Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 585 Giving and Soliciting Bribes

Finally, according to Li Luoyou's request, Liu San took them to the power workshop and showed him the "power of water vapor". Li Luoyou was taken aback by the black boiler worker with only two white eyes. Continuously filling the burning furnace with black coal.As for the big iron box called the "boiler", there were wisps of white water vapor everywhere.

Li Luoyou and Quark watched the rotation of the piston, connecting rod, and flywheel of the steam engine for a long time, and were silent.The shock embodied by such a powerful "force" is too great.

If the Australians also set up such a gun factory for Daming... Li Luoyou immediately shook his head, how is this possible!Not to mention that Wang Zunde couldn't afford the money at all, even if the court was to do it, I'm afraid that the appropriation alone would cause a lot of quarrels in the court.

This cannon factory is worth at least one million taels of silver.Besides, where do so many craftsmen come from?The craftsmen I hired in Foshan can melt iron and pour molten iron at most, but they can't start the machine.

Thinking of this, he has lost interest.It seems that this trip: buying cannons is not possible, and there is no hope of setting up a cannon factory. The business negotiated with the Australians is good, but I am already making a lot of money, and I can only make more than 10 taels a year.

Because of the waning interest, I simply lost interest in continuing to visit that day, presuming that I was not feeling well, and went back to Runshitang.

After Liu San sent them back, he immediately went to the executive committee and reported the whole situation, including Li Luoyou's attempt to bribe him.

"After looking at our arsenal, he seemed to become depressed all of a sudden."

"I probably think we can manipulate the power of ghosts and gods, and I'm really scared." Wen Desi said, "According to the information of the intelligence department, this boss Li has the potential to be a bright fan. Premonition."

"Wouldn't it be asking for trouble if you want to do this? People will bring Daming to attack immediately."

"Invasion? He pays for the army and pays for the army?" Wu De snorted, "It's not bad to let the government know that our strength is not bad, at least let them know that this place is not so easy to eat."

"I think you can accept bribes from him." Wu Nanhai happened to be doing business in the compound and spanked together, "After your hard work and campaigns, you finally agreed to build a monkey version of the gun factory. Members of the committee, I have spent countless favors..."

"Okay, stop joking." Ma Qianju interrupted Wu Nanhai's idea of ​​"increasing assets in a disguised form", "The impression we give people now is that we want to be honest and honest, and it's not worth discrediting ourselves for this."

"I think so too." Liu San thought that the ginseng might be ruined.

That night, Liu San visited Li Luoyou with a mysterious expression and told him: It was said above that selling guns is not allowed, but you can sell him a piece of equipment for a gun factory.

Li Luoyou was dumbfounded. This was what he had always wanted, the so-called "teaching a man to fish is not as good as giving him a fish", but after seeing the Cannon Factory yesterday, he had completely dispelled such illusions—this kind of He went bankrupt and couldn't afford the gun factory.

"Thank you, Third Master, for your thoughtfulness and your kindness. There is probably nothing I can do about this gun factory." Li Luoyou cupped his hands with a wry smile, "Before I came to Lingao, I thought I was well-informed. It's a frog in a well!"

Liu San was taken aback, thinking that he was going to be grateful to him, but he didn't expect to say these words, the implication was obviously too expensive.Thinking about what I watched yesterday was indeed too fierce, and there was a misunderstanding among them.

"This is a simple gun factory." Liu San gestured for a long time. He himself was not from an engineering background, but he was facing an aborigine who was born in time and space—it's not that Li Luoyou knew nothing about science. He is probably better than Liu San who returned all his high school mathematics to his teacher, but he knows nothing about industrial production.

After struggling to explain for a long time, Li Luoyou finally understood what he meant: Australians are willing to provide a set of simple equipment according to the level that Daming can adapt to.This set of equipment can completely produce cannons in Foshan, and the production quality and efficiency are higher than those of local methods.

"Is it an Australian cannon?"

Li Luoyou had never seen the Australian cannon fire, but he had heard a lot about it: what was shot very accurately and very far away—a cannon shot tens of miles away.And yesterday he saw the production process in the cannon factory, which also gave him the feeling that the cannon is extremely powerful-if it is just an Australian version of the Hongyi cannon, they don't need to work so carefully.

"This set of equipment is specially prepared for the manufacture of Hongyi cannons," Liu San said. "Of course they are still Hongyi cannons, but they are easier to use than those made by the red-haired men."

"I see!" Li Luoyou was slightly disappointed.But after thinking about it, I set up a foundry in Foshan originally to make Hongyi cannons, and this trip was worth the money.

A contract was then proposed by the foreign trade department.It was stipulated that Lingao would provide Li Luoyou with the complete set of equipment and production technology of the simple gun factory, and be responsible for the installation and training of workers, and at the same time provide one-year maintenance and spare parts service.The total value of the contract is equivalent to 5 taels of Kuping silver,
Li Luoyou gasped when he saw the quotation, which was more expensive than the British artillery factory equipment quoted by Quark!Quark valuation equipment plus shipping forty thousand Spanish bicolumns.The craftsman calculates separately: the highest one is only 220 taels of silver.The minimum is 100 taels a year.The labor cost adds up to less than [-] a year.

I am afraid that Wang Zunde will not be able to earn back this investment for ten years.Not to mention my own investment in this project, it is a question of when Cannon Guangdong's chief political envoy can repay him the full amount.

Li Luoyou's loyalty to the emperor and patriotism and businessman's nature have been entangled in his heart for a long time.I can't make up my mind.

"Is it really impossible to sell cannons?" He still expected to buy cannons directly, 5 taels can buy a lot of cannons, and the effect of transporting Australian cannons back must be more conspicuous than buying back a set of equipment.Although most of the money is paid for by oneself, it also has the meaning of government supervising merchants to handle it.I acted under the banner of the government with great fanfare, but the results were not obvious, and the chief minister's face was not very good-looking.There are quite a few people in Wang Zunde who are jealous of his errand, and the occasion has become a big handle.

"In principle, no." Liu San said in an official tone.Seeing Li Luoyou's appearance after eating bitter gourd, it was obvious that he was in pain.

"Let Li think about it again."

That night, Liu San went back to Runshitang's own office, just wanted to rest, take a bath, and have a happy time with Xuanchun at night—the relationship between the two grew stronger, and Xuanchun gradually let go Much more active than lying down and letting him fiddle with.Just thinking about what new tricks to do at night, suddenly Fu Wuben reported: Master Han is here to pay respects.

"Master Han?" Liu San was surprised, this person was Li Luoyou's accompanying master, his confidant, why came to visit him suddenly?
"Please."

While talking, I saw Master Han had come in.This master Han is about fifty years old, his eyelids have been drooping all the time, and he seems to be listless, and only occasionally his eyelids lighten up.

"Third Master," Master Han bowed to the end.Very polite, "Students are here to disturb you!"

He speaks Mandarin, but his accent has a Hokkien dialect. Behind him are two servants carrying food boxes.
"It's easy to say, easy to say." Liu San hurriedly replied, asking him to sit down in the main room.

"The good Wuyi tea brought by the proprietor is a tribute to the imperial court. The students saw that the tea here is not very good, so they borrowed flowers to offer Buddha and share it with the three masters."

As they said that, the two servants were already busy setting up the tea set stoves one by one.Liu San saw that this is the so-called Kung Fu tea, but the shape and daily life are slightly different.

The servant raised the furnace and sat on the cold water.Master Han signaled them to back down.

The stove uses high-quality red charcoal, and the cast iron pot is small in size, and the water has already boiled slightly in a short while.

"This is not a good spring water, but the shopkeeper Yang's family is a family! There is rain in the next year!"

The Wuyi tea in Fujian is prepared with clean utensils and cooked properly.Although Liu San didn't know his reason for coming, he was sipping tea and admiring the tea sets while sipping tea, and chatting with Master Han.It looks extremely comfortable and casual.And Master Han also deliberately didn't talk about business, and only tried his best to deal with it.Want to deepen friendship in a moment.

After waiting for a change of tea leaves, Master Han finally said: "The student is here because I was sent by my east. It is specially for the matter of the gun factory."

Liu San nodded: As expected, I still came to bargain.It is said that bargaining is necessary for large transactions, but now the Executive Committee and the Standing Committee of the Senate are arguing about this issue very fiercely. Wu De's plan to sell equipment was only barely approved, so the price of 5 taels needs to be paid. Discount, I am afraid it will become the best shells for opponents.

Master Han saw that Liu San showed a embarrassed expression as soon as he heard his intention, and his calculation became more determined.He was indeed sent by Li Luoyou, but he had another purpose.

Master Han boasted that Lingao is the "Min'an City Mao", and then complimented them, and then talked about the requirements:

"I wonder if the price of this gun factory can be compromised?"

Of course Liu San shook his head.The Ministry of Foreign Trade only gave him the right to quote, but not the right to negotiate business.

Master Han then hinted: When doing business, there are always people wearing hats. If Liu San can come forward and lower the quotation by [-] to [-]%, Li Luoyou will definitely have a gift, money, women can do anything.

"It's really helpless." Liu San continued to shake his head, "It's not that I'm hypocritical, it's because the above has set a rule that it won't be sold unless it's 5 taels." He said in an emotionally intelligent tone, "I always ask for my understanding in everything."

This is tantamount to talking dead.There is actually nothing to talk about here.Liu San didn't bother to socialize with him anymore, and talked around the corner in a hypocritical manner.

Unexpectedly, Master Han did not leave, but started to say something else. "I am very fond of your machines. It's just that the price is too high, and I can't make up my mind. I'm always in between. To be honest, whether this will happen or not is always a matter of a word or a thought."

Liu San doesn't understand what this means, is it all empty talk?After thinking about it carefully, I suddenly understood: this is Master Han opening the plate.

This deal can be done, and it is based on their quotation, but it must give Master Han a personal benefit.
First, you have to bribe yourself to make a counter-offer, and if the counter-offer fails, it becomes an extortion of bribes.This deal is really creative!Liu San wants to travel through the group and accepting bribes is absolutely forbidden, but giving bribes is not a problem—this is a society where bribery is fair, and nothing can be done without bribery.

"I don't know how many hats Mr. Han should wear?" Liu San tried it first

"Hehe, the third master is really happy." Master Han said, "The total price of [-] has been quoted, and hats cannot be worn."

"How much is the rebate?"

"[-]%." Master Han raised two fingers.

"5000%?" Liu San almost yelled, this is 1000 taels - definitely nothing.Not to mention [-]%, even a [-] tael rebate is impossible.There were already many people who opposed this matter, and if there was a huge kickback, it would not become a ready-made target!

There was no need to even report it—Liu San directly refused.

"Third master, don't you think twice again?" Master Han narrowed his eyes and sipped his tea.

"It's really helpless." Liu San shook his head.

Master Han saw that his attitude was very firm and there was no room for negotiation, so he sneered slightly:

"I didn't mention the machine in Australia, but it's just an iron guy after all."

Liu Sanyi didn't say anything when he heard his anger, thinking that Master Han really turned his face faster than the book.He also sneered and said, "Mirrors are made of sand, and people are rushing to buy them with real money."

Master Han gave an inscrutable smile, bid farewell and left.Liu San was at a loss, and in the end he didn't figure out what Master Han meant.

Li Luoyou received the report from Master Han, and knew that it would be useless to unblock the discounts in private.Then discuss with Master Han whether to buy or not to buy the gun factory? .Li Luoyou seldom discussed business matters with others, but this time he really couldn't make up his mind.

Master Han pondered for a moment, and said: "Master has seen all the abilities of the Australians. It is inconvenient for students to talk too much. But this machine is so obvious that no one knows how to use it, so it is a problem..."

"According to the third master, they help train craftsmen to operate."

"Australians always keep their promises, so this matter can be skipped." Mr. Han said, "But the price of Australians is not low. It's okay to say within a year, if a year passes, the Australians will make a "self-respect" 'How to do?"

These words were poured on Li Luoyou's head like a bucket of ice water.Only Australians can use the machine, and only they can make it, and if it breaks, only they can repair it.This is a big problem!

"Master, the contract only includes repairs and education for the first year!" Seeing Dong Weng's expression changed drastically, Master Han knew that his words had already moved him.His implication is very clear: If the Australians ask for the price in the second year, whether he will use it or not.If you use it, you will be exploited. If you don’t use it, isn’t the machine that you worked so hard to buy with a lot of money a pile of scrap iron!
"Master, the machines of the Australians are really good, but they are no better than the local craftsmen. Zhang San can't Li Sihui, Li Si can't Wang Wuhui, and you can always find one or two who can do it. Besides, you are working for the imperial court. Whoever wants to come and who doesn't come is not flattering, and the government is invited to do him with a post! It's not a British mechanic invited by Master Quark—it's all up to you old man here, and his eyes are black when he goes out. The Australians can do it by themselves, and they have their own lair in Lingao, it seems that the government can't do anything to them, what if Joe doesn't come to repair it?"

"Australians always keep their word and will not do such a thing." Li Luoyou's confidence has been shaken.

"Master, let's not talk about this level. Australians are aliens after all. The imperial court may not always ignore Lingao. When the time comes, there will be a crusade. After a few years, Australians will not be able to come to the mainland. Here again You can’t dismantle the machine and send it to Lingao. Isn’t it a hassle?”

"Extremely!" This is a very worrying thing, "What do you think?"

"Students think that in order to have no worries, they must spend a lot of money to recruit a few mechanics from among the Australians and bring them to the mainland to maintain them." He continued, "It's nothing more than paying a lot of money to a woman to win their hearts."

Master Han didn't say not to buy it, but said it was impossible to do.

"This matter will not work at all." Li Luoyou's calculation had already been made, and Liu San refused completely, and only agreed to train a craftsman for him.As for recruiting Australian craftsmen in private, I am not familiar with the place where I was born, and the Australians are heavily guarded, so it is impossible.

He heaved a long sigh.

"It's a shame to make such a broken thing." Several technicians gathered around a table in the office of the machinery factory.Three views of several sets of equipment spread out on the table.This is the material just transferred from the big library.

The so-called artillery factory equipment: there are only five things in total: power machine, gearbox, pulley block crane, blower, and artillery boring machine.The three views on the drawings are all drawn according to the actual equipment drawings from the 18th to 19th centuries.Definitely tried and true old gear.

After discussion, everyone thought that the use of wind power in Foshan may not be reliable, and water power is still the main method. Almost all factories in the early industrial revolution used water power on a large scale.Water power is more reliable than wind power and can maintain continuous production. It was the most suitable large-scale power source before the steam engine.

The hydraulic machine cooperates with the gearbox, and the power generated can drive the bellows which is much larger than the human blower, providing oxygen for multiple iron furnaces at a time, and the artillery boring machine can also be driven by hydraulic power.
"It will take a week to make this set." Zhan Wuya announced after looking at it for a while.

"I think it's quite boring. Although it doesn't consume much resources and man-hours, I always feel that it's inexplicable." Xiao Gui commented, "It's better to just sell guns and matchlock guns to Boss Li. At least it can let the apprentices practice their hands. .”

"Selling guns is stupid!" Sun Li jumped up, "Selling equipment is crazy! I think Wu De is a traitor! I want to initiate impeachment!"

"What is transgression?"

"Don't talk nonsense! I think it's good for Wu De to sell equipment," Zhan Wuya said. "Set up an industrial model, so that the rich people over there can see that using machines can improve production efficiency and make money. Let's do it together. At least let Guangdong slowly establish a primitive primary industry. This way you can import primary finished products instead of buying raw materials and processing them yourself. Besides, a few simple pieces of equipment can make tens of thousands of taels of money. This business is well done!"

Note: I don’t know if the British equipment is made for this amount of money, so write it casually.The wages of craftsmen refer to the wages of Portuguese soldiers hired to operate coach firearms in the late Ming Dynasty.At that time, the highest was 120 taels per year, and the food expenses were [-] taels per month.
(End of this chapter)