersons certainly had a certain understanding of the British tobacco market. After hearing Fang Lang's words, they looked at each other and Fit Henderson nodded indifferently and said:
"No problem, you can open the store without any worries. Our Henderson family promises to help you with the procedures."
When Fang Lang heard this, he glanced at Fit Henderson and Mrs. Henderson, and smiled happily:
"Thank you so much!"
In fact, from the eye contact between the two, Fang Lang had already felt that his invitation to come to the UK this time should be due to the opinions of Fit Henderson and Mrs. Henderson. As for the specific reason, he did not know yet. .
Otherwise, it would be impossible for them as a family to go to the airport to greet him in person. It was entirely possible for them to entertain Earnhardt well at home after he was received at his home.
Fang Lang would never have any objections.
According to Fang Lang's understanding, this situation now means "when you are polite to others, you must ask for something".
However, when the other party didn't speak, Fang Lang was happy to pretend to be unaware, just waiting to see when the other party couldn't help but speak on his own initiative.
Seeing Fang Lang's happy smile, Fit Henderson coughed lightly and continued 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?"
Not knowing whether the other party wanted to talk about business or just make things up, Fang Lang still pretended to be careless and simply replied:
"Yes, but my aircraft carrier battle group is still in the preliminary stage, and even the naval aviation personnel have not completed training.
Therefore, it has not formed a real combat effectiveness. Compared with the British Royal Navy fleet under Uncle Henderson, it is really incomparable. "
The British Navy has dominated the world for hundreds of years, and of course it has its own pride. Although its performance in the second war was not as impressive as that of the US military, it is still a real world naval power.
Therefore, what Fang Lang said was definitely not a compliment.
After hearing Fang Lang's words, Fit Henderson seemed to be very helpful and said with a smile on his face:
"Ten years of army, hundred years of navy. It is true that the navy cannot achieve combat effectiveness overnight, but it doesn't matter. With the relationship between our two families, if your fleet encounters problems, you can raise them.
Wherever I can help, I will never refuse. "
Hearing this, Fang Lang's heart moved. Could it be that the other party wanted to promote exchanges between the two navies? Want to increase the British Navy's influence over the Brazilian Navy?
As mentioned in the previous article, although the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States remains consistent in the general direction, they also have their own small calculations.
If there is an opportunity to drive a nail into America's backyard, South America, Britain would definitely be happy to see it happen. After all, World War II had exhausted the last bit of British strength.
They can no longer maintain the tough stance of an empire on which the sun never sets. Coupled with the United States' continuous decolonization actions, it is obvious that it is further weakening Britain's strength and influence.
This forced the UK to start using its global political influence to act as a global troublemaker.
Strengthening Britain's influence in South America, the sphere of influence of the United States, is obviously an indispensable part of the plan.
If Fang Lang remembers correctly, Brazil's first aircraft carrier in later generations was the giant-class aircraft carrier "Avenger" sold to Brazil by Britain.
Of course, these all just flashed through Fang Lang's mind.
Although the relationship between Brazil and the United States is now good, its own fleet has also made rapid progress because of the presence of American instructors. But it was impossible for Fang Lang to refuse the idea of helping offered by the Chief of General Staff of the Royal Navy.
This is the same as not putting eggs in the same basket.
In international relations, it is impossible for Brazil to only have good relations with the United States without having in-depth exchanges with other countries.
If we can take advantage of this opportunity to establish contact with the British Navy, it will be of great benefit to Brazil.
Therefore, he said without hesitation:
"Really? I would really love it if I could get help from the Royal Navy.
When I came to the UK this time, the Ministry of Defense arranged for me to visit a British shipyard. I wonder if Uncle Henderson can help arrange it. "
Fang Lang's words obviously shocked Fit Henderson, and he unconsciously straightened his posture.
"Oh! Fang, you came here this time with the mission of visiting the British shipyard?
As far as I know, the warships of your Brazilian Navy seem to be purchased from the United States. Why does your Ministry of Defense arrange for you to visit our British shipyard? "
The other party's performance made Fang Lang more firm in his suspicions.
Maybe the British are just like the United States and want to sell some obsolete warships to Brazil.
But he is the major shareholder of Shata Company. How could he harm his company's interests and push Brazil to purchase warships from Britain?
Isn’t it said that the British M16 Intelligence Agency is very powerful? Why don't you even know that you are a shareholder of Shatta Company?
However, since the other party asked Fang Lang about the purpose of visiting the British shipyard, Fang Lang was not prepared to hide it and said frankly:
"Uncle Henderson must know about my Universal Shipyards, right?"
Seeing the other party nodding, Fang Lang continued.
“Our family has established a joint venture with Global Shipyard to establish a shipyard in Brazil. In addition to undertaking the manufacturing business of some container ships, we recently received an order from the Brazilian Navy to start the construction plan of the first autonomous destroyer.
However, this destroyer is modeled after the American Fletcher-class destroyer. It is not the most advanced destroyer, so this time I came to the UK to visit the shipyard, just to learn and absorb some of the latest British destroyer construction knowledge.
Let's see if we can provide some reference for our own built destroyers. "
Fang Lang's words made Fit Henderson, who was originally in high spirits, instantly disappointed, and his posture that had just been sitting upright relaxed slightly.
Seeing this situation, Fang Lang once again confirmed his guess.
"The Fletcher-class destroyers are already the most advanced destroyers! Even now, Earnhardt and the others are still using this destroyer to perform missions."
Hearing this, Fang Lang couldn't help but be stunned. When did the British Empire have such low requirements? The Fletcher-class destroyer can indeed be said to be one of the most successful destroyers in World War II.
But now it is definitely not the most advanced!
People in the United States have already had Fletcher-level clearance sales. The new Keeling-class destroyers have already entered service. You, the British Royal Navy, actually say that the Fletcher-class destroyers are the most advanced. Isn’t this lying with your eyes open?
In fact, this is why Fang Lang doesn't quite understand the situation in Britain. World War II has emptied the last bit of the empire's wealth. In addition, the British economy, which suffered from the trauma of the war, is in a slump and can no longer maintain huge military expenditures. The navy The strength is naturally deteriorating.
In the more than 70 years after World War II, Britain only built a total of 29 destroyers of type 4. They are 8 "County" class destroyers, 1 Type 82 "Bristol" class destroyer, 14 Type 42 "Sheffield" class destroyers, and 6 Type 45 "Bold" class destroyers.
Not to mention 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.
