"It's too expensive, isn't it? At present, the mature steam engine equipment is only 300,000 yuan! The price of your country's steam turbine is five times the price, we are allies, we can't be too bad! ”

Zhang Peilun said with a smile: "It is because your country is an ally that we give preferential treatment, and other countries want to buy it, at least 2 million yuan a set, and we may not sell it to the other party!" ”

Hua Yufang and Lin Jiyun next to him nodded one after another, with an expression that you understand not to cheat you.

Tal rolled his eyes, this Zhang Peilun deserved to be an expert negotiator, and his sentence was already an ally price, which immediately blocked the way for further bargaining.

"Thank you for taking such good care of your allies! We plan to purchase four steam turbine systems! ”

I have to thank you for being cheated, it's really not easy to ask for someone!

"It's been such a pleasure working with you! Here's our export contract, take a look! ”

Tal finally got the contract, opened it, and was dumbfounded.

In addition to 1.5 million yuan for a set of SHE-39825 steam turbines, it was also stipulated that the steam turbine systems exported to Germany could only be installed in the Chinese Empire, and at the same time, it was necessary to sign a confidentiality agreement, and in case of default, it would face severe sanctions from the Chinese Empire.

But from a few simple agreements, Tal sees a lot of problems.

The German Navy did not know that it had imported equipment from the Chinese Empire at one time, especially in the Chinese Empire, which had built more than 30 ships of various types, and was very familiar with the naming rules of various equipment models of the Chinese Empire.

The equipment exported by the Chinese Empire has been castrated for performance, and the main performance indicators are lower than similar equipment used in the Chinese Empire. SHE-39825, indicating that it was equipped for the Imperial Chinese Navy in 3982, roughly coincides with the construction time of the Dreadnought-class battleships. 39821 should be the Chinese Imperial Navy's own model, and now 39825 is sold to Germany, but there are 4 models in the middle, which makes Tal have no bottom in his heart, and he doesn't know how much performance has been castrated.

But the most important thing was that the steam turbine system had to be installed in the Chinese Empire, which clearly limited the German Empire from dismantling and copying the steam turbine system. You must know that the tonnage of today's battleships has soared to 25,000 tons, according to the construction order, first according to the volume of the steam turbine to design and build the hull, and then install the steam turbine and other complete internal power systems, etc., the third stage is to package horizontal armor, build the superstructure and main guns, the fourth stage is sea trials and outfitting, according to the country's industrial and technological strength, it only takes two to three years to complete the Chinese Empire, while the German Empire takes three to four years to complete.

If the steam turbine system had to be installed in the Chinese Empire, then the German Navy would have to spend time towing the hull from Europe to East Asia, because the hull had no power system, and it would take half a year to drag it until the Chinese Empire at the earliest, and then it would be installed in the Chinese Empire, and then towed back to Germany, at least a year and a half, which would delay at least a year or more, which was not good news for the defense of the German Empire.

"All other things are fine, can't it be installed in Germany? It takes too long to get to your country to install! ”

Zhang Peilun glanced at Hua Yufang next to him, and the latter explained: "That's right, the steam turbine system needs other parts and equipment to be used. Because our steam turbine power is very large, ordinary transmission bearings can not stand it, we need to buy our special transmission shaft, in addition to supporting large reducer, reversing gearbox, etc., if you buy the steam turbine system separately, the engineers in your country can not install and use. ”

Tarleton was dumbfounded, what does that mean? It's clear that I have to pack other services!

Pit! Sure enough, it's a pit!

Tal wanted to cry without tears, he thought that he would be done with one knife, but he didn't think that he would be slashed with more knives.

This is the rhythm of bloodletting!

Not only Tal, but also the other German generals and engineers were speechless, they understood that they would have to pay a lot of money!

Soon, the German naval engineer inquired about the so-called transmission shaft, large reduction gearbox, reversing gearbox and other equipment, and finally said to Tár: "I'm afraid we can't just buy steam turbines, we must build battleships in the Chinese Empire!" ”

Considering that the Germans built their own hulls and then dragged them to the Chinese Empire to install various equipment, in fact, all kinds of systems, including large-caliber naval guns, were also imported from the Chinese Empire, so that the German Navy only had its own hulls, and it was not cost-effective to calculate it at all, so it was better to place an order directly with the Chinese Empire and build them in the Chinese Empire.

I thought of the previous construction of warships in the Chinese Empire, but they were miserable by the Chinese Empire, and the price was twice as high as the cost of Germany's own construction.

I heard that the Chinese Empire's Dreadnought-class battleships are equipped with four sets of steam turbine systems, according to the quotation to Germany, four sets are 6 million yuan, and counting other shipbuilding costs, at least 10 million yuan!

"How much would it cost to build a Dreadnought-class battleship in service with your navy in your country?"

"It stands to reason that we will not sell active equipment, but the German Empire is our ally, in order to show our sincerity, we are willing to export to Germany, and the quotation will be based on the purchase price of our navy of 12 million yuan, but you have to order at least 4 ships."

A dreadnought-class battleship costs 12 million yuan?

The flesh on Tar's face suddenly trembled nervously, obviously it was still a pit!

And it doesn't give you room for bargaining at all, it is said that the Chinese Imperial Navy has its own purchase price, and the foreign trade price can never be lower than the purchase price, and more than 4 ships must be ordered at one time.

48 million RMB!

Feeling that he was about to vomit blood, Tal suspended the negotiations and asked Wilhelm I for advice halfway through.

William I almost vomited blood, this Chinese Empire still dared to open his mouth, 12 million yuan for a dreadnought-class battleship, it was almost like robbing a bank.

But he knew that the Chinese Empire deliberately cheated the Germans for money, but there was no way, who let only the Chinese Empire master the steam turbine technology, and only the Chinese Empire could build dreadnought-class battleships in the true sense, like the so-called dreadnought-class battleships built by Britain, France, the United States and other countries, all of which are false propositions, and they are in vain, and once a war starts, they will undoubtedly lose.

Recognizing the essence of this, it was only after Wilhelm I and Bismarck and other key German figures decided to bleed the Chinese Empire to suck it up.

A day later, Wilhelm I and a group of German ministers carefully considered, mainly to solve the final financial problem, after all, it was more than 48 million yuan to buy ships, and the German Reich's finances were overwhelmed, until the Juncker consortium agreed to take out a loan, Wilhelm I called back to Tár, ready to sign the contract.

During this time, Tal negotiated with the Chinese Empire in detail, and in terms of details, the rigorous style of the Germans was finally reflected at this moment.

The Chinese Empire did not bother with the Germans and promised not to cut corners, after all, it was a huge order worth 48 million yuan, and the Chinese Empire made a lot of money and was in a good mood, so it didn't care.

After China and Germany signed an order for four Dreadnought battleships, the world was in an uproar.

The French Empire was full of jealousy, and the major newspapers in Paris published articles one after another, saying that the Germans were stupid and had a lot of money, and they actually spent 48 million yuan to buy 4 dreadnought-class battleships, which was the rhythm of being pitted to death by the Chinese Empire!

The British were also alarmed by the sudden export of the Chinese Empire to the German Empire's Dreadnought-class battleships to help France.

As the public opinion position of the British Empire, The Times quickly published a commentator's article, saying that the German naval industry was a paper tiger, and that it had studied with the Chinese Empire for more than ten years, but it was still unable to build it by itself, and that Germany, which was subject to others, was not a real maritime power, and that the German Empire wanted to dominate the seas, which was simply wishful thinking.

Although the United States did not have a direct conflict of interest with the German Empire, as an ally of the British Empire, all countries that flattered the Chinese Empire were enemies of the United States, so the Washington Post also stood up to ridicule Germany, saying that Germany's economic aggregate was the largest in Europe, but the hard-earned money of the German people was given to the Chinese Empire, jokingly calling the Kaiser the driver of the cash truck of the Imperial Bank of China.

Seeing the reports from European and American countries, Kaiser Wilhelm I was furious. The German people also do not understand that the government needs to clarify public opinion. So the German Imperial military had no choice but to leak the real performance parameters of the Chinese Imperial Dreadnought-class battleships.

The German newspaper got this information, and directly exposed the real performance data of the Chinese Imperial Dreadnought-class battleships in the newspaper, and launched a public opinion counterattack.

"I know why the European and American countries reacted so violently when they learned that the Chinese Empire had exported to us the Dreadnought battleships of the German Empire, and smeared us everywhere. The reason is simple, because the combat speed of the dreadnought battleships we ordered reached 21 knots, which meant that in the future the Imperial German Navy would directly beat the navies of Britain, France, the United States and other countries at sea! ”

As soon as the news came out, the people of the German Empire immediately cheered, and it was the happiest thing for the German people to be able to beat Britain, France and the United States at sea, especially the British little pot friends.

Britain, France, the United States, Japan, and others were suddenly frightened, and the great powers of the entire European countries were highly nervous.

Especially in the British Empire, William, the Prime Minister of the Coalition Government, was surprised at the same time, but also thanked Saul, if it was not for Saul to prevent him from starting a war, I am afraid that now the British Imperial Navy will suffer a second crushing defeat.

All the countries of the world went crazy, and when the speed of the battleship reached 21 knots, it meant that the performance was qualitatively improved, and they were no longer afraid of the attack of the Fish and Radium speedboats, because it was difficult for the existing European Fish and Ray to hit such a fast battleship.

Similarly, in naval battles, it is difficult for the main guns of battleships with a speed of less than 20 knots to hit a battleship with a speed of more than 20 knots, because the opponent's evasion speed has been greatly improved, and without waiting for their own side to calculate the advance of artillery fire, the opponent's battleship can make a timely tactical evasion and not be hit by shells.

"Are what the Germans say true? The Chinese Empire's Dreadnought-class battleships reached a combat speed of 21 knots? ”

William and Saul get together and ask Fisher, the only expert, for confirmation.

Fisher nodded: "First, the Germans were forced by international public opinion to expose this news, and the authenticity is very high. Secondly, I have long said that the warships of the Imperial Chinese Navy are very high, because during every Sino-British naval battle, we suffer a lot. Especially in the matter of speed, the Chinese Empire seems to have magical power, and every time their warships are faster than us. Therefore, according to the characteristics of the Chinese Empire, which has always liked to hide its strength, the words of the Germans should be true. ”

Saul sighed: "Actually, we should have understood that the Germans were rigorous, and they had built the dreadnought-class battleships of the Dreadnought-class with the technical help of the Chinese Empire, and the number of armor, tonnage, and main guns completely referred to the Dreadnought-class battleships of the Chinese Empire, so why spend a huge amount of money like 48 million yuan to buy four more dreadnought-class battleships from the Chinese Empire?" There is only one answer, and that is the question of speed. ”

"Not bad!" Fisher nodded: "Our intelligence shows that the Nassau-class battleships of the German Empire are almost the dreadnought-class battleships of the Shanzhai Chinese Empire, but the speed is only 16 knots, this time they are so excited, it seems that the speed of 21 knots is real." ”

William immediately slammed the table and said angrily: "Damn the Chinese Empire, they have successfully deceived us again!" We wasted eight years and hundreds of millions of pounds to create a pile of scrap metal! ”

Saul sighed, he understood William's mood very well.

The Chinese Empire likes to dig holes everywhere and then fool other countries into jumping into it.

When the countries were pitted, the Chinese Empire immediately stood up and told the countries that you had been pitted.

This is Chiguoguo's slap in the face!

Thor thought of the sad times when he was in power, and only a wry smile and a sigh of relief.

"The Chinese Empire has mastered the steam turbine system, what should we, the British Imperial Navy, do now? Fisher, didn't you say you were working on a new powertrain program? How's the nervousness, it's all up to you now! ”

Defense Secretary Cook saw that William and Saul were only sighing, and he suddenly couldn't help it and asked Fisher for help.

Fisher felt a lot of pressure, but still stubbornly said: "You know, the most expensive part of the battleship is the power system, and we need more money to develop a new power system. ”

William, Saul, Cook and the others all glared at Fisher viciously, and then said: Your uncle, you really know how to speak at the right time!

In this critical period, if the British Empire wants to restore its maritime supremacy, the power system of the main battleship must be solved, otherwise what awaits the British Empire will be completely encroached upon by the Chinese Empire and lose its colonies around the world.

"How much?"

"Fifty million new pounds!"

"How dare you speak!"

"Accurate!"

William and Saul glanced at each other and immediately decided.

Fisher didn't know whether to cry or laugh, the speed with which the grant was approved was unprecedented!

"Within three years, I guarantee that the development will be successful!"

"Three years is too long! You only have one year! William said bluntly.

"The maritime power of the Chinese Empire is still mainly in the Pacific Ocean at present, the Indian Ocean is only an escort, and the Caribbean Fleet and the Mediterranean Fleet are isolated and do not pose a threat to the British Empire. But the German Reich will acquire four truly Chinese-built dreadnought battleships in three to four years, and the entire North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the North Atlantic will be powerless to stop the expansion of the German Reich! Thor said solemnly.

"That's right! Although the Chinese Empire is our worst enemy, it is thousands of miles away from us. Under the strategy of long-distance and close attack, we must keep an eye on Germany, and we must not allow the Imperial German Navy to go out of the Baltic Sea and threaten the security of the rear of the British Empire. ”

Defense Secretary Cook said with a smile: "You may not know that the French Empire was already under pressure from the German-Austrian Alliance, and now that the Chinese Empire has spared no effort to support the German Empire, it is just around the corner that France will completely fall to our side." Therefore, we must give France a great gift, and we must help the French Navy at sea to resist the pressure of the German Navy. ”

Fisher nodded: "I understand, I will do my best!" ”

The British Empire felt the military pressure from the sea, from the Imperial Chinese Navy and the Imperial German Navy, which eventually forced Britain to develop steam turbine technology with all its might.

Not only is Fisher working hard, but Cook, as Secretary of State for Defense, has also telegraphed MI5 to activate the senior agents hidden in Germany, hoping to obtain technical information about the steam turbine.

Similarly, the restless United States and Japan have also reined in their activities in the Pacific, for fear that one of them will accidentally blow up the Chinese empire and cause unnecessary losses.

This was precisely the clever diplomatic tactic of the Chinese Empire.

If Britain, the United States, Japan, and other countries did not know the strength of the Chinese Imperial Navy, and finally rashly provoked or even went to war, although Britain, the United States, Japan, and other countries would eventually fail, they would also cause certain losses to the Chinese Empire.

Well, now, the Chinese Empire does not need to use force directly, and with the help of Germany's release of news, the British, American, and Japanese navies were so frightened that they almost peed their pants and did not dare to easily provoke the Chinese Empire.

In this way, when the Chinese Empire bullied Britain, the United States, and Japan again, the three countries were unlikely to rush to war, but would choose to tolerate it, so that the Chinese Empire would get huge benefits without spending a single soldier.

From then on, the navies of the great powers of the world had to retreat when they encountered the warships of the Imperial Chinese Navy at sea.

The strength of the Chinese Imperial Navy amazed the world for a time. (To be continued.) )