Wu Ruxiao smiled: "That's really good! "I secretly thought in my heart, this foreigner's affairs are the same as those of the Chinese, pay attention to the relationship.

At that moment, he said bluntly: "At what price is Mr. George going to transfer your shipyard?" ”

"Miss Wu, I have eighty percent of the shares of the Norfolk Navy Yard, and the Admiralty has twenty percent. Eighty percent of my shares will be sold to you at a preferential price of $1,600,000, and twenty percent of the shares of the Admiralty will indeed need to be negotiated by Mr. Wu himself. George made his offer and looked at Wu Ruxiao expectantly.

Wu Ruxiao saw that the other party specially reminded him that he still had twenty percent of the shares in the United States Admiralty, paused, and thought that he would come forward to buy it at the Admiralty, in case the other party did not sell it, it would be troublesome, and it would not bother the two masters, so it was better to let this George have carte brécipotency. Although he will make some profits, even if the investment is good, let him take advantage of it, as long as he can buy the shipyard smoothly. Moreover, according to him, his uncle was a big official, and there were many things that he would have to rely on for help in the future.

He said, "In that case, I will not bargain for the $1.6 million that Mr. George said." However, I would like to ask Mr. George to come forward and buy out 20% of the shares of the U.S. Department of the Navy and sell the entire shipyard to me. ”

George was naturally overjoyed when he saw that Wu Ruxiao did not make a counteroffer, and he could earn at least two or three hundred thousand US dollars. Although when this Chinese came to buy, the offer was also $2 million to buy the entire Norfolk Navy Shipyard, he didn't agree, and now he sold it for $2 million, and he didn't make any money, but today is different from the past. At first, when he saw that the Admiralty did not agree to sell the shipyard, he thought about not selling it, but now that the Norfolk plague is epidemic, even the shipbuilders have fled, and the equipment of the shipyard is dismantled and rebuilt in another place, and the cost is too high. Being able to sell it at the original price is already a great deal.

The two immediately agreed to sign a secret purchase agreement on the same day, and within a month, Wu Ruxiao provided a deposit of $100,000, and George came forward to buy down 20% of the shares of the US Department of the Navy. A month later, Wu Ruxiao paid the remaining $1.9 million to George, and the two sides completed the entire Norfolk Navy Yard changing hands. During this period, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard was completely closed.

After negotiating the matter of the shipyard, Wu Ruxiao took the opportunity to ask George: "Can Mr. George come forward to purchase a new large warship for our country, and it is best if it is a new warship launched in the next five years." I am in charge and can pay Mr. George a large commission! ”

Wu Ruxiao thought that his task was basically completed, and he was suddenly relaxed. However, he thought that when he left the country, Feng Yunshan specially explained that he would purchase warships at any cost, so he subconsciously tried to ask them routinely.

During his time in the United States, Wu Ruxiao thought about the tasks assigned by Feng Yunshan, and while building a consulate and arranging for soldiers and craftsmen and boys to study abroad, he also purchased warships everywhere.

Although after contact with many arms dealers, there are many warships that can be sold, but they are all old warships that are about to be eliminated, and even some businessmen use merchant ships to convert them into warships.

Through the relationship between Marshali and Big John and others, he purchased four capital warships from the New York Shipyard and the Boston Shipyard, but these warships only began to be manufactured, and a few months ago, Wu Ruxiao transferred a deposit of one million US dollars through Marshali, and only let the other party start construction, and it will take nearly two years for the warships to be built.

In addition, he bought eight armed steam boats, but the tonnage of these steam steamboats was very small, the largest was only about 200 tons, and there were only two main guns and two auxiliary guns, which were only suitable for chasing pirates and fighting on inland rivers. As for the warships that fought in the ocean, they were basically in service in the navy and could not be sold, and those that could be sold were also old-fashioned warships, and Wu Ruxiao couldn't bear it without being moved.

Moreover, the money brought by Wu Ruxiao has basically run out. Even of the $1.9 million a month later, $1 million was dismantled by Big John. Of course, this is also because Big John knew that Wu Ruxiao represented the Chinese Empire and had the backing of Nanyang Company, and Wu Ruxiao promised to write back a letter to use the loan of $1 million as an advance payment from Nanyang Company, and had the priority to pick up the goods directly from Nanyang Company, and directly took away the scarce raw silk and Wuyi tea.

However, this also gave Wu Ruxiao an ATM. If he needs money, he just needs to find Big John to borrow it, and with the backing of the Nanyang Company and the Chinese Empire, as long as there is domestic support, he can directly replenish the goods to Big John's trading company.

While waiting for the handover of the Norfolk Navy Yard, Wu Ruxiao and Lu Ziyue registered and established the Vantage Company in Norfolk, employing more than 10 whites and more than 30 blacks, half of whom were American veterans, and asking them to post recruitment notices in Norfolk and nearby Newport News and other places to recruit shipbuilders and mechanics. Many people are reluctant to go to the Far East when they hear about it, but there are still many who are willing to try it because of the high salary, which is also the reason why Westerners have a strong sense of contract. Wu Ruxiao arranged for them to take American merchant ships bound for Canton and Shanghi to the Empire.

Soon, in less than twenty days, George came to Wu Ruxiao, the transfer procedures of the Norfolk Navy Yard had been completed, and the shares of the Admiralty had been bought out.

On this day, Wu Ruxiao and George completed the ownership change of the Norfolk Navy Shipyard at Citibank in Norfolk, and bought the third U.S. Navy Shipyard built 50 years ago for $2 million.

Norfolk is the largest naval shipyard in the United States, and the Norfolk Naval Shipyard is the second and third largest shipyard in the Norfolk area, located at the mouth of the Elizabeth River, along the river, more than a mile along the river, with solid docks made of cement. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard had three huge shipyards, and one was under construction, but was abandoned due to the plague and financial problems.

During the handover process at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Wu Ruxiao and Lu Ziyue discovered that there were still three warships in the process of being built in the three shipyards in use at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

The fast warship was powered by a steam engine, with a displacement of 3800 tons, 24 guns, and a sailing speed of 12 knots. The cruisers all had a displacement of 2,100 tons and 16 guns, all of which were powered by steam and sails.

Wu Ruxiao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked George: "Mr. George, it seems that you can't complete these three warships, have you terminated the contract with the US Navy Department?" ”

"I would also like to ask for your understanding of Mies-Wu, I have already negotiated with the Secretary of the Admiralty, and these three warships will be completed and delivered before next year. It was as a condition for the Admiralty to give up the 20% stake that the three warships were to be ordered by Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Of course, I can give you all the proceeds of this order! George said with some embarrassment.

Wu Ruxiao said: "I'm sorry, Mr. George! The Norfolk Navy Yard was unable to continue production due to a lack of workers, and the three warships could not be completed for the time being because of the need for refurbishment. So, sorry. These three warships could not be delivered to the Admiralty, they could only be breached, of course, how much liquidated damages, we will pay them together! ”

"No, no, Mies-Wu, you can't do that!" George shouted, "I promised them to deliver it on time." Otherwise, they would not have readily agreed to give up the 20% stake. ”

"We can't help this! Mr. George, please intervene and mediate. We can pay some more liquidated damages! "Wu Ruxiao is categorical.

Seeing that Wu Ruxiao was so resolute, George no longer persuaded him, so he had to say: "Okay, I'll ask my uncle to come forward and complain to the Minister of the Navy, and it's a big deal to give him tens of thousands of dollars in benefits, that's it!" ”

Wu Ruxiao said: "So it's hard for Mr. George!" All expenses can be billed to me! ”

For this money, Wu Ruxiao doesn't care. In fact, his heart has long been happy! He didn't expect to acquire a shipyard, and unexpectedly gave away 3 capital warships by the way. Although these three warships have not yet been completely completed, it seems that most of them have been completed, and they will be completely completed in a few months. Even if you pay some liquidated damages, what is it?

Moreover, with the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, there are a large number of drawings of warships, as well as the construction files of this shipyard, and it is possible to build a shipyard on its own in the country. Even if some equipment, instruments and facilities are not available, they can be purchased from the United States, and the installation is a little more troublesome at most. The key is the craftsman, and now Wu Ruxiao has seen it clearly after this period of exploration, if this shipyard wants to build a large warship, it mainly relies on experienced craftsmen. As long as there is a preliminary foundation of machinery and equipment, and a group of shipbuilders, large warships can be built.

Wu Ruxiao is confident that after acquiring the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, he will be familiar with it for a while, and then recruit some craftsmen to return to China, and in the Chinese Empire, this kind of large shipyard can also be built, and the Chinese Empire will be able to produce large warships on its own. [.]