Chapter 16: Lobby

These two points are now clearly revealed, and the rapidly developing city of Seris has fallen into an awkward situation: the talents involved in smelting have to go to the mechanical department to help, the swindlers who used to be in charge of alchemy have now become the seat of the chemical department. Sunbin...

Even in this state, the improvised arsenal in Serris is still working overtime to produce the munitions requested by Chris. The main product is the improved 75mm infantry howitzer. This weapon is not advanced, yes. The precision of processing is not high.

"The new 75mm howitzer is being lined up for troops, and a new cannon has been produced at the Serris Arsenal, only waiting for the adults to come back." When it comes to weapons and equipment, Smith is also well aware of it, because he is not only The consultant of the steel plant and one of the chief engineers of the arsenal.

This also proves from another aspect that Serris is currently short of talents in industrial equipment. The Smith engineer is in charge of almost one-tenth of the machine tool production equipment...

"It is not steel production that restricts our development, nor is it due to the lack of talents." The engineer sighed with regret: "Before the adult left, he had to tutor 50 people to learn industrial knowledge every night, but most of them still It’s a state of understanding but not understanding."

"It's already pretty good. I learned from an apprentice blacksmith to a real blacksmith for 12 years." When Smith thought of his apprenticeship experience, he felt boundless.

He is one of the best craftsmen Chris has cultivated, and he is also one of the chief engineers of Serris Industries Group. He has read books and has a lot of smelting experience, and now he is involved in researching Chris' new equipment almost every day.

"Do you know how fast our technology is updated now? According to the blueprint left by Lord Chris, we have developed the artillery technology to the second generation." Smith finished talking about his past and proudly held out his finger. A gesture came out: "The new howitzer is lighter in weight and smaller in size!"

The 90mm caliber artillery of the First World War era, the technology is out of date. Before it was popularized by the troops, it was completely eliminated by Seris's new technology.

At this rate of development, when Chris returned to Seris from Ferry City, the artillery of the World War I technology equipped by his main force could only be equipped with second-line troops.

And as long as he wants, at that time, it is estimated that he can directly use the light and the telegraph...

"Master Clark! Serris is really the victim! We were attacked jointly by Mayne and the ferry, and we were defeated by fighting back!" In the hall of carved beams, Strider pleaded in a low voice.

Every candle here is an elaborate luxury, and every candlestick here is filled with an artistic atmosphere. The cold marble floor is flat and smooth, and the lines on it are even exquisite.

The mansion of the prime minister of the Arrant Empire is definitely not comparable to the mansion of a small town in the countryside. Although it cannot be built into a fortress, every detail here is full of luxury, making Strider embarrassed.

The old man sitting in the first place was full of wrinkles, holding a wine glass in one hand, and a young girl holding the other hand on the palm of his hand, carefully manicuring his nails.

I saw the old man's lips slightly opened and closed, and he said in an unhurried tone: "What you say is useless, the empire will immediately send a new city lord to the two places. If Serris cooperates, then treat it as nothing. It has happened that if Serris does not cooperate, he is an enemy of the Empire."

His voice echoed in the entire hall, as if several people were talking at the same time, that kind of ethereal feeling, with majesty and arrogance.

"My lord! We are really victims! Now we have occupied Mayne and the ferry, and we are willing to pay taxes for the two places! My lord, please call the shots for the city of Serris!" Strider complained in a whimper.

The imperial prime minister Clark was unmoved, squinted at the gold coins in the box in front of him, took the wine glass and shook it twice, and said disdainfully: "I will laugh at these gold coins, and you don't have to bring them. It's so troublesome to come and take."

Hearing that he couldn't even bring the gold coins back, Strider felt even more uncomfortable. He knelt on the ground and pleaded: "My Prime Minister, please think twice! Serris shed blood and sacrifice for the empire. If Mayne and other places invade again, we..."

"It's just these two sentences over and over again, I'm tired, you go back!" Clark drank the wine in the glass and ordered the waiter beside him.

"My lord, Serris is willing to pay 4,500 gold coins in tax and tribute to the two places every year! My lord!" Strider raised his head to seize the last opportunity and whined.

Clark sneered and waved his hand: "With such a small amount of tax, are you sending a beggar? Get out of me! Something that doesn't live or die!"

Pay an extra 1500 gold coins every year? How could the empire be in the eyes? What's more, these 1,500 gold coins have to be paid into the treasury, and they have nothing to do with his prime minister.

In short, although this City Lord Serris has a strategic vision to win over the Arante Empire, but he has too few chips in his hand. Seris has nothing to impress the Arante Empire, so it is impossible to swallow the fat. The fruits of victory.

As for going against Arrant's will? Prime Minister Clark didn't even think about the fact that Arante had a million army, and crushing a small city lord was definitely a matter of hand.

Strider was "sent" out of the residence of Prime Minister Arante by the guards. He was pushed out of the gate and looked at the men waiting outside, bowing his head and wondering what to do.

He spent all the gold coins he had brought, but failed to complete the task assigned to him by City Lord Chris. This is a shameful thing and also a painful thing.

The ensuing problem is the most intractable. Arante will send a new city lord to take over Meyn and Ferry. The victory of Seris will become meaningless. The danger of the Four World Wars will continue. The ambition of the city lord Will become a joke...

You have no face to meet people! With a long sigh from the bottom of my heart, Strider was frustrated and silent, but at this moment he suddenly heard a familiar voice: "Huh? Isn't this Mr. Strider? Why are you here?"

Hearing someone calling himself, Strider raised his head and just saw the young man in front of him. He immediately bent over and greeted him: "Mr. Desaier...I...I came here on the order of my adult. of."

"Look for Prime Minister Clark to do business?" Desaiel laughed twice without smiling, then looked at Strider's face, which was full of gloom, and said with a smile: "It's not cheap to enter this gate, presumably. Did Mr. Tread’s business fail?"

"Yes, the Prime Minister did not agree to our request..." Strider grabbed the last straw and said, "But this is very important to us."

"Let's talk about it!" Dessell stepped forward two steps, leaning to Strider's side.

Strider leaned close to Dessier's ears, and after a few minutes of muttering, Dessier's eyes lit up immediately: "You mean... Mayne, there is a ferry?"

"Yes!" Strider nodded and admitted: "Yesterday, the carrier pigeon caught up with my team, my lord... the soldiers have entered the ferry."

"Ha!" Desaiel snorted excitedly, then reached out and patted Strider on the shoulder, grinning: "Leave it to me, since Lord Chris gave me such a surprise. , I naturally want to give Master Chris a reply! Wait for me here!"

After speaking, he walked into the residence of the Prime Minister with his hands back. The guard at the door didn't seem to have seen such a gorgeously dressed young man walk in, and no one came up to stop him.

"Desaier! I know that the Longtaite family has a lot of business, but you just let the empire sit down on the disputes on the border territory. Is it a bit too broad?" Prime Minister Clark heard that he came to see him. Desaier had also come to the end of the battle at Mayne's Ferry, and yelled with an unhappy expression.

After a pause, he continued to say in a majestic tone: "What's more, you don't represent the Longtaite family, right? Interfering with the empire's government affairs, don't you think you are a little bit clueless to advance or retreat?"

"Master Clark!" Desaier did not come from the country, and the extravagance in front of him had no effect on him. He smiled and waited for Clark to finish speaking, then took out a piece of paper and handed it forward: "I know your time is not cheap, but we can talk slowly."

A maid walked in front of Desaiel, took the shimmering brown paper, and shivered at the number on it. Then the maid lowered her head and put the large gold coupon common to the upper class of the empire on the table next to Prime Minister Clark.

Clark glanced at the number above and saw the 4D character after five, and a smile appeared on his cold face: "The Long Tate family is really rich and invincible. Prime Minister Ben is willing to talk more with the young people, you all go down! "

After retreating left and right, the hall appeared to be quite empty, and Desaier said, "This war on the border was fought under my instigation. So, don't you think it's weird now, my lord?"

"The Longtaite family intervened in the war between Seris and Mayne and the ferry? What are you planning?" The prime minister motioned to Desai to sit down and replied.

"Benefits!" Dessier leaned on the chair and replied in a comfortable position: "Mayne invades Seres, and needs weapons and equipment! Serris wants to resist Mayne's attack, but also weapons and equipment, no matter which one of them wins. Now, the Longtaite family will get the benefits."