Chapter 386 Is It Outdated Equipment?

General Winter looked at Charles expectantly, with a hint of fear in his eyes.

He couldn't imagine what Britain would do if Charles answered "no"!

Force Charles to hand over the technology?

Not to mention that Britain didn't have the power, the French government and citizens were not fools. They would stand on Charles' side on this issue, even Joffre and Schneider were no exception.

Then, Britain could only admit that it was lagging behind!

This was no small matter for Britain, the world's number one. Her prestige would collapse in an instant, and she would not even be able to control her colonies.

Fortunately, this did not happen. Charles nodded slightly: "It can be sold to foreign countries as long as the price is right."

General Winter breathed a sigh of relief, and then asked impatiently: "Of course, Brigadier General. We won't let you down at the right price."

Although he said this, he was a little disappointed with Charles in his heart. Didn't he know that this could curb Britain's trump card? Or did he simply treat Britain as an ally and never be on guard? Or did he not know how to take advantage of this?

Charles thought for a while and said, "You know, General, we are short of large-caliber howitzers."

General Winter understood instantly, and nodded and replied, "No problem, we can exchange it with 6-inch 30-cwt howitzers."

Charles looked at General Winter coldly and said nothing.

General Winter understood and immediately changed his words: "It's not just artillery, it's a production line, Brigadier General. A whole production line, and there are also supporting skilled workers..."

Charles interrupted General Winter: "Although we are friends, General, it doesn't mean that I will make major concessions in business. You should know the performance of the 'Camel' fighter. It is the most advanced fighter in the world, and you plan to replace it with an outdated artillery?"

Charles sat up straight and said expressionlessly: "You can go back, General, we are wasting time!"

"No, no!" General Winter hurriedly stopped Charles: "We have artillery, the latest artillery, we haven't even equipped ourselves yet, it is developed for the German 105MM howitzer!"

Charles said "um" and sat back in his chair.

General Winter said helplessly: "It is a 6-inch 26-cwt howitzer. We currently have only three production lines, with a monthly output of about 18 guns..."

(The above picture shows the caliber of the British 6-inch 26-cwt howitzer. 26 cwt means that the barrel and the breech of the gun weigh 26 cwt, about 1,300 kg. This gun was one of the main guns of the British Army in World War I. It was developed in 1915 and put into service at the end of the year)

Charles knew this gun. Although its range is not as good as the German 105 howitzer, it has a range of only 10.4 kilometers when firing lightweight ammunition (39 kg), but it has a large caliber and sufficient charge, and its power is much greater than that of the German 105 howitzer. In addition to suppressing the 105 howitzer, it can also easily destroy barbed wire and bunkers.

If it fires heavy ammunition (45 kg), it will be even more of a "bunker killer". In addition, it can also fire fuel bombs and smoke bombs, which can be called a versatile battlefield.

"I need five production lines." Charles' tone was unquestionable: "Complete within two months!"

"This, this is impossible, Brigadier General." General Winter looked at Charles in shock: "This means that the British army will have no artillery available for quite a long time!"

This is not selling, but handing over the whole deal.

It requires the whole country of Britain to build it for Charles, and even dismantle its own production line and send it to France.

Charles stood up again and made a move to leave. General Winter panicked and hurried forward to stop Charles: "Let me think about it. Everything can be discussed."

Charles answered very straightforwardly: "Either the plane or the artillery. The Camel plane cannot be exchanged for anything. If it could be exchanged, you would not be sitting here to talk to me, right?"

Then Charles added: "Sorry, General, I must distinguish between public and private matters."

"Of course." General Winter nodded to show his understanding. He thought for a while and said: "I have to at least ask London for instructions."

Charles nodded: "You should do so."

General Winter shook hands with Charles and left, frowning and thinking all the time, as if thinking about how to report to his superiors.

Charles walked back to the headquarters. Tijani was sitting in his chair signing documents. He asked casually: "Is there a problem?"

"No." Charles replied calmly: "He just came to discuss business."

Tijani nodded with an "Oh".

The business that can make General Winter so nervous must be related to military equipment.

What is it? He was a little curious.

Suddenly, Tijani stopped what he was doing, looked up at Charles with a serious face: "Is he here to buy a new fighter plane?"

This is not difficult to guess. Britain is an island country. The only things that can make her nervous are warships and fighter planes, because only they will pose a threat to Britain.

Warships are impossible. Britain is always the first, and Charles cannot change this.

Then there are only fighter planes, Charles' new fighter planes.

Charles didn't say anything, which was considered as tacit agreement.

"You are not going to sell it to them, are you?" Tijani asked again, his face became very ugly.

"Why not?" Charles asked back: "As long as the price is right."

Tijani stood up with shock and anger in his eyes: "Are you crazy? That's the Camel, the most advanced fighter plane. With it, we can even crush the whole of Britain, and you are going to sell it to her!"

What Tijani said was not an exaggeration, especially in this era when there was basically no air defense equipment.

France could use the Camel fighter to compete for British air superiority, and then use the Caproni bomber to bomb the British mainland, bombing wherever it wanted, as long as the flight range allowed.

By then, how could Britain still have the face to say that it was the world's number one power?

Charles half-jokingly asked back: "Are you going to fight with Britain?"

"No, that's not what I mean." Tijani was a little panicked, and he explained with his hands and feet: "I mean, we have such strength, it will put some pressure on Britain, and we can use it to gain the right to speak. This is politics and diplomacy, Charles!"

Charles smiled and nodded at Tijani. Another advantage of Tijani is that he understands some international geopolitics, which may be related to his background.

One day in the future, maybe he can be responsible for international business.

Tijani understood something from Charles' expression: "You know this, right?"

"Yes." Charles did not deny it.

"Then why are you still..."

"It's very simple." Charles answered calmly: "First, I need to use Britain to defeat my domestic opponents. Second, we are selling outdated equipment, General, so there is no need to worry too much."

Tijani stared at Charles with wide eyes: "Outdated equipment? You mean the 'Camel', which is outdated equipment?"