I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 291 Disdain

Something as important as smokeless gunpowder was delayed until other countries had caught up and the empire had to change its gear.

Compared with smokeless gunpowder, tractors were insignificant. Even if St. Petersburg did not organize production, George would not be surprised.

That's why George had to develop Amur.

Although George knew what kind of decay the empire had become.

At least in East Asia, the golden brand of the Russian Empire is quite bluffing.

For the Russian Empire, the most important thing at the moment is the alliance with France.

In August last year, Russia and France finalized a draft agreement.

After nearly a year of discussions, at the end of July, officials from the Russian and French general staffs secretly signed a military alliance agreement in Petersburg.

The agreement stipulates that when France is attacked by Germany or Italy supported by Germany, Russia will support France with all its forces; when Russia is attacked by Germany or Austria supported by Germany, France should attack Germany with all its forces.

Amur was delighted with the signing of this agreement, believing that the security of the Russian Empire was finally guaranteed.

Vasily was also an army fan.

The alliance between Russia and France will further worsen the security situation in Europe, and the two major military alliances have begun to take shape.

Vasily came to George and brought him a copy of "The Influence of Sea Power on History" by Alfred Mahan.

After that, an arms race broke out in Europe.

"I know the navy is important, but the navy is far less important to Russia than the army."

Vasily admired Mahan very much.

It can only be said that the bewitching power of "On Sea Power" is really great.

The Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria and Italy had been formed.

George was worried.

Vasily was very dissatisfied with George's perfunctory behavior.

However, Vasily, unlike Andrei, had an extremely active mind, so it was normal for him to be influenced by "On Sea Power".

Even Vasily, the staunch successor of the military god, was influenced by "On Sea Power". It can only be said that Mahan is indeed a genius.

After the formation of the Russo-French Alliance, Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were attacked from both sides. No matter how many German princesses the Russian royal family married, William II would have to be prepared for the day when he would be attacked from both sides.

Mahan completed the trilogy of "On Sea Power" between 1890 and 1905.

George couldn't say how much the European arms race was affected by "Treatise on Sea Power."

"George, you must take a look. After reading it, I believe your attitude towards the Navy will turn 180 degrees."

George will not change because of "Sea Power".

Although George has not read this book, he knows about Mahan and his theory of sea power.

George has always been a staunch Army fan.

"You're not even looking!"

George does not believe that the alliance with France can bring much guarantee to Russia's security.

"So what if I see it? How much sea area can we control with our two river gunboats and one experimental submarine?"

It’s not that George doesn’t want to, he really can’t.

“If we can’t do it now, will we not be able to do it in the future?”

Vasily was heartbroken, George, how could you let yourself down like this?

"The cost of building a cruiser is enough to arm a Guards Division. Do you choose a Guards Division or a cruiser?"

George is really not a self-deprecating person, but down-to-earth.

The Russian Imperial Guard has only 6 divisions in total——

Oh, after incorporating the Oak Division, there are 7.

The three major fleets have hundreds of warships, and they are still building warships every year.

George felt distressed when he saw it.

"After this thing comes out, warships will definitely get bigger and bigger, their main guns will get stronger and stronger, and their defenses will get thicker and thicker. If we follow Mahan's ideas, a world war will break out sooner or later."

George doesn't mind being a bad guy for a while.

"How is that possible?" Vasily's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Ah--"

George didn't really want to talk to fools.

Vasily was not the only one who found it impossible.

The next day Vasily came to see George again, and this time Vasily also roped in Milyutin and Yeluoxin.

"Have you all read this book?"

George was surprised.

George Milyutin didn't know that Ye Luoxin definitely didn't like reading and was a purely empirical person.

"Just heard."

Ye Luoxin did not disappoint George.

"Okay, let's just believe that the content of this book is true——"

"That's what it is!"

cried Vasily.

"Shut up, if you dare to say one more word, get out of here!"

Vasily obeyed and kept silent, his expression provocative.

"If we want to seize sea power, then we have to build bigger and stronger warships; this will trigger a serious chain reaction. What will the Germans think? What about the British?"

Milyugin's expression became serious.

Vasily was still unconvinced.

"The arms race will never end. When military expenditures increase to a point that the country cannot bear, then the arms race will end in war."

“Why can’t there be mutual checks and balances?”

Milyutin and George discussed this issue before.

George did not believe that the Russo-French alliance could bring security to Russia, but would instead increase the sense of crisis in Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Milyutin believed that the Russo-French alliance, like the German-Austrian alliance, would become a double insurance rope for European security.

When the two major military groups take action, peace will naturally come.

"Because someone can focus on developing the navy, and in a country like ours, the navy and the army must go hand in hand."

Although George did not name him, everyone knew who George was talking about.

"We don't need to look at Europe. The situation in East Asia is enough to warrant our vigilance."

George called out names again.

After the British army retreated to the Lion City, the British government once again provided Japan with a loan to order warships from British shipyards and expand its army.

Now even if the Japanese want to retreat, Britain will not allow it.

Japan now indeed has no way out.

The Japanese government risked everything to build warships. Meiji took the initiative to reduce royal family funds, the queen donated her jewelry, and all civil and military officials had to spend one-tenth of their salary on shipbuilding.

By 1892, Japan's military spending accounted for more than % of the Japanese government's expenditures, which can only be described as militaristic.

Britain not only provided loans to Japan, but also provided loans to the Qing Empire.

The difference is that Japan used all the loans for shipbuilding.

The Qing Empire used the loans originally used for naval military expenses to build gardens.

With the scale of the Japanese government's investment, if it cannot see profits and repay the British loan in a short period of time, Japan will never be able to turn around.

This provides sufficient evidence for George's judgment.

"Japan cannot attack Goryeo unless they want to die."

Ye Luoxin is very confident about defeating Japan.

As soon as these words came out, not to mention George, even Milyutin and Vasily looked at Ye Luoxin with disgust.

(End of this chapter)