Section 30: Offering and soliciting bribes

According to Li Luoyou's request, Liu San took them to the power workshop and asked him to see the "liliang of water vapor", Li Luoyou was startled by the boiler workers who were all black and only had two whites of their eyes, and they kept filling the blazing furnace with black coal in front of the boiler. As for the big iron box called the "boiler", there are wisps of white water vapor everywhere.

The rotation of the pistons, connecting rods, and flywheels of the steam engine made Li Luoyou and Quark look at it for a long time, silent. The shock embodied in such a powerful "force" is too great.

If only the Australians had set up such a cannon factory for Daming...... Li Luoyou immediately shook his head, how could it be that Wang Zunde couldn't afford to pay this money at all, even if he let the court handle it, I am afraid that this appropriation alone will cause a lot of noise in the court.

This cannon factory is worth at least a million taels of silver. Besides, where do so many craftsmen come from? The craftsmen he hired in Foshan can at most turn iron and pour molten iron, but he can't start the machine.

Thinking of this, he was already excited. It seems that this trip: it is impossible to buy guns, and there is no hope of setting up a gun factory, and the deal negotiated with the Australians is good, but he has made a lot of money, and it is only 100,000 taels a year.

Because of Yixing, he simply had no interest in continuing to visit that day, and said that he was unwell and went back to Runshitang.

After Liu San sent them back, he immediately went to the executive committee, reported the whole situation, and also told Li Luoyou about his attempt to bribe him.

"After looking at our arsenal, he seemed to be very depressed all of a sudden."

"I probably think we can manipulate the power of ghosts and gods, and I'm scared." Wen Desi said, "Looking at the information of the intelligence department, this Boss Li has the potential to be a bright fan, and after watching the production process, he probably has a premonition that the Ming Dynasty will die." ”

"Wouldn't that be asking for trouble? The people immediately brought Da Ming to suppress it. ”

"Attack? He paid for the army? Wu De scoffed, "It's not bad to let the government know about our liliang, at least let them know that this place is not so easy to gnaw." ”

"I think you can take a bribe from him." Wu Nanhai happened to be running errands in the compound and farted together by the way, "Say that after your efforts and exercise, you finally agreed to build a monkey version of the cannon factory, for which you exercised the executive committee princes, and it took countless ...... favors"

"Alright, no kidding." Ma Qianzhuo interrupted Wu Nanhai's idea of "increasing assets in disguise", "We now give people the impression that we want to be honest and honest, and it is not worth discrediting ourselves for this little thing." ”

"I think so too." Liu San thought that the ginseng was afraid that it would be in the soup.

That night, Liu San came to visit Li Luoyou with a mysterious expression and told him: It was said above that it was not possible to sell guns, but it was possible to sell him equipment for a gun factory.

Li Luoyou was stunned, this was what he had always wanted, the so-called "teaching people to fish is better than teaching people to fish", but after visiting the cannon foundry yesterday, he had completely dispelled such an illusion -- he could not afford this kind of gun factory even if he was bankrupt.

"Thank you for the third master's attention and your kindness, this cannon factory, the little brother is probably powerless." Li Luoyou arched his hand with a wry smile, "Before the junior brother arrived at Lingao, he thought he was well-informed, but he only knew that he was a frog at the bottom of the well when he looked at it yesterday."

Liu San was stunned, he thought that he was going to be grateful to himself, but he didn't expect to say this, and the implication was obviously too expensive. Thinking about it yesterday, it was indeed too fierce to see the ground, and there was a misunderstanding.

"It's an improvised artillery factory." Liu San compared for a long time, he himself was not from an engineering background, and he was facing a native of this time and space -- Li Luoyou did not know anything about science, if he talked about algebra and geometry and the like, he was probably better than Liu San, who returned all the high school mathematics to the teacher, but he knew nothing about industrial production.

After laboriously explaining for a long time, Li Luoyou finally understood what he meant: Australians are willing to provide a set of simple equipment according to the level that Da Ming can adapt. This set of equipment can produce cannons in Foshan, and the production quality and efficiency are higher than those of the local method.

"Is it an Australian cannon?"

Li Luoyou had never seen an Australian cannon fire, but he had heard a lot: what was particularly accurate, and it was very far away -- a cannon could be used for tens of miles. And yesterday he saw the production process in the cannon foundry, which also gave him the feeling that this cannon was extraordinarily powerful - if it was just an Australian version of the Hongyi cannon, they didn't need to be very elaborate.

"This set of equipment is specially prepared for the manufacture of Hongyi cannons," Liu San said, "and it is naturally still a Hongyi cannon, but it is better than that of the red-haired people." ”

"I see," Li Luoyou was slightly disappointed. But after thinking about it, I set up a foundry in Foshan to prepare to build Hongyi cannons, and this trip was worth it.

Subsequently, a contract was proposed by the foreign trade department. It was stipulated that Lingao would provide Li Luoyou with a complete set of equipment and production technology for the improvised artillery factory, and be responsible for the installation and training of workers, as well as provide maintenance and spare parts services for one year. The total value of the contract is equivalent to 50,000 taels of silver.

Li Luoyou gasped when he saw the quotation, which was more expensive than the equipment of the British artillery factory quoted by Quark, and the quark estimated that the equipment plus the freight was 40,000 Spanish double-column silver coins. The craftsman calculates separately: the highest is no more than two hundred and twenty taels of silver per year. The minimum is one hundred taels a year. The labor cost adds up to less than 2,000 a year.

I am afraid that this investment will not be able to earn back for Wang Zunde for ten years. Not to mention his investment in this project, it is a question of when he will be able to pay back the full amount of the cannon.

Li Luoyou's loyalty, patriotism and businessman nature have been entangled in his heart for a long time. I haven't been able to make up my mind.

"Is it really impossible to sell guns?" He still hopes to be able to buy cannons directly, 50,000 taels can buy a lot of cannons, and the effect of transporting Australian cannons back will definitely be more conspicuous than buying back a set of equipment. Although most of the money is advanced by himself, in the end, there is also the meaning of an official supervising business. He did things under the banner of the government with great fanfare, but the results were not obvious, and the face of the political envoy was not very good-looking. Wang Zunde was jealous of him, and there were many people who sent him, and the situation became a big handle.

"In principle, no." Liu San played an official tone. Looking at Li Luoyou's appearance of eating bitter gourd, it was obvious that he was hurting silver.

"Let Li think about it again."

That night, Liu San returned to Runshitang's own office, just wanted to rest, take a shower, and be happy with Xuanchun in the evening - the relationship between the two was getting stronger, and Xuanchun gradually became much more open, much more active than lying down and letting him fiddle with it before. I was thinking about what new tricks I was going to do at night, and suddenly Fu Wu originally reported: Master Han came to worship.

"Master Han?" Liu San is strange, this person is Li Luoyou's entourage, his henchman, what did he do when he suddenly came to visit him?

"Please."

As he spoke, he saw that Master Han had already come in. This Master Han is about fifty years old, and his eyelids have been drooping, and he seems to be spiritless, but his eyelids are only shining by chance.

"Third master," Master Han bowed to the end. Very polite, "The students are coming to bother"

He spoke in official language, but his accent was Hokkien, and he was followed by two servants, carrying food boxes

"Well said, well said." Liu San hurriedly returned the salute and asked him to sit down in the main room.

"The proprietor can bring haode Wuyi tea, which is a tribute to the royal family, and the students see that the tea here is not very good, so they borrow flowers to offer Buddha and share with the three masters."

As he spoke, the two servants were already busy opening the tea set and setting up the stove one by one. Liu San looked at it, isn't this the so-called kung fu tea, but the shape and living are slightly different.

The servant raised the stove and sat down on the cold water. Master Han motioned for them to stand down.

The stove is made of haode red charcoal, and the volume of the cast iron kettle is not large, and the water is already boiling slightly in a moment.

"This is no good spring water, but the Yang shopkeeper's family actually has rain in the next year"

Fujian's Wuyi tea is finely cooked and cooked just right. Although Liu San didn't know what he meant, he held the idea of being at ease with what he encountered, tasting tea while appreciating tea sets, and talking to Master Han without a match. It looks extremely comfortable and casual. And Master Han also deliberately didn't talk about business, and only tried his best to go around. I want to deepen my friendship in a moment.

After having to change the tea once, Master Han said: "The student is here to be sent by the East. Specially for the Gun Factory business. ”

Liu... Nodding: Sure enough, it's still here to bargain. It is said that a large deal should be bargained, but now the debate on this issue in the Executive Committee and the Standing Committee of the Senate is very fierce, and Wu De's plan to sell equipment was only reluctantly passed, so the price of 50,000 taels should be discounted, and I am afraid that it will become the most haode shell of opponents.

Master Han saw that Liu San showed a look of embarrassment as soon as he heard his intentions, and his calculation became more and more determined. He was indeed sent by Li Luoyou, but he had another purpose.

Master Han touted Lingao as "Min'an Shimao", and complimented them again, and then talked about the requirements:

"I wonder if the price of this cannon factory can be compromised?"

Of course, Liu San shook his head. The Ministry of Foreign Trade only gave him the power to make quotations, but did not give him the right to negotiate business.

Master Han then hinted: Whenever you do business, there will always be a false head wearing a hat, if Liu San can come forward to do the activity and let the quotation drop by one or two percent, Li Luoyou will definitely have a good gift, silver, women are indispensable.

"I can't help it." Liu San continued to shake his head, "It's not that I'm hypocritical, it's really a rule set above, and I won't sell it if it's not 50,000 taels." He said in an emotionally intelligent tone, "Always ask my brother for understanding in everything." ”

This is tantamount to saying the word to death. At this point, there is really nothing more to talk about. Liu San didn't bother to socialize with him anymore, and talked around the bend hypocritically.

Unexpectedly, Master Han didn't leave, but began to say something else. "We are very fond of your machines. It's just that the price is too high, and I can't make up my mind, and it's always between the two. To tell the truth, whether this matter is successful or not is always between words and thoughts. ”

Liu San didn't understand what this meant, it was all empty words, and after thinking about it carefully, he suddenly understood: This is Master Han opening the plate.

This deal can be done, and it is according to their quotation, but it has to give Master Han a personal benefit.

First, he had to use bribes to bargain with himself, and if he failed to make a counteroffer, it turned into a bribe. This business is really creative, Liu San wants to cross the group, and it is absolutely forbidden to take bribes, but bribery is not in the way - this is originally a society where bribery is public, and nothing can be done without bribery.

"I wonder how many hats Mr. Han is going to wear?" Liu San tried it first

"Hehe, the third master is really happy." Master Han said, "The total price of 40,000 yuan has been quoted, and hats cannot be worn." ”

"How much is the rebate?"

"Ishei." Master Han raised two fingers.

"Ichisei?" Liu San almost screamed, this is five thousand taels - it must be no play. Not to mention one percent, even a rebate of one thousand taels is impossible. There were many people who opposed this matter, and if a huge kickback was made, it would not become a ready-made target

There was no need to even report it -- Liu San directly refused.

"Don't the third master think twice anymore?" Master Han narrowed his eyes and sipped his tea.

"There's really nothing you can do." Liu San shook his head.

Seeing that his attitude was very resolute and there was no room for negotiation, Master Han sneered slightly:

"I didn't say anything about the Australian machine, but after all, it's just an iron guy."

Liu Sanyi was angry when he heard this, thinking that this Master Han really turned his face faster than a book. also sneered: "The mirror is made of sand, and people are still rushing to buy it with real money." ”

Master Han smiled incomprehensibly and left. Liu San looked dazed, and he didn't figure out what Master Han meant when he arrived at Zuihou.

Li Luoyou received a return from Master Han, and knew that it was useless to dredge the discount in private. I discussed with Master Han whether to buy or not to buy this gun factory. Li Luoyou rarely discusses business with people in ordinary times, but this time he really can't make up his mind.

Master Han pondered for a moment and said, "The Australian is capable, the master has seen it." It is also inconvenient for students to say much. But this machine is not used by anyone, but it is a problem......"

"According to the third master, they help train craftsmen to operate."

"Australians have always kept their word, and this matter can be skipped." Master Han said, "But the price of Australians is not low. It's okay to say within a year, but what if a year passes, what if Australians engage in 'self-respect'? ”

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured on Li Luoyou's head. Only Australians can use the machine, and only they can make it, and if it breaks, only they can fix it. That's a big problem

"Master, there is only the first year of the contract" Master Han saw that Dong Weng's face changed greatly, and he knew that his words had moved him. The implication of his words is very clear: if the Australians are overcharging the price the next year, he will use it or not. If you use it, you will be exploited, and if you don't use it, the machine you bought with a lot of money is not a pile of scrap metal

"Master, the Australians' machines are really good, but this is not as good as the local craftsmen, Zhang San can't Li Sihui, Li Si can't Wang Wuhui, and he can always find one or two capable people. Besides, you are working for the imperial court, who you want to come and who you don't come, you don't know how to lift, and you ask the government to do it with a post, and he is not a British mechanic invited by the quark master - it's all up to your old man to get here, and your eyes will be black when you go out. The ability of the Australians is their own, and there is a nest in Lingao, it seems that the government can't help them, what if Naqiao doesn't come to repair? ”

"Australians have always kept their word and would not do such a thing." Li Luoyou's confidence has been shaken.

"Master, don't talk about it at this level. In the end, the Australians are foreigners, and the imperial court may not always ignore Lingao, and when the time comes, the army will be raised to fight, and the Australians will not be able to come to the mainland for a few years, and the machine cannot be dismantled here and sent to Lingao. Isn't it a nuisance? ”

"Yes," this is a very worrying thing, "what do you think?" ”

"The students thought that if they had no worries, they would have to spend a lot of money to recruit a few mechanics from among the Australians and bring them to the mainland to maintain." He went on to say, "It is nothing more than a woman of great gold to settle his heart." ”

Master Han didn't say he wouldn't buy it, but said that it was impossible to do it.

"It's not going to work." Li Luoyou's abacus had already been beaten, but Liu San refused cleanly, and only agreed to train craftsmen for him. As for privately marrying an Australian craftsman, I am not familiar with the place here, and I look at the appearance of Australians and are heavily guarded, so it is impossible at all.

He let out a long sigh.

"It's a shame to build this kind of." Several technicians gather around a table in the machine shop office. There are several sets of equipment spread out on the table, three views. This is a material that has just been transferred from the Great Library.

The so-called equipment of the artillery factory: there are only five things in total: the power machine, the gearbox, the pulley set crane, the blower and the artillery boring machine. The three views on the drawings are all drawn according to the actual equipment drawings of the 18th ~ 19th centuries. Definitely a tried-and-true piece of old gear.

After discussion, we think that the use of wind power in Foshan may not be reliable, or mainly water power, and almost all the factories in the early industry are large-scale use of water power. Hydraulic power is more reliable than wind power, can maintain continuous production, and is the most suitable source of large-scale power before the absence of steam engines.

The hydraulic machine, in conjunction with the gearbox, emits a power that can drive a bellows much larger than a human blow, providing oxygen to several furnaces at once, while the artillery boring machine can also be powered by hydraulic power

"It's a week to make this set." Zhan Wuya looked at it for a while and announced.

"I think it's boring, although it doesn't take much resources and man-hours, but I always feel that it's inexplicable." Xiao Gui commented, "It's better to directly sell cannons and arquebuses to Boss Li, at least let the apprentices practice." ”

"Selling guns is brain-dead" Sun Li jumped up, "Selling equipment is crazy, Wu De, I think it's a traitor, I want to launch an impeachment"

"What do you mean by adultery?"

"Don't mess around, I think it's not bad for Wu De to sell equipment," Zhan Wuya said, "build an industrial model, so that the rich people over there can see that using machine production can improve efficiency and make money." Let's do it together, at least so that Guangdong can slowly establish a primitive primary industry. In this way, it is possible to import primary finished products, instead of always buying raw materials and processing them yourself. Besides, a few simple pieces of equipment can make tens of thousands of taels, and this business is done."

Note: British equipment is not made of this money, I don't know, just write it. The salary of the craftsman is based on the salary of Portuguese soldiers hired to operate instructor firearms in the late Ming Dynasty. At that time, the highest was 120 taels per year, and the food expenses were 10 taels per month