29: Chapter 29 Arms Tycoon

The order from the German Empire came faster and more aggressively than expected.

When Ambassador Hermann visited again, he brought news that overjoyed Li Ling—the German Empire's Naval Department had decided to order one hundred thousand qingyun-1 rifles, one thousand Heavy Machine Guns, two hundred 75mm field guns, and a large quantity of ammunition and spare parts in a single transaction.

The total contract value was six million taels of silver.

Li Ling looked at the figures on the contract, his hands trembling.

"Six… six million taels?" he asked, stuttering, almost biting his own tongue.

"Yes," Ambassador Hermann said with a smile. "Our Naval Department is very satisfied with your products and has decided to make a large-scale purchase. Young Master Li, can you accept this order?"

"Yes! Of course!" Li Ling nodded hurriedly, wishing he could hug and kiss Ambassador Hermann. "However, it needs to be delivered in batches. The first batch of one hundred thousand rifles will be delivered within two months; the Heavy Machine Guns and artillery will be delivered within three months."

"That is acceptable," Ambassador Hermann nodded. "However, we hope that you can provide some technical personnel to come to our country to assist with training and after-sales service."

Li Ling hesitated for a moment. Sending technical personnel to the German Empire meant that core technology might be leaked. But if he didn't send them, this large order might fall through.

"Very well," Li Ling finally agreed. "But the people I send will only be responsible for training and maintenance; they will not participate in production. I apologize, but core technology will not be shared."

Ambassador Hermann nodded understandingly: "Understood."

After the contract was signed and Ambassador Hermann left, Li Ling paced around his study in excitement, like a child who had found a treasure.

"Six million taels! System, did you hear that? Six million taels!"

The voice in his mind carried clear disdain: "I heard it. After deducting costs, the net profit is about four million taels. That's enough for you to build quite a few warships."

"Four million taels..." Li Ling calculated. "The construction cost of one Dreadnought is about one million taels, so four million taels can build four. Adding the three currently under construction, that's seven!"

"Seven Dreadnoughts are enough to crush the navy of Japan."

"It's not enough," Li Ling shook his head. "What I want is not just to crush Japan, but to crush the Great Powers. I need at least twenty."

"Then you must continue making money. The arms business cannot stop."

"I know," Li Ling nodded. "Once I have more product lines, I can earn even more money."

After the funds for this large order arrived, Li Ling immediately invested in a new round of construction.

The steel mill expanded its scale, increasing annual production from fifty thousand tons to one hundred thousand tons; the shipyard added dry docks, increasing from three to six; the arsenal added production lines, increasing the daily production of rifles from five hundred to two thousand.

Zhang Zhidong and Wang Chongyou were so busy they barely had time to touch the ground, but both were full of energy.

"Young Master Li, at the current speed, our industrial system will be initially formed in three months," Zhang Zhidong reported to Li Ling, his eyes full of excitement.

"Three months..." Li Ling muttered. "That's enough time. In three months, the Dreadnoughts will be in service, and the Army will have finished reorganization. By then, we will have the capital to challenge the Great Powers."

"However, Young Master Li, there is one thing I must remind you of," Zhang Zhidong hesitated for a moment before saying, "Industrial development requires a large number of talents, especially technical personnel. We currently have a large talent gap."

"I know," Li Ling nodded. "I will find a way regarding the talent issue."

The system lottery was another way for Li Ling to solve the talent problem.

After the arms order was completed, the system judged it a "minor achievement" and granted one lottery chance.

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Talent Card—Vice Minister Zhan Tianyou (Railway Engineering Expert)."

Li Ling was overjoyed, almost jumping out of his chair.

Vice Minister Zhan Tianyou, the founder of China's modern railway engineering, who presided over the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, was one of the most outstanding engineers in modern China. Such talent was exactly what he had dreamed of.

"System, you are wonderful!" Li Ling said excitedly.

"Stop flattering me. Vice Minister Zhan Tianyou can help you build railways and improve the efficiency of material transport. However, building railways requires a large amount of capital and labor, so you must be prepared."

"I have the capital, and I have the labor," Li Ling said confidently. "The 300,000-strong Army can be used as laborers when they are idle."

"That is too ruthless. Making soldiers build railways?"

"What's wrong with that?" Li Ling argued. "The people's Army serves the people, and building railways is also serving the people. Besides, they are idle anyway, which is better than letting them sleep in the barracks."

"Fine, you're the boss."

After Vice Minister Zhan Tianyou was materialized, Li Ling immediately had him begin planning the railway network.

The first railway, from the barracks to the naval port, was eighty li long and used for transporting military supplies. The second railway, from the steel mill to the arsenal, was fifty li long and used for transporting steel and weapons. The third railway, from the port to the interior, was two hundred li long and used for connecting the coast and the inland.

Construction on all three railways began simultaneously, with completion expected within half a year.

"Mr. Zhan, I leave the railway matters to you," Li Ling said to Vice Minister Zhan Tianyou with a sincere attitude.

"Rest assured, Young Master Li," Vice Minister Zhan Tianyou pushed up his glasses. "I will do my utmost."

After seeing off Vice Minister Zhan Tianyou, Li Ling went to the Production Base again.

The construction of the three Dreadnoughts had entered the final stage. In the dockyard, the massive hulls were basically formed, and workers were installing the main gun turrets and armor.

"Old Zhao, how is the progress?" Li Ling asked the person in charge of the Production Base.

"Young Master Li, the progress of the No. 1 dock is 95 percent, No. 2 dock is 93 percent, and No. 3 dock is 90 percent," Old Zhao reported. "The first dock will launch in three days, the second in five days, and the third in seven days."

"Good!" Li Ling clapped his hands. "I will come in person on the day of the launch."

"We welcome you, Young Master."

In the evening, Li Ling returned to the mansion and drank a few cups of wine, which was rare for him.

Empress Su Wanqing sat beside him, looking at his slightly flushed face, and couldn't help but smile: "Brother Ling, you seem very happy today."

"Of course I'm happy," Li Ling put his arm around her shoulder, feeling slightly tipsy. "A large order of six million taels of silver, three Dreadnoughts about to be completed, the railway network being planned... everything is proceeding according to plan."

"Does that mean the war will be over soon?" Empress Su Wanqing asked, her eyes full of expectation.

"Soon," Li Ling said. "Once the Dreadnoughts are in service, I will go and completely destroy the fleet of Japan. By then, no one will dare to bully us."

Empress Su Wanqing leaned on his shoulder and said softly: "Brother Ling, you must be careful. I pray for you every day."

Li Ling felt a warmth in his heart and kissed her on the forehead: "Don't worry, I will come back alive."

The moonlight from outside the window spilled in, shining on the two of them.

Li Ling held Empress Su Wanqing, a strong conviction welling up in his heart.

He wanted to give this girl the best life possible and make this country the most powerful.

This was his promise, and it was also his mission.

However, good times did not last long.

Just as Li Ling was immersed in the joy of the large order, a sudden piece of news broke the peace.

The United Fleet of Japan had gathered again, this time on a larger scale, with the number of warships exceeding fifty, and with military advisors from the Great Powers accompanying them. Intelligence showed that their target was Li Ling's shipyard and naval port, attempting to destroy his naval power in one fell swoop.

"Good grief, they are really playing for keeps," Li Ling looked at the intelligence report and sneered.

He immediately summoned all the generals to a meeting to deploy defenses.

"The United Fleet is coming aggressively, but we are not pushovers," Li Ling pointed at the nautical chart. "Let the Submarine fleet attack first to ambush their supply lines. The Torpedo boats and Destroyers will lie in ambush in the near seas and wait for them to get close before attacking."

"Sir, our Dreadnoughts haven't launched yet," the Navy Commander said worriedly.

"Then use the Pre-dreadnoughts to hold the line," Li Ling said without hesitation. "Three Pre-dreadnoughts plus the Torpedo boats and Submarines are enough to fight a battle."

He turned around, looking at the map on the wall, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"This time, I will make sure they never return."

The battle broke out three days later.

The vanguard of the United Fleet approached under the cover of night, attempting to launch a sneak attack on the naval port. But Li Ling's Radar had long since discovered their movements, and the Submarine fleet had laid in ambush on both sides of the shipping lane in advance.

When the enemy ships entered range, eight Submarines fired torpedoes simultaneously.

Under the sea, the torpedoes rushed silently toward their targets, trailing white wakes. A few seconds later, violent explosions rang out; three enemy ships were hit, and flames shot into the sky.

"Well done!" Li Ling stood on the bridge of the flagship warship and waved his fist excitedly.

The United Fleet was caught off guard, but they were, after all, a well-trained regular Army and quickly stabilized their formation. The Destroyers began anti-Submarine operations, and the Cruisers used naval guns to suppress Li Ling's Torpedo boats.

Artillery fire flew across the sea, torpedoes carved out white wakes, and explosions followed one after another.

"Sir, the Torpedo boat 'Sea Wolf' has been hit and lost power!"

"The Submarine 'Whale' has been hit by depth charges and is sinking!"

Bad news came one after another, and Li Ling's face grew increasingly grim.

"Send the Pre-dreadnoughts to press forward!" he ordered through gritted teeth. "Aim the main guns at the enemy flagship and fire!"

The main guns of the three Pre-dreadnoughts roared simultaneously, 305mm shells tearing through the night sky and smashing into the enemy fleet. The first salvo hit the bridge of the enemy flagship, and flames shot into the sky.

"It's a hit!" the officers and soldiers cheered.

But the counterattack of the United Fleet was also exceptionally fierce. Their Cruisers and Destroyers flanked from both sides, and the Torpedo boats also took the opportunity to launch a charge.

"Torpedoes spotted on the port side!" the lookout shouted.

"Hard to starboard!" Li Ling ordered.

The massive hull of the warship carved an arc on the sea, narrowly avoiding the torpedoes. But a Destroyer following closely behind was not so lucky; it was hit in the ammunition magazine by a torpedo, the entire ship was blown in two, and it sank rapidly.

The sea was floating with wreckage and oil, along with the cries for help from the officers and soldiers who had fallen overboard.

Li Ling gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to look at the soldiers struggling in the seawater.

The battle lasted for a full four hours.

When the first light of dawn appeared, the United Fleet finally retreated. They had lost eight warships, including two Cruisers and three Destroyers. Li Ling's fleet also paid a price: one Destroyer sank, two Torpedo boats were severely damaged, one Submarine went missing, and over 120 officers and soldiers were killed in action.

"Sir, we won," the adjutant handed over the battle report, his voice trembling slightly.

Li Ling took the battle report, glanced at it, and remained silent for a long time.

"Compile the list of those killed in action and double the pension payments," he said in a low voice. "For the brothers who are seriously injured, arrange the best medical treatment."

"Yes!"

He turned around, looking at the smoke of gunpowder gradually dissipating over the sea, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

They had won, but it was not an easy victory.

"System," he murmured in his heart.

"Hmm?"

"Tell me, when will this war end?"

"Soon," the system replied. "Once your Dreadnoughts are launched, the United Fleet will be no match for you."

"Then let them launch quickly," Li Ling clenched his fists. "I don't want to see my brothers sacrifice themselves again."