If Adolf and Mikhail initially believed the Ming merchant to be a well-connected broker, they now confirmed that this merchant was definitely sent by the Ming court, or at the very least, had connections with the highest echelons of the Ming government.
It was even highly probable that he was secretly dispatched by the Ming Emperor himself.
However, Adolf and Mikhail could not for the life of them understand why the Ming Emperor would send a merchant to contact them, nor why he would sell surplus flintlock muskets from the Ming army to the Habsburgs and the Ottomans.
After all, France and England were the ones attacking the Habsburgs, and these two countries were essentially Ming's lapdogs nurtured in Europa—if the Ming was willing to forgo the almost obtainable territories of the Habsburgs and the Ottomans to suppress France and England, then the price was far too steep!
The more Adolf and Mikhail thought about it, the more suspicious this Ming merchant became. Mikhail sternly asked, “What evidence do you have to prove everything you've said?”
The Ming merchant chuckled and said, “You can believe it or not. The situation is as it is now. Whether you believe it or not makes no difference to me.”
Adolf and Mikhail were once again cornered.
As the Ming merchant had said, it made no difference to the Ming whether they believed him or not.
If they believed, they would at most purchase some flintlock muskets and ammunition.
If they didn't believe, would they still not purchase them?
Adolf suppressed the bitterness in his heart, shook his head slightly, and then steered the conversation back to flintlock muskets: “Sir, if we were to purchase flintlock muskets from you, what would be the transaction process?”
The Ming merchant smiled and said, “The Ming will transport the flintlock muskets to the waters near the Ottoman territories. The rest will be your own business.”
Adolf and Mikhail exchanged glances, then continued to ask, “So, how many flintlock muskets can you procure next time? And, when can you possibly get artillery and hand grenades?”
The Ming merchant shook his head and said, “Flintlock muskets are easy, but firearms and hand grenades are not as simple as you imagine.”
Hearing the Ming merchant’s words, Adolf and Mikhail did not press further. After all, both of them understood that compared to the flintlock muskets with their extremely limited kill radius, artillery and hand grenades, with their area-of-effect capabilities, were truly formidable weapons, and it was unlikely that the Ming would be willing to export them.
However, just as Adolf and Mikhail were feeling disappointed, the Ming merchant continued, “However, while the hand grenades and artillery currently in use by the Ming army are difficult to obtain, some of the firearms and hand grenades equipped by the Ming army in earlier times can still be procured.”
At this point, the Ming merchant suddenly changed his tone and smiled, “Of course, if you are willing to pay, then the manufacturing technology for the previous generation of artillery from the Ming can also be sold to you.”
Adolf and Mikhail were immediately excited.
Why was the Ming so dominant now?
Because the Ming almost monopolized the entire arms trade on this small planet. From matchlock muskets to flintlock muskets, from artillery to hand grenades and ammunition, these items were indispensable necessities for any country.
Not buy?
If your neighbor bought them, would you not buy them?
Not buying was certainly fine, and purchasing inferior equipment from other countries to save money was also fine. But what if you were being beaten into the ground by a neighbor equipped with Ming armaments?
More importantly, these items were pure consumables. Once fired or broken, they had to be repurchased from the Ming—every shot of ammunition was one less, and a damaged gun barrel essentially rendered the entire firearm useless. The same applied to artillery barrels; once damaged, they were damaged, and no one dared to risk a burst barrel by continuing to use them.
A large amount of gold and silver thus flowed into the Ming, making the Ming powerful.
If everything the Ming merchant said was true, then the Habsburgs and the Ottomans, by mastering the manufacturing technology for artillery and hand grenades, could at least produce their own artillery, hand grenades, and ammunition, even if they couldn’t participate in the global arms market. They would no longer have to rely on third-party countries to import them from the Ming. To appease third-party countries and obtain Ming-produced firearms, artillery, and hand grenades, the Habsburgs and the Ottomans had already paid a considerable amount of real money!
The more Adolf thought about it, the more excited he became, and he immediately pressed, “How much would it cost to acquire the manufacturing technology for artillery and hand grenades?”
Mikhail added hopefully, “Of course, if it’s too expensive, I don’t think we can afford it. It would be great if oil could be accepted as payment.”
If someone from another time period saw the camel with a white cloth on its head worrying about the price of artillery and hand grenade manufacturing technology, they would likely be astonished, as camels were known for their wealth.
However, in this world, it was perfectly normal for camels to have this reaction, because the wealthiest entity now was not the camel with a white cloth on its head, but the Ming.
The Ming merchant smiled and said, “The price won’t be too high, but there are attached conditions. It depends on whether you can accept them.”
Adolf took a deep breath and said, “Please state your conditions.”
The Ming merchant nodded and said, “The manufacturing technology for the previous generation of artillery and hand grenades will be sold to you two for one Dragon Yuan. Correspondingly, the Ming requires Bavaria and a certain oil-producing region as concession territories, with a lease of ninety-nine years, and an annual rent of one Dragon Yuan. Within the concession, Ming law will be implemented, and the Ming will need to station troops within the concession. Your people will not be allowed to enter the concession unless they obtain permission.”
After the Ming merchant roughly explained the terms of the concession, Adolf suddenly stood up and exclaimed, “This is impossible, absolutely impossible!”
“If the Ming needs any territory, I can represent His Majesty King William II of the Habsburg family and agree to cede that territory to you directly, but concessions are out of the question! This is an insult to the Habsburg family!”
Mikhail also chimed in, “Just as my friend Adolf said, we Ottomans can directly cede a certain oil-producing region to your Ming, but concessions are absolutely out of the question!”
“Although we are very eager to acquire the manufacturing technology for Ming artillery and hand grenades, it does not mean we must acquire it. In fact, our countries can manufacture artillery and hand grenades ourselves. Although they are not as advanced as the Ming’s, they are still usable!”
The Ming merchant showed no surprise at Adolf and Mikhail’s reaction.
For any normal country, the humiliation of a concession far outweighed its practical significance.
The Great Qing aside.
However, the Ming merchant merely chuckled and shook his head, saying, “As I said earlier, you don’t have to buy them. No one is forcing you to purchase them.”
Adolf let out a cold laugh and retorted, “Why don’t you establish concessions in England and France? Compared to establishing concessions in Habsburg territories, it seems that establishing concessions in England and France would bring more benefits?”
The Ming merchant let out a laugh and retorted in kind, “Have England and the United States been beaten yet?”
Adolf was instantly speechless and inwardly resented the Habsburg family for not joining the Little Pot during its formation, leading to the current situation.
Seeing the atmosphere becoming hostile, Mikhail quickly mediated, “Sir, we cannot directly agree to your concession demands, as this concerns our respective countries’ territories. Therefore, I hope we can negotiate after requesting our respective monarchs.”
After the Ming merchant nodded, Mikhail continued, “Now, let’s discuss the matter of flintlock muskets?”
Mikhail glanced at Adolf and said, “We Ottomans need one hundred thousand flintlock muskets and corresponding ammunition. If your Ming can accept payment in oil fields, then I can represent His Majesty the Ottoman Emperor and agree to your terms, offering a certain oil-producing region as a deposit for the purchase of firearms, artillery, and hand grenades.”
Adolf said anxiously, “What do you Ottomans need so many flintlock muskets for? Didn’t you hear this gentleman say that the Ming will soon stop their offensive against your Ottomans? Are you planning to ambush the Ming army by suddenly purchasing so many flintlock muskets?”
After rebuking Mikhail, Adolf turned his gaze back to the Ming merchant and said, “Sir, our Habsburg family needs at least two hundred thousand flintlock muskets. Why don’t you consider us first? After all, we need a larger quantity, and you can earn more silver.”
Seeing that Mikhail intended to say more, Adolf gritted his teeth and said, “We will pay in silver! Cash on delivery! We will absolutely not use anything like oil for payment!”
…
“The Ottomans will most likely not agree to the concession arrangement, but whether the Ottomans agree or not doesn’t really matter. Anyway, the Ming has already occupied several oil fields, and we can slowly play along with the Ottomans.”
Zhu Jinsong smiled at Louis XVI and said, “On the other hand, I think the Habsburg family will most likely agree to the concession arrangement. Think about it, is there anything more satisfying than this?”
Louis XVI solemnly shook his head and said, “There is nothing more satisfying.”
“As long as the leader of the Habsburg family, King William II, can agree to these terms, then the Habsburg family will never be able to hold their heads up again, at least not in front of us.”
“This method of using flintlock muskets, artillery, and hand grenades to sow discord between the Ottomans and the Habsburg family is filled with wisdom. Originally, the Ottomans would have provided some support to the Habsburg family in secret, but after today’s events are spread, it is estimated that the Ottomans will no longer assist the Habsburg family.”
Zhu Jinsong nodded with a smile and said, “Since we are idle anyway, and since we want to weaken the Ottomans and the Habsburg family as much as possible, we will play along with them slowly.”
Louis XVI nodded again, his face filled with excitement, and grunted, “I want to see how badly the Habsburgs will fall this time. If it weren’t for Madame Deficit back then, our French treasury might not have been in debt by two billion francs.”
“If we can deal a heavy blow to the Habsburg family this time, it will also be a way for me to vent my anger.”
“It’s just that I don’t know what the Ottomans are thinking. The situation is almost at the endgame, and the Ottomans are still resisting?”
Speaking of this, Louis XVI couldn’t help but worry about the concession-for-technology arrangement proposed by Zhu Jinsong, and asked, “If the two of them are truly determined to establish concessions, will you really sell them the manufacturing technology for artillery and hand grenades?”
Zhu Jinsong let out a laugh and said, “Of course, I will sell it. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Even if we don’t sell them the previous generation of firearm and hand grenade manufacturing technology, they will still manufacture artillery and hand grenades. Although the technology will be simpler and the performance will be inferior, they will still be able to manufacture them.”
“Since that is the case, why shouldn’t I sell them the previous generation of artillery and hand grenade manufacturing technology in exchange for more benefits?”
Louis XVI first nodded, then gritted his teeth and said, “However, we cannot just sell the technology to them, nor can we stop the fighting so easily.”
“At the very least, the Habsburgs should also grant a concession to us French.”
“Of course, it would be best if it could be adjacent to the Ming concession.”
Zhu Jinsong smiled and shook his head, saying, “Although we want to humiliate the Habsburg family, this is not how it is done. I have no intention of letting the concessions belong solely to the Ming. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be better for me to directly demand land and reparations from the Habsburg family?”
“How would it be done?” Louis XVI asked blankly. “Do you plan to let the Five Good People enter the concession?”
Zhu Jinsong smiled and nodded again, saying, “Of course. Since we are going to establish concessions, let’s just establish a Five Good People Concession.”
“Here’s what we’ll do: you and George III will first stop your attacks on the Habsburg family. Then, we’ll let the Dutch or some other country start a conflict with the Habsburg family.”
“Then, we can legitimately demand that the Habsburg family establish a ceasefire concession—a Ming concession, a French concession, an English concession, a Russian concession, and a United States concession.”
“Of course, the Ming, the United States, and Russia are too far from the Habsburg family, so the main beneficiaries will be France and England.”
“How about it, am I being considerate enough?”