1905: Beer Hall Speaker

Page 101

The current mainstream in the shipyard consists of a foreign technician leading a large group of Chinese apprentices. The shipyard pays exorbitant salaries to its technical experts, and naturally, it also exploits them thoroughly, arranging all kinds of overtime work.

These German technical experts not only had to carry out the actual shipbuilding process, but also had to teach apprentices along the way.

Back at the central command, after Zhao Yan and Schultz conducted a secret investigation, Schultz immediately returned to Germany. In the second month, Germany did not react openly, but it secretly increased its technology exports to China, selling all kinds of its core industrial technologies and manufacturing equipment to China at high prices.

They said nothing, but their actions proved everything. Even if China eventually reneged on its promises, they didn't actually lose out. These technologies and equipment helped them earn huge profits and won them the favor of the vast Chinese market.

German technicians are now helping to build Chinese destroyers. To be honest, the term "destroyer" is also new to them. It is a type of ship that is higher than a gunboat but lower than a cruiser.

After reviewing the Chinese military's design specifications and construction process requirements, the Germans understood that the Chinese were experimenting with the technologies, ideas, and approaches used in building large cruisers and capital ships, focusing on the tonnage and cost of destroyers.

Take the current Starry Sky-class destroyer as an example. Its design specifications are a displacement of 3,500 tons, equipped with three twin-mounted 130mm/L55 naval guns (two forward and one aft), and one quadruple torpedo launcher on each side.

The design uses an oil-fired boiler as the power system, and the expected speed requirement is over 26 knots. It also requires the use of the latest welding technology and the abandonment of the traditional pointed bow and stern design in favor of an outward-flaring bow.

It is said that the requirements for the construction of the destroyers were personally drafted by the head of state, and the head of state, who was quite skilled in art, even drew a concept sketch for the navy.

Both the Chinese Navy and German technical experts were captivated by the original concept design. The simple and streamlined hull shape and the imposing turrets convinced everyone that such a beautiful warship must be a good one!

The Germans were shocked by the Chinese navy's aggressive approach, but they also expressed great interest. Since the Chinese were willing to be their guinea pigs, Germany naturally couldn't refuse. They would give them whatever they wanted, and export any technology they needed.

The Germans themselves are reluctant to invest in such radical projects, but if the Chinese achieve results, they wouldn't mind learning from them.

"Although there are many requirements, the quality and schedule must still be met. We have spent so much money not to listen to your complaints."

"If there's a problem, solve it. If you can't solve the problem, then I'll solve you!"

Zheng Shiyan's attitude was also very tough, showing no regard for the Germans' feelings. What a joke! Did they think the exorbitant salaries were just for show? They even provided the highest standard of housing for these foreigners and hired Japanese girls to serve them. If they still dared to complain when it came time to work, they'd see if he wouldn't mess with them.

Whether it's companies or the military in China, they all treat foreign technical personnel coming to China the same way: they are given the highest standards of welfare and benefits, but they are treated like cattle and horses in their work.

The best attitude the company and the military showed was by offering the highest level of treatment. In terms of actual work, it was brutal and direct, summed up in one sentence: "Everyone, work your butts off!"

Some foreign technicians were arrogant. Not only did they take the money, but they also dared to put on airs and make things difficult for the military and the factory, demanding treatment that exceeded their standards.

The military and the factory didn't tolerate it either. Foreign technicians whom the military disapproved of often met with various accidents, such as being shot in the back and committing suicide, drowning in the sea while drinking alone at night, or being run over by a horse-drawn carriage while sleepwalking on the road.

The factory's methods were even simpler: they would hang people up and beat them. Those who didn't work honestly would be beaten, and those who dared to hide their work and not teach would be hung up and whipped with a whip dipped in chili water.

Many technicians were scared and wanted to resign and return to their home countries, but they were told that this was a breach of contract and they had to pay more than ten times the amount of the breach of contract penalty. They also had to pay back more than ten times the amount of benefits they had received before, otherwise the factory would sue them in court.

When foreigners breach contracts on Chinese territory, no one can save them. The final outcome is often a court sentence, and they can't even go to a special foreign prison. This is because, let alone prisons specifically for foreigners, even Chinese citizens who commit crimes in China can't go to prison; they all have to go to reformatories to serve their sentences along with other Chinese criminals.

There are no prisons in China, only reform camps!

And sure enough, after these methods were implemented, the foreign technical experts all became obedient, working diligently in their daily work and teaching their Chinese apprentices everything they knew.

As long as they behave themselves, these foreign technicians live a very comfortable life. They enjoy civil servant ranks and top-tier private company salaries. As long as they don't misbehave, they live even better than Zhao Yan.

"Very well, as you wish, General!"

"But we have to communicate with the manufacturer about this, since we foreigners can't make the decision when we're stuck in the middle."

The German engineer shrugged and jokingly called himself a "foreign devil."

Major General Zheng Shiyan laughed after hearing this: "That's more like it. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. From now on, you can call me a Chinese devil. As long as you work hard, I won't treat you badly."

"By the way, I checked the hull, why hasn't the armor been installed yet?"

The German engineer shook his head: "Because there's no armor, the hull itself is the armor!"

After he finished speaking, the German engineer showed Zheng Shiyan the design drawings.

After reading it, Zheng Shiyan choked up: "Are you saying that these destroyers will have to go to the battlefield naked from now on? Relying on their mere hulls that are only a few millimeters thick to withstand enemy shells?"

The engineer said helplessly, "That's how it is in theory. You're making too many demands. This isn't a destroyer; it's an expensive prototype."

"Given that small boats are already carrying large cannons, a 3,500-ton hull needs to be equipped with three twin-mounted naval guns, as well as torpedoes. Furthermore, the military requires a very high speed, and the propulsion system also needs to occupy a large amount of tonnage."

"If mobile firepower is prioritized, then armor will have to be abandoned. You'd better pray that such an experimental ship is not sent to the battlefield. If it encounters enemy artillery fire, then you'll have to gamble that the enemy is inaccurate."

Zheng Shiyan's face turned ashen: "What if the opponent hits?"

The engineer made the sign of the cross on his chest, then put his hands together and said, "Then let's gamble it out!"

Zheng Shiyan couldn't stop grinning: "So it wasn't you guys who died, right? Those foreign devils were up to no good. If I ever go to the battlefield, I'll definitely take you all with me as ship engineers!"

"Gambling, gambling, gambling, everything depends on gambling. Isn't this warship reliable at all?"

The engineer thought for a moment and said, "Of course, this warship is fast enough and has a high rate of fire. Theoretically, it could dance and fire at the same time on the high seas."

"As long as your helmsman and gunner are strong enough, it can be a cowboy on the sea!"

After listening, Zheng Shiyan looked at the ship's platform with a heavy heart and deep concern.

The military has poured so much money into this project; a single Star-class destroyer costs a full three million Han Yuan. That amount of money could build an army division from scratch.

The military would never allow such an expensive warship to become a toy; in wartime, it would definitely be sent to the battlefield!

This year, the central government allocated a total of 65 million Han Yuan for military expenses. The navy received 30%, or more than 19 million. In the end, Sa Zhenbing risked his reputation and made a scene at the Ministry of National Defense, lying down at the door to extort Wang Chongshan, and managed to force the navy's military expenses to be increased to 25 million.

The army has a lot of fixed assets to fill the gaps, while the navy has nothing and can only be supported by military spending.

Even under such dire circumstances, the navy gritted its teeth, decommissioned a number of gunboats, and squeezed out 12 million yuan for shipbuilding, ordering four new destroyers.

These four destroyers are expected to enter service with the navy by the middle of next year, at which time the navy will finally have the capability to launch long-range operations. These four large-tonnage destroyers were designed from the outset to meet the needs of long-range operations.

Zhao Yan never imagined that a major naval battle could be fought right now. His thinking on naval development was focused on air, submarine, and fast attack craft!

Air strikes are still a long way off and cannot be achieved in the short term. We have to wait for the domestic aviation industry to develop gradually before we can talk about it.

The remaining "qiankuai" refers to submarines and fast ships. Zhao Yan did not intend to engage in passive defense but rather to take the initiative.

Using stealthy submarines and highly skilled surface-based assassins to deal with maritime targets, all aimed at Japan, he planned to follow the German approach and wage commerce raiding and unrestricted submarine warfare.

The Star-class destroyers were similar to the commerce raiders of Germany in World War II. They were incredibly fast and had formidable firepower. You could catch them but not defeat them, and you could defeat them but not catch them.

However, because so many new technologies are used, the manufacturing cost is extremely high. The average cost of a mainstream international dreadnought is 12 million yuan, but a single Star-class destroyer costs a quarter of that!

However, the central government was still determined to grit its teeth and build it, not for any other reason than the idea of ​​"domestic production." Even with the strong support of the Germans, China's industrial strength could only build this kind of mediocre ocean-going commerce raiding destroyer at present.

Expensive doesn't matter, as long as domestic shipbuilding capabilities can be developed. Even if the warships produced have performance problems, it's acceptable, as long as they can go to the battlefield.

If the army can fill the line, the navy must also learn to fill the line. Zhao Yan doesn't need any kind of fleet; once it's built, it must be useful. He himself has personally gone to the front line and risked his life, so the navy should also risk their lives!

China doesn't need elite military units. When the time comes, let alone destroyers, even capital ships and aircraft carriers will have to fill the gap. Whether you can win is a matter of capability, but whether you dare to fight is a matter of attitude.

Chapter 172 Civilian Ships Are More Profitable

After inspecting and learning about the shipyard for a while, Zheng Shiyan finally led his men to the factory director's place.

The shipyard has recently raised objections to the military regarding issues such as cost and payment methods, especially the cost, which the shipyard strongly objects to.

The Navy specially dispatched Zheng Shiyan to negotiate, as the shipyard had objections to the cost, and the Navy was also very sensitive to the cost.

After meeting with the shipyard manager, Zheng Shiyan didn't waste any time and immediately got to the point to begin negotiations.

The shipyard expressed its demands. Initially, the shipyard was very happy with the order from the Navy, since building military ships would greatly help to enhance the shipyard's reputation.

Building a 3,500-ton destroyer is challenging, but not too difficult, and can be managed.

However, the military's subsequent requirements have put the shipyard in a difficult position. The application of various new technologies has caused the shipyard's personnel and equipment costs to rise sharply, and the original cost of three million yuan per ship is no longer sufficient.

Moreover, the initial agreement was that all construction funds would be paid in one lump sum after the keel was laid, as the shipyard needed this money to introduce technology and equipment.

However, the navy changed its mind at the last minute, saying that it would only give half, and the other half would be given after delivery.

Paying off the debt in one lump sum and paying it off in multiple installments are two completely different things. Three million yuan deposited in a bank would earn you over ten thousand yuan in interest in a year!

The shipyard is finding it increasingly difficult to make money from this order, and there is even a risk of losing money while gaining publicity. The only noteworthy aspect is that the shipyard can use this construction process of the Starry Sky-class destroyers to innovate its own technology.

However, without sufficient profits, state-owned shipyards cannot report back to their superiors. The central State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission only looks at the year-end financial statements; who the hell would come to your shipyard to check your technology and equipment?

If a private company loses money at the end of the year, the person in charge will at most be fired. But it's different for state-owned enterprises. If the higher-ups are unhappy, you risk being sent to a reformatory, which no one can afford.

Therefore, the shipyard made its own demands: the navy must either settle all shipbuilding payments in one lump sum or add money to the total price.

After hearing the shipyard's requirements, Zheng Shiyan frowned. The navy was not as wealthy as the army. The army had its own slush funds. Although the Ministry of National Defense was gradually confiscating these slush funds, each theater command and army group still had some hidden away.

The navy was completely broke, with no other windfall. Apart from military expenses, they had no money left, and they had to be extremely frugal with every penny.

When it comes to other issues, Zheng Shiyan can make the final decision; after all, he is a rear admiral and chief equipment officer. But when it comes to money, Zheng Shiyan can only evade the question.

Zheng Shiyan humbly accepted the shipyard's opinions, but said he could not make a decision and could only report to the Navy Headquarters. He said that a higher-ranking officer would consult with the shipyard later.

The military can now make decisions involving tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of troops, but when it comes to money, let alone millions, even tens or hundreds of thousands, only units at the service headquarters level dare to make a decision.

The shipyard manager was being too pushy; after all, the other party was a high-ranking military officer of the rank of major general, so they had to give him some face.

After turning around, the shipyard manager put on a smiling face to greet the private business owners. He had been so serious and rigid when talking to Zheng Shiyan, but now he was so friendly and approachable when talking to the private business owners.

Zheng Shiyan was furious when he saw the shipyard manager's attitude. How could a dignified naval rear admiral be treated worse than a private business owner? Are you a state-owned enterprise or a private enterprise?

I, a rear admiral, am here, and you're serving me tea leaves? It's like a private business owner coming here and you're serving me Biluochun tea. This is simply outrageous!

Zheng Shiyan wanted to say a few more words, but his subordinate Chen Shaokuan quickly pulled him back.

"Don't be like this, Director! Calm down, let's go back and discuss it. The destroyer is currently sitting on someone else's slipway, we can't afford to make things worse!"

"Hmph, they look down on us. When our navy is rich, I'll just throw money at them and make them kneel down!"

Zheng Shiyan had no other choice but to make a harsh statement and then slunk away.

"Gentlemen, our Jiangnan Shipyard is one of the leading shipyards in China. In recent years, we have introduced a large number of advanced European technologies, and last year we launched a total of 33,000 tons of various types of ships."

"This year we've added five more large dry docks, all capable of building ships over 10,000 tons. We can build any ship you need!"

The shipyard manager beamed as he faced the wealthy coastal businessmen. His warm attitude was like a gentle breeze, and the service was impeccable, with fruits, snacks, and hot tea all brought out.

However, the business owners who came to inspect remained unmoved, none of them expressing their true attitude, and continued to maintain their composure.

After the Far East War ended, the Republican government successively signed trade agreements with various countries, opening up markets to each other and offering preferential treatment on an equal footing.

Goods from overseas are constantly flowing into the Chinese market, but goods in the Chinese market still mainly have to be exported via foreign cargo ships.

With the domestic demand for maritime trade and shipping, naturally, the first person to step forward and take the plunge began. Last year, a boss from the Huaiyang Chamber of Commerce in Yangzhou, Jiangnan, bought two second-hand cargo ships from the British, one 5,600 tons and the other 7,000 tons, and hired a group of inexperienced Chinese sailors and captains.

Then, fully loaded with more than 7,000 tons of soybeans and more than 100 tons of raw silk, it set sail from Shanghai to Germany in Europe. The entire journey took more than two months to reach Europe. Before the goods even reached the German port, they were sold out in the port of Naples, Italy, in the Mediterranean.

On the return trip, the cargo was fully loaded with all kinds of goods produced in Italy. The round trip earned them a net profit of more than 300,000 yuan. They could earn back the cost of the ship by making two more trips.

This directly sparked a wave of "going to sea," with many businessmen waving their money around to buy ships from foreigners, causing the price of second-hand ships on the international market to skyrocket.

Many people have found that buying second-hand ships is too expensive and not cost-effective, so they have started ordering merchant ships from China. A lot of private capital has also entered the shipbuilding industry, and many private shipyards have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

With a market and demand, a large amount of capital will naturally flow in, and a large number of customers will place orders with their cash in hand.

State-owned shipyards have also set their sights on this lucrative pie. The navy's orders are simply not enough to support so many shipyards. With only 20 million yuan in military spending a year, even fewer can squeeze out time to build ships. If they rely entirely on military orders to survive, they are destined to go bankrupt sooner or later.

Civilian orders don't require as much scruple; shipyards can openly and generously make huge profits. The more they earn, the better their year-end reports will look. Performance is the fundamental measure of everything.

The shipyard manager took out a catalog and began introducing his company's products to the bosses, ranging from small boats of a thousand tons to large cargo ships of ten thousand tons.

Civilian merchant ships are not technically difficult to build, much easier than warships, and the profits are much higher. Private owners are also very willing to pay, making them a typical example of low-maintenance, high-profit ships.

The business owners who came to inspect the facilities were also very interested in reading the manual. The small business owners were particularly fond of those thousand-ton boats. They couldn't do maritime trade, but they could make a lot of money by doing inland waterway shipping on the Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River Industrial Belt is now under construction at a rapid pace, with even the Yangtze River Bridge under construction. There is a huge demand for logistics between factories in various regions, and infrastructure projects also require massive freight capacity to support them.

Pure land transportation can no longer meet the demand, and water transportation is becoming increasingly important.

There is also a great demand for cargo ships of three to five thousand tons. These cargo ships can run routes in Asia and also routes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the business demand is countless.

As long as you have a boat, plenty of customers will be eager to have you deliver goods.

The Yangtze River route, the north-south sea routes, the routes to North Korea and Japan, and the routes to Southeast Asia and Taiwan are all ways to make big money.

Larger tonnage ships are those over 5,000 tons. These ships are subject to restrictions and constraints from the Central Trade Department. The construction of large merchant ships must comply with the national standards set by the Central Trade Department. They are all roll-on/roll-off ships and container ships. The Central Trade Department has set supporting standards for implementation, and all civilian merchant ships must follow this framework.

Every boss has their own plan. Those with less money buy boats to run inland waterway routes, while those with more money buy large ships to run Asian routes. The conglomerates formed by pooling funds are all eyeing the huge profits from intercontinental voyages.

For example, the Huaiyang Chamber of Commerce raised funds to establish the company "Huayuan Shipping", raising 15 million Han Yuan to prepare for a big undertaking, which is more than the navy's shipbuilding budget!

Major shipyards don't even consider the Navy's paltry order of four destroyers this year; they're all eyeing the lucrative private merchant ship market.

The central leadership has also introduced various tax exemption policies, including a certain amount of tax exemption for private merchant ship procurement and construction businesses, to encourage private businessmen to boldly venture out.

The top leadership signed trade agreements with various countries, offering many preferential policies. European and American countries all felt they had benefited because China's maritime power was almost zero. They were the ones going to China, and Chinese merchant ships almost never came to their territory.

The central government is now vigorously promoting the development of China's domestic shipping capabilities, aiming to both bring foreign goods into China and encourage domestic products to venture out into the world.

Against this backdrop, starting this year, the domestic shipping industry has experienced explosive growth. No further policy stimulus or official encouragement is needed. With huge profits on the blue ocean, how could businessmen possibly let it pass by?

Europe and America have huge demand for many Chinese products, such as soybeans, soybean meal, pig bristles, minerals, tung oil, raw lacquer, raw silk, tea, and medicinal herbs. They want as much as you can, and they are not afraid of high prices, but they are afraid of insufficient production.

In particular, some products are almost unique to China and can only be produced in large quantities in China, especially pig bristles and raw lacquer. Without pig bristles, there are no brushes, and without raw lacquer, there are no paints or coatings.

The European arms race relies heavily on China for artillery brushes and weapon coatings.