America 1881: Legend of the West

"I need a ship that can cross the ocean and protect my merchant ships." Chen Jianqiu said, "When necessary, it can also assist in landing missions."

Armstrong froze again.

If he could still understand caravan escort, what the hell was a landing operation?

Doesn’t that mean he is a businessman? Are we going to open up new colonies?

However, as a professional arms dealer, it is a professional ethics not to ask about the privacy and usage of customers.

So he kept silent about it and introduced his products.

"Come with me."

He brought Chen Jianqiu and the others into a place that looked like a showroom.

Various exquisite battleship models are displayed here, all of which appear to be serial products of the shipyard.

Chen Jianqiu stepped through the door and walked through the dazzling array of models with Armstrong.

He suddenly wondered if a certain "important court official" had walked into this room accompanied by Armstrong and was caught and fooled.

"Why don't you take a look at the 'Landall-style gunboat' designed exclusively by our shipyard?"

Armstrong stopped in front of some of the smallest models of ships.

These ships all look quite compact, but they are equipped with two cannons that are not consistent with the size of the ship.

He pointed to one of them and said:

“你看看这个，D型‘伦道尔炮艇’，排水量530顿，航速12节，1门BL 10英寸（254mm）主炮；1门BL 6英寸（152.4mm）Mk I 80磅舰炮；2门12磅炮，还有一些诺德菲尔德机关炮。”

Armstrong picked up the model, played with it in his hands, and reported the corresponding data like a treasure trove.

"We have a finished product of this series, the 'Victoria', which was launched in 84 and is now well received in Australia! I think this is very suitable for your requirements."

Chen Jianqiu glanced at it and shook his head: "Too small."

The model in Armstrong's hand almost fell to the ground.

He once again began to doubt Chen Jianqiu's purpose for wanting this ship.

"Mr. Chen, with all due respect, we cannot sell cruisers with larger tonnage to you privately. The government does not allow this. What's more, under normal circumstances, a cruiser of this tonnage is completely sufficient!"

"I mean the firepower is too small." Chen Jianqiu moved his neck.

Armstrong started pulling at his hair.

"Mr. Chen, as we all know, if the cannon is bigger, the ship required will be bigger. This is inevitable."

"What I mean is that if the tonnage is increased a little, to about a thousand tons, your company doesn't need to worry about the cannon. We can just handle it ourselves." Chen Jianqiu said while playing with the model of the gunboat.

"You're not going to ask us to redesign a ship, are you?"

Armstrong looked ugly.

He had thought that this buyer might not be easy to deal with, but he never thought that it would be so difficult to deal with.

"Your cannon is fixed on the ship. To fire it, you have to adjust the angle of the ship. It's too cumbersome." Chen Jianqiu broke off the cannon on the model with his hands and shook his head.

But the cannon on the model actually came loose.

"Ah, I'm sorry, it turns out the cannon can move." Chen Jianqiu moved the direction of the cannon barrel back to its original position.

Armstrong's face turned the color of liver:

"Sorry, Mr. Chen, that's because the glue didn't stick firmly."

Chen Jianqiu handed the model back to Armstrong:

"You don't have to worry about money. We have enough ability to pay for this ship. You just need to listen to my requirements."

After Armstrong heard that money was no object, his attitude returned to its previous state.

He turned his head and said to the designer following behind:

"Bring out your notebook and write down Mr. Chen's request."

But before he finished speaking, Chen Jianqiu picked up another ship model, which made Armstrong's heart inexplicably twitch again.

"I said just now that the tonnage needs to be more than a thousand tons, and the speed is not enough. It should be at least 16 knots or more." Chen Jianqiu began to make his own requirements, "The most important thing is that you must leave me enough room for modification. "

When Armstrong heard this, he was stunned again, and the designers under him also stopped writing in their hands, and one even stuffed the notebook directly back into his clothes.

I talked in a roundabout way for a long time.

What you mean is that I can prepare a boat frame for you. Then why are you looking for me? Can't you find a merchant ship to go to?

However, Chen Jianqiu seemed to see what he was thinking and smiled at him:

"The ship you built is so strong that it can withstand beatings better than a merchant ship!"

Armstrong gave up thinking completely.

But these days, if you can make a business, it's a deal, and if you can make a deal, it's a deal.

"Any more questions?" Chen Jianqiu asked, as if he was the seller.

"No more." Armstrong gritted his teeth and replied.

"Then we will pay the deposit this week. If we start construction from now on, how long will it take?" Chen Jianqiu asked.

"It doesn't take long. It takes up to three months to design and about half a year to complete the construction."

Armstrong took a deep breath and said disapprovingly.

It's almost a bare ship. It's just modified using the drawings of a heavy patrol gunboat or a light armored frigate. As for production, that's not a problem. Removing those annoying weapons is just a snap.

Chen Jianqiu nodded with great satisfaction.

"Chen, are you sure they only have enough for one bare boat?"

On the way back, Maxim still didn't quite understand Chen Jianqiu's choice.

"If the ship is naked, how will we escort the gold back then?"

Chen Jianqiu smiled:

"I thought a lot about the specific purpose of this ship on the way. I'm afraid it's not just as simple as sending gold back."

"So, I plan to leave enough room for modification and then drive it to Mexico and then modify it, so that I won't give others too much attention."

"We can go to Krupp to customize and discuss the naval guns on the ship. In my impression, their naval guns are also very good, no worse than those of these British guys."

"But even so, I'm afraid it won't be in time next year!" Maxim shook his head worriedly.

From the design of the gun, to production, and finally to the end, it would take less than a year and a half to complete.

Chen Jianqiu laughed again:

"You don't have to worry about this at all."

He looked at the map on the wall in Maxim's office and pointed to the Caribbean:

"What kind of waves can these pirates make? Even if I try to hit them with my ship, I can smash these guys to pieces."