Chapter 126: The British Blackmail

  "Hmm." Gaoyang nodded noncommittally. Looking at the busy workers in thick work uniforms rushing about in the factory area, the tall chimneys spewing out black clouds into the pure sky, Gaoyang felt a little dizzy.

  "This is the cornerstone of a modern country." Gao Yang said with emotion.

  "Recall your mind, turn around and face Wu Jieye with a deep voice: 'Steel is the skeleton of industry, only with steel can there be modern industry! Any technical data from this steel plant is not allowed to leak out! The security work in the factory must be done thoroughly, anyone with ulterior motives must be strictly investigated, do you understand?'"

  "Yes, sir." As an excellent iron and steel industry engineer, Wu Jiye was amazed at the technical level of this steel plant! He also deeply understood that these technologies must not be leaked out.

  "Especially the Japanese!" Gao Yang's eyebrows slightly raised, paused for a moment and continued "No Japanese is allowed to approach the steel plant. Also, I will buy another batch of equipment for the steel plant soon, you need to prepare for the second phase expansion. The country needs steel, needs a lot of steel!"

  "Yes, General." Wu Jiye hastily replied.

  Gaoyang left the steel mill with a satisfied face and went straight to the power plant for inspection.

  The personnel responsible for daily operation and maintenance in the power plant, except for biochemical warriors, are basically professional workers trained from Feng County Power Plant.

  The confidentiality level here is higher than that of a steel plant! The equipment is too advanced for this era, and everything here is a secret that cannot be leaked. The security work inside the power plant is all handled by the garrison troops!

  The power plant operates normally, in addition to providing electricity to various factories, it is also responsible for providing living electricity to surrounding cities. Next to the power plant, a brand new substation has been built, which will transmit powerful electrical energy to where it is needed!

  Gaoyang mainly inspected the daily operation and worker training in the power plant. In the future, the country's electricity demand will gradually increase, Gaoyang can buy many electrical equipment with money, but skilled technical workers cannot be bought. The cost of biochemical warriors is too high, Gaoyang no longer wants to waste energy points in this space-time.

  Gao Yang returned to the Inspector's Mansion before dinner. Without eating in the mansion, he instructed the guards to refuse any disturbances and then directly returned to modern times.

  Ko Yang's life recently has been spending his days in the 1925 timeline handling various official duties, inspecting industrial facilities and troops. At night, he would be in the modern timeline dating Zheng Xiujing and resting in his own apartment.

  When talking to his parents on the phone, they told him to take good care of his girlfriend. Don't worry about them, just take care of yourself.

  Time flies quickly, and a few days later, Gao Yang met Sir Makepeace in the Garrison Command of Magic Capital.

  After a simple greeting, Gao Yang, dressed in his military uniform, sat down on the chair, lit a cigarette and asked indifferently, "Mr. Ambassador, what brings you here today?" The simple words carried an overwhelming aura of superiority!

  After signing the supplement protocol in Magic Capital, Gao Yang, who was renowned for his prestige, was promoted to General of the Army by Duan Zhengyi!

  The man sitting at the bottom of the stairs, a jazz-like face with a mustache, flashed an unnatural expression on his face, and the big mustache on his lips twitched slightly. Gaoyang felt very uncomfortable about him.

  However, as a professional diplomat, Mak quickly composed himself and put on a smile, saying "Mr. Gao, I've come this time to discuss the military procurement contract you signed with our government."

  "Huh? Didn't we already reach an agreement? What's there to discuss?" Gao Yang leaned back in his chair, a puzzled expression on his face.

  Mack's jazz mouth twitched, and he thought to himself "The contract is signed, but where's the money?! The government, navy, and those shipyard owners are all waiting for your payment!"

  After adjusting his mood, Mack, with a professional smile on his face, said "Mr. Gao, when can you settle the military procurement payment?"

  "Oh, that?" Gao Yang exhaled a ring of smoke, his expression indifferent. "The goods haven't even arrived yet. You want me to pay first? That's not reasonable, is it?"

  "Mr. Gao!" The face of the British consul suddenly fell, and he said in a deep voice, "Do you want to challenge the tolerance of the British Empire? If you refuse to pay, the British Empire will definitely make you pay a terrible price!"

  "Haha." Gao Yang chuckled lightly. Collecting his expression, he narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a cold tone, "I didn't mean to challenge the British Empire. However..."

  Gao Yang paused for a moment. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he continued, "When you buy something, you have to pay for it, this is a principle that everyone knows. However, as for the amount outside of the contract, I won't give a single cent!"

  Gao Yang was referring to the British proposal for door-to-door delivery. Originally, Gao Yang had already agreed to the British request and was willing to pay an additional fee of over 15 million pounds to have the warships delivered.

  However! The British changed their tone one day after receiving Gao Yang's reply, and every day they asked Gao Yang to increase the transportation fee for different reasons!

  What warship long-distance travel needs to add maintenance costs, what recent coal price increases need to add fuel costs, what Royal Navy officers and men are unwilling to leave their hometown for a long time need to add officer and soldier subsidies.

  The most ridiculous thing is that the last time Mack's jazz came to visit Gao Yang, he said that because the fleet needs to pass through the English Channel, additional strait passage fees are required!

  Gao Yang was amused by him at that time, this kind of reason can be found by your sister, you are too shameless, right? This is really treating oneself as a big fool, do the British devils think their money is falling from the sky?

  Gao Yang, who was annoyed, directly gave Ma Ke a cold shoulder and refused to see him for three consecutive days.

  After drying out for three days, Gao Yang was ready to have a good talk with him today. Unexpectedly, Makelai Jue Shi actually used intimidation?

  Gao Yang's mouth corners slightly curled up, with a sarcastic tone said "The British Empire is indeed very powerful, I don't want to provoke the British Empire. However, if you want to use this way to extort me..."

  Gao Yang slightly narrowed his eyes, a hint of anger flashing in his gaze as he said coldly, "Then let's fight! I really want to see if your country's government still has the strength to go through another Boer War!"

  In modern British society, I'd be powerless. For now, I can only endure with a low profile. But in this time and space, with my own power, why should I fear you, an old lion with nothing but an empty shell?

  Mack's face stiffened instantly. In fact, deep down in his heart, he was also dissatisfied with the greed of those bureaucrats at home.

  This military procurement contract is already very profitable, now what needs to be done is to complete this transaction as soon as possible! What's the point of several hundred thousand pounds being spent up until now?

  If such a huge deal was really ruined because of this kind of thing, the British Empire would become a laughing stock for the whole world!

  Mackenzie King's previous threat to Gaoyang was just a bluff, and after the British Empire had been ruthlessly ravaged by the European war, neither its financial capabilities nor the surging anti-war sentiment at home could support another expedition across tens of thousands of miles!

  This country is not Wales, and Gaoyang is not a Boer! The British Empire can't even fight now!

  Seeing that intimidation didn't work, Ambassador MacArthur hastily changed his attitude. His facial expression changed rapidly, and with a sincere face, he said, "Mr. Gao, I think there must be some misunderstanding between us. What are your requirements? Please tell me, and I will immediately inform my government."

  He glanced at him sideways, extinguished the cigarette and said lightly "Starting from tomorrow, within 30 days, deliver all my ships completely! I'll pay ￡1.5 million in freight, and for every day exceeded, I'll deduct ￡100,000! If it exceeds 10 days, the transaction will be cancelled, no big deal if I don't buy them!"

  "Ah...!" Mackenzie's eyes widened in shock, and he hastily stood up to say something. Gao Yang waved his hand to interrupt him and said in a deep voice, "This is my request! If you can do it, then do it; if not, then don't say anything else! I still have things to attend to, no need to see me out." After finishing speaking, Gao Yang picked up the teacup from the tea table.

  Mack-like jazz stretched his mouth and stared blankly at Gao Yang, who was lowering his head to drink tea. He let out a slight sigh, bowed, and turned around to leave.

  Watching Ma Ke leave with his back view, Gao Yang put down his teacup and hummed "The British Empire? Hmph!"

  The news was quickly relayed back to the UK and Prime Minister Baldwin immediately convened a meeting of senior government officials at 10 Downing Street.

  "How are we going to respond to Gao Yang's request?" Prime Minister Baldwin said in a low voice, looking at the cabinet members.

  A heavily bearded Field Marshal Kent slammed his fist on the table and bellowed, "How dare this despicable little man threaten the great British Empire? We should teach him a lesson! Let him learn to respect the British Empire!"

  The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Churchill, who was sitting on one side puffing a cigar, sneered and said, "How to teach? Send troops? Who pays for the military expenses? Does Your Excellency plan to donate your estate?"

  Kitchener's face turned red with rage as he thundered, "You are the Chancellor of the Exchequer! The cost of the expedition will certainly be borne by you! Is the great British Empire so impoverished that it cannot afford to send a few troops to teach a lesson to some native chief? What kind of Chancellor of the Exchequer are you?"

  He puffed on his cigar, and with a scornful look at the aged Field Marshal, Churchill sneered, "Marshal, you really are right! The great British Empire indeed does not have the military expenses to dispatch troops! That Gao Yang is no ordinary native! He possesses vast territories, has enormous prestige in that country, and commands tens of millions of well-equipped and well-trained soldiers - a mighty military leader!"

  He took a deep breath and continued, "This is not 1840! It's not an era where dispatching dozens of warships with thousands of soldiers can conquer a backward country! To wage war against such a powerful entity would require mobilizing troops and the cost of sending them to distant battlefields would be enough to immediately bankrupt the great British Empire!!!"