"An airship costs 600,000 taels of silver. This price includes our training of operators and guarantee of free subsequent maintenance for three years..."
"I wonder what your purpose is in purchasing the airship? Is it mainly for reconnaissance? Or is it mainly for special operations?"
"If you are preparing for special operations, then you must prepare at least nine ships, a three-by-three system! Three ships for cruising, three for maintenance, and three for overhaul... Only in this way can we form combat effectiveness!"
"Ouch...you think it's expensive? Then we can only use airships to investigate!"
"This is also simple. We can dismantle the weapon system, reduce the size and power system of the airbag, and the price can be reduced to about 400,000 taels of silver..."
"It would be easy to maintain reconnaissance. Two or three ships can ensure battlefield control... What do you think? Think about it?"
"No, no, no... the price I quoted is only the price of the airship. As for the supporting equipment, of course it needs to be calculated separately. What? You don't agree?"
"Oh, you are being unreasonable! Is the price of the airship base built on the plains and the mountains the same? If you want to be safe, you can find three or four hiding places in three caves. How do you quote the price?"
"No one can bargain like you! You have to be reasonable!"
The Chinese are indeed the businessmen of a country. When Cai Bixia talked about the price, his face suddenly changed. He would spend every penny and never give in!
Guiziliu frowned. He really understood the advanced nature of this weapon. It was a weapon for attacking difficult situations, whether in investigation or combat!
You can attack and investigate the enemy unscrupulously, but the enemy has nothing to do. According to the technological level at that time, there really was no weapon that could deal with airships!
Although the artillery can be modified to shoot upwards, after all, the technology at the end of the 19th century is incomparable with that of the 20th century. A mature anti-aircraft gun cannot be built!
If the airship can really fly to an altitude of two to three thousand meters as Cai Bixia said, then no one with the existing weapons can do anything to it!
The only drawback of this kind of weapon is that it is expensive. It is too expensive. A small airship used for reconnaissance costs hundreds of thousands. Who can afford it?
An armed airship costs 600,000 taels of silver? Grab money!
"Mr. Cai... you are not honest in your business dealings!" Prince Gong said through gritted teeth, "Did you quote this price in Beiyuan? Do you really think we are deaf and blind?"
Upon hearing this, Cai Bixia smiled instead, "Of course you are not deaf or blind. There are no secrets in the Forty-nine Cities of the Capital. Isn't it that what you Manchus and Eight Banners are best at is leaking secrets?"
"Haha, don't be angry, just kidding... Of course I won't quote this price in Beiyuan, because the price given to His Majesty is a master-disciple friendship price!"
"They are all sold at half cost and half given away. May I ask, do you have a master-disciple relationship with the head of state?"
"You..." Guiziliu was beaten again and couldn't say a word.
Prince Li Shiduo's eyes had already fallen into the eyes of money and he couldn't get out. He was muttering somewhere, "The price quoted to Beiyuan is 450,000, but the price to the court is 600,000? It's a money grab, a money grab..."
"Nine ships at a time? Gold and silver... Gold and silver... How much money will be paid for this? How many families in the capital, old and young, don't have overnight food?"
"It's too expensive, it's too expensive, it's too expensive..."
The old prince didn't object, he just felt sorry for Yin Zi and kept mumbling while sitting in his chair.
"It's too expensive..." Cai Bixia mocked in a long voice, "Then let's use big blades. Bows, arrows and spears are cheap, and then go out and fight with the foreign devils!"
"Anyway, the British and French forces captured the city of Beijing, and the last family took away eight million taels of silver... You said you have these sixteen million taels, how many airships do you have to buy!"
Don't hit people in the face, don't criticize people and don't expose their shortcomings! Cai Bixia's scars were exposed directly, and the princes were as ashamed as monkeys' butts!
Er Mao saw that this was not going to work. Although his godfather had instructed him to be more relaxed in negotiations, Cai Bixia was too tight. He really didn't give him any face!
"Well... General Cai, please don't keep your words. There is no fixed price for such a large arms deal, nor is it said that it can be negotiated in one day. Let's take our time!"
"Princes, you have to think about it. After all, this airship is a joint venture between the Chinese and the Kingdom of Prussia. The patent rights are still in the hands of the Führer and Duke Zeppelin!"
“It’s the only one in the world, so it’s normal to ask for a higher price!”
"Sit, sit, sit... let's get some tea and let's clear the air!"
Everyone returned to their seats. The princes panted heavily for a long time before they calmed down. Guiziliu winked at his brothers, indicating that Yixuan would control the pace of the negotiations.
Yi Xin really couldn't speak any more. The anger in his heart had already reached his forehead. If he continued talking, his Tianling Gai would probably jump!
Yizhen's temper could still be softened to some extent. He smiled and said to Cai Bixia, "Mr. Cai, I think the airship is just a technical profit. How can the cost be so expensive?"
"The airbags are all empty. When you inflate them, they look big. In fact, they are just a layer of skin... Isn't the outside of the pod covered with steel plates and the inside still wood?"
"The key and most valuable thing is the small steam engine. It burns heat and rotates the propeller at the same time, but no matter how valuable it is, it can't reach the price of 600,000 taels!"
"With all due respect, even the four hundred and fifty thousand taels given to His Majesty is a very profitable price, right?"
"Since you want to do this business, how about being honest and giving a real price?"
Cai Bixia shook his head, "Haha... The key now is not how much it costs, but I don't understand. Who bought this airship?"
"Long Live Lord wants to place an order, and the Prime Minister's Office wants to place an order... Isn't this a game of chess for the Qing Dynasty?"
Yi Xuan waved his hand, "Mr. Cai doesn't know something! This Qing Dynasty is not one of those small countries in Europe. It covers a vast area from north to south, east to west, and even a single imperial court cannot handle everything!"
"So the power to purchase arms is also delegated to the imperial court! Marshal Zeng has the power to purchase arms, as do Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang!"
"Even local governors have the right to purchase some Western-style weapons. This is the practice of the imperial court!"
"The Xishan Camp also has such rights. If we all rely on the Ministry of War to purchase them together, God knows we will have to wait until the end of the Year of the Monkey!"
"Mr. Cai, your price..."
Cai Bixia smiled, "I understand what you mean. With all due respect, I can't do this. I must report it to the head of state!"
"But there is one thing to remind you, don't hold too much hope. Airships are the dominant business right now, and there is no one other than the Head of State!"
"Don't always think about saving money on arms. If you save a small amount of money, you may suffer a big loss!"
"We are all smart people, so there is no need to talk nonsense... Arms are bought to be used. War is a business. What you have to consider is how to make this business successful, rather than blindly saving money. ah!"
