After the military parade, Xinxiang City Newspaper published a report.
Looking at the pictures of the mighty Ming army in the newspapers, Xinxiang City was immersed in a boiling ocean.
In the Ming Dynasty's new army training ground, York was negotiating an arms trade.
"One million Ming silver coins for each of the 240 siege artillery, and 10,000 shells for each!"
Zhu Zaiming opened his mouth and the price increased 100 times.
Zhu Zaiming had his own considerations for selling such advanced artillery to Napoleon.
At this time, mercury fulminate had been discovered, and its appearance attracted the attention of military strategists, because mercury fulminate will explode when hit, making it an ideal propellant.
When the Ming Dynasty's spring offensive began, everyone understood that a military revolution had begun, and metal fixed-loading ammunition became possible.
With the example of the Ming Dynasty, I believe that with Europe's industrial capabilities, early firing guns and breech-loading guns will soon be realized.
Although it is far from the level of World War I, it is still enough to pose a threat to the Ming Dynasty.
Therefore, instead of hiding it, it is better to release it directly in exchange for the required resources to strengthen the Ming Dynasty.
Moreover, a chaotic Europe is more in Ming's interests.
Zhu Zaiming's idea was to strengthen Napoleon's force to at least be comparable to that of the anti-French alliance.
In Zhu Zaiming's script, Napoleon finally landed on the British Isles, and then suffered a devastating defeat in the harsh winter of his expedition to Tsarist Russia.
Historically, it was a pity that Napoleon did not invade the British mainland and did not interrupt the process of British industrialization.
Therefore, artillery can be sold to a limited extent.
Zhu Zaiming even prepared a big gift.
"What, 1 million?"
York wants to ask, is your cannon made of gold or silver?
Cannonballs can be sold for 10,000 per round, but the shells fired are just golden eggs.
"Your Majesty, that's not how business works. At least I know very well the prices of artillery in various European countries. Even the most advanced howitzers in Europe only cost 5,000 taels each!"
(On Qianlong’s 80th birthday, the East India Company sent over the most advanced technologies from Europe, including technical information, steam trains, celestial movement models, and a model of the sailing battleship Sovereign... Among them was a front-loaded howitzer. The British hoped to rely on these to make Qianlong Generating interest and launching comprehensive trade with them can be said to be a science and technology expo with the latest European technologies in the Forbidden City.)
"Then you think this cannon is not worth the price?"
Zhu Zaiming asked, and when York nodded without thinking, he did not refute.
"Practice is the only criterion for testing truth. Facts speak louder than words. Whether it is worth it or not, you will know with one shot."
Soon, the artillerymen were in action, inspecting various parts of the artillery.
It was normal at first, but then York discovered something unusual.
When several soldiers used a small crane to drag a cylindrical cone-headed artillery shell, York's face was filled with shock.
"Metal cannonballs! You actually made them?"
Under York's disbelieving gaze, the soldiers worked together to stuff the cannonball into the barrel and lock the breech.
After a calculation, the artillery officer handed over the shooting elements to the soldiers, and the soldiers began to turn the handles to adjust the angle of the artillery.
"Cannon ready."
"Listen to my command, 3, 2, 1."
"put!"
"Boom~"
With a deafening sound, the 240 siege artillery roared, and the concussive smoke enveloped the giant cannon.
York felt like his heart was about to beat out. The huge shock wave made him dizzy, nauseous, and accompanied by slight tinnitus.
But he held back, holding up the binoculars, his eyes always following the trajectory of the cannonballs.
"500 meters."
"1000 meters."
…
"10,000 meters!"
The maximum range of this 240mm siege heavy artillery is 10 kilometers, which is beyond the reach of other artillery in this era.
With the huge explosion, the earth and rocks bloomed on a slope like a flower, and the earth was even lifted hundreds of meters into the air.
Nearly half a minute later, a huge and dull rumble came back. When the dust settled, the small slope looked like a large piece had been dug away.
York's eyes were blank.
In the face of such heavy artillery, all bastions and fortresses will be reduced to rubble.
"So, is this gun still expensive?"
Zhu Zaiming looked at York's trembling body and asked flatteringly.
"It's worth it! It's worth it!"
York swallowed and began to calculate in his mind how much funds he could mobilize from the Far Eastern Colonies.
At this time, Napoleon did not lack field artillery, but he lacked heavy siege artillery.
With a few million silver coins, if you buy a cannon and the corresponding cannonballs, you can clear out the dotted bastions and fortresses on the continent of Europa, and clear away the obstacles that hinder Napoleon's conquest.
Can't say it's expensive.
I can only say it is too cheap.
After a simple calculation, York found that the resources France could use in the Far East were equivalent to 12 million Ming silver coins.
If you sell some unnecessary colonies, you can still discount 6 million.
Thinking of this, York said.
"Your Majesty, the foreign minister can raise about 18 million Ming silver coins, all of which will be used to purchase arms.
6 heavy siege guns, buy all other cannonballs! "
Zhu Zaiming shook his head. York thought the price was going to be increased, and he suddenly became anxious.
"Your Majesty, don't refuse in a hurry. France can also transfer the South American colonies and part of the North American colonies to the Ming Dynasty!"
In order to get the heavy artillery, York also worked hard, and the colonies would not take it if they said they didn't want it. These are the accumulation of nearly two hundred years.
The French aristocracy relied on its large number of overseas colonies to live comfortably.
Of course, Zhu Zaiming also had ideas about these colonies.
It is a pity that the Ming Dynasty now has 360,000 people. Even if one person can be divided and used as two people, the colonies are not something that the Ming Dynasty can touch now.
Zhu Zaiming shook his head, not because he disliked the insufficient price, but because he felt that York was too impulsive.
The French purchased heavy artillery from the Ming Dynasty. How to transport it back was a problem. You must know that Britain and France are now "good brothers" with equal power.
The British Far East Fleet, which is currently blockading Australia, will never allow a single ship to go to sea.
"I know you're in a hurry, but don't worry yet.
In this case, you follow me to the military port first, and I will show you a big treasure! "
naval port? big baby?
York wondered, is there any treasure bigger than this 240 heavy artillery?
Xinxiang Military Port is located in the deep-water inner harbor sunken inward to the south of Xinxiang Port. This is a military restricted area and no one is allowed to enter without military orders.
Here, except for four ordinary wooden sailing ships and dozens of transport sailing ships.
There are also three steel behemoths parked in it, two of which are extremely huge, more than 90 meters long, and the other is smaller, only more than 70 meters long.
If Ming Dynasty wanted to break through the British blockade and fight back to its homeland, a navy was necessary.
Zhu Zaiming skipped over the wooden ships covered with iron-clad steam armored ships and focused directly on the steel battleships of 80 years later.
Withdrawn 3 million silver coins from the General's Mansion to purchase these three giant ships, as well as some maintenance tools and reserve ammunition.
"The first ship of the Dingyuan-class battleship, the Dingyuan, and the second ship, the Zhenyuan, are the main active forces of our Ming Navy."
Dingyuan-class battleship:
Hull: 94.5 meters long, 18 meters wide, and 6 meters draft.
Establishment: 363 people.
Displacement: 7335 tons.
Main gun: Two twin-mounted 305 guns, staggered on the left and right amidships, capable of firing forward at the same time.
Secondary battery: two single-mounted 150-meter guns, one at the bow and one at the stern; four 75-meter guns, on both sides of the sampan.
Endurance: 4500 nautical miles.
Speed: 14.5 knots.
Zhu Zaiming kept his treasures in mind, and York's eyes became wider and wider.
While countries around the world were still playing with sail battleships, Ming Dynasty had quietly launched three giant steel ships.
The giant steel ships with steam power, super artillery and heavy armor that Westerners fantasized about have become a reality.
York couldn't understand how the Ming Dynasty, which had only 60,000 men just a few months ago, built such a huge warship.
What a mysterious oriental country!
York has no doubt that when these three giant ships sail across the ocean, the title of the Invincible Fleet will be transferred to the Ming Dynasty.
Those sail battleships with seemingly hundreds of cannons and powerful firepower could not break the Dingyuan ship's defense no matter how many spherical solid bullets they fired.
The Dingyuan only needs one howitzer to detonate the entire sail battleship's powder barrel and send it to the sea to feed the fish.
York looked at the smaller circle of battleships again.
Zhiyuan-class dome-protected cruiser:
Hull: 76.2 meters long, 12 meters wide, and 4.6 meters draft.
Main battery: twin 210-meter guns at the bow and a single 210-meter gun at the stern.
Secondary battery: two 150-meter guns and four 57-meter guns.
Displacement: 2300 tons.
At this time, Zhu Zaiming's seductive words came to York's ears.
"And this battleship is my personal gift to His Majesty Napoleon!"
