Daming 1805

Chapter 413 So What Is The Price
Wedemeyer actually has a certain assessment in mind about what kind of conditions the Ming people will ask for. After the world war peace talks and after Prince Dashi participated in the decision-making, what kind of conditions the Ming people might ask for.

When Daming provided shipbuilding technical support to Lucia, Prussia, Ottoman, Austria and other countries before, they had already asked them to open up the management rights of civilian automobiles, ships, aircraft manufacturing and related industries to Daming.

If the conditions are still the same this time, it may be more basic industries such as minerals, 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 steel, mining, roads and other industries are all fully opened to Daming, then Lucia's industrial base will really be gradually controlled by Daming Capital.

No manufacturer in this world can compete with the Daming Royal Consortium.

So now Wedemeyer's mood is quite low, but the words have already been said here, after all, we must ask clearly what the specific conditions are, whether it is to accept or give up, we must figure it out 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 in the future.

It is impossible to toss about this kind of problem 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.

"Directly import these finished parts and install them on the battleship designed and built by Lucia.

"That only needs to provide some policy considerations to the manufacturers of Ming Dynasty on the basis of the existing cooperation.

"This is the sincerity shown by our Daming for our relatively smooth cooperation before.

"If Lucia wants to obtain technology transfer, ask Daming to help Lucia build a production line and let Lucia produce it herself.

"Then depending on the type of technology Lucia wants to obtain, first pay the technology transfer fee to Daming.

"At the same time, some industries related to production will be opened up, such as iron ore mining, steel smelting, etc..."

When Niu Jian mentioned this condition, both Nicholas and Wedemeyer were taken aback, feeling a little surprised and unbelievable.

Nicholas subconsciously asked:
"Is it true that the equipment on the Ming Dynasty's new high-speed battleship can be directly sold to us Lucia?

"Including artillery, turrets, boilers, turbines, shells?"

Niu Jian's reply was very tactful:
"Most of the main equipment on the [-]-ton high-speed battleship that Ming is building can be exported to Lucia.

"Of course, the prices of these key arms commodities will not be very cheap.

"However, it is definitely more affordable and faster than you slowly researching and developing by yourself, fumbling to produce it, and then installing it..."

Nicholas immediately beamed with joy.

Wedemeyer was surprised and surprised, but also instinctively thought, why is Daming suddenly willing to sell these things?

A few years ago, it was determined not to sell, but to provide traditional design and production process guidance.

Can the equipment on the "[-]-ton" battleship be sold?Could it be that……

"Could it be that Daming's warship design...has been updated again?"

When Niu Jian heard that the other party had guessed it, he stopped playing tricks and directly admitted it selectively:

"The Ming Dynasty's new generation of battleships with a full load displacement of 420 tons and [-]mm guns have officially started construction.

"It is expected to be launched within two years, and completed and put into service in about three years.

"Considering 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 enters service...

"So most of the facilities on the original [-]-ton warship can be sold.

"Well... Considering that the previous cooperation was quite pleasant, Lucia can even directly order a customized version of the finished battleship."

Wedemeyer was silent when he heard this.

Tsar Nicholas widened his eyes, opened his mouth and subconsciously exclaimed:
"A 420-ton battleship? A [-]mm gun? How is this possible...

"[-] tons is already very huge. I can't imagine a warship with [-] tons..."

Niu Jian smiled and said:
"After the new battleship enters service, it may also visit the countries of Thailand and Western countries like the previous battleships. You can directly board the ship to visit."

Nicholas didn't know how to express his feelings, and was a little dazed for a while.

The previous [-]-ton warship visited Taixi, which had already caused a great impact and directly led to this wave of shipbuilding.

At that time, the [-]-ton ship will come again, and the Thai and Western countries will follow suit to build a [-]-ton ship?

With a battleship of [-] tons, the financial pressure on the Thai and Western countries is already obvious.

Switching to the [-]-ton level, Nicholas couldn't imagine how much money it would cost, and how many ships Lucia could build.

Nicholas felt that Niu Jian came to Pete's wedding this time, and Daming publicly sold battleship weapons and equipment. In addition to the early battleship equipment orders, there may be suspicions of conflagration.

Wedemeyer also thought so, so at this time, he asked cautiously:
"Then Daming's 420mm naval gun probably won't be sold to Lucia, right?"

Niu Jian did not hide:

"Yes, we have just successfully developed the 420mm naval gun, so the export of products is still prohibited.

"The point is, from our Ming's point of view, there is no need for you Thai and Western countries to build larger battleships.

"Objectively speaking, the [-]-ton high-speed battleship has already put more obvious pressure on the production capacity and finances of the Thai and Western countries.

"You can't build a few ships in one country, and you can't share the cost. The actual cost is higher than that of our Ming Dynasty.

"For a warship of [-] tons, we, Da Ming, estimate that we will only build a dozen or so ships at most.

"Even if the countries in Thailand and the West are militaristic, it is estimated that they can 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 country's threat.

"To judge whether it has the possibility of provoking a large-scale war again..."

Both Nicholas and Wedemeyer were silent.

Should this be considered honesty, or a haughty mockery, or a warning and a threat?
It should be said that it is a combination of all three...

The current Ming Dynasty is very different from that 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 Western countries.

If the countries of Thailand and the West completely let Da Ming's behavior go, they will definitely be controlled by Da Ming from the economic level.

But after this binding is deep enough, the contradictions between the two parties will also be eliminated.

The possibility of direct confrontation between the two sides will also be greatly reduced.

Daming is now using this method, which also shows that Daming is really willing to maintain long-term peace with Taixi.

Daming would definitely be wary of any country that entered into a state of militarism.

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 is not something we can directly determine in this environment.

"After expressing condolences to Prime Minister Pete, when you return to Daming, you just need to give a definite response.

"If we want to cooperate in this area, the two sides will arrange special personnel to discuss the specific details of the cooperation."

The discussion between Niu Jian and Nicholas and Wedemeyer seemed to be frank throughout the whole process, but in fact it was deliberately misleading.

Daming's new [-]-ton warship, compared with the previous [-]-ton warship, the biggest upgrade is actually the level of production technology.

It is a comprehensive material upgrade with the core of electroslag remelting steel and electroslag welding technology.

But what Niu Jian said, and what Lucia people understand for granted, is only a breakthrough in size and specification.

The tonnage of the battleship changed from 360 tons to 420 tons, and the caliber of the artillery changed from [-] mm to [-] mm.

If it was just a breakthrough at the specification level, Zhu Jingyuan and Daming would not directly export products with substandard specifications.

But after the process is upgraded, even if the products seem to have the same specifications, the products for domestic use and the products for export can actually be two completely different things.

With such a premise, it was decided to upgrade the technology of the [-]-ton warship and at the same time export the old products that seemed to be of the same specification to Western countries.

After discussing the business, the next step is the ordinary banquet activities.

When the banquet was over, Niu Jian went to the prepared guest room to rest.

However, Lucia Tsar Nicholas, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Wedemeyer went to rest in no hurry.

Field Marshal Kutuzov, who is ready to retire at any time, and Admiral Ushakov were also recruited.

Discussing the new conditions given by Daming overnight and the new news released by Niu Jian.

As the host, Wedemeyer first stated that he had received the news.

Ushakov almost subconsciously exclaimed after listening:
"Da Ming actually wants to build a [-]-ton battleship! Or is it more than a dozen?
"This is to push the shipbuilding competition to a level that no European country can afford!

Wedemeyer said with a serious expression, rather mocking words:

"No, the shipbuilding competition is our own imagination, Da Ming has no idea of ​​any shipbuilding competition between Shenzhou and Europa.

"Da Ming is just designing and building the warships they need step by step according to his own status and strength."

After a few seconds of silence, Tsar Nicholas asked:
"So what should we do? Should we accept Daming's conditions, or 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 will certainly need..."

Kutuzov, slumped in his chair, interrupted immediately:
"I don't think that's necessary, even a [-]-ton battleship doesn't need much.

"For us Lucia, the planes and tanks are more important.

"Since we have reconciled with Da Ming, we should continue to use the world order dominated by Da Ming.

"Under this order, we have a small number of warships of the same level as the Thai and Western countries, and it is enough to maintain the equality of status."

Ushakov asked subconsciously:

"There are not enough naval battleships? How can we guarantee the safety of our route to St. Petersburg from the mainland?
"If you start a war against Sweden and Norway, how will the routes to and from the Baltic Sea be guaranteed?"

Kutuzov said at once:
"The safety of the high seas route to St. Petersburg is actually maintained by the Ming Navy.

"The routes to and from the Baltic Sea are safe, and what I call the navy is adequate to sustain.

"Sweden, Norway, and Denmark don't even have new capital ships, and they are simply unable to confront our navy."

Seeing that the two old officers were about to quarrel, Wedemeyer couldn't help standing up and reminding:

"In fact, we currently do not have the ability to design and build [-]-ton warships and corresponding weapons.

"Da Ming will not export equipment and weapons of the corresponding level.

"The more important thing is that according to what Mr. Niu Jian said, Daming will be vigilant against countries that are militaristic.

"If a certain country in Europa plans to build a large number of [-]-ton warships, it may be regarded by Ming as a challenge to the existing order.

"Da Ming is likely to intervene in this country directly through the League of Nations, or even himself...

"But at the same time, Daming is willing to directly export the main equipment of the [-]-ton warship to us.

"So what Daming meant was to suggest that we build a little more [-]-ton battleships...

"This actually happens to be the level we can bear..."

This is actually to make both of them take a step back, not to build a larger capital ship of [-] tons, but the existing capital ships can build more.

Kutuzov and Ushakov heard the inner meaning and fell silent.

Nicholas subconsciously asked:
"If we don't do this, will other European countries go 'military'?

"After several years of preparation, countries like Britain and France may not have the opportunity to build a [-]-ton warship, right?"

Kutuzov said at once:
"Da Ming will warn us not to be 'military', and will certainly warn other countries as well."

Nicholas continued to ask:
"What if some countries ignore the warning and make relevant preparations secretly..."

Wedemeyer said directly:

"Any European country, even if all its people are soldiers, even if it is full of militarism, it will not be an opponent of Ming Dynasty.

"He put in all his strength and sneakily produced three or five super warships, and Da Ming could easily and openly produce more than a dozen warships of the same level.

"So with Ming's deterrence and suppression, even if we want to take this path, it doesn't make sense."

Kutuzov then added:
"The whole of Europa can't be done simply by uniting. It couldn't beat Ming Dynasty more than ten years ago, and it's even worse now.

"Unless the entire Europa is completely integrated, there will be a chance to deal a relatively fatal blow to Daming when it squeezes out its full potential, and this is simply impossible."

Tsar Nicholas's slightly eager heart sank again.

In fact, Wedemeyer, who had been prepared for a long time, expressed his thoughts:
"I think that our navy's shipbuilding plan must be adjusted immediately, and the second St. Petersburg-type battleship cannot continue to be built according to the original plan.

"Adjust to at least use Ming's triple turret, gun and turbine design.

"If Ming 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 countries.

"There is no way to gain a clear advantage around Europa, and it is not weaker than other countries in terms of overall and level, which is actually the most suitable choice for us.

"As for whether we want to further open up basic industries such as iron and 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's wait for me to think about it, let's stop today's meeting.

"Your Majesty Wedemeyer, get ready and leave for London early tomorrow to express condolences to Prime Minister Pete.

"The key is to explore Daming's tone, as well as the tone of other countries..."

(End of this chapter)