"Hey...why don't you just listen? There's really nothing good about that thing!" Although he was already happy, Zhu Youcong still had to pretend to be distressed and tried to persuade those who had fallen into the trap.
The Western allies give up this plan and don't let his conspiracy succeed. "How about I discuss it with the Ministry of Industry and provide you with 500 more muskets every month?"
The supply of five hundred rifled guns per month sounds like a big temptation. If you save a little, you can also meet the needs on the battlefield in Tianzhu. But the Western envoys do not want this result. They must also consider how to make it happen.
When his country gains an advantage on another battlefield, for example, Roy wants to occupy Cohen's home base.
Moreover, people all have a rebellious mentality. This kind of mentality arises precisely because the reputation of the overseas legions of the Ming Empire is too bad and the fat man in charge of the negotiations is too good at cheating people. After witnessing Zhuge Liannu’s
After gaining power, the Western envoys would never let go of such an opportunity to quickly improve their country's military strength. Zhu Youcong's pretentiousness strengthened their confidence. Even if they could not purchase in large quantities, they must find a way to deceive them to death.
Fatty gave them two physical objects for reference.
"Dear General, as the most loyal ally of the Ming Empire, while I thank you for your generosity, I also need to remind you that we do not have many troops in the east, but we have to deal with locust yyng enemies in Tianzhu..." Cohen did not
Dare to wexe Zhu Youcong, but he was able to exaggerate the difficulties encountered on the Tianzhu battlefield.
"In this case..." Zhu Youcong, who has always liked to be kind to others, was tempted. The war in Tianzhu must continue. Before the Ming Dynasty is ready, these allies cannot be allowed to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. As for the distant
In the West, of course the more lively the fight, the better.[
"Why don't I have someone bring over the crossbows you mentioned, and wait until you try them before you decide whether you want them or not?" Even if he wanted to deceive people, Zhu Youcong decided to be an honest liar. Cohen and others were just far away at first.
After looking at it for a while, he didn't fully understand the power of the new Zhuge Liannu. He was embarrassed to ask for the price right now.
"Yes! Yes! It's this thing. I've seen it on the mural of a temple in Tianzhu!" Roy was very excited to see the real thing again, but he was not stupid enough to reveal his experience as a spy, otherwise who would
Do you know if the fat man across the street will throw him into jail and wait for money to be redeemed?
Zhuge Liannu looked very strange. After observing it closely, Roy felt that the most unpleasant thing was the box used to hold the crossbow arrows. If there was no such obstruction, it could be installed with other Ming Dynasty equipment.
Are you aiming towards the mountain? Sacrificing accuracy for convenience does not seem to be cost-effective.
However, the words of Zhu Qiji, who was in charge of popular science education during the negotiation, made Roy blush with embarrassment. This kind of specially processed crossbow arrows could not be pulled open manually. In addition to containing the crossbow arrows, the box also integrated
A special winding machine.
In order to let Western allies understand more thoroughly, Zhu Qiji even took the initiative to completely disassemble the Zhuge Liannu and began to explain the uses of those parts one by one.
The principle of the winder is very simple, that is, it is similar to the clocks used in the West today. It is composed of a pile of large and small gears. It is not difficult to imitate this thing, but the difficulty is the material used to make the gears. The same specifications, but this
The Western allies of the era did not know how to heat-treat metals like the Mohist master Yyng, so it was impossible to create equally durable products.
At most, if the clock is broken, you will not know the time. But if the weapon is broken on the battlefield, it will kill people. Fortunately, the crossbow box can be disassembled at any time. Western allies can also rely on quantity to make up for the lack of quality. Zhu Qiji also
I don’t intend to use this as a core technology to embarrass others.
The next thing to introduce is the circlip and the trigger. This thing is not difficult. The lever principle used is very familiar to Roy who has used firearms for many years. The difference between high carbon steel and ordinary steel is not that big.
Important, and this thing does not have high requirements for precision. Even if it is hand-produced, it can be installed and used as long as the difference is not too obvious.
What is really regarded as the core technology by Zhu Qiji. The two most common things used to bully people are the crossbow arm and the crossbow string. Although it is also made of steel and looks extremely ordinary, but I have heard the explanation.
Later Western allies agreed that they could not build it.
White copper is also called Chinese silver. There is enough evidence to show that this metal has been exported since the Qin and Han Dynasties. In the Tang Dynasty, it was decorated by ministers on cattle to show their status. It was actually said by Chinese elites in another time and space.
It was German silver invented by Mr. Yang. But let alone the late Ming Dynasty, even before the British chemist Pfeiffer analyzed the composition of Yunnan white copper in the 19th century, no one in the Western allies knew what it was.
Zhu Youcong actually didn't know it, but Ming Dynasty had a research institute with many elites and a very large Imperial College. Xu Xiake, who wandered around all day long, was very familiar with the origin of white copper. Song Yingxing, who was working hard to transform into a master of materials science, not only
Knowing its ingredients, we also figured out how to use the carbonization reduction method to refine crude metallic nickel.
The Mohist master, who originally knew how to add white copper to steel to improve performance, immediately labeled Song Yingxing a trainee researcher after learning the news. Not only did he snatch this new invention from him, but he also
It will soon be applied in actual production. Now the crossbow arms and crossbow strings made by Daming using this new material not only have stronger corrosion resistance, but also cannot match Western products in terms of resistance to metal stress.
, and the properties of this material are not affected by heat treatment.
"General, just tell me a price! We want this!" Although Zhu Qiji only mentioned white copper and did not say anything about metallic nickel, it already made Roy feel frustrated. It is not difficult to make something with a yyng appearance, even if
It doesn't matter if it's a little off in terms of glossiness. But if there's too much difference in range and lethality after it's built, then he really might as well bite the bullet and let this damn fat guy take a big hit.
"This..." Zhu Youcong also felt that his elder brother was quite wicked. He knew that Western allies could not make it, but he still told others about the materials used. Isn't this a joke?
As for whether Western allies will develop their own materials science based on this clue, that is really not what Zhu Youcong is worried about. Without a decent enemy behind him, how can he stimulate those high-tech talents to work hard?
?The Ming Dynasty can produce Song Yingxing and research nickel alloy today, but who knows what kind of monster will appear tomorrow? Maybe the elites of the Imperial Academy will be in a good mood one day and accidentally fiddle with atoms?
Didn't this damn fat man just want to take the opportunity to raise the price? After two consecutive days of negotiations, Sir Roy understood a truth. The more Zhu Youcong hesitated, the more ridiculously high the price he shouted out. But five taels for one
Mines, sixty-two bottles of fairy powder, and ninety-five taels of muskets have put Western negotiators under heavy pressure. They can no longer allow their opponents to blackmail them. "General, how about we
Bartering?”
"Barter?" Zhu Youcong was also very interested in this proposal, but what did he want in the West? Talent? This is what the Ming Dynasty needs, but this matter can only be deceived and cannot be told, otherwise it will be exposed to others.
After seeing through the conspiracy that is going smoothly now, it is possible to immediately stop sending the best talents. Resources? You can ask for this, but they will definitely not give too much. Land? This thing has to be robbed. The West
Allies will never spit it out on their own initiative.
"Yes, General! We are willing to trade our battleships for the crossbows you produce!" Although Reyoz has mentioned it many times, Sir Roy still will not believe that the world does not need sails to provide power until it is confirmed with his own eyes.
The armored battleship. And the only one who knows the truth, Luo Jacob and his knight corps are Zhu Youcong's own people. They are still waiting to receive the Ming Dynasty Red Book. How can they have time to talk about this?
As for Shi Weila, who knew a little bit about the inside story, maybe he was blackmailed by Zhu Youcong and was fooled. Or maybe he didn't dare to jump to conclusions before he got the core secrets. Anyway, he behaved very well during this negotiation.
Quite arrogant, as if he doesn't have any opinions of his own.[
Sir Roy dared to propose this condition because he had already or must have visited the Longjiang Shipyard. Unexpectedly, the Ming Empire, which had a strong army, would be so weak at sea. Those so-called battleships under construction were familiar with naval battles.
It seems that it is not much different from an armed merchant ship. Doesn’t the Ming Empire know that the number of cannons on a single side of the three-masted warships in the West has exceeded 20?
"Pfft..." Nan Juyi, who had been taking care of his voice next to him, heard this and couldn't help but laugh.
Sir Roy is really cute. He believes everything General Zhenguo says. The ships built in Longjiang Shipyard are originally merchant ships. If the warehouse is not designed to be larger, how will Zhou Yanru and a large number of profiteers carry the goods in the future?
Going to the West to engage in dumping? What about warships? The ones currently used by Western allies are not even comparable to the fishing boats of the Ming Dynasty. How dare you say it? And the real warships of the Ming Dynasty, except for this little fat man, even the ordinary craftsmen of the Qingdao Shipyard
I don’t know what that thing will look like after it’s built.
"Okay!" Surprisingly, instead of refusing with a laugh, Zhu Youcong asked seriously: "How many Zhuge Liannu do you plan to exchange one battleship for me?"
The wooden warships currently used in the West are useless to the Ming Dynasty navy, but they can be resold to the Ming Dynasty maritime merchants. Roy's descendants can use this junk to smash open the gate of China guarded by the Tatars. Of course, Zhu Youcong can also do a little bit
After improvement, it was used to demolish other people's houses.
The most important thing is that bronze cannons and black powder are so cheap that there are many places that are really not qualified to enjoy the ravages of the Ming Navy. For example, Spain's only colony in Asia can be used there with hundreds of these cheap ships, and it will be fine.
Just bombard around the islands of all sizes for two days. At the same time, I warned the monkeys who were about to start growing opium to be obedient, otherwise they wouldn't even be able to eat bananas.
"How about replacing a ketch battleship with sixty-four cannons with thirty thousand primitive crossbows?" Roy was very proud. Not to mention the merchant ships built by Longjiang Shipyard, he had seen it with his own eyes. The Ming Navy that arrived only had a few snatched Dutch warships, which were barely adequate. What he was willing to exchange was the second-class battleships of the British Empire, which were much more powerful than those used by the Dutch in the East, so he would never think that Zhu You Cong would give up such a good opportunity.
Trying to suppress his smile, Zhu Youcong put on an extremely aggrieved look and said, "Sir Roy, do you think the conditions you proposed are fair?"
"General, I think my proposal couldn't be more fair. You must know that the battleships of our British Empire have always been famous for their powerful firepower. In the West, our navy..." Regardless of the eyes of my companions, which can kill people , Roy began to brag vigorously about his warships that sailed all over the world.
"Ten thousand, ten thousand Zhuge Liannu for one of your so-called battleships!" Zhu Youcong couldn't guarantee whether he would really laugh out loud if he continued listening to it, and he really didn't want to ruin the atmosphere of the negotiation like this. ."And your purchase quantity must not be less than 200,000!"
"You are blackmailing! And we can't ask for that much!" This damn fat man really dares to bid for two hundred thousand crossbows? Does he think that a Western gentleman is an idiot? These things will be shipped back. At most, they will be used as replacements. It's just a product, the outcome of the battlefield depends on the firearms that are now commonly used.
"Sir Roy, please pay attention to your image, okay?" Zhu Youcong picked up the tea cup again and said slowly: "That's the price. It doesn't matter if you can't buy that much. But I want twenty ships. Battleship! Of course, if you agree to my conditions, I will also give you a defensive weapon."
"We want it! On behalf of the Kingdom of Portugal, I would like to order 50,000 magical crossbows from the Ming Empire." No one knew why Shivella, who had been playing a supporting role in the negotiation process and followed everyone else's opinions, was suddenly so bold.
"You still have vision!" Zhu Youcong didn't understand why this guy was so generous and actually stood up to help him at such a critical moment. "Mr. Shivera, do you carry any weapons with you?"
"Dear General, in order to show our sincerity, I handed over the weapons to your subordinates before the negotiations began."
"We are all friends, so you don't have to do this." Zhu Youcong expressed his gratitude very hypocritically, and then said to the guard outside who was responsible for the security mission: "Take Mr. Shivera's weapon and the weapon I prepared." Bring the gifts together."
"Please, Mr. Shivera!" Seeing the others at a loss, Zhu Youcong pointed to the breastplate hanging on the shelf and said: "Shoot with your musket at the distance you think is most effective. This armor."
"Bang..." Although he didn't know what Zhu Youcong was going to do, Shivera still cooperated and stood close to aim and shoot.
"This... how is this possible?" Looking at the breastplate placed on the table, Roy couldn't believe his eyes. The front had been penetrated, but there was no quilt on the back after being shot at close range. Mark of.
"Sir Roy, if you don't believe what you see, you can test it yourself!" Zhu Youcong didn't have time to talk nonsense. He turned to Shiweila and said: "This thing is a gift from me, even though I don't know how to do it." For sale, but I will tell you how to do it. And I can make a promise. If the finished product you produce cannot achieve this effect, I will provide 100,000 breastplates of the same quality for free to provide your warriors with the most sophisticated Protection.”
The Ming Empire was very poor a few years ago, and the so-called armor was just hanging iron sheets on cotton-padded clothes. But what Zhu Youcong took out now was a primitive composite breastplate. Two large thin iron sheets were filled in the middle.
Made of compacted cotton. Although this thing is useless against the weapons of the Ming Dynasty's new army, it is strong enough against broadswords and spears, but it is very practical to defend against the small lead fired by flintlock guns. And
Due to the reduced use of steel, its weight is also controlled within an acceptable range.
"General...Dear General..." Roy, who ran to the yard to make mischief, came back. After testing, they found that this thing can have a very good defensive effect on existing Western firearms, but it can
Easily shot through by crossbows sold by Ming Dynasty.[
If no one disrupts the situation, Roy will have to pretend to keep the price down no matter what. But now Shivella has expressed his stance. While buying the crossbow made in the Ming Dynasty, he also obtained the method to produce this kind of breastplate. Otherwise, in the future on the Western battlefield,
When you encounter the Portuguese army, your weapons are useless, but they have something that can kill you at any time, so why fight?
"The suspicion you had about me just now has hit my fragile heart hard, so..." If you dare to bargain with Zhu Youcong after you have fallen into the trap, the result will only be a little fat man using a childish and gentle voice.
Said: "I won't sell it to you!" (To be continued...)