The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 436 Bought a Fleet

Buy it! Of course!

After Chen Zhengwei found out the other party's background, only one thought came to his mind.

The Warrior was the world's first battleship, half a century behind the blueprint he had drawn.

Its firepower is somewhat weak compared to that of new battleships, which now all use main guns, but the Warrior can still be said to be one of the world's top battleships.

You should know that there are only six countries in the world that have battleships, and they are all old European powers.

Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary and Russia.

Even if it can only be used for five years, it can fill the gap in the navy, help open up the South American market, and train the navy at the same time.

The only problem was that the British were only going to sell one of the battleship Warrior and the two ironclad frigates. After all, these people had limited room for maneuver.

Even if the British Navy is corrupt today, it is not as corrupt as the Soviet Union was before its collapse, where it dared to sell everything.

And we also have to take on a few Tel-class gunboats that are really going to be retired.

In addition, they have several transport ships to sell, with a displacement ranging from 4000 tons to more than 6000 tons, capable of transporting more than 1000 soldiers and corresponding supplies at a time.

For example, a transport ship converted from a cruise ship called Himalaya, powered by steam and sails, with a speed of 13 knots, entered service in 1854. It could normally transport 1500 people, but could transport a maximum of 3000 soldiers.

However, Chen Zhengwei used it to pull people from the Qing Dynasty here without considering their comfort at all.

It's good enough to be able to get here alive. It's better than those piggy banks where hundreds of people get on board but only dozens of people get off alive.

Such a ship can carry at least five or six thousand people.

The other ships can transport 1000 to 1500 soldiers. In Chen Zhengwei's hands, they can transport at least two to three thousand people each time.

While they were drunk, Chen Zhengwei got the approximate price from them.

Chen Zhengwei burped with satisfaction and said to the girls, "Take them to the lounge next door!"

Watching the girls helping everyone to the club's lounge, Chen Zhengwei lit a cigarette to sober himself up, tapping his knees lightly with his fingers.

After a while, he said to Aaron, "Go back and get in touch with these girls. Pick the ones who are tight-lipped and smart, and ask them if they are willing to help me!"

"It will be the same as what we do now, but it will be under a unified management in the future, and the income will be much higher. As for the name, it will also be changed, and a public relations department will be set up."

"I'll be dealing with all kinds of congressmen and wealthy people every day. I can't just go out and find some prostitutes every time, right?"

"And if we set up a public relations department, their identities will be different, and those people will feel that we value them!"

Aaron became interested when he heard this: "Brother Wei, I'm good at this! I'll talk to them in person, and the candidates will definitely be the right ones!"

After all, selecting employees for a company and soliciting prostitution feel different.

"Spend less time on them. There are a lot of things to do!" Chen Zhengwei waved his hand casually.

"Also, take good care of these people! We must let them feel the hospitality of the United States!"

Chen Zhengwei said this with a smile, then stood up and left.

After returning, he sent a telegram to Greater Poland, asking them to arrange some personnel to come over.

He is really short of manpower.

There are many people who can shoot guns, but not many who can do things.

……

Tremont Hotel, Greater Poland, dressed in a neat gentleman's suit, sitting in the office looking at the report.

With the signing of the treaty, the Tremont Hotel has now returned to its former bustle and has more guests.

After all, another luxury hotel accidentally caught fire and has not recovered yet.

The agreement signed between Chen Zhengwei and the US government also means that he has established a firm foothold in the United States, so even those who don't like him can only keep their thoughts to themselves.

The Tremont Hotel once again became Chicago's most important social venue.

What's more, the security here is the best in Chicago.

No matter who you offend, as long as you are in the hotel, you will be safe.

"Boss!" A man from Greater Poland knocked on the door and came in with a telegram in his hand: "It's a telegram from the big boss!"

Chen Zhengwei likes others to call him boss.

Greater Poland also followed suit, and his subordinates now call him BOSS, while Chen Zhengwei is the BIG BOSS.

Great Poland took the telegram and took a look at it. After thinking for a while, he looked up at Frank who was using a knife to pick the stains between his fingernails not far away.

"Frank, the big boss is short of people, I want you to come over!"

"No, you know I'm most afraid of the big boss!" Frank shook his head when he heard this.

"This is an opportunity!"

"We're not short of money now... and I don't have that many ambitions! Everything is fine now." Frank still shook his head. When Greater Poland had not yet met Chen Zhengwei, he sent him to meet Chen Zhengwei.

Then Chen Zhengwei shot him in the leg and arrested him and beat him up.

What he feared most was Chen Zhengwei.

Great Poland was also very disappointed with him. Seeing that he really didn't want to go, he thought for a long time and said, "Call Novak over!"

The kind-hearted Novak was a Polish immigrant in Chicago. Because he was a good person and had a good reputation, Greater Poland took him under its wing.

He also persuaded a large number of Poles to defect to Greater Poland.

Performance has been pretty good these days.

A moment later, a thin young man dressed in gentleman's suit came in.

"boss!"

"The big boss needs manpower in New York, and I want to recommend you there! What do you think?" Big Poland looked at him and said.

Novak was surprised at first, then he was delighted: "I will definitely do it well!"

As we all know, the best way to develop is to follow Chen Zhengwei.

And New York is a much larger metropolis than Chicago.

Obviously, this is an opportunity.

Dapolan also said: "In that case, you take some people to New York tomorrow. Remember, this is the biggest opportunity of your life, don't mess it up."

Chen Zhengwei has the most Chinese subordinates, and the most powerful ones are also Chinese. That's why he selected the best people from his own subordinates and sent them over, hoping that they can gain a foothold.

The next day, Novak took a dozen people on a train and came to New York with great expectations. He then met Chen Zhengwei and took over the task of setting up the public relations department from Aaron.

Maybe it’s a stereotype, but Chen Zhengwei always felt that these Poles were good at managing prostitutes.

And Chen Zhengwei didn't talk to the British during the past few days. Every day he let those British people get drunk and have fun in the club. After a few days, those British guys' legs were unsteady when they walked.

I feel a little depressed.

Only then did Chen Zhengwei talk to them about the boat.

"Edward, have you felt the enthusiasm of America these days? Now it's time to talk about business." In a small banquet hall of the club, Chen Zhengwei said with a smile while smoking a cigar.

Edward Hobart Seymour, his father, Sir Michael Hurwood Seymour, was a British Admiral, former First Lord of the Admiralty, and former Chief of the Defence Staff.

Even though he is retired now, he still has great influence in the navy.

That's why Edward Seymour could become the Pacific Fleet supply officer at this age and rank.

Otherwise, the Pacific Fleet's supply officer should at least have the rank of lieutenant colonel.

"Too enthusiastic! We can finally get down to business, otherwise I'm afraid I really won't be able to bear it." Edward looked a little listless, but when he heard that Chen Zhengwei wanted to talk about business, he finally cheered up a little.

Although the British aristocracy had a lot of fun, he had never experienced such passion.

"I want the USS Warrior battleship and the USS Palmer frigate!" Chen Zhengwei said directly.

"You have a good eye, but you can only choose one of these two ships! I should have said this before. In fact... normally you can't buy either one, so don't be too greedy." Edward said.

"In fact, I would like to suggest that you buy the Warrior. It's a good ship! Although it's a little older, it's still very powerful! Of course, we have to remove the cannon."

Chen Zhengwei tilted his head, and Aaron threw the two bags next to Edward.

Edward unzipped it and took a look, only to see US dollars inside.

"This is $30, which is equivalent to £20! It's a gift for you!"

"Everyone who knows me knows that I am very generous! I am especially generous to my friends!"

"I also prepared some gifts for the other people who came with you!"

"Those ships will be scrapped anyway, it's just a matter of a few years earlier or later! Instead of having them dismantled and sold as scrap metal, it's better to sell them for a good price! What do you think?" Chen Zhengwei said with a smile.

"I'll pay 70 pounds for the Warrior and 40 pounds for the Palmer. That's more than yours cost, and I'll only be using it to buy some ships that are about to be scrapped."

"In addition, I will pay 5 pounds for each of the six Tel-class gunboats."

These Tel-class gunboats have a displacement of only more than 1100 tons and are really going to be retired. If it weren't for the two battleships and frigates, Chen Zhengwei felt that it would be no different from converting his merchant ships.

"And the five transport ships, the Euphrates is 18 pounds, the Ultron is 18, the Jamna is 18, the Serapis is 18... I'll give you 13 pounds for the Himalaya..."

"70... 40... 18... 18..." The numbers echoed in his mind. Edward now had only one thought in his mind: this Chinese guy is really fucking rich.

"A total of 226 million pounds, but I have my own requirements. Replace all the cannons with breech-loading ones... and help me sail these ships to San Francisco, and help me train a group of people."

"That's impossible..." Edward gritted his teeth and refused. "You have to figure out what to do with the cannons. These ships are all being decommissioned. The cannons must be removed..."

"I'll pay more!" Chen Zhengwei said slowly.

The installation of the cannons on this type of battleship is very troublesome, including the gun mounts and pulleys, which are all precisely calculated to ensure the stability and firepower coverage of the battleship.

There are also gun mounts and support systems that need to be designed by professionals.

There are simply no such talents under his command, and even the design of the US Navy's warships is much worse than that of the British.

"I'll pay 50 pounds for these cannons! And after your people drive the ship to San Francisco, stay and help me train the staff for three months, and I'll pay another 30 pounds!" said Chen Zhengwei.

The cost of those cannons did not exceed 20.

"Those cannons must be removed, but we can arrange for someone to help you install them! Of course, in San Francisco." Edward thought about it and said through gritted teeth.

"Deal!" Chen Zhengwei immediately smiled.

This is what he wants.

"You need to pay an additional 20 pounds, and I still have to convince other people!" Edward said again.

"No problem!" Chen Zhengwei snapped his fingers, then raised his glass and clinked it with Edward.

If it weren't for the corruption in the past few days, which made Edward extremely depressed both mentally and physically, it would have been difficult for him to reach an agreement so easily.

I have to say that this method is useful at any time.

Moreover, this transaction also gave him another network of relationships.

Apparently, Edward Seymour's family had considerable influence in the British Navy, which was very useful to Chen Zhengwei.

After all, the Royal Navy's Pacific Fleet's operations cover western Canada, Peru, Chile and Bolivia in South America, Hawaii, Australia and Asian waters.

It overlaps with the scope of Chen Zhengwei's next preparations.

Later, the other people who came with Edward each received a "gift" of 30,000 to 50,000 pounds, which made them all quite satisfied.

Next, the British guys "negotiated" with Chen Zhengwei in New York for another five days. When they got on the boat, their legs were weak and everyone had dark circles under their eyes.

Chen Zhengwei spent more than $570 million (£380 million) to acquire a battleship, a frigate, six Ter-class gunboats, and five transport ships.

Although the ship fare had not yet been paid, the money taken by Edward and his men, plus the money used for dredging, totaled more than 80 US dollars.

After the British left, Chen Zhengwei yawned on the bed and said to Lin Changning, "Damn, I lost money on this business!"

"The guns and ammunition I prepared for South America were only worth 300 million U.S. dollars, and the profit was at most 240 million..."

"It's cost more than 500 million to buy the boat! I don't know how much it will cost to repair it later!"

"We just salvaged a fleet!"

"But now you have made friends with the British Royal Navy's Pacific Fleet, and you also have your own fleet!" Lin Changning smiled.

Of course she knew that Chen Zhengwei was showing off.

What Chen Zhengwei got cannot be bought with money.

Even if the US government paid 1000 million pounds, the British would not sell these things to them.

It is precisely because of Chen Zhengwei's current position in the gap, coupled with the help of Randolph Churchill, that he has this opportunity.

(End of this chapter)