"This is the gap between the craft workshop and the industrial system!"

If Selim's inner emotion at this moment was known by Chen Ming, Emperor Chen would definitely say it so proudly.

Whether it is the manufacture of guns and sabers, or the shipbuilding of warships, this is a system. As long as all aspects are properly organized, it will inevitably greatly reduce the cost of the military industry, and on the contrary, there will inevitably be a phenomenon that it is better to buy than to build. For example, the current Ottoman Empire, and the end of the Qing Dynasty in the original space-time plane.

The British needed £65,000 to build a third-class battleship, and now is the peak of British political corruption, how can it not be corrupt? The corrupt officials in Great Britain are no different from the corrupt officials in other places, no matter what kind of money there is, some people dare to hold it, some people dare to take it, what about the funds to build warships?

As long as the quality of the battleship is guaranteed, then it will be fine.

Now the British themselves have come up with a price list, from a fifth- or sixth-class cruiser to a first-class battleship, and the cost is clear at a glance. But it didn't mean to draw a circle for corruption, and the moths in the province pushed up the cost of warships to break through the sky.

China is a different story. The third-class battleship with a price of 2 million Chinese yuan has not half of the actual cost, and 800,000 yuan is high.

And the Ottoman Empire, which can cost 90,000 pounds per ship of the third-class battleship, is even more staggering.

Europeans like to use oak to make warships, because oak is resistant to corrosion, impact, and has the characteristics of less wood chips scattered after shelling, so as to avoid secondary damage. Therefore, the oak trees in England and France were all cut down by themselves, but there were no large oak forests in the Ottoman Empire, and the oak trees did not make the Ottomans fall in love; They also don't use mahogany and teak, let alone precious sandalwood. The Ottomans used pine and fir wood. Although many of them are produced in the north and need to be hauled to the south for long distances, that is also domestic, right? It's too expensive.

Selim's plan was to buy four Tier 3 battleships and four Tier 4 Sail Battleships, which would form the basis of a fleet. Then there are about ten sail cruisers of the fifth and sixth ranks, plus a few transport ships. Finally, depending on the amount of the balance, buy one or two more third-tier battleships.

The cost of the British's fourth-class sail battleships was only a quarter of that of the first-class battleships, about 25,000 pounds per battleship, and the price on the Chinese side was cheaper than 25,000 pounds, only 720,000 Chinese dollars; the cost of the fifth- and sixth-class sail cruisers was the most expensive at 10,000 pounds, and the price here in China was also 300,000 Chinese dollars.

Selim had brought a million pounds of money, half of which would be spent on the purchase of warships, plus guns, cuirasses, sabers, and ammunition, and in the end there was a little money left over to fund their activities in China.

Liu Dezhao, the current minister of the Chinese Cabinet, is only in his early fifties, and after this term, he can do it again. And by the end of his term, it was time for his precious grandson to 'make his debut'.

Therefore, it is necessary to befriend Liu Dezhao. And how to befriend Liu Dezhao? Now China can't send money with red fruits, so it needs to be cleverly changed. But whatever the method, it all requires money.

The carriage soon stopped at the seat of the Cabinet Office.

First there was a large iron gate with a huge national emblem hanging on the top, and Selim and the others were subjected to stricter security checks by the guards before they were allowed to enter.

A first secretary of the office came over to make a handover, and then took Selim and the others to room 3 to wait.

The meeting room was floored, but there were no blankets. Selim didn't know what the floor was made of, but it didn't look like teak. In the center of the room was a large long table with a number of chairs scattered around it. There are a few decorations hanging on the surrounding walls, probably some Chinese paintings, small sculptures and pendants, etc., and huge chandeliers and candlesticks hang on the roof and in the corners of the room, and the candles have been lit at this moment, illuminating the whole room.

This is the highest conference room in the center of Chen Han's government, and it is really too simple. This kind of decoration is not even comparable to the conference halls and offices arranged for themselves by some small Ottoman local bureaucrats, which is really shabby.

Selim muttered to himself. The last time he came to China, the venue for negotiations was mostly at the State Guesthouse, and he came to the Cabinet Office only to meet with the Chinese Cabinet Minister in his office. The furnishings of the latter's office are not luxurious, and there are no blankets, but the utensils are very atmospheric and heavy. And it's the first time he's seen such a rustic conference hall or something.

After seeing China's 'strength' and economic prosperity, he really didn't expect that Chinese would maintain such a simple side in the highest body of the Chinese government. No matter how stupid Selim is at the moment, he knows that the Chinese cabinet is not without money to decorate this conference room, let alone look down on the Ottoman Empire and specifically humiliate them, but it should be a rule that makes them have to be simple.

There was a sound of footsteps outside the door, and Selim turned to look, only to see a group of Chinese walking in. The leader was a tall middle-aged man, who walked towards Selim with a smile on his face, and at the same time stretched out his hands and clasped his fists in salute.

There is no Western handshake ceremony in China, although looking through the ancient Chinese books, the far-fetched ones can also find out the reason for the 'handshake ceremony', but more people are familiar with the handshake ceremony.

"Your Excellency Murad, you can't meet you from afar, it's rude, it's rude."

The person who came was no longer Huang Song, but Gao Yanming.

Wearing a black official robe, the whole person has a straight back, giving people a sense of majesty. Selim knew Gao Yanming, the cousin of the current Chinese emperor and China's most prestigious diplomat in Europe.

Although the style of the Chinese official robe is very simple, except for the belt and the accessories on it, there are no complicated patterns and ornaments, but it is also very beautiful, and it can give people a solemn majesty when worn on the body.

After Gao Yanming and Selim laughed twice, he beckoned them to sit down, and then formally addressed everyone: "This official Gao Yanming, now added as the head of the cabinet office, is meeting friends from the Ottoman Empire for the first time, and I hope you can enjoy a pleasant time in the coming days." ”

After the translator translated Gao Mo's words into Tianfang, Selim immediately asked: "Your Excellency, does this mean that your country's Metropolitan Governor's Office has officially approved our country's purchase agreement in terms of naval warships?" "Otherwise, Selim and his party won't be happy if they want to.

Selim is well aware of China's power structure, and the right to trade arms is more in the Metropolitan Governor's Office than in the Cabinet. However, it was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Cabinet that came forward to contact them, as if the Metropolitan Governor's Office in China did not have the right to communicate with foreign envoys, and had to go through a formality through the Cabinet.

"Why don't you do business when you come to your door?" Gao Yanming smiled heartily.

"What's more, Austria and China are friendly, and the two countries are close military allies. With regard to your country's arms procurement case, we fully agree. "This is a small million-pound arms deal, and when the Ottomans get their hands on it, they will be able to rearm an army of 100,000 men on land and sea. And Chen Han can also make a lot of money.

Both the Cabinet and the Metropolitan Governor's Office are happy to hear about this big order.

The main concern of the Ottomans is the warship, and the so-called "foreign sale" warships of the Chinese are actually warships in active service, and according to the length of the launch, there will be a certain discount. Selim wants to take a small fleet from China, in effect, a small fleet from China's tight naval queue. You must know that since the outbreak of the war in Central and Western America, China's foreign warships have been closed, and in recent years, only the British have spent a lot of money to buy a batch of them, but everyone must take into account the social background at that time.

Since the end of the Sino-Spanish War, since the end of the American War, Britain, France, Spain and other participating countries have all been reducing their troops and cutting soldiers, but Chen Han has always been expanding the scale of his naval division.

During the war, the seemingly strong Chinese sailors were always in a dangerous situation of not being enough. After the war, of course, the alarm was removed, but China's finances were growing by leaps and bounds, and the Chinese military seemed to be richer than ever. Moreover, the leakage of rockets has greatly reduced the power of the flying shear bow warship, and the world naval battle has been detached from the shadow of the standard configuration of the flying shear bow + rocket, and it has returned to the battleship mode.

As a result, the status of the large number of flying and shear warships owned by the Chinese sailors has plummeted, so much so that for two years in a row, China has spent a lot of money to build new warships. In this case, the Ottomans did not dare to pack the ticket themselves to get their wish, and the scale of their request was not small.

Four battleships of the third rank, four sail battleships of the fourth rank, and ten cruisers of the fifth and sixth ranks, this force is not small. The huge British navy now has only about 80 main warships, and when the war started, it was only 60.

China's Nanyang, Southeastern, and Beiyang Divisions, as well as the newly established North Pacific Naval Division, seem to be awesome and coaxing, and the number of warships in this class of third-class battleships does not exceed 50.

The Ottomans are going to cut off one-tenth of the strength of Chen Han's sailors at this time.

Selim didn't have a plan in his heart, but he was not afraid that China would not agree completely, but that he was afraid that he would cut too many of China's capital ships, which would cause opposition within the Chinese Navy. But now Gao Yanming said to him with a smile: "After a group discussion, the military and political ministers of our DPRK unanimously agreed that once a war breaks out against Russia, the control of the Black Sea is the top priority, and there must be no loss. In view of the alliance between you and me, we can fully agree to your military procurement plan. It's just that there are some details that we still need to consult and confirm. "That is, in terms of price, the two sides still need to talk about it.

Chen Han never denied his 'greed for money', but the premise should also be high-sounding. - For the Ottoman Empire's control of the Black Sea?

The Ottomans still underestimated China's 'greed', not to mention four third-class battleships, as long as there is enough money and a high enough price, for example, one is 2 million without a counteroffer, and a cross in front of the four is not a problem.

Arms has always been a market that Chen Han wants to open, but in this era, the small countries around Chen Han do not have the strength to buy a large number of arms, otherwise China will be suspicious again.

In addition to India, countries that have the strength to purchase large quantities of arms have their own sound military industrial systems, including the Ottomans. It's just that compared to their own guns and warships, the price offered by China is too tempting. And even so, the Ottomans came to buy cheap goods waving money when the war was about to start.

"Price is not an issue." Selim smiled happily. As soon as the Chinese said this, he understood what the other side was seeking. Although the Ottoman Empire is not financially rich, it definitely has the money to buy warships.

As long as it's a matter of money, it's easy to solve. As long as the two sides have the intention of cooperation, the specific details can be sat down and discussed slowly.

Selim's face rippled with joy. He felt that his mission had been accomplished.

He knew that the 'interests' that China was seeking in the coming war were in great contradiction with the interests of the Russians, and it was still an irreconcilable contradiction.

In this way, one of his two major tasks was completed. As for the second task, arms procurement, China's top brass has also agreed to the plan, and now the only thing that is entangled is the price.

The Ottomans had a desperate need for munitions, so the price was not a problem for the Ottoman Empire. The 'foundations' on both sides have been firmly established.

The Ottoman group happily walked out of the Cabinet Office, each with a smile on their faces.

Gao Yanming also looked at the back of the Ottomans leaving with a smile on his face, and the smile on his face changed from ceremonial to more sincere laughter.

These Ottomans didn't realize the reason why Chen Han dared to sell warships boldly, otherwise they would not be happy.

Chinese sailors dare to sell warships to foreign countries on a large scale, not because China's shipbuilding industry is developing rapidly, and the gap can be filled soon; Rather, it is because China now has no foreign enemies on the sea, and China does not need to be so 'precious' with its own warships.

It is selling old goods now, but the navy also has money in its hands, and the navy has money, so it can continue to build new ships, so why not?

However, the Chinese side also put forward another opinion, they do not need the equivalent of millions of pounds of gold and silver, if the Ottomans wish, they can exchange it in kind. The specific list is: horses, cotton, wool, fur, coffee, olive oil, spices, etc. Including slaves!

There were many white slaves in the Ottoman Empire, and the price of white female slaves in China was not cheap, especially the beautiful ones.

China is willing to convert half of the turnover into physical goods.

In a way, Chen Han also helped the Ottomans. Although the Ottomans did not lose their fortune before the war began, they did not have enough money in their pockets.

After five days of negotiations, the delegation of Chen Han was a joint team, including the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Logistics, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which had just been upgraded.

The two sides first reached an agreement on munitions, stipulating the prices of flintlock guns, rifled guns, and artillery of various specifications, the price of gunpowder, and the price of a single warship. Then the two sides determined the method of payment, half of all expenses were paid in gold, and the other half was deducted with materials and population, and the quantity and unit price of each deductible material were specified in detail.

At this point, the Ottomans have completed preliminary negotiations on arms procurement, and the next thing to discuss in detail is strategic cooperation. To be honest, Chen Han is not interested in this strategic agreement, they prefer to make money. But all of them also understood why the Ottomans were so nervous and serious.

But when they saw that Selim's joy was even greater than before at the moment when the strategic agreement was finalized, an inexplicable sense of pride and pride also arose in the bottom of people's hearts.

It's a sense of superiority, a sense of superiority from the state, a sense of superiority from the nation, and it's endless......