You are ordered to support the War of Resistance against Japan; China enters Level 1 combat readines

Three days later, the agreement was officially finalized.

The United States, Britain, Germany, and the Soviet Union each contributed one billion US dollars in gold and returned one hundred national treasures lost overseas in exchange for the complete technology license for the industrial-scale production of penicillin.

This price is exactly the same as the last time military technology was sold. It can't be said that the value of penicillin is equivalent to that of the Type 59 tank and the Type 40 rifle; it can only be said that this is the greatest sincerity that various countries can offer.

Four billion US dollars, which, at the gold price at the time, was equivalent to 3,200 tons of gold.

Adding to the previous order of 640 tons of civilian supplies, Shen Wang made a profit of nearly 4,000 tons of gold during this World Expo.

Converted into purchasing power in later generations, it would be an astronomical figure capable of shaking a nation's economy.

What he gave up was merely a basic fermentation process that would have been widely adopted in later generations, with costs so low as to be negligible.

Shen Wang looked at the agreement in his hand, his mind already racing with calculations.

Four thousand tons of gold was enough for him to set up oil refineries, penicillin factories, and arsenals.

The development of oil fields and the construction of naval docks in the Bohai Bay can be accelerated to full speed.

The Japanese North China Area Army and Combined Fleet don't have many days left to roam.

Not to mention the four hundred national treasures that have returned!

He has taken back everything that was stolen from him for over a hundred years, with interest.

And this is just the beginning.

The moment they finished signing, the representatives from the four countries leaned back in their chairs and let out a long sigh of relief.

The breath was deep and heavy, as if it was expelling all the anxiety, anger, breakdown, and struggle that had accumulated over the past three days.

White wiped the sweat from his brow, Morgan lit another cigar, Sir George stretched his stiff back with his cane, von Speer unbuttoned the top button of his uniform, and the Soviet vice-commissioner picked up his water glass and drank it all in one gulp.

No one spoke, but everyone's eyes conveyed the same message: It was worth it!

It cost a lot of money, but it was worth it!

With the technology to mass-produce ten tons of penicillin annually, every fallen soldier on the battlefield has a greater than 90% chance of getting back up.

This isn't about buying technology; it's about buying the fate of the nation.

Spending one billion US dollars plus one hundred artifacts to double a country's war potential is a win no matter how you look at it.

Thinking of this, everyone's lips curled up slightly, and a satisfied smile appeared on their tired faces.

But then, their faces all fell down at the same time.

Gone.

This time there really isn't much left over.

Even though they had plundered the world for over a century, seizing mines in Africa, temples in India, and looting the spice islands of Southeast Asia and the gold mines of South America, their wealth accumulated over hundreds of years was completely emptied by that smiling Eastern merchant in just three days.

The United States used the reserves of Fort Knox, England moved gold bars out of the underground vaults of the Bank of England, Germany staked the last box of Krupp family gold bricks in the Bank of Berlin, and the Soviet Union directly transferred unrefined crude gold ingots from gold mines in Central Asia.

The gold reserves of the four countries were depleted at the same time, a situation that has not occurred in the past century.

However, the thought of those rare goods that were about to be shipped back to China made everyone's expressions much better.

Luncheon meat cans taste better than any other meat product on the market; even Morgan was won over.

Disposable lighter, windproof and waterproof, ignitable with one hand, ten thousand times better than matches on the battlefield.

Ultra-thin nylon stockings, thinner, smoother, and more elastic than silk, will drive London and New York socialites crazy.

There are also flashlights, dry cell batteries, quartz watches, chewing gum, fluoride toothpaste, moisturizing face cream...

Each item is a unique and highly sought-after commodity, and none of them are difficult to sell.

A rare commodity with a total value of one hundred million US dollars, sold to ordinary people for one billion dollars, is that not excessive?

Morgan was the first to start calculating in his mind.

The taste is far superior to local luncheon meat. It sells for 50 cents in the market, but ours sells for 80 cents. Isn't that a great deal?

Disposable lighters are lightweight and easy to use, and they sell for one dollar each. Wouldn't everyone be fighting over them?

There are also ultra-thin nylon stockings, digital watches, and flashlights—each one a unique bestseller.

Sell ​​it for ten times the price, no problem at all!

If you calculate it this way, just reselling this batch of civilian goods could bring in 900 million yuan, not to mention the pharmaceutical monopoly profits after penicillin production begins...

So, the technology worth a billion gold was essentially obtained for free without spending a single penny?

They've made an incredible fortune!

Halfway through the calculation, Morgan paused, his cigar twitching, and his brows furrowed.

Wait... something seems off?

The money that ordinary people spend on buying things eventually flows back into our hands.

But when we buy goods from this guy surnamed Shen, we're actually giving him gold!

So all our hard work selling goods and making money is just going to end up being handed back to that guy surnamed Shen?

Doesn't this mean... we've become distributors working for him?

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he forcibly suppressed it.

nonsense!

We've obtained the technology for mass production of penicillin!

It's a golden goose that can influence wars and monopolize the global pharmaceutical market for decades!

This is a strategic asset; can it be measured in monetary terms?

He shook his head, dismissing the unease from his mind.

Forget it, I don't want to.

After three days of exhausting negotiations, securing full authorization is a victory in itself.

We've won so much!

Sir George, standing nearby, held his teacup to conceal his emotions, his mind racing with calculations, ultimately only able to offer himself a forced consolation:

The British Empire was not at a disadvantage. With penicillin, how many fewer young men would die on the front lines? This was a price that couldn't be calculated in gold.

Speer, however, remained stoic, convinced that with penicillin, the Reich could hold out on the Eastern Front until victory, at which point all of the Soviet Union's resources would be ours, and this little bit of gold would be nothing.

……

After the business was finished, the group dropped their previous airs and started chatting with each other.

Morgan Jr. smiled enthusiastically, addressing Shen as "Mr. Shen" repeatedly, and patted his chest to assure him: "If there are any new products in the future, be sure to contact the Morgan family first. The price will definitely satisfy you, and we will help you to establish a clear presence in the entire North American market."

Lieutenant Colonel Mike, who had been holding back for several days, finally couldn't resist approaching Shen Wang and probing, "Mr. Shen, I saw those small communicators that the militia had in the city before... Do you know if they're for sale? The price is negotiable."

The Krupp engineer from Germany squeezed in, his eyes shining, and asked, "And what about those excavating vehicles in the city, those big shovels? Can the technology be transferred? Krupp is willing to pay a high price!"

Shen Wang smiled and waved his hand, dealing with each question one by one: "No rush, everyone, no need to rush. We can talk about these things at the next World Expo."

"The next one?"

The group shuddered, and the teacups in their hands nearly spilled tea.

No... there's a next one?

Shen, how many good things are you still hiding?

The empire's gold reserves are truly gone!

Not a single drop left!