New Ming Empire mixed in America

In fact, what Li Mingqi wanted to buy was not a battleship, but the artillery on the battleship.

Li Mingqi has already inquired. These two Spanish sailing battleships are small ships among the third-class ships.

Each ship is equipped with 28 32-pound guns, 28 18-pound guns, and 18 9-pound guns, for a total of 74 artillery pieces.

After these artillery pieces are dismantled, Li Mingqi will build a fort group in the dock area. These naval guns are the first batch of coastal defense guns, and of course they are only temporary.

As for the two old battleships, Li Mingqi plans to convert them into steam-powered training ships so that they can be used to train the Imperial Navy in the future.

If those naval soldiers choose to stay, they can be used as military advisors for the coastal defense artillery group or as instructors for the army artillery.

Anyway, these two old-fashioned sailing battleships are a treasure to the current Xinming Empire.

Li Mingqi once thought that warships could be bought if he had money, but later a series of rejections from major shipyards made Li Mingqi realize the reality.

While Li Mingqi was looking for a way out for two old Spanish warships, Davis was in the tavern trying to get close to the Spanish navy.

The battleship matter cannot be settled in one day. Anyway, there is still a long way to go before the two battleships can be repaired, so Li Mingqi is not too anxious yet.

On the contrary, the matter that Joyce came to report was more urgent.

"That means I've paid, but I can't get the equipment I want, right?"

After listening to Joyce's report, Li Mingqi was so angry that he smashed his favorite thermos cup.

"It's all my fault. When I signed the contract, I didn't read it carefully. I..."

Because of this incident, a row of blisters formed on the corners of Joyce's mouth.

At his current age, he has already entered the stage of waiting for death in this era.

It just depends on when you suddenly get sick and go to see God.

So now he is very concerned about the 'world's most advanced' weapons factory that he fooled Li Mingqi into building.

Just waiting for the factory to be built and then erecting a bust of himself in the square in front of the gate.

The connected device is currently being held in San Francisco and is about to be taken away by the bank and put into storage.

Li Mingqi also had a headache, and he had to blame him for this matter.

This batch of steam machine tools was purchased by Joyce before other buyers received the goods.

Although it was not done properly, there was no problem at the legal level.

However, this matter was also caused by legal issues.

The purchaser of this batch of equipment was Mr. Willis of the Stanford family.

He ordered this batch of equipment from Europe a year ago, and it was not until this year that the seller began to deliver it one after another.

This was also the reason why he wanted to buy the San Francisco weapons factory before. However, he was preempted by Li Mingqi, causing his investment plan to come to nothing.

Because he wanted to monopolize the supply of mechanical watches, Mr. Willis-Stanford worked hard to make the Xinming Empire's business prosper.

Finally, when Mr. Willis's working capital was all poured into the hoarding of mechanical watches, he finally discovered something was wrong.

Originally, in his opinion, there could not be too many such sophisticated works of art, so he gritted his teeth and ate them even if they were a hundred or ten.

But who knew that he had already hoarded 150 mechanical watches, but there are still mechanical watches on the market.

When he received the report from his entourage who had gone out to inquire about the news, he couldn't breathe and almost fainted.

Because at this time Li Mingqi discovered that the sales of mechanical watches were very good, so he started a small-scale dumping.

Willis, who was trapped, had no choice but to talk to the dead man Ernesto about what to do.

The agreement to divide Li Mingqi's property in the future was signed at that time.

Unfortunately, the plan did not change quickly, and Willis no longer had liquidity due to successive investment mistakes.

So he embarked on the dark road of mortgage loans, first mortgaging the shares of the port, and using the money obtained from the mortgaged shares, he swept away all the mechanical watches on the market with red eyes.

There were a total of five hundred mechanical watches. He didn't believe that such a sophisticated thing could appear on a large scale.

As long as there are no more products on the market, he will have the final say in the mechanical watch business in the upper class in the future.

It's a pity that he didn't know that a certain emperor had a cheat.

So Willis sadly discovered that there were more mechanical watches circulating on the market.

It stands to reason that mechanical watches, an item that is very popular among the upper class, should be easy to sell.

But there are only so many wealthy people in California, and even if one person buys two mechanical watches, the number required is not much.

So the market was unintentionally saturated by Li Mingqi.

Banks, adding icing on the cake is their common operation, but the most skillful way to use it is to add insult to injury.

Although I dare not offend the Stanford family, if you are just a member of the Stanford family hanging around in San Francisco, there will be no problem.

It is natural to repay debts, so the loyal Willis fell into bankruptcy crisis.

He had no choice but to mortgage the contract he signed when purchasing the equipment to a San Francisco bank, which is the contract for the equipment that is now being seized.

Coincidentally, before Willis could sell the accumulated mechanical watches to cash out, he was shot three times in the back and forced to commit suicide.

And the gunman relied on the photo of killing Willis to receive the bounty he deserved - thirty mechanical watches.

Who knows how he took the photos with a camera of this era.

The real owner was dead, so the San Francisco Bank began to repossess the collateral.

It happened that the ship transporting the equipment arrived in San Francisco at this time. In fact, Joyce had already purchased the equipment through a favor.

However, due to underdeveloped communications, this batch of equipment was taken away by the Bank of San Francisco using the previous contract.

By the time Joyce sent someone to pick up the goods, it was already too late!

"Generous Li, I think this matter should be easily resolved with your influence."

Joyce's flattery was very stiff and not smooth at all.

"It shouldn't be difficult to solve. As long as I send all the aluminum to the bank in San Francisco, it will be solved. It's a pity that I won't agree!"

Li Mingqi frowned and fell into thinking.

Because of the sudden rise of aluminum crown coins, the Bank of San Francisco's plan to join forces with other banks to print paper dollars on a large scale was cut short.

The two sides have long been on opposite sides. If the bank's shareholders were not enjoying the dividends brought by Li Mingqi and fearing other capital tycoons, they would have taken action long ago.

Blocking people's way of making money is like killing their parents. Rounding things off, Li Mingqi and them have a grudge against killing their father.

His current violent methods are somewhat ineffective when facing an opponent of this level.

Because his current foundation is here and he cannot escape. As long as he cannot kill all shareholders at the same time, then he will need to withstand the crazy counterattack of the San Francisco Bank.

None of the bankers in this era are good at making mistakes, and they have many more guns at their disposal than Li Mingqi.

What if the other party also sends someone to assassinate him? Will the two sides exchange veterans?

Since we can't fight for the time being, we can only talk.

Within two days, the bank representative came to Li Mingqi.

"Sir, as long as you deposit all the crown coins into our bank, the equipment can be shipped here immediately."

The purpose of the bank representatives was very clear, that is, they wanted to exchange the banknotes they printed for the aluminum in Li Mingqi's hands.

Although in terms of cost, aluminum is not necessarily as expensive as printing banknotes, but this is a matter of principle and cannot be withdrawn.

Once he agrees, let’s not talk about whether those capital giants will fall out. If we just use banknotes in the future, the business of exchanging gold coins for aluminum coins will be considered a failure.

Because the bankers will definitely work out an exchange ratio that is beneficial to them.

"We have a contract to purchase this batch of equipment. What you are doing is a bit unethical."

Li Mingqi did not say whether to agree or not, but choked.

"We also have the contract. The only fault is that you were a step slower." The bank representative said calmly.

At the same time, there was a bit of pride on his face. This time, he seized the equipment before Li Mingqi. Logically speaking, the bank would not be reasonable.

But what reasons do capitalists need to talk to each other?

"These equipment are now at the San Francisco pier. Whether it is shipped here or to the east is entirely up to you, sir."

The bank representative crossed his legs and pushed an agreement directly in front of Li Mingqi as if he was convinced.

Without reading the contract, Li Mingqi just asked in a deep voice: "Is there really no room for relaxation?"

"I'm sorry, my boss did not give me other authorization. I came to this overgrown and remote countryside with only one purpose, and that is to ask you to sign this agreement."

The bank representative smiled and pushed the agreement in Li Mingqi's direction.

"You know, many of our shareholders have very good relations with some high-class people in Europe. The various equipment and raw materials you will need in the future..."

Having said this, the bank representative shrugged with a mocking expression on his face.