Holding Li Hu's letter, Li Xiao shook his head and put the letter aside.

The old fox Sun Chengzong is right, there are so many powerful officials in the world, and he can't manage it with eight heads on his own. During the Chongzhen period, there were 1,230 counties in the Ming Dynasty. After years of territorial expansion, Daming already has 2,821 counties.

In other words, the county magistrate alone must have two thousand eight hundred and twenty-one. Not to mention the county officials, the main bookkeeper, the school administration, etc., all up, Li Xiao doesn't know how many people there are. Since the scholars want to control the local power, let them control it first, anyway, there are not so many people in it.

Those who made the heavens angry and resentful killed a group, killing both political opponents and the people. Why not!

Li Xiao's eyes are now on Wu Sangui, a famous traitor in history, who finally made India his territory and grew into a big problem for Li Xiao's henchmen. Li Yongfang presented the latest information, and a group of scientists led by Newton even began to study power generation equipment.

In Mumbai, factories with assembly lines appeared. The workers have divided labor and cooperated, and labor efficiency has been greatly improved. Indian soldiers have been fully firearmed, according to the Acre rifles left behind by Li Hu in Egypt. Those high-achieving students of Oxbridge are playing with the reverse imitation of life. It is estimated that it will not be long before it will appear in the hands of Indian soldiers.

In the future war, large-scale trench warfare is inevitable. Where the two armies faced each other, barbed wire fences and firing bunkers were everywhere, and there was artillery support behind them. It was the real flesh mill, and it was during this time that the famous meat grinder battlefields such as Verdun and the Somme appeared.

That's not one or two thousand casualties, think of the Battle of the Somme that year, the British army lost 60,000 people on the first day. The average soldier survives only nine seconds! After a great war, Britain and France had 20 million more widows.

Twenty million people! The pile is as high as a mountain, and the population of Daming is just over 200 million now, and he can't afford to die! I really can't afford to die!

What Li Hu is doing now is just a test field. Li Xiao is considering the mercenary system, and overseas expansion does not necessarily have to sacrifice the blood of the Ming people. If there had to be sacrifice, Li Xiao felt that the blood of the Japanese people was good. Of course, you can also add Mongols, Koreans, and Cochins.

Anyway, as long as it is not for the people of the Ming Dynasty to sacrifice, it doesn't matter how many people die Li Xiao. Of course, it would be better if there was a big upheaval of the enemy before the war began.

Today Li Xiao wants to meet someone, which is related to another important overseas colony of the British Empire.

There had just been a light rain, and the buds on the branches were green and green, how to look at it and how it made people like. The air is moist, and it is cool and indescribably refreshing to take a breath into the lungs.

The stone road winds and quiets, and after a corridor is Li Xiao's villa.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Your Excellency the Generalissimo." John took off his top hat and saluted to Li Xiao. Behind John, followed by Augustine.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Washington." Li Xiao smiled and shook hands with John and Augustine.

These two guys came to Daming once before last and followed the path of Ai Husheng. Coming again this year, Li Xiao feels that the seeds planted the year before have begun to take root. It's just that Li Xiao didn't expect it to be so fast. According to Ai Husheng, these two guys are ready to do what their son and grandson do now.

"This is a gift to you, Generalissimo." Before they could take their seats, two guards walked in carrying a large gold nugget.

"It's ......!" Li Xiao likes gold very much, but as a marshal of a country, he naturally has to pretend that he doesn't like it. Pretending to be deep, the basic skills of a big leader, Li Xiao's cultivation is not at home. See the big nugget with two eyes shining!

"This is our all-natural gold nugget from Denver, and in order to show our respect for His Excellency the Generalissimo, we are here to dedicate it to you this time." Augustine said very respectfully. I haven't seen him for two years, but this guy actually learned to speak the official dialect of the Ming Dynasty. Although it is similar to that of later foreign countries, the root of the tongue is straight, but at least it can be understood.

"That's so kind! Sit! Come on, serve tea. Seeing the gold, Li Xiao was very happy and immediately beckoned the two to sit down.

Junzi is also a guy who looks down on people, and when he saw the gold, he immediately ordered his subordinates to soak in the dragon well and bring it up.

"I heard that your North American territory is very prosperous now, and now even the British mainland has to get your Boston to build ships." After sitting down, Li Xiao began to talk about nutritious household routines. Anyway, they are the ones who beg to do things for themselves, and if they are not in a hurry, they will be in a hurry. There is only one urgency, and this condition is easy to say.

"Hey......! That was all in the past, and now if you want to build a big ship, you have to go to Mumbai. They can build steam-engine ships, and they can build them very big. Although it is also a wooden boat, it can run much faster than a sailboat, and there is no need to consider the direction of the wind.

Now Boston, I can only pick up some orders that people don't want. Shipbuilders are having a hard time, but tax revenues are not decreasing. And with the recent introduction of the Stamp Duty Act, everyone's life is getting harder and harder. Speaking of the North American territory, Washington sighed incessantly.

"How can this be, the products of your North American territory are very good. Wheat, corn, and soybeans are all of good quality. The rice, tobacco and cotton produced by the southern plantations were of great interest to the Ming. Especially the Havana cigars you delivered last time, I loved them so much. Li Xiao tried to divert the topic, anyway, Lao Tzu just didn't talk about the topic inside.

"Your Excellency the Generalissimo, we have come to see you this time just to get your support from the Generalissimo. We want to rebel against the British Empire, and the North American territories want to seek independence. After all, Augustine was young, and Augustine was impatient to say what he meant.

"That's not good, after all, you're also part of the British Empire. If we interfere in the Ming Dynasty, it will cause international disputes. Besides, the Ming soldiers crossed the ocean to your North American territory...... Fear......! Li Xiao began to play official, which is all mentioned in a book called "The Art of Negotiation". Now it is used to pit Washington and the two, which can be regarded as karma.

"We don't need your army, we will organize our own manpower. It's just that we don't have decent weapons in our hands. This time, we want you to support us with weapons. Augustine saw Li Xiao hesitate and hurriedly stood up.

John tried to stop his son, but his hand reached out and took it back. Since it has been spread out, then simply spread it out. He knows very well that a country like Daming has a strong ability to play ball.

If they fall into the trap of Daming, the two of them may not be able to get a positive answer in this year.

"Weapons ......! I can give you weapons, but those things are all produced in factories and have a cost. If I speak to you, your friend Ai Husheng will not be able to get along with it in the first place. This is something that can't be helped, as a handsome, I can't give favors to the things of the court! Li Xiao looked embarrassed, and his fingers kept tapping on the coffee table.

"Your Excellency Generalissimo, we really need ......!" When Augustine heard this, he was anxious, and when he wanted to say more, John grabbed his son.

"Your Excellency, Generalissimo, of course we can't ask for anything for nothing. The weapons of the Ming Dynasty are well-made and are in high demand everywhere. We are willing to pay the corresponding value to buy! As an old fox who has become a fine in North American territory, John keenly perceives the meaning of the word cost.

If you have a cost, you can't give it away for nothing, that is, it's no problem to buy it.

Sure enough, Li Xiao's hand left the coffee table.

"We're old friends, and I can do that. In terms of price, I can also give you some discounts. John knew each other very well, and Li Xiao agreed very happily. Doing business, the emphasis is on a neat and neat one.

"It's just ......! It's just that we don't have money at the moment. ”

John's words made Li Xiao's hand tremble, and the cigarette ash fell on his pants.

If you don't have money, what kind of business do you talk about with Lao Tzu, playing tricks? Lao Tzu has millions of Liao soldiers, and he dares to fuck Lao Tzu.

"We just don't have money for the time being, and we can pledge our future earnings." Seeing Li Xiao's eyes widen, John hurriedly added.

"You're going to take credit?" Li Xiao's eyes widened. It was the first time he had heard someone say that credit was so financially philosophical!

"Theoretically, yes, but our North American territory will not let Daming suffer. The amount of the total payment can be increased by two percent. When John saw Li Xiao's appearance, he immediately threw out generous conditions.

"Twenty percent ......!" Li Xiao nodded, redone, and waited for further explanations from John.

"Specifically, we can mortgage several proven mineral mining rights to Daming. As long as we seize the territory of North America, these minerals will be given to the Ming Dynasty for twenty years. ”

Li Xiao looked at John, and the old guy's blue eyes were rolling around when he spoke. Li Xiao knew that this old bastard was cheating. The right to mine minerals will have to wait for you to seize the territory of North America. What the hell is it going to be!

Besides, is it possible that Lao Tzu still wants to find someone to mine in your North America? The land of Daming still has enough population, how can Lao Tzu still have the energy to go to North America.

"I'm afraid it won't work, although there is a profit of 20%. The cost is too high, and we can't afford to send people to mine in North America. Otherwise, you may exchange gold or silver.

I know there are a lot of gold mines in North America. Denver is famous for its gold mines! Li Xiao pointed to the huge gold nugget on the ground, which looked like it weighed ten pounds. The fact that there is such a large natural gold nugget is enough to show the abundance of gold reserves.

"Golden ......!" John swallowed hard.

"If you haven't figured it out yet, wait until you've figured it out. You just said that Da Ming's weapons are very popular. It's hard for you to sell on credit, and if you don't have gold, you can take silver. With real money, you'll soon be able to get the weapons you want. Li Xiao stood up and gave the order to evict the guests.

"Wait, Generalissimo!" John was in a hurry, it was not easy to see Li Xiao once. If you miss this village, I'm afraid you won't have this shop.

"Hmmm! How? ”

"It's just that piracy is rampant in the Caribbean, and if our ships carry gold, I'm afraid it will be ......!" John was helpless.

Only then did Li Xiao understand that it turned out to be these years. The British North American territory was developed only along the Atlantic side, and the side near the Pacific Ocean was still barren. Moreover, the Panama Canal was not opened. Ships from the North American territories who wanted to come to Daming needed to cross the Atlantic Ocean and round the Cape of Good Hope. Then take the Strait of Malacca to reach Daming.

At the speed of the sailboat, the time on the road would have been almost a year.

In this way, the Washington couple did not stay long in North America before they came to Daming. There should be some things that they don't know, otherwise they would never have returned to Daming in such a hurry to win Daming's support.

The current Ming Dynasty is far away from North America, as if it were another planet.

"You're saying you have gold, but you just can't get it?" Li Xiao scratched his head, it was too far to take the Atlantic route, and he had to pass through the dangerous Caribbean Sea. If you stumble into the legendary Bermuda Triangle, maybe something bizarre will happen.

Take the Pacific route, and there will be no ports on the entire west coast. In addition, it was difficult to transport the gold from the east coast. Seeing that a large sum of gold could not be obtained in his hands, Li Xiao was a little unwilling. After all, North America is still extremely rich in gold reserves.

"Yes! We have gold, but it's all in Boston. If we want to ship it to Daming, we don't have this ability. ”

"Good! The Ming can send a warship to take over this batch of gold, but you will need to pay for the freight. "Li Xiao actually wanted to go on a long voyage.

In fact, it is not easy to train qualified naval officers, not only to learn to read nautical charts, but also to rely on star charts and nautical charts to judge directions. In the vast sea, once you get lost, it may be the end of the ship's destruction and death.

The Ming Navy started from scratch, and most of them were running inland seas. At most, it's a run in the South China Sea!

On the other hand, the Netherlands and Britain in this era have already relied on the navy to conquer the world. If you want to build a first-class navy, you must have first-class nautical talents. And the first-class nautical talents are definitely not something that can be experienced in Bohai Bay.

It is necessary to let the boys of the Qinhuangdao Naval Academy go to sea for some training, and make a two-year round trip. With these talents who have been on the sea for two years, the strength of the Ming Navy will grow by leaps and bounds.

Li Xiao had this idea, or did it stem from Li Xiu's complaints. Last month, Li Xiu came to Li Xiao in a special way, and it has been almost four months since the completion of the navy's new warship. Everyone was waiting for these ships to quickly go to sea and show off their might in the South China Sea.

But after the sea trial, there was no movement, and the reason is simple. There was a modern ship, but there was no captain and skilled sailors to match.

At this time, Li Xiao already knew that it was useless to build warships, and there had to be a team of people who could control these steel monsters.