The Iron and Steel Frenzy of the Republic of China

The matter turned around twice, Zhu Bin, the instigator, didn't know the progress, and the government was having a headache about what this guy had done, so he left it to Chen Shaokuan, who was also a headache, to solve it. Besides, this was an important matter related to the navy. If you are idle, you are idle. Find something to do.

These days, Chen Shaokuan is also very annoying. The public opinion all over the street is scolding the navy for eating and not working, but he, the minister, can't argue with it.

When the war broke out, he had not officially taken over, and the old boss was hiding in Fujian, and no one listened to him.When he took office, the matter was irreparable. Commander-in-Chief Jiang did not want the war to expand in his heart, and the navy's foundation could not withstand the beating of the powerful Japanese fleet. Some people below didn't listen to his yelling, so he poured out his passion for serving the country in vain, trying to get angry, which was useless.

Being arrested by the state government, Chen Shaokuan couldn't ask for it, and came to Zhu Bin directly without any delay.

After hearing Zhu Bin's brief answer, Chen Shaokuan nodded noncommittally: "This matter is related to the overall situation of naval construction, so we have to be more cautious. The news from the United States is that more than half of the first battleship 'Florida' has been dismantled. It is completely dismantled, and the engine and boiler are also being dismantled. If it is not your purchase intention, it will be completely dismantled in about three months. The other ship is well preserved, but it is also going to be dismantled and converted into a training ship. Even so, It will add up to millions of dollars, are you mentally prepared for this?"

It costs a lot of money, can't you just start and forget about it?

Zhu Bin understood what he heard, and smiled confidently: "If there are two new ships, I don't have nearly 2000 million U.S. dollars. But since they are decommissioned and scrapped, the value is at most two or three tenths, and my financial resources are enough to support them." , no problem. As for the dismantled half of the ship, it is actually easy to handle, just refit it into an aircraft carrier, and buy it as usual.”

"Okay. I believe you will do what you say." Chen Shaokuan nodded gratifiedly, "However, I can tell you the truth, the government's annual naval expenses are only enough to maintain all the current ships. These two giant ships Even if you buy a battleship, maintenance is still a problem, do you have a good plan for this?"

The Admiralty is poor, so poor that it buys a warship and even raises funds to share with businessmen --- it is a warship, isn't it a bit funny to share shares with businessmen?But there is no way, this is the status quo of the Chinese navy!In the past few days, even a supply ship had to be stopped due to lack of money to maintain it. All kinds of embarrassments made Minister Chen the most aggrieved official in history!

Zhu Bin grinned and laughed, seemingly embarrassed and said, "I've really thought about this, but it's hard to say whether it will work or not."

Chen Shaokuan's eyes lit up, and he nodded encouragingly: "It's okay, let's talk about it." He was already a little mentally prepared, why would he spend millions of dollars to buy you a warship for no reason, there must be conditions, even if he can't agree, the above There is also the government and the commander-in-chief!As long as you get the battleship, you can talk about anything!

Zhu Bin scratched his head and seemed to be struggling for a while, and finally said calmly: "To tell you the truth, I paid for these two warships for selfish reasons. My dream is to command thousands of giant ships across the ocean, and show off to the world. Guowei, return all the humiliation imposed on our country by the great powers in the past century! If I hadn’t been dragged into the Volunteer Army by my friends, I would have found a way to enter the Navy.”

Chen Shaokuan nodded noncommittally, but Adjutant Zheng curled his lips and snorted coldly: "If you think you can enter the navy with a lot of money, you will take us too lightly! Although our navy is weak, we will never do it for money. Abandon principles."

Zhu Bin grinned at him: "If the navy is really like a warlord, if you have money, you can get promoted, and I won't go if you ask for it! The reason why I want to join the navy is because there is such a respectable officer as Minister Chen, and the second is , relying on my personal ability, Zhu Bin! It’s not just me boasting, but I’m by no means inferior to anyone else when it comes to combat at sea! If Adjutant Zheng doesn’t believe it, you can learn from each other when you find an opportunity. You can choose your military skills from the sea, land and air forces!”

The words were categorical, resounding, and full of confidence and unequivocal.Of course, for a trash guy who has been in the Xinghai for many years, entangled and fought with countless dangerous people, and fought countless times in virtual games, his ability to fight a dozen primitive naval battles is by no means bragging.

"Hmph! You'll only know by comparing yourself with live ammunition." Of course Zheng Dateng didn't believe it. You are not a brilliant student who graduated from the Naval Academy of the British Empire. You are a fisherman on the west coast of the United States. Well, maybe you have also played a cameo role as a pirate. Military quality?brag about you.

Unmoved by Zhu Bin's small hug, Chen Shaokuan picked up the coffee and took a sip, and when the sparks between the two were less intense, he said again: "As long as you have great talent, the navy will It will be reused from top to bottom. However, even if you enter the navy, you may be promoted from the grassroots level, and it will not be achieved overnight. As far as the entire navy is concerned, it is only powerless to change the overall situation?"

Don't say that he is just a small official in the navy, even if Minister Chen himself is the highest position now, so what if he has several million to invest in it?It was gone in a blink of an eye.The navy is a big hole that can never be filled!

Zhu Bin smiled confidently: "I generally understand the current situation of the government's finances and the navy. To be honest, it will never be possible to realize your vision of a large navy by appropriating funds. The best way is to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. My thoughts Yes, the Ministry of the Navy will come forward to set up a "Naval Equipment Technology Research Institute", and then put a lot of patents and commercial power in my hands into it. Relying on this institution to grow and grow, the profits generated will feed back to the Navy. Such a virtuous circle will soon It will pay off!"

"Oh?! This is a novel idea!" Chen Shaokuan raised his eyebrows, his heart pounding!Before he came here, he had done some research and knew that Zhu Bin was building a so-called container freight system with a big foreign company and a consortium. It is said that the big giants are very interested in getting involved, and the power has already alarmed the government. After investigation and discussion, he also moved his mind to get involved --- is he going to transfer this business to the Navy Department? !

If it is really as profitable as the rumors say, tens of millions of dollars in benefits a year, even if you can't afford to build a super battleship, let the navy's strength leap several steps, no problem at all!

As if he had seen through his speculation, Zhu Bin said bluntly: "You must have heard of the container business that I cooperate with various foreign companies. Let me explain to you today, it is just one of the sources of income in my hands. Part of it can only be regarded as a living. If my overall plan can be implemented smoothly, it is possible to increase the overall strength of the entire country by ten times! It is no exaggeration to say that within ten years, we will independently build a powerful fleet that surpasses that of Japan. !"

"Are you serious?!" Rao is Chen Shaokuan, whose calm and calm atmosphere can be counted in the whole country. Hearing this, he couldn't help but feel shocked in his heart. For no other reason, he has dreamed of building a powerful navy for decades. And the Zhu Bin in front of him, a series of successful actions in a short period of time prove that he is not the generation of Zhao Kuo who is boastful!

For ten years, he built a warship by himself and surpassed Japan. These words kept hitting his mind, as if the hope that he could touch was right in front of him, so he couldn't let him not be excited!

"It's hard to win people's trust with empty words. I would like to find time to report the whole plan to you. But," Zhu Bin spread his hands seemingly helplessly, "now we are fighting, and I am in the Volunteer Army. I am responsible for hundreds of comrades. An Wei, doppelgänger is useless!"

Chen Shaokuan frowned into a knot, turned his head to the side and looked out the window for a few breaths of thought, and sighed softly: "We will have enough time to discuss this matter. In fact, before I came, the government had already decided that I would Immediately leave for the United States to discuss matters concerning warships, and you, as an entourage, will go together, this order cannot be changed!"

"Ah?! Let me go to the United States?!" Zhu Bin was shocked by the news, no, is this some great god plotting against me behind my back? !