Yang Rui wanted to theoretically make the Germans pay attention to the role of submarines in sea power, so that they would change their previous view of despising submarines. But it is clear that he was wrong! In an era when all kings were obsessed with Mahan's theory of sea power, Wilhelm II was certainly no exception, and because of the diplomatic failures of the German government for many years after Bismarck's downfall, the emperor's talent and the legitimacy of the imperial rule had been questioned to a certain extent. Even if what Yang Rui said is correct, even if the submarine proves to be really effective, the Hohenzollern family will not change its course in order to gain the support of the people, and build small and inconspicuous submarines instead of dreadnoughts.

Yang Rui's words, Prince Henry frowned slightly after hearing this, he only thought that the Chinese exaggerated the role of submarines, at least, without a fleet, the North Sea coast could not defend its safety. Yang Rui also saw that the Germans couldn't hear what he said, but he was not discouraged, because this was the result he expected. Although he did not fully understand the complexity of German social class, he knew that it was impossible for the Germans to build submarines instead of dreadnoughts. This is actually the reason why he dared to admonish, the production capacity of German shipyards is limited, if Germany really wants to build submarines, then where will Chinese submarines be built.

The reason why he said this was that he only thought that the people close to Prince Henry, Kaiser and Kaiser, had now sown the important seeds of submarines in his heart, so that when Japan and Japan went to war, Prince Henry would recall what he said today from the example of China's use of submarines, so that Germany would pay more attention to submarines in the war. In order to make Britain weaker, the First World War lasted longer.

After fully digesting Yang Rui's words, Prince Henry whispered a few words in the ears of Drake, Colonel Hainel, and his entourage. Then he said to Yang Rui, "Your Excellency, I hope you can allow them to go to the target ship to see the torpedo." ”

"Of course," Yang Rui understood that he wanted to break these people away, "we have another torpedo for them to test, and if the speed is slowed down, then the torpedo can sail for a long time." They have a good understanding of the torpedo's performance. ”

"You are so generous, thank you very much." Prince Henry stood up and bowed slightly to express his gratitude, and his good impression of Yang Rui in his heart suddenly skyrocketed. He could see that the Chinese were ready to transfer this torpedo technology to Germany.

Yang Rui was just amused to see him so grateful. Although he did not know: in history, after the invention of Langevin vibrator, quartz crystals on the European market were snapped up because of the rarity of large crystals. Even the quartz crystals from geological museums and jewelry stores have been sought out by governments. It was not until the eve of World War II that the problem of crystal deficiency was solved after the discovery of potassium sodium tartrate crystals that could be cultivated, and of course, the final perfect solution was due to the invention of piezoelectric ceramics around 1950, but the actual room told him that the existing quartz crystals in the world can only make a maximum of 2,000 long-nose torpedoes, and according to the current production of quartz mines, the number of long-nose torpedoes that can be manufactured per year will not exceed 500.

The view of the chamber is that piezoelectric ceramics were not studied before. The long-snouting torpedo is not very effective due to the limitation of its numbers, and it also has a fatal weakness. That is, it is easy to be distracted. It is true that Germany used voice-activated torpedoes in World War II, but because several voice-activated torpedoes that did not explode were captured by the Soviet Union, Churchill personally wrote to Stalin, requesting that a torpedo be sent to Britain, and when the torpedo was sent to Britain for a thorough dissection, the British designed a simple anti-acoustic guidance device called Foxer made of two steel pipes, which made the sound-guided torpedo completely ineffective.

The long-nose torpedo, or the first-generation long-nose torpedo, is just a gimmick, but it is still very satisfying to be able to bluff the German Yang Rui. He slightly returned the salute to Prince Henry, and then said: "Your Highness does not need to be too polite, the help of German friends to us is something that no member of the Revival Association will not forget, and every Chinese should not forget it." ”

Listening to Yang Rui's words so close, seeing that there was no one around, Prince Henry asked in a deep voice, "Your Excellency, if there is a war between Germany and Russia in the near future, can you, or Great China, help Germany contain a small number of Russian troops in the Far East?" I believe that with the strength of China and Germany, the war will be won. Moreover, it is well known that Russia has invaded the territory of China the most, and not only that, but they are now trying to swallow Mongolia into their mouths, and the Slavs will always have an insatiable desire for territory. As a token of gratitude to China for sending troops, I can persuade His Majesty to return the rights and interests of Shandong to China, and to support no less than a billion marks of military spending or weapons. ”

The Germans' desire to rally China together against Russia is still not dead. However, in the Far East, that is, only China and Japan could contain Russia, Japan was not only nominally an ally of Britain and was constrained by the third Anglo-Japanese alliance that existed in name only, but also the relations between Germany and Japan had deteriorated since the First Sino-Japanese War when the three countries returned to Liao, and what was worse was that during the Russo-Japanese War, Germany completely turned to Russia, trying to urge Russia to focus on the East and reduce the pressure on the West, all of which made Germany and Japan have deep grievances. On the day of the first meeting, Kaiser Wilhelm II sent a telegram from Berlin to inquire about the negotiation process, and offered a price, that is, more than one billion marks in aid, as for the rights and interests of Shandong, it was added by Henry's arbitrary assertion - he obviously heard the analysis of Yang Rui by the ministers, and it was better to take the initiative to return it than to be snatched back by China, so that there was still a friendship.

Feeling the urgency of the Germans, Yang Rui said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, when is the near future?" Then he pretended to be stupid and said, "Is there really a world war?" ”

Prince Henry was stunned when he heard about the world war, "Your Excellency, Germany has no plans to go to war now, I am just worried that there will be drastic changes in the international situation in the future, and once the war starts, Germany needs your help." ”

"Even if everything is allowed, China will not be ready for war until 1918 or 1920." Yang Rui suddenly gave Germany a little hope, "But if Japan is still so aggressive, I don't know when the war between China and Japan will end after it starts." Your Highness, as I said the other time. If you want to deal with Russia, you must first deal with Japan, and now the submarines and military equipment we have ordered are used against Japan. To attack Russia as soon as possible. It is hoped that Germany will do its best to help China improve its military industry and industrial strength, and after completely winning the war against Japan, China can send troops to the Far East in four to five years. ”

"Is this your promise?!" Prince Henry's eyes lit up even brighter than when he had just looked at the torpedo.

"My promise is that after a complete victory over Japan, the whole country can rest for at least four years, and then I can send troops to the Far East." Yang Rui made the conditions very clear, and Germany said that he had no faith in his words in the future. "Russo-Japanese War. Japan spent 1.7 billion on military spending, at that time he had only 300,000 troops, and now he will have 50 divisions. More than 600,000 troops. In such a war, not to mention casualties, even the military expenditure will exceed one billion taels, so it will take at least four years after the war. Only then can the country be restored. I am very worried that Your Excellency will not be able to resist asking me to send troops early. Although it can't be! ”

After Yang Rui finished explaining the promise, Prince Henry's face turned red and pale, and it took him a while before he said, "I will keep in mind Your Excellency's promise today!" ”

"I'll remember what I said today, too." Yang Rui said, "I hope this promise will be kept secret." Also, shouldn't we get back to today's topic, Mr. Drake's offer is too expensive. ”

The cost of the A-type submarine was pressed to less than two million, the long-nosed torpedo was replaced with some turbine technology, (Chinese engineers were directly involved in the manufacture of the power plant of the King-class battleship), the loan was talked about two-tenths, and Germany made every effort to help China improve its industrial strength and military industrial level, all of which were negotiated after Yang Rui promised to send troops to the Far East. After a rough negotiation of the payment and delivery process, the negotiations with the Germans were considered complete. All that remains is a supplement of some technical details and business details.

In order to celebrate the friendship between China and Germany, in the Summer Palace that night, Yang Rui feasted the equally happy Germans - Prince Henry was happy with Yang Rui's promise, Drake was happy to get such a huge order, and Colonel Hainel was happy that the navy had a magical weapon. After the Germans got drunk, Yang Rui endured his drunkenness and met with Xie Jintai and Yu Huizu, who had been summoned here before.

Hearing Yang Rui's promise to the Germans, Xie Zhangtai hurriedly said: "Actually, you agreed to the Germans so lightly?" Then we are not fighting one war after another, and the country ......" he glanced at Yu Huizu and said, "Can the finances stand it?" ”

Although the finances have improved, with the development of Plan E, the money is becoming less and less. The previous budget was 98 million taels of military spending per year, and this money will certainly not be spent with the current size of the army. The reorganized 40 divisions are more than 30 million taels a year, plus the navy's 5 million taels, border defense, military academies, and military industry, and the military expenditure is only 50 million taels. Although it saves 48 million taels of military spending every year, or 190 million taels in the four years of 11, 12, 13, and 14, even if Germany reduces prices and takes out loans, this money is only enough for the 150 ships purchased from abroad, 50 submarines built by itself, and the corresponding torpedoes.

According to the latest budget of the General Logistics Department and the Ministry of Households, 280 million taels of investment is needed to complete the construction of submarines, torpedoes, naval bases, military factory expansions, aircraft, airfields, and airstrip aircraft carriers. And this is only the navy, the army forty divisions, although the guns are sufficient, but the caliber of artillery and rifles is not uniform, the rifles have self-made Hanyang 88, Mauser 96, Manlisha, Japanese-style golden hook, American Springfield; The artillery is also chaotic, Krupp, Japanese, self-made, not only from a variety of sources, but also several calibers, and the most troublesome thing is that the shells are not universal.

According to his proposal, if we want to have sufficient supplies in wartime, first, we must unify the caliber in a large area, and all the rifles in the military industry are now changed to Mauser 967mm rifles, and the artillery only produces 75mm caliber mountain guns and field guns; The active troops are mainly 7mm Mauser and American-style Chuntian and Hanyang 88 rifles, and the artillery is as much as possible in the Krupp type, and the Japanese style is not enough, and as for the 57mm caliber mountain guns made in Hanyang, they are still placed in the second-line troops.

Second, the mules and horses must be fully equipped, China's roads are extremely poor, not to mention the water network in the south, and there are no good roads in the north, so if we want to establish an infantry division with artillery as the core, then each field division needs 3,000 military horses when each field division is equipped with 54 mountain and field artillery. This is only for personal use, not counting the horses needed far from the railway, but even so. Based on forty divisions, there is still a shortage of 80,000 horses or mules.

Thirdly, the latest military uniforms, backpacks, helmets, and various equipment have been developed, and even the simplest change of clothing - leather boots and belts - these are not changed, and the cost of replacing forty divisions is quite a lot.

In the total budget, the navy will spend 300 million taels on new weapons, formations, and training; The Army removed 50 million taels of daily maintenance, added and replaced weapons, and improved logistics and clothing. 130 million taels will be needed for the production of ammunition, training and exercises. Subtracting the 190 million from the balance of four years, 240 million taels are needed. This money can only ensure that the army is in good condition and has sufficient ammunition when it starts the war, but in fact, after the war, even if it costs only 300 million taels a year. But what if the war doesn't end in a year?

On the one hand, it is necessary to engage in industrial construction. Preparing for military spending and loans to civilian companies on the other hand, these things only made Yu Huizu's head three times bigger. He now heard that he would fight Russia after fighting Japan, and his head was about to explode, so he rushed to say without waiting for Yang Rui to reply: "Actually, the war with Japan is in our place, with convenient transportation and smooth logistics." I also admit that you said 300 million taels of military spending a year; But to fight Russia, not to mention whether the army can stand continuous battles. It's just that you can stand it, if you don't have a billion taels a year, don't even think about going to war. ”

Hearing Yu Huizu's complaint, Yang Rui smiled and said: "Brother Hanzhang, didn't you tell me a few days ago that this year's tax revenue will exceed the estimate because of opium, how can you say that there is no money now?" ”

"According to the current tax rate, the opium tax will be completely broken in three or five years at most, more than 1,000 taels and 1 stone, 78 taels and 1 catties, who can smoke such an expensive opium!" Yu Huizu just reported the good news some time ago that the opium tax is estimated to be 70 million taels this year, and now as soon as Yang Rui asked, he turned his face, and he was afraid that Yang Rui would agree to the Germans indiscriminately.

"If I can collect 200 million opium taxes in three years, then I will be satisfied." Yang Rui said very dissatisfied. "Anyway, this thing is to be banned, and after three years, the money that should be fished out will be exhausted, and he will be extinct in the future. Rest assured, O you. The war in Europe will start in less than three years, and then it will ...... Don't we have a hidden chess piece, it is impossible for Russia to send troops. At most, we will go to Central Asia to go around, as long as it is stable and convenient, it is all a war of law and order, and a few divisions will go over and press the road, and it will not cost much. ”

"Then how do the Germans explain it...... "Xie Zhangtai knows about those Russian revolutionaries, but he doesn't know the power of these people at all, if he says that such a big empire was destroyed by those few inconspicuous people, he doesn't believe it.

"There is no need for an explanation on the German side." Yang Rui is there, "My promise is to fight with Japan for four years, at this time the European war has been fought for a year or two, with Russia's example in the Russo-Japanese War, it will not take a year to participate in the war, and there will be great chaos in the country, within two or three years, then we must withdraw from the war, otherwise there will be a revolution, at this time since he withdrew from the war, do we still need to send troops?" This is a situation where there is no revolution, and if there is a revolution, it will be better to do it. ”

The members of the Renaissance Association have long been familiar with Yang Rui's theory of war in Europe, and since this year, the relationship between the Entente and Germany and Austria has become more antagonistic, and the armaments of various countries are rapidly expanding, and a major war seems to be on the way. Others see it this way, but Xie Zhangtai has a different view, and he bases it on the fact that the situation in the Balkans has been suppressed by Britain and Germany, and neither side wants war to break out, and even if war breaks out, both sides have the intention of accusing it of a local war. If this is true in the Balkans, will it be the same in Europe?

"Actually, why have I seen that everyone in Europe has a plan to avoid conflict recently. If Europe does not go to war, will we not fulfill our promise to attack Russia? Xie Zhangtai said.

When he said this, Yang Rui just smiled: "Then what do you think of us and Japan?" Are you trying to avoid conflict as much as possible? He only asked Xie Jintai for a moment, "If we don't fight with the Japanese, are the Americans willing?" When we went to war with Japan, the United States sat on the hill and watched the dogs fight; The same is true of Russia, which did not sign a third secret treaty with the Japanese, but with us, and is it not precisely for this? Even the British wanted us to go to war with Japan, why? The Japanese have gone too far and gone so far as to seize the market for British goods everywhere - I have already told the Ministry of Commerce that everyone should buy more Japanese goods and less British goods.

On the East Asian side, the surrounding countries want to see a war between China and Japan. And in Europe, Germany, Austria, France and Germany have become China and Japan, these countries are constantly armed, if they really don't fight, after everyone reconciles, the European continent will become a whole, then the British want to cry too late. Brother Chong'an, when I look at Europe, it is simply the calm before the storm, and when everyone is ready, the war will begin. After such a war, Germany was suppressed, France and Russia were weakened, and the world was still British. ”

"You just believe that the British side will win?" Xie Jintai felt that what Yang Rui said was reasonable, but he was worried about pressing the wrong treasure.

"Of course." Yang Rui is sure, "It is said that when Americans chose the official language, German lost because of the difference of one vote. If the Americans really speak German, then we will be on the German side. ”

"You mean the Americans will send troops?" Xie Zhangtai said again.

"If Britain, France and Russia really can't win, those traitors in the United States will stand by and watch?" Yang Rui asked rhetorically: "Even if we don't win against Japan, they will jump out and interfere." Japan used Sun Wen and the Zongshe Party to provoke civil strife in China, while the United States used Sino-Japanese contradictions to provoke civil strife in East Asia. This is a profiteer!

Still don't talk about diplomacy," Yang Rui stopped the momentum of diverging and transferred the topic to finance, "Brother Hanzhang, there has been a great adjustment in the country's strategy, so I'm afraid the previous budget is not enough, can't I get more money?" ”

"400 million yuan for industry and 550 million for military spending, a total of 950 million. The balance of the four years was estimated to be 870 million before, but now if the tax on opium is 130 million for four years, it should be 1 billion taels. The 100 million rubles of Russia are for the construction of the Mongolian railway, and the Americans can use 200 million US dollars, so there are 1.3 billion taels, which is 350 million taels more than the current pre-expenditure, and even if 200 million is set aside for military spending during the conservative period, there will still be 150 million taels. "Yu Huizu's account is the real account, which is a little different from what Yang Rui calculated before, but fortunately, there is a lot of money.

"150 million is not enough." Yang Rui shouted, "Although the 200 million set aside and the balance of 300 million for 15 years can ensure that the war will last for three years, other places also require money." The railway from Xi'an to Xinjiang is more than 3,500 kilometers long, and the preliminary detection report came out some time ago, because after leaving Shaanxi, it is the Gobi Desert or something, and the cost is now roughly estimated to be 230 million taels..."It is actually more than 200 million taels, Yu Huizu and Xie Jintai both gasped, Yang Rui ignored them, and continued: "There is also the railway from Xi'an to Sichuan, 1,100 kilometers, or we have built it ourselves, which will also cost 70 million taels."

Moreover, Germany is now friendly with us, and some equipment and technology that should be bought must always be bought back at this time, and 100 million taels on them is not much. In addition, once the war broke out, the sea route was assumed to be blocked by the Japanese, and the foreign goods were cut off, and those foreign things, foreign yarn, foreign cloth, foreign oil, foreign fire, foreign flour, and foreign ...... Anyway, it's all messy stuff that just happens to be able to produce it yourself. The equipment in these factories always has to be bought back in advance......"

Yang Rui muttered that he had come up with 450 million, minus the remaining 150 million, and there was still 300 million taels missing. Yu Huizu watched Yang Rui shake his lips, tens of millions of silver were gone, and said angrily: "Actually, you can kill me!" Where do I get so much money? ”

"Borrow it!" Yang Rui said: "Isn't there money in the four countries bank group that doesn't have that to spend, now the market interest rate is only four percent, I heard that the Japanese have borrowed one billion in London and Paris, 500 million more than they needed before, and they are still borrowing." We also have to borrow a little more, otherwise the foreigners in Europe will think that we don't have the courage to go to war with Japan. ”

"Four cents can only be borrowed in Japan, and Yokohama Kim Jong Bank can sell bonds directly in the London and Paris bond markets, but we can't." Yu Huizu sighed, "Japan is an ally of the British, and during the Russo-Japanese War, they were linked to the Rothschilds, and we couldn't borrow money from them." (To be continued......)