1890 King of Southeast Asia

Time flies, and it is early October. The Nanhua government has changed its attitude towards this war.

Of course, it has not changed its attitude towards intervening in the war.

When Liu Ming got the export record for September, his eyes changed slightly.

"Do you have an estimate of how long it will take to truly occupy the market vacated by the Qing Empire?" Liu Ming put down the export record.

Xu Hui pursed his lips: "The government estimates that the war will last about half a year, and the Empire will fill most of the market left by the United States and Japan, but in this way, the destructiveness of the war will be too great."

Xu Hui didn't care how serious the damage was to the corrupt court in the north, anyway, he didn't like Nanhua.

But the foundation of Nanhua's founding was not good. To be the leader of the Chinese people around the world, it must not watch the Chinese lose everything in the war, or even be slaughtered at will.

For half a year, the materials needed are undoubtedly huge. Whether Nanhua can deter Japan and Russia for half a year is still an unknown. Xu Hui hopes to gain a good reputation by maneuvering at the negotiation table, and does not want Nanhua to be dragged into the war.

The special military operation was a complete success, but hundreds of thousands of artillery shells, thousands of bombs, more than 100,000 people, 12 airships, and more than 10 naval ships were deployed, with a direct cost of more than 30 million and an indirect cost of nearly 10 million.

Some people may not understand what kind of cost this is. Converted into pounds, South China spent 15 million pounds for a local war, equivalent to 6 to 7 of the most advanced British Orion-class battleships.

Or 5 and a half Xuchang battleships (South China claimed that Xuchang and Nanyang were just improved models of the Changluo class, but the two warships were very different.) The big head is still on the 356mm gun.

Of course, this is only the case where South China adopted extreme tactics to end the battle as soon as possible.

The No. 4 gas bomb used in the bombing of Baghdad alone costs more than 10,000 yuan per bomb. The gas is not expensive, but the bomb body loaded with gas is a specially treated high-pressure steel cylinder, and in order to exert its power, the fuse technology is also very time-consuming.

In Baghdad, an airship carried dozens of missiles, and a bombing cost millions. The price of a Xuchang disappeared overnight.

This is South China's strategic weapon. It was originally used as the last resort to defend against Arabia. Once Arabia was invaded, South China would inevitably enter a state of total war. At the last moment, the airship would carry these missiles to London, Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, or other places.

Of course, before that, there will be a weapon deterrence display. After all, the purpose of strategic weapons is to stop the war, not to start a war to the death.

For example, nuclear weapons. The purpose of having nuclear weapons is to make others talk to you nicely. For example, Europe keeps provoking Russia. Even if Russia is so weak, it only dares to launch proxies to fight the war, just because it is worried about the 7,000 or more than 10,000 nuclear bombs.

"The intelligence department has sent news that the Qing Empire Center is very busy now and has no time to pay attention to "small things" such as war." Liu Ming said sarcastically.

Xu Hui didn't understand it for a while, and looked at Liu Ming in confusion.

"Sun Zaizhi and his people have achieved initial results and are accumulating strength. Sun Zaizhi wrote to me specifically, saying that now is a time of national crisis, and we cannot start an uprising without distinguishing right from wrong. We should start after the war is over."

"That is to say, create opportunities for Sun Zaizhi and his people?" Xu Hui asked.

He was not very willing to help the Qing Empire change, but he didn't mind. Having an ally, especially an ally that would not betray, was very important for Nanhua.

Although France still maintained an alliance with Nanhua, after the signing of the sincere agreement, the relationship between Nanhua and France was no longer so close.

It can be seen from the fact that they actively cooperated with Nanhua in the last Russo-Japanese War, but this time Russia remained neutral when it went south.

"Yes, but our bottom line is still that the warring parties are not allowed to massacre civilians, and the war should not involve civilians... How about this slogan?" Liu Ming asked.

Xu Hui nodded reluctantly.

"Leading the Chinese, protecting the Chinese, and uniting the Chinese are the foundation for the existence and growth of Nanhua. For the people here, we are outsiders." Liu Ming knew what Xu Hui was thinking at a glance.

One war consumed one sixth of Nanhua's strategic reserve ammunition, and the total fiscal expenditure was nearly 70 million, not to mention the subsequent expenditure. The government issued another 30 million short-term treasury bonds to cover it.

This is still a gain. In a few years, a few construction corps will be placed on the Mesopotamian Plain to cultivate land and mine, and a few oil wells will be planted, and the investment will be slowly recovered.

And being involved in the conflict in the north will only cost more, but you can't get much anyway.

People like Xu Hui and Wang Yang have extremely simple political concepts - not suffering losses is the bottom line.

"Let me handle this matter. As long as no malicious incidents occur, I guarantee that Nanhua will not be involved in the war." Liu Ming made a promise.

Xu Hui was only worried about being inexplicably involved in an unprepared war, so he nodded.

………

"Jingmai, how are you doing in Nanhua? Lord Li and I are old acquaintances. Why do you feel alienated when you come to Nanhua?" Liu Ming said to Li Jingmai with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I am here only to lead a leisurely life. Why should I bother you? If it weren't for Wei Ting sending multiple telegrams in an effort to protect the people of Northeast China, I would still be fishing on Crow Island." Li Jingmai said, half sitting on a chair and bowing.

"I heard about this, but I can't help much. Nanhua is not ready to join the war. Japan and Russia have been ready to deal with it. I need time to prepare." Liu 1ming shook his head.

This is about Yuan Datou seeking assistance and hoping to borrow troops from Nanhua. Liu 1ming was almost tempted by the various conditions promised.

"However... Nanhua can continue to provide weapons to Nanyang or Shanghai that are not involved in the conflict according to the contract." Liu 1ming saw that Li Jingmai was speechless and couldn't help coughing.

Why don't you answer? How can you continue without answering? A tiger father and a dog son!

"Great... Thank you, Your Majesty. The hundreds of millions of people in the Northeast will definitely..." Li Jingmai said excitedly.

"Don't, don't let the old witch ignore Japan and Russia and fight with Nanhua first." Liu 1ming waved his hand.

"I can provide 762mm artillery, 4 Beiyang Army artillery regiments, 196 guns, ammunition can be bought on credit, but it needs to be mortgaged.

I know you are in urgent need of firepower to counter artillery, so I will provide two additional 762mm long-barreled cannon regiments and one 105mm cannon regiment, which are enough to fight against the Japanese and Russian weapons on the battlefield." Liu Ming looked at Li Jingmai.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I wonder how much it costs? I can communicate with Yuan Weiting's people." Li Jingmai stood up and bowed.

"Alas~ Why do you have to say such polite words? For the cannon, I will give you the normal market price. Let me make it clear first that the long-barreled cannon is much more expensive than the mountain cannon. I am not arbitrarily quoting.

As for the shells... it will be 20% higher than the normal price. There is no way. I blocked the Japanese and Russian logistics. Some people are not happy with it and raised the price of the original parts for us... You can tell Yuan Weiting to stop dealing with the Americans." Liu Ming said.

"This... is behind the United States? Why?" Li Jingmai couldn't figure it out.

"National interests, no matter how good the relationship is, it's just about interests..." Liu Ming gave a look that you understand.

"As compensation, Nanhua seized a batch of rifles, which have been sorted out. There are about 30,000 modern rifles that can be used. They are sold at a low price and can be used to arm auxiliary troops. At the same time, they can provide light weapons for two divisions. If there are more, we have to wait for a while."

With a batch of weapons, the Beiyang Army is not at a disadvantage in terms of manpower (Japan and Russia need to station and occupy cities, and need troops to maintain logistics. In fact, there are not many battlefields.), relying on the defense line, they can still hold off.

Will they win in the end? Definitely not. The Japanese and Russian navies will completely crush the Qing Empire. It's just that they are not sure about Nanhua's attitude now, and they don't want to expand the war and add variables.

But it's impossible to do it, and they won't care so much.

And what Liu Ming has to do is to allow the Beiyang Army to continue to exert its strength and let the world see the true face of the old witch and the corrupt government of the Qing Empire.

The old witch has already started to purge the war faction in the court...

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