The Beiyang Navy Division returned to Hong Kong to continue to avoid the freezing. But Xu Jieke did not have spare time to stay in Hong Kong for the winter, and he didn't even have a chance to go to the Beiyang Fleet to give Ding Ruchang and others a chance to resign, but joined Zhang Wenxuan, Hannagan and others directly to Beiyang, and even spent New Year's Day on the ship, and after more than ten days of sailing, he finally returned to Tianjin, and reported the trip to Nanyang to Li Hongzhang. Xu Jie hurriedly sent telegrams to his Italian and British friends.

"Xu, this time the Beiyang Fleet has made a lot of money in the South Seas." Vittorio, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, was as excited when he saw Xu Jie as if he were seeing a gold coin.

"That's right, I think you're thinking about how to get the money from Beiyang's pocket into your pocket, right?" Xu Jie joked.

"Let's go in and talk, do you know, Minister Brin is very excited to hear that Beiyang has knocked out a lot of money from the Dutch, if our guess is correct, this X patrol plan should be able to start, right?" Vittorio said happily.

"I wonder if the Italian government can issue a written guarantee?" Xu Jie didn't answer Vittorio, but asked Julia on the side.

"As long as the down payment from Beiyang is in place, Mr. Brin is willing to guarantee in the name of the Italian government that the X-class installation will be completely completed by mid-93. Judging by the construction of the ** class, the Kingdom of Italy can complete a warship of almost 9,000 tons in 3 years. As long as Beiyang order, we can issue a guarantee. Julia said.

"But now there's a new requirement." Xu Jie said,

"Tell me about it." Julia couldn't help but frown.

"These ships had to be built under the name of an order from the Italian Navy. And it is necessary to complete the training and combat readiness in the establishment of the Italian Navy until the return home, and the delivery is completed. The whole process is to be kept extremely confidential and not let anyone else, especially the Japanese, know about it. Xu Jie said sternly.

"This is okay, but I need to remind Mr. Xu that once the warships of the Qing Dynasty participate in the war, they must not fly the flag of the Kingdom of Italy. This time there was a very serious diplomatic problem. Julia said.

"This is nature." Xu Jie nodded and said.

"I don't know how many ships Beiyang plans to order?" Vittorio asked.

"My plan is two, although I have made a lot of money, but in addition to other aspects, Beiyang is at most to pay a down payment for 2 warships. And it will start a little later. Xu Jie said with a slightly embarrassed smile.

"This is naturally okay, you don't know Xu, in addition to the slipway that is building a large warship, other large slipways have not built a 10,000-ton battleship for a long time, and the power system and weapons required for X-class patrol have to be imported, which will take time." Vittorio said.

"In addition, I would like to ask, how is the work on the lightweight of the Maxine machine gun and the development of a mortar?" Xu Jie asked.

"Xu, you know, I am a ship designer, and light weapons are not my specialty, but, according to the telegram sent from China, this Maxine lightweight problem is not big, but the mortar propellant is being deployed." Vittorio said.

"In addition, the people of the Small Arms Design Bureau told us to see if we could make picric acid into a high-explosive charge when mixing mortar propellants. Be careful to blunt first, and apply paint between the projectile and the charge. Xu Jie said.

"You're going to make picric acid into a propellant? Although this substance is suitable for arson and produces a large amount of poisonous gas when burned, it is too unstable. Are you sure you want to charge as a shell? Vittorio was taken aback.

"Of course." Xu Jie returned unusually simply.

"Okay, I'll get the people in the design bureau to do a good job of fire prevention and buy 3 insurance policies for each of them." Vittorio said helplessly. …,

"How's that light machine gun doing?" Xu Jie remembered his copycat version of Lewis again, after all, the technical difficulty of this thing is the highest.

"This, Xu, can only say that your design is indeed so powerful that it ......." Vittorio ate the second half of the sentence directly.

"If you have something to say, say it." Xu Jie couldn't help frowning and said.

"So much so that although the specialists of the design bureau understood the principle, some parts were still very problematic to process, for example, the spring blade in the drum was not strong enough, and the cooling sheet, although useful, would still overheat after a long firing. So, this thing can be made, but the rate of fire must be lowered. Vittorio said.

"If you import some materials, it shouldn't be a big problem, right?" Xu Jie knew very well that Italy's basic industry was still not good, and when France's Richelieu-class battleships and Germany's Bismarck-class battleships were using a large number of welding processes, Italy's Veneto was still using willow joints.

"I'll consider this construction, and if it really doesn't work, you can consider importing. In addition, it is not known whether the North Ocean is interested in Italian artillery? Vittorio changed the subject.

"Lord Lee is still more inclined to the German Krupp artillery." Xu Jie said helplessly, in fact, Xu Jie was also inclined to Krupp artillery in his heart, after all, the army Germany in that era said second, and no one dared to say first. As for Italy? Although it is also a great power, there is still a big gap between the great powers and the great powers.

"Uh, can't you persuade Master Li?" Vittorio said with some frustration.

"Unless Italy can come up with a product that is competitive in both quality and price, you must know that the Krupp family has a very good personal relationship with Master Li, and the Krupp artillery has been practical in the Beiyang Army. And a very important reason why our rifle was selected was that it used the same bullets as the Mauser rifle, which avoided a lot of trouble. Xu Jie didn't budge at all. A good relationship is one thing, but when it comes to getting down to business, you still have to do business.

"Can I think that the Beiyang Fleet's order for X-type cruisers is certain? It's just a matter of time? Julia asked.

"Think so. Also, I hope to finish the final version of the **-class light cruiser first. Xu Jie turned his head to Vittorio and said.

"This drawing has been completed, but the tonnage may be much exceeded, about 5,000 tons, with a twin 8-inch gun in the bow, eight 6-inch guns arranged on the ear platforms on both sides, and a single-mounted 8-inch gun in the stern. A 9-pounder or 6-pounder rapid-fire gun can also be installed as needed. However, the battery life may be a little worse. Vittorio said.

"Try to balance it, anyway, if you fight at home, the battery life will be worse." Xu Jie sighed and said.

"In addition, I would like to inform you that the cost of the dome cruiser has been slightly increased because it has been changed to a light armored cruiser, and the new carbon-hardened armor is used. The exact price is still being calculated. Vittorio said.

"I'll give you a new quote, I'm more concerned about the price of the X-class patrol now, I hope I can know the cost and performance of the X-class patrol as much as possible, I'm not even sure about the rate of fire of the new turret now, how do you let me convince Li Zhongtang?" Xu Jie said resentfully.

"I'm going to hand you the number of X-class outfits in a week, with a qiē on it that interests you. There is also the ultimate version of the **-class light armored cruiser, and if there is no objection to the latter, we can start construction as soon as February this year. Vittorio said.

"Very good, but I still want to speed up the development of the Maxine machine gun, and the mortar, and the light machine gun, which will be a very big deal. The British had already waged war with the Boers in South Africa, and they would also purchase large quantities in future wars between the Qing and the Japanese. The gains received will definitely not be lower than those of battleships. Xu Jie emphasized again.

"Okay, we'll do our best." Vittorio said.

Something happened today, and I was late~~. Tomorrow's double change as compensation, everyone support it~~