Jiang Hao looked at everyone and said: "You must know that you must learn to judge the situation at all times, and I can tell you clearly that I am not optimistic about Italy, Mussolini, or even the German Führer who has been mythologized." ”

"If they fail, what will happen to Italy and Germany, I think you can imagine, that at that point, the lira and the mark will be wasted paper, and all our previous efforts will be in vain."

"If it weren't for the gold controls, I'd rather exchange them all for gold, and all the gold jewelry I got from Tunisia was given to the Germans and the Italian Navy, don't you see, they don't like paper money."

After some time, Jiang Hao took Fabio, Cassani and others to the banks in Palermo, trying to convert the lira into dollars and pounds, but Palermo was still smaller, and they ran inland again, in Naples, where all the cash was exchanged.

The money of the organization is about 8 million lira, and it was finally exchanged for 500,000 US dollars, and Jiang Hao's private 10 million lire was exchanged for more than 600,000 US dollars, which is the current exchange rate, no way, it seems to be a lot, but in fact, it is really not much.

As for the Deutschmark, absolutely not.

There is a story in later generations that after the defeat of Germany, an American reporter said that Germany went to the bank to exchange marks and took out 5 US dollars, and the bank clerk was very embarrassed to say, "Sorry sir, the bank's money is not enough to exchange this currency." ”

"How much can you redeem that?"

"It's only worth three dollars."

The money of a bank can only be exchanged for three US dollars, which can be imagined the value of the Deutsche Mark at that time, and now the Deutsche Mark is called the Golden Mark, and the exchange ratio with the US dollar is 2.5 marks to 1 US dollar.

Time never stopped, and in the blink of an eye it was the end of the summer of 1942.

The smoke of gunfire was still in full swing, the world war was in full swing, and the Germans and the British were engaged in a tug-of-war in North Africa, where Rommel and Montgomery made their own name.

Jiang Hao knew that in another month or two, the famous Battle of El Alamein would take place, which was also known as the turning point of the North African battlefield, which began on October 23 and lasted 12 days, and the German army was defeated and expelled from Egypt and retreated to Tunisia.

Fearing that at that time, his smuggling business would not be able to do well, he once again convened a meeting of his subordinates and demanded that in the near future, he should step up the stockpiling of tobacco, at least not to have enough goods until Germany showed its defeat.

At this time, the number of formal members of Jiang Hao's organization has reached 1,000, and the number of peripheral personnel has reached more than 3,000.

During this time, Jiang Hao also obtained a large number of weapons and ammunition through the German army and the Italian army, in addition to the necessary equipment, all the others were stored, rifles, machine guns, grenades, and some heavy weapons, such as mortars, high-purity explosives, etc.

The pace of history is surprisingly consistent, or rather, this is simply the original history, the Battle of El Alamein broke out, the German army was defeated, the German Führer saw the crisis, and immediately ordered the army to go to Sicily, and at this time, Sicily poured into a large number of German troops.

On this day, when Jiang Hao was reading a book in the study, Bashali came over to report, "Boss, the Germans said they wanted to see you." ”

"Germans, do you know why you want to see me?" Jiang Hao put down the book and asked.

"It's supposed to be for cigarettes."

"The Germans are going to hold a drinking party, and they have invited the big merchants from all over Sicily, and I think they probably want to stab the merchants and get us to send them supplies." Bashali Road.

The German army's current environment is becoming more and more strategic, and the supply is gradually unable to keep up, the German army's method is to replenish the supply on the spot as much as possible, the army cannot do without cigarettes, and he is the owner of the largest local cigarette factory, so he naturally started his idea.

Jiang Hao thought about it and said lightly: "I know, you will pick me up tomorrow evening." ”

The reception was held in the best hotel in Palermo, and after Jiang Hao walked in, he found that many people had gathered, except for the German army and Italian officers, that is, businessmen in suits, and the officers had smiles on their faces, but these businessmen were not so happy.

A German major general walked up to the stage, raised his glass and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, in order to defeat those damned British and Americans, in order to protect Sicily, we have come here, hesitate to march hastily, the army supplies have not kept up, according to the laws of wartime, the army has the right to draw any supplies. Of course, the army will pay. ”

The businessmen in the audience immediately began to talk one after another, the army pays, but they only buy according to the price set by the state, such a price, in the market can not even buy raw materials, the price is more than ten times different from the black market price, the businessmen sell as much as they lose, who wants to do such a business.

The German major general had some displeasure on his face, thinking that these businessmen were too ignorant to be promoted, did they really want to be hard.

In the eyes of the soldiers, the merchant is like a flock of fattened lambs, who should be slaughtered when needed, and they will never be relentless.

At this moment, a voice sounded, and Jiang Hao stood up and said: "Your Excellency, General, I am Bernano of the Sicilian Cigarette Factory, and I am willing to supply all the cigarettes to the army." ”

The German Major General's face immediately showed joy, walked to Jiang Hao's side, stretched out his hand and shook his hand, "A businessman like you is a real sensible businessman." ”

Some people started and were knowledgeable about current affairs, and they also agreed to provide supplies for the army, but some people still refused, and they would not do business at a loss.

However, Jiang Hao knows that these guys will not have good results, sometimes they can't love money too much, and losing money is much better than losing their lives.

Back at the manor, Jiang Hao said to Bashali: "Take the initiative to send cigarettes to the various armies, since you want to do it, you have to do it perfectly." ”

Bashali said with a bitter face, "Boss, in this case, we will probably lose 100,000 lira a day." ”

"It's okay to lose money, there will always be a day when you will pay back, remember to remember the address of each army and the number of cigarettes provided, and go back to me for a detailed record." Jiang Hao said with a smile.

"What's the use of that thing?" Bashali asked curiously.

"Hehe, it's useful."

Another month passed, and Luca returned, bringing back the news that the situation on the Tunisian side was becoming more and more tense, the Allied offensive was very fierce, the Italian Navy had blockaded the Tunisian Strait, and the naval contact warned Luca that the smuggling ship must stop.

Let's stop.

Before tightening the inventory, the tobacco shreds were enough for the cigarette factory to use for several months,

It's Christmas again, this year's Christmas, Jiang Hao and Marlena didn't go anywhere, they spent it in the manor,

Very cozy,

It's also romantic.

"Woo woo~~~"

Suddenly, a sharp air defense siren sounded in the distance, Jiang Hao and Marlena stood at the window, looking at the dark night sky, Jiang Hao's hand reached into the woman's clothes, kneaded it full, and said in his mouth, "The bombing has started again, and there is no rest for Christmas." ”