Chapter 277 It’s better to buy than to build, and it’s better to rent than to buy (please order, please vote)
After all, Luo Xueyan is not Luo Yaoguo!
The latter is really a "devil of mass destruction" who possesses thirty "Prophets" that can shake or consolidate the hegemony of the British Empire, and Luo Xueyan is now a mortal.
So it seems that the Qing Dynasty is going to be sold off a little bit.
"Mr. Minister," Luo Xueyan thought about it and said with a smile: "The concession you want is difficult for me to grant at the moment! Even if I sign the treaty, it is impossible to implement it!
Although I am the Minister of Commerce of the Five Ports, all I can control is Shanghai, and Shanghai is still under the threat of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Your merchants cannot enter Guangzhou now. If I, the Minister of Commerce of the Five Ports, issue an order, the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi can Listen? Think about it and you know it’s impossible! Your opium wants to enter the territory of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Is that something I can do? You have to make a deal with that devil!"
"No, that's not allowed! No believer in God can make a deal with the devil. He will go to hell!"
French Minister Bourblon immediately objected and looked at Bonham with pity.
Luo Xueyan looked back with thanks and made a sign of the cross on his chest devoutly - he is still a devout believer in the Roman Church!
Although the American Minister Marsali is not a Catholic, he has heard good things about Luo Xueyan from Major Ma Hui. This is a "republican" who grew up listening to the stories of Washington and whose family founded a republic in Nanyang!
Moreover, Luo Xueyan's plan to export a large number of Chinese workers to the United States was indeed very attractive, so he was willing to express his support: "Mr. Luo, the United States of America is your friend! Soon, the fleet led by Major General Matthew Perry will Upon arriving in the Far East, I will arrange for him to stay in Shanghai for a long time."
"Welcome, very welcome!" Luo Xueyan said immediately, "General Perry can stay in Shanghai as long as he wants!"
When Wenxian heard that Matthew Perry was coming to Shanghai with his fleet, his face became even more ugly.
The Royal Navy of the British Empire is very powerful, but the Royal Navy's fleet in the Far East is not large. If Matthew Perry leads an American fleet to be stationed in Shanghai, Britain's influence in the Far East will be greatly reduced.
And what about the promised unity of the great powers?
However, Luo Xueyan would not really fall out with Wen Xian. How could he become the boss of the largest "labor export company" in the mid-19th century? Without the export of millions of Chinese workers, how would this "capital" go?
"Minister Wenxian," Luo Xueyan said, "I'm not saying that I can't make concessions to the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. But I don't have that much strength now. When I have the strength, I can have the final say, and I will definitely open up a lot. Market! So, you’d better support me first, at least help me become a big shot who can truly dominate a party!”
This seems interesting!
As a veteran imperialist diplomat, Wenxian was very familiar with supporting warlords in backward countries to obtain privileges.
"Mr. Luo," Wen Xian finally found some feelings and looked at Luo Xueyan with a condescending expression, "What else do you want?"
"Fleet!" Luo Xueyan said, "As the Five Ministers of Commerce, I need at least a fleet that can go to Ningbo, Xiamen, Guangzhou, and Fuzhou! If I can have a fleet equipped with a 10-inch caliber cannon, the light load displacement A fleet of more than 2,000 tons of cruisers as flagships travels to the five trading ports. I can at least make Ningbo, Xiamen and Shanghai, which do not have governors or governors stationed, completely open their doors to all countries!"
"A cruiser equipped with 10-inch cannons and a light load displacement of more than 2,000 tons." Wen Xian frowned, "Mr. Luo, do you have the talent to operate this giant ship?"
"No." Luo Xueyan smiled and shook his head.
"Then what's the point of buying such a huge ship?" Wen Xian asked.
"Minister, I think you misunderstood," Luo Xueyan said with a smile, "I have no intention of buying it."
"Don't plan to buy it? You do."
"Lease!" Luo Xueyan said, "It's better to build than to buy, and to buy is better than renting. What I mean is to rent a cruiser from the United Kingdom in the name of the five-port commerce minister's office, and then rent several light paddle-wheel gunboats from France and the United States. The ships will be Rent the crew together! Fly the flag of the Shanghai New Army and form a fleet under the jurisdiction of the five-port Commerce Minister Yamen. I will be the commander. The deputy commander and flagship captain who is actually responsible for commanding the fleet will be a British person.
In addition, the British deputy commander of the fleet will also serve as the director of education at the Shanghai Naval Academy to train officers for the future Chinese navy.
In order to provide this rented fleet with a home port and a shipyard needed for repair and maintenance, I also hope to introduce British, French or American technology and open a shipyard in Shanghai with a 5,000-ton shipyard."
After Luo Xueyan proposed his "traitorous plan", he looked at Wenxian with a smile, waiting for him to agree.
He knew that Wenxian would definitely agree, because he made the plan with reference to the "Aspen Fleet".
It's just that "Aspen Fleet" was still bought, but Luo Xueyan took a step back and simply rented it!
However, there are advantages to renting, and the rented fleet is a lot of money.
Historically, the procurement cost of the Aspen fleet was originally agreed to be 800,000 taels, but later increased to 920,000, which is actually not bad. If the money is spent according to this standard, what will the Qing Dynasty's "foreign fleet" do? It was hard to go on with it. But the two foreign devils, Aspen and Li Guotai, were so evil-minded that they actually requested a one-time transfer of 10 million taels of silver from the General Taxation Department to cover the fleet's four-year expenses.
Even the Qing Dynasty couldn't bear it anymore!
Ten million takes four years. How can we spend it on seven ships with more than 600 people? Each person is given a military salary of one thousand taels of silver, which is only 600,000 a year. We also give some bonuses and add some ship repair and maintenance costs. Is one million a year enough?
So Luo Xueyan simply rented it and settled it every year. Even if he spent one million a year, ten million would be enough for ten years.
Moreover, he also made requests to charter ships from the United States and France at the same time.
If the British really want to speak loudly, there are also the French who believe in God and the "Friends of the Republic" the United States!
In addition, a leased fleet has two benefits.
First, it is easy for Chinese sailors to get on board and do practical operations - the Chinese are cheap!
The rent is fixed. When becoming a lessor, of course you have to consider the cost. The cheaper the user, the higher the lessor’s profit. If graduates of the Shanghai Naval Academy come on board for practical operations, they can even be paid by the Shanghai Governor’s Office, which will be beneficial to the lessor.
In other words, it is free labor.
As long as the economic laws of capitalism are correct, within five years, this rented fleet will be filled with "free Chinese".
A generation of naval personnel was cultivated!
The second advantage of renting a boat is that you can use it to show off your power. That’s a British, American, or French boat you’re renting!
It is impossible to rely on them to defeat the British, American and French navies. But what about Japan? What about the Netherlands? What about Siam? Do they dare to fire on this rented fleet? Maybe Russia lost the Crimean War
No one dared to provoke these three murderous masters at once.
"Okay!" Wen Xian nodded as expected, "We in the British Empire are very willing to help Mr. Luo build a powerful fleet that can operate along the coast of China!"
In the view of the British minister, this is a rare opportunity for Britain to control the Chinese navy!
As for him personally, with his political achievements and kickbacks, he will definitely be able to make further progress after returning to China. Maybe he can enter the House of Commons and become a member of the House of Commons under the promotion of Viscount Palmerston.
"We in France are also willing to support you!" French Minister Bourblon also expressed his support.
In fact, he had been exchanging letters with Luo Xueyan for a long time. Luo Xueyan promised him to inquire about the second and third volumes of the "Great Book of Prophecy" for him, and also expressed that he would invite more French military advisers to come to China to train the new army. In this regard,
His Majesty the Emperor of France will definitely be very satisfied!
In addition, Luo Xueyan also asked Minister Bulbulon in the letter to go to Dongjiadu Church to worship God next Sunday.
"The same goes for the United States!" U.S. Minister Marsali said, "If Major General Perry has no objection, you can even quickly rent a light ship that originally belonged to the U.S. East India Fleet."
Of course, he has been Luo Xueyan's "pen pal" for a long time. After today's meeting, Luo Xueyan wanted to invite him to have dinner with Major Ma Hui, saying that he had a big deal to discuss with him.
Seeing that the three foreign envoys were "so easy to talk to", Luo Xueyan decided to give them a pat on the back. He smiled and said: "Don't worry, you three. When I become the master of Ningbo Commercial Port and Xiamen Commercial Port, the door to the Chinese market will be open."
It will definitely be further opened to you. At the same time, a large number of hard-working Chinese workers and a prosperous Shanghai will create huge wealth.
I can swear to God that I will share all the benefits with you!"
Chapter completed!