058 A crazy salty part-time job (2)
After packing up his backpack in the Falklands again, Lee Hwan headed to the Netherlands with the mercenaries.
After some time, Lee Hwan, who arrived in the Netherlands, had no choice but to be surprised.
The port of Amsterdam was much more glamorous than before, hydraulic lifters and diesel tow trucks were actively working in the port, and new light bulbs installed by East Stella were installed everywhere and boasting a splendid light.
All of this was thanks to the East Stellar Company.
Also, recently, the Netherlands was enjoying its second heyday based on the roads paved by East Stella.
Wagons running on the highway were able to arrive at their destination 10 times faster than before, and as lights were installed on the road, they could run at night as if in broad daylight.
As a result, the number of people using the highway gradually increased every year, and it was growing enough to account for more than half of Europe’s trade goods in one year.
Even now, the East Stella Company was continuously drilling roads under orders from the Dutch royal family, and was drilling roads in the north, south, east, and west of France, Germany, and Spain.
In addition, they have been requesting quotations, saying they want to win orders for highways to the Scandinavian Peninsula, Eastern Europe, and Russia.
After returning from overseas for over a year, Lee Hwan received a request for quotation from 12 European countries.
Lee Hwan, who had recovered from toxic poison in just two days in Rietterkirk, was informed of the contents of the request for quotation.
“We have been offering a £7.5 million project estimate for a one-way project from Paris to Amsterdam. Considering that our company offered the Dutch royal family a total of £14 million for the two-line round-trip, it can be seen that the overpayment has almost doubled.”
“The premium continues to rise.”
“This is because the demand is so explosive and only East Stellar has the technology to pave the road. Patent applications have already been filed in the UK and the Netherlands, and even if the technology is leaked, it will be impossible to imitate it. Can’t we just build a factory and heavy equipment with this much infrastructure?”
“It’s worth the hard work we’ve worked so far.”
“Everything that the president has devised is only now recognized for its value. Now you don’t have to worry about money, as projects worth over £10 million keep pouring in.”
It was truly an invitation.
However, this was only the beginning, and no one could have predicted what would happen if trains and automobiles were commercialized in the future.
But there was even better news.
That is, a legal system was created in which the Dutch army purchased new firearms and leased old firearms to various parts of Europe.
“The Dutch government has agreed to introduce a leasing system. Only older firearms can now be leased. In addition, the Dutch government has announced its intention to purchase new artillery and powered ships.”
“Fufu, okay? It’s going our way.”
“However, if there is one problem, what position do we take in relations between the United States, Mexico and Spain?”
The United States and Mexico had just entered into a territorial dispute, and Spain was also causing war due to frequent friction with the United States.
If the United States, Mexico, and Spain were at war at the same time, East Stella would be in a really awkward position in the middle.
“Our North American settlement in East Stella is strictly Mexican territory, and if Mexico goes to war with the United States, we are in a very awkward position in the middle.”
“You’re in an awkward position.”
“If we provide arms to the United States, they will say they will push our base out of Mexico, and if we provide arms to Mexico, it will be really difficult to cross the Atlantic. The same goes for Spain. The return route from the Atlantic to the Netherlands through the Bay of Biscay may not be available.”
It was the idea of East Stellar’s management that it could be a difficult position in diplomatic relations.
Lee Hwan also thought that if he did something wrong, the relationship could be so messed up.
But it would all depend on what Lee Hwan did.
“It all comes down to thinking. What would happen if the three countries were to enter an arms race?”
“An arms race?”
“First, we supply weapons to the United States. Then, if you come from Mexico to protest, then you can sell them guns.”
“But for Mexico, the financial situation is not going to be that good.”
“If you don’t have money, tell them to buy the land. Is it okay then?”
“iced coffee! earth!”
“The same goes for Spain. If you’re upset, tell him to buy a gun. And if you don’t have the money, tell them to sell the land. Is it okay then?”
“But if war breaks out… … .”
“Are they going to declare war on us, our allies, because they are crazy?”
“Well, it is. Britain is the most powerful country.”
“Besides, in recent years the Dutch army has grown to the point that few countries in Europe can win. Now, if you just show a little bit of that power, the board is turned upside down.”
“There are still rumors circulating about the power of our guns. The flagship of the Spanish Governor-General’s fleet exploded in one shot. Did you have a naval battle the other day?”
“We tested the performance of the cannon.”
“That’s why it seems that Spain is slowly showing reluctance to the Netherlands.”
No matter how powerful a weapon is, it is of no use without people who know its power.
Thanks to the pirate ship Hana Lee Hwan exploded with a part-time job, the Netherlands was emerging as a feared object in Europe.
“Did you say you wanted to buy a powered ship from the Dutch royal family?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then, before going through the launch ceremony, let’s test the power first.”
Lee Hwan decided to properly demonstrate the power of the East Stella gun, which has been discussed as a mystery in Europe.
But I was curious about the price.
“By the way, how much did you buy it for?”
“They want to buy one for £1.5 million each.”
“… … Huh.”
“If you think it’s too cheap, I’ll ask for more.”
It was an unbelievable price.
However, this was the current state of the era led by wooden ships.
***
A month later, East Stella handed over to the Dutch government six battleships that had been stockpiled by Yi Hwan.
The Dutch government received £9 million in cash from East Stella, an amount that even the UK Treasury would find difficult.
In fact, some time ago, he expressed his somewhat uncomfortable feelings in England.
The UK is a country that runs on the gold standard, so if you take 9 million pounds from East Stellar and ask them to exchange it for gold, you have to change it.
So while Dutch giant East Stellar swept up the pound, it would continue to be impatient.
But here too the Dutch calculation was hidden.
The fact that they were paid in full in British pounds, not wheelers, was demonstrating that their economic power was that great.
Thanks to this, Yi Hwan was able to stock up an enormous amount of the current reserve currency, and now it is possible to reinvest it.
While guiding six battleships, Lee Hwan prepared a small event.
It was a performance test in which a wooden ship was floated off the coast of Amsterdam and destroyed by firing it with the main battery gun.
Not only King Willem I, but also Dutch nobles, gentries, and even foreign ministers participated in the test of Yi Hwan’s destructive power.
Lee Hwan gave each spectator a telescope, which would allow them to watch the destruction of a target 10 km away.
Of course, if you did, you would only see soaring flames and tiny dotted shards, but people were sure to be startled by that alone.
Lee Hwan boarded the ‘Royal Netherlands’, the flagship of the six ships delivered to the Dutch Navy.
He also boarded the mercenaries that he led, and these days, these days, when the water rises, they go up and shoot.
While everyone was watching, Lee Hwan gave the order to fire.
“Sink a wooden boat 10 km ahead. Fire all batteries and high explosives at once.”
“Double-track 10km ahead in the direction of the port, all batteries fired with high explosives!”
ding ding!
After the bell rang three times, a red flag was raised from the deck.
A red flag indicates preparation to fire, and a green flag will be raised on each ship when preparation is complete.
Lee Hwan smiled softly.
‘Everyone will be very surprised and go black.’
Before the new weapon of East Stellar, which had been circulating only as a rumor until now, started to spit fire, a report came up to Lee Hwan.
“Commander, we are ready to fire.”
“Fire all at once.”
“Yes, I understand! All artillery fires all at once!”
At his command, the entire fleet fired six main battery guns at his command.
Bubb bubbly!
A huge fire and aftershock overwhelmed the crowd, and people just kept their mouths wide open.
After a while, the shells flew through the sea and hit the target at the end of a smooth flight.
Kwagwagwagwang!
The high explosives fired all at once shattered a large ship.
Although he couldn’t hear the cheers of the crowd because he was outside the safe distance, Lee Hwan watched them with a telescope in surprise.
‘Whoah, everyone is half crazy.’
With this level of destructive power, it would be no problem at all to receive the surrender of the enemy by bombarding the ground from the sea.
However, there were many things that Lee Hwan had not shown them yet.
“Are there any other necklines left?”
“There are four more.”
“Are they all retired wooden ships?”
“It’s trash among junk.”
“Okay, float them all.”
“Yes, I understand.”
In this era, even an old wooden ship received a fairly generous price once it floated in the sea, so destroying it itself was quite burdensome.
However, from today on, Lee Hwan did not care much because he would dominate all the shipbuilding markets around the world.
After a while, Lee Hwan ordered his lieutenants to launch a series of shots.
“As soon as the wooden ship is ready, it hits the target at full rate of fire.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“As long as the barrel can withstand it, we will continue to fire.”
The firing speed of the guns was comparable to that of the cartridge rifle Lee Hwan currently possessed, which was a disaster for a battleship equipped with regular cannons.
Then the green flag came up.
“Fire in bursts.”
“Fire in a continuum! launch!”
Bubb bubbly!
When fire was blown into the muzzle, the shells flew all at once and hit the target without fail.
And the continuous shooting at a tremendous speed.
Lee Hwan looked at the reaction of the audience with a telescope.
“Huhu, everyone doesn’t know how to open and close their mouths.”
It seemed that the shipyard had to be expanded.