Chapter 259: Taking Chestnuts from the Fire (Nineteen) Negotiated
In terms of money business, since Luo Yuan did not have the final say, the two parties could only roughly determine their intentions. In terms of price, the final result was 55,000 taels for each new large fortune ship and 30,000 taels for each new small fortune ship.
The price reduction of the Dafu ship is not that big, and it still remains at the price of an armed transport ship; however, the small Fu ship is indeed too small, and its armament level is really not that good in Luo Yuan's opinion, so the price is compressed a little more severely.
The price dropped from 40,000 taels to 10,000 taels. In the end, each boat was 30,000 taels, which was not cheap at all.
Of course, another key to Luo Yuan's daring to agree to such a deal is that the Toyotomi family is a real big buyer. The intention reached by both parties is that Jinghua will deliver twenty large fortune ships and forty small fortune ships every year, with a total value of
A whopping 2.3 million taels of silver!
Although Luo Yuan himself is not very clear about the final cost price of these two new large and small ships, judging from Jinghua's past shipbuilding business profit margins, it is definitely no problem to earn one million taels a year. Yes,
In this era, Jinghua's shipbuilding business was so profitable.
During the discussion, Luo Yuan raised a question. He asked the Toyotomi family what their intention was in buying so many warships. Toyotomi Hidenaga replied: My brother intends to subdue all Japanese navies and complete true unification.
Luo Yuan actually didn't believe it at all, especially when he thought of his master's various arrangements in Japan. According to his habit of preparing in advance, he should think that Japan's trends are very noteworthy.
What trend is worth noting? Of course it is the military trend, and Toyotomi Hidenaga's proposal of such a huge warship order this time is obviously a typical military trend.
However, because the master has explained this before, Luo Yuan thinks that the master probably does not think that these maritime armaments can bring much harm to Jinghua. As for the reason, of course, on the one hand, the strength of Jinghua's two ocean fleets is strong enough; on the other hand,
It may be that the Japanese navy was bullied because it had no experience in fighting a decisive battle.
To be honest, Luo Yuan has been in Japan for a few months now. During this time, he has actually studied some of the more outstanding battles of the Japanese navy. However, even the famous "The Battle of Itsukushima", the navy
The military only carried out a troop-carrying surprise attack in the storm, and no serious decisive battle at sea took place.
In short, in Luo Yuan's view, Japan's various naval forces only engaged in some petty fighting. In most battles, the Japanese navy was relatively just an armed troop transport.
Not to mention whether Toyotomi Hideyoshi was able to take over dozens of Japanese naval forces under his command in a short period of time. Even if he really had this incredible ability, these naval forces who were not under each other's control still had many differences with each other.
Hehe, it is not easy to complete the real integration and reach the level of finger control.
Luo Yuan couldn't help but wonder about the master's intention. Could it be that he would do business with the other party for a few years, and then when the other party becomes stronger, he would find an excuse to kill them all? If that's the case... that would be great!
However, Luo Yuan never expected that Gao Jingshi was a cheater. He didn't even need to "make an excuse" because Toyotomi Hideyoshi would take the initiative to stir up trouble. And what he didn't expect was that Toyotomi Hideyoshi was actually against
The navy did not understand and had no idea or even idea of a "decisive battle at sea". The reason why Toyotomi Hideyoshi bought battleships was actually for escort.
Yes, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was stimulated by the strong maritime power of the Maritime Trade Alliance, and believed that if he launched troops against North Korea in the future, he might provoke interference from the Maritime Trade Alliance. But Toyotomi Hideyoshi did not understand the navy. In his eyes, water
The role of the army is to transport the army to the other side, and then ensure that part of the grain and grass is transported (the other part is forcibly collected by North Korea).
The limitations of the times will always exist. Just like in the original history, when the decisive battle in the ocean became the dominant idea of the British Royal Navy, the Second German Empire still imagined the role of the fleet.
By the time of the Third Reich, because the navy was unable to detonate troops, it first tried to engage in raiding warfare, and after that failed, it tried to engage in tricks such as unrestricted submarine warfare. Although it was indeed possible to achieve temporary glory, it could not escape defeat in the end.
——The once-famous Sea Wolf tactic had almost no effect on the entire war in the last one or two years.
The major premise on which all the existence value of the navy depends is to be able to win the decisive battle at sea! In Gao's pragmatic eyes, if the navy wants to do something, it must be number one, because only number one is decisive, and number two is
It doesn't work at all - unless you can make sure you never fall out with the First Navy.
But that is obviously impossible, because the navy itself is an offensive force, and the value of its existence is to gain control of the sea through offense. If you are second, can the first navy come to attack you and nip the danger in the cradle?
Unless, like the American empire after the disintegration of the Northern Red Empire, it maintains a strength that can overwhelm all other navies in the world combined for a long time, then there is no need to fight the second one.
Of course, the development of weapons in that era was very different from what it is now. There was a situation where "big powers did not engage in direct war with big powers." This situation had a lot to do with the "asymmetric advantages" in weapons and equipment, such as high-speed
No one dared to try the anti-ship capabilities of supersonic missiles, so when the second navy began to rise rapidly, the US emperor, as the boss of the navy, seemed to have no good solution.
In short, in Luo Yuan's opinion, even if the Toyotomi family's naval forces bought ships according to the current specifications for ten consecutive years, they would not be able to defeat the Beijing and China fleets. This idea did not come out of thin air, but was supported by top-secret internal information.
After Luo Yuan took office as the commander of the Kanto Squadron, he received the "Vision for the Establishment of the Beijing-China Two-Ocean Fleet in the 20th Year of Wanli" that Gao Jingshi personally planned. In this "vision", Gao Jingshi made plans for the scale of the Two-Ocean Fleet two years later.
Detailed arrangements have been made.
There is no need to elaborate on the garrison situation of the main fleet and each squadron for the time being. Just talk about the total quantity and you will know why Luo Yuan believes that the Toyotomi family cannot defeat the Beijing and China Fleet even after ten years of buying ships:
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "By the end of the 20th year of Wanli, the Eastern Fleet will have one first-class battleship, three second-class battleships, eight third-class battleships, and first-class cruisers
Twelve ships, twenty-four second-class cruisers, and one hundred and forty armed transport ships.
The Nanyang Fleet must have four first-class battleships, seven second-class battleships, seventeen third-class battleships, twenty-eight first-class cruisers, thirty-six second-class cruisers, and 280 armed transport ships."
In this vision, only armed transport ships are closest to the target, with a total shortage of only thirty-four ships. Cruisers (including high-speed reconnaissance ships) have the largest total shortage, but since enough construction experience has been accumulated, they only need to expand production.
The problem lies in the battleships. Not only is the total amount of first-, second- and third-level battleships less than the big one, but Jinghua’s side, let alone first-level battleships, does not even have a single second-level battleship in service. Only one has just been launched and is in Zhuchi (
Beibu Gulf) for sea trials.
Of course, there are many reasons for the slow construction of battleships. First, Gao Pragmatic is very concerned about this kind of expensive battleship, so much so that the two major shipyards bid against each other, and the design drawings were changed again and again. The technical representatives of both sides were red-faced in front of Gao Pragmatic.
It’s not just once or twice;
Secondly, the wood needed for battleships cannot be cut from the mountains and needs to be dried properly for many years. Although Gao pragmatically started making large quantities of preparations when he was in Guangxi, and the inventory is sufficient, there is no shortcut in terms of time - the biggest
The shortcut is to transport it to the inland of southern Xinjiang (the coast is too tidal) and dry it in the shade in a high-temperature environment (but not exposed to the sun)... Anyway, it is just ready for use now.
Fortunately, when all conditions matured, the speed of shipbuilding in this era was much faster than that of large warships in later generations. After all, the displacement was many times smaller, and there were no extremely complex circuit equipment, electronic equipment, etc. on the ship.
High-tech equipment - for example, on an aircraft carrier in the 21st century, the total length of wires and cables alone is more than a thousand kilometers, and more than 2,000 telephones have to be installed. It can almost be said to be a steel city on the sea.
In this era, building warships is much simpler. Basically, you only need to build the body of the ship and install the cannons. Most of the processes are carpentry, and the Ming Dynasty... really has no shortage of carpenters. It can even be said that in ancient times
China has never been short of carpenters.
According to Luo Yuan's estimate, the two major shipyards in Jinghua and the third shipyard under construction in Dingnan may significantly reduce the production of armed transport ships in the next two years, thereby fully shifting production capacity to warship construction. As for the decline in armed transport ship production capacity
After that, Luo Yuan didn't know what to do with the market gap in Ming Dynasty, but he believed that the master must have a plan.
In fact, Gao Pragmatic does have a plan, and the plan is "maintenance outsourcing." That is, Jinghua's three major shipyards (including the soon-to-be-built Dingnan Shipyard) will only be responsible for construction, and the original maintenance work of armed transport ships, which was rich in oil and water, will be taken over by them.
As a distribution of benefits, it is transferred to the person he intends to win over.
After the money and business were settled, political matters could begin. Toyotomi Hideyoshi first made a point, asking the Maritime Trade Alliance to express its support for the unification of Japan by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and to submit a letter of credence to the Ming Emperor on his behalf, requesting the Ming court.
Recognize Japan's "Toyotomi Gongyi".
Toyotomi Hideyoshi himself has always underestimated the strength of the Ming Dynasty, especially in terms of military strength, but he was aware of the political influence of the Ming Dynasty, especially its political influence on Japan. The reason why he asked the Maritime Trade Alliance to submit his credentials on his behalf was
It is also considered from the perspective of political influence.
There was no way around it. In the past, every shogunate had to negotiate with China for recognition. Let’s not talk about the distant ones, let’s just talk about the Ashikaga Shogun family of the Muromachi shogunate. Aren’t they also the “Kings of Japan” canonized by the Ming Dynasty?
Whether you like it or not, no one can ignore China's influence in East Asia. What Toyotomi Hideyoshi thinks is not important. What is important is that if Ming Dynasty recognizes and canonizes it, Japan will definitely stop.
Much more - even though everyone seems to be quite submissive now, as long as Toyotomi Hideyoshi is not confused, he must know that many famous names are only temporarily forbearing, but in fact many are dormant and waiting for the opportunity.
If there is a canonization of the Ming Dynasty, Toyotomi Gongyi will be considered safe. At least no one will dare to directly say that Toyotomi Gongyi is not orthodox. Back then, Oda Nobunaga expelled the shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki and brought it to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
This pot can be considered officially removed.
For this condition, Luo Yuan agreed conditionally. "Conditionally" means that Luo Yuan promised Toyotomi Hidenaga that his master would agree to submit this letter of credence on behalf of the Toyotomi family, but for the emperor to see
Luo Yuan didn't dare to blindly agree to the reaction after the letter of credence - whether to admit it or not is a matter for His Majesty the Emperor, and no one else's words count, so no one can guarantee it.
This answer was also given by Gao Jingshi in advance, because Gao Jingshi had made plans for the most likely reactions of the Toyotomi family and told Luo Yuan how to deal with them one by one.
Toyotomi Hidenaga had no objection to this, and even thought it was "so smooth", and then made another point: since the Maritime Trade Alliance recognizes Guan Bai's orthodox status, it should immediately cut off cooperation with the "rebellious public enemies" Hojo family.
, take back the Marines and no longer provide any form of support to the Hojo family.
Of course Luo Yuan wanted to bargain. He correspondingly proposed that it was okay for the Maritime Trade Alliance to interrupt cooperation with the Hojo family and stop supporting, but there were three major prerequisites:
First, Toyotomi Hideyoshi needs to recognize that the Misaki Castle lease contract signed by the Sea Trade Alliance and the Hojo family is legal and valid in his capacity as samurai Kanpaku, and ensure that this contract can be successfully completed in the future;
Secondly, Ninja City, as "Mrs. Ru's natal territory", should not continue to be attacked. Guan Bai needs to withdraw his troops from Ninja City immediately, and ensure that the Narita clan will not be held accountable after this battle, and ensure that the Narita clan's "
independent and legitimate ruling status”.
Thirdly, Misaki Castle is the first port established by the Maritime Trade Alliance in the Kanto region. Doing business in any area in the Kanto region is a reasonable and legal normal trade behavior. The Japanese court and local governments are not allowed to impose additional taxes and must unify various tax rates. After the taxes are paid,
, it does not matter how the Japanese imperial court (actually the Toyotomi family) and the daimyo of various places divide the maritime trade alliance.
Regarding Luo Yuan's request, Toyotomi Hidenaga readily agreed to the first and third items, but he had different opinions on the second item.
Toyotomi Hidenaga said that Guan Shiro had decided before the war that after the Hojo clan was eradicated, the internal minister Tokugawa Ieyasu would be moved here. Since the location of Ninja Castle was surrounded by the Tokugawa fiefdom, it was actually impossible to maintain the so-called
"Independent and legal ruling status", so he proposed that the Narita clan also transfer its title.
Luo Yuan asked where the Narita clan would be transferred to, and Toyotomi Hidenaga said that Guan Bai had not yet decided. Luo Yuan then said: "In that case, please move the Narita clan to Tamatsu Castle north of Misaki. If Guan Bai can agree,
This matter is settled."
Toyotomi Hideucha pondered for a moment and said: "Your Highness, please rest assured, I will definitely convince Lord Guan Bai."
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