Chapter 50 I was going to pay
PS: Collections and tickets, hippos want to keep them! Is it okay?
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The bright rhythmic music floats in the spacious living room paved with oak floors. The ceiling candlestick full of candles is overhead. The candlelight is refracted to the ground through the unevenly cut glass, making the whole banquet hall look luxurious and luxurious.
The officers in white navy uniforms gathered together in twos and threes, whispered, and burst into a soft smile from time to time. The waiter carried all kinds of delicious food and wine glasses and shuttled between the crowd. Only the big hand stretched out from time to time made them pause a little, or filled the wine on the glass on the big hand, or Hand over delicious food.
In the middle of the living room, women in floral mopping skirts, with heavy makeup, dancing and spinning with music, like blooming petals, throwing a wink at an officer around from time to time. In the music, the figure twisted hard, and the thick skirt rippled from time to time, as if to expose the slender white thighs under the long skirt.
There was no whistle or shouting, but a pair of white-legged eyes looming at the hem of the skirt from time to time exposed the desire of the men around them.
Music, wine and women.
More than two months ago, since the political axe army led by the president suddenly declared war, no one would have thought that today, even if they thought about it, they would never have thought that they could solve the problem so quickly.
After General Monte personally led the fleet to shell the port of Valparaiso, everyone knew that Congress and the navy had gained an absolute advantage, and there was no power to stop the birth of a new Chile.
After coming down from the smoky battlefield, the officers need not only medals at this moment, but also to relax their already tense nerves.
Chen Ping held a wine glass, fluent English and love for the navy, which made him integrate into the Chilean naval officers early. Poor Master Li seemed to have been abandoned and stood alone in the corner, but he was not angry because he was alone. Instead, he saw Chen Ping and the middle-level officers of the Chilean Navy fight together. The film is very happy.
Because they represent the future of Chile.
Officers need wine and women, while Chen Ping and Master Li need to use this reception to make friends with these middle-aged officers and lay a good foundation for future cooperation.
This is the first time Li Mo has seen this kind of banquet with South American style after his reincarnation, but integrated into the luxury and enjoyment of Europe. He stood quietly outside the crowd, as if there was a feeling of time and space shuttle. No one would have thought that this person stood in the corner, holding a wine glass, with a smile on the corners of his mouth. The teenager with yellow skin, black hair and black eyes would stand on a warship that they could never imagine a few years ago, stupidly watching a steel plate flying over his head.
Is this a dream?
Li Mo suddenly had the impulse to pinch himself, or simply grab the wine bottle next to him and smash it on the head to confirm whether he was dreaming. Fortunately, Master Li was not crazy, otherwise this party would have become a joke.
"Li, why are you here alone? Don't you have a girl like you yet?" Master Li, who was enjoying loneliness, was awakened by a noise. He looked up and saw the beard. He quickly dodged a few steps for fear that Simmons would hug again.
After showing his goodwill to several officers next to him, Master Li sighed angrily: "Beard, so much wine and food, can't you gag your mouth?"
Simmons shook his head, bumped into Li Mo affectionately, and squinted Master Li's lower body: "Oh, oh, oh, I know, Li, are you worried that you are too young? It's okay, you know? There are half of the guys here who gave for the first time at your age.
"Fuck you! How could I know such a guy!" Master Li held his hand on his forehead and moved three steps away, saying on his face that I didn't know him. Calling the waiter: "Then who, drag this idiot away from me."
Master Li was shy, and Simmons was even more proud: "Li, do you want me to introduce some to you?" Pointing to the center of the venue, the women staring at them with big tongues: "They are all the most beautiful girls, and... they are very experienced."
"Dry mud horse, I'm going to vomit!" Master Li was about to hide, but he was dragged by an unscrupulous beard and continued to advocate: "Li, have you ever heard such a proverb? Everyone who eats apples for the first time will definitely choose the most popular one. The beard showed more than half of the white and tenderness in the center, and the one who was absolutely bigger than the papaya emitted a radio wave.
"Gunnie! Is this a proverb? Master Li was completely speechless. He broke his fingers and his heart turned around: "If this annoying beard really introduces me to a red apple, will the young master eat it or not?"
"Hmm... By the way, it's not the first time for the young master to eat apples. Green apples are chewy!" Master Li remembered the secret of his reincarnation and turned his head: "Beard, don't you have anything else to tell me?"
Seeing that he said so many provocative words, Li Mo didn't blush. Simmons gave up, lowered his voice, and glanced around before he said mysteriously, "Li, the general has discussed with the members of Congress. In more than ten days, all the warships can be delivered!"
"What!" What is more important than a warship? This made Li Mo jump more than three feet high, but he immediately felt something was wrong. In more than ten days, was Monte really sure to end the war so quickly? Then pull out the warship from the current fleet and sell it to yourself?!
Seeing Li Mo suddenly from excitement to stagnation, Simmons immediately guessed his doubts and deliberately licked his lips: "Li, this is a top secret."
"A box of Bordeaux wine in the cellar for 20 years." Master Li gritted his teeth.
"Five boxes!" Simmons stretched out his big hand and waved it.
"Say, go and grab it!"
"Three boxes!"
"Deal!"
"Wait, isn't it?" Master Li blinked his eyes. The young master wanted to break up. How did it become a deal at the end of his mouth? Failed! Is this the consequence of being pinched by others?
"Say it." Facing the unscrupulous beard cracked in his ear, Li Mo's mouth was crooked: "If it weren't for the good news, there wouldn't be a bottle."
"How can it not be good news!" Three boxes of valuable Bordeaux wine blossomed on Simmons' face and lowered his body: "Do you know the new warship we have ordered in Europe?"
Without waiting for Li Mo to nod, Simmons continued: "The war is almost over. The warships we ordered have been released in Europe. The ironclad ship and the two protective cruisers that are about to return home are yours!"
"Ah~!" Master Li was completely stunned. It was good to use what he wanted to get a few second-hand ships, but he didn't expect that Monte was going to give such a big gift, which was a little unexpected. You know, those are all new ships that have just been launched, especially the two protective cruisers, which are only a little smaller than the Esmeralda, but because they were built later, The technology is much more advanced!
Looking at Simmons with a glass of wine and a smile, Li Mo was completely confused: "This is the latest warship. Do you..."
Without Li Mo's words, Simmons interrupted him and his face became serious: "You know? Li, the civil war will end soon. For the sake of the construction of the country, the Congress requires the navy to reduce military expenses, so the general will bear to give up and sell the latest warship to you!"
"National construction?" Master Li put his right hand behind his back, raised his middle finger, stared at the red wine rippling in the glass, and frowned. It doesn't make sense? Chile has monopolized the saltpetre mine, and its income is not as good as that of a big country. At least it is one in South America. Even if it feeds four or five Junquan-class battleships, it is not a problem. What's more, as long as you sell the old warship, you can save money?
"No! What is this beard hiding?" Thinking of this, Li Mo raised his head again and stared into Simmons' eyes with a serious expression: "Tell me, what happened?"
"I knew I couldn't hide it from you." Simmons sighed, drank wine, and his voice suddenly lowered: "Actually, this is a compromise. Congress has agreed to General Monte as the new president, but the premise is that... they don't like the second Balmazeda!"
Simmons' words made Li Mo understand all of a sudden that Monte made a deal with the navy and successfully ascended the presidency, but because of his high prestige in the navy, almost all the Mesozoic generals like Simmons were pulled up by him with one hand, and it was impossible for Congress to install power to control the navy. Besides, choosing to weaken the strength of the navy is the only way!
This is politics!
"You are a lucky man. I sometimes wonder if God is by your side!" Simmons raised his glass and smiled, as if he had forgotten what he had just said, but it could be seen from his eyes that he was very dissatisfied with the weakening of the navy by Congress.
"How much is it?" Li Mo held his glass and touched Simmons. He was not interested in the political struggle in Chile.
"The ironclad ship is 500,000 pounds, and the protective cruiser is 250,000 pounds!" Simmons quickly quoted a price that had already been negotiated.
"Hss..." Master Li can't wait to step on Simmons' smiling face, and then smash the wine glass on Monte's head! I've seen the black one, and I've never seen such a black one. Have you put all your anger on the Congress on the young master?! The young master had already made it clear that the two 2,000-ton dome-class domecruisers that are about to return to China cost no more than 150,000 pounds each. Even the 6,000-ton ironclad ship under the law is only 400,000 pounds. Good boy, each of them adds 100,000 yuan, which is enough to rebuild an ironclad ship!
"You are robbing money!" Master Li pointed to his proud beard, his fingers shivered, and his face was full of grief and indignation.
Simmons narrowed his eyes and said, "Old friend, this money is used for post-war reconstruction. Think about those who lost their homes in the war, don't you have any love? If you think it's expensive, then we..." The beard shrugged his shoulders and spread out his hands.
"What do you mean? The feelings are still bounced!"
Master Li's heart is broken, grandma! However, I don't have room to bargain. Who let me beg the other party now? I had to stare at my beard, word by word, and gritted my teeth: "Ok, but I want the Lynch and the Conder too!" Give me a copy of the white-headed torpedo technology transferred by the British! By the way, as a businessman, I'm also going to invest in Escondida. I hope you can help me contact me!"
Hearing Li Mo's promise, Simmons was stunned by the following words before he was excited.
The two torpedo destroyers were supposed to be sold. Who wouldn't they sell? It's okay to copy the torpedo information for him, but invest in Escondida? God, that small place is located in the northern Atacama Desert. It is dry all year round and inaccessible. If I hadn't heard a traveler say that there not long ago, I'm afraid I wouldn't even know the name of the place. Where can I invest? What's there? Is there a saltpetre mine anywhere?
No wonder Simmons will be surprised. At this moment, Chile's largest income is not the huge copper ore resources of later generations, but saltpeter. Due to the huge amount of extractability, Chile has monopolized the international saltpeter market, so Balmaxeda's nationalization action will scare foreign businessmen and support Monte.
So he didn't expect that Master Li's goal was the world's third largest copper mine. He couldn't help wondering, "Li, where are you really going to invest? There is no saltpeter there.
"Nonsense, of course I know. The young master wants a copper mine. If it weren't for the Chukikamata copper mine, it would be too dangerous for the current mining methods. The young master didn't mind buying them all. Of course, you can't say this to Simmons like this. Master Li can only be true or false, and say confusedly, "xiao shi? No, I don't need saltpeter. What I need is copper. I heard that copper ore was found there, so I plan to invest.
"Oh." Simmons suddenly realized that many small copper mines had indeed been found in the Atacama Desert. He had heard of it, but he did not doubt it too much. Anyway, Li Mo agreed to the warship offer and had made great contributions. After a little thought, he agreed with Li Mo to buy the land there, and enthusiastically expressed his willingness to help build the mine.
With the gradual end of the dance, the two people who were sneaking in the corner for a night finally completed the deal. Simmons took a sip of the few remaining wine and suddenly lowered his voice: "Li, do you really don't want the saltpetre? But why did I hear that the stingy Valdoch transferred the mine under his name to you?
"That's a trophy!" Li Mo risked his life. Didn't he just rob a mine owner? Now that he knows it, the young master's surname is shameless to the end. If you have the ability, you bite me: "I was going to pay him, but now I have decided not to give it, because the young master has no money to be blackmailed by you!"
"Haha..." Simmons laughed.