William Richardson, director of The Paper, reached for the bow tie around his neck to make sure it stayed where it was supposed to be. From the end of the long line he was in, it was impossible to see in the distance. But even so, he could guess the actions of those people from the vague figures.

It was a large delegation from the Third Republic of Fern, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Third Republic, Brookard Scowdario. He was received by Darcy Fairs, the Foreign Minister of the Ankenrein Empire. In accordance with Anken Rein's diplomatic protocol, the two men in formal suits were shaking hands one by one along the lines of participants from both sides. The music of the military band followed the steps of the two, suddenly excited, suddenly solemn.

The delegation of the Third Republic had arrived two days earlier, and it was said that it had come to negotiate an alliance. According to the meaning of the Third Republic, this was supposed to be a confidential private mission, but it was widely publicized by Ankenrein and became a semi-public operation. William Richardson, as a power expert at The Paper, had the privilege of participating in the plenary meeting and the subsequent discussions and negotiations.

The process of the diplomatic conference was long and cumbersome, and Richardson was a little bored after standing there for a while. But on this occasion, he couldn't relax, so he had to ponder in his heart about a recent article by Gastens. Combined with the viewpoint of "On Capital", through the analysis of the situation in various countries since the steam revolution, the article put forward the argument that technology is the primary productive force. In the conclusion of the article, Gastens argues that the efficiency and horsepower of the steam engine, as well as the cost of production, will greatly change the production relations of a country. In the competition of this technological revolution, whichever country can occupy the technological high ground first has the key to the road to the king. In William's opinion, the article was written very interestingly and to his taste.

As the applause and footsteps approached, William Richardson looked up and met the eyes of Fern Third Republic's Foreign Secretary, Bluward Scottario. He nodded politely at the other party and stretched out his hand, which quickly took his hand and swung it hard.

The hands were dry and strong, as confident as their owners.

——————————

The day after the meeting, The Paper and RAND Machinery sat down on either side of the table. Jeffrey Chaka, the general manager of The Paper, sat opposite Daniel Rand, the president of the Rand Machinery Company, and their task was to make preliminary communication on the technical exchanges and demands of the two countries in steam power. Ignoring the quaint and solemn furniture used in this room, many of which are centuries old, and simply looking at the materials placed on the table by both sides, you will see that the essence of negotiations is no different from barter.

"Can you share the technology of your Blue Rand steam engine? ……”

“…… The patent for this transmission structure is shared with the words ......"

"The parliaments of the six countries do not recognize your rights in this matter......"

“…… The arc welding process of high-pressure water tank is our core competency......"

The table was divided into four groups, each with its own negotiation mandate. William Richardson and his team are in charge of the highlight of today's negotiations.

Patent rights for centrifugal governors.

"The current division of patent rights has been approved by the parliaments of the six countries, and each of us has the right to produce independently in our own country, and if we want to export, we will rely on our own strength, do you have any new ideas now?"

William Richardson knew his bottom line, and they would give up the right to produce and sell steam-powered equipment equipped with centrifugal governors outside their home country in exchange for some support. William didn't know what some aspects were, but he could guess. In this negotiation, before the negotiation began, the surging power company was ready for a heavy hemorrhage, and the only one who could make the surging power company to which the mage tower belonged could be the mage tower itself.

So, the Mage Tower also thinks that in the current battle situation, do we need allies?

"We hope to be able to re-certify the inventor of the patent, the inventor you have previously adduced, Gastens Warren, is just a serf, has no relevant educational background, and has no experience in the research and manufacture of steam engines before the invention of the centrifugal governor, how can it be impossible to invent such a revolutionary machine with only the experience of repairing those old machines in a third-rate mine, right?"

The negotiator on the other side had a smile on his face, and there was a slight mockery in his smile. William knew he was trying to provoke himself, and he had to admit that the other party had indeed provoked himself. You know, four months after the invention of the centrifugal governor, this little thing has become a necessary part of all new types of steam engines, which can make the power output of the steam engine stable and smooth, greatly reduce the cost of the steam engine, and expand the use range of the steam engine. According to the bottom line of the previous surging power company, giving up the steam engine equipped with centrifugal governor and selling it abroad basically means giving up the foreign market. However, because the share of the LAND Power Company itself in the international market is much higher than that of the Surging Power Company, this kind of selective abandonment and concession will not affect the surging power company that mainly takes its own country as the market too much. However, if the patent inventor is re-identified according to the requirements put forward by the other party, it means that even in Anken Rein, only LAND Power can produce and sell steam engines equipped with centrifugal governors, which is equivalent to the life of The Paper.

"The inventor you proposed, Daniel Rand, his educational background does not include steam engines, and he does not have the background and past achievements of steam engine research and development, as the young owner of your company, he has been trained as the successor of the company since he was a child, where does he have time to research and invent such things? If you want to re-identify the inventors, then I suggest that you take out the real inventors first, and then we will have a good confrontation. Instead of talking in the vernacular here and daydreaming! ”

"Mr. William, do you not understand the current situation? What I am talking about is not to re-identify the inventors of both parties, but to ask you to give up the invention right of this patent, after all, this is what our young master Rand invented, and what does it have to do with that little serf? ”

"It can't be! If that's your condition, then don't talk about it! ”

William closed the clamp in front of him and gestured to leave. The other party wants too much, and if it is still talked about like this, it will expose the bottom line of the surging power company, and William decided to dry the other party to see if there is any opportunity.

"Mr. William, I don't think you've figured out the situation," the man across from him said eloquently, and William glanced at his name tag, George Cauchy.

“…… Now you are begging us to make an alliance, not us to ask you to make an alliance. If you want to form an alliance and get our support, if you don't take some benefits, who will do it? It's just a patent, but in exchange for the victory of the war, don't you know this account? ”

George Cauchy has a relaxed expression and speaks fluently, and he speaks his native language, which invisibly improves his communication skills. William Richardson had learned Fern, but even then, he was not as fluent as the other party.

However, William was still able to understand what the other party meant, which only deepened his anxiety. He did not answer the other party's questions, but observed the situation around him, and most of his colleagues had serious expressions, and a few of them had hideous faces, and it was obvious that the negotiations were resisting. Jeffrey Chaka and Daniel Rand, general managers of The Paper, who sat in the middle of the long table, did not speak. One of them looked out the window a little boredly, and the other looked at the folder in his hand, as if the hustle and bustle around them did not exist. At first glance, it seems that both parties are equally calm, but William, who is familiar with Jeffrey Chaka, can see that his boss is not as relaxed as he thinks.

Presumably, no one will be really relaxed in this kind of negotiation that takes the initiative to stretch out their necks to cut the other party, right?

————————

Matthew Wilson, the liaison officer of the Workers' Party of the Republic of Negro, led an observer delegation from the Third Republic of Fern into the assembly hall of Slote Power's No. 3 factory in East Rama, during busy production hours. The workers, who had been informed, were not surprised by the sudden arrival of a group of foreigners, and they continued to work with their heads bowed to produce one steam rifle after another.

"This is our second-largest rifle production plant, with a production capacity of 6,000 units a day, and in two days we can produce enough weapons to equip a division. As you have just seen at the shooting range, our Welsh II rifle has a longer range and greater power than the Type 27 rifle used on the other side. In this context, we can use fewer forces against more forces of the enemy. ……”

Matthew Wilson is not a full-time docent. However, he was well acquainted with the number two person in the mission, Karbel Luya, chairman of the Fern Third Republic Trade Union Party, so he acted as a docent for the mission's tour of the factory. After all, he himself is a member of Slote Power Equipment and knows his company well.

"However, even if the weapons are advanced, I have heard that the casualty rate between you and Anken Rui is not low because of this war. If you fight the population, it will be difficult for you to fight Anken Rein, right? ”

The officers in the mission asked questions. At the suggestion of Pierre Carell, the former president of the Third Republic of Fern on this visit, the mission sent by the Third Republic included a large number of military officers. Karel hoped that these people would be able to see who was the final winner of the war through the fighting situation of the soldiers of the Negro Republic on the front line and the production capacity of the large industrialization in the rear.

"We really don't have as many soldiers as the other side. But they fought a war of aggression, we fought a Great Patriotic War, and their soldiers were slaves, and if they didn't fight, they would die. Our soldiers, like each of us, are citizens of the country and enjoy the same powers, and naturally have a different desire to fight than the other side......"

Matthew Wilson spoke eloquently, and some of the people of the mission were listening to him, while others were observing the factory. Kaber Luya is the latter. As a worker who worked in the RAND Corporation, he paid close attention to the details of this factory, although he did not dare to make an absolute contract, but Kaber Luya could see that the technical level and production capacity of this factory were not below the Rand Corporation's Verndingen factory.

According to the arrangement of the Neglo Republic, after completing the production of the armory factory, the mission will go straight to the front line to see the thorny hills in the depths of winter. However, just as the tour of the factory was coming to an end, an officer made a new request.

"I heard that your armored spearmen are very majestic on the battlefield, and they beat the enemy, I wonder if it is possible for us to observe this unit?"

"Absolutely, it's also on our schedule."

Matthew Wilson led the members of the mission out of the factory and to the arranged parade grounds, where they would see the 51st Army on its way to the front. Three divisions, more than 30,000 men, were all armed with improvised plate armor and Welsh II steam rifles, and they were even equipped with sliding defensive shields to defend against enemy charges.

"How long have these soldiers' weapons and equipment, including that armor, been in production?"

The officers in the mission continued to ask questions, and the new escort was quick to give answers.

"30,000 sets of rifles and 30,000 sets of armor, that is, half a month's effort, it's not that difficult."

The new escort smiled reservedly, but those in the regiment who knew about the Third Fern's own military production capacity gasped. This rate of production, in time for the Third Republic, may not be out of reach.

In the evening, when the tour was over, Caber Luya had finished the annoying drinking party and had just returned to his residence to lie down when he heard a knock at the door.

"Secretary Luya, I'm Matthew, can I go in and sit?"

Caber Luya answered and let Matthew in. Although the two did not know each other, the friendship forged in the early days of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions has been quietly continuing.

"What, what's the matter?"

Kaber Luya was a little sleepy, and he had to fight hard and get straight to the point.

"I just want to ask you how you feel today, to see what we haven't done yet, and I hope you can give me more advice."

Caber Luya was stunned for a moment, and suddenly realized the reason why the other party was so humble. Now the warring parties are out of war because of the weather, but everyone knows that this truce is only temporary. By the next spring, the two nations will be bloodied in the land of Tulukas. And the comrades in front of him, as a member of the Neglo Republic, naturally have to run for their country and grovel.

"I'm okay, your production capacity is very strong, if you can solve the problem of population, you will definitely be able to win them. But now the problem is the population, the gun is easy to build, and it can be done in a few minutes. What about people? It takes sixteen years to feed a person, and it only takes a second to kill him. If you don't have so many people and you still want to win this war, will there be a problem? ”

"Actually, it's okay—"

In the middle of Matthew's speech, there was another knock on the door. This time it was a colleague in the regiment, saying that the regiment had an urgent meeting and there was a major matter to be communicated, and Caber Luya responded loudly, sent Matthew away, and walked towards the regiment leader's room. It's so late, and you suddenly have to gather, could it be that there are some new changes in the frontline battle situation?