Rise of the Argentine Empire

Saint Hesser took a sack of pineapples from Sean's house and had the Thunder Cross members carry it onto the truck, then headed to the brewery together.

The factory director, Massara, was at the brewery, directing the new round of beer brewing operations. The entire brewery was well-organized and had an enchanting aroma of malt, which Saint Hesser found somewhat intoxicating.

He called the factory director over to the laboratory to debug the machine, preparing to experiment with a new gadget.

Saint Hesser took a fruit knife and quickly peeled a pineapple, placing it on the cutting board. The entire laboratory was immediately filled with a rich pineapple aroma, sweet and pleasant.

"Boss, what new product are we going to produce this time?"

Massara had become familiar with Saint Hesser recently, and he no longer had the restraint he had at the beginning. He was a rather outgoing person.

Massara asked curiously, then picked up a piece of sliced pineapple with a skewer, took a bite, and juice splashed everywhere. It was really sweet, filling his entire taste buds.

"Massara, I need you to develop and produce a new product, pineapple beer."

"Boss, what is pineapple beer? Is it pineapple-flavored beer? Or something else?"

"You can think of it as a kind of fruit-flavored beer, but the price is only one-third of beer."

Saint Hesser said, looking at the laboratory equipment.

"What, it can be so much cheaper? Is it just adding pineapple? Or is it like the ginger beer production process?"

"Haven't you brewed fruit-flavored beer before?"

"Yes, I've used cherries and peaches, but never pineapple."

Saint Hesser had spent several years in Lingnan Province in his previous life, and Cantonese pineapple beer was his favorite local specialty drink. At first, pineapple beer had a slight alcoholic taste, and later it became a carbonated drink version of pineapple beer.

This time, a large number of Brazilian pineapples were on the market, with good quality and low prices, which instantly sparked a vague memory in his mind. Brazilian pineapples are products of a special time period, only appearing on the market in March. This was the first time Saint Hesser had eaten Brazilian pineapple, and it was sweet, delicious, and had a particularly strong and pleasant aroma.

"The taste has the aroma of pineapple, but the alcohol content is not as high as beer. It is suitable for the elderly and children to drink, and it won't get people drunk."

"Boss, can this stuff really be sold?" Massara quickly cut a few slices of pineapple and threw them into a beer glass that was two-thirds full of beer.

"It still doesn't seem right," Saint Hesser said after taking a sip.

"Okay, boss, I won't tease you anymore. Sorry, actually I know how to brew it."

Massara finally couldn't hold back. This boss was really something, he didn't even understand beer brewing, yet he wanted to produce beer. It was really strange. The beer the boss sold was much better than any brewery he had ever seen. He had to say, the boss was really a little genius.

"Boss, you should add rice as a raw material."

"Uh, do you add rice during brewing?" Saint Hesser was a little puzzled. Aren't the raw materials for beer malt? How could you add rice? Of course, Saint Hesser wasn't too surprised.

"Yes, malt, rice, sugar, hops, etc. are used as raw materials, and pineapple is added to ferment together to make pineapple-flavored beer," Massara said mysteriously, looking at Saint Hesser, and continued.

"Boss, producing new beer takes time, and new packaging will be needed by then."

"Don't worry about the packaging, I'll take care of it. Get the finished product out as soon as possible."

"Okay, boss, I will control the low-alcohol fermentation time well, it should be about three or four days."

Massara began to study it with great interest. Pineapple beer, this was a brand-new fruit-flavored beer that he had never heard of before. It sounded much better than cherry beer and peach beer.

The sweet taste of pineapple, plus the pineapple aroma, was indeed higher than peaches and cherries, and maybe it could really sell well.

South America also has a flavored drink called ginger beer, but the brewing method is completely different, and it can't even be called beer. Most men don't like it.

Ginger beer is a non-alcoholic beverage with a spicy and aromatic taste, made from a mixture of ginger, water, and sugar, fermented with yeast, and then carbonated.

The time cycle required for the original handmade beer by Massara was too long. The Maria Brewery didn't sell high-end beer. The beer he brewed before took more than half a year, far less than the speed of industrialized brewing, which was fast and good.

Pineapple beer is a new type of fruit-flavored beverage invented in New China, with good quality and low price, and a very good taste, which is widely popular.

Later, a non-alcoholic carbonated pineapple beer was launched, which was also very popular. Even in the end, the wholesale price war was fought to 80 cents a bottle, and it was still produced with aluminum cans, which was particularly outrageous.

However, most of them are now produced by small factories, with affordable prices and average taste.

… …

While arranging the mass production of pineapple beer, Saint Hesser also awaited the second batch of industrial equipment and smuggled arms.

This time, the transportation of materials was much more troublesome than the last time, spanning the entire Atlantic Ocean. Because the United States suddenly controlled the Atlantic Ocean, the cargo ship sent by Sain first went to the port of Santos in Brazil, then transshipped to the port of the capital of Uruguay, and then the other equipment was separately imported into Buenos Aires, Argentina, taking a full month.

Saint Hesser purchased two 10,000-ton giant ship's worth of equipment last time, including some arms and firearms. Most of them were stamping, injection molding, mold processing, and other tools that the equipment factory could use, as well as some other research equipment.

Because of the foreign exchange controls on the US dollar and British pound, coupled with Argentina's closed-door policy, Argentina's foreign exchange reserves were all in British pounds. Fortunately, Saint Hesser's money was all US dollars converted from the US plastic bottle press conference, as well as US dollars earned from the surge in the US stock market, so he was able to purchase equipment and weapons that even the Argentine central government could not buy.

Argentina was suppressed by the United States, and the relationship had already eased. With the outbreak of the Korean War, the United States' main energy was focused there, and Saint Hesser was able to transport away the equipment from these two cargo ships from the United States.

It has to be said that the Peron government's diplomatic level was very problematic, offending the world's largest economy, and without corresponding strength, which made Saint Hesser increasingly suspicious of the Peron government's wisdom.

After receiving these equipment, Saint Hesser immediately sent the most important military supplies to the Maria militia, who were also the new members of the Thunder Cross, responsible for escorting the supplies to Oran, and handing them over to Guerrero and the others.

… …

Jujuy Province, Argentina, Silver River Valley, new station of the Viper Squad.

"Team leader, the boss's new batch of supplies has been delivered."

"Okay, let's all go and take a look."

Two soldiers in special operations uniforms unloaded three large wooden crates from the truck. They skillfully pried them open with crowbars, revealing rows of brand-new pistols and ammunition nestled inside.

"This seems to be an M1927?" one exclaimed in surprise.

Aragon looked somewhat doubtful. He casually picked up a pistol, hefted it, and realized it was the same type he used during training exercises.

"No, this is an M1911A1. Not bad, a little better than the domestically produced Sistema M1927," another squad leader said, holding a manual and carefully flipping through it. The booklet was in English, which this soldier happened to understand a bit.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding soldiers immediately crowded around, their eyes gleaming with excitement. Each took a pistol, except for those on guard duty, who kept glancing over with longing.

Saint-Hesse had procured 200 new pistols for them this time. In the second purchase, a total of 2000 M1911A1s were bought. After the first batch was delivered to Maria Town, another batch was sent over.

"That's right, this is my favorite feel," a squad leader said, closing his eyes and gently stroking the pistol's surface, familiar with its touch and texture. It was much better than a revolver.

Pistols are one of men's favorite weapons. The last time Saint-Hesse provided pistols, they were only revolvers, which were not very convenient. Revolvers can only fire seven times and require reloading.

Guerrero also took an M1911A1 from the wooden crate, pulled out the magazine, loaded it to the brim with his left hand, slapped it upward with his right hand, released the safety, and gripped it with both hands. He fired several shots at a distant target, achieving a high hit rate. The newly erected wooden target was riddled with holes.

This heavy pistol has considerable recoil. To improve accuracy, it must be held with both hands. Of course, someone with a strong physique and familiarity with the weapon could hold it with one hand, like Schwarzenegger, for showmanship.

"Familiar feel, .45 caliber, over a kilogram in weight, immense power, seven rounds, unparalleled lethality. It's been a while since I've held one," Aragon said, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He picked up a pistol from the wooden crate, caressing the new weapon with care, as if holding a beloved girl, much like someone who just bought a new smartphone.

The M1911A1's recoil is among the strongest of modern pistols. The most famous heavy pistol of later generations is the "Desert Eagle" produced by Israeli industries.

However, you need to weigh at least 80 kilograms to handle that thing; its powerful recoil will make you question your life choices.

The M1911A1 uses the same caliber ammunition as the Chicago Typewriter, which is one of the reasons Saint-Hesse purchased this powerful pistol. Of course, the price is also relatively affordable.

"The boss really got us some good stuff this time. It's much more practical than a revolver. Saint-Hesse is a holly cow!" a squad leader suddenly blurted out in English.

"Saint-Hesse, holly cow!"

"Saint-Hesse, holly cow!"

Those who received the pistols shouted together, cheering. It must be said that the British influence on Argentina is quite significant, leaving behind some strange vocabulary.

"Hooray for Saint-Hesse!"

Guerrero was also quite excited. This was a unique romance for Argentine soldiers, one that armies with powerful military industries could not understand.

Firearms and ammunition rarely leaked from Argentine armories, and most required a gun license to use.

Pistols are very discreet and easy to conceal. Since they use the same ammunition as the Thompson submachine gun, they can greatly improve logistics. The first unit to be equipped with the M1911A1 was actually the newly established Second Squad, the Thunder Cross, which was withdrawn from the militia guard and responsible for protecting Saint-Hesse's safety.

The Colt M1911A1 is an improved version invented by American arms dealer Browning, a completely new version after multiple improvements. Initially, it was produced by Colt and Springfield.

Later, during World War I, production expanded to American arms contractors. It may be the most produced pistol in human warfare history. During its service life, the United States alone produced 2.7 million.

Later generations, including New China, Brazil, Israel, Argentina, and the United Kingdom, all had counterfeit versions, and there were even more unauthorized copies.

The Argentine domestically produced counterfeit version is named the M1927. Almost all soldiers in the country have handled it during military training and deeply love it. The quality is almost the same as the original.

Unfortunately, the production quantity is not large, and very few leak out. The country simply does not allow sales. Saint-Hesse had no choice but to pay a high price.

Saint-Hesse had Saine purchase it from the Springfield factory in the United States, original inventory. Because the purchase and transportation of this pistol were relatively troublesome and strict, it took more time to transport it. When the Viper Squad was established last time, it was still on the cargo ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

A group of soldiers eagerly experimented with their new toys. Although the price of the M1911 is much lower than the expensive Chicago Typewriter, it is much better than the revolvers purchased last time.

Moreover, this pistol is the only one that all active Argentine soldiers have used and trained with. It is the soldiers' favorite weapon, compared to those clunky, crude semi-automatic rifles.

This pistol is also a classic among classics. Guerrero distributed all these M1911s, and the Viper Squad replaced the revolvers, raising morale by a level.

… …

While listening to the radio during dinner that evening,

Saint-Hesse heard another bad news: Argentina was… again… blockaded by the United States. Saint-Hesse held his forehead, somewhat speechless.

This time, the Perón government was once again muddleheaded, insisting on the so-called Third Way, without considering its own weight. This led the United States to once again give Argentina the cold shoulder. This is probably the last time to smuggle American military supplies and products until the Perón government steps down.

Saint-Hesse was also a little speechless, it was indeed quite difficult, but fortunately there was good news: the Marshall Plan saved European industry, and now the European industrial level has recovered. Argentina has a good relationship with Western Europe, and they also need new customers.

When the time comes, Saine in the United States can use investment to flow funds to London, Paris, and other places, and then import and transport industrial equipment across the Atlantic. American goods will probably not be available for a while, because Saint-Hesse is no longer satisfied with ordinary light industrial equipment.

The current batch of American goods is enough for Saint-Hesse to digest for a while. If there is no American equipment, there is Western European equipment.

German Krupp, Siemens, Bavarian Machinery Works, Mercedes, Volkswagen, French Renault, shipyards, East European Czechoslovakian Skoda under the Soviet Union, Italian Sophia, British consortiums, and also Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, these countries are also in urgent need of exports to make money.

They also have light weapons factories, various equipment, shipbuilding, and even tanks, which are all quite good.

These all need to be re-planned, and the United States will never let Argentina go.