Wedemeyer actually had a certain assessment in mind about what kind of conditions the Ming Dynasty would ask for, and what kind of conditions the Ming Dynasty people might propose after the world war peace talks and with Prince Dashi participating in the decision-making.
When Ming Dynasty provided shipbuilding technical support to Lucia, Prussia, Ottoman, Austria and other countries before, it had already asked them to open their business rights to civilian automobiles, ships, aircraft manufacturing and related industries to Ming Dynasty.
If the conditions are the same this time, it may be more basic industries such as mining, steel, roads, and banks.
Opening up industries such as civilian automobiles, ships, and aircraft can also be regarded as exchanging the market for technology, and learning in the process of opening up.
But if the steel, mining, road and other industries are all fully opened to Ming Dynasty, then Lucia's industrial base will really be gradually controlled by Ming Dynasty Capital.
No manufacturer in the world can compete with the Ming Dynasty Royal Family Consortium.
So now Wedemeyer is in a rather low mood, but now that we have said this, we have to ask clearly what the specific conditions are. Whether we accept it or give up, we must understand it before making a decision:
"So... what are the specific conditions?"
Now it is an informal meeting, and Niu Jian will go all the way to Prussia and France later.
It is impossible to dwell on this issue for too long.
So after a short pause, I stated the general requirements very straightforwardly:
“If Lucia just wants to obtain finished products, such as turrets, artillery, armor, boilers, turbines, etc. produced by Ming Dynasty.
“These finished components are directly imported and installed on the warships designed and built by Lucia.
“Then we just need to provide some policy support to Daming’s manufacturers on the basis of existing cooperation.
“This is the sincerity shown by us at Daming for our previous relatively smooth cooperation.
“If Lucia wants to obtain technology transfer, ask Daming to help Lucia build a production line and let Lucia produce it by herself.
“Then depending on the type of technology Lucia wants to acquire, she must first pay the technology transfer fee to Daming.
"At the same time, some industries related to production will be opened, such as iron ore mining, steel smelting, etc..."
When Niu Jian said this condition, both Nikolai and Wedemeyer were stunned, feeling a little surprised and unbelievable.
Nicholas subconsciously asked:
"Can the equipment on the Ming Dynasty's new high-speed battleship really be sold directly to Lucia?
"Including artillery, turrets, boilers, turbines, and shells?"
Niu Jian’s reply was very tactful:
“Most of the main equipment on the 40,000-ton high-speed battleship that Ming Dynasty is building can be exported to Lucia.
“Of course, the prices of these key arms commodities will not be very cheap.
"But it is definitely much more affordable and faster than slowly developing it yourself, trying to produce it and then put it into service..."
Nicholas suddenly beamed with joy.
While Wedemeyer was pleasantly surprised, he also instinctively thought about why Ming Dynasty was suddenly willing to sell these things.
A few years ago, it was determined not to sell, but only provided traditional design and production process guidance.
Can the equipment on the "40,000-ton" battleship be sold? Could it be that……
"Could it be that Ming Dynasty's warship design...has been updated again?"
When Niu Jian heard that the other party had guessed, he stopped trying to be mysterious and directly admitted selectively:
"The Ming Dynasty's new generation of battleships with a full load displacement of 60,000 tons and a 420mm caliber gun have officially started construction.
“It is expected to be launched within two years and completed and put into service in about three years.
"Taking into account the design and construction cycle of Lucia's new battleship, even if we sign the contract right now, the artillery or turbine equipment ordered by Lucia cannot be delivered before our new battleship is put into service...
“So most of the facilities on the original 40,000-ton warship can be sold to the outside world.
"Well... considering that the previous cooperation was quite pleasant, Lucia can even directly order a customized version of the finished battleship."
Wedemeyer immediately fell silent after hearing this.
Tsar Nicholas' eyes widened, his mouth opened and he subconsciously exclaimed:
"A sixty-thousand-ton battleship? A 420-millimeter cannon? How is this possible...
"Forty thousand tons is already very large. I can't imagine a 60,000-ton warship..."
Niu Jian said with a smile:
"After the new battleship is put into service, it is possible that, like the previous battleships, it will come to visit various countries in Europe and the West. You can directly visit the ship when the time comes."
Nicholas didn't know how to express his feelings, and was in a daze for a moment.
The previous visit of a 40,000-ton warship to Western Europe had a great impact and directly triggered this wave of shipbuilding.
When the 60,000-ton ship comes again, will the countries in Europe and the West build another wave of 60,000-ton ships?
The 40,000-ton battleship has already placed significant financial pressure on the countries in Europe and the West.
Switching to the 60,000-ton level, Nikolai couldn't imagine how much money it would cost and how many ships Lucia could build.
Nicholas felt that Niu Jian came to attend Pete's wedding this time. Ming Dynasty openly sold battleship weapons and equipment. In addition to early orders for battleship equipment, he might also be suspected of being involved in the fire.
Wedemeyer thought so too, so he cautiously asked:
"The Ming Dynasty's 420mm naval gun should not be sold to Lucia, right?"
Niu Jian doesn’t hide it either:
"Yes, we have just successfully developed the 420mm naval gun, so the export of the product is still prohibited.
“The key is that from our Ming’s point of view, you, the European and Western countries, do not need to build larger battleships.
"Objectively speaking, the 40,000-ton high-speed battleship has already put considerable pressure on the production capacity and finances of the European and Western countries.
"You can't build a few ships as a country, so the costs won't be shared equally. The actual cost is higher than ours, Ming Dynasty.
“For a 60,000-ton warship, our Ming Dynasty estimates that we can only build a dozen or so at most.
"Even if the countries in Europe and the West go to war, they will probably only be able to build two or three ships, and the cost of a single ship will become even more out of control...
“Moreover, when any country does that, the League of Nations has to assess the threat of that country.
"We need to judge whether it has the possibility of provoking a large-scale war again..."
Nikolai and Wedemeyer were silent.
Should this be considered candidness, haughty sarcasm, or warning and threat?
It should be said that it is a combination of all three...
There is a big difference between the Ming Dynasty now and before the World War.
Now it is obvious that it attaches great importance to trade cooperation, and it is obvious that it is using economic means to bind with the countries in Thailand and Spain.
If the countries in Europe and the West completely let Ming Dynasty behave, they will definitely be controlled by Ming Dynasty from the economic level.
But when this binding goes deep enough, the conflicts between the two parties will be eliminated.
The possibility of direct head-on conflict between the two parties will also be greatly reduced.
Daming's current use of this method also shows that Daming is really willing to maintain long-term peace with Taixi.
Whichever country enters a state of militarism, Ming Dynasty will definitely be vigilant.
Wedemeyer glanced at Nicholas, and then said with a very serious expression:
"We need time to consider and discuss..."
Niu Jian said indifferently:
"Of course, this kind of decision cannot be made directly by us in this environment.
"I have expressed my condolences to Prime Minister Pitt. When I return to Ming Dynasty, you can just give me a definite response.
"If we want to cooperate in this area, we will arrange specialized personnel to discuss the specific details of cooperation."
Niu Jian’s discussions with Nikolai and Wedemeyer seemed to be frank throughout, but in fact they were deliberately misleading.
Compared with the previous 40,000-ton warship, the biggest upgrade of Ming Dynasty's new 60,000-ton warship is actually at the production process level.
It is a comprehensive material upgrade with electroslag remelting steel and electroslag welding technology as the core.
But what Niu Jian said, and what the Lucians understood for granted, was only a breakthrough in size specifications.
The tonnage of the battleship changed from 40,000 tons to 60,000 tons, and the caliber of the artillery changed from 360 mm to 420 mm.
If it were just a breakthrough at the specification level, Zhu Jingyuan and Daming would not directly export products with sub-standard specifications.
But after the process is upgraded, even products that seem to have the same specifications, the products used by oneself and the products exported can actually be two completely different things.
It was with this premise that we decided to upgrade the technology of the 40,000-ton warship and at the same time export the original old products that seemed to have the same specifications to European and American countries.
After the business talk was over, the next step was the ordinary banquet.
When the banquet was over, Niu Jian went to the prepared guest room to rest.
However, Lucia Tsar Nicholas, Chairman of the Cabinet Council of Ministers Wedemeyer went to rest in no hurry.
Field Marshal Kutuzov, who was ready to retire at any time, and Admiral Ushakov were also recruited.
Discussed all night long the new conditions given by Daming and the new news released by Niu Jian.
As the host, Wedemeyer first explained that he had received the news.
After hearing this, Ushakov exclaimed almost subconsciously:
"The Ming Dynasty really wants to build a 60,000-ton battleship! Or is it just a dozen or so?
"This is to bring the shipbuilding competition to a level that no European country can afford!
Wedemeyer said sarcastically with a serious expression:
"No, the shipbuilding competition is our own imagination. Ming Dynasty has no idea that there is any shipbuilding competition between China and Europa.
"Da Ming is just designing and building the warships they need step by step according to his own status and strength."
There was silence for a few seconds, and Tsar Nicholas asked:
"So what should we do? Should we accept Ming's conditions? Should we try to build warships of the same level?"
What Ushakov subconsciously said:
"For the navy, the bigger the capital ship, the better. If it can be built, the navy certainly needs..."
Kutuzov, who was slumped in his chair, immediately interrupted:
“I think that’s not necessary, even a 40,000-ton battleship doesn’t need too many.
“What’s more important to us in Lucia are planes and tanks.
“Now that we have reconciled with Ming Dynasty, we should continue to use the world order led by Ming Dynasty.
"Under this order, we have a small number of warships of the same level as those of the European and Western countries, and it is enough to maintain equality in status."
Ushakov asked subconsciously:
"There are not enough naval capital ships? How can the safety of our domestic route to St. Petersburg be ensured?
"If you launch a war against Sweden and Norway, how will the routes to and from the Baltic Sea be guaranteed?"
Kutuzov immediately said:
“The security of the high sea route to St. Petersburg is actually maintained by the Ming Navy.
“The routes to and from the Baltic are safe, and what I call a navy is sufficient to maintain it.
"Sweden, Norway, and Denmark don't even have new capital ships, and they are simply unable to compete with our navy."
Seeing that the two old officers seemed to be quarreling, Wedemeyer couldn't help but stand up and remind him:
"In fact, we currently do not have the ability to design and build 60,000-ton warships and corresponding weapons.
"Da Ming will not export equipment and weapons of corresponding levels.
"The more important thing is that according to Mr. Niu Jian, the Ming Dynasty will be wary of countries that resort to militarism.
“If a country in Europa has plans to build a large number of 60,000-ton warships, it may be regarded by Ming Dynasty as challenging the existing order.
“It is very likely that Ming will intervene in this country through the League of Nations or even directly by itself…
“But Ming is also willing to directly export the main equipment of the 40,000-ton warship to us.
"So what Daming meant is to actually suggest that we build a few more 40,000-ton battleships...
"This is actually the level we can afford..."
This is actually asking both of them to take a step back and not build larger 60,000-ton capital ships, but the existing capital ships can build more.
Kutuzov and Ushakov understood the meaning and stopped talking.
Nicholas asked subconsciously:
"If we don't do this, will other European countries resort to militarism?
"After several years of preparation, countries like Britain and France may not have the opportunity to build a 60,000-ton warship, right?"
Kutuzov immediately said:
"The Ming Dynasty will warn us not to resort to militarism, and it will definitely warn other countries as well."
Nicholas continued to ask:
"What if some countries ignore warnings and make relevant preparations secretly..."
Wedemeyer said directly:
"No European country can be a match for the Ming Dynasty, even if its entire population is in arms, and even if it resorts to militancy.
"He tried his best and secretly built three or five super battleships, while Ming could easily and openly build a dozen warships of the same level.
"So with the deterrence and suppression of Ming Dynasty, even if we want to take this path, it is meaningless."
Kutuzov then added:
"The entire Europa cannot be defeated simply by uniting. It couldn't defeat the Ming Dynasty more than ten years ago, and it is even more impossible now.
"Unless the entire Europa is completely integrated, it will have the opportunity to squeeze out all its potential and deal a relatively fatal blow to the Ming Dynasty, and this is simply impossible to happen."
Tsar Nicholas' heart sank again as he was a little ready to move.
In fact, Wedemeyer, who had been prepared for a long time, expressed his thoughts:
"I believe that our navy's shipbuilding plan must be adjusted immediately. The second St. Petersburg-type battleship cannot continue to be built according to the original plan.
“At least it needs to be adjusted to use the Ming’s triple turret, artillery and turbine design.
“If Ming Dynasty imposes the same restrictions on other European countries and sets the same export standards, at least we will not be significantly weaker than any European country.
"There is no way to gain a clear advantage around Europa. If we are not weaker than other countries in terms of overall level and level, it is actually the most suitable choice for us.
"As for whether we should further open up basic industrial industries such as steel in exchange for direct technology transfer, it can only be decided by His Majesty himself."
Tsar Nicholas waved his hands a little decadently:
"Let me think about this carefully before I discuss it. That's it for today's meeting.
"Mr. Wedemeyer, please prepare and leave early for London tomorrow to express condolences to Prime Minister Peter.
"The key is to explore the tone of Ming Dynasty and the tone of other countries..."
(End of chapter)
