It's not that Lin Qi doesn't recognize his friends because he became the number one scholar, it's just that he has been too busy these days, with endless activities from morning to night, and everyone else has lost weight due to exhaustion.
"You're just a short-sighted guy." The fat man didn't take it seriously when he heard that he came out of the Hanlin Academy and became a doctor in the Ministry of War. "You don't want to be a doctor in the Hanlin Academy, so you have to be a doctor? Don't you know that all the six ministers and nine ministers can do it only if they are born in the Hanlin Academy?" ? And you are so carefree in the Hanlin Academy. As long as you compile some history books, you will be considered a meritorious service... What can you do in the Ministry of War? "
"I can form a fleet." Lin Qi said, "The emperor asked me to form a northern fleet in Haining Bay."
"Oh?" Xiao Chen was quite surprised when he heard this, "The emperor asked you to do this?"
"It's not me, it's the young prince." Lin Qi said, "I think the emperor wants to build this fleet for the young prince, but the young prince is hesitant. He is afraid that this is a hot potato and dare not hold on tight. Catch it in your hand.”
"Haha, whether he accepts it or not, this big potato belongs to him." Xiao Chen said with a smile, "He may not have thought about this yet. Once he figures it out, he won't feel it's hot."
"Xiao Chen, what do you mean..." Fatty hasn't figured it out yet.
"Brother Xiao means that the emperor sent me to do this, and I am his young prince's man, so everyone knows who will lead this fleet in the future." Lin Qi said.
"Damn it, since when did you become Li Qiu's person? Why didn't I know?" the fat man said.
"It's not just me, Fat Brother, Brother Xiao, and all of us here are all the young prince's people!" Lin Qi casually pulled them all away.
"Hey, you need to be clear about your position," Ling'er said, "We are all brother's people, not Li Qiu's!"
"Brother Xiao is Li Qiu's man." Lin Qi said with a smile, "It's Sister Ling'er, you haven't figured out your position yet."
"It's because you didn't understand your position clearly." Xiao Chen said with a smile, "We are all the emperor's people, not any prince's."
"Brother Xiao, that's right!" Lin Qi said, "This little brother made a mistake."
"Stop talking nonsense, let's talk, what do you want?" Xiao Chen said.
"I want a battleship." Lin Qi said, "The emperor asked me to do this job, not only because I am the young prince's son, but also because I am your brother Xiao's younger brother. The emperor is too embarrassed to ask you for it, so I have to do it." Otherwise, it won’t be long before this fleet is established? His old man didn’t even give me a small boat.”
"This kid is so damn smart." Fatty praised, "I'm afraid he's not even inferior to me."
"Brother, I have always been very smart, but I used to be a white man and didn't dare to keep a high profile. Now that I am an official... I am still in the fifth rank of the Ministry of War. Of course I have to show my edge." Lin Qi said with a smile.
"Does the Emperor have any specific requirements for this northern fleet?" Xiao Chen asked.
"The emperor asked us to start from scratch, what else can we ask for?" Lin Qi said.
"Well, I can give you the battleship, but I can't give it to you for free. Your Ministry of War has to spend money to buy it." Xiao Chen said, "A large ocean-going battleship produced by our Yanyun Shipyard costs four to five million taels of silver. If you give me a discount, it will cost you at least 300,000 yuan to collect the capital, and I can only sell you ten ships at most."
"Oh my God! Three million taels for ten ships?" Lin Qi grinned. "The Ministry of War will definitely not be able to provide it, and the Ministry of Revenue will not give it to them."
"Don't you think you want me for nothing?" Xiao Chen said with a smile.
"That's not true, but are there any smaller ones that are cheaper?" Lin Qi said.
"It's cheap but not good." Xiao Chen said, "This is a battleship, not a merchant ship. Do you know how many kilograms of iron are needed just for the hull armor? There must also be at least thirty artillery pieces on a battleship. How much money are these cannons alone? There are also small warships, but they can’t be given to you.”
"Why?" Lin Qi asked curiously.
"Think about it. The canal from Haining Bay to Fengyang East Gate will be opened this year. Large ocean-going warships cannot enter, but small warships can." Xiao Chen said.
"Oh... yes." Lin Qi finally understood.
"So you have to remember that the fleet you want to form must all be large warships with ocean-going capabilities. There cannot be a single river ship! Your Northern Fleet is for external use, not internal use." Xiao Chen said.
"Brother Xiao, I understand. Then we will first reserve ten large battleships from Yanyun, or old ones, but we definitely don't have that much money now. Can you give us the battleships first, which will be regarded as yours on credit, and we will come back later How about installment payment?" Lin Qi asked.
"I promise to sell you a warship, and I'm also willing to give you the lowest price. This is already a great deal of face for you. You, a small military officer, can only have so much face, and the friendship between us brothers can only be so deep. "Xiao Chen said, "So if you want to get it on credit, you won't have enough weight, and you have to ask Li Qiu to come to me."
"I know Brother Xiao, then I will tell the young prince about this later." Lin Qi is a smart man, and he will understand Xiao Chen's point.
"As the saying goes, it is better to teach a man how to fish than to teach him how to fish." Xiao Chen said, "If you want to build a fleet, you must first build a shipyard and a ship repair yard. Otherwise, what will you do if your warship is sunk or damaged? Now it's big Zhou's major shipyards are too backward and small in scale, and there is no distinction between military and civilian use, so this is not feasible."
"Of course you don't need to build any new factories. You just need to take over the civilian shipyards in the northern part of Haining Bay and renovate them for immediate use. Those shipyards manufacture large cargo ships, and the docks are large enough. As for the shipbuilders, you can bring some from Jiangdong, and I can also bring some from Yanyun."
"Brother Xiao, I love you!" Lin Qi solemnly confessed to Xiao Chen.
"I love you too, but I love silver even more." Xiao Chen said, "These craftsmen are only here to support you temporarily, and they will not stay permanently. Moreover, you have to pay them higher wages than when they were in Yanyun."
"This is a must!" Lin Qi said, "It can be twice as high as it is. I'm even pointing them to lead apprentices!"
"If you have a shortcoming, it's because you are too smart." Xiao Chen said with a smile, "Xiao Ye, Yun Yiwuji and the three of them combined are not as good as you."
"Did you hear that?" Ling'er said, "You three little losers have some snacks!"
"You're not much better than a little girl. You're a little clever and you won't use it in the right direction!" Xiao Chen said, "I am Lin Qi's eldest brother, and you are also Lin Qi's little sister. Now Lin Qi needs help, you Doesn’t this sister have any expression?”
"Congratulate him?" Ling'er said, blinking her big innocent eyes.
"I have nothing to do with this. This is a matter between you young ladies and brothers." Xiao Chen said, "Lin Qi, the emperor has entrusted you with an important task, but has he said when will he let Master Dongyang come out?"
