I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 182 Tank Cannon

Chapter 182: Chapter 182 Tank Cannon

Ritz Hotel meeting room, Steed had the produced mortars moved to the display table in the meeting room.

Steed had to put in some effort for this.

The display table was wooden, originally intended for placing small samples for explanation to the meeting guests. However, the mortars Steed brought weighed 47 kilograms and required more space, clearly making the display table unable to support them.

Steed immediately called the hotel manager and had the display table replaced with a sturdier table. He also had a sandbag placed against the base to make it satisfactory.

Before Shire arrived, he made some preparations and changed into casual clothes this time to avoid attracting attention like last time.

However, Shire found the layers of casual clothes quite awkward, and he even felt somewhat unaccustomed to them.

As he walked into the meeting room, Steed immediately greeted him with a smile. He politely led Shire to the display table, with a tone of pride, "I hope it satisfies you, Shire!"

Shire looked the mortar up and down for a while and asked, "How far can it shoot?"

"731 meters!" Steed responded with precise data, "Although the accuracy is not high, it can fire 25 shells per minute, just as you estimated!"

Shire nodded with satisfaction, "This is exactly what I wanted, Mr. Steed."

Then Shire added, "I need a complete set of standardized operating procedures, and at least 10 skilled artillerymen to operate it. These artillerymen will become instructors to train others!"

"Of course," Steed replied, looking somewhat excited.

This is the standard process for new equipment to go into battle and into the army. However, the Saint-Étienne Arsenal had not developed new equipment for so long that the process was almost forgotten.

Now, it beckoned to Steed like the soldiers of Triumph, and there would be more in the future.

"Additionally," Shire turned his gaze to Steed, "I should thank you for your help in Britain last time!"

"No, no, it was what I should do," Steed replied, "I’m honored, Shire. If there’s anything you need in the future, I’d be very happy to help!"

This was his sincere words. If he couldn’t even do this, it wouldn’t count as an alliance at all.

Shire nodded without any politeness towards Steed anymore.

As he sat down, Dejoka took out blueprints from his briefcase and handed them to Steed.

"This is the new equipment I need!" Shire said.

Steed took the blueprints excitedly, but as he flipped through them, his smile gradually disappeared and was replaced by a look of puzzlement.

"This is..." Steed looked up at Shire, with a slightly embarrassed expression.

"You see it, this is a cannon!" Shire’s tone was calm.

"Yes, but..." Steed’s expression was strange. After hesitating for a moment, he solemnly said, "Shire, do you have doubts about Saint-Étienne’s technology?"

"No!" Shire shook his head and asked, "Why would you think that?"

"Look at this cannon!" Steed picked up the blueprints, his face full of confusion, "It looks like a small water pipe!"

"Yes," Shire did not deny it, "The caliber is only 37MM."

"The length is only..." Steed looked at the blueprints, "Not even 1 meter. I even think it’s a gun!"

"This is what I need," Shire’s voice was not loud but very affirmative, "Can your arsenal produce it?"

"Of course!" Steed laughed, "But what use is it?"

Steed thought Shire would propose a large-caliber artillery this time, but it was still a small cannon. Its caliber was even much smaller than the 76MM mortar.

Are we going to challenge Schneider’s 105MM caliber howitzer with such a small cannon?

It’s ridiculous!

Steed even thought Shire was testing him again.

But Shire was serious.

"This is an artillery for infantry use, Mr. Steed," Shire explained, "Its function is similar to a mortar, but more as an assistance."

"What do you mean?" Steed was confused.

"A mortar is a curved-firing artillery, more suitable for hitting concealed positions," Shire said, "Like trenches, behind rocks."

"Yes, I know!" Steed nodded.

"But some targets need direct-firing artillery!" Shire glanced at the blueprints in Steed’s hand, "Like enemy bunkers and fortifications hidden in caves."

Steed suddenly realized, "Mortars can’t threaten such fortifications, but direct-firing artillery can easily destroy them!"

Shire nodded, his eyes always calm as water, without any ripples.

Steed turned his gaze back to the blueprints in his hand with interest, flipping through and saying, "So, it is still a mobile and portable artillery, am I understanding it correctly?"

"Yes, Mr. Steed," Shire answered serenely, "We can’t expect to compete with Schneider immediately. Schneider has many years of experience in producing artillery, and they have very mature technology. But..."

Steed nodded repeatedly in agreement, "But the army has some needs that Schneider hasn’t discovered. We can focus on these aspects, developing cannons they don’t have, so we can get ahead in certain fields!"

"Yes, this is my idea!" Shire responded.

Steed nodded slowly, looking at Shire with admiration, and said with appreciation, "Forgive my ignorance, Shire. You are right, not just in artillery but also in strategy against Schneider!"

Steed even felt a bit ashamed. He was already of age but far less composed compared to Shire.

Perhaps it was because Saint-Étienne had been declining for too long, and the long-repressed Steed finally saw hope and was desperate to make a stunning debut.

But Steed knew that real success lies in Shire’s meticulous, step-by-step approach.

Shire did not speak, as there were some things he did not tell Steed.

Steed thought he was developing a direct-firing infantry cannon, which indeed it was.

However, it was also a cannon that could be used on the Renault Tank!

Steed did not need to know this; it should be kept secret. It was best if the enemy only realized it had a cannon when the Renault Tank rolled onto the battlefield.

"There’s one more thing, Mr. Steed," Shire said, "About the media."

Steed nodded, "I was about to bring that up too. Your Merit Newspaper is obviously not suitable for clarifications, leave it to Little Daily!"

Dejoka asked anxiously, "What do you plan to clarify, Mr. Steed?"

Steed smiled lightly, "If we clarify, we lose. The price difference is there, and the more we explain, the worse it gets!"

"So, what should we do?" Dejoka leaned forward unconsciously, more concerned about this than the artillery.

"It’s simple!" Steed replied, "We just need to say what the extra money was spent on, Mr. Dejoka."

Seeing Dejoka still not understanding, Steed explained, "For example, the field hospital Shire has been funding."

Dejoka exclaimed, suddenly enlightened.

It was indeed a good idea. Instead of clarifying, they could easily reverse the situation and stir up another wave of patriotism!