Chapter 550 A Contract of 10 Million

"You study for a few years, and then you will be more confident when you return." Sheffield said with a double meaning. He always felt that Feng Ru's accident was related to the small-scale aircraft manufacturing. "Don't think that you can manufacture aircraft without any need. Some civilian enthusiasts in the United States are still far behind. Learn as much as you can now. You may not have this opportunity in the future, just like the navy."

Feng Ru nodded and said, "In fact, the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 between our country and Japan demonstrated the success of Japan's reform."

"This is somewhat debatable!" Sheffield frowned and disagreed with the aviation pioneer's opinion. The other party might be a professional in flying, so there was no need to talk about politics.

There are countries like Japan before World War II. Thailand has always taken Japan as its mentor. Even if it has not learned 100% of its skills, it has learned 50% to 60%. The slave owners knew what Thailand would be like a hundred years later, and they could easily deduce what Japan would be like if it did not start a war and was occupied by the United States.

"Mr. Feng Ru, when you countries are catching up, you may have forgotten one thing. While you are catching up, we countries have not stopped and are creating new concepts every day. After you return home after completing your studies, we may have new inventions. This is why I asked you to study at United Aircraft Corporation. After all, you can't take shortcuts in learning. It won't work like eating a little bit at a time like Chinese food."

Sheffield stopped talking and let Feng Ru think about this issue himself. In fact, the late Qing Dynasty faced this problem, which was also the reason why many countries failed in reform. Ali's reform in Egypt and the Ottoman reforms eventually showed signs of lack of follow-up. The reason was that the industrial revolution in Europe and the United States was still in its outbreak period. They had just learned a little bit of the results of the first industrial revolution and invested a lot of money to get it done, but the second industrial revolution in Europe and the United States began to break out again.

All the initial investment was wasted, and the result was a total loss. It is not so easy to catch up with industry from agriculture. Why did China's industry regress after the collapse of the Qing Dynasty and when the Cannon Party came to power? Because in the catching-up period, the investment is large and the return is small. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Beiyang period, the raw material technology for cannon manufacturing evolved from wrought iron to carbon steel to nickel-chromium steel.

The Cannon Party could not make continuous investments like the Qing Dynasty could, and they could not even maintain the country like the Beiyang Government could, because they did not have full control over the entire country. For example, the factories left over from the Westernization Movement did not receive support and naturally closed down.

The navy's warships were also improving rapidly at the same time, almost changing every year, and almost a generation gap in three years. This was also the reason why the Japanese Combined Fleet did not dare to stop catching up. Not to mention the Qing Dynasty, the United States suffered a great loss in naval warships. Once the British dreadnought-class battleships came out, half of the federal navy became the latest backward warships.

After a round of discussion, Rockefeller Jr. had almost finished talking to Zhang Yintang. Sheffield, who had just recruited a foreign talent, was in a good mood and asked with a smile, "Are you done?"

"Basically there is no problem. It depends on you." Rockefeller Jr. smiled very satisfied. A business of 10 million dollars can never be considered small.

In the late Qing Dynasty, 45 taels of silver was about one US dollar, and 9 taels of silver was about one British pound. With the Qing government and the federal government as collateral, 40 million taels of silver was about a 10 million US dollar business. Rockefeller Jr. was settling the bills!

"It's just in time for the election, so we should partially inform the citizens of this good news." Sheffield smiled. As long as anything had something to do with the election, there would be something to talk about.

Rockefeller Jr. nodded. He also knew what it meant to partially inform the citizens. It was nothing more than choosing what was favorable to say. No matter how the world changes, the United States will only move from one victory to another.

Sheffield has a lot of things to do. In his previous life, a Chinese standard was enough to make many people excited. Now the United States feels similarly when facing the British. If the vocabulary is changed and the American standard is successfully exported, it should have a similar effect.

As long as you can deal with the Navy Department, you're halfway there. Even in the United States, the governance of the country relies on civil servants in various departments, not the so-called mayors, governors, and congressmen who are elected. As time goes by, only the acting skills of these elected people will improve, but other things may not improve much.

But there is actually another way to do this, which is to go to Theodore Roosevelt. This Republican president has always been interested in the navy and expanding influence, although at the current time point, it is not appropriate for a Democratic donor to do so.

If there were no major changes in history, the Qing Dynasty would still have one and a half years to complete its historical mission, which would be just in time for the Regent of the late Qing Dynasty to seize everything. One and a half years would be enough to snatch out two 20,000-ton battleships.

Time was still very tight, so Sheffield went directly to former President Roosevelt and stated his intention, "Now the federal government's naval agreement has fallen into my hands. I hope Mr. Roosevelt can exert his influence on the navy and support the current federal government."

"I am no longer the president. Now, William, you should have more influence on the federal government than I do." Old Roosevelt smiled and did not agree directly. Instead, he asked a question in return: why don't you use your influence yourself?

"If we only talk about it from the perspective of parliament and elections, I can understand that Mr. Roosevelt is complimenting me." Sheffield replied calmly, "Although I am young and have never worked in the government, I also know that those who are elected alone cannot control the country. The opinions of the vast civil service system in various departments and the active military personnel in various branches are also very important to the elected members and ministers. If I can get your approval, Mr. Roosevelt, at least a positive influence, I will save a lot of time."

Sheffield had no complaints about Roosevelt's initial hypocrisy. He had always been surprisingly tolerant of familiar slave owners, including Rockefeller Jr., because Edith Rockefeller was his sister. As for Roosevelt Sr., now that Alice Roosevelt had just given birth, it was no big deal for the relatives of the women to say a few words.

"Well, this matter itself is also a legacy from before, and I should help." Old Roosevelt finally nodded. In many aspects, he knew that he was not a very easy person to deal with, but there was an exception in one area, the Navy. As long as it was related to the Navy, he was still the rational president.

Sheffield was also very happy. In fact, what the United States, an electoral country, fears most is opposition for the sake of opposition. Although Roosevelt was already a former president, he could still deal with many Republican congressmen as long as he showed up.

If he could just make some effort from the Democratic Party, this naval contract would become a rare example of efficiency in the United States. At this point, Sheffield suddenly had a mischievous idea in his mind and asked, "It seems that your nephew, Mr. Franklin Roosevelt, is interested in running for the New York State Assembly as a Democrat."

"What do you want to say?" Old Roosevelt's expression changed instantly, looking very interesting, and even his voice changed. "Did you come to my house just to tease me?"

"Mr. Roosevelt, you misunderstood. I was just asking casually." Sheffield waved his hand perfunctorily. The smile on his face betrayed his true thoughts. "Maybe he will become a great president in the name of the Democrats."

With Roosevelt's help, Sheffield felt that the matter was a sure thing. The only possible change was the reaction of the Japanese. However, historically, it was not until the Beiyang government came to power that the Japanese discovered this project that had been delayed for several years.

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If it is done privately, without the public operation of the federal government, it is still very likely to create a fait accompli in a short period of time. At least Sheffield now knows who to go to, even if he will not go. When the Beiyang era comes, the variables will increase.

The slave owner who successfully found foreign aid returned to Rockefeller Manor with great confidence. At least the first two battleships had a high chance of being completed in a year and a half. He also made a request to Rockefeller Jr., "Dear John, since this is the business you advocated, you have to drag me into it. As an important partner in the steel industry, I now make a small request. You go to China in person to sign the contract. I think this request is not surprising, right?"

"I have been planning to go there. I plan to build a hospital in China next year or the year after." Rockefeller Jr. was thinking about how to respond when he heard Sheffield grit his teeth and said, "It's not next year or the year after, it's going to be within a month. Otherwise, I will go to the ambassador now and tell him that this naval contract cannot be fulfilled and ask him to find someone else."

Little Rockefeller jumped up and said in disbelief, "William, this is a business worth 10 million dollars?"

"I don't think you take this deal very seriously, otherwise you wouldn't have no sense of urgency at all." Sheffield tilted his head and said indifferently, "You also know that your country's shipbuilding industry cannot compare with Europe."

"Oh my god, for ten million dollars." Rockefeller Jr. really had no way to deal with Sheffield. He also knew that the slave owner had other things to do, such as the federal government's invasion of Haiti, and did not have time to focus on just one thing.

"That's right. I still have to be busy with the election!" Sheffield pointed at himself and said, "I'm a member of the Democratic National Committee. I'm not like you who have nothing to do. Besides, you can still build your family's hospital and promote modern medicine."

(End of this chapter)