Chapter 34 Transaction
Guan Jinpan's question was difficult for Ambrosius to answer.
The Chenla people used an old-fashioned matchlock gun from the 16th century, which was designed by the Portuguese at that time.
Now the major European powers have eliminated matchlocks, and even flintlock guns are being eliminated by more advanced percussion guns (usually called percussion guns).
Even in a backward country like Russia, the matchlock gun has been eliminated.
Matchlock guns are still used today, probably only in small states in Italy and Germany.
In fact, due to Ambrosius's knowledge, he believed that the matchlock had already withdrawn from the battlefield.
In fact, matchlocks are still very popular throughout Italy, except for the northern Italian region controlled by Austria.
During the Spanish Civil War during the same period, both sides were still equipped with a large number of matchlocks.
In the more backward Balkans, soldiers without matchlocks even had to equip themselves with cold weapons such as bows, arrows, and spears.
He picked up his rifle and retreated a hundred and fifty paces away.
"boom!"
With the sound of a gunshot, a watermelon shattered.
When it comes to cleaning, changing, applying medicine, and loading ammunition, Ambrosius is obviously much more skilled than the Zhenla Forbidden Army.
After all, in the Austrian Empire, with his status, he could practice shooting at will.
It took about half a minute for the second bullet to smash another watermelon 150 steps away.
Although Ambrosius had practiced a lot, he was not a professional shooter after all, but he thought this distance was enough to scare the arrogant Zhenra in front of him.
In fact, Ambrosius took advantage. He used a rifled gun. Although loading was slower, the shooting accuracy was much higher than that of a smoothbore gun.
At this time, Hongbufu was so surprised that he could not open his mouth from ear to ear. He knew that one hundred and fifty steps was three times the shooting range of the Zhenla Forbidden Army just now.
Even the best gunslinger in the Zhenla Forbidden Army couldn't hit two hits at this distance.
However, neither Hong Bufu nor Guan Jinpan realized that this was the difference in weapons, and immediately praised it.
"Amazing and miraculous skills! Amazing and miraculous skills! Magnificent! Lord Ambrosius, it really opened our eyes."
Ambrosius didn't quite understand, but he knew that the other party was very satisfied with his demonstration just now.
Ever since, Ambrosius had a new idea, which was to sell all the obsolete flintlocks of the Austrian Imperial Army to this group of people.
"Yes, this is the latest product of our Austrian Empire. With this gun, you can do it too. We are willing to trade with you. We not only have guns, but also artillery, and..."
Before Ambrosius finished speaking, he was interrupted by Guan Jinpan.
"Wait a minute, you mean you're just good at firearms? I don't believe it. Is there anyone in Austria who can shoot more accurately than you?"
"Of course, Captain Bilaphon. You show me."
Captain Bilafont was born as a chasseur, and his 1st Chasseur Battalion in Tyrol was the most powerful unit in Austria.
Billaphon, who was born as a civilian, can become an officer, so he naturally has abilities beyond ordinary people.
And shooting was one of his special skills. Bilaphon took the rifle and inspected it.
First he shot on the spot and hit a watermelon, then he took fifty steps back and shot a second time and hit a watermelon again, then another fifty steps, and then another fifty steps.
4 out of 4 shots, from a distance of up to 300 steps, made Hongbufu unable to believe his eyes. He was born in the military and naturally understood what kind of powerful strength this was.
If the Forbidden Army under him has this kind of strength and is equipped with 5,000 rifles, there is nothing to fear even if Vietnam sends 100,000 troops.
Guan Jinpan also knew from Hong Bufu's expression that this firearm was crucial to the Forbidden Army.
"How much money does a gun like this cost?"
"Fifty taels." This was a price Ambrosius thought was reasonable based on intelligence.
However, Ambrosius forgot that the unspoken rule of Eastern officialdom was to ask for high prices and pay back the money.
"Twenty taels." Guan Jinpan replied without blushing or heartbeat.
But he knew he was making a lot of money.
Because the guns sold by the Qing Dynasty to the Vietnamese cost thirty taels, while the French sold them to the Vietnamese for twenty-five taels.
The gun-making craftsmen of Zhenla had long been conscripted and taken away by the Vietnamese.
Now Chenla can only buy firecrackers from the Vietnamese at a high price, and the price of the firecrackers sold by the Vietnamese to Chenla's army is exactly fifty taels.
"The young man in front of me seems to know nothing about business. He should be able to win it with twenty-five taels." Guan Jinpan thought so, and his eyebrows were filled with joy.
Ambrosius realized that he was wrong and should not tell the other party the bottom line.
In fact, Father Pacini had already learned the price of the gunpowder sold by the Vietnamese to the Chenla army through the local Catholic secret network and informed Ambrosius.
But Ambrosius naively believed that as long as he named a reasonable price, the other party would immediately agree to the deal.
It seems that some of the income is going to be lost, so it must be made up from elsewhere.
"No, twenty taels is too little. Fifty taels is our bottom line. Our goods have to travel more than 20,000 kilometers to arrive."
"Then twenty-five taels, no more." Guan Jinpan made a sarcastic expression.
"Forty taels, you let us establish a supply point in Kampong Som Bay." Ambrosius took the opportunity to state his conditions and left room for Guan Jinpan.
"For twenty-five taels, I can not only help you set up a supply point at the seaside, but also allow you to meet members of the royal family." Guan Jinpan said.
"Is it His Majesty Anzan?" Ambrosius asked.
"No, it's our Princess of Zhenla." Guan Jinpan told him because he had to negotiate this business.
Because the Vietnamese rule is strengthening step by step, according to this situation, Vietnam will annex Chenla sooner or later.
As a great nobleman of Chenla, he is bound to be the primary target of elimination by the Vietnamese.
Even if he surrenders, the Vietnamese may not let him go.
From the reduction policy implemented by the Vietnamese, it is clear that the Vietnamese hope to completely disappear Chenla from the world.
The Siamese, like the Vietnamese, are both tigers and wolves and cannot be trusted.
Guan Jinpan is a wealthy family in Zhenla. There are thousands of people in the family. Even if he can escape, his family cannot escape.
Rather than being a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, it is better to give it a try.
The arrival of Ambrosius and his weapons at this time was like a life-saving straw for Guan Jinpan.
Most of the wealthy families in Chenla had the same idea. They secretly united, contacted the rebels, and secretly accumulated strength.
This is also an important reason why in history, after the Vietnamese Emperor Minh Ming executed the Anzan family, the large-scale anti-Vietnamese uprising in Chenla was able to continue.
"Thirty taels." Ambrosius's two goals for this trip have been achieved, and now he only hopes to earn more benefits for Austria.
"make a deal."