Chapter Sixteen: Ambition

  ument.write(

  Luó Kǎi's ancestral craftsmanship is not to be covered, re-employment Luó Kǎi's thoughts are like a spring of creativity, but when it comes to actual manufacturing, Luó Kǎi has to face reality. Making guns is simple and yet difficult. Simply put, the farmers in Luó Kǎi's hometown can hide at home and make a crude gun, but it's difficult because it requires processing equipment and manufacturing materials.

  Most of the accessories in the 1870s were handmade and polished, with a small portion being machined using steam-powered machines. The finished products were mostly rough and unsatisfactory. However, the more powerful rifles required higher processing precision, and if the parts couldn't match, the cartridge chamber wouldn't have good air-tightness either. Even with many design schemes, it would be useless. Moreover, the steel-making level in the 1870s wasn't much better than the processing level. Using the steel of this era to manufacture semi-automatic rifles could only result in a broken firing pin, a fractured bolt, and a detached trigger. On the other hand, for Rokke, the bullets that were hardest to make in previous generations became easier to produce.

  Of course, combining the wisdom of two people from later generations, there is no completely insoluble solution for Luo Kai's gun-making. The processing precision is not enough, and the Wu Tong Shipyard that crossed with Luo Kai has dozens of universal CNC machine tools, doesn't it? Luo Kai disassembled the existing simple processing equipment and put it into the CNC machine tool to improve it a bit, and the rough equipment became delicate at once. The steam power is not enough, and there are multiple giant boilers and steam engines in the standby power plant, so let's allocate one from the standby power plant. As for the material problem, a stupid method, lengthening and thickening can be done, and modern rifles are not made, but 38-style rifles are made.

  So Luo Kai's musketeer team became a rifle team.

  "I have finished my speech, now I would like to ask everyone present to share their own views."

  Rokai finally ended his speech after lavishing praise on the performance of the Type 38 rifle. In fact, Rokai did not think that anyone present would oppose the proposal to replace their weapons, as he and the other new and old dignitaries who held real power in Taiwan were all familiar with each other. Before the meeting, they had already mastered the performance of the Type 38 rifle, and even some impatient generals had personally experienced its power. Everyone was full of praise for this weapon that could enhance their overall strength.

  Of course, the scene had to be played out, and Luo Ke's real purpose was not here at all. As for throwing a brick to attract jade, Luo Ke just threw a brick.

  Nowadays, Luo Ke's prestige has increased by several times compared to when he first crossed over, and the few people present, despite their high positions, have begun to ponder Luo Ke's thoughts.

  "Sir, you still don't understand the thoughts of those present. Just approve the production of more Type 38 rifles to equip the entire army as soon as possible, or let's talk about the real purpose of this meeting."

  The speaker was a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, who looked kind but those familiar with him knew the terror of Admiral Wang Zong's double-facedness, secretly calling him a two-faced person, facing superiors or peers one way, but facing subordinates another.

  The island of Taiwan is so small, and the people are extremely familiar with each other. Luo Kai knew that he didn't need to hide anything, so he said directly: "I want to change the existing military system. The titles of the generals may be changed to adopt a rank system. New-style uniforms will replace the old Ming dynasty uniforms. Of course, it's hard to say exactly for now, but there is a small booklet in front of each of you that you can take back and read at your leisure. In addition, in order to maintain the construction funds needed for Taiwan and the military expenses for the new equipment, I request the use of one-third of the gold from the treasury. I hope you will all support this."

  The five people present all turned serious when they heard that the reserve gold was going to be used.

  "I agree."

  The first to express his stance was a young man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, named Luo Zhenhuan. He was originally an ordinary person but was valued by Taihai Wang, who is Luo Kai's father. Later, when Luo Kai's father was seriously injured and used by Luo Kai, he rose through the ranks to become the third most important figure in the military. He is a loyal supporter of Luo Kai.

  Several others found Ruo Zhenhua's rapid statement strange and thought about it for a moment before another person responded.

  "Changing the existing military system is a small matter, times are changing, those in the army should also change, it's just that using reserve gold is...”

  Wang Zong was deeply impressed by Luo Kai, who was only ten years old, but when it came to that batch of gold, Wang Zong became hesitant, after all, it was a full 10 million taels of gold.

  The imperial family of the Ming dynasty accumulated wealth over hundreds of years, most of which was converted into gold and stored in a treasury within a mountain cave. This batch of gold can be said to be the lifeline of Taiwan. One-third of 10 million taels of gold is more than 3 million taels of gold, equivalent to nearly 400 million taels of silver, which is the total tax revenue of the Qing dynasty in ten years.

  "Good steel is used on the blade, indeed when it comes to using this gold, I agree."

  Bai Yi Ru Shan Hu Yuan Guang has always been a guest advisor to the Luo family in Chongming, providing strategic advice. Not only is he good at planning, but also excels in internal affairs. Since Wang's injury on Taiwan Island, he has assisted Luo Ke in handling internal affairs, and his contributions to the rapid development of Taiwan Island over the past few years are undeniable.

  The corners of his mouth drew an arc, and Luo Kai knew that the matter was settled. Hu Yuanguang's weight in Luo Kai's heart was extremely heavy, whether it was the previous life's Luo Kai or Lu Zhanying who were extremely familiar with military affairs, but knew very little about political affairs. In Luo Kai's view, Hu Yuanguang's role was far more important than that of the several generals present.

  The two who had not yet spoken were from the Ho family, second only to the Lo family in terms of power. They were Ho Hsien, the head of the Ho family, and his eldest son, Ho Kuo-ch'eng. In the late Ming dynasty, the ancestors of the Ho family followed the ancestor of the Lo family, Lo Ping, to conquer this small island of Taiwan, and later the two families supported each other in maintaining their ruling position on the island.

  "Cough, although the external expenditure is increasing year by year, I have also seen the development of the island in recent years. Now the young master is developing industry, making guns, cannons and ships all require money, Little Kai, go ahead and do it, Grandpa supports you."

  Actually, Luo Kai was overthinking things. In his opinion, the Huo family, as the second power on Taiwan Island, would definitely be jealous of the Luo family's authority and would not want Luo Kai to obtain the right to use the three million taels of gold. After all, the gold, which is equivalent to nearly 400 million taels of silver, would only need a tenth of it to be used for construction to make the Luo family's prestige reach its peak.

  In fact, apart from the nouveau riche Xiao family, neither the Huo family nor other families on Taiwan Island had any intention of rebelling against the Luo family's rule. This was because the area ruled by the Luo family was too small, and the major powers could be counted on one hand. The mutual restraint between them, combined with intermarriage and assimilation between families, meant that as long as Luo Kai's father did not die and the Luo family continued to produce male heirs, their military would always be full of unpredictable elements, making it difficult for their authority to be shaken.

  It was precisely because of this that the meeting had gone so smoothly.

  The remaining few who saw the approval took the majority, naturally passed unanimously, and the meeting was unexpectedly smooth.

  "Four hundred million taels of silver, the total tax revenue for ten years of the Qing dynasty, is more than enough to develop a small island like Taiwan. It seems it's time to talk to them." The meeting ended, Luo Kai leaned back in his chair, making up his mind.

  "Young master, several seniors have already left, shouldn't we head back to the manor?"

  "We're not going back today, let's go there instead."

  "Master..."

  Rumbling sounds, familiar to Luo Kai's ears, echoed through the steel giants at full horsepower in the Wu Tong Shipyard, working overnight.

  "Sir, what brings you here."

  As soon as Luo Kai arrived underground, he saw a white-clothed Confucian scholar Hu Yuanguang not far away.

  "Master, you've arrived just in time. Take a look at the budget report Yan An gave me - it's completely outrageous! Sixty million taels of white silver? It's as if he thinks silver is cabbage. Even if it were sixty million cabbages, I couldn't afford it!" As soon as he saw Luo Kai, Hu Yuan Guang's eyes lit up and he immediately began to complain.

  "The budget report, oh I know this report, it was written by Yan An under my instruction." Luo Kai scratched his head, seeming a bit embarrassed.

  "But where does the warehouse have so much silver?" Hu Yuanguang was stunned for a moment, and immediately put on a bitter melon face.

  "Isn't the over 3 million taels of gold supposed to be deposited into the treasury soon? Just withdraw from there."

  "Money is not a problem, but why do we need so much money? Even if this place is the industrial heart of Taiwan Strait, it shouldn't require that much money." Hu Yuan Guang was drunk, but his intention was not about the wine, he cared about the purpose of the money.

  Lu Kai sighed and said, "Teacher, these aren't intentionally hidden from you, it's just that there are too many difficulties to overcome, and it can't be done in a short time. So I thought of telling you later." Yan An, show the teacher the plan book.

  Hu Yuanguang took over the thick stack of papers, and after reading just the first few dozen pages, he was immediately shocked by what was on them. After a long time, Hu Yuanguang let out a sigh and said, "Old man, I'm not keeping up with young people's thinking anymore. If these plans are implemented, great things can be expected."

  With a sigh, Hu Yuanguang's eyes became resolute.

  "No, can't wait that long. Money is not a problem for us, but the resources needed are a big issue. And we need to excavate a canal... let me think. Excavating a canal is just a matter of manpower, some resources can be imported with money, and another part needs to be obtained locally. Since we need more manpower and resources in a short period of time, the most effective way to get them is..."

  Hu Yuanguang walked back and forth, muttering to himself, and finally came up with a most bloody conclusion.

  At the beginning of his journey, as three memories gradually merged, Luo Kai's leadership qualities became more and more intense, and he considered problems more comprehensively. At the beginning of his journey, the immature Luo Kai only thought about learning martial arts at the Zhao family martial arts hall to fulfill his own martial arts dreams.

  Later, it was discovered that there were countless pairs of red eyes staring at oneself under this position. If there was a slight mistake, one might not be able to recover. Therefore, Luo Kai resolutely abandoned the idea of learning martial arts and began to study how to obtain self-defense power. During this period, Luo Kai resumed his old business with Yan An and others, producing handguns, rifles, and bullets, using weapons and rights to consolidate his shaky position. Finally, when Luo Kai had a small portion of power in his hands, the seeds of ambition had fertile soil to sprout, taking root and growing, causing Luo Kai to decide to launch a war to rapidly accumulate capital.

  I came, I saw, I conquered.

  "That's right, it's war." Luo's eyes gaze into the distance, I see, I conquer!