Chapter 75: Counterattack (3)

At first, when Mussolini heard that it was a New York souvenir, he really thought it was some kind of industrial product or souvenir. After opening the suitcase, he realized what a souvenir was. As the financial center of the United States, it is basically the financial center of the world. , Aren’t New York souvenirs just money? This metaphor is really interesting.

In addition to the valuable souvenirs that attracted Mussolini's attention, Contini's statement also made him attach great importance to:

Contini did not say much about the rhetoric. He only said that the party and the government should better lead the financial industry, guide the financial industry work more deeply at the grassroots level and more realistically, so that the Italian financial system can better serve the development of Italian industry and better To benefit the Italian people, United Group decided to establish United Finance, which specifically includes four subsidiaries: United Bank, United Trust, United Securities and United Insurance. It plans to develop into a cross-industry and mixed-industry giant. United Group accounts for the majority of the shares and is dispersed. The shares held by other financial companies will be absorbed, and 25% of the shares will be reserved for the country without any specific payment. The United Group will pay out the share, as long as other preferential conditions are given.

Contini said categorically: "Although United Financial is a public-private partnership with commercial capital holding a controlling position, under the management of United Group, it is completely different from ordinary commercial banks. First of all, it is a party surname and will effectively fulfill the leadership's trust and effectively fulfill the trust of the leader." Fulfill the main responsibility of the party and effectively maintain the stability of the Italian financial system and the core values ​​of society, and then other general financial attributes.”

This attitude made Mussolini very satisfied. He also felt that after a series of actions, Fascist's prestige had been gradually established at the grassroots level, but it was not yet easy to use in the business, financial and intellectual circles, and it was not good for the party. There are many people who are sarcastic and sarcastic with the leaders, and there are also many people who are submissive and submissive. The previous time it was the Socialist Party who jumped out, and this time it was some banks who jumped out. If this unhealthy trend is not severely stopped and allowed to shake the United Group, next time it will be Someone dared to challenge the party and the government, so he wanted to summon the finance minister and the central bank governor and tell them clearly: "A slap in the face of the United Group is a slap in the face of Mussolini!"

If the two of them still go their own way, he doesn't mind switching sides. Now that the Grand Fascist Committee has been formally established, he has full control.

Judging from the current actual situation, the finance minister and central bank governor can still obey the leader.

The restriction order issued by the United Group was the starting gun for a run. The bustling crowds lined up all the blacklisted banks. They were anxious to get back the thousands or tens of thousands of lire that belonged to them... Although the individual figures were not many. , but it cannot withstand the huge base, and this trend has a demonstration effect. As more and more people join the ranks of withdrawing funds, and Italy's small and medium-sized banks do have poor risk resistance, news came out on the third day that a bank The local bank's suspension of deposit payments due to technical problems woke up other people who were originally watching the excitement. Citizens who originally had an indifferent attitude also joined the same ranks. We are not stupid. There is only so much money in the bank. If If the person in front is taken away, the person behind will become a victim.

On November 2, the Banking Association held a secret meeting to discuss countermeasures. The chairman of several blacklisted banks anxiously hoped that the big banks would lend a helping hand, but the news they received was completely cold and bitter. They said they were also experiencing liquidity problems and were temporarily unable to help.

In fact, all major banks that have not yet been involved have received window guidance and are not allowed to lend funds to these banks. Anyone who dares to violate the rules will be dealt with by themselves!

The high-pressure order was jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank. If these orders can still be ignored, then the order issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank on November 2 made the banking community quickly understand the intention:... As some banks fell into a run, In order to understand the ability of the above-mentioned banks to resist risks and protect the safety of depositors, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank will form a joint working group to inspect the relevant banks to verify whether there are any violations.

Wouldn't it be crazy to dare to borrow money at such a time of crisis?

So seeking help from trade associations is doomed to fail.

The hope of seeking support from Fiat also failed: the old Agnelli spoke, and the finance minister had to give some face, but when he explained that it was a direct order from Mussolini, and the latter was also preparing to form a public-private joint financial partnership , Old Agnelli also fell silent, and finally could only slowly put down the phone.

Everyone knows that Fiat and Fascist dislike each other, and the old Agnelli and Mussolini also dislike each other. Mussolini inspected so many industrial and commercial construction situations, and he came to almost every joint group industry. The guide made an inspection, but he had never been to Turin! Not to mention inspecting Fiat's industrial base. Of course, the status of Fiat and old Agnelli is here, Mussolini and Fascisti will not attack him casually, and everyone maintains a peaceful relationship with each other.

If it were a time of war, Fiat, which controls a large amount of military industry and equipment production, would have a hundred ways to make the government bow its head. But now that there is no war, the government has no urgent need for Fiat. Instead, Fiat is counting on government orders to beg Mussolini for favors. Not seeking skin from a tiger? How much benefit will it cost? Can it compare with the benefits that little Ciano brought to Mussolini?

In terms of spending money generously, Agnelli thought he was far inferior to Ciano. Besides, even if he was comparable, what was the point? Even if he gave Mussolini the same amount of benefits, he would still favor the United Group in his heart. How many problems did the latter help him solve? Ciano was Mussolini's knife. With this knife, he solved the Socialist Party without bloodshed. Would Fiat be willing to give up its position to be this knife? It would be better to kill him.

"Father, are you really not going to say it?"

"How to say it?" Agnelli glared at his son, "Tell the outside world that we are related to this matter?"

"But even if we don't say it, won't those desperate bankers say it?"

"What they say is what they say, we just deny it to death. Isn't this the usual trick of Ciano and the United Group?"

"But how will the bankers see us?"

"It doesn't matter how they see us. Anyway, they will lose their positions and shares soon..."

Agnelli was shocked: "Why?"

"United Group wants to swallow up all the nine banks involved in this incident to form United Finance, covering four categories: banking, trust, securities and insurance!"

"No wonder! No wonder!"

"Young people are formidable! Young people are formidable!" Old Agnelli sighed, "Let this matter pass, cut off our connection with the banking industry, and don't ask about it anymore."

That said, but he knew very well: first, United Group would definitely know that Fiat was involved in this matter; second, after Fiat did this, no one would respond to calling on the banking industry to jump out in the future. This mentality of swallowing one's anger is really frustrating!

But old Agnelli is very wise. It is impossible to restore the confidence of the banking system by relying on Fiat. Finance has a characteristic that it is much easier to destroy than to rebuild. To hit the reputation of the banking industry, all you need is some bad news and hearsay, which will be effective in a few days or weeks, but it will take several years to rebuild the reputation. Although Fiat is large, it is not enough to fill this bottomless pit.

Stopping losses at the right time is the first choice for business tycoons who know how to advance and retreat.

On November 4, the banking industry was still struggling in the vortex, but the headquarters of the United Group welcomed an unexpected banker. He sat in front of Leo, the assistant to the president and chairman of the United Group (in preparation), and said in a bad tone: "I am Francesco, the president of the Italian Southern Bank. The bank has decided to provide a loan of 100 million lire to the United Group, with an interest rate of 8%..."

Leo was stunned. He had never seen such a straightforward banker. More importantly, he started with an 8% loan interest. Didn't the other party know that the loan currently obtained by the United Group only had an interest rate of 5%?