Just like a snowball, Chen Wenqiang is getting bigger and stronger because of his ability and good luck. ●⌒,

Logically speaking, the Hubei gun factory handed over to him to manage should be a good thing that is beneficial but not harmful to outsiders. From the perspective of the Revival Society, this is the best guarantee for mastering the military industry and launching a revolution in the two lakes. However, Chen Wenqiang's ideas are very different from others, and he has his own concerns and considerations about how to take over.

The Hubei Guns and Cannon Factory has many benefits in its hands, but it will also become a burden. It is very simple. If you take over, you have to manage it well. Chen Wenqiang will never invest money in the bottomless pit without any benefits. The guns and cannons they created must supply the Qing army before they change their faces publicly, whether they are new or old, or whether they support the revolution in the future.

More importantly, a well-managed arsenal will inevitably be the focus of the struggle between both the enemy and us after the outbreak of the revolution. The revolutionary army must invest heavily to protect the arsenal to ensure that it does not fall into the opponent. Not to mention whether the fierce battle head-on can be won, just talk about the overall arrangement of the revolution now. Qiongzhou, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guangdong are the focus. If you want to change, all aspects involved are quite complex and cannot be completed in a short period of time.

In short, Chen Wenqiang was quite worried about the geographical location of Hubei Guns and Cannon Factory. This is different from Yazhou, which is lonely overseas. This is the heart of China. The Beiyang Army can go south directly from the Luhan Railway, which will definitely be the place for future wars.

But no matter what, taking over is certain, but it only requires a clever plan. First, it is to make the Hubei Guns and Cannon Factory profitable, but Chen Wenqiang will not do the business at a loss; second, it is to take the opportunity to turn the Yazhou Arsenal into openness, as a branch of the Hubei Guns and Cannon Factory, to produce weapons and equipment that are more conducive to the combat of the Revolutionary Army; it may also achieve the goal of controlling the guns and ammunition of the Southern New Army that will be established one after another.

Chen Wenqiang thought for a day, summoned his confidants to discuss it, and then rushed to Wuhan the next day to negotiate conditions with Governor Zhang Zhidong.

Chen Wenqiang felt it was not difficult to fool Zhang Zhidong. Although Zhang Zhidong was very knowledgeable, he did not understand science. As long as he wrote some terms and words, he would probably feel dizzy.

"The steel produced by Hanyang Iron Factory should be fine if it is processed by a steel tank factory to make guns. But if you want to build cannons, the strength is not enough. The steel for making cannons must be mixed with metal elements such as chromium and manganese and apply special technology to apply it." Chen Wenqiang observed Zhang Zhidong's expression and continued to fool him, "In addition, although the steel produced by Hanyang Iron Factory can make guns, but if you want to build cannons, even if chromium is added, manganese will be of no use. It is necessary to use low-phosphorus pig iron to make steel."

"This low-phosphorus pig iron, the gun factory does purchase foreign materials from outside, which is consistent with the reason you mentioned." Zhang Zhidong obviously didn't understand. This is chromium, manganese, and low-phosphorus, which made him a little dizzy. He just wanted to listen to Chen Wenqiang's final charter.

"So, Xiaguan thought that Hubei Guns and Cannon Factory should be more refined and then broad, first make the gun, make the bullets, and then consider other weapons." Chen Wenqiang explained his main meaning, "If you want to build a cannon, Xiaguan thought that you could set up a branch factory, and if you have qualified steel, you would get twice the result with half the effort."

"Building a branch factory is huge, right?" Zhang Zhidong walked into the idea designed by Chen Wenqiang and thought about it: "Look, you have to build an iron factory, a steel factory, a pharmaceutical factory, etc., and other ancillary facilities. This is not a few million taels, how can it be achieved?"

"There is a convenient way for Xiaguan." Chen Wenqiang thought for a moment and said, "Yazhou Iron Smelting Plant. You know! That is Xiaguan's industry. It was established early, and the iron ore used was also the low-phosphorus ore in Qiongzhou. The steelmaking materials were originally used for shipbuilding for Huangpu Shipyard. If you are interested, Xiaguan can purchase chromium and manganese ore from Guangxi, and the Yazhou Iron Smelting Plant will produce cannon steel. As for the pharmaceutical factory, Xiaguan thinks that the current steel pharmaceutical factory can be divided into two, producing gunpowder for the gun factory and the Yazhou branch."

"No need to build a new factory?" Zhang Zhidong thought about it, but did not make a decision immediately, but continued to ask: "Hubei Guns and Cannon Factory is extremely large. If it only produces guns and ammunition, wouldn't this be the case?"

"Overcapacity is a waste of resources." Chen Wenqiang revealed another new word. Whether Zhang Zhidong understood or not, he nodded and agreed to it.

"The adults are very reasonable, but the officials think so." Chen Wenqiang first praised it before slowly explaining, "Depending on the current output, one-quarter of the Japanese fast guns cannot pass the precision inspection. After the officials take over, the output will reach the daily output of 80 within a year, which is probably the limit. How many new troops will the imperial court train? Thirty-six towns, 300,000 to 400,000 people, if all of them are supplied by the gun factory, how long will it take? The gun factory starts working day and night, it will probably take several years? In addition, the supply of bullets is even more unaware of the problem of overcapacity. The key now is how to create satisfactory guns and get the big order for new military equipment."

"Well, yes, Wen Qiang said it thoroughly." Zhang Zhidong was convinced by Chen Wenqiang's detailed accounts. This was indeed the goal he hoped to achieve. Time is tight, the task is heavy, and the funds are short. Who can complete this task except Chen Wenqiang?

"In addition, the gun factory can also produce ammunition for other new troops." Chen Wenqiang glanced at Zhang Zhidong and continued: "For example, the six towns in Beiyang are mostly foreign weapons, but the ammunition is not all purchased from foreigners, right? Besides, there are sabers, sabers, and even pistols and ammunition used in the new army. If the gun factory can produce and manufacture it, how could it waste resources?"

"Yes, after calculating this detailed account, the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry

Chen Wenqiang nodded and smiled bitterly, "Wenqiang dares not to help the adults solve their problems, but because of this condition, he has to submit a petition to the adults to avoid disappointing their expectations in the future."

Zhang Zhidong glanced at Chen Wenqiang and said: I had known for a long time that you must use this to gain some benefits. When I took over the Guangdong-Hankou Railway, I fought with me several times, and the same is true now.

Chen Wenqiang didn't care and said, "The gun factory, the steel and pharmaceutical factory's annual debt was only tens of thousands of taels. You can find a way to solve it! The gun factory's annual funding was 360,000 taels, but later it increased to more than 800,000 taels. Wenqiang did not dare to speak loudly. It only costs 400,000 taels, so I guess I won't refuse? Also..."

Zhang Zhidong's face became darker and darker, and he rolled his eyes straight. When Chen Wenqiang finally finished speaking, he snorted in anger and said, "Are you not a lion's mouth open? Okay. After you finish speaking, let's listen to what our department can do and see what else can be squeezed out by you. First, 150,000 taels of foreign tax silver from Jianghan and Yichang to pay off the debt; second, Hankou Huai Salt Lijin, Yichang Sichuan Salt Lijin, Hubei rice and grain lijin, Yichang local medicines regular tax, local medicine transit tax, North road local medicines tax..."

Chen Wenqiang originally had the idea of ​​asking for a lot of money and paying it back locally, but Zhang Zhidong was very realistic and had done his best to offer the conditions. Well, the accumulated owes were paid back. The lijin plus the messy local taxes were also more than 200,000 taels. If you invest more than 300,000 yuan, you would buy machinery and transform guns.

"One year!"

"Three years!"

"Two years at most!"

"Transaction." Chen Wenqiang slapped his thigh. Although the support of Lijin and miscellaneous taxes has only been two years, this is obviously Zhang Zhidong's last bottom line. You should not be too much in life.

Zhang Zhidong also breathed a sigh of relief. Although he still had to take out a lot of local taxes and lijin, the gun factory has always been very expensive and has already been considered a loss. Besides, he also knew Chen Wenqiang's temper and nature, either he would not do it, and he could do it well if he wanted to do it. Therefore, he was quite at ease with the prospects of the gun factory.

"Sir, the official has a small request." Chen Wenqiang's words made Zhang Zhidong nervous again, and he frowned and stared at Chen Wenqiang.

"Looking next year, the court will formulate and promulgate the regulations for the reorganization of new troops in various provinces." Chen Wenqiang smiled sly and said, "If the railway construction was as usual at that time, and the railway patrol officers did not need too much, could they draw some and include them in the new army's organization sequence?"

Humph. Zhang Zhidong understood what Chen Wenqiang meant and couldn't help but roll his eyes, "You can save money."

The railway patrol is now funded by the railway company, and the transfer of funds into the new army is supplied by the finances of various provinces. Zhang Zhidong thought that he had seen through Chen Wenqiang's little thoughts, and after thinking about it, he nodded reluctantly, "One standard can't be more."

According to the new army organization, one target is two thousand people, and this number meets Chen Wenqiang's requirements. He is not allowed to fight for it anymore.

"Thank you for your understanding." Chen Wenqiang breathed a sigh of relief, bowed his hand to thank him, and did not forget to complain, "In order to build this railway, the officials have taken over their wealth and offended many people. The establishment of a railway patrolman was also a last resort to build the road. If you pay for money to support people for a long time, it would be really unsustainable!"

"I will remember the credit for the railway construction, and I will not treat you badly." Zhang Zhidong's tone calmed down and he laughed and teased: "It is true that offends people, but you have made friends with many people! Some people rely on controlling the road administration and delaying the road construction to make a living, but some people are counting on the rapid success of the railway and making profits! The railway has not been completed, and the position of the railway company has been divided by all parties. You have also benefited a lot from it, right?"

"The gains are indeed greater than losses, and it is better to understand them." Chen Wenqiang admitted frankly and said with a smile: "If there is no accident, the long line will be completed in four months. A year later, the long line will be very sure to be completed."

"Okay, very good." Zhang Zhidong nodded repeatedly and said with emotion: "As long as the railway is completed, you will be." He suddenly paused and waved his hand, "Well, I can't say it. If you say it casually, you will definitely make another request. Slip, the master department should be careful about you!"

"Sir, think of the Xiaguan so badly? Alas!" Chen Wenqiang seemed a little aggrieved, but he didn't care. He stood up and said goodbye, "Sir, let's go and take over the Hubei Gun Factory, please wait for the good news!"

"Let go and do it, what the Ministry wants is the result." Zhang Zhidong stood up and sent it to the door, and did not forget to remind him: "A batch of qualified guns should be built as soon as possible to be sent to the capital for inspection. If it is slow, it would be too late to wait for the court to make the charter."

"Don't worry, sir, I will do my best to satisfy you." Chen Wenqiang bowed his hand and strode away.

…………………

Although the Westernization Movement in the late Qing Dynasty was vigorous and more rapid, the investment was actually huge and the results were limited. Blindly launching, blindly building, blind production, and many decisions and actions were almost a joke.

The main problem is that lay leaders do not understand foreign languages ​​and do not understand the Westernization Affairs Bureau. It is simply impossible to directly transform from a traditional official into a management and scientific talent.

Chen Wenqiang led a group of Chinese and foreign technicians to the gun factory, and soon discovered the problem and began to make decisive rectifications.

"The drug manufacturing engineer Hao Sail is a Jinshi of Swiss philosophy. He was not a drug manufacturing expert. The medicines he made today are very low, and most of them are not suitable for the use of medicines."

"If you have a translation and a substitute for pharmaceutical factories, you will have a copper smith and a substitute for nitrate and sulfonate water, you will be accustomed to what you are using and what you are using and what you are using and what you are using and what you are using is a large number of them."

"The disadvantages are all about the inappropriate employment of people and the unorganized work of doing things. Check the factory's craftsman list and the assignment of duties is complicated, and everything is handled without certain authority, and there is no unified agency."

…………

Three days later, the problems and rectification documents about the gun factory were placed on Zhang Zhidong's case. At the same time, Chen Wenqiang suggested stop the transformation of the German Committee's 1888 type and directly manufacture the Mauser 1898 type rifle.

In this way, just the replacement of production equipment required, the funds required reached more than 300,000 taels, and it was borrowed by Chen Wenqiang.

Because Zhang Zhidong was extremely grateful to the firearms of the Mauser Company, the Germans had to use tricks, lied that the Committee's 1888 style was the Mauser 1888 style, and sold the drawings and production machinery. Moreover, Zhang Zhidong had learned that Germany had eliminated the Committee's 1888 style, so he decided to improve the existing Hanyang-made rifle. Now, it is naturally what Zhang Zhidong hoped and agreed to directly replace the more advanced Mauser 1898 style.

Whether to improve the investment is large or replace the investment directly is a relatively complicated question. If it is just an improvement in appearance and the actual performance is not very different, it is meaningless to invest in small investment.

If Chen Wenqiang wants to improve Hanyang construction, he will not only be satisfied with doors, rulers, wood guards, and sleeves.

First of all, if you want to use pointed bullets with greater accuracy and power, you need to change the barrel diameter and rifle made in Hanyang to solve the problem of blasting the barrel.

Secondly, the missing clip made by Hanyang prevents it from loading bullets, and it cannot be loaded in the middle of the shooting. It must be completed before it can be reloaded. This may not be a problem in the eyes of others, but it made Chen Wenqiang, a sniper expert, dissatisfied.

In Zhang Zhidong's opinion, the investment was huge, but he certainly would not know that Chen Wenqiang had already purchased the production equipment of the German Mauser 1898 rifle from the Yazhou Arsenal. At the beginning, it was for money, but now, with his good relationship with Germany, the purchase of production equipment again must be quite favorable.
Chapter completed!