I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 397 It’s coming, it’s finally coming

The Grand Duke of St. Petersburg always felt that by joining forces, they could force George to give up his interests in Guandong.

This is true, they are all royal uncles, and George alone will definitely not be able to fight against the entire royal family.

But George gave up the benefits, but St. Petersburg couldn't get them. This can't be blamed for George's cruelty.

St. Petersburg is negotiating with Japan over Korea's privileges.

George was very curious, what does the Russian Empire's privileges in Korea have to do with St. Petersburg?
After the Gaishin coup, Concubine Min and Emperor Gaozong had no choice but to go to Yuriev Palace and seek protection from Yuriev Palace. This gave them a series of privileges of the Russian Empire in Goryeo.

Jeju was leased by George in the name of farming.

The Korean army was trained by George with personal help.

The whole process of Korea's treaty had nothing to do with St. Petersburg.

Even Busan became the military port of the Siberian Fleet through George's operation.

The cost of Koryo's military expansion was much lower than that of Amur. Amur could recruit 1 Koryo for the cost of recruiting one Cossack.

The troop transport was attacked on July 7, and war was declared on August 25. It took five days to fight, and the technical reasons were resolved. The craftsmanship spirit is well-deserved.

Yankov was indeed expanding the army, but not through the Goryeo government, but in the name of the militia.

Komura Jutaro once served as the minister to the Qing Dynasty, the United States, Russia and other countries. During his tenure as the minister to the Qing Dynasty, he was nicknamed the "rat minister" by ministers from various countries because of his thin stature.

George did not want to be caught between Japan and the Russian Empire as cannon fodder.

During the Xinchou War, Nie Shicheng was fighting to the death with the coalition forces, while Datou watched the fire from across the bank and stood still. The southeastern provinces even signed with other countries to confirm that they would never join the war.

"Don't worry, there will be a chance-"

The New Year's banquet is a rare opportunity, and all the ministers stationed in Vladivostok are present.

Emperor Gaozong was eager to give it a try. Why not expand his army by 20? It was not impossible to tighten his belt.

Japan's real rise came after it obtained the human resources of Goryeo and the natural resources of Kanto.

The soldiers are not recruited from big cities such as Seoul and Busan, but mainly from farmers in remote areas.

In 1900, Goryeo conducted its first census. The total population totaled 1600 million, and the vast majority of the population was under the age of 40.

In this matter, Korea itself has no decision-making power.

But in that case, the Cossacks' loyalty and combat effectiveness could not be guaranteed.

What happened to St. Petersburg?
You have obviously done nothing, but now you are using the privileges of the Amur Military Region in Korea to make deals with the Japanese. You are so embarrassed.

Sure enough, every empire has its national conditions.

George's willingness to inform in advance is already full of respect.

Da Tou ridiculed Xiao Cun to the fullest.

Based on this alone, Emperor Gaozong and Concubine Min must be the most distinguished guests of Yuriev Palace.

Of course, if George refers to the treatment of other military districts in Russia, the cost of recruiting Cossacks can be quickly reduced.

Why don't you just do one thing in front of your face and another behind your back? George can do it too, but he just doesn't care.

The Japanese have a high opinion of Xiao Cun, but in George's case, Xiao Cun's diplomatic methods are not only deception but also blackmail.

How did Japan rise?
It wasn’t the Sino-Japanese War, nor was it the Russo-Japanese War.

George said everything he could, but didn't say a word of what he couldn't.

I just don’t need you!
George has watched "The Chrysanthemum and the Knife" and understands the Japanese better than Datou.

The most capable soldiers in the Russian Empire did not come from Moscow and St. Petersburg, but from the Western Siberian region near the Ural Mountains. The Cossacks there are truly fierce. As long as they have vodka, they dare to challenge a brown bear.

Concubine Min is reasonable and cooperates unconditionally.

"Yes, yes, you, Japan, are the most peace-loving people——"

The reason why Amur developed so fast was that Emperor Gaozong and Concubine Min also contributed the most.

Not to mention Datou's performance in the Xinchou War.

Most of them came to Vladivostok to watch the excitement.

There is also a special guest at Amul's New Year's banquet, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Komura Jutaro from Japan.

This matter must not be hidden from Concubine Min and Gaozong, so at the New Year's celebration dinner in 1903, Concubine Gaozong and Concubine Min once again became the most distinguished guests of Yuriev Palace.

What if you want to fight for the empire again?

His antipathy towards Japan has never been concealed.

So when Da Tou looks at George, he feels sympathy for him.

"The Empire of Japan will never do shameless things. It was technical reasons that caused the declaration of war not to be submitted to your country in time."

The whole world knew that Japan and the Russian Empire were about to go to war, but there was no movement in Amur. This situation made Datou feel familiar.

"——It's just that Japan won't go to war without declaring it this time, right?"

Komura Jutaro is not ashamed at all.

At Amur's New Year's banquet, Komura kept emphasizing that the ongoing negotiations between Japan and the Russian Empire were for the sake of peace in East Asia and had no other purpose.

George worked hard to promote the "full heavy artillery battleship" of the Siberian Fleet.

The "full heavy artillery battleship" did not attract as much attention as George imagined.

This is normal. It took decades for aircraft carriers to replace battleships and become the dominant force on the sea. George did not expect that the "fully heavy artillery battleship" would immediately provoke an arms race as soon as it was launched.

No matter how powerful a warship is, it must be verified in naval battles to prove its worth.

But for a professional like Dewey, he definitely knew the meaning of a "fully heavy artillery battleship."

The construction of two "full heavy artillery battleships" of the Siberian Fleet has begun, and one of them is close to being launched. The two battleships built for the Pacific Fleet have successfully passed two sea trials and are being outfitted with armament systems. They will be handed over to the Pacific Fleet in three months at the earliest.

So there is really not much time left for Japan.

The Pacific Fleet now has seven battleships.

Together with the two ships in Vladivostok, the number of battleships will form a strong suppression of the Sixty-Sixth Fleet.

Therefore, if Japan wants to seize the opportunity, it must hurry up before these two battleships are handed over to the Pacific Fleet.

"All heavy artillery battleships are cool, but is it too risky to build four at once?"

Dewey also had issues with the "full heavy artillery battleship."

All navies around the world follow the Royal Navy to cross the river. They build whatever the Royal Navy builds.

Only the Siberian fleet took the wrong approach and built four ships as soon as they came up.

Dewey didn't know whether George was really confident or had the old habit of the Russian Grand Duke.

"Even you would ask such a question, you disappoint me so much."

George beat Dewey till he was red in the face.

"This thing is of no use in war. I use it for fishing."

George imitated Komura's words.

"If you don't tell me, don't tell me! Why are you teasing me—"

Dewey was furious.

Warships costing tens of millions of rubles are built just for fishing. You are really rich.

"Just four ships are not enough to protect the safety of Amur's waterway."

George looked serious.

Dewey frowned.

By safe passage, George meant the passage between Vladivostok and the East Indies.

The Pacific Fleet now has seven battleships and will soon have nine.

Plus four "full heavy artillery battleships" of the Siberian Fleet.

So how many ships should be built in the Asian fleet to safeguard U.S. interests in Asia?
That's what George is for.

roll!
Roll them all up for me!

After the New Year, the news from St. Petersburg became increasingly grim.

On January 1, Nicholas ordered Alexeyev, the governor of Kantung, to declare that Kantung had entered a state of war.

On January 1, Japan issued an ultimatum to the Russian Empire. If the Russian Empire did not meet Japan's demands, Japan would take effective measures.

When the news came out, the whole world was shocked.

this--

Damn it, Japan really dared to issue an ultimatum to the Russian Empire. It used too much force!
Kanto Prefecture responded the fastest, shutting down the Fengtian iron ore and coal mines immediately, and stopped exporting high-quality coal and iron ore to Japan.

But it was already too late. The high-quality coal accumulated by Japan during this period was enough to use the Japanese combined fleet for a year and a half.

As for iron ore——

It doesn't matter whether it stops or not. Yawata Iron Works has not solved the technical problem. Even if it continues to export iron ore, Japan will not be able to smelt iron.

The Anglo-Japanese alliance came into play at this time.

Fengtian Iron Mine and Coal Mine are a British-Japanese joint venture, with Britain nominally accounting for the majority and the company's registered place is also in London.

So with relations between Japan and the Russian Empire deteriorating, why were British businesses closed?
Alexeyev finally let the Japanese know what barbarism is.

"If the macaque king doesn't kneel down and apologize to Darini, the Kwantung Military Region will punish the macaques in its own way!"

I won’t say whether Alexeev’s words are in line with diplomatic etiquette.

Nicholas should be very happy after reading it.

Alexeyev not only closed down the iron ore and coal mines, but also sent troops to forcibly take over the iron ore and coal mines, expelled the British managers to Niucun (Yingkou, a British treaty port), and deported the Japanese managers and The workers were all detained.

This is not a shutdown.

It's obviously a robbery.

On February 2, Ito Hirobumi returned to Japan from St. Petersburg after negotiations failed.

On the 4th, Emperor Meiji held an imperial meeting. Ito Hirobumi, Japanese Prime Minister Katsura Taro, Foreign Minister Komura Jutaro, Marine Minister Yamamoto Gonbei, Land Minister Oyama Iwa and others unanimously confirmed that the negotiations with the Russian Empire had broken down and could not be maintained through peaceful means. Japanese interests.

On the 6th, Japan recalled its minister to St. Petersburg and severed diplomatic relations with the Russian Empire.

George did not pay attention to Japan's actions.

Starting last winter, sporadic strikes began to break out in major industrial centers in the Caucasus. By around New Year, nearly 20 people had participated in the strikes.

On the 6th, the Yenisey River Bridge on the Trans-Siberian Railway suddenly collapsed. This situation attracted George's attention.

After George took over the Trans-Siberian Railway, he gradually replaced the wooden bridges with stronger iron bridges to ensure the traffic capacity of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The Yenisei River Bridge is a key project. It took nearly 4 workers for a full year and a half. It was just completed last year and used more than tons of steel.

The Yenisei River Bridge has an expected lifespan of 50 years. Although the snow this year is relatively heavy, it will certainly not be crushed by the heavy snow.

Since it was not crushed by snow, it can only be caused by man-made damage.

(End of this chapter)