Potatoes play a very important role in the food structure of southern Africa. Potatoes can be used as staple food, as vegetables, as snacks, and even for making wine. The key is that potatoes have large yields. Abu's biological laboratory has been studying
Potato seedlings have been improved, and now the potato yield per acre in Southern Africa can reach more than two tons. The acres here are not acres, but ares. After conversion, the potato yield per acre has reached more than 12 tons. For the population of Southern Africa,
In proportion to the land, close to potatoes, southern Africa will never have to worry about famine.
This is something that even the UK cannot do now.
Without the input of colonies, it would be very difficult to support a population of 40 million people in the UK with only 240,000 square kilometers.
Southern Africa covers three million square kilometers and has a population of only a few million. It is really easy to feed them.
What surprised Viscount Glasdu was that even ordinary potatoes turned out to be fancy in the hands of Chinese chefs.
Since the 15th century, potatoes have been cultivated in Europe for hundreds of years. However, until now, Europeans are still limited to mashed potatoes, potato bread, French fries, etc. The Russians use potatoes to stew beef,
It becomes the peak taste of potatoes.
In the hands of Chinese chefs, potatoes finally shined. All kinds of potato cakes, potato shreds, potato slices, fried and cooked in various ways. Viscount Grasto had more than a dozen different flavors of potatoes in one meal.
This made Viscount Glaston very happy.
"The situation in the country is very bad now. Potatoes have become the main dish on many families' tables. The price of meat in London has skyrocketed. The price of vegetables in restaurants makes me, the Viscount, feel that it is too much to bear. Southern Africa is very good. Every time I come to the south,
I always feel refreshed when it comes to Africa, especially the Transvaal and Nyasaland. Sometimes I really want those MPs who agree with the autonomy of southern Africa to come and take a look. This is the backcountry they call." Glass.
Viscount Ton couldn't help but complain that Roque couldn't imagine how high the food prices were, which would make even a nobleman like him feel unaffordable.
"This should be attributed to the wise leadership of the Governor and the Prime Minister -" Roque still knew what to say at this time, since flattery does not cost money anyway.
"Come on, Nyasaland has nothing to do with us. I went to Nyasaland before Nyasaland became your territory. To be honest, I didn't think that Nyasaland could develop to what it is today."
To this extent, who would have thought that you could already produce cars and airplanes - has the War Department contacted you?" Viscount Glaston finally turned the topic to Nyasaland.
"Yes, but the request of the Ministry of War is a bit excessive, and I can't agree to it." Rock told the truth. The Ministry of War had indeed approached Rock to try to obtain aircraft technology for free. Rock would definitely not agree to such a request.
After Nyasaland's aircraft flew over the English Channel, it performed a tour of flying demonstrations in many European countries.
The performance was so successful that both Italy and the Ottoman Empire purchased aircraft from Nyasaland and trained pilots, and the British government certainly took note of the performance of Nyasaland's aircraft.
However, the War Department thinks relatively simply on this issue. They probably think that Rock is a country bumpkin who knows nothing. As long as the War Department speaks, Rock will voluntarily hand over all the technology related to aircraft, and
Will not ask for anything in return.
Roark was definitely not that stupid, so Roark directly refused the request of the War Department. Even if the person who contacted Roark later was changed to Earl Selborne, Roark did not relent.
It's impossible to get technology, but it's easy to get an airplane. Just bring money. If you don't have money, don't say anything.
"Locke, don't forget that you are still a Viscount of the British Empire." Viscount Gladstone reminded Locke, don't forget his identity.
"Of course I know, so when the empire needs it, I will do my best for the empire, but this does not mean that I will unconditionally obey the requirements of the Ministry of War. I am the Viscount of the empire, and I am also the Minister of Defense of Southern Africa.
The boss of the Asalan Aeronautical Research Institute, while I am serving the empire, I am also responsible for Southern Africa, and I am also responsible for the three hundred researchers at the Aeronautical Research Institute. Regarding aircraft technology, it is not my achievement alone.
It is the hard work of 300 researchers at the Institute of Aeronautics. The War Department cannot take away it with just one sentence. This is unfair to those researchers who forget about food and sleep." If necessary, Roark will also sing a high profile, and the War Department cannot represent the British government.
"Yes, that is indeed unfair to the staff of the institute - in this case, you make a price -" Viscount Glaston stopped playing the emotional card and simply made a request.
That's right, the Governor of Southern Africa, who has many things to do, probably wouldn't run from the pleasant climate of Cape Town to the humid and hot Okavango Swamp just for an ordinary military exercise.
It is summer in Cape Town now, the most pleasant time of the year.
"Four thousand——" The price offered by Roque was neither high nor low.
The price here is not high, but compared with Italy and the Ottoman Empire, it is certainly higher than the price sold to the Ministry of Defense of Southern Africa.
Viscount Glaston's face immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
"I promise it's the complete version!" Rock emphasized.
Viscount Glaston's face looked better, but not much better.
"The price we sold to the Italians was five thousand." Roque emphasized again that the price was indeed a bit high, but it was worth the money.
"The Italians are taken advantage of, but the Empire is not!" Viscount Glaston emphasized fiercely. Now the whole world knows that Italy and the Ottoman Empire are on the verge of war, so the prices of weapons around the world are rising. Don't forget that during the Russo-Japanese War, the whole country
How did the world join forces to deceive the old man and the little devil, and now they are doing the same trick again.
Of course, there are also reasons for the arms race here. Although Britain and Germany have not yet issued mobilization orders and the size of the troops has not expanded, war-related military supplies have begun to increase production and storage, so the price of weapons has increased, which is also closely related to the arms race.
relation.
"I can help the War Department train pilots -" Rock continued to put another weight on the scale. If Viscount Glaston had agreed to Rock's offer just now, then that price would definitely not include training pilots.
"You are also helping the Italians and Ottomans train pilots." Viscount Glaston refused to give in.
"Okay, you have to give back a price before we can continue the negotiation." Rock was not in a hurry and first explored Viscount Glaston's bottom line.
"One thousand pounds!" Viscount Glaston said with a victorious expression, thinking that Roark had already surrendered.
"Haha, the moon is pretty tonight -" Rock didn't continue, there was no need to continue discussing the price.
"Don't think too much. Do you know how much the Wright brothers sold the airplane to the U.S. government? One thousand pounds is a lot." Viscount Glaston said about the Wright brothers.
"Are you talking about the Wright Brothers' Flyer 3? Let's put it this way, if Nyasaland's Strong Wind encounters the Wright Brothers' Flyer 3 on the battlefield, I guarantee that a Strong Wind
"You can confront the Cross Flyer Three head-on." Luo Ke was confident in his words. Anyway, this was something that Guan Gong and Qin Qiong had no way to prove.
In fact, it is not a boast. When Nyasaland installed the heavy machine gun on the "Strong Wind", the Wright brothers were still studying how to solve the problem of flight stability. Now it has only been a short time since the "Strong Wind" first appeared in Europe.
After half a year, Rock still didn’t believe that Flyer 3 could make much progress.
To put it bluntly, the Wright brothers’ team only has a few people, but the Nyasaland Aeronautical Research Institute has 300 researchers. Can 300 people be worth the weight of two Wright brothers?
Just kidding, the Wright brothers are not gods.
Specifically, it may be a bit difficult for one "Strong Wind" to confront ten "Flyer 3"s head-on, but with the cooperation of two "Strong Winds", it can definitely defeat twenty "Flyer 3"s smoothly.
, Nyasaland has begun to study formation tactics, and the Wright brothers are still busy with flight performances. This is their hobby of challenging other people's jobs.
Although Roark had confidence in "Strong Wind", this confidence seemed a bit arrogant to Viscount Glaston, so Viscount Glaston smiled and raised his glass to Roark without any intention of retorting.
He is a true gentleman. At the very least, he thinks he sees through things without telling them.
"Have the Germans contacted you?" Viscount Glaston suddenly asked.
Rock just wanted to laugh. It was really not possible to let the nobles negotiate business. They couldn't grasp the key to negotiation. This was giving the initiative to Rock.
So Roque's expression was a little embarrassed and a little ashamed.
Viscount Glaston immediately wanted to rebel.
"No, I don't agree. Even if 'Strong Wind' is sold to the Italians and Ottomans, I also ask the Italians and Ottomans not to allow Germans and people related to Germany to come into contact with 'Strong Wind'. I will send people
Go to Italy and the Ottoman Empire to supervise the execution of the Italians and the Ottomans." Roque immediately stated that this was the origin of the military observation mission.
Speaking of which, this is the second time that Southern Africa has sent a military observation mission to a foreign country. The last time was the Russo-Japanese War. The medical team Nyasaland sent to the Far East also went to the Far East in the name of a military observation mission.
"The Germans must not be allowed to obtain aircraft technology, otherwise Locke you will be in trouble." Viscount Glaston said seriously.
Rock nodded repeatedly, he would definitely not make a mistake in this regard. No matter what Rock thought in his heart, in front of Viscount Glaston, Rock must resolutely live as a member of the British Empire and die as a ghost of the British Empire.
Wrong, it's southern Africa.
"However, the Germans are also aware of the prospect of aircraft. Even if we blockade it, it will not stop the Germans from doing research on their own." Roark still reminded Viscount Glaston, don't say it was unforeseen, don't make up for it when the time comes, and make up for it temporarily.
