After receiving the authorization from the shogunate, Lin University's top ministers began the third round of negotiations with the Mi people. This negotiation mainly involved two aspects - the refuge port and the supply port.

What surprised Perry was that the attitude of the shogunate was very different this time. They were very different from the previous submissive ones. They argued hard on many terms. If it hadn't been for the repeated confirmation from the people around him, he would have really suspected that the other party had secretly changed the situation.

Candidate.

The mystery was soon solved:

During the lunch break that day, Lin University Leader took the initiative to take Mi Ren to a place, and mysteriously wanted to show him Fuso's orchid learning achievements - in fact, Perry had already received the report of the ashore navy, wasn't it steam?

A model locomotive and a wired telegraph machine?

However, Perry and others were really surprised, because President Lin actually claimed that these were all produced by Fuso!

When Perry started the second round of negotiations on March 13, he had people set up nearby to demonstrate a steam locomotive model and a wired telegraph machine, hoping to let the locked-down Fuso feel the progress of civilization.

It is that "the decoration of the steam locomotive is too simple, the special small carriage is a bit stiff to sit on", and "the box of the cable telegraph is not gorgeous enough".

At that time, Mi Ren originally thought that his opponent was bluffing, and the cooked duck meat would not rot in his mouth, but he never expected that what he said was actually true!

But why didn’t the top guys from Lin University take it out earlier?

Because first of all, President Lin didn’t think these two foreign things were of much use—really, the ministers really didn’t think they were necessities after coming into contact with railways and cable telegraphs. Secondly, these two things were custom-made by the public.

’s beloved thing.

In the summer of May of the fifth year of Kaei, Edo West Castle burned.

At that time, the general Jiading was still the prince Jiaxiang, and the fire was very big at that time, but Jiaxiang waited until these two sets of foreign toys were moved away before leaving, which shows that he likes these items!

This time Perry was also in a hurry. The seven ministers who came to negotiate felt that the Mi people were too arrogant and needed to be suppressed, so they came up with the idea of ​​​​a competition.

Moreover, it was finally loaned out after the first attendant of Laozhong, Abe, personally came forward and guaranteed that it would be intact and return it within five days.

But the effect is indeed good, and the hard work was not in vain. The steam locomotive and carriages were inlaid with gold and jade, decorated with colorful carvings, and the cushions made of velvet and silk made the people stunned. In fact, did Perry and others think this was necessary?

In the United States, steam engines are the power machinery for railways, mines, factories and ships. How come they have turned into toys in Fuso?

The same was true for the wired telegraph demonstration that followed. A large, thick, black telegraph machine was placed in an exquisite lacquer box, and the operator in gorgeous clothes gently tapped to send the message, showing a rather unpredictable attitude.

However, Mi Ren walked around for a long time and found no nameplates or signs with Western characters. Therefore, what Mr. Lin said about Fuso being produced by himself might be true!

Of course it’s not true:

It is true that the shogunate can now build simple steam engines, but the batteries and wires for steam locomotives and telegraphs are still not produced by themselves - the construction of steam locomotives is relatively complicated, and the preparation of acid solutions and wires for batteries is also relatively difficult.

The reason why we cannot produce our own products is very simple. On the one hand, there is a lack of professionals, but more importantly, there is no demand:

Since the Nirayama Iron Works successfully produced iron in the third year of Kayei (1850), Mr. Egawa Tanan has been promoting the manufacture of steam tanks and machine tools, relying on the books, materials, and samples brought back by Naohide and presented by Xianheng Yangxing in the past few years.

And machinery, Jiayong successfully copied steam tanks and machine tools four years ago - although the quality is still far from good, and they often break down, they can barely be used.

However, there are not many places where it can be used. Except for coal mines, iron smelting plants, and the Yushima Foundry, it cannot be used anywhere else.

Oguri Tadjun once asked his family's royal businessman Kinokuniya Rihachi to help promote it. As a result, he sold five units and returned three units, leaving two units behind.

Taiwan is still used by Saitaniya in Kochi, Shikoku - I guess I'm too embarrassed to return it.

According to a silk merchant from Nagoya Town, Owari Province, "Hydraulic machinery is actually very easy to use, but the steam tank is prone to malfunctions and fires, which is really unbearable."

Anyway, the output of steam tanks and machine tools was not high. After some troubles, Mr. Tan'an gave up on the idea of ​​civilian use.

But if there was no demand, there would be no investment. Moreover, the steam engines and machine tools provided by Xianheng Company were of high quality and low price, so the machinery manufacturing of the shogunate never developed.

Naohide also made roundabout efforts at that time. He asked Xianheyang Company to donate a steam locomotive model and a set of wired telegraph machines in 1851, hoping to attract the shogunate's attention to this aspect, but it was completely done to the blind man——

The thing entered Edo Castle, and the then public ministers Naijiakei and Nishimaruyue Yiexiang did like it, but just like that, the senior middle school students and the most important officials of Lin University were also favored to ride on the small train, but no one thought of it.

Railways and telegraphs should be built, but Naohideo's plan failed miserably!

As for Mr. Lin’s statement that the steam locomotive model and the wired telegraph machine were self-produced, it’s not like he was still making irresponsible remarks at the age of fifty-four. He had a misunderstanding. At that time, Nishimaru Kanaka was afraid that the foreign gadgets would break and he would not be able to play with them.

, I asked my father Jiaqing to send someone to find the Nirasan Iron Works. The "head leader" at that time was Shengyi Bang. This fierce man patted his chest and wrote back saying, "As long as Nishimaru likes it, if it breaks the warranty, it is not impossible to build a new one."

The head of Lin University, who was accompanying Duke Fang Yang around at the time, actually believed Sheng Yi Bang’s lies!

But there are mistakes. Although Perry, the admiral of the Miren navy, did not believe that Fusang could be produced on his own, the facts were before his eyes. He was also shaken and a little doubtful, "The world is so big, nothing can happen.

Maybe Fuso is more skilled at craftsmanship and can really save one and a half." But he insisted that Fuso cannot be mass-produced - steam locomotive models and wired telegraph machines are the government's favorite things. Fuso takes a close look at it and protects it strictly.

After the demonstration, it was dismantled and shipped away. When Mi Ren arrived, he didn't know whether it was made by Fuso himself.

After demonstrating the steam locomotive model and wired telegraph machine at noon, President Lin gave Perry another "surprise" in the afternoon - before any clues were drawn up about the refuge port and supply port that afternoon, the shogunate announced the end of today's negotiations early.

, and then earnestly invited Admiral Perry to go see the sea.

Perry was so dizzy talking about it that he didn't react for a while. When he got to the beach, he realized that he had been deceived. The shogunate had built a pavilion on the beach and prepared wine and food, but "coincidentally" there were two Uraga navy ships doing exercises.

Since the nine black ships entered Edo Bay, the Uraga navy ships have been pulled out and spread all over Edo Bay. The black ships have been closely monitored, but in order to avoid accidents, they were anchored far away. As for firing cannons,

Similar ones are even more prohibited.

So two warships "happened" to show up for a drill. Perry didn't believe it at all, but he knew that Fuso only had fly boats, so there was nothing to worry about. He just had to wait quietly and he would know what tricks these little dwarfs were going to do.

Before the drill, Mr. Lin specially introduced, "The Admiral has traveled thousands of miles and has an extraordinary vision. If you can give me some advice, we will definitely be grateful. In addition, this time we are practicing the new water cultivation, the commotion is not small. Please give warning to all of you."

The ship must not be frightened."

Perry was too lazy to argue and asked his men to use flags to inform the remaining personnel on the ship that "the Fuso Navy is conducting exercises and all ships are on alert."

After the Mi people had taken care of the matter, the shogunate also waved a flag to notify the drill to begin.

The whole process is very simple, that is, a ship puts down an iron bucket-like thing with a long chain and a float.

Perry and others watched with great interest through the telescope. I just asked through the translator that this "Fuso Peror" is a mine. This thing is also available in the West, but its practicality is very poor. It depends on what tricks the group in front of me can play.

After the minelaying was completed, a thousand-stone ship slowly came over, and a loud "bang" was heard, and the bow of the ship was blown to pieces!

Perry's face turned pale immediately, because he was not far away and looked through the telescope.

It is very clear that it does not seem to have been detonated in advance. If it were really a trigger mine, wouldn't it be dangerous for the fleet to park in Edo Bay?

"Don't panic, don't panic." He took a deep breath first, and then breathed it out slowly.

"This is a wonderful thing. It must be produced by Fuso itself. Can you give me one to give me a taste of it?"

Seeing Mi Ren's face changed drastically, Lin Datou was quite proud at first, but when Perry asked for the real thing, he suddenly became bitter and speechless - he knew this, even though it was called "New Water Cultivation Brand", but

It's really not newly made, and it's not self-produced. It was purchased by the shogunate through secret channels. Wouldn't it be obvious to this ricer when he saw the real thing?

Seeing that the opponent was at a loss, Perry calmed down a little. It looked like the trigger mine was not produced by Fuso. Otherwise, the enemy would have taken advantage of the victory and pursued it.

Too many things happened today, and both sides felt exhausted, so the reception and banquet came to nothing. After a hasty farewell, the negotiators from both sides went back to rest.

After returning to the club, everyone was smiling, except for the headmaster Lin, who was unhappy. He asked everyone to rest quickly, but secretly kept Egawa Tarozaemon behind - he was a layman on ordnance, but he was knowledgeable, and this mine could make

Mi Ren's expression changed, it must be a good thing, but if it can really resist Mi Yi, why did it come out now?

Jiang Chuan clarified his doubts. One was that the quantity was scarce, and the shogunate only bought two hundred of them. Lin Da was overjoyed, saying that two hundred was a lot, and there were only nine black ships. Even if two of them blew up one ship.

, isn’t he still richer than one hundred and eighty?

Mr. Tan'an smiled bitterly, "My dear Mr. Lin, this is not how the account was calculated."

Before Jiang Chuan finished what he said just now, mines were not only scarce in number, but also expensive. One cost twenty taels of gold, and two hundred of them cost four thousand taels of gold. Lin University stared at Jiang Chuan. I have it.

You are still sick. Four thousand taels are nothing. The total number of people in Ashigaru near Yokohama Village alone is three to four thousand. From the beginning of negotiations to now, the clubhouse has been built, and the gifts include horse chews and morale incentives. These days

All four thousand taels went out.

"As long as it's small, it doesn't matter if it's expensive, but as for whether the mines are as effective, I can only leave it to fate."

It turns out that the actual combat effect of mines at this time was extremely poor:

The first is that it is insensitive.

In fact, it’s not that it’s insensitive, it’s that it’s ineffective when it should be, and it’s ineffective when it shouldn’t be. After the mine is put into the water, the sensitive one will explode on its own when the wind and waves are bigger; if it’s not sensitive, it’s possible for a ship to hit it.

No sound.

Secondly, the airtightness is also a problem - the electrolyte trigger mine provided by Xianheng Yang Company is good. It is tightened with screws and filled with glue and other fillers, but I don’t know where the design is wrong. I put it in the water.

It will inevitably expire after more than ten days.

Moreover, there are many problems with deployment: if you set it as an anchor mine, it will be easy to be discovered; if you set it as a floating mine, you may not know where it will drift over time.

Moreover, once this thing is spread out, it is difficult to collect it. If you use an Internet cafe, it will explode when you accidentally collect it. It is better to use manual labor, but it is time-consuming and labor-intensive and it is not easy to find someone who is so courageous.

In short, the current mine is a double-edged sword and can only be used when it is absolutely necessary.

"My Jiangchuan, isn't this the time when we have no choice? Look, if we really fight, can we keep all nine black ships?" When he said this, Lin Daxue's eyes lit up - he had been captured during this period.

Perry was bullied so hard that he couldn't help but have wild imaginations after seeing the effect of the mines.

"No, leave at most two or three ships." - The black powder is not powerful enough, and the mines have technological problems at this time. Although it is easy to blow up a thousand-stone ship, it is not very good to blow up a big ship like the black ship. If Perry is ruthless

If we make up our minds and use boats to clear the way, we will definitely be able to break out of Edo Bay.
Chapter completed!