Lu Rongting, like Zhang Zuolin, both came from bandits. The only difference between them was that they were from the south and the north. Lu Rongting made his fortune by robbing the French army on the Sino-Vietnamese border and was respected by the people as a righteous bandit. Later he accepted the recruitment and became a regular army.
He sat until he was in the position of the visiting envoy of Guangdong and Guangxi.
However, Lu Rongting is obviously not satisfied with his current position. He also wants to completely eradicate other warlords in Guangdong and Guangxi and truly control the two provinces. Now that Sun Wen and his party are finished, Lu Rongting has many enemies. There are direct armies in the north and east
There is the Guangdong Army and the Yunnan Army in the west. Guangxi is also a place of the Four Wars.
If you want to deal with these opponents, you will naturally need more powerful weapons. Now Fengjun is selling arms, which is the best opportunity. A beautifully printed brochure is placed in front of Lu Rongting, with a type of weapon printed on each page.
Various performance, purchase price and other contents are marked next to it, making it clear at a glance.
This was something Sun Xianrui suddenly came up with on the road. Anyone who wanted to buy arms was given a copy of the book for them to choose from. Lu Rongting flipped through the album and looked at the parameters on it, with full greed in his eyes.
color.
After turning over and over, Lu Rongting slapped his thigh suddenly and said to Chen Bingkun beside him: "Shunqin, come and take a look at this artillery. It is tailor-made for Guangxi. It's so eye-catching!"
Chen Bingkun took it over and saw that what Lu Rongting instructed was a 105mm howitzer. The total gun weight was less than one and a half tons, the caliber was 32 times, the projectile weighed 15 kilograms, and the maximum range was more than 10,000 meters.
You can use mules and horses to pull it, or you can use vehicles to pull it. Chen Bingkun looked at it and couldn't help but admired: "The commander really has a good vision. This artillery is more than twice as powerful as the 75th artillery gun, and its range is also longer."
It's far away. But it's relatively light in weight. It's very suitable for use in the terrain of Guangxi. If we can raise an artillery regiment, our firepower can at least double our combat effectiveness!"
Chen Bingkun said, with a blazing light in his eyes. He had followed Lu Rongting for many years. The Gui army was also equipped with a lot of legal equipment, but in terms of performance, it was completely incomparable with what Feng Jun had to offer. Great powers
They only dumped out the rags they didn't want. Although Fengjun's items were second-hand, they had just been replaced by the front-line troops. They were still quite sophisticated, and anyone who saw them would be tempted.
Lu Rongting was very satisfied, and then he looked at the price tag below, and suddenly felt a pain in his heart. A cannon cost a full 55,000 yuan. In addition, each cannon shell cost 25 yuan, and a cannon had to be equipped with a
A thousand rounds of artillery shells will cost 25,000 yuan, which adds up to 80,000 yuan.
If you include the vehicles involved, hire training personnel, and complete the set, the cost of a gun will be at least about 100,000 yuan, which is an astronomical sum for the poor and weak Guangxi.
Lu Rongting gritted his teeth. Still unable to make the final decision, Chen Bingkun said anxiously: "Commander, although the price is expensive, I think it is worth it. At worst, we can add more taxes or stop snatching it from Guangdong businessmen."
Just make sure you have enough."
Lu Rongting shook his head for a while and said with a wry smile: "Let's look at other things first. Let's look for something with a suitable price and suitable for us."
As the album goes further and further, there are more and more good things, and the calibers of cannons are increasing, including 122 mm, 152 mm, 203 mm, and even 240 mm, all of which are
It was a complete killer. Lu Rongting was jealous when he saw it, but the more he looked at it, the colder his heart became. These things were indeed good, but none of them were something he could bear.
When he reached the end of the page, he simply stopped looking at the price. There were various types of aircraft, armored vehicles, tanks, and even warships. Indeed, as Sun Xianrui said, there was everything in these, but his financial resources were limited. It was really hopeless.
Impossible.
Chen Bingkun also saw Lu Rongting's embarrassment, so he said: "Commander, if you find it difficult to choose, let's just not express our position for now. Let's look at other people and see what they buy. We will buy accordingly."
When Lu Rongting heard this, he immediately showed joy. He bought the weapons, obviously not for display, but to use them to deal with the surrounding forces. He just wanted to ensure that he had an advantage over the surrounding people.
"Shun Qin gave me a good idea. Let's go to Fengjun first. It is said that they have shipped a batch of samples. How are Fengjun's weapons? Can they compare with those of the great powers? We have to see it with our own eyes.
Only then did I realize that those who belong to the donkey dung ball are naked on the outside."
Lu Rongting took Chen Bingkun to the front of the courtyard occupied by Sun Xianrui. Chen Bingkun went to the door in person and smiled at the guard: "Go and inform Miss Sun that Marshal Lu is here."
"I'm sorry, Miss Chen went out to Baiyun Mountain to admire the historical sites."
Upon hearing this, Chen Bingkun immediately frowned. Lu Rongting was the patrol envoy of Guangdong and Guangxi. He was a big prince on one side and had a lot of troops. He was also a prominent figure. Sun Xianrui, this little girl, was a little too arrogant in the film. She was so arrogant.
, not even seen, it’s simply too abominable!
Lu Rongting felt unhappy. He suppressed his anger and said to the guard: "Do you know when Miss Sun will come back?"
The guard shook his head: "I don't know, but if you want to see the weapons, you don't have to wait for Miss Sun to come back. You can just go to the backyard. Two people have already entered."
"Who went in?" Lu Rongting asked with a stern face.
"It seems his name is Chen Jiongming. He is taking people to see the arms."
Lu Rongting and Chen Bingkun looked at each other with horrified expressions. Chen Jiongming was now the commander-in-chief of the Guangdong Army and their potential opponent. He ran to see the arms and he could not fall behind.
Lu Rongting and Chen Bingkun also went directly to the backyard. There were already many things placed here, including guns and cannons. After Lu Rongting walked in, technical personnel from Fengjun walked over quickly.
"Whatever you want to see, just look at it!"
Lu Rongting did not look at the dazzling array of weapons at this time. Instead, he focused his attention on a corner, where a man was holding a pistol and couldn't put it down. It was Chen Jiongming.
Seeing Lu Rongting coming, Chen Jiongming also smiled and said hello: "Commander Lu, are you here to see the weapons too?"
"You are allowed to come, but I am not allowed to come?"
"What are you talking about? We are just buying things. Feng Jun has already said it. Everyone competes fairly and it is just buying and selling."
When Chen Bingkun heard this, he immediately sneered and asked: "Do you think Governor Chen is preparing to compete with us?"
"Don't get me wrong, everything must be done within one's ability. The people of Guangzhou have just been devastated by the war, how can they plunder the people's wealth for a little arms?"
Lu Rongting also nodded slightly: "I hope you can keep it true to your words."
After saying that, Lu Rongting ignored Chen Jiongming. Instead, he concentrated on looking at the weapons made by Fengjun. To be honest, the craftsmanship made by Fengjun was still lagging behind that of the other powers. But the advantage was that the varieties were complete and the weapons were sufficient.
. Unlike the great powers, which attach a lot of political conditions. Therefore, it has a fatal attraction.
Lu Rongting was quickly fascinated. Looking at the rifle and the mortar, he couldn't help but admire them. They were all good things, but it was a pity that he couldn't get them all.
Representatives from other people came one after another, and they were all observing the arms. It was as lively as the market. At this time, Sun Xianrui was already in Baiyun Mountain. However, she was not admiring the scenery, but had something serious to talk about.
Opposite Sun Xianrui, there happened to be a young officer. He was much older than Sun Xianrui. But he seemed a little reserved and trembling.
Sun Xianrui smiled and said: "Mr. Deng, don't be nervous. I asked you to come over. I actually want you to help me?"
"Miss Sun, just tell me and I will do it."
"I haven't even said anything yet, and you're so eager to agree. Aren't you afraid of suffering a loss?"
The officer hurriedly said: "Miss Sun is here on behalf of Lan Shuai. With Fengjun's reputation, how can I suffer any loss?"
Sun Xianrui smiled and said with a smile: "Mr. Deng is indeed smart. Let me boldly ask here, are you here to buy weapons for Liu Cunhou, or for yourself?"
When the young officer heard this, he was stunned and didn't know how to answer. His name was Deng Xihou, and he was a subordinate of Liu Cunhou of the Sichuan Army. It turned out that when the provinces were fighting for Sun Yat-sen, Liu Cunhou sent him out of Sichuan and followed the Beiyang Army to Guangzhou.
Later, when he heard the news that Feng Jun wanted to sell weapons, Liu Cunhou did not let him leave, but kept waiting for this matter in Guangzhou.
Sichuan is extremely isolated, but there is constant civil war. There is a huge shortage of weapons, but it is difficult to buy good things. Therefore, Liu Cunhou is full of expectations for these arms. But it is not just him, Deng Xihou is also the same. His strength is rapidly expanding, and his ambition is also increasing.
, he also wanted to strengthen his own strength and become the real leader of one party. He was also ecstatic when he suddenly received an invitation from Sun Xianrui. This was a good opportunity to join the Fengjun line. How could he miss it?
Deng Xihou was silent for a long time, and then said very seriously: "Miss Sun, when people go to higher places, water flows to lower places. This is human nature, and Deng doesn't dare to hide it from Miss Sun."
When he said this, there was already a layer of sweat on Deng Xihou's forehead. He was tactful, but he also knew that he could not just be tactful. Sometimes he had to place a bet. Facing Sun Xianrui's question, Deng Xihou gritted his teeth and finally chose
Tell the truth.
Sun Xianrui suddenly laughed: "Mr. Deng, you are indeed an honest man. As long as you are willing to obey my command, you can get a large number of arms and even the support of Fengjun."
…
In a blink of an eye, the next day came, and all these representatives arrived at the venue. Including Lu Rongting and Chen Jiongming, their eyes were all red. It was too difficult to make a choice among a lot of good things.
They all racked their brains, kept comparing, and searched for the most ideal thing.
Just when everyone was ready, Sun Xianrui arrived belatedly. She looked at these people and then said calmly: "Everyone, let's not talk more. According to the rules, let's start bidding. First.
This thing is a 152mm howitzer, the starting price is ten units, and the base price is two million yuan!"
Lu Rongting and the others thought they would start the auction with the most basic pistols and rifles, but they didn't know that heavy artillery came up, and they were caught off guard. Faced with such a powerful weapon, they could only brace themselves and make careful calculations.
Ten guns, a total of 2 million, is equivalent to 200,000 for one gun. The price of one gun is almost enough to pay a brigade for one year. This is really not a small amount of money.
Everyone was whispering to each other, not deciding whether to buy or not. At this moment, a young officer suddenly raised the sign in his hand.
"I'll pay two million!"
When Lu Rongting heard this, he quickly turned around and saw that the person bidding was none other than Deng Xihou of Sichuan. His brows immediately furrowed.
He said coldly: "Although today is an auction, you still have to know your own weight. It's easy to bid. It would be a shame if you couldn't get the money!"
Deng Xihou smiled slightly: "Commander Lu, heavy artillery is a good thing. Why is Wu Peifu's third division second to none among the Beiyang armies? The reason is very simple, that is, he has a heavy artillery regiment. Our Sichuan army also bought some heavy artillery to decorate its appearance. Is there any problem?
?As for the problem of funds, there is no need to worry. Although we can't come up with so much cash, we have a lot of Sichuan native products. I can use the pig bristles as collateral!"
Before there was no collective material, high-quality bristle was an important material for making brushes, and this kind of brush was indispensable for maintaining guns. Therefore, bristle was also an out-and-out strategic material. Sichuan has the best bristle quality in the world.
In this place, during the First World War, a large number of exports were made, so there is no problem in using this thing as collateral.
Lu Rongting didn't have much to say, but he instinctively felt a pressure. He still wanted to live within his means and not spend too much money, but it seemed that he was no longer able to do so.
"Has anyone else come up with a higher price?" Sun Xianrui asked again.
At this time, a little old man suddenly stood up: "Miss Sun, didn't you say that you would open up the supply? What should we do if we want to buy more?"
The person who asked the question was Li Gengen, who represented Tang Jiyao of the Yunnan Army. There was a conflict between the Yunnan Army and the Sichuan Army. When he saw that Deng Xihou wanted to buy heavy artillery, he couldn't stand it anymore, so he stood up and asked.
"I have already introduced in the auction rules that the batch of arms currently being auctioned is sold at a preferential price. The reason is that everyone made a contribution when eradicating Sun Wen. If you want to buy more, follow the auction price
The price is a 10% premium, you just need to pay and buy it directly."
Li Genyuan finally figured out that it would be cheaper to grab it now, but it would only be more expensive in the future. He couldn't help but hold up the sign: "I'll pay 2.1 million."
"Two million and two million!" Deng Xihou also increased the price without hesitation.
"Two million three hundred thousand."
"Two million and four hundred thousand"
…
As the price of cannons continued to rise, everyone present was dumbfounded. They also understood that this was not a discount, but a bloody battle. If you don’t want to be killed by your neighbors, buy weapons quickly to stay safe! (To be completed.)
