"The navy is a branch of arms that only superpowers can afford! The Queen Mother clearly knows that the navy is not only expensive for battleships, but also for talents!"
"Chinese Captain Xiang Ying, Communications Commander Cai Bixia, Gunnery Commander Lin Zhen... hundreds of elites who have graduated and thousands of trainees who are studying abroad are all trained at a huge price! "
"Will this money be included in the cost of the ship? The two million taels just did not include training fees!"
"A ship of officers and soldiers who can truly fight is a truly priceless treasure. Training that ship of officers and soldiers costs more than just a battleship!"
"When the Zhiyuan was smuggled back to China from the Atlantic Ocean, how much coal was burned along the way? How many shells were used? How much did it cost for supplies? How much did it cost to renovate the warship after returning to China?"
"This account is really hard to calculate! No matter what, it must be much more than the cost of a battleship!"
"And the air force composed of nine airships can't just solve the problem by buying a few airships... The place where the airships dock needs to be renovated, right?"
"Should the giant warehouses that provide shelter from wind and rain also need to be repaired? Where will the maintenance workers go for training? How much food will the officers and soldiers consume for training?"
"The Queen Mother... Please tell the Queen Mother that you can double the budget for the new army from now on. Don't believe the numbers on the books!"
Everyone present was stunned. What happened to this Ermao? Whose person is he? Who is he helping? No matter how you think about it, this call is helping Cian!
There was a hint of displeasure on Cai Bixia's face: "Er Mao... what do you mean... This is the price the 'head of state' gave His Majesty for the mentor-disciple friendship. You also know what the prices are in the international arms trade nowadays! "
"No one except Your Majesty can get such a low price!"
Deliberately pronouncing the word "head of state" a little louder is to remind Ermao not to forget his roots. Why did you help Ci'an at the critical moment?
The head of state and Emperor Tongzhi both want to complete such a deal. Are you deliberately causing trouble if you don't help?
When Ci'an heard what Ermao said, he suddenly realized that he was right! Fu Qing had said before that the high combat effectiveness of Xiao Letian's troops was only fed by money!
Xishan Camp is nothing more than some foreign guns and cannons, and the money spent is already like water. The airship troops and armored warships are more advanced things, and they must consume a lot of money!
Thinking of this, Ci'an hurriedly said, "We, the Qing Dynasty, have no intention of becoming an enemy of that country, and we don't want to invade other countries overseas. It's enough to live our small lives well!"
"No matter how good your Xiao Letian's weapon is, the Ai family doesn't want it... His Majesty is not allowed to have it! This master, the Ai family can still do it!"
The deal fell apart just like that. Cai Bixia submitted two plans and Ci'an refused to agree to either. Zai Chun scratched his head anxiously, but he really had no choice when it came to Cian!
One is that the relationship is relatively good. Zai Chun will not fall out with Ci'an, let alone deal with Empress Dowager Dong the same way he dealt with Guiziliu!
The other is that the Qing Dynasty established the country based on filial piety. If this foundation is broken, it will be difficult to say whether I can personally govern!
"Queen Mother... think about it again... Our Qing Dynasty needs a navy, and I also need that airship..."
"Come on! The world is not peaceful right now. Money has to be spent wisely and I don't have time to buy you big toys! The Ai family is tired. Ermao, come with me and let me hear what's going on!"
"Zhou Daoying...send General Cai back to rest. If you have anything to do, we can discuss it another day!"
Cai Bixia sighed softly and saluted the Queen Mother, then wrapped her cloak tightly and turned around to leave Qiongdao. Under the guidance of Zhou Daoying and other eunuchs, she left Beiyuan through the south gate.
Er Mao was specifically called away by the Queen Mother, and the eunuchs and maids did not dare to follow him. They could only watch the two of them walking along the North Sea from a distance.
"I didn't expect it. I really didn't expect that you, Ermao, could actually tell the truth? Aren't you afraid that your godfather will cause trouble for you? You have forgotten your roots!"
After hearing the Queen Mother's words, Er Mao's expression was light. He was neither sad nor happy but shook his head, "I don't have any ideas. It doesn't matter about betrayal or forgetting one's roots. If I don't say these things, someone will tell the Queen Mother later..."
"Mr. Qing knows his stuff, and we can't hide the things here from him!"
"Besides, my godfather is so big that he can encompass the whole ocean, so he won't be angry with me for this little truth!"
"Ouch? What do you mean by this today?" Ci'an asked.
"Actually, it's nothing. This slave has gone through so many things, and the kindness that should be repaid has almost been repaid... To be honest with the Queen Mother, when I was first sent to the palace, I was my godfather's spy, and I am a spy. There is nothing wrong with that. !”
"The Queen Mother and the civil and military officials of the entire court should be very clear about it now!"
"There is nothing I can do, just repay the favor! Without my godfather, my whole family would be dead, so I should repay the favor..."
"My godfather is kind to me, but Lord Long Live is also righteous to me! Over the years, Long Live has always treated me as a good friend. Seven or eight years have passed, and you want me to harm Lord Long Live? I really can't do such a thing. Come out!"
Er Mao stopped and looked up at the majestic White Tower. The expression on his face looked like that of a man in his forties or fifties!
"Queen Mother... My godfather has released me as a free man in Europe. After returning from Europe, I am no longer a member of the Chinese CIA. My godfather has released me as a free man!"
"Not only that, Long live the Lord also granted the slave his freedom on the way back to the country. His Majesty also allowed the slave to no longer be called a slave..."
"Actually, slave, I don't even know where to go now!"
"Oh..." Ci'an didn't expect that Ermao was now a free man legally speaking. The emperor was the master of the Eight Banners. He said that if a slave was freed, no one could control it!
If Xiao Letian cuts off all contact between Er Mao and the CIA, then Er Mao will no longer be a spy!
It seems that he is still a little uncomfortable with being a pure free man!
"The Queen Mother, I have no intention of betraying anyone today, nor do I have the intention of pleasing anyone... I am just discussing the matter, and let the Queen Mother understand clearly!"
"Anyway, someone will tell you these things sooner or later. It wouldn't be a big deal if I told you for a long time... Now that the truth has been spoken, the Queen Mother has no complaints no matter how she punishes her slaves!"
"If the Forbidden City doesn't allow slaves to live in it, they will move out... I'll spend half a year here in the capital, then go back to my hometown to be filial to my parents, and then go back and see all the mountains and rivers of the Qing Dynasty. It's great!"
Ci'an smiled, "You are trying to make a deal with the Ai family so that you can escape from the capital! Are you afraid that the Long Live Lord will let you go, but the empress dowagers of the two palaces and the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty will not let you go?"
"You little monkey... Since the Lord Long Live has given you freedom, don't be a slave anymore!"
"Today I just want to hear your opinion on this arms deal!"
