Chapter 169 Meritorious Service Report

When Kobdo came to report, Charles, Lieutenant Colonel Fernand and others were about to go to the officers' mess to have dinner together.

Charles was a little surprised by Kobedo's arrival. He called Kobedo after ten o'clock. It was only twelve o'clock now, and Kobedo was already in front of him. This was about the time it took him to arrive at the city defense headquarters.

Charles introduced to Lieutenant Colonel Fernand and others: "This is Khovd, the editor-in-chief we told you about!"

Lieutenant Colonel Fernan and others said "Wow" and stepped forward to shake hands with Khovd:

"Mr. Editor-in-Chief, we are going to have our own newspaper soon, right?"

"Can I sign up first? Be the first to interview me!"

"Get out of here, Kurt! This isn't just about lining up!"

…

The enthusiasm of Lieutenant Colonel Fernand and others made Cobdo feel more relaxed.

"Come on, Kobedo!" Charles didn't ask any questions. He led Kobedo towards the restaurant: "You're here at the right time. This will be your restaurant from now on, so you can get familiar with it first!"

As he spoke, he picked up a buffet plate and handed it to Cobdo: "You can take whatever you like to eat!"

Kobdo was stunned for a moment. He looked at the officers with military ranks all around him and asked slightly nervously: "I, can I?"

"Of course!" Charles spooned some beef stew and mashed potatoes for himself and replied, "You are already a second lieutenant in our files, but we haven't sent you the call-up order and uniform yet!"

Kobdo hurriedly followed: "Yes, sir, I'm honored!"

Charles took another cup of coffee, took a sip and waited for a while.

Cobdo hesitated after picking up two pieces of steak. He actually wanted to pick up a third piece, but after taking a sneak look at the others, he finally gave up.

Charles smiled. He would get used to the food here in the future, and there would be plenty of opportunities.

As he walked to his seat, Charles brought the conversation to work: "We might need some printing presses. Do you know where to buy them?"

"Yes, sir!" Cobdo followed Charles and sat across from the small table: "Schneider sells the 'Triumph' offset printing machine!"

Then he emphasized: "Made in Germany, about two thousand francs per unit!"

Charles laughed. The printing press for the pioneering military newspaper was actually made in Germany, and he had to buy it from his rival Schneider.

"We need about 10 of them!" Charles said while eating: "It is urgent that we popularize the use of 'hand grenades' in the army!"

"Grenade?" Khovd looked up at Charles: "The hand-thrown bomb used in the attack on La Fox?"

"Yes!" Charles was quite surprised that Khovd was so well-informed. Many people still don't know about the existence of grenades.

"We need to popularize it to the entire army!" Charles said: "But many soldiers did not know how to use it, so a series of accidents occurred. This is the first task that the military newspaper must complete!"

Kobdo nodded slightly and gradually got into the mood when talking about work.

He skillfully cut the steak into his mouth and replied thoughtfully: "If this is the case, then 10 printing machines may not be able to meet our needs!"

"What?"

Cobdo explained in detail: "A printing press can only print a maximum of 8,000 copies an hour, 10 units. Even if it prints non-stop, it can only print 80,000 copies an hour. This does not include mechanical failures and paper deployment and other issues. "In addition, we may only have two to three hours of printing time before sending the paper out."

Later, Charles realized that reporters need to collect data and information during the day, and after writing the article, they need to type and make plates, and finally print it.

Therefore, if a newspaper needs to be delivered to customers before dawn, 10 printing presses are obviously not enough.

"If we consider that the newspaper will be distributed to the public, we estimate that we need to print at least 300,000 copies!" Kobdo explained: "200,000 of them will be given to frontline soldiers and 100,000 copies will be for the public. Depending on the sales volume, we will consider increasing or reducing the number of copies. quantity!"

"Then 20 units!" Charles said, "20 units should be enough, right?"

Kobdo shook his head: "At least 50, we have to be prepared."

"What preparations?" Charles asked doubtfully.

Kobdo stopped what he was doing and looked at Charles, and said firmly: "Once the circulation of our newspaper increases significantly, and the printing press is controlled by Schneider..."

Charles immediately understood that the price of purchasing a printing press would not be two thousand francs per unit, but could be several times the price according to the military's practice of purchasing equipment.

"No problem, just 50 units!" Charles took a look at Kobdo's casual clothes and said, "You are responsible for these, Mr. Kobdo. Before you receive the call-up order, you can purchase these as a private person. Get a printing press and find a suitable place to set up the newspaper headquarters!”

"Yes, sir!"

"The funds can be advanced to Mr. Djorka in the town of Darvaz!" Charles said, "I have already made an agreement with him!"

"Yes, sir."

"Can you drive?" Charles asked again.

"Yes, sir!"

"Very good!" Charles raised his eyebrows: "After you get the advance payment, buy a car first. This will improve your work efficiency!"

Kobdo was dumbfounded. He got himself a car when he came up? God, this is something that ordinary workers can buy without eating or drinking for several years!

After reacting, he hurriedly expressed his gratitude, and at the same time sighed in his heart, working with Charles was different. He was right about this, and he had reached a turning point in his life.

…

After seeing Kobdo off, Xiaer went upstairs leisurely and said to Gallieni, who was leaning on a chair with his eyes closed, "There is some progress on the military newspaper. General, we need to give it a name."

Galieni yawned and opened his eyes, and said in a dreamy voice, "Name it? Call it... French Military News?"

Then he thought that this name was too official, and the grassroots soldiers might feel distant from it.

"Frontline News?"

He shook his head again. This was not good either. Although it was appropriate, the soldiers would shudder when they saw the word "frontline".

After thinking for a while, Gallieni said, "Let's call it the Meritorious News!"

He thought this name was good. It would publish people and things who had made contributions on the battlefield, which would motivate the soldiers to persevere.

Charles didn't care about these things, and it didn't matter what the name was. He added lightly: "We need 50 printing presses, each costing 4,000 francs."

"Write it down!" Gallieni replied: "We will share the cost when the government funds are in place!"

"Yes, General!" Charles replied.

In fact, there is no sharing, it seems that the military is paying.

And Charles is doing something that is free and free.

If there is any contribution, it is a small favor to Kobdo.

It doesn't cost much money and you can get equity and win people's hearts. Why not?

(The picture above shows the 'Triumph' offset printing machine, invented in 1907, which can print up to 8,000 copies per hour)