Chapter 386 Is it outdated equipment?
General Winter looked at Charles expectantly, with a hint of fear in his eyes.
He couldn't imagine what Britain would do next if the Charles answered "no"!
Force Charles to hand over his technology?
Not to mention that Britain does not have this power, the French government and citizens are not fools. They will all stand on Charles' side on this issue, even Joffre and Schneider are no exception.
Then, Britain can only admit that it is lagging behind!
This is no small matter for Britain, the world's number one country. Its prestige will collapse in an instant, and it may even lose control of its own colonies.
Fortunately, this did not happen. Charles nodded slightly and said, "It can be sold to the outside world as long as the price is right."
General Winter secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then asked impatiently: "Of course, Brigadier General. If the price is right, we will not let you down."
Although he said this, he was a little disappointed with Charles. Didn't he know that this could curb Britain's trump card? Or did he simply treat Britain as an ally and never be on guard? Or did he not know how to use this advantage?
Charles thought for a moment and said, "You know, General, we are short of large-caliber howitzers."
General Winter understood immediately. He nodded and replied, "No problem. We can exchange it for 6-inch 30-cwt howitzers."
Charles looked at General Winter coldly and said nothing.
General Winter understood and immediately changed his words: "It's not just artillery, it's a production line, Brigadier General. An entire production line, and there are also supporting skilled workers..."
Charles interrupted General Winter: "Although we are friends, General, it does not mean that I will make major concessions in business. You should know the performance of the Camel fighter. It is the most advanced fighter in the world. And you plan to exchange it for an outdated artillery?"
Charles sat up straight and said expressionlessly: "You can go back, General, we are wasting our time!"
"No, no!" General Winter hurriedly stopped Charles: "We have artillery, the latest artillery, we haven't even had time to equip ourselves, it was developed to target the German 105MM howitzer!"
Charles hummed and sat back in his chair.
General Winter said with some helplessness: "It is a 6-inch 26-cwt howitzer. We currently only have three production lines, with a monthly output of about 18 guns..."
(The picture above shows the British Army's 6-inch 26-hundred-weight howitzer. 6 inches refers to the 152MM caliber, and 26-hundred-weight refers to the weight of the gun barrel plus the breech, which is 26 hundredweight, about 1,300 kilograms. This gun was one of the main artillery of the British Army in World War I. It was developed in 1915 and entered service at the end of the year)
Charles knew this gun. Although its range was not as good as the German 105 howitzer and its range when firing lightweight ammunition (39 kg) was only 10.4 kilometers, it had a large caliber and sufficient charge, and was much more powerful than the German 105 howitzer. In addition to suppressing the 105 howitzer, it could also easily destroy barbed wire and bunkers.
If it fires heavy quantitative ammunition (45 kg), it will be even more of a "bunker killer". In addition, it can also fire fuel bombs and smoke bombs, making it a versatile battlefield weapon.
"I need five production lines." Charles' tone left no room for doubt: "Finish it within two months!"
"This, this is impossible, Brigadier General." General Winter looked at Charles in shock: "This means that the British army will be without artillery for quite a long time!"
This is not selling, but handing over the whole thing.
It required the entire country of Britain to build it for Charles, and even had to dismantle its own production lines and send them to France.
Charles stood up again and pretended to leave. General Winter panicked and hurried forward to stop Charles: "Let me think about it. Everything can be discussed."
Charles answered simply: "Either a plane or artillery. The Camel plane can't be exchanged for anything. If it could be exchanged, you wouldn't be sitting here talking to me, right?"
Then Charles added: "I'm sorry, General, I have to keep my public and private affairs separate."
"Of course." General Winter nodded his understanding. He thought for a moment and said, "I will at least ask London for instructions."
Ciel nodded: "You should do this."
General Winter shook hands with Charles and left, frowning in thought as if he was considering how to report to his superiors.
Charles walked back to the headquarters. Tijani was sitting in his chair signing documents. He asked casually, "Any questions?"
"No." Charles replied calmly, "He's just here to discuss business."
Tijani said "Oh" and nodded.
The business that makes General Winter so nervous must be related to military equipment.
What is it? He was a little curious.
Suddenly, Tijani stopped what he was doing, raised his head and looked at Charles with a serious expression: "Is he here to buy new fighter planes?"
This is not difficult to guess. Britain is an island country, and the only things that can make her nervous are warships and fighter jets, because only they can pose a threat to Britain.
Warships are out of the question, Britain is always number one and Charles cannot change that.
Then there are only fighter jets, Charles' new fighter jets.
Charles didn't say anything, which was considered as his agreement.
"You're not planning to sell it to them, are you?" Tijani asked again, his face turning very ugly.
"Why not?" Charles asked. "If the price is right."
Tijani stood up with shock and anger in his eyes: "Are you crazy? That's the Camel, the most advanced fighter plane. With it, we can even crush the whole of Britain, and you plan to sell it to her!"
What Tijani said was not an exaggeration, especially in this era when there was basically no air defense equipment.
France could use the Camel fighters to fight for air supremacy over Britain, and then use the Caproni bombers to bomb the British mainland. They could bomb wherever they wanted as long as the range allowed.
By then, how can Britain still have the face to say that it is the world's most powerful country?
Charles half-jokingly asked back, "Are you planning to go to war with Britain?"
"No, that's not what I meant." Tijani panicked. He explained with his hands and feet gesticulating, "I mean, we have such strength that it will put some pressure on Britain. We can use it to gain the right to speak. This is politics and diplomacy, Charles!"
Charles smiled and nodded to Tijani. Another advantage of Tijani was that he understood some international geopolitics, which might be related to his background.
One day in the future, maybe he could be put in charge of international business.
Tijani read something from Ciel's expression: "You know this, don't you?"
"Yes." Charles did not deny it.
"Then why do you still..."
"It's simple." Charles replied calmly: "First, I need to use Britain to defeat my domestic opponents. Second, we are selling outdated equipment, General, so there is no need to worry too much."
Tijani stared at Charles with wide eyes: "Outdated equipment? You mean the 'camel', which is outdated equipment?"
(End of this chapter)
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