'Aft building type, double guards and two chimneys, conning towers and flybridges are set up on the floor deck, and gaps are opened in the two broadside bulwarks of the main deck for secondary artillery ......"

"Judging from the type of ship, the displacement of this cruiser should be more than two thousand tons and less than three thousand tons, the Phenom training cruiser!"

Groping for the delicate small-scale ship model in his hand, Hu Rui said with emotion.

The Zhaohe-class training cruisers (Yingrui, Feihong, Zhaohe) ordered during the rebuilding of the navy at the end of the Qing Dynasty are 2,725 tons, with a length of 1,006 meters between perpendiculars, a total length of 10,546 meters, a width of 119-128 meters, and a draft of 4-45 meters. The power adopts the latest turbine steam turbine at that time, and is designed and equipped with 3 Parsons turbines, 2 Yarrow water-tube boilers, and 4 single-head round boilers, with a power of 6000 horsepower, a design voyage of 20 knots, and a cruising range of 4500-5000 nautical miles/10 knots.

Equipped with two British Armstrong 50 times diameter 150 mm rapid-fire guns (front and rear main guns), four British Armstrong 50 times diameter 102 mm rapid-fire guns (secondary guns), four Haas 47 mm machine guns, two Makqin 37 mm table tennis guns, and two 457 mm torpedo tubes, it is the cornerstone of the rebuilding of the navy in the late Qing Dynasty and the first step of the Chinese Navy towards the ocean.

Douglas stumbled and nearly knocked over the coffee cup on the table. The middle-aged man in a black suit next to him watched with interest as the Chinese warlord opposite him played with the delicate model provided by the shipyard. The thin cheeks have been eroded by the salty sea breeze for many years, leaving traces like knives and axes, and the skin on the face is reddened and dotted with sun spots. A pair of sharp and deep eyes like a sea wolf were blazing, and he did not shy away from looking at the young man opposite.

Damn, for God's sake. How much does this Chinese warlord know the inside story?! weishenme Even this unfinished cruiser can easily report the corresponding data ?!

"Ying Rui, Zhaohe, Fei Hong, Ying Rui was built by the British Vickers Shipyard, and the Zhaohe was built by the British Armstrong Shipyard, this should be the training cruiser Fei Hong ordered by the former Qing government from your country's New York shipyard."

Relieved and put the model of the ship on the desk, Hu Rui said calmly.

In 1908 (the 34th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty), Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi died of illness one after another; Pu Yi, who was only 8 years old, ascended the throne and set the era name as Xuantong, and his father Zaifeng served as the regent and controlled the government. The following year, Zaifeng personally acted as the generalissimo of the National Navy and Army. He also proposed to revitalize the navy and set up a preparatory naval affairs office, with his sixth brother Beile Zaixun and Admiral Sa Zhenbing as the Minister of Planning. In October 1909 (the first year of Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty), Zaixun and Sa Zhen Bing took attachés to European countries to inspect the navy. In Italy, they ordered 1 gunboat of 1,000 tons; In the Austro-Hungarian Empire. ordered 1 2,000-ton destroyer; In Germany, three new torpedo boats of 700 tons and two steel-armored flat-bottomed gunboats of 400 tons were ordered. In the UK. They visited a number of shipyards and visited the Royal Naval University. Ordered one cruiser each from the two shipyards, namely the "Zhaohe" and "Yingrui". Subsequently, a ship of the same type was ordered from the New York shipyard in the United States, named "Feihong".

In parallel history, these three cruisers were completed in 1913, and due to the financial constraints of the Republic of China government at that time, it was all thanks to the active campaigning of the navy veteran Sa Zhenbing, and the first two were exchanged for usurious treasury bonds. Zuihou, a Philharmoni. Dragged until 1914, Zuihou was bought by Greece, eager to expand the sea liliang to deal with Turkey, and became a cruiser of the Greek Navy, which was secretly attacked and sunk by Italian submarines in 1940.

"Your Excellency, General. Excuse me, this is Mr. Hurley, Captain of the United States Navy. The last time you mentioned the secret agreement between our government and the former Qing Empire, Colonel Hurley was given carte blanche to negotiate with you about this secret agreement. ”

Douglas shrugged his shoulders and got up to explain.

At tonight's meeting he was just an intermediary in charge of the introduction, and he could swear in the name of God that he knew nothing about the so-called Naval Treaty of Bethlehem as consul of the American consulate in China.

"Good evening, Your Excellency, I beg your pardon, because of the special nature of this secret treaty, we must be cautious."

A standard American military salute, Hurley explained.

"There is an old saying in China that it is called to be careful to sail a ship for ten thousand years, and at such a moment, caution is definitely a virtue. Sit down, Colonel, and let's get straight to the point. ”

The hour hand of the watch on his wrist slowly pointed to "8", Yan Nuxia was still waiting in the room, if he didn't go back, Yan Nuxia wouldn't sleep!

The big wife of the world is the largest, inheriting the fine style of the Chinese man Gu family, Hu Dashuai pinched the time and prepared to end this tug-of-war before ten o'clock.

"As you know, Your Excellency, this secret agreement between our government and the former returned government is highly protected. We don't know where you learned about the existence of this treaty, but ...... I beg your pardon for the fact that half of the work of the 2,700-ton training cruiser ordered by your Government from the New York shipyard has been completed, but the second payment due to be paid in accordance with the contract has not been delivered. I beg your pardon that, while negotiating this secret treaty, I would appreciate your opinion on the ownership of the cruiser and the purchase price. ”

When it comes to small money, the urine nature of capitalism is immediately revealed. Without mentioning the Treaty of Bethlehem, the U.S. Navy Captain was the first to take the lead in the matter of the payment of the Phihong.

"How much?!"

Holding his teeth and resisting the urge to lift the table, Hu Dashuai asked with a constipated face.

"The total cost of the cruiser is £210,000, which is to be paid in three instalments, according to the terms of the contract. At the time of construction, the New York shipyard had already received a down payment of £70,000. Now that the construction of the whole ship is half completed, you only need to pay the second installment of 70,000 pounds. The rest of the money will be paid before the launch of the warship, and if you refuse to pay the follow-up, you will be wondered if the New York shipyard can only resell the cruiser to a third country. ”

Wearing the one-sided eyes framed by gold wire, this admiral, who has dealt with the sea for half his life, chatters about the pros and cons and acquaintances of a shrewd Wall Street businessman.

Given!

More than 700,000 taels of silver can still be taken out. It's really not good, find a chance to find another fat sheep and kill it!

As a result, the bank draft, Hurley, was tucked into the compartment of the leather briefcase.

"Your Excellency, according to this secret agreement, our Government will provide a loan of up to $25,000,000 at the rate of 3.5 percent for your navy's purchase of warships and artillery from our country. The type of artillery and ship is chosen by your country. According to the agreement in the Jihua book, during the five years between the third and seventh years of the contract, the Chinese government will undertake the construction of eight of the latest dreadnoughts, twenty cruisers, and hundreds of submarines and destroyers of various types. But the secret treaty was ten days before it finally came into effect, because it was more expensive than the outbreak of revolution in the country. It was temporarily frozen and put on hold. Your Excellency the Minister has conveyed your intention to take over the treaty, and after consultation with the U.S. Department of the Navy and other parties, we believe that you are qualified to become a partner of the United States. Your Excellency, General, you can look through the details of the agreement, and I will discuss and revise the previous details and items with you. so that it is in the common interest of both of us. ”

A thick stack of papers was placed on the coffee table and pushed over, and Hu Rui on the opposite side playfully spelled a mouthful of tea. Didn't pick up.

He also meowed "after many rounds of consultations". It's obviously watching others eat meat, and you're greedy! I am afraid that the contract will be invalidated, and the bamboo basket will be empty!

This will also coax you to think of yourself as a master, and jump out to talk like almsgiving!

You are not light!

In later generations of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and then the 81192 incident, the true face of the bald eagle has long been exposed in front of the world.

"Colonel, I don't think you and your government seem to have been able to see the reality of the situation at hand. This so-called Naval Treaty of Bethlehem is, in essence, a plan by your Government to kill two birds with one stone. First, arms procurement and personnel training have taken the opportunity to control and win over the Chinese Navy. The United States lacks a strong ally in the vast Pacific Ocean. Jointly undertake to curb the pace of Japan's expansion in the Pacific year; Second, as a nascent capitalist power, your country rose too late and missed the Age of Discovery. Huge overseas colonies and vast markets and resources. Supporting the splendor of the empire on which the sun never sets. Prior to the signing of this treaty, the Chinese navy had been taught by the British, from the Aspen fleet in the former Qing Dynasty to the rebuilt navy Jihua after the Sino-Japanese War. The purchase of ships was mainly concentrated in Britain and Germany, and the United Kingdom, which was the first to complete the industrial revolution, also occupied a great interest in China's Yangtze River basin with a series of unequal treaties. The Wall Street bankers will give you the best answer to how much this golden waterway and the business opportunities along its banks are worth. ”

"The cruiser Phenom opened the precedent of ordering warships from the United States, and as a rising capitalist power, it has been clamoring for an open door and equal opportunities since its return. Then the order of this cruiser will be used to open up the Chinese market and win more orders for the United States. Mr. Colonel, I would like you to note that the Chinese Army is under the command of Germany, and the Chinese Navy is under the command of the British. Whether it is from the historical origin or the reputation of the word-of-mouth, the German Mauser, Krupp, the British Armstrong and Vickers, are far from being comparable to any enterprise in your country! Krupp's cannons, Vickers and Armstrong's new naval guns, apart from cost performance, are not at all the advantages of any similar products produced back home! ”

Iron-hearted and ready to give a lesson to Eagle Sauce who doesn't see rabbits and don't sprinkle eagles, Hu Dashuai didn't plan to save face from the beginning.

"Your Excellency, I beg your pardon ......"

The more he talked, the more wrong it became, and Douglas, who felt bad, looked at Colonel Hurley, who was boasting of the frost that had been scraped down, and hesitated for a moment before interrupting.

"Douglas, my friend, please be patient and wait for me to finish!"

Unbuttoning the winter clothes, Hu Rui, who was flushed with noise, interrupted unceremoniously.

"I believe that the state of the three provincial coalition governments is good for the defense forces, and Mr. Douglas has reported it to the returning senior management. Mr. Colonel, I ask you to keep your eyes open and take a good look! The current proportion of machinery and equipment produced in the United States in Wuhu Industrial Park! Please take a look at the existing military industrial system of the Wehrmacht, from a single bullet to the latest heavy artillery, we use German products! In the purchase agreement signed with Krupp before, five 7,500-ton large light cruisers, ten 1,500-ton fleet destroyers, and sixteen state-of-the-art ocean-going submarines have been clearly listed! Colonel, as a naval officer, you know in your heart what this expensive order represents! There is not only one choice in front of us, if you take the initiative to make some concessions, I believe that the conditions offered by the German side are not necessarily worse than those of your country! If you and the entire U.S. government are in this position, then unfortunately I don't think there is any need for us to continue. At least for the time being, the main battlefield of the Chinese revolution is on land, and the ships of the navy cannot sail ashore to fight. ”

After giving the arrogant Yankee a slap in the head, the time is almost up, and Hu Rui is ready to send the guest directly!

I'll go to your grandma to catch it, and I don't have an attitude of begging for someone! It's the same as charity, and the shock of labor and management is the government of the Republic of China that is handled by others in history? !

"Your Excellency, my dear friend, please remain calm. The U.S. is the largest economy in Shijie today, which I think you overlooked. Continuing to refine and conclude this contract is not only a great opportunity for you and your government diplomatically. Forgive me, there doesn't seem to be a better partner than the United States at the moment. ”

Douglas wiped his cold sweat and quickly jumped out to save him.

The "Naval Treaty of Bethlehem" is like a chicken rib for the current United States, and the Qing Dynasty, which was originally the executor, has been beaten and retreated in the northeast, and it is still difficult to protect itself, let alone implement this contract.

The current China is divided, and behind the most powerful of the shili of the parties, the Beiyang Group, stands the British. The newly established Nanjing Provisional Government, on the other hand, was too weak and unreliable, and there was a strong pro-Japanese sentiment from top to bottom. Ignoring these two options, if the United States still wants to fulfill this contract and further fight for a share of the Chinese market, then there is no choice but the coalition government of the three provinces and the defense forces!

I admit this, but my friend, I also need to remind you that if you want to draw closer to Germany, you will get more than that, but also security. In China's current situation, the navy is not a necessity. The ships ordered from Germany will be delivered in two years' time, and with the Yangtze River Fleet in my hands, it will be enough to deal with any eventuality. ”

pursed his lips disdainfully and said coldly.

"My friend, the United States can do the same!"

Douglas is really in a hurry, the last time at the cocktail party held by the Krupp family, Hu Rui accidentally mentioned this secret agreement that was no longer expected, and the whole Congress and Wall Street attached great importance to it!

China's market is too big, not to mention that the warlords who have easily defeated the British many times are supported by Yuan Shikai, and may take control of China in the future. Just a possible purchase order from the coalition government of the three provinces is enough to make the chaebols of Longwangshu cheer.

In a trance, Douglas had seen a lot of dollars and a lavish retirement, even for his own future.

"Well, I beg your pardon, given the current size of the Returned Army...... Huh"

Poked the bald eagle's scar, estimated that the fire was almost over, and Hu Rui was ready to send off the guests.

"Mr. Douglas, this is an arrogant and difficult character! And, unfortunately, he has enough capital and confidence! ”

Colonel Hurley, who was tossed to death, gritted his teeth in the car back.

"Just like his army, I think it's necessary to report it to Congress and the Navy."

Hurley shrugged his shoulders and replied helplessly.

(To be continued......)