Rebirth of the Spanish Empire.

Chapter 21 Arms Deals with Japan
  Canovas invited Okubo Toshimichi and the others to ride in his carriage to the military training ground of the Royal Spanish Army.

The Prime Minister's Palace in the center of Madrid is about an hour away from the military training grounds.

…………

"Look, everyone.

This is the latest Vielli 1875 rifle in the Kingdom of Spain.

The effective range of its bullets can reach a distance of about 800 meters, and the ammunition used is the most advanced smokeless gunpowder in the world.

Now only the Kingdom of Spain can manufacture it in the world, and its magazine can hold 5 bullets at a time, and there will be no lag when shooting.

So from a performance perspective, it is the most advanced rifle in the world today.

Everyone, you can try the power of this rifle. "

Canovas picked up a Vielli 1875 rifle and handed it to Okubo Toshimichi, but Saigo Takamori next to him took the rifle earlier.

"Let me give it a try!" Saigo Takamori, a member of the Japanese martial arts aggressor group, said excitedly.

The soldiers at the military training ground gave a brief explanation. Saigo Takamori quickly picked up the rifle and started aiming at the target in front of him and shooting.

"Bang, bang, bang."

After a brief aim, Saigo Takamori fired three shots, but there was no smoke from the muzzle.

"Sri Guoyi."

Saigo Takamori couldn't put it down and touched the Vielli 1875 rifle in his hand, as if caressing his old lover.

"The performance of this rifle is so excellent, it is at least five times better than the rifles equipped by our Imperial Japanese Army."

Saigo Takamori said excitedly to Okubo Toshimichi in Japanese, and the excitement on his face could not be hidden at all.

Since 1870, Japan has begun to purchase large quantities of rifles and other thermal weapons from France.

The Chassebou rifle manufactured by the French is a single-shot breech-loading type, using paper-wrapped bullets, and its performance is very superior.

Not to mention the Spanish Vielli 1875 rifle, even the Dresser rifle made by the Germans cannot compare.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, how much is the external price of this rifle?" Saigo Takamori said to Canovas excitedly.

Okubo Toshimichi, who was standing aside, looked at Saigo Takamori with a frown, as if blaming him for his gaffe.

"Sir, this Vielli 1875 rifle is the active equipment of our Royal Spanish Army. Its external price is 1000 pesetas." Canovas said.

In fact, the cost of a Vielli 1875 rifle is only 50 pesetas, but Alfonso will inevitably feel impulsive when facing these Japanese dwarfs.

So he raised the price slightly for them. Alfonso believed that these Japanese dwarfs would be able to afford it.

"What, Your Excellency Prime Minister? Did I hear you correctly? A rifle in your country actually costs 1000 pesetas? This price is beyond the reach of our country."

Okubo Toshimichi's eyes almost popped out of his head, because this price is simply unbelievable for Japan, which is now a poor man.

"This price is naturally quite reasonable. This is a special discount given to you by His Majesty Alfonso. Other countries in Europe do not have this kind of treatment.

Considering that this is the first time for our country to cooperate with your country, our country can give you an additional 20 rounds of bullets for free. "

Canovas said without blushing or heart beating. The price of 1000 pesetas, if you buy 10 pesetas, it is 1 million pesetas.

After buying a rifle, you will definitely want to buy bullets today. Plus the later purchase of bullets.

Not to mention too much, one bullet is worth 1 match tower, which means the initial consumption of the rifle alone is almost 1 million match towers.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, can you please let us discuss this first? Can you show us your country's machine guns and artillery?"

Okubo Toshimichi sighed, and then asked pleadingly.

"This is the Maxim 1875 machine gun currently equipped by our Royal Spanish Army. Theoretically, the Maxim 1875 machine gun can have a rate of fire of up to 500 rounds per minute, and can adapt to various complex battlefield forms...

This is also the most advanced machine gun in the world. Currently, no country in the world can produce it. Currently, only the Kingdom of Spain can produce it. "

Canovas pointed at the machine gun that had been set up and introduced slowly.

At this time, the two machine gunners were ready.

"Boys, let's show our machine guns and show the excellent performance of our machine guns to the guests from Japan."

After Canovas finished speaking, he motioned to Okubo Toshimichi and the others to watch the machine gun fire while quickly covering his ears.

"What is this old foreign devil doing?" Saigo Takamori asked.

Before the translator could answer, the two machine gunners had already started shooting.

"Da da da, da da da..."

Under the operation of two machine gunners, the Maxim 1875 machine gun instantly let out a deafening roar. A line of bullet rain and the shocking sound of a metal storm resounded throughout the sky.

At this time, Japan's "Three Heroes of the Restoration" stared dumbly at the machine guns that were firing. The shock in their hearts could no longer be expressed in words.

Canovas looked at the country bumpkin-like looks of the "Three Heroes of the Restoration", turned his back and smiled contemptuously, and motioned to the two machine gunners to stop.

Ten seconds later, all one hundred bullets in the magazine of the Maxim machine gun had been fired.

Canovas turned to look at the three men and introduced them again: "Your Excellencies, this is the only machine gun in the world. In front of the Maxim machine gun manufactured by the Kingdom of Spain, the cavalry of all countries will withdraw. The stage of history.”

Canovas spread his hands, expressing his confidence.

Because of the application of smokeless gunpowder, the Kingdom of Spain has been at least 10 years ahead of European countries in army operations and weapons manufacturing.

"The external selling price of this machine gun is 6000 match towers, and 100 rounds of ammunition are 60 match towers." Canovas then quoted the price to Okubo Toshimichi and the others. In fact, the cost of the Maxim machine gun at this time was not high, only about 200 siege towers, and the price Li Hongzhang received in the UK in a few years was only 300 pounds per gun.

The price of a 6000 match tower can be said to be crazy to cut the wool of Japan, but now only the Kingdom of Spain in the world has the ability to manufacture it, so the terrifying profits of the arms monopoly trade have been revealed at this time.

"The price of this weapon in your country is really too high. Our country now simply cannot afford to purchase it on a large scale." Okubo Toshimichi sighed.

But how could he not know that the price offered by the Kingdom of Spain was ridiculously high! It's just that they traveled all over the world and couldn't find a second seller.

"This price is already the policy of small profits but quick turnover implemented by the Kingdom of Spain towards your country. Our country really can no longer lower the sales price of weapons to foreign countries."

Canovas said in a helpless tone that he thought Japan was a big buyer, but he didn't expect it to be a poor man.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, please allow us to go back and discuss it again. If we buy it rashly, it will put huge pressure on our country's finances."

Okubo Toshimichi stretched out his hand and said, with a look of helplessness on his face.

"Okay, I hope I can get good news from you."

Canovas also stretched out his hand and shook it with Okubo Toshimichi.

As soon as the three people here left, Canovas had already headed to the Royal Palace of Madrid.

“Your Majesty, these little dwarves from Japan have strong intentions to purchase weapons and equipment from our Kingdom of Spain.

But their country's finances simply don't allow them to purchase so many weapons, so don't expect too much from them. "

Alfonso nodded, he had expected this situation.

Because the Japanese at this period had not yet embraced the British father's lap, and without the British father providing them with large loans, they naturally could not use the extra money to purchase weapons and equipment.

"Then don't worry about them now. How they collect the money has nothing to do with us. If you can get the money, sell it to them. If you can't, let them go."

After Alfonso finished speaking, he lowered his head and continued to read his documents. He was not very interested in transactions with the Japanese.

"I understand, Your Majesty. Can you give them some appropriate discounts so that they have the motivation to raise money?"

Canovas nodded and then asked.

"Yes, but you must pay attention to the intensity of the discount. This intensity can only be slightly reduced for them."

Alfonso disagreed with this. At this time, Japan was not a powerful country and could only dominate Asia. So when comparing the prices in European countries, the prices in Japan will definitely be higher than them.

At this time, in the temporary residence of the "Three Heroes of the Reform", they were also discussing with each other.

"Saigo-kun, do you think the weapons and equipment shown to us by the Kingdom of Spain will be of great help to our Imperial Army of Japan? Should we buy them?" Okubo Toshimichi asked.

He was now intimidated by the high price of weapons in the Kingdom of Spain.

“The weapons and equipment of the Kingdom of Spain are indeed very expensive, but the improvements it can bring to the Imperial Japanese Army are also huge.

If this batch of new weapons and equipment from the Kingdom of Spain are added to the Imperial Japanese Army, coupled with the fearless bushido spirit of our Imperial Japanese Army, our Imperial Japanese Army will become the most powerful army in the world. "

Xixiang Longsheng's eyes were full of longing for this, as if he had already seen that scene.

“Is it possible to purchase weapons and equipment technology from the Kingdom of Spain?

If our Empire of Japan can obtain advanced equipment and technology from Spanish countries, we will definitely be able to make our Empire of Japan the leading power in Asia.

When the time comes, it will be easy to invade North Korea and defeat the Qing Empire. "

Kido Takayun asked, with a hint of unrealistic expectations clearly in his eyes.

"Kido-kun, that's impossible. Don't be delusional.

Even powerful ones like the German Empire and the British Empire cannot obtain the technology of the Kingdom of Spain, and it is even more impossible for us now. "

Okubo Toshimichi sighed deeply at this.

He seemed to be melancholy about the weakness of his country, and then said to Saigo Takamori and Kido Takayun: "If we want to buy it, how many should we buy?"

Saigo Takamori and Kido Takayun looked at each other, and they knew that Okubo Toshimichi already had the idea of ​​​​purchasing.

“I think we can first model the organization of the Royal Spanish Army and establish a Spanish Army Division.

This way you won't buy too much and cause too much financial pressure. It also allows us to see the combat effectiveness displayed by weapons and equipment. "

Saigo Takamori said this. Although he is a martial artist, he still has reason.

"I think what Saigo-kun said is very true. We can first conduct an experiment with an army division of the Kingdom of Spain to compare the combat effectiveness, and then decide whether to purchase in large quantities."

Kido Takayun echoed that he indeed felt that Saigo Takamori's words made some sense.

"Then please ask His Majesty the Emperor for instructions. If His Majesty the Emperor agrees, then we will formally talk to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain."

Okubo Toshitoshi quickly prepared to send a telegram to the emperor at home.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, the weapons and equipment of the Kingdom of Spain are indeed extremely powerful and can greatly enhance the strength of our Imperial Army of the Japanese Empire.

But their quotation was too high, so the three of us discussed purchasing the equipment of an army division to conduct experiments. Please His Majesty the Emperor to make a decision as soon as possible so that we can respond as soon as possible..."

Less than a day later, a telegram came from Japan. The emperor would launch a fundraiser in the country for the three people to bring back weapons and equipment.

At this time in the Qing Dynasty, Empress Dowager Cixi was celebrating her birthday and building a garden. Thinking about it makes people feel helpless and ironic.

…………

(End of this chapter)