Chapter 476: Taking advantage of the fire to rob (ask for a monthly ticket)

   Early the next morning, US Secretary of State Bryan and Secretary of the Navy Daniels met with Churchill again. Churchill looked terrible, with messy hair and red eyes, as if he hadn't slept at all last night.

   "Your Excellency, did you rest well last night?" Brian asked with concern.

"Your Excellency, Secretary of State, how can I sleep until I get your reply! The current situation is becoming more and more unfavorable to the British Empire. If the warship cannot be purchased from your country as soon as possible, the situation will deteriorate further. "Churchill looked anxious.

   "Minister, then, I would like to congratulate you now. I have brought you good news. Your Excellency has agreed in principle to sell the capital ships we are currently serving to your country." Bryan said.

   "What? Is this true? This is really great!" Churchill suddenly looked ecstatic. Although, he has always believed that the Americans are unlikely to refuse their demands. However, the Americans agreed overnight, which still made him very happy. If the handover of warships on the American side goes smoothly, then, a month later, they can once again organize a huge fleet to fight a decisive battle with the German navy. At that time, it is still unclear who will win the battle.

"Yes, Your Excellency, we can sell these capital ships to your country. However, since these capital ships are an important force of the US Navy, after selling them to your country, our naval strength will directly drop to the lowest point. Therefore, these The cost of capital ships is not cheap. In addition, your country should also need a batch of armored cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers! The Republic of America can also sell them to your country." Bryan continued.

  Churchill nodded. He knew that the Americans would not let go of such a good opportunity. To bring those twelve battleships back to the UK, they had to be prepared to bleed heavily.

   "Your Excellency, Secretary of State, in addition to the 12 capital ships, we also need to purchase 6 armored cruisers, 20 light cruisers and 50 destroyers from your country." Churchill said.

   "Well, this would be the best. The specific price will be discussed by Minister Daniels with you!" After Secretary Brian finished speaking, he immediately fell silent.

   Churchill looked at US Secretary of the Navy Daniels.

"Your Excellency, after deliberation, we believe that the price of each battleship is 80 million dollars, the price of each armored cruiser is 40 million dollars, the price of each light cruiser is 20 million dollars, and the price of each destroyer is 20 million dollars. Five million dollars." Minister Daniels said a series of prices.

   After hearing these prices, Churchill couldn't help but widen his eyes. He had expected for a long time that the Americans would open their mouths, but he did not expect that the offer they made would be so outrageous. You know, the exchange rate between the US dollar and the pound is five to one, that is to say, a battleship worth 80 million US dollars is equivalent to 16 million pounds. This price is definitely a sky-high price. You know, even the "Queen Elizabeth-class" battleships of the British Navy cost only two million pounds each. The Americans directly offered a price eight times that of the "Queen Elizabeth-class" battleship. This is simply slaughtering the UK as a fat sheep!

   "Your Excellency, did I hear you right? Are the prices proposed by your country too outrageous?" Churchill said.

"No, Your Excellency, the price is not outrageous at all. After all, the United States of America sold these battleships to your country, which took a very big risk. If the Germans declare war on us, it will be troublesome .So, we need to prepare early." Minister Daniels said.

   "The Germans will never declare war on you because you sold us warships!" Churchill said.

   "That's not certain." Minister Daniels refused to budge.

   "Well, Your Excellency, the price is too high for the British Empire to accept." Churchill said.

   "Your Excellency, if this price is unacceptable to your country, then we can only express regret." Bryan said.

   Obviously, the Americans are now convinced that the British have no other way but to buy warships from them. Therefore, they don't have to worry about whether the British will not buy it. In that case, their plan to fight back against the Germans can only be aborted. In this war, the British will never have a chance to come back.

"Your Excellency, Secretary of State, your country sells warships to us, which is of great benefit to both of us. If your country's asking price is too high, so that we cannot buy these warships, it will only let the Germans take advantage of it." Churchill Said.

"Your Excellency, this has nothing to do with us. The United States is a neutral country, and it is impossible for Germany to go to war against us. Even if they have this intention, they don't have the ability. The American Republic can defeat all threats." Minister Daniels Said.

  Churchill was very speechless. The Americans clearly decided to eat them, so they wanted to take advantage of the fire. He wanted to refuse, but he knew that if he refused the Americans, everything would be over.

   After thinking about it, Churchill knew he had no choice but to swallow his breath. He vowed that after Britain survives this crisis, it will definitely make Americans look good.

  Of course, this does not mean that Churchill will directly agree with the price offered by the United States. This is like doing business, and it is also necessary to bargain.

   When Churchill and Daniels were bargaining, they started to compete on prices like vendors in a vegetable market. It's just that Britain is really at a disadvantage. Even if Churchill tried his best, he couldn't keep the price down. After Daniels backed down to the final bottom line, that is, the price of a battleship is 50 million U.S. dollars, the price of an armored cruiser is 20 million U.S. dollars, the price of a light cruiser is 10 million U.S. dollars, and the price of a destroyer is 3 million U.S. dollars. Don't give in any more.

   Seeing this situation, Churchill had to accept the price. After all, if you don't accept it, then the deal will collapse.

  When Churchill nodded, there was a hint of surprise in the eyes of Brian and Daniels. Even if the economic situation of the United States is very good, the funds obtained from the sale of these warships are undoubtedly a huge sum of money for them!

According to the price they reached, the British will pay 1.17 billion U.S. dollars for the purchase of 12 battleships, 6 armored cruisers, 20 light cruisers and destroyers, which is equivalent to 214 million pounds. 1.35 billion marks!