1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 3691

The military technology mastered by Portugal was naturally much superior to that of the Middle Eastern countries at that time, which also enabled it to become the most influential international arms supplier in the region.

However, compared with Hai Han's advanced military technology that is ahead of its time, Portugal's capabilities are obviously far behind.

Regardless of the type of weapons and equipment, Qian Tiandun was fully confident that Hai Han's products would definitely be better than Portugal's. Portugal's share of arms trade in East Asia had been gradually eaten up by Hai Han in just two or three decades.

Of course, the arms trade is a rather complicated business, which also involves international relations, geopolitics, and the internal and external situations faced by various countries. The performance of weapons and equipment is not the most important determining factor.

Qian Tiandun was not clear about the Ottoman Empire's focus on purchasing arms, so he could only choose a straightforward approach and first look for an opportunity to show the other party the advantages of Hai Han's weapons and equipment, which was the most basic combat performance.

"Lord Galar, would you be so kind as to allow me to show you the weapons and equipment made in our country? You can also bring the best weapons in your army so that we can make a direct comparison."

Galar just smiled and said, "Is there any need to make a comparison?"

Qian Tiandun said: "On the ships I brought to Basra, there are thousands of muskets and dozens of cannons. If the performance of these weapons is not as good as the weapons equipped in your army, then I will give them all to you without charging a penny!"

Galar's eyes lit up when he heard this. Even if so many weapons were just a pile of scrap metal, they would still be worth a lot of money. But he also thought that the other party actually proposed such an outrageous condition, which showed that he had full confidence in his own weapons, which was really rare.

"Since you insist, let's give it a try." Galar didn't refuse this time and simply agreed. He also wanted to verify whether this Hai Han man who came from afar was just bragging.

To verify the performance of weapons and equipment, both sides needed some time to prepare, so they scheduled the next meeting in the afternoon.

After Qian Tiandun left the office, he immediately sent people back to the dock to unload some weapons and equipment from the ship. He also hired a few carriages from Khalid Trading Company to carry the equipment to the place designated by Galar.

When it comes to verifying the combat performance of guns and artillery, live-fire shooting is definitely necessary. Galar also knows that such things should not be carried out near the city, so he specially sent someone to take Qian Tiandun's troops to a wasteland about ten miles southwest of Basra.

The place designated by Galar was originally one of the training grounds for the Basra garrison, and it also had a relatively small shooting range for the troops to practice shooting. Even if there was some noise in this place, it would not disturb the people of Basra.

Qian Tiandun had no idea what kind of weapons the Ottoman army was equipped with, so he brought various types of weapons and equipment with him so that he could make targeted deployments during the demonstration and firmly suppress the enemy.

“Dear Hai Han guest, please look, these are some of the weapons used by our army. Later, I will have the soldiers show you the combat performance of these weapons.”

When Qian Tiandun saw the weapons Galar showed him, his eyes almost fell to the ground. This was not because the Ottomans really had any great weapons, but because the weapons and equipment he saw were too familiar.

This gun, this cannon, and even the armor, aren’t these all Hai Han’s export models?

Galar saw Qian Tiandun's expression of shock and thought that he was impressed by the equipment he showed. He said proudly, "These weapons were purchased by our country at great expense. Their combat performance is very strong. If you feel that the previous agreement is inappropriate, it is not too late to regret it now!"

Qian Tiandun suppressed his smile and said, "Lord Galar, these weapons and equipment are indeed good things, but the people who sell these equipment to your country are not necessarily the ones who made them. Your country purchases them through middlemen, so they are neither the latest and most powerful models, nor the most cost-effective prices." Galar frowned and said, "What do you mean by this, Excellency? Do you look down on our country?"

Qian Tiandun shook his head and said, "No, no, no, I don't mean that. I just happen to know where these weapons used by your army were designed, manufactured, and produced."

Galar became interested when he heard this and motioned Qian Tiandun to continue.

Qian Tiandun picked up a musket from the exhibits, turned the gun over, and showed Galar a mark on the bottom of the handle: "Do you recognize this mark, sir?"

Galar took a look and replied calmly, "This mark should represent the ordnance workshop that produced this musket."

Qian Tiandun nodded and said, "Yes, this mark is the unit that produced this musket, the first section of the third workshop of the Haihan Tiandu Arsenal."

The translator didn't know how to understand the second half of the sentence, "the third workshop, the first section." Qian Tiandun had to gesture for a while before the translator and Galar understood what he meant.

Galar was naturally quite shocked: "What? Are you saying that this weapon is produced in your country?"

Qian Tiandun nodded and said, "It's absolutely true. Look at this gun again..."

Qian Tiandun showed Galar another stamp on the gun as he spoke: "This is the serial number of this gun. Each gun has a different serial number. With this number and the mark on the gun handle, we can trace when, where, and by whom the gun was manufactured, and who was its first buyer."

Galar was still a little skeptical after hearing this: "You said this gun was made in your country, do you have any other evidence?"

Qian Tiandun then ordered: "Go get a Type 33 flintlock rifle."

The attendant quickly brought a musket, Qian Tiandun took it and handed it to Galar, motioning him to compare carefully: "Sir, please look, is this gun exactly the same as the weapon you are equipped with? Moreover, mine is brand new and has never been used. There is no trace of gunpowder burning in the barrel."

Galar took it and looked at it. Sure enough, the position of the mark on the gun handle and the number on the gun body were the same. He couldn't help but believe it about 70%.

Qian Tiandun continued to introduce: "The rifle purchased by your country is the first type of the Type 33 fragmentation rifle produced in our country. The gun I showed you, although it looks the same, is a subsequent improved model. The shooting accuracy and range have been significantly improved. You can let someone try it and you will know."

Qian Tiandun felt confident after seeing the gun displayed by the Ottomans.

As the name suggests, the Type 1633 is an export-oriented flintlock rifle designed and mass-produced by the Military Industry Bureau of the Hai Han Ministry of Industry in 1645. The improved Type that he took out is actually a subsequent improved model that was not produced until . Because its structure is basically the same as the Type , it was named Sansan Ding, which is the fourth-generation improved model of the Type .

However, its materials, workmanship, and ammunition have been significantly improved compared to the Type 33, and its combat performance is no longer on the same level.