After listening to Marshal Xia Houmin's complaint, Fang Xiaoyu nodded. Although the Lanfang Empire was strong, it did not invest much in the military. Just as Marshal Xia Jun was troubled by the cost of replacing guns for the army, so was Xia Homin.
The problem is the lack of funding for the Navy.
Xia Houmin continued: "People say you have a golden touch. You can make money as long as you come up with an idea. Can you think of a way for our navy to make us rich and wealthy? Recently, the Japanese country across the sea is undergoing reforms. It is not only building industry
They are still raising funds from across the country to buy warships. If this continues, I believe our navy will be in danger of being suppressed by them within ten years."
"Japanese country?" Fang Xiaoyu had learned about this country from books. This country is an island country with the same environment as Japan on earth. The same environment has created the same island country character. These Japanese people are just as cruel and have the same crazy desire to occupy the mainland.
He also wanted to expand the navy crazily.
Fang Xiaoyu thought for a while and said: "I would like to ask Marshal Xiahou how the ships of our navy are classified and what types of ships are there?" Xiahoumin said: "Our navy is all made of wooden sailing ships, which are roughly divided into three categories.
, battleships, cruisers and frigates. Generally, those with more than 100 guns on three decks are called battleships, those with about 50 guns on two decks are called cruisers, and those with about 30 guns on one deck are called frigates. Battleships are relatively large.
The cost is high, so the navy’s four fleets only have fifty battleships, there are more than one hundred and eighty cruisers, and the rest are frigates.”
Fang Xiaoyu nodded and said, "Although this frigate is not big, it should be enough to deal with pirates."
There are too many, and there is no income. Our own funds are tight to suppress them, so we don't care about them." Fang Xiaoyu said with a smile: "The pirates are to be suppressed, but the marshal's method is wrong."
After listening to Fang Xiaoyu's words, Xia Houmin wondered: "This suppression of pirates is the suppression of pirates. Is there any different way?" Fang Xiaoyu asked: "Then I want to ask the marshal, what do pirates do for a living?" Xia Houmin
He replied without thinking: "Of course by robbing merchant ships."
Fang Xiaoyu nodded and said: "It's true that pirates live by robbing. If they can't rob merchant ships, they won't be able to survive."
After all, they are just pirates, and they are incomparable to the regular navy."
Xia Houmin said: "This is a solution. Without a livelihood, pirates will naturally not be able to survive. Either they will break up, or they will go head-to-head with the navy and destroy themselves. But what does this have to do with the navy making money?" Fang Xiaoyu secretly laughed, this guy
The marshal is a good player in naval warfare, but he has no business acumen at all. No wonder the navy is so poor. How can it be used with only the small amount of military expenditure from the court?
Fang Xiaoyu said: "We can charge a fee for using frigates to escort merchant ships. Wouldn't that make money?"
"It's not that much." Fang Xiaoyu said with a smile: "Without naval escort, the incidents of pirate robberies are certainly not that many, but if we start escorting, there will be many businessmen, especially big businessmen, who will come to us for escort. Their business is big and their safety is relatively high."
That little money is more important. Once these merchant ships are escorted by us, the pirates will have no choice but to rob those merchant ships that are not escorted, and the losses of those merchant ships that are not escorted will become greater and greater. The greater the loss, the greater the loss.
The more merchant ships pay us to escort them, then within a year, all merchant ships will be escorted by the navy. Without the income, pirates will inevitably disappear, and the navy will also find a way to make money and train sailors.
Ocean navigation capability is a good thing that kills two birds with one stone."
After listening to Fang Xiaoyu's words, Xia Houmin suddenly realized: "This is really a good idea. With these good ideas, our navy will not be short of money." Fang Xiaoyu said with a smile: "To make money, we must pay attention to increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. Just one method is not enough."
Already getting more and more excited, he asked: "What other good deals are there?" Fang Xiaoyu asked: "The navy should control many shipyards, right?" Xiahoumin said: "Yes, the navy in the entire coastal area has large
There are as many as twelve shipyards, but we don’t have that many warships to build. They are usually only responsible for repairing warships. It can be said that they lose money every year. I am planning to ask the court to abolish some of them."
Still want to abolish it? Fang Xiaoyu secretly thought that he came very timely. If the navy abolished all the shipyards, it would be a big loss. Fang Xiaoyu said: "How about this? I will buy these shipyards." Xiahoumin said: "You buy them.
?How many do you want to buy?"
Fang Xiaoyu clasped his hands and smiled and said: "I want them all, twelve shipyards." Xiahou Min was shocked by Fang Xiaoyu's loud tone, but he also heard that Fang Xiaoyu had recently killed the Cheng family.
, the profit was huge, and he had no doubt that Fang Xiaoyu could spend so much money.
After thinking for a while, Xia Houmin still shook his head and said: "This is not possible. If I give it all to you, where will my warship be repaired?" Fang Xiaoyu seemed to already know his concerns, took a sip of tea and said: "We can make an agreement
, how about selling these twelve shipyards to me at low prices, and I will repair your ships for free, and pay 10 million yuan to the navy every year as funding?"
Xia Houmin thought about it and said: "If this is really a good thing, if the shipyard is given to you, our navy can repair the ship for free, and you can get 10 million yuan in funding every year, and we don't have to invest money in the shipyard, then our navy can make a lot of money."
It's over." Fang Xiaoyu snickered secretly, it's not certain who will make the most money.
Xia Houmin said: "If that's the case, then I will ask the court to sell the shipyard to you." Fang Xiaoyu said again: "I wonder if the navy wants to invest and make money with me? This will also make the navy more funds.
Some."
Fang Xiaoyu teased Marshal Xiahoumin like a big bad wolf seducing a little white rabbit. This Marshal's business acumen is not that bad, but he knows that the more money, the better. At least he can build a few more ships like the 'Quanzhou'
Such an ironclad ship.
As for cooperating with Fang Xiaoyu to make money, this is something that all businessmen in the Lanfang Empire dream of. Xiahoumin, who is now jealous of money and money to build new ships, will not miss such an opportunity. He quickly asked: "No problem, I don't know.
What are you going to do with us?”
Fang Xiaoyu said with a smile: "Anything is possible. As long as you have the protection of the navy, you can make money in anything. First of all, I want to open an international trading company." Xiahoumin wondered: "What is an international trading company?" Fang Xiaoyu explained: "It means to
Our goods are transported to the Western Continent or the New World by sea ship, and then their special products are transported back. However, I will need a lot of land to open a workshop or farm, which requires the help of Marshal Xiahou. The finance of this trading company
I will list it separately, and 10% of the annual profits will be given to the navy as military expenses."
Xia Houmin shook his head: "No, at least 40%." Fang Xiaoyu said without giving up: "At most 20%, I need to provide my own manpower, my own equipment, and my own shipping. You are just providing protection and land, you want so much
What are you doing? If you lose money, you will bear it and I will give you 40%."
"Two percent is enough." Xia Houmin looked at Fang Xiaoyu with a smile. Fang Xiaoyu secretly cursed that he had fallen into a trap. The marshal had a bad business mind, but he was not stupid at all when it came to making money.
Fang Xiaoyu said: "Two makes 20%, but I need to go to the Western Continent recently. I can't start setting up the company until I come back. I'm afraid you have to wait how many years?" "How many years? No need." Xiahou Min said: "
I will lend you a newly customized naval supply ship. It is an iron-ribbed wooden hull ship with a steam engine. It runs very fast. I am afraid you can come back in a year." With a way to make money, Xiahoumin is not willing to wait.
It took too long, so I spent a lot of money to let Fang Xiaoyu go back quickly.
After the matter was settled, Fang Xiaoyu naturally did not want to stay in the military port any longer, and Xia Houmin also got what he wanted and no longer wanted to stay. Fang Xiaoyu and the two returned to the hotel under the escort of the second lieutenant.
When he returned to the hotel, Fang Xiaoyu found Wu Yu and said: "Old Wu, find a guy to deliver a letter to Mr. Hua and your elder brother." Wu Yu said: "Master, we haven't left the Lanfang Empire yet, has something happened?
Fang Xiaoyu said with a smile: "Something happened, but it is definitely a good thing." Fang Xiaoyu then told the navy about doing business with him, and then added his own plan.