Guan Zhuofan smiled slightly and said: "Whether my evaluation of 'Krupp' is high or low will not be long before it will be clear - I estimate that in about half a year, Prussia and Austria will fight." Whether the cannon made by Krupp is good or not, we will know when this battle is over. ”

Libin's eyes flashed, and he said: "Coincidentally, on the sea ship from Shanghai to Tianjin, when I was chatting with La Cruz, he also talked about Prussia and Austria, saying that these two families had just joined forces to subdue the Danes, and they began to look at each other unpleasantly-Lord Belle, do you think they will really fight?" ”

Guan Zhuofan said: "Austria and Prussia must be the boss of Germany, one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers, if you don't fight, how can you carry it clearly?" ”

Libin nodded and said, "La Cruz said that he had a friend of France who was a guard of the French emperor. According to his friend, in the Francisco-Austro-Prussian controversy, France was secretly biased in favor of Austria; But the emperor thought that Prussia could not defeat Austria, so he was happy to pretend to be neutral, in fact, he wanted to see the Prussians unlucky. ”

Guan Zhuofan sneered and said: "This Napoleon III, after ascending the throne, is full of pride: he defeated the Russians, defeated the Austrians, and just occupied Mexico, it is the time when he thinks he is wise, as for whether it is really wise and wise, let's wait and see-it's not his, eat it, and sooner or later you will spit it out!" ”

Libin listened, Guan Zhuofan's words were very disapproving of the French emperor, and there was no respect at all. On second thought, it is not surprising: Britain and France committed internal crimes, burning the Old Summer Palace. Isn't that what Napoleon III was doing?

Guan Zhuofan continued: "This Louis. Napoleon. Bonaparte. Chance will be. As for the vision -- Austria and Prussia, who can beat whom, must first look at the equipment: the Prussian army has all been reloaded with breech guns, and Austria is still using breech guns -- this breech gun or breech gun is superior or inferior. Napoleon III didn't know, we don't know? ”

Libin was shocked in his heart and said: "Yes, the benefits of breech guns, in today's world, there is probably no one who understands better than Lord Baylor!" ”

Guan Zhuofan said: "Britain and France, for the sake of the breech, which is better and which is inferior, is still arguing. Look at Prussia? Silently, all the staff have changed their clothes! The back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves. One carelessly, 'the front wave dies on the beach'! I say that Prussia came from behind. Overwhelming Britain and France is a foundation! ”

Libin was slightly stunned, and then smiled: "Lord Belle, your 'front wave died on the beach' is a very novel saying. ”

Guan Zhuofan smiled and said: "Not only that, the Prussians began to equip breech guns five years ago, and the principle of guns and guns is the same - it is convenient to load, the rate of fire is fast, and the breech is of course better than the breech!" With the exception of a few types of guns, it was only a matter of time before breech-loading guns replaced breech-loading guns. ”

Libin groaned, "Then let's ......"

Guan Zhuofan said: "Our guns, the vast majority, are still breech guns, and my plan is to replace them with breech guns within three to five years!" ”

Libin frowned slightly and said, "Lord Belle, this is a big deal!" ”

Guan Zhuofan said: "It's okay. Take the 'Krupp' as an example, a six-pound breech-loading rifled gun, about 2,000 thalers each, in exchange for our money, about 1,200 taels of silver, and the price of the 'Krupp' 12-pound gun, I don't know too much, but I estimate that it is about 2,000 taels of silver a piece. The artillery division had a total of 250 cannons, all of which were reloaded, and cost about 500,000 taels of silver. The cost is really expensive, but we can still take out this money, and it is not enough to change it all at once. ”

"Also, the Napoleonic cannons that are replaced will not be wasted, how many countries still treat them as treasures? We sold it, and this one out and one in, all considered, it didn't cost much silver to replace the breech gun. ”

Guan Zhuofan accentuated his tone: "This matter is imperative, whip it early and press others; If you follow the rules, you will be crushed by others at that time! ”

"Yes!"

Guan Zhuofan pointed to the wine and food on the table and said, "Mr. Li, let's talk while eating." ”

Picking up a salted peanut, putting it in his mouth and chewing it slowly, Guan Zhuofan said slowly: "I talked to Anderson about this matter, and although he still has some concerns, he basically agrees with it. This is actually not easy for Lao An - Lao An has been dealing with breech guns for most of his life, and if he is replaced with breech guns, many things will have to be torn down and rebuilt. He can be regarded as open, and he can be regarded as discerning! ”

"Fortunately, we also used breech guns, and the 'Wetworth' twelve-pounder breech-loading rifled gun brought back from the United States came in handy when we were fighting Huangya Mountain. Lao An personally followed and saw it, and said that it was very easy to use. Well, 'facts speak louder than words'! I can't help but be unconvinced. ”

"Facts speak louder than words" is another fresh statement.

"Also, our artillery is in a bit awkward -- the artillery division is the American one, the artillery school is the Prussian one, and the American one is actually learning from France. Although these two sets of things are similar, after all, the coexistence of the two systems is not the same thing for a long time. ”

"I thought, taking the opportunity to replace the breech gun, I will combine these two sets of things into one, just right!"

Libin said: "So, we are going to buy a cannon from the 'Krupp'?" ”

Guan Zhuofan said: "Yes, I want to buy it, and I want to buy it!" ”

After a pause, he continued: "However, this money must be spent in place, and one tael of silver must buy two taels of silver!" ”

Libin was very interested, how could one tael of silver buy something for two taels of silver? What kind of wishful thinking is Lord Belle making?

Guan Zhuofan saw Libin's expression and knew what he was thinking, and said with a smile: "My idea is not unusual. At present, 'Krupp' is not very famous outside Prussia, and the breech guns are not recognized by the armies of other countries. Therefore, outside of the Prussian royal family, we are the first big customer of 'Krupp'. For such a large customer, 'Krupp' must be stammered. ”

"I remember that Prussian Prime Minister Bismarck, accompanied King Wilhelm I, to inspect the 'Krupp' factory, and after walking around, Wilhelm I was very happy, and when he returned to the palace, he ordered the War Department to place an order for 100 six-pounder breech-loading rifled guns -- our order, but 250 guns -- and this was still under the condition that the Xuan army did not expand its army!"

"Take this opportunity, one is to learn, one is to buy, and the other is - even if it is stealing! In short, the technology of 'Krupp', we must get it! In addition to making cannons, 'Krupp' can also make the best steel in the world - this is amazing, railways, ships, cannons, everything must use good steel! We have learned this trick, and we will really 'eat and drink without worrying'! ”

"The 'apprentices' who are put in 'Krupp' and return to China after completing their teachers must be able to set up their own factories! We have to make what 'Krupp' can make, and we can make it, at least, we must be able to 'imitate', and the quality should not be worse than other people's - this is 'one tael of silver to buy two taels of silver'! ”

Libin exclaimed and said: "Lord Belle, your idea is really better than the other, I 'look ahead, ignore the behind', and I can't keep up!" ”

Guan Zhuofan laughed and said, "If you hold me again, my face will really turn red - in short, this is the idea." 'Apprentices' who are placed in other factories should also be handled in the same way! There should be a lot of joints in this, Mr. Leigh, you can think about it for me. ”

"Yes!"

"Originally, I wanted to take a direct stake in Krupp. Ten years ago, this path might have worked. But now," Guan Zhuofan shook his head lightly and smiled to himself, "'Krupp' has become the treasure of Wilhelm I and Bismarck, and there is no shortage of money, so we can't put our hands in it like this." ”

"However, on the American side, this path is still feasible."

"The 'Witworth' breech gun is a good thing, but the caliber is a little smaller. If the United States does not fight a big war, it is difficult to say whether this artillery can continue to be made. If the factory is not doing well, we can buy him after Spencer's example. However, not everyone wants to move to China in its entirety, as Spencer did. Whether the purchase of 'Witworth' will be possible is not easy to say. ”

Libin said, "What about the example of a Gatling? Only buy patents, and the factory stays in the United States? ”

Guan Zhuofan pondered for a moment and said, "The situation of the two is not exactly the same. 'Wetworth' was bought not just for this one model of gun, but for his technology. It is hoped that 'Witworth' and 'Krupp' can confirm each other, learn from each other's strengths, and finally bring forth the new and breed breech guns of various models and uses. If the factory remained in the United States, it would be difficult to play this role. ”

"Yes."

"However, there is no hurry in this matter, just inquire first. If you want to do it, you have to wait for the US delegation to visit China to leave before you can do it -- Sandos is now on his way to China, and he can't do it. ”

This night, Guan Zhuofan and Libin Jingxi had a long talk, and many important decisions were decided on this night. By the time Libin said goodbye and went back to his lodgings to rest, the eastern sky was already dawning.

Guan Zhuofan rushed to Guangang from Taoyuangu Village yesterday evening to inspect the arrangement of the palace; Before dawn, I rushed back to Taoyuangu Village, and basically didn't rest much. It's an all-nighter again, and I still have important business to attend to this afternoon, so I have to catch up on sleep. But this feeling can't be made up in the small station barracks, because as soon as the morning horn blows, the Xuan army from top to bottom, from Guan Jue Shuai to the big head soldiers, has to jump up from the bed, and there is no excuse.

Therefore, after Libin resigned, Guan Zhuofan left the small station barracks, stayed at a nearby house, and slept solidly.

I slept until three o'clock in the afternoon, got up, washed my face, ate something, and rushed back to the small station barracks. Below Wall, the generals above the deputy division level of the Xuan Army stationed in Tianjin were already waiting, Guan Zhuofan took this group of subordinates, angry horses like dragons, and went straight to the Guangang Palace.

The Queen Mother wants to meet with the senior generals of the Xuan Army in Tianjin, and at the same time, she also has to secretly give Yu'er a "blind date" by the way.

*(To be continued......)