1912, January 30.
"Your Majesty, this is the application report sent by Setubal for the expansion of the steel plant."
After working hard for a long time, Pedro came out of the office and sat in the garden to rest for a while when he saw a guard coming over with a document.
Pedro rubbed his eyes, stood up and said. "Show it to me."
"Your Majesty, why don't you take a rest first." The guard carefully comforted His Majesty the Emperor when he saw him looking tired.
"No, you go out first!"
After receiving His Majesty's answer, the guard walked out of the office. Pedro picked up the expansion report and read it.
In this report, Varane, the general manager of the steel plant, mentioned. Steel plants are now operating at full capacity, thanks to the construction of numerous factories in Portugal in recent years, especially the consumption of industrial buildings.
Nowadays, Portugal's steel supply has reached its limit and funds are needed to expand production capacity.
However, since it is a state-owned enterprise that needs to hand over profits, and the government is currently strapped for funds, there is currently insufficient funds, and I want His Majesty the Emperor to approve the factory to intercept funds.
"Isn't this the responsibility of this local government unit? Why was it sent to me?" Pedro felt something was wrong after seeing the application report.
However, if you don’t understand, let someone who knows come. Pedro called the guard and asked him to invite Ankara, the Second Minister of Industry.
An hour later, Industry Minister Ankara came to His Majesty the Emperor's office. "I have met His Majesty."
"Ankara, why is this construction report on my desk?" Pedro asked him, taking out Varane's report.
"Your Majesty, can you show me first?" asked the Minister of Industry, who was a little confused.
"You take a look first." After finishing speaking, Pedro handed him the report.
After taking the report and reading it at a glance, Ankara said to His Majesty the Emperor with a smile. “I did deny the expansion of production, and I think that’s why Varane took the path of Your Majesty.
"
"Can you tell me the reason?" Pedro knew that Tony's nephew was also a smart and capable man, so there must be a reason for his refusal.
"In fact, the main reason is that Varane did not state in the report that the smelting equipment purchased this time was purchased from Austro-Hungarian products, and it is second-hand equipment. Although the price is cheap, it is 80% of that in Germany."
"Go on." Pedro looked at Ankara who looked confident and continued to ask.
"According to theory, the price is reasonable. However, I learned that the equipment this time is a bit backward. It is equipment that the Trieste Steel Plant is planning to eliminate. I think these equipment are not of much use to Portugal, so I did not approve it.
But I didn't expect that the final report on production expansion and construction would be handed over to His Majesty the Emperor through various channels. "
After listening to Ankara's words, Pedro made a little judgment in his mind.
"Ask Ranbir to come here." After seeing off the Minister of Industry, Pedro ordered the guard.
Not long after, Ranbir, the Portuguese Golden Shield, came to His Majesty the Emperor's office and said after saluting.
"Your Majesty, please look for me."
"I have something for you to do this time."
Pedro told Ranbir about the expansion of the steel plant.
"Does Your Majesty want me to investigate this Varane?"
"Yes."
"I will place his report on His Majesty's desk soon."
After sending the intelligence chief away, Pedro wondered in his mind whether someone was losing his mind.
After receiving the mission from His Majesty the Emperor, Ranbir returned to the office and gave instructions to a subordinate. "Call Kukoc over."
"Director, call me." An average-looking agent Kukoc, who was wearing civilian clothes, knocked on the door and came in.
"Yes, I have a task for you here." Ranbir said, pretending not to notice his attitude.
"What important task?"
Ranbir told Kukoc what His Majesty the Emperor asked him to do.
"Old man, you can give such a small task to the newcomers, and they can complete it."
It can be seen that this Kukoc is very popular with Ranbir.
"This is my request." Faced with his ace subordinate, Ranbir rarely got angry.
"After completing this task, boss, you have to give me a few days off." This guy took advantage of it.
"What are you going to do again?"
"I plan to go on a trip to relax."
"Okay, but I will see this report on my desk in the morning in three days." Ranbir made it more difficult for his subordinates.
"Boss, don't worry when I do things." Kukoc said confidently.
Setubal is separated from Lisbon by a small strait. It is not easy to do things at such a close distance.
Sending ace agents to do a small thing is a bit overkill, but who would have thought that this was something arranged by His Majesty the Honorable Pedro III.
His Majesty the Emperor personally requested something, so Ranbir valued this opportunity to perform in front of His Majesty the Emperor.
Ranbir now has a thorough understanding of the character of His Majesty the Emperor.
His Majesty is very interested in the abilities of his subordinates. If you look at the people promoted by His Majesty the Emperor, you will know that no ability can catch his eye.
His Majesty the Emperor attaches great importance to the intelligence department. He will arrest the capable ones and the mediocre ones. He will not show mercy and only look at abilities.
The three departments of the Security Bureau have only been established for a few years, and the senior directors and junior directors have been replaced one after another.
In the past, His Majesty the Emperor had left all general intelligence work to the Lisbon Branch, which made Ranbir feel a sense of crisis. Leaders in intelligence work all strive for advancement.
Ranbir is also afraid that his subordinates will be too powerful and that he will be overthrown one day.
Now was an opportunity. He wanted to let His Majesty the Emperor see that his abilities were far beyond those of the small Lisbon Bureau, so he asked his ace to investigate a small task.
The ace Mr. Ranbir liked lived up to his expectations and handed the report to him the next evening.
Ranbir looked at the report in his hand, and in his heart he felt incredible about Mr. Varane's greed.
This guy, relying on having someone next to the emperor's father, was doing practical things while also looking for his own benefit. Naturally, he had to start this expansion project.
After an Austro-Hungarian businessman, True, purchased equipment planned to be eliminated at the Trieste Steel Plant, he contacted Varane and planned to sell it to the Setubal Steel Plant at the price of second-hand equipment. Among them, Mr. Varane received 70% of the price difference, while the Austro-Hungarian businessman only received 30%.
It's no wonder that after being rejected by the Ankara minister, he still planned to submit the application through various channels. The kickbacks involved were really too big.
After getting the investigation report, Ranbir immediately went to the palace to report to Emperor Pedro.
After hearing Ranbir's report, Pedro was surprised. He could now understand the various strange behaviors of domestic officials he had seen in his previous life.
This is not because they are ignorant, but because some people have some backers and think they can earn more by doing their so-called job well.
There are people above, and as long as things are done fairly well, some people certainly think they have these small rights.
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