Chapter 533 Bargaining

Prince Mikhail's request was simply too difficult for others to accept. Naturally, it was impossible for Li Xiao and Alexei to agree, but this old fox was not easy to dismiss. How could he give up after discovering the advantages of the new rifle? To scoop up a handful of wool.

"If there are no 100,000, at least 50,000 will be given!"

The old fox's tone was very tough, as if it was completely non-negotiable. It's just that his demeanor can bluff others, but it can't bluff Li Xiao.

"Let's not talk about 50,000, there are not even 5,000! If you must, we can consider giving you three to five hundred!"

Prince Mikhail immediately blew his beard and stared: "What's the use of five hundred, fifty thousand, and one less will do!"

Li Xiao was not polite, and went back directly: "Three hundred, and there is no more. Do you want it or not? If not, we just keep it for ourselves. It just so happens that we don't have enough for ourselves!"

Duke Mikhail was so angry with Li Xiao that he wanted to teach someone a good lesson when he came up, so Alexei could only jump out to "smooth the field". He told Duke Mikhail:

"Uncle, it's not that we are stingy. The production of new rifles is very troublesome. We in Wallachia can't even do a full refit. How can we get tens of thousands of them for you?"

However, Duke Mikhail refused to give up, and angrily accused: "That's your problem, why didn't such a good weapon be produced more in advance, and now it can only be cramped, this is your work mistake I can only blame you!"

It's just that before he finished speaking, Li Xiao yelled back at him: "Blame us? We contacted you last year and asked you to quickly buy machine tools from abroad and hire more engineers to produce new rifles. But how did you answer? Yes, I won’t agree to anything! Well, now that I’ve discovered the benefits of new guns, I’m still ashamed? Let me tell you clearly that there aren’t so many new guns in use, and it’s all your fault, who told you to be stingy!”

Now Prince Mikhail really can't say anything, because he did reject Li Xiao's request, because at that time he had the same idea as Leonid, and both felt that the rifles produced before were advanced enough. It's just a broken gun, no matter how advanced and easy to use, where can it go?

Rather than spending so much wronged money, it's better to put it in your pocket and be comfortable. At that time, he rejected Li Xiao's suggestion without even thinking about it. Who would have thought that he would be dumbfounded now!

But he still refused to give up, and said stubbornly: "I don't listen to your nonsense, I just want a new gun, no matter what you do, you must prepare enough for me! Otherwise, you are the only ones asking!"

Li Xiao suddenly became angry,

He replied unceremoniously: "We are the only ones asking? Then you can ask. Anyway, there are at most three hundred, and there will be no more!"

Li Xiao's toughness made Duke Mikhail helpless, because he really couldn't turn against Li Xiao and the others. Once he turned against him, Wallachia would definitely not buy him, let alone three hundred new ones. Gun, I'm afraid there won't be a single one, and Leonid will definitely be driven away again.

He still has too much work to do in the future that requires the cooperation of Wallachia, and he will lose the most if he turns his face.

But Li Xiao's attitude is too irritating. He is also a Duke and a Field Marshal, so he doesn't give him any face. This damn is too crazy!

In the end, Alexei stood up to smooth things over: "Uncle, it's not that we deliberately didn't cooperate with you, but that we really couldn't get it out. And even if we could get it out, you can't afford it!"

Prince Mikhail was taken aback for a moment, then smiled contemptuously and said, "Can't use it? You underestimate me too much! How much is 50,000 rifles? Even if they are twice as expensive as old-style rifles, there are only a few money?"

Li Xiao immediately sneered, and said sarcastically: "I'm really not afraid to tell you that the price of the new rifle is ten times that of the old rifle, twice as expensive? You have underestimated the technical cost too much! In addition, I'm not afraid to tell you, do you need to buy it?" It doesn’t just mean that you can’t afford guns, the price of ammunition is also not cheap, 50,000 new rifles are enough for your gray animals to take off your pants!”

The unbelieving Duke Mikhail immediately asked about the price of the ammunition, but after Alexei reported the number, his face immediately changed. The price was indeed a bit exaggerated, and he really couldn't afford it!

"Why is it so expensive!" Prince Mikhail asked in surprise and angrily.

"Isn't copper worth money? Don't the equipment needed to produce new ammunition be depreciated without loss? If you think it's expensive, continue to grab it with flintlocks, that's cheap!"

Faced with Li Xiao's sarcasm of Duke Mikhail, he was really speechless. He found that the difference between the war and his youth was getting bigger and bigger. At that time, the fusiliers might have been decades ago. Compared with a hundred years ago, there is not much technological progress.

But now, in just three to five years, new weapons and new equipment have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, and their lethality and power far exceed that of the past. The battlefield experience and tactics summed up in the past hundred years are becoming more and more outdated.

Duke Mikhail is very suspicious. In a few years, a veteran like him may not be able to adapt to the new battlefield environment at all, so he can only retire honestly.

Thinking of this, Prince Mikhail sighed: "Okay, get me a thousand new-style rifles, I will use them to test the actual combat effect, and test new tactics by the way. It's not worth it!"

To be honest, even if it was a thousand Li Xiao didn't want to give it. In the end, Alexey stopped him and agreed to Duke Mikhail's request.

"One thousand is a bit much, but it's still a little bit of face for the old man. Maybe we'll have to rely on him in the future?"

Li Xiao knew why Alexei said that. The reason was very simple. Recently, they had offended Count Uvarov and Grand Duke Constantine in succession, although they all had enough reasons to pass the test smoothly. But those two are by no means good enemies, and there will definitely be troubles in the future.

But now that the war is imminent, no one can guarantee that there will be no accidents, and Nicholas I obviously will not favor his side, and I am afraid that he will be very passive by then.

And if Duke Mikhail can help to say good things and share a little pressure, then they can relax a lot. Giving him a thousand rifles for this is considered a good relationship.

It's just that although Li Xiao can understand it, he still thinks that Alexei is too easy to talk, and he must not be soft-hearted when dealing with these old foxes, otherwise these old and disrespectful guys will try their best to come here to take advantage. But there is no shame at all, and you will never be soft when you take advantage of it!