The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 435: "Technically Retired" Battleship

...I will omit 28,000 words at the beginning...

Chen Zhengwei stroked Cicely Dupont's back. The girl was crying hard.

Mainly because it hurts a lot.

"I won't marry you!" Cicely Dupont said while sniffling, her eyes red.

She wasn't going to share a man with anyone else.

"Okay!" Chen Zhengwei agreed readily this time.

Cicely DuPont turned her head and looked at Chen Zhengwei, her eyes full of shock, then she grabbed the pillow and threw it at Chen Zhengwei.

"asshole!"

"Son of a bitch!"

"You said it!" Chen Zhengwei felt that he was also innocent. It was her request. What did it have to do with him?
"Marriage is a restriction on individual freedom, which makes people give up the realization of self-worth. It binds people to the family and makes them become a part of it! Have you ever seen a factory? It's just like those machines on the factory equipment!" Chen Zhengwei changed his words.

"Bastard!" Cicely DuPont thought this bastard was a liar.

Don't you even have anything nice to say at a time like this?

That's not how it's written in the novel.

"Don't think too much, you are still young! Self-worth is what you should consider more now. No matter what you want to do, I will support you. When you are tired, you need to consider family."

"Is there anything you want to do now?"

Chen Zhengwei smiled and changed the subject to distract the girl.

This girl is very smooth.

She has a nice figure and smooth skin.

And that pitiful look is very attractive.

As for marriage, we can talk about it later. He doesn't care, it's just a matter of marrying a few more people.

Cicely Dupont buried her head in the pillow and said "I don't know" in a muffled voice after a long time.

She never considered it.

Her life was to study, go to school, and then marry someone according to the routine... As for other things, she had never thought about it.

After all, her family doesn't require her to consider those things.

"You can think about it slowly... I'll accompany you around New York tomorrow!" said Chen Zhengwei.

This sentence finally made Cicely Dupont feel better.

"I'll go down and take a look, otherwise I'm afraid a fight will break out!" Chen Zhengwei touched her hair a few times, then reached out his hand in front of her and pinched it.

"When will you be back?" Cicely Dupont turned to look at him.

Only then did she remember her bodyguard...but she didn't want Chen Zhengwei to leave either.

She really needs company now.

"Very quickly!" Chen Zhengwei put on his clothes, took out a cigar from his pocket and lit it.

He really wanted to pull up his pants and run away.

This girl is such a wimp.

However, seeing her pitiful look, Chen Zhengwei decided to come back early.

After going out, he saw a few thugs outside. Chen Zhengwei left two people here to guard and took a few people downstairs.

I saw Cicely Dupont's bodyguards sitting on the sofa, obviously feeling a little restless.

And sitting opposite them were a few of his own men.

Chen Zhengwei walked over and sat in front of the bodyguards, looking at them while smoking a cigar.

The other party was obviously very conflicted and wanted to ask how his young lady was doing.

Chen Zhengwei said after a moment: "As for our mutual affection, you bodyguards should just do your job as bodyguards. Other matters have nothing to do with you."

"You were lucky last time. You almost couldn't get out of Chicago!"

The bodyguards suddenly felt a chill on their backs.

"Her father's name is Eugene DuPont, right? He's much smarter than you, so he's a wealthy man and you're just bodyguards. Why do you think he agreed to let her come?" Chen Zhengwei sneered.

"Be smarter next time!" Chen Zhengwei said and got up and left. He took the Genzhi soda from his henchman and went to the hotel entrance to get some fresh air carrying the bottle of soda.

Behind Chen Zhengwei, the captain of the bodyguard team looked a little pale, but wisely remained silent and did not speak.

"Brother Wei, my sister-in-law may not be very happy." A Long walked behind Chen Zhengwei and said.

"Women are unhappy every day, and I don't know where all their unhappiness comes from!" Chen Zhengwei said a very wise saying.

After thinking it over, Chen Zhengwei went upstairs to take a look.

Lin Changning sat in front of the window with an English book in his hand.

"What? A romance novel?" Chen Zhengwei walked over, picked it up and took a look. It turned out to be the biography of Napoleon.

"What's so interesting about the story of a dwarf!" Chen Zhengwei laughed.

Lin Changning sniffed and smelled another woman's perfume on him, and immediately became unhappy.

But I'm too lazy to say it.

He just said: "Reading history can help you understand the truth and know the rise and fall! A person who can rise to fame always has some things in his life that can leave treasures for future generations."

Many people say that Chen Zhengwei is now invincible, and some newspapers even say that he is the Napoleon of China.

So she was somewhat interested in Napoleon.

Chen Zhengwei laughed and said, "People in the future will be like you, holding my biography in their hands!"

“But some people are born in Rome, and some are born as cattle and horses!

Some things can't be learned.

Lin Changning raised his hand and gave him a slap.

"I won't be going down these two days! I don't want to see you being affectionate with others and feel unhappy!"

Even though Lin Changning knew that Chen Zhengwei was like this, he couldn't help it. He also wanted to express his attitude to prevent him from becoming more and more unscrupulous.

Then, Chen Zhengwei threw him onto the bed.

Lin Changning rolled over on the bed, supported himself with one hand, and kicked out with his leg, so fast and fierce that it actually made a whistle sound like a whip.

"do not bother me!"

Then Chen Zhengwei grabbed his legs and pulled him into his arms.

Lin Changning was not as strong as him, so he could only say angrily: "Go take a shower!"

...Another 30,000 words omitted...

Two hours later, Chen Zhengwei returned to the door of Cecili's room and a henchman handed him two invitations.

"It's an invitation letter from the French ambassador, addressed to the boss and Miss Cicely!"

Chen Zhengwei took it and took a look. It was tonight.

The Dupont family is French, but the invitation from the French ambassador... came at a very opportune time.

But on second thought, Chen Zhengwei just came back from Ilion today, so it was normal to send the ambassador's invitation letter together.

It’s just that I’ve never had any dealings with the French, so why would this troublemaker come to me?
Chen Zhengwei walked into the room thoughtfully. Britain is the biggest troublemaker in the world, and France is the second.

However, when it comes to targeting Britain, France is the biggest troublemaker.

After all, Britain is now the strongest naval country in the world, and France is number two.

So, as long as the British are unhappy, the French will be happy.

Did the other party invite me because of the conflict between me and the British envoy? Could I knock on a few ships?
But after thinking about it, Chen Zhengwei knew it was impossible. France's current strategy is to unite with the United States to curb Britain's influence in America.

Therefore, unless he truly makes peace with the US government, he will not get any benefits in France.

This invitation should be a simple banquet invitation.

When I entered the room with the invitation, Cicely was still curled up in the quilt, her brows slightly furrowed, looking very pitiful.

Chen Zhengwei loves to bully people...

The more pitiful someone is, the more I want to bully them.

But thinking about the banquet in the evening, she finally decided to give up, otherwise she wouldn't have to go anywhere tonight.

"An invitation from the French ambassador. There is a banquet tonight!" Chen Zhengwei raised the invitation in his hand.

"are you going?"

"go with!"

Hearing this, Cicely Dupont felt a little better.

Then she jumped out of bed: "Oh no, I didn't prepare a dress!"

Then he groaned in pain and fell down again.

"Just go buy it!" Chen Zhengwei said indifferently.

It is definitely too late to order one, but it doesn't matter if you buy it... although many people think it is not formal enough and is very rude.

However, Chen Zhengwei never cared about this matter, and no one dared to talk to him about it in person.

That evening, Chen Zhengwei and Cicely Dupont came to the French Embassy. When the two walked into the banquet hall together, they immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Cicely Dupont looked stunning in a white dress, but what was even more surprising was that she was holding Chen Zhengwei's arm.

This disappointed some of the young people in the field.

"Good evening, Mr. Chen! Good evening, Ms. Dupont! You look a little different today!" French Minister Jules Poggi walked over with a smile on his face.

"Radiant!"

Chen Zhengwei had met Jules Poggi before, when they signed the last agreement.

After a few pleasantries, Jules Borgia smiled meaningfully and said, "The British are always arrogant, but we French are much more enthusiastic! Our French girls are even more enthusiastic!"

The two were then introduced to the others.

This also confirmed Chen Zhengwei's thoughts. Jules Borgia's invitation to him did not have much meaning. At most, he just wanted to make himself familiar.

Who knows, maybe one day I will have a falling out with Britain.

But he didn't care. He came here just to see if there was any cooperation to discuss. After all, only wealthy people could attend such a banquet.

He had already negotiated a lot of cooperation before, not only Andrew Carnegie's steel plant, but also several million dollars of investment in Los Angeles and a railway from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

……

In the next two days, Chen Zhengwei accompanied Cicely DuPont around New York, which made Cicely DuPont very happy. She walked with light steps, like a deer.

However, Chen Zhengwei began to feel a little bored because the girl was too clingy.

She is not like Lin Changning, who can stay by your side quietly, but always has endless things to say.

Randolph Churchill also came to inform him of two good news.

"Your goods have arrived, right at the South Street Port, you need to find a way to ship those goods away!"

"We're finally here! Are the people who are installing the equipment here too?" Chen Zhengwei asked.

"They are here, and the navy is here too. They will talk to you about the ship."

"How many people? What do they like? Do they like girls?" Chen Zhengwei raised his eyebrows. This was good news.

Finally, I don't have to accompany Cicely Dupont anymore, and I can change my mood.

"Every man likes it!" Randolph Churchill raised his eyebrows.

"Then let's go to the United Club!" said Chen Zhengwei.

"There are no girls there!" Churchill said immediately.

This is the most high-end membership club in New York, mainly providing social occasions for celebrities.

Unlike those low-end private clubs, they offer gambling and prostitutes.

He's been there several times.

"They can have it!" Chen Zhengwei said with a smile.

And he doesn't need membership either.

Chen Zhengwei asked someone to find A Long: "Take 50,000 US dollars, visit the customs officials, unload our goods! And then send them on the train!"

"Then arrange some hot girls, a little higher grade."

At around seven o'clock in the evening, Chen Zhengwei arrived at the United Club.

"Brother Wei, they are here!" Aaron said standing aside. There were more than a dozen girls around him, all of whom he had found from various places. They all looked very good.

"The quality is good!" Chen Zhengwei said after taking a glance.

"This is a big city. Countless girls come here every day hoping to marry into a rich family." Aaron said with a grin.

This guy is much more familiar with New York's seafood market than Chen Zhengwei.

"Come in!" Chen Zhengwei walked straight in.

"Good evening, Mr. Chen!" People in the club bowed when they saw Chen Zhengwei.

Although it was their first time meeting Chen Zhengwei, the most important thing when working here is to be smart.

As for the girls behind Chen Zhengwei, they all pretended not to see anything.

The club members in the hall all looked sideways.

Especially as these girls walked by, even the air was filled with the smell of perfume.

A moment later, Chen Zhengwei came to a small banquet hall. When the henchman opened the door, Chen Zhengwei saw several well-dressed gentlemen sitting on the sofa.

"Good evening, gentlemen!" Chen Zhengwei's face was filled with smiles.

The men had a hint of arrogance on their faces, but when they saw Chen Zhengwei, they stood up and extended their hands: "Good evening, Mr. Chen!"

Then he looked behind Chen Zhengwei. "What is this?"

"We can talk about it tomorrow. Tonight is mainly to welcome you!" Chen Zhengwei laughed.

"Don't say no! This is the attitude and way that we Americans show our enthusiasm."

"Girls, give these gentlemen some strength first! Let them feel the passion of American girls!"

The gentlemen were soon surrounded by the girls in a reserved manner.

After all, they rarely see such a scene.

"Wine and band!" Chen Zhengwei snapped his fingers.

Two hours later, although they were still on guard, Chen Zhengwei had felt them all clearly and even knew the color of their underwear.

Saw it with my own eyes.

These people are all from the Logistics Department of the Navy Headquarters. The highest-ranking one among them is the Pacific Fleet Supply Officer, who has the rank of Major and is very young, only in his early thirties.

With his age, rank, and position, we can tell that this man is similar to Randolph Churchill.

In addition, there was a naval staff officer with the rank of lieutenant commander, two clerks from the supply department, and a ship inspector.

Now the ship inspector's pants were pulled down.

The ships they were able to trade included a battleship called Warrior, which had a displacement of 9137 tons, was powered by sails and steam, had a speed of 13.75 knots, and was equipped with 40 68-pound muzzle-loading guns and 10 110-pound cannons.

A Defense ironclad frigate, displacement 6170 tons, the same sails plus steam power, speed 11.5 knots, 4 7-inch 110-pound breech-loading guns, and 10 68-pound muzzle-loading guns.

A Pallas wooden hull ironclad frigate with a displacement of 3967 tons, a speed of 13 knots, four 4-inch 7-pound breech-loading guns, and eight 110-pound muzzle-loading guns.

In addition, there are six Duterte-class gunboats with a displacement of 1130 tons, a speed of 11 knots, 2 7-inch breech-loading guns and 4 64-pound muzzle-loading guns.

In the British Navy, when ships reach their age, they are first evaluated and then retired, sold, or used as training ships.

But things like battleships would only be sold to small countries that had interests with Britain, or simply dismantled. Not everyone could buy them.

In particular, most of the ships here have not yet reached their retirement age.

For example, the battleship Warrior was launched in 1860 and was originally planned to be decommissioned in 1883.

The ironclad frigate HMS Defence was scheduled to be decommissioned in 1885.

Pallas was scheduled to be decommissioned in 1886.

As long as Chen Zhengwei can afford the price, these ships can be "technically eliminated and retired."

Because these ships are already behind the most advanced ships in Britain today.

However, in other countries of the world, it is still the most advanced battleship.

The US Navy's battleships are still far inferior.

The US Navy doesn’t even have battleships yet!
(End of this chapter)