"What a good estimate. The Japanese only have 2 dome-armored clippers now, but you have compiled 6! You are really talking nonsense. |Updating text chapters at high speed|" Master Weng said with a sarcastic face.

"Although it is speculation, it is well-founded. If the emperor doesn't believe it, I can make a bet with Mr. Weng." When Xu Jie heard Weng Tonghe's words, his face couldn't help but look ferocious.

"How to bet?" Guangxu asked with a frown.

"Lord Weng, do you think Japan will purchase a few more new dome-armored cruisers in the future?" Xu Jie glanced at Weng Tonghe and said.

"Here, judging from the financial resources of the Japanese, they can only buy two more ships at most." Master Weng felt a little guilty when he heard that he was going to bet. But the words he said were spilled, and he would not be able to regret it.

"I guarantee with my life that in addition to the dome-armored cruisers that have been built and are in service, the Japanese will buy at least 3 more dome-armored cruisers or even ironclads. I don't know if Master Weng dares to guarantee with his life that the Japanese will only buy 2 A dome-armored cruiser?" At this point, Xu Jie smiled contemptuously at Weng Tonghe. He couldn't guarantee anything else, but Xu Jie was at least certain that the Japanese would never wait for the Beiyang Navy to grow bigger without saying anything.

When Xu Jie said this, everyone in the audience was shocked. No one expected that a naval introduction that was just a formality could cause such a thing, and Master Weng even didn't expect that this newcomer who wanted to come back from abroad could be so ruthless. When it comes to Qingliu, It would be great if they could really have the kind of bravery and fearlessness that they advertise, but such tough guys are rare in the clear stream, and Weng Tonghe has nothing to do with the four words "violence and fearlessness of death". No, it's so big. Sweat was already dripping from your head, your face was red but you didn't dare to speak. You said yes, but you didn't know what to do. What if the Japanese really bought more than 3 warships as this guy said? And look. This guy's tone was very confident. Relatively speaking, Master Weng believed him more. After all, this is what he does!!

And Guangxu didn't react for a while. Just when he was listening with interest, (Why are you interested? No one has talked about it before, everyone is curious!!) Suddenly this happened, and you said yes, because This matter is not good for his teacher or Li Hongzhang's disciples. If he doesn't agree, the teacher will lose face. Guangxu has no choice but to look at Cixi, but Cixi has a calm look on her face. The feeling of play.

"Master Weng, the director is in the household department. This naval affairs should be handled by professionals." After a while, Li Hongzhang said with a hint of sarcasm. The subtext of this sentence is, don't pretend to understand. And Weng Master just can't refute, how to refute? If Lao Li says one more thing, then let's continue the bet and fight. Isn't Master Weng looking for trouble? If he remains silent, then he admits defeat, but it's the lesser of the two. Master Weng lives in good faith The valuable principle is to choose to remain silent and admit defeat~~. In any case, this embarrassing situation was finally brushed aside by Lao Li. As for whether Master Weng was slapped in the face, no one thought about it. In other words, no one planned to seriously consider this matter. Xu Jie also knew enough not to dwell on this issue, but continued his introduction.

"In addition to this main fleet, the Japanese also have powerful backup forces. Although these battleships are outdated, the combat effectiveness of these battleships is still stronger than our Beiyang Chaoyong. There are a total of 6 of these unprotected cruisers, namely Katsuragi, Musashi, Yamato, Tenryu, Takao and Chikushi. These warships have a displacement of about 1,500 tons and are equipped with 5 to 9 guns. At the same time, the Japanese fleet also has a large number of gunboats and more than 20 torpedo boats to protect the homeland." End of introduction. After the Japanese fleet, Xu Jie sighed and continued: "Although we, Beiyang, still have some advantages compared to our Beiyang, if we, Beiyang, stand still, in five years at most, our Beiyang will be far behind the Japanese navy. At that time, if we were defeated, we would inevitably have to cede territory and pay compensation."

"From this point of view, we, the Qing Dynasty, really have to continue to make great military preparations to defend against the enemy?" Guangxu said after listening.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Xu Jie replied.

"But the money in the household department is really not enough to support the construction of the navy. What should we do?" The old man asked unwillingly. He did not dare to bother with the navy issue anymore, so he had to go back to his old business in the household department.

Talk about things.

"European countries are less than the size of our Qing Dynasty province, but they have become rich thanks to Western industries. Why can't our Qing Dynasty learn from this?" Xu Jie said in a low voice.

"But the equipment made by our Qing Dynasty is not as good as that of foreigners, and the price is actually higher than that of foreigners. From this point of view, in the end, this westernization is not as good as buying foreigners. How can we make money?" Master Weng finally grasped one point.

Lao Li's question became more interesting.

"The fact that the Westerners can do it but we in the Qing Dynasty cannot do it means that some areas need to be improved, such as the factory management system or the labor system. It does not mean that we in the Qing Dynasty can't do it. If we shrink back when there are some difficulties, then nothing will be accomplished.

"Xu Jie is also quite depressed. If you say that there are many money-losing transactions in the Westernization Project, Lao Li is to blame. Xu Jie also has opinions, but he cannot say these things clearly. After all, Lao Li and himself are now in the same group.

of!!

"So, Li Zhongtang also had a problem of improper handling due to oversight?" Master Weng said with a proud smile.

"If Li Zhongtang can take charge of the manufacturing bureau, the price of arms purchased in Beiyang will not be higher than that of overseas. I am afraid that if Mr. Zhongtang takes some extraordinary measures, some people in the DPRK will start talking nonsense again."

Xu Jie was so depressed that he had no choice but to say that there were constraints in the center, which affected the operation of the manufacturing bureau.

"If, as you say, the Tianjin Manufacturing Bureau is completely managed by Beiyang, the price of purchasing the same kind of weapons will be lower than that purchased by foreigners?" Cixi said.

"If Beiyang can be responsible for personnel appointments and dismissals, funds can be fully distributed, and the scale can be decided by Beiyang on its own, at least 20% of the equipment of our Beiyang Army can be provided by the Tianjin Manufacturing Administration within four years." There is no other way, this is it.

At that time, Xu Jie had no choice but to bite the bullet.

"In other words, within 4 years, the Tianjin Manufacturing Administration can provide enough weapons to arm an army of 10,000 people?" Cixi was very clear about the financial resources of Lao Li's subordinates. 20% of the 50,000 Huai army was naturally 10,000

people.

"If, in this case, I, Beiyang, will be responsible for the personnel appointments and removals in operational matters, and the funds can be guaranteed to be fully in place, and the army will purchase arms from the Tianjin Manufacturing Bureau at parity with Western prices, I am willing to issue a military order. If it cannot be completed, I am willing to be punished!" After fighting,

Xu Jie gritted his teeth and said.

"Then it will be as you say. You will be the Prime Minister of Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau." Cixi did not waste any words. In her opinion, if it is completed, it will naturally save a lot of money. Manufacturing bureaus in other places can also learn from it. If it cannot be completed,

Having cut off Li Hongzhang's arm, Lao Li had nothing to say. It could be said that this was a sure-fire business.

Afterwards, a group of people talked about some insignificant issues. This historically known as the Three Seas Maritime Conference had a far-reaching impact on all parties. For Li Hongzhang's Beiyang and Ding Ruchang's, Xu Jie finally proved that he was still talented.

and loyalty to Beiyang. As for Qingliu, represented by Weng Tonghe, after his capable general Wen Tingshi and others were exiled for speaking out, he once again lost face in public. So much so that he would not be able to find trouble in the future.

I couldn't speak anymore. So before the Sino-Japanese War, Weng Tonghe never made any remarks on maritime affairs. In Cixi's view, Xu Jie, as a famous little character, had not yet caught her eye. Although she agreed on the spot to take full responsibility for Beiyang

The operation of the Tianjin Manufacturing Bureau also ensures full funding and the purchase of Western weapons from the Tianjin Manufacturing Bureau at the same price. But in her opinion, this Xu Jie is just a technical figure and has no political ambitions. What she has to consider now

Yes, how can we give Nanyang some benefits while Beiyang buys new ships and increases its armament, so as to check and balance Beiyang?
Chapter completed!