Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1440 We Don't Sell Artillery
"It's not difficult for us to produce cannons here..."

Huang Xiushan's words aroused the interest of businessmen in France, the Netherlands and Britain.Their smelter actually has the ability to produce artillery!

But it doesn't seem surprising that a smelter with an annual production capacity of 10000 tons of steel may also have the technology to produce artillery.

In Europe today, many kings buy artillery from private smelters, and there are even many low-key artillery families serving the king.

"We would like to see the artillery of the East. Our Prince Condé of France was defeated at the Battle of Fuentravia, where 4000 men were wiped out and 2000 were captured by the Spanish Legion. This battle let us King and Cardinal Shocked, we urgently need a batch of sophisticated artillery to deal with the aggressive Habsburg dynasty." Körber said.

"If your artillery in the east can show better performance, we, Frederick Henry, the ruler of the Netherlands, will buy artillery from you at a very favorable price to equip our fleet and army. The Habsburg dynasty is It would be a good thing for you if you can defeat the enemy of the whole of Europe," said the Dutch businessman.

Huang Xiushan heard that both the French merchants and the Dutch merchants had a strong interest in artillery, but he spread his hands: "The reason why the smelter has the ability to produce artillery is because we want to produce artillery to make up for our fleet and garrison. The losses in the battle are not meant to be sold. Please forgive me, although the artillery is very profitable, we are not short of this money."

No shortage of money!The French businessman represented by Kolbe and the Dutch businessman glanced at each other. What else could they say in the face of such a guy?It is estimated that the other party is unwilling to export artillery.

However, artillery is a strategic material, and it is also very common to prohibit merchants from selling it, so neither the French merchants nor the Dutch merchants said much.Being able to buy the steel they want at a lower price is enough to make them travel thousands of miles.

"Our ships will come here to transport the steel we need. In fact, it's good that your factory is on the banks of the Thames, and you can transport steel by water. Otherwise, 2000 tons of pig iron will be transported by a large horse-drawn cart, and you don't know how to carry it until the year of the monkey." Colber said.

"I remember that you are a cloth merchant in France, why did you suddenly start a steel business?" Huang Xiushan knew this French businessman who had a relationship with the Western Company.

"Now I'm working under the king's finance minister, and I've gone to various countries to collect some important strategic materials. Apart from making a living, who wouldn't want to do something else?" Kolber sighed.

"Working for the Minister of Finance of the King of France? It seems that you have a bright future. I think our company is willing to have a long-term cooperation with you." After hearing about the other party's changed status, Huang Xiushan couldn't help but want to make friends.

At present, the headquarters of Western companies is in the city of London, and they are working hard to develop the British market. The European continent with a larger population is an important target for Western companies to come to the West. The European market is more than ten times that of the British market!
Huang Xiushan is still thinking about which part of the European continent to start with. The rising Kingdom of France is a breakthrough that can completely open up the European continent's market.

"It may be an honor for France to be able to cooperate with you." Kolber looked very humble, and there was no hint of arrogance.

Huang Xiushan and Sir Henry couldn't help but have high regard for this young man from France, such a person might be able to become a character.

The French merchants and the Dutch merchants placed orders. In fact, the smelter is taking a total of 3200 tons of pig iron and a small amount of steel. Coal and iron ore are transported to the factory to start production.When all the raw materials are available, the six blast furnaces can run non-stop for 3 months.

Sometimes it is not necessarily that the production capacity is not enough, but that there is not so much demand.

The French businessmen and Dutch businessmen led by Körber were very satisfied with this visit. At the same time, they were also curious about the steam blowers and coke blast furnaces they saw during the visit.

They want to know why the output of the smelters of Huaxia merchants is so amazing?
Of course, Huang Xiushan didn't explain the principle to them. This is a technological monopoly, and it would be lucky for these French businessmen and Dutch businessmen to let them have a quick glance!

"Why are the French so close to the Netherlanders?" Huang Xiushan asked Sir Henry after sending Coleber Dailin's French businessman group and the Netherlandish businessman group to rest.

"An enemy of an enemy is a friend. The richest Netherlands wants to be independent from the Spanish Empire, and France, which competes with the Spanish Empire for hegemony, is naturally an ally of the Netherlands. The Holy Roman Empire and the Spanish Empire are both Habsburgs. Control is too much of a threat to France. Speaking of having a larger population than the Spanish Empire, maybe they can replace the Spanish Empire as the most powerful land power in continental Europe. As for the Dutch, they don’t want to be the Spanish Empire Instead, they want to become the most economically developed place and a maritime power.” Sir Henry explained the stakes to Huang Xiushan, “If the Spanish Empire falls, maybe France will covet the wealth of the Netherlands. maybe."

"The relationship between countries on your side is too complicated, and no one can do anything to each other. It's not like ours in the east. We are the only one in China, surrounded by small countries and few people." Huang Xiushan shook his head. .

It is precisely because the forces here are too balanced that no superpower has ever appeared, so it is hard to say whether it is a good thing or a bad thing.

"Speaking of which, the cannons produced here really won't be sold to the outside world? If you obviously have the technology to forge more sophisticated cannons, if you use them to produce cannons for sale, then it must be more profitable than selling pig iron, and even more profitable than selling vaccines There are also huge profits. Now the whole of Europe is at war. In Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Italy, there are more than 500 naval guns, and more than 1000 fortress guns. There are also field guns, solid The market for this is far more than 100 million pounds. And unlike vaccines, which need to desperately open up the market, others are rushing to get these artillery pieces. If you don’t sell them, there are a large number of artillery-producing families who will sell them. Among them Isn't the business just taken away?" Sir Henry urged.

(End of this chapter)