I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 284 Airship

Russian artillery not only lacks range, but also lacks accuracy.

To change the status quo, in addition to striving to improve the technical level, quantity to compensate for quality has become the best choice.

If the accuracy of a single shell is not enough, then fire a few more rounds.

Rocket launchers are slightly lacking in precision shooting, but when it comes to dealing with clusters of exposed targets, there is no better choice than rocket launchers.

The key rocket launcher perfectly fits the national conditions of the Russian Empire, which lacks technology but is rich in resources.

This means that if you switch to a resource-poor country like Japan and give them rocket launcher technology, they won't even be able to play with it.

The Russian Empire can afford it. A launch vehicle starts with 16 rockets, and they are all empty within 20 seconds. If there are a thousand of them, no matter how many enemies there are, they will not be afraid.

George couldn't remember the original data of the Katyusha rocket launcher. Considering the character of the Russians, the caliber must be about 120 mm, and the power is about the same as a 150-mm artillery gun.

Compared with traditional weapons, rocket launchers are a completely new field. The task went round and round and fell on Zagoev, who graduated from the Materials Department of St. Petersburg University, and Kuchaev, who graduated from the Naval Technical School.

After graduating from St. Petersburg University, Zagoyev continued his studies with Butrelov and participated in the research and development of smokeless gunpowder.

The high-end fabrics purchased by Vladivostok from the Qing Empire were even sold back to the Qing Empire after processing.

Of course there is still good news.

Mu Linde tried to sell Vladivostok's most advanced artillery to the Qing Empire, but was rejected by the Qing Empire.

But considering the actual situation in Japan, it will probably only take these two years, because Japan cannot afford to delay. If it cannot profit from the war, the Japanese government will go bankrupt.

George didn't know when the war between Japan and the Qing Empire broke out.

George had previously sent Mulinder to contact the Qing Empire, hoping to provide artillery and shells to the Beiyang Fleet to enhance the strength of the Beiyang Fleet.

France and Russia are forming an alliance and their relations are heating up sharply. St. Petersburg welcomes French capital to invest in the Russian Empire, and France naturally opens its arms to Russian capital.

Even the Qing Empire had no interest in smokeless gunpowder and refused any changes.

The reform failed in the past few years, and the Japanese government actually went bankrupt once, relying on British loans to survive.

Compared with Japan, which was waiting for disaster, the Qing Empire became increasingly degenerate.

Kuchaev's father is a naval artillery designer, and he has a strong family background. He studied torpedoes in college.

British loans require interest, so Japan's current situation can be described as a desperate move.

The armament industry of the Qing Empire is a complete tragedy. It still uses backward black powder. The solid bullets are mixed with sand and adjusted to the weight, but the outer diameter of the shells is not up to standard and cannot be used for artillery. This cannot be explained by technology.

George could only say that every drink and every peck counts.

And demand exceeds supply.

Corresponding to the depletion of Beiyang's armaments, the Qing Empire was building royal gardens aggressively.

As winter approaches and Vladivostok turns to snow again, George's sense of urgency grows.

1892 is coming.

However, the sales of cosmetics in the Qing Empire were very good.

George was only responsible for project establishment and did not participate in research, giving Zagoev and Kuchaev absolute autonomy.

After Mulinder returned, George learned that the Beiyang Fleet not only stopped purchasing new warships, but also stopped purchasing external artillery shells, relying entirely on the Qing Empire's arsenal for supply.

George didn't know whether the First Lady had any plans to invest in France.

George had his eye on the French East Indies.

The French East Indies are alone in the tropics and also have three crops a year.

George originally wanted to grow rice in Siam, but unfortunately Britain and France entered Siam relatively early. The Russians were jointly squeezed out by Britain and France. They were almost unable to get in, and George had nothing to do.

After the Qing-French War, France annexed Annan and Annan became a French colony, which gave George an opportunity.

Compared with Annan, French capital prefers to invest in Africa and the Mediterranean Sea rather than in distant East Asia.

After the Qing Empire lost the war, its sphere of influence in Annan was cleared. France only controlled the cities of Annan and had not yet had time to set foot in the countryside. This gave George the opportunity to grow rice.

Through unremitting efforts in the past two years, the Nanyang Company established by George has purchased more than 15 hectares of land in Annan. Starting next year, Annan will provide a steady supply of food to Vladivostok.

Compared with Vladivostok, the conditions for developing agriculture in Annan are very good. Not to mention three crops a year, the usable land area is still very high, which is unique.

Compared with Annan, Aceh has developed more rapidly.

After the armistice with the Netherlands, Aceh entered a period of rapid development. The plantations damaged by the war quickly recovered, and the introduction of tobacco from South America went smoothly. Aceh has begun building factories and will start producing cigarettes next year.

Compared with the military industry, cigarette profits are higher and more stable.

The key is to make money with peace of mind and no guilt at all, which is very rare.

A business that can make George feel at ease must be done quickly.

There were troubles, but they were not George's, but Nicholas's.

Everyone knew that Miss Martha whom Nicholas hid in Oak Park was just a passer-by and could not become the empress of the Russian Empire.

In 1884, at Sergei's wedding, Nicholas met Princess Alex Hess from Germany.

Alex Hess is the sister of Grand Duchess Sergei Elisabeth Feodorovna. The Hess family is the oldest in Germany. Hess's mother is the second daughter of Queen Victoria. Edward VII and Alexander III are both Hess. Sri Lanka's godfather.

Nicholas, who was born in 1868, is already 23 years old. Alexander III has started drinking alcohol since the train derailment, and his health has been deteriorating in recent years. The Russian Empire urgently needs Nicholas to stabilize as soon as possible and continue the glory of the empire. However, Nicholas had huge differences with Yasan and Queen Maria on the selection of the queen.

As the relationship between the Russian Empire and Germany gradually deteriorated, Yasan and Maria did not want Nicholas to marry a German princess.

At the same time, because the relationship between France and the Russian Empire was heating up rapidly, Yasan and Maria chose Princess Hélène d'Orléans from France for Nicholas.

Elena is the daughter of the Earl of Paris. Although France is already a republic, the strength of the traditional aristocracy cannot be underestimated and has a huge influence in France.

Both the Russian Empire and France welcomed the marriage.

Nicholas was depressed and took the initiative to write to George to confide in him.

"I've met Princess Orleans. She's a pretty nice girl. Fortunately you have Anne, otherwise I-"

Catherine's spirit of gossip burned brightly.

"What if Nikki marries Elena?"

"Who is Kshesinska?"

George never pays attention to such gossip.

"Don't you know that Kshesinska lives in your oak park?"

Ekaterina looked at George with a mixture of disgust and relief.

What I find disgusting is that George and Nicola have such a close relationship, yet they are so indifferent to Nicola's affairs. They are indeed paper brothers——

Paper uncle and nephew.

Fortunately, George never acted like the men in the Romanov family.

Not long ago, a scandal broke out in Paris. A famous Parisian courtesan was exposed to have more than ten lovers at the same time, including the Grand Duke of Russia.

For a time, all the Russian princes were in danger and became the subject of speculation in the tabloids.

What's outrageous is that George has also become one of the suspects.

After Asan ascended the throne, Catherine went to France to settle.

Theoretically, George is indeed possible, after all, the Russian Grand Duke has a bad record.

Although Ekaterina knew it was impossible, it did not prevent Ekaterina from teasing George about it.

"Isn't it Martha from Oak Park?"

The news about George still stopped 3 years ago.

"Uh ho ho ho ho, it's not that long ago——"

George felt that Catherine was too idle.

Has Vladivostok University been built?

Are there still queues at the hospital?

Are orphans and the elderly well cared for?

Has the enrollment rate of school-age children reached 100%?

He brings a group of people to play mahjong at the Yuriev Palace every day, and stares at the little things about the Grand Duke of St. Petersburg all day long. It’s nothing to do!

George wrote back to Nicholas, wanting to remind Nicholas of Princess Alex's ancestry.

Princess Alex’s maternal grandmother is Queen Victoria, which means that if Nicholas marries Alex, there is a high probability that Nicholas and Alex’s children will become hemophiliacs.

Hemophilia is also known as a royal disease and has been prevalent among the royal families of European countries for a long time.

The key is that this thing is passed on from male to female. Even if the princesses carry the hemophilia gene, they will not have symptoms.

Even the princess's daughter will not be infected.

Only sons are at risk of suffering from hemophilia.

"Do you think Nicky doesn't know it? Do you need you to remind him?"

Ekaterina reminded George that it was best not to get involved in this kind of thing.

George thought about it, it was indeed the truth.

Advise Nikolai to give up Alex, and Nikolai will be disappointed.

Advise Nicholas to stand up for himself, and the Tsar and Empress will be angry.

Both ends are not pleased.

So George sent some big toys to St. Petersburg.

It’s really a big toy. In addition to the latest cars, there are also airplanes, hot air balloons, and airships.

Compared with airplanes, airships appeared earlier. In 1784, the French Robert brothers built the first human-powered airship.

The Vladivostok airship uses a battery-powered electric motor as power. There are 14 airbags in the airship. These airbags function like water-tight compartments on ships, greatly improving safety.

This summer, the Vladivostok airship was tested and successfully arrived safely from Vladivostok and returned to Khabarovsk.

Currently, technicians in Vladivostok are working on improving the airship's hull from a soft type to a rigid type to further improve safety.

If this problem is solved, then George will not need to wait for the Trans-Siberian Railway to open and can freely travel between Vladivostok and St. Petersburg.

(End of this chapter)