On November 15, 1856, Fang Minghong, Vice Minister of the Imperial Foreign Office, met with the President of Chile, Manuel Brown. Monte. Torres' plenipotentiary envoy Mascajaano. This meeting between the two opened a new page in the relations between the Chinese Empire and South America, and also brought about fundamental changes in the situation in South America. Chile, a small South American country, embraced the thick thighs of the Chinese Empire, which enabled them to begin rapid development. In particular, there have been earth-shaking changes in military strength. It also made Chile rapidly grow into the hegemon of South America and became the spokesperson of the empire in South America.

Of course, Chile also paid some price in order to become the face of the Chinese empire in South America. Of course, these costs are insignificant compared to their gains. The support of the empire was completely indispensable for Chile's rise.

"Your Excellency, Lord Wei has other arrangements, so I will be in charge of this meeting." As soon as they met, Vice Foreign Minister Fang Minghong raised this point.

Chile's special envoy Mascaiano understood this, after all, the Chinese Empire is now the world hegemon, and Chile is nothing more than a small South American country with a population of just over 1.5 million. The fact that the Chinese Empire was able to send a vice minister of foreign affairs to meet him was already giving him face.

"Lord Fang, thank you for taking the time to meet me. I would like to honour the President of our country, Manuel Murphy. Monte. The order of His Excellency Torres hopes that our two countries will be able to form a comprehensive partnership. ≥■" Mascayano said.

"Oh? I wonder what you would like the Empire and Chile to cooperate on? Fang Minghong asked quietly. Although, the Chinese Empire coveted Chilean copper ore and saltpeter, but. This does not mean that the empire will look at Chile differently. China, which rules most of the world, is now a vast country. On the territory of the empire. There is no shortage of copper ore and saltpeter.

"Lord Fang, Chile hopes to be able to purchase a batch of equipment for the army and navy from the Chinese Empire. And it was hoped that instructors from the Chinese Empire would be hired to train the Chilean army. In addition, Chile hopes to have the support of the Chinese Empire in the field of diplomacy and industry! Special Envoy Maskayano continued. At present, Chile is a backward agricultural country at all, and its annual fiscal income is only 50 million gold pesos, which is equivalent to only 20 million Chinese yuan. This is mainly earned by exporting mineral resources. But even so, Chile has already expressed its ambitions for its neighbors. Once Chile is able to successfully expand into the periphery, they will become even stronger. This is what Chile's president is striving for. However, in order to be able to ensure the success of the expansion. Chile is also in dire need of foreign assistance. The Chinese Empire, which had just won the world war and became the new world hegemon, undoubtedly became the best choice for Chile.

"The sale of equipment for the army and navy, which requires the approval of the General Staff of the Reich. I don't think that's going to be a problem, though. The empire has begun to reduce its army, and there is a large number of weapons and equipment to sell, and the price is not too expensive. Although it is second-hand, the quality is absolutely guaranteed. This is definitely a great choice for Chile. Fang Minghong said. The Imperial Army had reduced a million combat troops, and indeed there was a large amount of weapons and equipment to sell. As for the Navy, there may not be a new warship. But there are still some old battleships. For example, the 'Western Zhou-class' and 'Eastern Zhou-class' warships, which are already ready to be decommissioned, can be sold to Chile. Anyway, the naval strength of the South American countries is too different, even if they are given a few of these old warships. It is also possible to dominate in South America.

"Lord Fang, this is great. Chile needs exactly such a reliable and inexpensive weapon! Envoy Maskayano said. Although it is second-hand. But Chile doesn't mind. The equipment of the Chinese army has already made a name for itself in this world war. Moreover. Second-hand means cheaper, and Chile can buy more weapons and equipment at a lower price. This is undoubtedly good news for Chile, which is not rich in financial resources. Of course, judging from the current financial resources of South American countries, Chile, which has a large export of copper ore and saltpeter, has already lost the richest country. The rest of the countries are much worse than Chile. This has also made the copper and saltpeter mines occupied by Chile a source of interest for other countries. In order to preserve this wealth, Chile must also strengthen its armaments.

"As for sending instructors to Chile, this also requires the approval of the General Staff. In this way, you can give a list of how many weapons one side Chile needs, and then I will report to the General Staff, and then I will talk about it in detail! Fang Minghong said.

"Okay, Lord Fang. Chile needs to arm a 50,000-strong army and a 10,000-strong navy. We hope to be able to equip the army with the size and armament of the Chinese Army. Envoy Maskayano said.

Fang Minghong nodded: "Well, I know!" In this case, you go back and wait for the news first, and I will inform you after coordinating with the General Staff! ”

For a country with a population of only more than 1.5 million, an army and navy of 60,000 people is enough, and even a little too much. After all, the Chinese Empire had a population of nearly 600 million and armed a maximum of five million troops in the war. Judging by this ratio, Chile is already a bit militaristic. It seems that those neighboring countries around Chile will have a hard time.

"Okay, Lord Fang, thank you very much for your help!" Mascaiano left the Imperial Foreign Office after a word of thanks.

Fang Minghong immediately called the General Staff Headquarters to contact him, and in the afternoon of the same day, the General Staff Headquarters sent a major general officer and the deputy director of the Logistics and Equipment Department to discuss this issue with him.

"Are the Chileans preparing to launch an attack on the surrounding countries? Otherwise, it would be incredible that a country with a population of 1.5 million would be armed with so many troops! Major General Chen Qingqiu, deputy director of the Logistics Equipment Department, said.

"It doesn't matter what the Chileans are going to do, if they want to buy weapons, sell them to them. Anyway, we have sealed up so many rescue weapons. It is interesting that the Chileans want us to send instructors and train the army according to the size of the Imperial Army. No matter how you look at it, it looks like the Chileans want to join us! Major General Zhang Yuchen, deputy director of the Operations Department of the General Staff, said with a smile.

"South America is too far away from the empire, and the individual countries are not strong. There is nothing to make the empire tickle except for resources. Especially if the Reich needs to suppress the Germans in an all-round way from now on, the Reich will not take drastic measures to occupy South America. In such a situation, it is best to control South America by supporting agents and ensuring that the resources of South America are used by the empire, or not by our enemies, to be exact! Fang Minghong also said.

Major General Chen Qingqiu and Major General Zhang Yuchen both nodded, if the copper mines and saltpeter in South America could be controlled by the empire and not flow into the Germans, it would undoubtedly be a great blow to the Germans. Although there are many places around the world where saltpeter is also produced, the production and purity are not as large as Chile's, and most of them are under the control of China. Once Chile was also controlled by the Empire, it would not be easy for the Germans to buy saltpeter, which was undoubtedly a huge blow to the military strength of the Germans.

"The Chileans plan to arm 50,000 troops, which is more than 2,000 men in 8 brigades. We can build the Chileans into seven infantry brigades and one cavalry brigade according to the imperial establishment, and the other two thousand men can form two artillery battalions. In this case, the army should be a little more comprehensive. We can sell the Chileans forty thousand rifles, five hundred light machine guns and one hundred heavy machine guns, six hundred mortars, two hundred 75-mm field guns and twenty-four 105-mm light howitzers. In this way, the equipment of the Chilean Army can be greatly ahead of other South American countries! Major General Zhang Yuchen gave his opinion.

"The Navy's 'Western Zhou-class' and 'Eastern Zhou-class' warships can also be sold to them. In addition, the castrated version of light cruisers and destroyers, which can also be sold in a few pieces. In this case, the Chileans also have a navy. The exact amount depends on how much Chileans can afford! The 'Western Zhou-class' warship costs 2 million Chinese yuan each, although it is old, but the refurbishment of the power and weapon system can still be used for decades. The same is true for the 'Eastern Zhou-class' warship, which costs 3 million Chinese yuan each. As for the castrated version of the light cruisers and destroyers, you can use the 'Temperary-class' light cruisers and the 'Tiangang-class' light cruisers as a model, and start building them again, and they can be built in a year at most. The 'Trotto-class' light cruisers charged them 1.4 million Chinese dollars. The 'Tiangang-class' destroyers would be fine with 1 million Chinese dollars. Of course, since the size of the Chilean navy is only about 10,000 people, it is enough to sell them two 'Eastern Zhou-class' warships, four 'Western Zhou-class' battleships, four 'Trotto-class' light cruisers and six 'Tiangang-class' destroyers after deducting the personnel of the port. Major General Chen Qingqiu, deputy director of the Logistics Equipment Department, said.

Although the 'Western Zhou-class' and 'Eastern Zhou-class' battleships are old, their combat power is far from being comparable to the mainstream battleships. But for a small country in South America, a 210-mm gun is already very powerful. The sail warships of other countries are not at all the opponents of such warships. Whether it is speed or firepower, doubt is defense, and the gap between the sail warships and these warships is an era apart. It can be said that if Chile had bought these warships, they would have become the most powerful country in South America. (To be continued......)

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