The industry's low tariff policy encourages greater depth of mutual investment and trade between the two countries.

Like Japan, France also used the equal amount of the Boxer Indemnity paid for education aid to China, and provided some very loose French study abroad policies - of course, the wave of studying in France has sequelae, it depends on how to grasp the pros and cons.

It's right.

Song Biao could see that Jiang Fangzhen was still reluctant to maintain a long-term cooperative relationship with Germany, so he comforted him: "Don't think too extreme in everything, nor too radical, especially when he is in the position of Chief of Staff, he should do everything.

Considering the overall situation and long-term national interests, you must know it. Having said that, there will always be some good news when you go to France for so long."

Jiang Fangzhen could only nodded and said, "The emperor is very disciplined. If you want to talk about good news, there are actually some. France is indeed very enthusiastic about the alliance. After all, they are in the battle with Britain and Germany. At an obvious weakness, we have to adopt the strategy of forming alliances. France has made great achievements in the field of artillery. To be honest, it is even better than German artillery. During this inspection in France, I am grateful for it. Care. I had the opportunity to personally inspect some of France's key new artillery. France did have a new model of long-stroke tube annealing gun, and its technology was very advanced, which was better than the new model jointly developed by my country and Germany. The French side has agreed to This model of 75mm field gun is authorized to be produced in my country, with a range of up to 11 kilometers, which is amazing, and the cost of technology transfer is still very low. It is almost free to give us this set of technology, including the original three-inch Lucia field gun , French Schneider Company will carry out modification designs to provide new long-stroke retractors and gun mounts, including on railway artillery. France also agreed to continue to sell 305mm caliber m1906 railway heavy artillery to us, with the gun weight already 18 tons , much more powerful than the 240mm railway heavy artillery we bought before."

After a brief pause, Jiang Fangzhen continued: "Overall, France is still trying hard to replace the military cooperation relationship between Germany and our country. As long as we form an alliance, they can basically give us what they have. Of course, they also want to

We bought out the patent for the Popning submachine gun and the patent for the 60mm mortar. Actually, I suggest that they use our Shenyang rifle. They currently use the Lebel M1907 rifle, which is very behind. I really can't understand why they are.

Without changing the gun, although there is a new Bettier rifle, it is not much better. The magazine capacity is only three rounds, which really makes me wonder where to start. I gave them some suggestions. It is recommended that they use Shenyang rifle directly.

, The most basic capacity of our magazine is eight rounds. Not only is the design and model of the rifle old, but the French Army is even using old round-headed bullets with 8mm caliber. I listened to their meaning, and after introducing the Popning submachine gun, I also planned to

It is incredible to continue to use this old-fashioned ammunition with an 8mm caliber. As for the military ideas of their army, it is completely different from ours, and even lag behind the entire European continent, they have wasted their advanced technology artillery."

Song Biao smiled and said, "Let them do whatever they want. As long as they have good things, we will come down and don't worry about the others."

Jiang Fangzhen sighed: "It seems that there is only one way now."

Although Jiang Fangzhen and many other subordinates of the Central Military Commission were confused about forming alliances with France and giving up cooperation with Germany, Song Biao knew that this decision was correct and even extremely wise.

In recent years, hard work, especially in expanding the military industry, can make a fortune completely during the war. No matter how much money you borrow from France now, you can basically pay it off after the end of the four-year war, and even make pure profits.

Grain production also has to be improved with great efforts. During World War I, China can make money by selling grain. Of course, this goal is still very difficult, because although China has a large area of ​​arable land, the per capita grain is really not high, and agricultural infrastructure construction

Too weak, it is very difficult to expand grain production unless you work hard to reclaim new arable land, which is not worth the cost.

It was already late, and Song Biao still had to continue working and sent Jiang Fangzhen to leave first. He ignored the early hours of the morning and continued to call Cheng Biguang over to ask about the situation of his inspection in France.

Logically speaking, the French Navy is definitely more dismal than the Army, because in the entire European and American powers, even Japan actively pursues battleships and fearless-class battleships, but the French Navy inexplicably emerged a naval idea called the "New School".

After the end of the French-Prussian War, with the economic decline and industrial decline, part of the French Navy began to advocate using small ships, especially weapons such as torpedo boats and torpedoes to deal with large warships, and use these weapons to lock French seaports and colonial ports.

At the same time, cruisers are used to patrol the colonial sea to ensure the prosperity of commercial transportation and trade, and to pursue the smallest cost to defeat the enemy.

As a result, the French Navy completely stopped progressing and had always been on the idea of ​​building cruisers and torpedo boats. It was not until 1900 that the French battleship faction became mainstream again and restarted the new French ship plan, which could be done in 1903.

-In 1905, the Navy Minister, who was born in the New School, came to power and once again brought France back to the New School, and stopped building a large number of battleships originally planned. When the Battleships regained their status in 1906, the battleships from France, England, Germany and other countries were defeated.

The technical gap is already too big.

The most serious thing is the creative spirit and liberalism of the French, so that every battleship, cruiser, and even the main gun of the same model and caliber have great differences and "autonomy". All main gun shells are

It's different.

The tragedy has reached its peak.

Song Biao originally thought Cheng Biguang would have more accusations, but the result surprised him. Cheng Biguang was not as strong as Jiang Fangzhen's capital to tell the truth and complain. He looked at the current situation of the Chinese Navy more objectively and felt that he had a comprehensive cooperation with the French Navy.

Not bad, too.

Cheng Biguang also saw the new model of the Brittany-class battleship that France is designing. Because the French dreadnought of the previous class still uses two main gun calibers in the design, this is the first-class dauntless in France in its true sense.

Ship.

After all, France was once a naval power. It has rich technological heritage, developed shipbuilding industry, and strong technological innovation capabilities. It is at least much stronger than Russia. The Brittany-class battleship under construction has excellent performance and design. France also agreed to sell two.

The ship is given to China to enhance the strength of the Chinese navy against the German and Japanese navy.

Although France and Britain have reached a peaceful agreement, both sides are firm allies during World War I, but before World War I broke out, Britain and France had not actually put on the same pair of pants. If Germany had not challenged the army and the navy at the same time

, Britain and France are absolutely ally.

Even at this time, Britain and France were still two completely different camps in the world. France and Russia were alliances, Britain and Japan were alliances, France and Russia tried to completely pull China into alliances, confronting the British and Japanese alliances in Asia, and suppressing the British and Japanese alliances in Asia.

space for development.

Cheng Biguang's current evaluation of French ships, especially battleships, is not high overall, especially compared with Britain and Germany. It is just that France has recently launched a new third-class battleship, and it still has quite positive comments.

Especially considering the various special circumstances facing China, Cheng Biguang suggested that two Dandong-class battleships could be introduced from France under funding permission. He believed that this was the best battleship between the dreadnought and the former dreadnought.

.

Song Biao was not in a hurry to agree to such a proposal, but just took the information submitted by Cheng Biguang and searched it, and waited for a few days to give Cheng Biguang a reply.

That night, or early morning, Song Biao fell asleep very late and carefully read the inspection report on the French army submitted by Jiang Fangzhen and Cheng Biguang.

Unlike Jiang Fangzhen and Cheng Biguang, he didn't have much anxiety. In his opinion, the French army still has many places worth learning and introducing by the Central Defense Forces of China, such as French artillery, chemical weapons, submarines, torpedo ships, destroyers,

cruiser.

The French navy's new school of thought actually left some very good legacy for France, such as French submarines, torpedo ships, torpedo technology, destroyers and cruisers were still ahead of the world during this period, especially its cruisers and

Battleships have very clear characteristics, focusing on defense against torpedo technology.

After reading the French Navy's inspection report, Song Biao wanted to purchase several cruisers and destroyers from France, and to buy design drawings and production drawings, and asked France to send people to provide assistance and guidance.
Chapter completed!