There are more than ten large-scale ships moored in the port of Rouen, five of which are standard naval warships. The portholes on both sides of the ship are covered with canvas, and the dark gun barrels can be vaguely seen.
Jiang Baozhen took a dozen French officers onto one of the ships and introduced in fluent French the latest warship built by Jiangnan Shipyard, including the Yuanyou 8-type ship-borne rapid-fire artillery equipped on it.
"Franz, you and I can be considered old friends. We have an old saying in Daxia, which is to open the skylight and speak frankly."
Jiang Baozhen pulled aside Franz Warren, the King's Attendant of the Kingdom of France who was responsible for hosting them this time, and said in a low voice: "Let me tell you, our young master is not very willing to sell firearms, a national treasure... "
Franz Warren was immediately anxious. Although the Warren family had the title of viscount, in the royal capital of Paris, viscounts could not gain much prominence at all.
If this time we can get Bactrian artillery far superior to that of England, the Warren family will gain greater trust from the king. Will the earl be far behind?
"Jiang, we agreed before. For this reason, I have secured for you a good port and a piece of fertile land from His Majesty the King..."
"But that is not your French land. Even with the support of your king, if we want to obtain the ownership there, we still need our warriors from Great Xia to shed their blood and sacrifice. You know, according to the laws of our country, initiating border provocations without authorization is necessary. Those who are punished, even if they are thousands of miles away.”
This Huang Maoyi really dares to say that if he takes the land of Genoa in exchange for the firearms of our Daxia, Uncle Yongfeng is not as cunning as you... and knows how to do business!
(Jia Cong, who is petting the cat: Oh, who the hell is scolding me?)
No matter how eager Franz Warren was, Jiang Baozhen was either helpless or unable to make the final decision.
The officers on the ship followed the commander's instructions and brought out all kinds of artillery and muskets on the ship, including a huge crossbow machine and a continuous three-eye fire blunderbuss, all of which were demonstrated in front of the French.
Franz Warren's heart became more itchy, and at the same time his resentment towards Jiang Baozhen deepened.
In fact, he had thought about using France's own ports or land in exchange for these advanced weapons, but he did not have the power, and King Henry IV did not have the courage to do so.
France is different from Bactria. The king is just the most powerful noble in the country. The entire kingdom is actually composed of noble lords, large and small.
There were many excellent ports and many territories belonging to the royal family, but Henry IV did not dare to touch the territories of those nobles or members of the royal family.
It’s not like France has never had a king who was ousted from power. Maybe he had just signed a treaty with the Daxia people, and the next day the palace would be captured by angry nobles, who would drag him outside and put him on the guillotine...
Henry IV wanted to use Daxia's advanced firearms to overwhelm England and strengthen the kingdom, instead of causing chaos in the country...
After Franz Warren was almost hanging, Jiang Baozhen finally spoke when his mouth was dry and he was about to lose his patience.
"Franz, my dear friend. Although our young protector is not very willing, but..."
Jiang Baozhen took Franz Warren to a quiet place again, and a French gold coin appeared in his hand.
The gold coins were particularly eye-catching under the sunlight, making Franz Warren's eyes shrink.
I saw Jiang Baozhen flick the gold coin, and there was a buzzing sound: "Franz, you have also been to our capital. You should know where these firearms come from and who is in charge of making them. That noble person is the most What do you like? What should I do? Do you still need me to tell you?"
"That Earl! I understand!"
Franz Warren instantly thought of the Earl who was always grinning and staring at them with his hands behind his hands.
This Earl is so different that they don't even want to notice it.
That costume embroidered with cats is an unforgettable memory for every envoy from various countries.
Greed, extreme greed!
Without money, they would not be able to get any benefits in the East, and they would not be able to buy a piece of exquisite silk!
Jiang Baozhen smiled to herself when she saw Franz Warren trapped in memories and entanglements.
Uncle Yongfeng is really a good man. Even though he is thousands of miles away, he can help him win greater interests in the Kingdom of France.
When he returns to China, he will definitely choose an excellent gift and send it to Rongguo Mansion.
What should I give as a gift? Royal cats, royal cats, Uncle Yongfeng’s official robes are all embroidered with cats, so let’s bring him some Western cats back~
…
Shortly after noon, Jiang Baozhen returned from the port to the castle where the mission was stationed in Rouen.
Wen Lian was standing on the highest attic of the castle, overlooking the dirty and bustling city.
He saw Jiang Baozhen, who was panting and climbing up to the attic, and asked leisurely: "How is it? Is it done?"
Jiang Baozhen took a sip of herbal tea and handed over the document in her hand.
"It's basically done. Your Excellency's ingenious plan is unparalleled. Warren has indeed fallen into the trap. He has rushed back to Paris to report to their king. According to him, France does not lack gold and silver now. What it lacks is fighting with England and England. Spain and other countries competed for colonial power.”
Wen Lian flipped through the document casually and sneered: "A place as big as a palm is like the Central Plains before the Qin Dynasty, divided into many countries and with constant disputes. Now Spain and Portugal have the upper hand, while England and France have just risen. Interests The dispute is inevitable. Henry IV is an ambitious monarch, and he will not miss this good opportunity..."
Spain and Portugal would not sell advanced firearms to France. Henry IV's only chance now was Bactria, which had no direct interest in France.
It was just gold and silver. Henry IV would definitely buy the firearms on their ship, and he would continue to buy them from home.
"Ask the Navy to prepare and leave the necessary artillery and muskets, and take out as many as they can. We will use these old firearms to exchange for ship after ship of gold coins to return home. Your Majesty is still waiting for Mi Xia Where’s the pot!”
Wen Lian slapped the document on the table and laughed.
Based on the calculation of unloading fifteen artillery pieces per ship, the entire fleet has twenty warships, which is three hundred artillery pieces.
A Yuanyou Type 8 ship-borne breech-loading rapid-fire cannon is priced at one thousand taels of silver to equip the Daxia Navy.
So, selling France twenty thousand taels of silver is not too much, right?
Three hundred second-hand cannons, plus 10,000 flintlock muskets, as well as crossbows, cannonballs, gunpowder and other items on board, were exchanged for France's support for Bactria's occupation of Corsica, as well as gold coins worth 10 million taels of silver. , silver coins, simply a "conscientious price".
As for whether France will use these firearms to attack Daxia...
What a joke, it has been two and a half years since the Yuanyou Eighth Cannon was equipped. Those lunatics at the Ministry of Works might already be casting the Yuanyou Eighteenth Style.
Uncle Yongfeng is really the weapon of Daxia to control the country. With him, the Western barbarians and patriots can't keep up with Daxia's development progress.
…
Woohoo~
Eat like crazy~ Eat like crazy~
The steam engine is really impressive. The railway from Beijing to Tongzhou Pier was built very quickly. The stations at both places only had a foundation, but the railway was built first.
In less than eight months, with the efforts of more than 100,000 craftsmen, the monarchs and ministers of Great Xia stood in front of the railway station outside the capital city wall and saw the steam engine starting in front of the Qiu Xie of Tiewan Mountain in the 10th year of Yuanyou.
Jia Cong really wanted to board the first train directly to recall the feeling of speed in his previous life.
It's a pity that he is now in the eyes of the emperor. It is a treasure of the empire, and there cannot be any mistakes.
The giant steel beast pulled ten wooden carriages, filled with Forbidden Army soldiers, and slowly left the station. The speed became faster and faster, and soon disappeared from everyone's eyes.
"Report to your majesty, the train has thrown away the fast horse following it five miles away. The speed is getting faster and faster. It is safe and stable. The horse cannot compete with it."
After the captain of the Longjin Guard finished his report, Jun and his ministers were extremely shocked and there was an uproar.
Jia Cong smiled, stepped forward and introduced to the emperor: "Your Majesty, according to the calculations of the Ministry of Industry, the speed of the Yuanyou Type 1 is between 1,200 and 1,500 miles per day. Of course, this is ideal. In this state..."
hiss!
This is already scary!
Jian Zifang, Minister of the Ministry of War, was already quickly calculating the efficiency of the steam locomotive and the 800-mile express.
According to the current system of the imperial court, the highest-level messenger, traveling eight hundred miles a day, is already the ultimate outrun.
If railways are built to Liaodong, Anbei, the Western Regions, and Southern Xinjiang, then Daxia's troops will be able to be sent to any place in Daxia within ten days...
"Your Majesty, this steam locomotive is really a good thing! I believe that the construction of the railway must be accelerated, the sooner the better. It is best to build railways from the capital to various provinces, including Uzang!"
Jian Zifang could no longer contain his inner heroism. With the railway, he could fight wherever he was dissatisfied. The Ministry of War no longer had to worry about logistics not being able to keep up.
Lin Ruhai wanted to cover Jian Zifang's broken mouth. Good guy, railways, those things need to use the best steel. Even if the Ministry of Industry tries its best, it can barely catch up with the construction output of a railway.
The money from the Ministry of Finance was sent to the Ministry of Works like running water. Every time he saw the money in the bank shrink, he felt heartbroken.
Build a railway? Okay, the Ministry of War will raise the money itself!
The emperor was also frightened by Jian Zifang's "heroism". The railway must be built, but the food must be eaten one bite at a time.
He gave Jia Cong a wink and asked him to explain the cost and difficulties of building the railway, which finally calmed the restless ministers.
When the second steam locomotive was on fire, the emperor and his ministers all boarded the carriage.
At the beginning, everyone was not used to the shaking on the train, and some even felt motion sickness.
But soon, the speed of the train slowly increased, and the feeling of lightning speed made everyone on the train excited.
The capital is only forty-five miles away from Tongzhou, and the speed of the Yuanyou Type 1 train is as high as one hundred and forty miles per hour.
About half an hour later, the train slowly stopped at Tongzhou Station, which was still under construction.
While adjusting the front of the train, the emperor also visited Tongzhou Station with great interest, which was under construction.
Adjacent to the canal wharf, the railway and canal are well connected, which can maximize the use of railway and river transportation capacity, which made the emperor feel better.
When he returned to the capital, the emperor summoned the cabinet elders and six ministers...
"The imperial edict says: Bo Jia Cong of Feng Tian Yi Yun Tse Cheng Yongfeng County, God has given him wisdom to assist the destiny of the country, and he can use strange methods to repair the utensils of the country. I am very pleased... I promote him to be the Marquis of Yong Feng County Feng Tian Yi Yun Tui Cheng Yong Feng County. , inherited hereditary power, settled 800 households in the city, opened a government office, and was given a gold seal and an elixir book...I appreciate this!"
"The imperial edict says: Niu Geng, a member of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce...is named a male from Changping County and a doctor from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce..."
"The imperial edict says: The craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry, Qu Maojun, Yu Yigao, and Yin Zhengbai...make them great craftsmen of the country and grant them gold..."
The grand reward this time is not much worse than the achievement of destroying the country.
Jia Cong became a hereditary county prince in Daxia and was given a gold seal to open a government office.
As for the alchemy iron coupons, the Jia family already has two of them. It would be best to give them to Baoyu and the others and use them as boards.
Mainly the right to open a government office and establish a government office. Besides the British Duke Zhang Yue, Jia Cong was the second nobleman in Daxia who could open a government office and establish a government office.
Except for the four feudal princes with different surnames at the founding of the country, no royal princes had this right.
Jia Cong was in a daze holding the imperial edict in his hand. Why did the emperor do this?
"Congratulations to the Marquis. The county Marquis who is only fourteen years old is still awarded a title for his merits. Not to mention the dynasty, even if it goes forward five hundred years, it is the only one."
Xia Shouzhong was right. Except for those who were granted the title of nobility due to their kindness and those who were granted the title of county marquis due to their great achievements, there has been no one since the founding of the Xia Dynasty.
How old was the champion who granted the title of wolf to Xu?
Not only was Jia Cong not overly happy, he was actually a little worried.
He asked with some confusion: "Xia Gong, this is the establishment of a government office..."
Xia Shouzhong nodded with satisfaction. He was indeed the one the emperor liked, and he was not blinded by the reward.
He asked him aside, avoiding other people from the Ministry of Industry, and said: "Your Majesty asked our family to communicate with the Marquis first. Although the New Deal has been implemented so far, although there have been many results, the Marquis must have also felt that the contradictions inside and outside the government The resistance is getting bigger and bigger, and even Mr. Zhou Ge is a little unable to do what he wants..."
Jia Cong nodded while listening. This is a fact.
The implementation of the New Deal has now reached its core, whether it is land reform or the tax system, which has offended the interests of too many people.
Those vested interests who were still waiting and watching could no longer bear it any longer. They were constantly testing the emperor's bottom line and began to fight back against the New Deal faction.
The most obvious example is what happened with Liu Shuo...
"So, the emperor discussed with the saint and planned to use the name of the marquis to open another government, so that the marquis could nominally take charge of the power of the government and fight openly with those who opposed the New Deal. One game!”
ah?
Jia Cong didn't expect that the emperor gave him the power to open a government office. He actually wanted to push himself to the front and let him compete with those who opposed the New Deal!
Can……
Jia Cong was a little confused and anxious. He raised his hands and asked: "Xia Gong, Your Majesty has told me how to open a government and establish a government office, and who will be under my command. You can't let me go to war alone, can you? That's unrealistic. , it’s not just one or two people who oppose the New Deal, maybe the entire court will be enemies!”
Monthly ticket recommendation ticket
I’ll stop updating here tonight and continue tomorrow. good evening!
(End of chapter)
