You must know that although the industrial level of the Republic of China during this period was weak, small-tonnage warships could still be manufactured.
Of course, there are only a handful of shipyards that can take on such important responsibilities, including Great China Shipyard, Jiangnan Shipyard, Wuchang Shipyard, etc.
Among them, the most famous is Jiangnan Shipyard, which was born out of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Administration established during the Westernization Movement of the late Qing Dynasty.
Although the development of Jiangnan Shipyard was bumpy, and it was repeatedly cut by the government due to funding issues, in 1931, it still independently completed the manufacturing of the first domestic warship in Chinese history. The ship was designed by shipbuilding expert Ye Zaifu. This is Yi Zaifu.
The fairy ship has a displacement of 1560 tons.
Although the tonnage of the ship is not too large, and the speed is only 12 knots, it is not even comparable to a battleship, nor is it comparable to the Ninghai light cruiser with a displacement of more than 2,000 tons purchased from Japan. But it is domestically produced, although some parts
Imported, but it can also be regarded as a major progress for China's shipbuilding industry.
Light cruisers of more than 1,000 tons can be manufactured, as well as river boats of less than 100 tons, and the cost is definitely much lower than those imported from abroad.
However, even if Zhou Wen wants to build a new ship, there is a richer and more anxious benefactor who wants to build a new ship even more.
This big benefactor is the Navy of the Republic of China.
Faced with the increasingly urgent international situation and the need to defend coastal defense, the Nanjing government passed the "Registration of Military Registration" at the Second Military Conference in 1928. The bill advocated strengthening the construction of naval power. In terms of national defense, the navy
, the buildings of the air force and military port fortress are all important.
In 1929, the Nanjing Navy Ministry formulated the "Six-year Construction Plan", which advocated the construction of 105,000 tons of main battleships, 6,800 tons of gunboats and 5.37 million tons of auxiliary ships within six years, thereby promoting the construction of naval weapons and equipment.
Moreover, the gap between the Chinese and Japanese navies was huge at this time, and it was impossible to catch up with Japan's level in a short period of time. Therefore, the national government also clearly realized that after the Sino-Japanese war broke out in an all-round way, the navy of the Republic of China did not have the offensive capability at all.
The ability to fight can only be achieved by making clever use of favorable terrain such as seaports and inland rivers, and by using forts and mines to carry out defensive operations.
Among them, the role of small-tonnage torpedo boats, minelayers, gunboats, etc. has become prominent.
Therefore, the orders of several shipyards, including Jiangnan Shipyard, are now fully booked by the Republic of China Navy. Where is there any spare capacity to help Zhou Wen build gunboats?
Moreover, Zhou Wen did not use gunboats to fight against Japan. He knew that without air superiority and strong naval support, it would be a waste to drive a few small gunboats to fight Japanese destroyers.
He just wanted to use the gunboat to escort the Yangtze River Company's shipping. Of course, he did not require high performance.
As long as it can be faster than a freighter, have some basic protection, and have a strike capability that is more powerful than light weapons, that's all.
What he needs to deal with is not the regular army, but the water bandits and river tyrants along the Yangtze River.
In terms of service life, Zhou Wen does not need new ships, as long as these gunboats can barely last three or four years. Although he is not short of money now, it is not that he has too much money and nothing to spend it on.
For the future all-out war of resistance, every penny saved now to make bullets may be able to kill one more little Japanese. What’s more, the time to actually spend money has not yet come. The aircraft and tanks I want to buy in the future,
Which one is not a big money swallower?
Of course, there was no need to explain these to James in detail. He just cited financial constraints as an excuse and told him about the situation of the troops stationed in the Philippines.
Finally, Zhou Wen said: "Mr. James, I know you are a businessman, and of course I won't let your help go in vain."
Zhou Wen said and took out another list, which was actually a quotation list.
I just saw the purchase price listed above.
Zhou Wen offered a price of US$500 for an M2 Browning heavy machine gun that could still be used, starting with 100 guns. Another US$10,000 was given to equip the machine gun with 100,000 rounds of various types of bullets.
Two sets of production lines for 12.7mm heavy machine gun ammunition that are old but have complete equipment and parts are priced at US$40,000.
A semi-old 50-ton gunboat, excluding weapons, is priced at US$1,500, starting with 8 boats.
The above-mentioned price is not arbitrary. He has learned from Mandel that the international price of a newly manufactured m2 Browning heavy machine gun is about 2,000 US dollars. A brand-new bullet production line costs about 5 to
It costs about US$60,000. The cost of a River-class gunboat manufactured by a US shipyard in the Philippines ranges from US$5,000 to US$10,000 depending on the tonnage.
But he bought it in the name of scrap collection, and the price can be said to be relatively high. And he knew that if Qichang Yangxing's company in the Philippines was willing to come forward to contact the local American army and use some relationship means to accept and deal with these nominally
Scrap products don’t even cost a penny.
Therefore, except for the cost of bullets, these offers are actually equivalent to what Zhou Wenbai gave to James.
Of course, Zhou Wen didn't care about the freight and intermediate management costs. He just picked up the goods at the Shanghai pier. Otherwise, why would he bother to get these old equipment? Isn't it just to get a bargain?
While James was carefully considering the feasibility of this matter, Zhou Wen took out a check from his jacket pocket. The amount on it was a number that was still fresh in James' memory: 135,000 US dollars.
Yes, the amount of the check Zhou Wen took out was exactly the same as the amount of compensation James gave Zhou Wen.
Zhou Wen smiled and said: "This is my deposit, which can also be said to be the full payment for the first batch of goods. If you can meet the minimum requirements on the list, the remaining money will be the hard work fee I will give you. If there is any more in the future,
For this kind of business, I will first adopt today's method of payment first and delivery later, and I will not let you pay a penny in advance, nor will you suffer any financial losses."
James looked at the check in Zhou Wen's hand with mixed emotions. He certainly understood what this Chinese self-proclaimed scholar meant.
Since I can get the money from you once, I must have the means to get it a second time, and I won't be afraid that you will break the contract and get the money.
Moreover, he was quite surprised that Zhou Wen actually knew something about the situation of the American troops stationed in the Philippines, which meant that this person must have intelligence channels in the Philippines. This was a bit scary, and Zhou Wen's identity made him feel even more mysterious and mysterious.
It's unfathomable, so naturally I don't dare to have any evil thoughts.
So, he simply said in a bachelor's manner: "Mr. Scholar, thank you for your trust in me. But I can't accept your deposit today. I will wait until I go back to understand the situation clearly through the company's relationship and determine the feasibility of this matter."
, I will collect the money again, this is good for everyone."
