I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 248 A Difficult Start

The two Opium Wars were just the prelude to the carving up of the Qing Empire, and the suffering of the Qing Empire had just begun.

George didn't even need to target the Qing Empire, he could just follow other imperialist countries and take advantage. Those Europeans didn't understand Eastern culture at all, and George had many opportunities.

After a hundred years of humiliation, the Qing Empire lost countless things.

At least before the 21st century, art from the East was very cheap in the Western market and had low value.

Last year, George bought a set of sabers and long swords from the Qing Empire in Paris. It is said that they were leaked from the Qing royal family and were once used by the Qing emperor.

A set of 12 knives and swords cost George less than 1000 rubles.

George and Anne spent a pleasant week at Sigmaringen, and George did not return to St. Petersburg until Amy arrived at Sigmaringen with a detachment of female Cossack escorts.

These Cossack female escorts were sent by Catherine, and a dozen Korean maids arrived with the female escorts.

Anne did not object to Catherine's arrangement. After getting engaged to George, Anne was no longer the helpless orphan.

While George was in Germany, he still maintained contact with Vladivostok.

After the beginning of spring, the Trans-Siberian Railway was officially launched, with construction starting from Khabarovsk and Chelyabinsk at the same time.

Nikolay served as head of the Trans-Siberian Railway Commission, an appointment suggested by Witte.

Nicholas, who was born in 1868, has just turned 20 this year. It is said that he cannot hold such an important position. Ya San also expressed doubts about whether Nicholas is qualified.

Witt's attitude is very firm. He believes that age is not a problem. If Nikola is not given a chance to exercise, Nikola will never mature.

Asan adopted Werther's suggestion and appointed George as Nikolai's deputy.

Nikolay had no idea how to build a railroad.

However, George had rich experience in railway construction because of the construction of Amur.

Vladivostok is well prepared. Last winter, the Fu regiment sent engineers to explore the terrain and clear obstacles for the construction of the railway.

After the spring of this year, Vladivostok employed 5 workers and the project progressed rapidly.

The progress in Chelyabinsk was not smooth enough, and construction was not able to start until July.

After the project started, the progress was not smooth enough, and more and more problems were exposed.

"The biggest problem is that the supply of rails is seriously insufficient, there are also problems with the allocation of human resources, the logistics supply is chaotic, and funds are tight——"

Witte was a member of the Trans-Siberian Railway Commission and was responsible for its practical implementation.

While George and Nikolai were in Germany, food poisoning broke out in Chelyabinsk, killing a dozen workers.

Chelyabinsk employs just over 2 workers.

However, unlike Vladivostok where a large number of Qing and Korean people were used, most of the workers used in Chelyabinsk were Cossacks.

Cossacks are the best cavalry, but they are not even qualified workers. After food poisoning occurred in Chelyabinsk, Cossack workers went on strike, and the progress of the project was seriously affected.

"Wait, why are funds tight?"

Nicholas was very angry. The project had just started and funds were starting to get tight. What should we do in the future?

The construction period of the Trans-Siberian Railway is 10 years.

"The Grand Duke used part of the funds used to build the Trans-Siberian Railway to repair the railways in Crimea——"

Werther was helpless. The Russian Empire had its own national conditions.

Building the Trans-Siberian Railway is a big deal, and it certainly cannot be done by just two young people, Nikolai and George.

Therefore, Mikhail Nikolayevich, George's brother-in-law, was also a member of the committee.

After the Asia 3 special train derailed last year, the Russian Empire accelerated its efforts to nationalize its railways.

The retrieval is just the beginning, how to maintain the operation of the railway is more important.

In an era when private railroad tycoons controlled the railroads, maintenance was not done unless absolutely necessary for the sake of profit.

So after the empire nationalized the railways, it faced a huge mess, with almost all railways in need of repair.

Some even need to be demolished and rebuilt.

Otherwise, a train derailment may happen at any time.

Building the Trans-Siberian Railway is important, but maintaining the existing railway network is even more important.

Therefore, it can be explained that Mikhail diverted the special funds used to build the Trans-Siberian Railway to repair the Crimean Railway.

“How can special funds be misappropriated casually!”

Nikolai was extremely indignant. The Trans-Siberian Railway was his first real job and there was no room for failure.

"Your Majesty agreed——"

Werther's arm couldn't twist his thigh.

Nicholas was suddenly speechless.

Since the Tsar agreed, it would be useless to complain to the Tsar.

"George, what should we do?"

Nikolai was still the same as when he was a child, asking George if he had any questions.

As long as it wasn't a cure, George could solve the problem most of the time.

"Look for bank loans, issue bonds, raise funds, no matter what, the railway cannot be stopped."

If George doesn't spend his energy arguing with Mikhail, he just has to find ways to make money if he doesn't have money.

Of course, this matter cannot be left alone. George can solve it once or twice, but it is impossible to get money every time.

"Great, I'll go back to Gatchina and you go get the money."

Nicholas and George have a clear division of labor.

The richest person in Russia is not George, but the First Lady. So George went directly to Yusupov Palace.

The First Lady and Felix were not at the Yusupov Palace, but went to Crimea for a summer vacation.

George didn't even know what to avoid from the heat in St. Petersburg.

The Tsar regularly returned to the Queen's natal home for summer vacation every year, which can be explained by allowing the Queen to visit relatives by the way.

Felix and Yusupova went to Crimea purely to enjoy life and had nothing to do with the weather in St. Petersburg.

Okay, who asked George to ask for help, so George chased him to Crimea.

The railways in Crimea really need to be repaired, especially in the territory recovered through the Tenth Russo-Turkish War. The width of the rails is different from the width in the Russian Empire. It cannot be used without repairs.

The manor of the First Lady in Crimea can also be described as a palace. It covers an extremely large area, is perfectly decorated, and is full of exotic style. During the rule of the Ottoman Empire, this palace was once the residence of the Ottoman Sultan.

After George asked Felix, he learned that the palace was originally the property of the Yusupov family, and now it is just returned to the original owner.

Felix and Yusupova's marriage was unfortunate. Both of their first two children died in infancy. Fortunately, their third son Nikolay and fourth son Felix Jr. grew up vigorously, which gave Felix and Yusupova a sense of comfort. comfort.

George wants Felix to buy some bonds.

Felix said that he had no say in the matter and asked George to find Yusupova.

"You are a husband, you can't have no power at all."

George felt very sad for Felix's situation, and the life of his first son-in-law was not easy.

"What do I need power for? Zina is doing a great job. I am happy and free."

Felix's logic is impeccable, and he describes eating soft rice so righteously.

"Okay, as long as you're happy--"

George stopped talking nonsense to Felix, the man was completely depraved.

Yusupova has very strict requirements for herself. She and Felix gave birth to four sons in a row after marriage, but her figure was not seriously out of shape like other Russian aunts. It is really amazing.

Yusupova is also very familiar with George and congratulated George on his engagement as soon as they met.

"Thank you, Annie is a good girl, I will cherish it."

A smile appeared on George's face unconsciously, which was the sweetness that belongs only to lovers.

"It's really enviable. If you were a little older, nothing would happen to Anne—"

Women who have given birth are different.

The first noble lady's boldness surprised George. Your husband is here, can you be more restrained?

Felix acted as if he hadn't heard anything and drank tea as if nothing had happened.

George did not come to flirt with the No. 1 Noble Lady, but to ask the No. 1 Noble Girl for help.

Yusupova seemed less interested in railroad bonds.

“If you have more money than you can spend, instead of putting it in the bank, it’s better to use it to buy bonds.”

George was far less talented at selling bonds than Schiff.

What this says is that people are the ones who specialize in their art.

"If the bank doesn't pay me interest, I can sue the bank - if you and Nikolai don't pay me interest, can I sue you and Nikolai?"

What Yusupova is worried about is not the interest, but losing all her money.

When dealing with the Russian royal family, you must be careful and cautious. These people are all cannibals.

"I swear on the honor of the name Yuriev that this will never happen."

George put his last name on the line.

Some people are quick to tell me that if I do whatever I want, I will take your last name.

For a nobleman of George's level, such words are absolutely unacceptable.

Even the oath of family honor is strictly prohibited, because everything is possible.

The status of the first noble son-in-law is not as insignificant as he said.

George keenly noticed that Yusupova and Felix exchanged a quick glance. After Felix nodded slightly, Yusupova looked at George.

"Your Vladivostok has developed rapidly in the past two years——"

Vladivostok really stole the show at last year's World Expo.

The Yusupov family's oil company also participated in last year's World Expo.

Compared with the company under George's name, the harvest is naturally much less.

"You only see that Vladivostok is developing very fast, but you don't know how difficult it is."

George complained and did not mind further cooperation with the Yusupov family.

No matter what the Yusupov family does, they are always more reliable than the Americans.

Like George, the Yusupov family is also deeply bound to the Russian Empire.

"Sell me the Vladivostok Automobile Plant and I will agree to buy your bonds—"

Yusupova is beautiful, and her thoughts are even more beautiful.

"Xena, be realistic, you know this is impossible."

The Trans-Siberian Railway is not George's private property, and George will not sell the car factory.

(End of this chapter)