Greece’s Roman Road

Constantine was talking with Tesla and Scalloy about electrolytic aluminum when Nina suddenly came to him with two men.

"Your Excellency, these two gentlemen are here to visit you," Nina stepped forward and whispered beside Constantine.

"What's the matter?" Constantine looked at the two and asked Nina.

"Regarding the sales market of artemisinin, one is an employee of the German Bayer company, and the other is a businessman from the Dutch East Indies," Nina said in a low voice.

Hearing this, Constantine understood three points in his heart about the purpose of these two people to find themselves.

"This is Mr. Friedrich from Germany, and this is Mr. Iningen from the Netherlands," Nina introduced to Constantine.

After all, the four of them found a quiet corner in the garden and sat down under the umbrellas.

"Then, what's the matter with the two gentlemen who came from afar?" Constantine said, looking at the two well-dressed gentlemen.

One of the people with a gold chain pocket watch in his suit pocket said: "Your Highness, I heard that your country has newly developed a special medicine that can effectively treat malaria."

"We came here this time to cooperate with you on malaria treatment drugs. We have been working with friends in the Netherlands to produce quinine for decades at Bayer."

"In terms of drug sales, we have a well-established network, and it's just that we cooperate with each other for mutual benefit and win-win results," Friedrich said sincerely.

Since Nina started the artemisinin production plant, the Greek Military Intelligence Service has been involved in almost the entire process, just for the secrecy of the production technology.

In order to keep this secret for Greece, Nina has racked her brains to adopt various secret regulations since she took over. Except for the chief engineer of the factory, Dr. Philip and Nina, almost no one knows the entire production process.

The factory adopts a strict division of labor. It is not so much to improve efficiency, and the element of confidentiality is greater. Every worker only needs to know his own operation steps. As for other processes, it does not matter to him.

Since it was put into production, in 1887 alone, sales have reached 12 million drachmas, with sales locations limited to Greece and the Congo.

Although the royal family has invested in many industries, the artemisinin factory can be said to be a profitable industry with a small number in the hands of the royal family.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Friedrich, the shares of the drug-producing factory have been very clear and have been listed on the Athens Stock Exchange." Constantine politely refused.

10% of the shares of the artemisinin factory have flowed into the stock exchange market and are in the hands of shareholders.

The question said, the two looked at each other.

"Then, Your Highness, if you can agree to sell the production technology of this drug, we can buy it at a high price. You can rest assured that the price will satisfy you," Yiningan said.

Originally, the Dutch and the Germans united and controlled the quinine market. The two cooperated, occupying almost 70% of the market share, occupying a monopoly position, and money naturally came in.

But this year, according to rumors from the Dutch who went to Congo, there is a new type of special medicine in Congo, which is very effective in treating malaria.

The news took the Dutch and Bayer by surprise.

After confirming the accurate information of the news, the two hurriedly sent people to Greece to discuss whether they could cooperate with the new company.

Iningen's request, Constantine could not agree at all, if the production technology of artemisinin leaks, Greece may not even be able to keep the market in the Congo region.

Moreover, the artemisinin factory made money secondly. In fact, what Constantine valued more was its huge role in balancing the trade deficit.

Although the operation of the industrial zone in Piraeus port is on track, general industrial products such as cotton cloth and soap can already be produced by themselves.

However, due to the huge cost of purchasing a large number of outsourced machines, and maintaining the operation of these newly built factories requires the import of a large number of raw materials that Greece still cannot provide, such as caustic soda for soap factories, coal and ore for steel, in a short period of time, Greece's trade deficit has not only disappeared decreased, but expanded.

Purchasing steam turbines from Parsons in the United Kingdom and power generation equipment purchased by Siemens is expensive because it is the latest technological product.

And the products exported to Asia Minor are cheap daily necessities like cotton cloth and soap.

As a result, Constantine paid more attention to the gold-absorbing effect of artemisinin.

In addition, the artemisinin factory also provided a lot of jobs for Greece, which made Constantine cherish the unique technology even more.

Especially in the hot and humid Congo region, this mosquito-borne disease is more common, and people's need for drugs is more urgent.

Due to the management needs of the Congolese Committee, a large number of Greek students were hired to work in the Congolese area.

Affected by this, in the past, Greece's annual hot civil service application rate has cooled down.

In order to reduce the loss of personnel, the Congolese Committee actively promoted the use of artemisinin to the people in the Congo region.

Of the total 12 million drachma sales of artemisinin, the Congo region provided a share of 9 million.

Seeing Constantine's firm attitude, the two looked at each other again and nodded to each other.

"In this case, Your Highness, in order to maximize the interests of both parties, let's determine each other's market?" Friedrich suggested.

Seeing this man's eager eyes, Constantine also understood the purpose of the two of them coming this time.

In fact, this is also the best way for both sides to solve the problem.

After the market is divided, it cannot penetrate like the other party's "site" when selling.

Otherwise, if the two sides go hand in hand and fight over price, no one will be able to take advantage of it, and they will only lose both.

In their respective markets, in fact, both parties can still occupy a monopoly position.

Constantine glanced at Nina, who understood and said to the two, "We want the Congo, the Greek market, the United States, and the Ottoman Turkey market."

"No, the American market can't be given to you," Yiningan categorically refused.

The American market is estimated to be the fattest piece of meat, because Americans are really rich.

Prior to this, the US market was the largest market for quinine under the joint monopoly of the two companies.

The Dutch produced the raw material, cinchona bark, while the German chemical technology was the top of the list in the American quinine market.

The U.S. market is also the largest consumer market for quinine.

Therefore, Yiningen decisively refused.

"His Royal Highness, we can only give you the Congo and Turkey markets. In addition, artemisinin cannot appear in other places for a period of 10 years. During this short period of time, the two sides will restrain each other and not sell goods to each other's markets." Riedrich said firmly.

Relying on the wealth and power of the two families, the two were not afraid that Constantine would not agree.

One is an old colonial country and the other is an emerging European hegemon. Constantine really didn't want to fall out with them. Otherwise, if the other party were to sell quinine at a low price, Greece, which is weak in foundation, wouldn't be able to take advantage of it, wouldn't it?

Looking at the figures leaving the two, Nina breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, we have reached an agreement."

Constantine looked at Nina and said cautiously, "When you go back today, remember, Nina, strengthen the confidentiality of the factory."

"Ah? Didn't we reach an opinion? Why do we have to strengthen confidentiality?" Nina was puzzled.

"Don't be silly, this agreement is based on our ability to maintain the artemisinin production technology. Do you think that if the technology is leaked, they will still abide by this agreement?" Constantine said angrily.

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