Garfield dismissed and stood up to leave. He gave a random reason and left directly. It was not convenient for him to get involved too deeply in what the two of them talked about next. Every smart person will have the self-control not to pry into other people's secrets. If you know too many secrets, one day a bullet may be fired from an unexpected place.
After he left, the atmosphere became more harmonious, both of them were relaxed, and there was no longer too much strangeness.
If the fastest thing in this world that can make strangers become brothers is wine, then the fastest thing that can make strangers become friends is interests, common interests.
"I haven't asked you yet..." Dulin rubbed his shoulders, and Thomas reacted immediately. He reported his military rank. Only at this time did he realize the advantages of his superiors allowing him to upgrade. If he was still a lieutenant colonel, maybe Dulin would bypass him and directly negotiate with a more senior general instead of him. Dulin smiled even more, "Colonel Thomas, starting from the first of next month, our business will start to be implemented. Before we cooperate, there are some things that need to be said in advance and brought to the table, right?"
Colonel Thomas nodded. He was still a soldier at heart. He did not say anything hypocritical and philistine like a businessman to test each other. He directly said what Dulin wanted to ask, "I can give you a guarantee. The shipping cost for a bottle of wine will not exceed sixty-five cents at most!" Colonel Thomas still has the right to make a decision on this point, because if the price can be agreed upon, it can't be agreed upon. There must be a result on the spot.
Once someone says something like "research about it", the next time you talk about price, the other party will lower the price.
Sixty-five points
Dulin touched his chin. The price was acceptable, but not acceptable. "Colonel Thomas, I would like to ask, is the price the same regardless of distance, or are there different prices depending on the itinerary?"
Colonel Thomas was stunned for a moment, "Of course not, this is just the cost of going to the farthest port, which includes factors such as the possible empty space on the return trip. If the distance is shorter, thirty to forty minutes is about the same."
Dulin nodded noncommittally and made a new request, "If possible, can I see those ships?"
"Sure, when do you want to see the boat?"
"After dinner!"
The two of them quickly had a hasty dinner at this special location, which took less than an hour. Du Lin still paid three thousand yuan. When they arrived at the beach, there was already a speedboat waiting for Matos. A young man with short hair stood upright in the driver's seat, looking at Colonel Thomas intently, as if he had not seen Dulin at all.
Colonel Thomas and Dulin got on the boat. He gave an order, and the speedboat immediately left the port and moved quickly south along the Ilian coastline. After walking for less than ten minutes, you can see another port, a military port. There are many warships parked in the inner harbor, and some weapons are covered by canvas. Outside the harbor, there are four white cargo ships, and five "old ships" that are obviously the same as the warships in the inner harbor.
The patrolling navy turned a blind eye to Captain Thomas' speedboat. Just as the young man driving the speedboat couldn't see Dulin, they couldn't see the speedboat either. The two boarded one of the freighters modified by warships. The entire cabin was almost empty and well maintained. There was still some butter on some parts that had not been wiped clean. This is not a retired warship, it is simply a new warship!
He had a new understanding of the courage of these navies. At first, he thought that the navy's own shipping operations were just an unspoken rule, but it seems that this is no longer as simple as an unspoken rule. This is simply an illegal act. .
In fact, this can't be blamed on Dulin's rare appearance. The navy's situation is a bit special.
During the Great Patriotic War, attacks from the Federation basically took place on land. There were also attacks on the sea, but they were reserved compared to the crazy energy on the ground. The navies of both sides fired a few tentative cannons and then responded. Home rested. When the new party came to power after the war, the first thing that severely criticized the navy was its attitude of neglecting the war. It believed that the navy had not shouldered the important task of defending the empire and severely attacking the invaders.
In fact, this cannot be blamed on the navy. In fact, both the empire and the federation have a large number of shore artillery in deep-water ports and chokepoints, except for places where they cannot land. If they are not prepared to sacrifice at any time, there is no way Possibly punched in. Instead of wasting cannonballs and crystals and killing a large number of naval veterans, it would be better to just take a look at the doorstep.
Magers then decided to cut the navy's military expenditures and use this part of the military expenditures for the improvement and research and development of new weapons and equipment. In addition to losing a large amount of military spending every year, the top brass of the navy have also been "retired" by some generals. These generals have left the military, but their influence is still there. Many people even think that these generals are taking the blame for the entire navy. So after discussions with the top brass of the Navy, they came up with an interesting plan - self-sufficiency.
Perhaps they did operate shipping with this purpose in the beginning, but soon, under the corrosion of money, the navy became their weapon to make money. They had funds that the navy lacked, and the two sides quickly distinguished themselves from equal collaborators. Coupled with the fact that the top brass of the active navy have also joined in this money feast, the navy has basically become corrupted.
The cabinet formed by the new party was also very clear about this matter, but when they knew it, they had no way to deal with the navy. Either capture the vast majority of the naval generals, and then face the very possibility of an overall mutiny—this is not impossible. Even if it is not possible, those naval generals who are in danger must create this kind of atmosphere and force them to The navy had to go against the empire, and those generals could rely on this method to protect themselves.
Either let the navy rot, and as long as they do not affect the policy implementation and political direction of the empire, and as long as they do not surrender to the enemy and treason, then let them be self-sufficient!
Repeated cuts in the navy's military expenditures have made the navy more unscrupulous in making money, so a picture has emerged of blatantly using imperial warships to transport supplies for the rich.
"So, are you satisfied with these ships?" Colonel Thomas patted a metal warehouse wall next to him. The dull knocking sound had a trembling charm, making people feel its solidity.
Dulin was of course very satisfied. He shook hands with Colonel Thomas, "I don't think I need to continue reading. Once you have the exact cost list, we can sign an agreement!"
Colonel Thomas suppressed the excitement in his heart and shook his right arm that was holding Dulin's hand tightly. "I will take you back. We will meet again in two days at the latest!"
After leaving his contact information, Dulin took a speedboat and left the military port. At this time, he was thinking of far more and more important things than transporting the private wine. Obviously the navy is a force that can be won over. He will not naively think that as long as he spends money on the navy, he can help him do whatever he wants. But as long as he spends money, he can always buy some "scrap" and "elimination" of the navy, and it does not involve the military. Secret stuff.
Like... weapons? !
The difference between non-military weapons and military-made weapons is huge. Military-made weapons are stronger, more lethal, and have a longer range. They are much better than the "toy guns" in his hand. He doesn't have a weapons carrying platform, nor does he have the latest war weapons, but he can modify it himself.
The tank in the dream was originally just a "farm tractor", not to mention that with the huge kinetic energy provided by the obsidian drive, it is not difficult to convert a truck into an armed vehicle.
Of course, this requires establishing appropriate cooperation with the navy first, and then implementing it step by step.
After Dulin left the military port, Colonel Thomas immediately went to the military port headquarters to meet with the naval commander stationed in Ilian, an imperial major general. The fact that the Imperial General Military Headquarters is indifferent to the Navy is not unconditional, that is, the Navy must remain loyal to the Empire and obey the Empire's combat orders and deployment orders.
Since the Ilian military port was abandoned, a small formation has been stationed here. A total of six warships that can be put into battle at any time and eight training ships used for training have stayed here.
The warships Du Lin saw outside the military port were actually training ships. They renovated seven of them, leaving only one for training.
"General, I'm back." Thomas knocked on the door straight and stood outside. With a "come in", he pushed the door open and, like the young man driving a speedboat, stared straight ahead, "I have already met Mr. Dulin from Ilian. He and I A big deal has been negotiated, and starting from next month, hundreds of thousands of bottles of wine will be transported to all parts of the empire every month.”
The major general is an old guy in his fifties. He doesn't look like a big shot like a major general at all. He is short, a little thin, and his hair is gray and bald. His face was covered with wrinkles that were like knives and axes. The moment he raised his eyes, the layers of wrinkles on his forehead could trap a mosquito.
"Oh?", his voice was loud, with a hint of surprise in his voice, "Are you sure it's hundreds of thousands of bottles, not tens of thousands of bottles?"
Colonel Thomas answered loudly "Yes", and the Major General suddenly smiled broadly, "Okay, very good." He couldn't help but stood up and took a few steps back and forth, "How much do you want to quote him? If it is too high, he will be scared." It’s awesome!”
"No more than sixty-five points, one bottle!"
The major general took a breath of cold air and muttered in a low voice, "Counting half, thirty points, ten bottles is three yuan, one hundred thousand bottles is thirty thousand, hundreds of thousands of bottles..." He narrowed his eyes, "Ten or two. One hundred thousand..."
"You go and talk about this matter. If the negotiation is successful, you will be credited. If the negotiation fails...", the major general laughed, "You can find me another business that can make so much money!"
(End of chapter)