The most powerful patriarch in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 142 Purchasing Firearms
Chapter 140

"Dear Lu, how can I get your friendship?" Frank Booker said with a smile.

Lu Changle likes to discuss business with such straightforward people, without beating around the bush.
Hearing the words, he said straight to the point: "I want two warships from your excellency. If we can negotiate, the price is easy to negotiate."

To win Fujian, one must overcome the giant Zheng Group. Zheng Zhilong's most powerful force is the navy. Lu Changle can only hold more than 20 small boats.

He is not qualified to challenge Zheng Zhilong at all.

"No, no, no, dear Lu, this is not for sale, at least not for now. I can't swim back from the far east to Holland. These warships can protect my safety." Frank Booker said without thinking. Refused.

Seeing his resolute attitude, Lu Changle took a step back and said: "The boat is not good, but the artillery is fine. I want the Hongyi cannon and the Franco machine gun. As long as Mr. Booker agrees, your company will get my friendship and operate exclusively." Power also shows in friendship."

Frank Booker pondered for a long time, then quickly shook his head and said: "According to the information I got, dear Lu, you have a bad relationship with Zheng Yiguan, the Fujian general, and I don't think Zheng Yiguan will sit idly by. If you become stronger, if I sell firearms to you, I am afraid that the route of the Far East Trading Company will become unsafe."

Zheng Zhilong just retired, he is not dead yet, the warship and his men are still there, Frank Booker doesn't want to ruin his fortune.

Lu Changle waved his hand and said, "I thought Mr. Booker would be happy to agree. After all, many warriors in your country died under Zheng Zhilong's hands. Oh, by the way, part of the profits you make are used to pay protection fees."

Frank Booker hesitated for a moment, and quickly said, "Dear Lu, I can add more money."

"The money added by one person is not as much as many people compete together."

I want artillery now, but if I don't agree, I'm not so easy to talk to.

Frank Booker thought for a while, and soon came up with an idea: "Dear Lu, I know a Captain Jack. His luck was a bit unlucky. Money, if he is willing to pay, I think he will be happy to add more consumption of firearms and ammunition in the report."

That Jack was about to retire, and Frank Booker was confident in convincing him.

It is difficult for him to refuse the temptation to get a pension when he is about to retire.

Lu Changle said quickly and simply: "Mr. Booker, you are really thoughtful, I think you are about to win my friendship."

When Frank Booker left, he had to leave 55 mirrors, leaving Lu Changle with [-] gold coins.

One of them has a six-foot-high and three-foot-wide full-length mirror, with a mahogany frame, silver corners, and inlaid with gems and pearls. It is so beautiful that Frank Booker's eyes are straight,
Lu Changle told him that the success rate of this kind of mirror is 30 in [-], and the price of a mirror is [-] gold coins. Frank Booker hesitated for less than three seconds, and quickly agreed.

The mirror of the Queen of France is not as good as this one, and its size is less than one-sixth of this mirror, and its value is as high as 15 francs.

Frank Booker believed that he would not even consider sending his piece back to China if it was less than 100 million gold coins.

In addition to Tom's 65 gold coins, Frank Booker left [-] gold coins for Lu Changle when he left. Lu Changle was also shocked by his financial resources.

I didn't expect to make so much money doing sea trade.

Zheng Zhilong, the maritime overlord of Southeast Asia, has monopolized the maritime trade in Southeast Asia for so many years. It is said that his annual income exceeds 2000 million taels of silver.
Lu Changle didn't believe it before, but now he believes it.

Of course, he earns a lot and spends a lot, so he has to support so many men, and he still has 20 sailors.

Unfortunately, no matter how rich he is, he is also a selfish person who only cares about his own interests.
He donated some money when the court was in distress, or sent sailors to go by sea during the Battle of Songjin to steal the old lair of Jianlu,

History will definitely be rewritten.

From what Zheng Du and Zheng Zhibao did, from Zheng Zhilong's move to abandon Fujian, Lu Changle no longer had any hope for him.

Frank Booker is a person with strong execution ability. One night ten days later, he accompanied the unlucky Captain Jack to sail to Mangrove Bay, and Lu Changle led people to wait early.

Jack is from Spain. Although he is only 40 years old today, he is a sailor with more than 20 years of sailing experience. You don't need to speak, you can tell from that depressed face that he has been very unsatisfactory recently.

Received a shipment of raw silk and tea in Suzhou, and was about to go to Macau to pick up his companions and return home. The escort ship was fine, but the cargo ship accidentally ran aground and sank. Jack, who bet all his property on the cargo, almost declared bankruptcy.

After a brief exchange, Lu Changle said straight to the point: "Mr. Jack, can I inspect the goods first and test the performance of the firearm?"

Jack hesitated, and Frank Booker took the initiative to say: "Dear Jack, please rest assured that Lu is a generous and reliable person, and I can guarantee him."

Gold coins worth [-] gold coins can be taken away by Tom just for the sake of Father Nick.
The goods that traded hundreds of thousands of gold coins were also successfully traded. Frank Booker trusted Lu Changle very much.

"As you wish, my friend." There was a guarantee, Jack only hesitated, and quickly agreed.

It is reasonable for the buyer to inspect the goods with such a high value.

It took nearly half an hour, even strong men like Gan Hui and Lu Changwei were mobilized, and only then did Jack get a Hongyi cannon and a Franc cannon on Jack's boat.

The Fran cannon is similar to the one captured from the Flying Tiger, except that it does not have a frame.

The Hongyi cannon shocked Lu Changle. The cannon body is about 130 meters, the caliber is about [-] mm, and the weight exceeds three tons. It is definitely a huge monster.

According to legend, the first batch of large-scale Hongyi cannons imported were salvaged by Fujian fishermen from British warships sunk in Chinese waters. According to the comparison with European artillery standards at that time, one of the prototypes of Hongyi cannons was the British ship-borne 6-pound gun. , 12-pound, 18-pound front-loading smoothbore cannons.

The earliest large-scale purchase of Hongyi cannons was in the second year of Tianqi. Zhang Tao and Sun Xueshi came to Macau as imperial envoys to discuss with Portugal the purchase of artillery and the hiring of gunners.Portugal sold 22 Hongyi cannons at a preferential price in order to prevent Spain, the Netherlands and other countries from being stained with the Ming dynasty.

In the sixth year of the Apocalypse, the Hongyi cannons played a great role in the Battle of Ningyuan. According to historical records, the siege of Houjin was under the fierce artillery fire of the Ming army. first defeat.

In 1627, in the Battle of Ningjin, the Hongyi cannon once again exerted great power and the Ming army won a big victory. From then on, the rulers of the Ming Dynasty preferred the Hongyi cannon with a long range and great power, even though it was bulky and only suitable for defend the city.

Most of the salvaged and purchased Hongyi cannons were sent to Beijing or Liaodong. This was the first time Lu Changle saw the real ones.

"Old Zhou, come and test, aim at the bamboo forest ahead."

To inspect the goods, you must find a knowledgeable person, and it is most suitable for Lao Zhou to test it.

First test the Frang machine gun, after firing ten cannons quickly, the bamboo forest in front has been blown up beyond recognition, the bamboo is crumbling,
Lao Zhou checked the maternity system and the child system, and nodded to Lu Changle, indicating that the quality is no problem.

After testing the Franc cannon, the highlight is the Hongyi cannon.

After Lao Zhou filled the cannonball, he lit the fuse with a torch. When the fuse burned to the end, Lu Changle felt as if a thunderstorm hit his ear, and then felt the ground tremble, and a cannonball hit directly in front of the bamboo forest that big tree,
Just one shot knocked down the big tree as thick as a bucket. Under the light of the fire, we could faintly see the mud and tree roots that were blown up and flying around.

This shot was terrifying.

"This is the best new cannon made of fine iron, and it is also the best cannon at present. It can hit five miles at most, which is the distance of Ming Dynasty. Lu, are you satisfied?" Jack saw Lu Changle's shocked expression, Said with pride.

"Yes, Mr. Jack, how many cannons do you have for sale, and what price do you hope to sell them for?"

The Hongyi cannon is an artifact for defending the city, and the Folang cannon is an artifact for field battles. Lu Changle has very few troops now.

Like firearms, the more the better.

Uncle Zheng's nephew is like a knife hanging above his head, falling down at any time. What he has to do now is to increase his strength as much as possible before he attacks.

"Two giant cannons cost 2000 taels each, and Franco cannons are cheaper. Ten cannons also cost 2000 taels." Jack said with a smile on his face.

"The price is reasonable, I agree," Lu Changle said straightforwardly.

Before coming here, Lu Changle asked Lao Zhou about the cost and construction price. The cost of a Hongyi cannon, 2000 taels is the least.

200 taels for a Franc cannon, the price is very good.

Jack said slyly, "My in-laws, Lu, I'm talking about gold."

(End of this chapter)