Chapter 1626 I feel itchy

In fact, the reason why Ming Dynasty did not import a large amount of weapons and equipment from Haihan is very complicated. It is not simply a matter of price negotiation or different political stances. On the one hand, both countries are very cautious about the content of this sensitive transaction.

There are many concerns that cannot be easily compromised; on the other hand, it is indeed because Haihan's weapons production capacity is still relatively limited. In addition to its own use and provision to a few major allies, the production capacity that can actually be used for export to Ming Dynasty is actually extremely limited, and there is no

It is not enough to change the passive situation that Ming Dynasty currently faces in domestic and foreign wars.

From Haihan's point of view, large-scale military assistance to the Ming Dynasty is not an ideal plan. Even if the Executive Committee keeps talking about the brotherhood, everyone knows that this is just diplomatic rhetoric.

For the Han Dynasty, a weak Ming Dynasty was of course easier to influence and control, so as of now, restrictions on the export of weapons to the Ming Dynasty have not been completely relaxed.

According to the Liaodong Agreement agreed between the two countries, Haihan will sell 200 artillery pieces of various types and 3,000 muskets to Ming Dynasty in the next two years. It sounds like a lot, but in fact this number is not even comparable to Annan. Since last year

After the friction with Siam over the border demarcation issue, Annan has placed an additional order for more than 300 artillery pieces and 5,000 muskets from Haihan. Of course, such a large order cannot be delivered in a short time, so

It will also be divided into several batches and delivered within two years.

Whether the weapons were exported to Ming Dynasty or Annan, they relied heavily on Haihan for the supply of ammunition and spare parts. Of course, the self-produced gunpowder was not unusable, but its performance was inferior to that of Haihan's original products.

It is through this method that Haihan controls the actual combat effectiveness of military aid targets.

Fei Cexian didn't know the inside story of these international arms trade. He just wanted to win the opportunity for Ming Dynasty to purchase these killer weapons. Moreover, he believed that Haihan asked Bai Kesi to take him to visit the place where the weapons were made. It should be more than just

Just take a look, after all, the Haihan people are famous for not letting go of any opportunity to make money. So he took the initiative to ask Bai Kesi, if Ming Dynasty needs it, whether it can increase arms orders on the basis of the Liaodong Agreement.

Fei Cexian would ask such a question, which was indeed expected by Bai Kesi. After all, there must be a huge difference between the arms orders that are done on paper like in Liaodong and the actual production of guns here. According to the previous experience

Based on our experience, there are very few customers who can bear not to talk about arms purchase after arriving here, and this Ming envoy seems to be no exception.

"Master Fei may not know much about the situation here. Let me briefly explain it to Master Fei first." Bai Kesi did not immediately respond to Fei Cexian's question, but started to talk about other topics.

Baikes first boasted about the performance of his own weapons, and then listed the key roles played by these weapons in many past battles. Then he told Fei Cexian that Haihan's current arms orders had been scheduled for the year after next, and that several allies

They were all waiting for Haihan to supply the goods. Fei Cexian was confused at first, but then he suddenly realized that the other party had put so many conditions in front of them, just to stock up on goods and ask for high prices.

As expected, Bai Kesi changed the subject and said: "According to the actual situation, this is definitely impossible to add, but if Daming is willing to pay an extra coordination fee, then I can also think of another way."

After all, it still costs money! Fei Cexian despised the philistines of Haihan senior officials in his heart. Although he didn't understand what hungry marketing was, he also knew that what Bai Kesi said before was all paving the way for the final offer.

The export price of Haihan's arms is not cheap, and can even be described as expensive. If the price is increased on this basis, it will indeed be a test for the buyer's financial resources. With Ming Dynasty's current stretched military expenditure,

It is really difficult to afford large amounts of military purchases.

But Fei Cexian was unwilling to ask Bai Kesi how to calculate this so-called coordination fee.

"Add 30% to the original price as coordination fee." Bai Kesi gave the answer without hesitation.

Thirty percent! Fei Cexian was immediately dissuaded by this offer. It was not that he couldn't accept the price increase from Haihan people, but it was 30% when he opened his mouth. This was really hard for him to accept. Of course, the most important thing is that Bai Kesi just listed such a

A lot of conditions came out, which showed that the 30% price increase was not a random increase. He was not good at bargaining in business, and now he could not find a reason to bargain.

Fei Cexian didn't like the feeling of being taken advantage of. In the past, he had met with foreign envoys and even princes and ministers on behalf of the Ministry of Rites, and he had never experienced such an experience. Who dares to rip off the Ming Empire is not asking for trouble? But it seems that the Haihan people

There is no such consciousness at all. It is even hard for Fei Cexian to believe that these words were said by a top Haihan official. It is as incredible as the Ming Dynasty's cabinet bachelor personally participating in the bargaining. But looking at Bai Kesi's expression,

This is as normal as eating and sleeping, and even the serious attitude is a bit lacking.

"I have always heard that all the people in Haihan are businessmen, and today I finally learned the lesson." Fei Cexian could only laugh at himself with a wry smile.

Bai Kesi did not take this seriously: "Master Fei, you don't need to be so serious. Our country is just used to clearly stating the actual prices. It is not that we have any ill intentions towards the Ming Dynasty. If Master Fei finds this method unacceptable, then we will just expose this topic and not talk about it."

Already."

Fei Cexian refused to talk about what was in his heart. How could he fulfill the wishes of you and other profiteers? He immediately changed the subject and said: "In addition to Annan, I wonder which other countries your country sells weapons to. Can Mr. Bai reveal a few details?"

"

Bai Kesi responded: "This is a bit much. There are about ten countries on the South China Sea alone, but Annan, as a military ally of our country, will purchase a relatively larger quantity."

"Our country also bought a lot, right? I heard that most of the weapons equipped in some places in the south are purchased from your country." Fei Cexian asked sarcastically. Haihan asked the Fujian military in the Fujian area

In fact, it is no secret that the Fujian Navy sells a large number of standard weapons. The Fujian Navy claims to have a complete set of Haihan equipment. From guns to ships to the combat command methods of officers, they are all made by Haihan. Some people even call Fujian

The Navy is the "Little Haihan Army". As long as the military uniforms and flags are changed, it can pretend to be the Haihan Navy at sea.

The Ming court was not ignorant of this, but what could it do to Xu Xinsu and his gang? The court originally gave Xu Xinsu a general status because he had an irresolvable hatred with the "Eighteen Zhi" pirate group.

He wanted to use his family property and maritime power to contain the pirate forces in the Fujian Strait. However, he never thought that Haihan's intervention would completely deviate from the original historical trajectory of this arrangement. Xu Xinsu not only did not die at the hands of Zheng Yiguan, but instead replaced him.

Zheng Yiguan's life trajectory has led him to become a powerful warlord who could control the local situation.

Dismissal and investigation? I'm afraid there will be an armed rebellion in Fujian soon. While the peasant army rebellion in the Central Plains has not yet been quelled, the Ming Dynasty cannot afford civil strife of this nature. Moreover, this is a professional army equipped with high-end weapons.

, and with Haihan as his backer, its combat effectiveness is not comparable to that of the mud-legged people in the Central Plains who put down their farm tools and picked up swords and guns. No one in the court dared to mention this method, because no one could bear the responsibility for the rebellion in the south.

Of course, there is another way in theory, which is for the imperial court to issue an order to transfer Xu Xinsu to Nanjing or Beijing and then put her under house arrest, gradually clearing up the local garrison that has deteriorated in Fujian. But the problem is that Xu Xinsu has now become a powerful person in Fujian.

He was a person who listened to the announcement but not the tune, and had secret guidance from Haihan. Emperor Chongzhen sent people to Fujian several times to announce that he would be promoted to Minister of War, but Xu Xinsu declined in every possible way. In the end, he just refused to accept the offer and refused to let go of his military power.

Nor will I leave Fujian.

With Xu Xinsu's attitude, the court naturally couldn't arrange for someone to go to Fujian to take his place. Otherwise, he would suddenly die suddenly as soon as he crossed the border of Fujian, and his whereabouts would even be unknown. And if Xu Xinsu was forced to rebel, he might be killed.

Giving Haihan a channel for armed invasion of the Ming Dynasty was a scene that the imperial court absolutely did not want to see. It could not leave Haihan such an opportunity in any case. Therefore, although Xu Xinsu had obviously followed the imperial court's instructions,

But no one could do anything to him. Even senior officials such as Fujian Governor Xiong Wencan occasionally had to act based on Xu Xinsu's face.

The fact that the Ming court pretended to be deaf and dumb does not mean that all the officials below would also pretend not to know. For example, Fei Cexian, who happened to know some of the inside information, was extremely dissatisfied with this. If Xu Xinsu and his like had betrayed the Ming Dynasty, then that would be

That's all, but as an official of the imperial court, he secretly colluded with Haihan Han, formed a private armed force, and resisted the imperial edict. This was a serious crime of beheading. Although he did not dare to go to Fujian to cause trouble, he secretly mocked the two of them in front of the senior officials of Haihan.

I still have the courage to write a sentence.

When Bai Kesi heard these words of gun and stick, he naturally knew that Fei Cexian meant something. But Xu Xinsu and Haihan had cooperated for so many years. It can be said that the trust and dependence between the two parties were very deep. How could Fei Cexian's friendship be the same?

An outsider can easily slander Xian. Bai Kesi smiled and said: "Master Fei, those who were able to directly buy a large number of weapons and equipment from us in the past are special beings who are regarded by our country as one of our own. I can say that enough

Do you understand?"

Baix specially emphasized the word "directly" and excluded the Ming Dynasty. Before signing the Liaodong Agreement, the Ming Dynasty had no way to purchase weapons directly from Haihan. It was only Haihan who borrowed the help of the Portuguese.

Through the channel, I would sell some basic models of weapons and equipment every one and a half years. But Xu Xinsu’s treatment here was of course very different. Every time, he would bring a shipload of gold and silver, and when he returned, he would bring a shipload of weapons and equipment.

When the war between Xu Xinsu and Shibazhi was at its fiercest, Haihan specially sent military advisors to Fujian to guide Xu Xinsu's troops in combat. Not everyone can enjoy this kind of ally treatment, at least the Ming Dynasty does not have this yet.

qualifications.

The corner of Fei Cexian's mouth twitched twice, thinking that what you said was really rude. You regard Xu Xinsu as one of your own, so how should Ming Dynasty treat this matter?

But Fei Cexian couldn't get angry at Bai Kesi. It was not his task to offend Haihan's senior officials, and he couldn't bear the serious consequences that might result. He could only cough twice to cover up his embarrassment, and automatically ignored Bai Kesi's words.

respond.

Bai Kesi was not aggressive at all. Seeing that Fei Cexian had taken the initiative to end the topic, he stopped holding on to it. In fact, Haihan knew very well about the attitude of the Ming Dynasty towards Xu Xinsu. Xu Xinsu's actions in Fujian

There were many intentions originally coming from Haihan. It is certain that the Ming court was dissatisfied with this, but Haihan also knew that Emperor Chongzhen did not dare to attack Xu Xinsu, so he kept him as a local warlord. If there was a real fall out

When the day comes, Xu Xinsu and his family will of course turn to Haihan's side without hesitation.

After watching a round of cannon casting operations, Bai Kesi took Fei Cexian to the next assembly workshop. What was produced here was Haihan's standard flintlock rifle specifically for export. But here only the barrel, bolt, and

The gun butt and other parts are assembled together, but the production process of the parts is actually invisible.

"Thirty to fifty rifles can be assembled here every day, depending on the rifle model and our manpower arrangements. All the rifles produced here are exported to other countries. We then sold them to Daming in accordance with the Liaodong Agreement

Some of the standard weapons are produced here." Bai Kesi introduced to Fei Cexian.

Fei Cexian heard that the rifles produced here would be equipped in the Ming Dynasty army in the future, so he naturally became more interested. He approached the work station and carefully watched how the assemblers put these parts together to turn them into a powerful weapon that can kill people.

.But to be honest, he is really a layman on these things. He can't understand the principles after reading it, let alone whether this operation is good or bad.

After pretending to watch for a while, Fei Cexian asked Bai Kesi: "Master Bai, if this kind of musket is used against the Tatar soldiers outside the pass, what are the chances of winning?"

Bai Kesi said: "There is no definite statement about this. On the battlefield, the situation changes rapidly. The weapons of the participating troops are only one of the factors that affect the outcome of the battle, but there is no absolute answer. For example, if it happens to be pouring rain during the war, then the muskets will be

It can only be used as a fire stick, and it will definitely not be able to fight with the boar-skin cavalry. But if it is a city defense battle with a shelter, then the defenders have thousands of muskets and the victory is basically guaranteed, because the range of this thing is longer than that of bows and arrows.

If it is far away, and supplemented by fortifications, it can completely suppress the enemy's infantry and cavalry charges from a long distance."

Fei Cexian actually didn't understand it very clearly, but when Bai Kesi said it clearly and clearly and seemed to be very powerful, he could only nod his head in agreement.
Chapter completed!