Li Tai and Bruce were very depressed, originally thinking of taking this opportunity to make a windfall, a small fleet, actually opened their mouths to ask the Qing court for five million taels of silver, and at the same time allocated 1.5 million taels a year, these three or four years, but tens of millions of taels of silver, is definitely a windfall, even if it makes some concessions to the Qing court in the end, it will definitely make a lot of money!

But what I didn't expect was that things were halfway through and they were messed up!

The prime minister of the Qing court, the minister of national affairs, actually sent a note to various countries, openly soliciting suppliers, and each country came up with a plan, and the Qing court would choose the most preferential cooperation. Who wants to spit out the fat that is delivered to the door?

Although the British Empire said that it commanded the world, don't dare to disobey, but it is just blowing the conch, such a thing, no one has the right to pressure the opponent to withdraw, fair competition, really rely on fair competition in the market, that is naturally the cheaper the better to sell, so that competition, not to mention nearly 10 million taels of silver, can maintain the original half or even one-third of the profit is already burning high incense!

It's really an early morning and a late meeting.

Bruce glanced at Li Tai helplessly and said, "Li Taitai, what should we do now?" ”

Li Taitai said aggrievedly: "What should I do? What can I do? As long as we want to make this money, then we will enter the competition, damn it, now I am only afraid that the Americans and the French will be happy, and the way we came up with to make money will be picked up by others, which is really aggrieved! ”

Bruce asked, "How to compete?" Do you know what to expect? ”

Li Tai took a deep breath and replied, "Mr. Bruce." For the sake of this sale. I've been researching for half a year. Although our profits may fall sharply, after all, we still have the advantage, our warship technology is the best in the world, our artillery technology is also at the forefront of the world, and our influence in China is also huge, as long as we keep the price down, the Americans and the French will definitely not be able to compete with us. Let's have a good test with them! ”

Compared with the depression of the British, the American minister Warren was overjoyed, as the American minister, isn't the biggest responsibility to fight for the interests of the Americans? Fortunately, he got the news in time and poked it out, otherwise he would have really missed it.

When Guo Ye made a fuss about his resignation, Hua Ruohan was shocked, without Guo Ye, he wanted to do it, but it was very rare. The British are not so easy to deal with, they do not have enough connections and strength. It is difficult to make the Qing court change course, and who would offend the British who are in the ascendancy for the sake of others?

However, only three or four days later, an invitation was placed on Warren's desk.

Now Hua Ruohan is completely relieved, with Guo Ye presiding over the overall situation, he is absolutely relieved, as long as you give Guo Ye enough face, so that Guo Ye can maintain the dignity and interests of the country, then this deal will definitely not be good. As for interests, Hua Ruohan is not worried about interests at all, after all, there is more cooperation between the two people, and there is no need to entangle this transaction to divide the high and low, and the long-term flow of water and sincerity is the long-term plan to really do business.

Hua Ruohan received the invitation and began to total, how to plan this plan?

At the same time as receiving the invitation, Guo Ye's personal letter has also arrived, and the news has been revealed, train me a navy, train a navy for me, then this business is yours!

Hua Ruohan naturally understood what Guo Ye meant, in addition to the price, what Guo Ye cared about most was to directly control this navy and control this powerful force in his own hands!

That's easy.

First of all, the price, twelve warships, at the current construction cost, one million and six hundred thousand taels of silver can be almost taken down, training the navy, which requires professional naval instructors to train, well, twelve warships, about two thousand people, including more than 100 technicians, more than 400 operators, plus professional gunners and the navy, two thousand people are enough. 2,000 people, the Americans need to send at least 200 professional officers to conduct training, and the training can be successful in one to two years. Price? In two years, if the average remuneration per person is 1,000 taels of silver, it will be 200,000 taels of silver, dozens of artillery pieces, plus more than 10,000 shells, it is only 300,000 taels of silver, so calculated, 200,000 taels of silver and silver is enough, of course, Guo Ye will still let himself earn a part of the benefits, after all, in business, there is no interest, how can this matter sit up?

Then, plus the profit of 500,000 taels of silver, it should be about the same, no more, Guo Ye is only afraid that he will be unhappy, since he wants to do favors, he must do it more beautifully, so that when Guo Ye takes power in the future, he can seek more benefits!

Hua Ruohan was scheming, and quickly figured out the key and formulated a plan.

First, the four medium-sized warships totaled one million taels of silver; eight small warships, totaling 900,000 taels of silver;

second, 16 main guns and 56 secondary guns, totaling 400,000 taels of silver, and 15,000 rounds of unified artillery shells;

Third, 200 US Navy instructors were recruited to be responsible for training, with a total salary of 300,000 taels for two years, and the Qing government was responsible for daily necessities such as clothing, food, and travel;

Fourth, in order to show friendship between China and the United States, the United States can accept 200 Chinese apprentices to study at the U.S. Naval Academy and shipyards for free.

Fifth, in order to facilitate the Qing government's fund-raising, the Qing government could pay in installments five times within three years, and the interest would be calculated according to the internationally accepted interest standard.

It can be said that in order to win this deal, Hua Ruohan has already worked hard to get his brains, and there is only one purpose, that is, he must take down the Qing court, and he must satisfy Guo Ye, but he has stained a lot of light on Guo Ye, and now he repays the favor, which is the way to be a friend.

While Warrohan was making careful preparations, other countries also began to act nervously, not only France, but also Spain and the Netherlands were alarmed! Even the Tsarist Empire got a kick in it!

Soon, April 25 arrived, and the half-month preparation time was not short, but it was also very intense.

Above the lobby of the Prime Minister's Affairs Yamen, Yi? , Wen Xiang and Guo Ye sat steadily in the middle seat, waiting for the arrival of ministers from various countries, and a fierce battle between the open and the dark began!

(To be continued.) )