Zhou Rui and Song Limin had just determined the new establishment of the coastal defense fleet for a period of time in the future, and Zhou Xiaorong walked into Zhou Rui's office.

"Major General, that Liu Shaochang is here again, I still have to see you." Zhou Xiaorong said helplessly.

Song Limin immediately said: "Young General, if there is nothing to do, I will continue to be busy." ”

Zhou Rui looked at the pair of obvious dark circles on Song Limin's face, and couldn't help but say with concern: "Old Song, you have to pay attention to your body."

You, the deputy commander-in-chief of the coastal defense fleet, must not be tired at this critical moment. ”

Song Limin said with a smile: "Major General, rest assured, the ships, personnel and various combat materials have basically been arranged, and I will not be so busy in the future."

As long as the Rear Admiral gives the order, the fleet can set off at any time! ”

After Song Limin left the office, Zhou Rui said to Zhou Xiaorong: "Second uncle, then I'll meet that Liu Shaochang!" ”

"Major General, there is another telegram from Jiedu Mansion, urging our Zhou family to send troops to Jingyang City to participate in the war."

"Second uncle, continue to drag it with the previous reason, anyway, I won't send our Zhou family's army to Jingyang City as cannon fodder again!"

"Okay, I asked someone to send a telegram to Jiedu Mansion, continuing to emphasize that our Zhou family has too many recruits, and we can't send troops to support the front line of Jingyang City for the time being."

When Zhou Rui saw Liu Shaochang, he said straight to the point: "General Liu, the two Berserk-class all-steel battleships are the trophies captured from the Tongze fleet by our Zhou family's coastal defense fleet.

It is impossible that because these two Berserk-class all-steel battleships were snatched from your Liu family by the Tongze fleet, our Zhou family has to give them to your Liu family for nothing.

If it is exchanged, presumably your Liu family will not easily give up the loot in hand, is it too much for me to ask your Liu family for a hard fee? ”

Liu Shaochang was a major general officially appointed by the Fengwu Jiedu Mansion, so Zhou Rui called him General Liu.

Liu Shaochang smiled and said, "It's not too much! Not too much at all!

General Zhou, our Liu family is also willing to pay a hard fee to the coastal defense fleet of Ganyang City, but 15 million silver coins is too high, and our Liu family only spent 18 million silver coins to buy four Berserk-class all-steel battleships before. ”

Because Zhou Rui is now not only the commander-in-chief of the coastal defense fleet of Ganyang City, but also the brigade commander of the 22nd Independent Brigade of the Fengwu Army, so the Fengwu Jiedu Mansion has just awarded Zhou Rui the rank of Major General not long ago, which is also a means for the Fengwu Jiedu Mansion to win over the Zhou family.

Zhou Rui's title of "general" is already worthy of its name.

Although Liu Shaochang's posture was very low, Zhou Rui was not ready to send any favors to Xiyun's Liu family.

"General Liu, a capital ship like an all-steel battleship can't be bought with money in our Han and Tang Empires.

If it weren't for the fact that the two families belong to Fengwu Town, I wouldn't even open the price with your Liu family, and our Zhou family is not bad for money! ”

Liu Shaochang secretly scolded Zhou Rui in his heart, your Zhou family is not bad for money and offers such a high price, obviously you want to be greedy for two Berserk-class all-steel battleships and more than 1,200 naval officers of my Liu family!

"General Zhou, let me tell you the truth, in order to buy four Berserk-class all-steel battleships, our Liu family has almost emptied all of our family resources.

Not to mention 15 million silver coins, it is 1.5 million silver coins, and our Liu family is struggling to take them out now. ”

When Zhou Rui heard this, he changed color almost instantly, "General Liu, since your Liu family has no money, then there is no need for us to continue talking."

Wait until your Liu family has scraped together enough 15 million silver coins one day and come back to me!

I still have a lot of official business to deal with today, so I won't send General Liu to him. ”

"General Zhou, although our Liu family can't take out so many silver coins, our Liu family is willing to exchange Xiwei Island for two Berserk-class all-steel battleships and more than 1,200 naval officers and men on the two ships!"

"What? Your Liu family wants to exchange Xiwei Island? ”

Zhou Rui was taken aback by Liu Shaochang's words.

Located about 200 kilometers west of Xiyun City and about 450 kilometers away from Ganyang City, Xiwei Island covers an area of 770 square kilometers, and is the largest island off the southwest coast of the Han and Tang Empires, almost the size of three Fengsha Islands occupied by the Red Tiger Empire.

Originally, because of the relative scarcity of fresh water resources on Xiwei Island, the Red Tiger Empire chose Fengsha Island more than 60 years ago and abandoned Xiwei Island.

At present, Xiwei Island is controlled by the Liu family of Xiyun, who established a port on Xiwei Island, and formed a small town with a population of several thousand based on this port.

In the last life, six years later, in the war between the Red Tiger Empire and the Silver Wolf Empire to invade the western coast of the Han and Tang Empires, Xiwei Island was finally occupied by the Silver Wolf Empire.

Then three years later, the Silver Wolf Empire discovered a large gold and silver mine on Xiwei Island, but as for the gold and silver reserves of this gold and silver mine, the Silver Wolf Empire did not announce it to the public.

However, later, because of this large gold and silver mine on Xiwei Island, the Silver Wolf Empire and the Red Tiger Empire almost broke out into another war.

Liu Shaochang nodded affirmatively, "As long as General Zhou is willing to return our Liu family's two Berserk-class all-steel battleships and more than 1,200 naval officers and sailors on the two ships."

Xiwei Island, including all the facilities of the port on Xiwei Island, our Liu family is willing to transfer them to the Zhou family free of charge, and sign a formal agreement. ”

"General Liu, our Zhou family needs to discuss this matter, and I can't answer you right now."

After Liu Shaochang left, Zhou Rui immediately sent someone to find Zhou Xiaorong and Song Limin again.

When Zhou Rui relayed to Zhou Xiaorong and Song Limin that the Xiyun Liu family was going to exchange Xiwei Island for two Berserk-class all-steel battleships and more than 1,200 officers and soldiers on the two ships.

Song Limin pondered for a while and said, "Major General, although Xiwei Island lacks fresh water, it is not that there are no fresh water resources at all.

If our Zhou family can get Xiwei Island, they can completely use the current port of Xiwei Island to establish a naval base and extend the sphere of influence of the coastal defense fleet to the north.

However, the two Berserk-class all-steel battleships are not much to return to the Xiyun Liu family, anyway, the coastal defense fleet is not inferior to the two all-steel battleships.

However, the more than 1,200 naval officers and men of the Xiyun Liu family have already absorbed our coastal defense fleet, and it is quite inappropriate to return them to the Xiyun Liu family. ”

Xiyun City is in the north of Ganyang City, and further north of Xiyun City, it is the coastal area of Kangyang Town.

Kangyang Town was the only feudal town with a coastline among the six towns in the northwest of the Han and Tang Empires.

Zhou Rui said categorically: "If we want to exchange, we can only exchange two Berserk-class all-steel battleships with the Xiyun Liu family for Xiwei Island."

If the Xiyun Liu family does not agree, they can only cancel this deal, and the more than 1,200 naval officers and soldiers of the Xiyun Liu family will already be members of the Zhou family since they have switched to our Zhou family.

It's impossible for our Zhou family to do something that goes back on its word! ”

Song Limin nodded, "If you only use two Berserk-class all-steel battleships for trading, I don't have any opinion. ”

Zhou Xiaorong followed: "After all, Xiwei Island has an area of 770 square kilometers and is the largest island off the southwest coast, so I think this deal is quite cost-effective for our Zhou family." ”

After Liu Shaochang left the brigade headquarters building of the garrison brigade, he got directly into a car.

"Back to the Nine Star Hotel!"

At this time, the middle-aged strong man who sat in the car with Liu Shaochang couldn't help but speak: "Young master, did you just give Xiwei Island to the Zhou family for nothing?" ”

Liu Shaochang said helplessly: "Now the family's funds are tight, and the Zhou family's side, if you don't take the money, don't want to get the two Berserk-class all-steel battleships back, so you have to take Xiwei Island to the account." ”

"Young master, is it cost-effective to exchange Xiwei Island for two all-steel battleships? Xiwei Island is the largest island off the southwest coast! ”

The corners of Liu Shaochang's lips raised slightly, revealing a strange smile, "Over the years, the Red Tiger Empire and the Silver Wolf Empire have been eyeing Xiwei Island, and it is precisely because of this that our Liu family does not dare to build the port of Xiwei Island on a large scale.

Giving Xiwei Island to the Zhou family is equivalent to throwing a bomb at the Zhou family.

I don't know if the Zhou family's coastal defense fleet can withstand the navy of the Red Tiger Empire and the Silver Wolf Empire? ”