Li Haidn was a little anxious. It was already 18 and 1993. Perhaps next year or two more years, the Argentines would order four armored cruisers from the Italians. He wanted to take over the business. But the Istria Shipyard currently has only some experience in building small ships, no more than 500 tons. It is just a civilian shipyard and lacks the experience in building large warships. Before this, the Istria Shipyard needed to accumulate experience in this area, at least in terms of warship modification.

Modification? This is a feasible solution.

Lee Haydn has never forgotten the war that was about to take place in the Far East, but what could he do? The ending was already destined. How could a decadent dynasty win a modern war? No one has a good way to change the final outcome of this war.

Lee Haydn was thinking about how to profit from this war.

"Heddon, what are you kidding? Are you planning to buy three warships that are about to be eliminated?" In the conference room of Islaia Machinery Manufacturing Company, Igar showed a surprised expression on his face after hearing Lee Haydn's plan. The other partners sitting there were not much better.

"I'm not crazy. I've been preparing for this plan for a long time. Currently, the Italians are willing to sell the "Durio" to us, and the Germans are also interested in selling their "Baden" and "Württemberg". In addition, I'm trying to buy the Chilean "Esmerada" cruiser." Lee Hayden was seriously narrating his ridiculous plan, spending about 400,000 pounds to buy four old warships, modify them slightly and sell them at a higher price. It's ridiculous. Where can I find such a fool in the world?

"Even the natives of Africa would not do such stupid things unless they were pigs." Muir had a sarcastic smile on his face, which was so whimsical.

"Okay, okay, if you don't agree, I'll pay for it out of my pocket." Lee Hayden shrugged helplessly. He couldn't persuade his partners to join his plan. "Don't blame me for not telling you in advance. However, the 500,000 rifles I need should be fine, right?"

"That's fine, as long as you can sell them." Igar said, although he was still a little worried about increasing the company's inventory.

Jogula was willing to work with Li Haidon because he told her the real reason for this plan. "According to my analysis, a big war will definitely break out between the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese next year."

"What?! Are you sure?"

"Ninety percent sure."

"What does your plan mean?"

"It's not interesting. At the critical moment of the war, even the "Esmeralda" bought for 60,000 pounds can be sold for at least 200,000 pounds, or even 300,000 pounds. As for those three ironclad ships, I'm not going to ask for a high price." Li Haidon paused, "Just sell them at their original cost."

"How much is that?"

"Not too much, it's about £1.8 million, oh, maybe 19."

"Oh my God, you're so unintentional! But will they buy it?"

"Don't worry about this, I have a way to force them to accept my conditions." Lee Hayden said with a smile. "For example, in an auction, there are always some auction items that will make people fight for blood, regardless of its actual value."

"Who are you going to sell?"

"Japanese, of course, are Japanese!" Lee Hayden remembered Muir's comment about "unless it's a pig", and couldn't help but lean his head against the sofa and laughed.

"Why are you laughing at? The Japanese don't have much money." Jogula couldn't help but press his hand on his forehead.

"There will be something, they will have it soon." Li Haidun sat upright, his face becoming very ugly.

Lee Hayden became very busy, and he had to first persuade his cousin Ferdinand to agree that he would buy their warships from the Germans, Italians and Chileans in the name of the Imperial Navy. Although these warships were old, they could be used for more than a decade. There was no reason for a private company to buy them back.

Perhaps, they have to be temporarily incorporated into the Imperial Navy.

This is not particularly difficult. If you don’t have to pay for it yourself, the Imperial Parliament will not worry about how the members of the Habsburg family are doing their own things.

The Istria Shipyard has been a little busy recently. Lee Hayden has set up a new shipping company and ordered 6 cargo ships, four 5,000-ton bulk cargo ships, and two large oil tankers with displacements of more than 10,000 tons. He is preparing to open a route to East Asia and a route to the Americas. With the gradual popularity of internal combustion engines, the demand for oil in Europe is gradually increasing. This is a good business, and it is even a good idea to build an oil refinery in Trieste.

The Prussians, the Austrians were always used to calling the Second German Empire so. Oh, it was their navy that finally agreed to sell three Saxony-class ironclad ships to the Austro-Hungarian Navy, which was a bit unexpected. Of course, the Saxony was not sold, they wanted to keep it as a souvenir, and one was left to the East Prussian Navy's guardian.

Lee Haydn had no choice but to suspend the outfitting of the merchant ship so that the dock and dock would be freed out first.

These warships need to be repainted, at least on the outside, to make them look new.

The Chilean Navy was a little troublesome. They refused to sell the "Esmerada". Li Haidn wondered if there was something wrong with his memory. Later, after thinking about it carefully, he felt relieved. This was because his bid was not enough. In another time and space, the Japanese spent nearly 250,000 pounds to get the broken ship, and Li Haidn would definitely not do so.

Then forget it, think about the four ironclad ships in your hand, which is enough to make the Japanese uncomfortable.

Everything seemed to be going well, and Lee Haydn always felt that he had forgotten something, which really gave him a headache.

"Heddon, this time I go to the Far East, remember to bring me some silk nightgowns." Jogula snuggled in his arms and acted coquettishly, while Lee Haydon gently rubbed his aching temple with his fingers.

"What? Silk, raw silk!" Li Haidn's eyes lit up, he suddenly sat up, hugged Jogula's increasingly charming mature body, and kissed him hard on the face, "Little Beauty, you are really my lucky star!"

Li Haidun suddenly realized that the Sino-Japanese War would affect the entire East Asia. At that time, the prices of some local specialties such as raw silk, camphor, etc. will definitely soar. If you make money from Asians, how could you forget the wealthy Europeans or Americans?

Oh my god, this is a big plan, maybe it needs...well, 50 million kroner!

Thinking of this, Li Haidun felt a headache, "Damn it, I have to go and borrow money from those Jews!" He cursed in his heart. Most of the bankers in Vienna are from Jews, which is also a place that makes people jealous and angry.

Fortunately, Franz was a kind emperor and treated Jews well. In recent years, tens of thousands of Jews have moved from Russia to the Austro-Hungarian Empire because they could not bear the persecution of the Tsar.

He glanced at Jogula, "Did she learn her greed and wealth-loving nature from the Jews?" he thought to himself, but he didn't dare to say it out.
Chapter completed!