"Xu, please prepare yourself. There will be a guest from Spain tomorrow. We will discuss business with him at the design bureau." During dinner, Leo said excitedly. After all, this is the first time for a warship he designed to be taken away.

It has commemorative significance.

"It seems that Spain is accelerating the pace of revitalizing its navy." After dinner, Xu Jie thought silently. In his world, as a former colonial power, Spain was still working hard to maintain its fleet.

, and began to accelerate the construction of the fleet after 1890. There is no other reason. After all, Spain still has two important overseas colonies, the Philippines and Cuba, that need to be maintained. And when the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, the Spanish navy, which was operating dismally,

Santiago and Manila were defeated twice, not only losing the two important colonies of Cuba and the Philippines, but also permanently losing the opportunity and need for the development of the Spanish Navy. After the Peace of Paris, Spain continued to be in the entire imperialist colonial system.

Not even the Netherlands. After all, the Netherlands still controls the huge Indonesia.

From a strategic point of view, the Spanish-American War finally determined the hegemony of the United States throughout the Americas. More importantly, the United States not only took over two important colonies, Cuba and the Philippines, but also acquired a series of islands in the Pacific such as Guam and Puerto Rico.

Extending its tentacles to the Far East, it finally laid a solid foundation for the US imperialism to turn the entire Pacific into the ocean of the United States. It also prepared the rise of the US Navy. So deep down, Xu Jie did not want the US Navy to be like this

The rapid rise of the United States did not want the U.S. Navy to extend its tentacles to the Far East before 1900. In Xu Jie's plan, after all, if the United States captured the Philippines and a series of islands, and cooperated with the powerful U.S. industry, the United States would eventually

Blocking China within the first island chain was not what Xu Jie wanted to see. Therefore, Xu Jie decided to make every effort to help Spain and Cuba face the US fleet.

It is probably hanging. But the four cruisers of Duwei in the Far East were just scum in the eyes of the great powers in 1898. (The largest was 5,000 tons, the smallest was 3,000 tons.) Of course, the Spanish fleet in Manila Harbor was even scum.

Not as good as.

**Ship Design Bureau Conference Room.

"Let me introduce you, this is Admiral Severa from the Kingdom of Spain." Entrusted Leo introduced to Xu Jie.

"Hello, Mr. Xu, Spanish Royal Navy Admiral Severa." The visitor stepped forward and extended his right hand.

"Hello, dear admiral. On behalf of all the staff of the ** Ship Design Bureau, I welcome your arrival." Xu Jie also stretched out his right hand to shake hands with Severa. After a few polite words to each other, the two parties began to get down to business.

"The **-class dome-armored cruiser designed by you and Mr. Xu is very excellent. Our Spanish Navy is very interested in it, so we made a special trip to your country to negotiate the contract for this class of warship." A man who looked like an adjutant handed over two documents.

It was in the hands of Entrust Leo and Xu Jie.

"Do you mean to produce this type of warship in a Spanish shipyard?" Leo frowned and asked.

"It's like this. If you agree to provide technical support and build them in Spain, I think the Spanish Navy will order two **-class dome-armored cruisers." The adjutant said.

"You should understand that there is an essential difference between providing technology for your production and purchasing the entire ship from us." Entrusted Leo said seriously.

"We can buy technology. The price will definitely satisfy you." Severa said.

"Price is one aspect, but more importantly, will the Italian Navy agree to your purchase of technology? You must know that this is a cutting-edge battleship, and both the Italian Navy and Mr. Breen value this battleship very much. Italy

The fact that the Navy ordered 4 ships at once is enough to illustrate the problem." Leo said very dissatisfied.

"We are negotiating with the Italian Navy on this issue. I don't think we need to worry about the issue of technology export. We would like to know more now, how much do you plan to sell the relevant technology for?" Severa asked somewhat proudly.

"Sir, I would like to remind you that even if the Italian military agrees to transfer technology, our ** Ship Design Bureau has the final say whether to sell it or not. To tell you bluntly, I will not sell **-class domes at the moment.

Technical information on A-class cruiser." Entrusted Leo was very dissatisfied when he heard that the other party left him alone to contact the Navy Department.

"Mr. Leo, I misunderstood you. In order to export the technology of this type of ship, we will have to contact the Italian Navy sooner or later. We just did this in advance." Severa

explained.

"But you only bought the drawings and did not let Italy participate in the hull construction. I think neither the Italian naval department nor the major naval shipyards will be very satisfied. Your technical negotiations with Italian officials will also be affected." Xu Jie tactfully said.

said. His intention was very clear, not allowing the Italian shipyard and the military to obtain certain benefits. Transferring technology is probably unlikely.

"You know, the Spanish Navy is still very satisfied with this class of warships. But we have our own national conditions. Our financial situation in recent years has only allowed us to purchase two new dome-armored cruisers. In order to improve the domestic shipbuilding level, we

We need to purchase technology and build it domestically." The adjutant said seriously.

"If you don't agree to the technology transfer, I think our country can only settle for the next best thing and buy the British dome cruiser. They said that there is no problem with the technology transfer. Although it is technically not as good as your ** class, in the long run

Look, I think buying British technology and building it in Spanish shipyards is more suitable from a technical and economic point of view than buying warships in your country." Admiral Cervera smiled.

"Purchase technology from the UK and build it yourself? I can responsibly say that as far as dome-armored cruisers are concerned, the UK will not build a battleship with the same cost performance as the **-class within 2 years." Xu Jie sneered, and only now

What were the protected cruisers of Armstrong Shipyard in 1899? Even the Blanco Encarada cruiser launched by Chile in 1893 only surpassed the **-class in performance. Before 1992, it would not have been compared with the **-class at all.

Quite a dome cruiser.

"Even taking into account the benefits brought by technology transfer and self-construction, I don't think the Spanish naval department will order an outdated warship that is already more than three years behind the Italian Navy just after buying it?" Looking at Cervera, he hesitated to speak.

With a stunned expression, Xu Jie said seriously. "Since we want to save money, every silver coin must be converted into real combat effectiveness. I don't think it is possible for ships like the current Armstrong Shipyard to become obsolete in a few years."

The discerning eye of your navy."

"I think there may be some misunderstandings between us. I suggest that we adjourn the meeting and eliminate our respective misunderstandings first." After being stunned for a while, Severa said with a slight embarrassment.
Chapter completed!