Chapter 336 No movement
Japan is only 700 kilometers away from the Qing Empire.
More than 4,000 kilometers away from the Sultanate of Aceh.
4000 kilometers means that a Japanese warship cannot make a round trip even if it is full of coal. It is a standard one-way ticket.
Japan cannot afford it either.
During the Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese army announced 6,445 casualties and 3,530 injuries.
These two figures are controversial, and it is generally believed that the Japanese army's losses were greater than announced.
Although Japan has received a windfall from heaven, it takes time for reparations to be converted into national strength, so Japan now has no ability to continue waging war.
Since we can’t fight and can’t defeat him, we can only accept George’s blackmail.
Although the tone has been set, the numbers are still controversial.
Japan cut back on food and clothing from top to bottom. In the end, it only received 230 million in compensation from the Qing Empire after tens of thousands of casualties, and the Liao redemption fee was only 30 million.
When George opened his mouth, it was 35 million. Isn’t this nonsense?
George was extremely tough, saying that 35 million is 35 million, not a penny less. As long as Japan does not lose money, the Sultanate of Aceh will continue to block the Strait of Malacca from Japan.
The Strait of Malacca is indeed too important. On the 16th and 17th, four more Japanese merchant ships were detained. If this matter is not resolved, more Japanese merchant ships will be detained.
There is not even a wireless telegraph these days. Merchant ships will lose contact when they go to sea, and it is impossible to change their routes.
Ito Hirobumi had no choice but to ask the U.S. Minister to China, Tabei, to mediate.
Tian Bei has really been in the limelight in the past two years. The Qing Dynasty asked Tian Bei to mediate in the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War.
Japan asked Tianbei to mediate the dispute between Amul and Japan, which is really a blessing.
However, Tian Bei, who was proud of the spring breeze, suffered a blow in Vladivostok.
The day after Tian Bei arrived in Vladivostok, he received a telegram from Washington before he met George.
Tianbei then persuaded Ito Hirobumi to accept Amul's request.
Ito Hirobumi was dumbfounded, why are you taking advantage of Japan and not speaking up for Japan?
Tian Bei was helpless.
It's not that I don't want to help, it's because the opponent's rank is too high and I can't afford to offend him.
Ito Hirobumi's plan failed but he made another plan.
Since the losses in Amur were caused by the war, they cannot all be borne by Japan, so the Qing Empire also had a share.
George doesn’t care how the Japanese government quarrels with the Qing Empire. Anyway, the compensation should not be less. The Vladivostok Shipyard is waiting for the rice to be cooked.
The Amur River Fleet also has to pay money when ordering warships from the Vladivostok Shipyard.
A 5,000-ton light cruiser, based on the cost of a Baltic shipyard, costs two to three million rubles. Who will pay for it?
The Sultanate of Aceh is so obedient, why can’t they give some rewards? Sultans, ministers, etc., it’s not too much to have one official car for each person.
Vladivostok Shipyard can build yachts.
The Sultanate of Aceh has so many islands, so giving a yacht to the Sultan as a gift is not too much.
George's family has a new addition. The previous "Dolgorukov" is a bit outdated. It's time to build yourself a new yacht.
The Chinese New Year is about to come, and welfare payments cost a lot of money. It would be best if the Japanese could pay for this money.
The construction of the Eastern Railway will start next year, and the Amur Governorate is still responsible for this project. This is another large amount of money, and George is worried and wants to issue bonds.
On November 20, the construction of the Far East Headquarters of Dowson Bank started in Vladivostok.
Dousheng Bank wants to build its headquarters in Empire Plaza.
But the land around the Empire Square has been carved up by major companies in Vladivostok, and Daosheng Bank cannot buy the land, so they can only go to the University City next to Peter the Great Bay.
Next spring, Vladivostok University will officially enroll students.
Vladivostok University is the first comprehensive university in the entire Far East.
Prior to this, the Vladivostok Medical College and the Vladivostok Institute of Technology have been established, and the first batch of graduates of the medical school will graduate next year.
Vladivostok University is not only a teaching institution, but also responsible for research and development. Nickel-chromium alloy steel is the research and development result of Vladivostok University.
The biggest good news before Christmas is that the first thermal power plant in the Far East was completed in Vladivostok, which marks that Vladivostok is about to enter the electric age.
Before Christmas, Alexeyev, the commander of the Siberian Fleet who had not seen him for a long time, returned to Vladivostok, hoping that George could fight to build a battleship at the Vladivostok Shipyard as soon as possible.
After the "Yuriyev" arrived in the Far East, it quickly exposed its design flaws and was not suitable for use in the Pacific region.
Although the Pacific Ocean has "Peace" in its name, the sea conditions are worse than those in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea. The side of the "Yuriev" was too low. During the first training after arriving in Busan, four sailors were swept away by the waves.
"The caliber of the main gun of the Japanese warship has reached 320 mm, and our main gun is only 203 mm. How can this be done?"
Alexeyev’s requirements are high, Russia The largest caliber naval gun in the Imperial Navy is only 305.
“The Vladivostok Shipyard does not even have experience in building cruisers. Even if it builds a battleship, do you dare to ask for it?”
George stated the facts and reasoned, One bite won't make you fat.
"Dare!"
Alexeyev was determined.
George was angry, you are really not picky about food.
This time Alexeyev returned to Vladivostok, not only wanted a battleship, but also a cruiser that the Vladivostok Shipyard will start construction in the next year.
Nikola is highly efficient. With the help of the British concubine, the Vladivostok Shipyard has begun to contact the British Parsons Marine Turbine Company to negotiate the technology transfer of Parsons Steam Turbine.
The Parsons steam turbine is the most advanced marine power, and the power of a single turbine can reach 10,000 horsepower.
The two steam engines used by the "Yoshino", combined with 12 high-speed coal-fired boilers, only have 15,000 horsepower.
Bai Laoyi said with certainty that if the cruiser to be built in Vladivostok uses a Parsons steam turbine, its top speed will definitely exceed 30 knots.
For a small boat of several dozen tons, it is normal to exceed 30 knots. For a warship of several thousand tons, it is difficult to break through 30 knots.
The fastest battleship nowadays has a speed of only 18 knots.
Although the cruiser has not yet disappeared, the news has spread.
The cruiser designed by Bai Laoyi has 2 twin main guns of 1892 type 203 mm/50 caliber naval guns, and 12 90 mm caliber secondary guns. The full load displacement is 5100 tons. If two are used Parsons steam turbine, the fastest speed can reach 30 knots.
Although the displacement is a bit small, the cruiser designed by Bai Laoyi fully took into account the sea conditions in the Pacific and is more suitable for the Siberian Fleet.
Alexeyev hopes that George can give this cruiser to the Siberian Fleet.
George's answer is simple, bring 2.5 million rubles and the cruiser will be given to you.
Alexeyev said, if I agree, then I will really become 250.
George really didn’t want much.
Everything else is easy to say. The main reason is that the price of Parsons steam turbine is too high, which causes the cost to soar.
The cost of using an old reciprocating steam engine can be reduced, but the speed cannot be as fast, and there is no point in building it.
George either doesn't build it, but since he builds it, he will build the best one and kill little Japan.
"What to do at such a fast speed? Stronger firepower and thicker armor are the way to go!"
Alexeyev's philosophy is completely different from George's.
George also wanted more firepower and thicker armor.
But that is the mission of the battleship, and has nothing to do with the light cruiser.
The mission of the light cruiser is reconnaissance and patrol, and it can also be used to break up diplomatic relations. There are not many opportunities for frontal combat, so firepower and armor are pseudo-concepts.
Alexeyev has never eaten any good pork, so he wants everything.
But the result of doing this is often that you get nothing.
"Then you go to Alexei and ask for a battleship."
George made an understatement.
Now it was Alexeyev's turn to be angry.
If Alexey were Alexeyev’s brother, Alexeyev would not come to George.
Alekseyev came to George for another purpose, hoping that George could strengthen the defense capabilities of Busan Port.
Alexeyev also wanted to build a railway in Busan and use train guns to protect the Siberian fleet.
In fact, George also thought that he could make money by selling railway cannons.
But again, if George is asked to pay for the installation of train guns in Busan, George will definitely not do it.
Busan is the territory of Goryeo.
Although Gaozong was also filial, he was not Russian after all.
George cannot directly ask Alexeyev to go to Emperor Gaozong, but it is still possible to give him some guidance.
Although Gaozong was in Goryeo, Concubine Min was in Vladivostok.
After George's arrival, Concubine Min immediately went to St. Petersburg to send gifts and congratulations.
Anne and Ekaterina returned to Vladivostok, and Concubine Min came to Vladivostok immediately to congratulate Anne and Ekaterina in person.
Gaozong and Concubine Min were frightened by the results of the Sino-Japanese War.
The Qing Empire was beaten by Japan and was forced to cede territory and pay compensation. Fortunately, Goryeo embraced George's lap early, otherwise Goryeo would have been forced to recognize his godfather again.
Although they all recognize their godfather.
It's still different to admit it on your own initiative, and to be forced to call daddy by pressing your head.
In the past, Goryeo was a vassal state of the Qing Empire and had countless godfathers.
Now Gaozong and Concubine Min only need to establish a good relationship with the Yuriev Palace, and the safety of Goryeo and the status of Gaozong and Concubine Min can be guaranteed.
What else is there to say, just lick it.
This time when Concubine Min came to Vladivostok, she gave the young Grand Duke and the Grand Duke a total of 12 hundred-year-old ginseng as a meeting gift.
This is the only thing Gao Li can take advantage of now.
Ekaterina’s return gift to Concubine Min was a set of the latest cosmetics.
Concubine Min was very happy.
It doesn't matter whether the gifts are equal or not, the key is that there is a return, and it gives Concubine Min enough face. This will achieve the goal.
Anne was a little distressed. Alexandra and Boris were not yet one year old, and Anne was pregnant again.
Adding imports is definitely a good thing.
But it’s not good to be pregnant so frequently.
So Anne is very conflicted.
The Yuriev family is sparse, with only George being the only one. Now they finally have Boris, but it is still a single generation.
From the perspective of the mistress of the family, Anne also hopes that the Yuriev family will flourish and flourish.
But when this happened to me, I always felt that it was not the case.
George didn’t even expect that his marksmanship was so good.
Vasily was depressed.
He and Olga have been married for almost half a year, and Olga has not made any move yet.
(End of this chapter)