Chapter 503 Another Death
Alexei’s death really had nothing to do with George.
However, rumors spread in St. Petersburg the day after Alexei's death, claiming that Alexei was forced to die by George.
This is simply nonsense. Vladimir was so excessive at the time that George didn't even take action against Vladimir, let alone Alexei who had been dismissed from his post.
George has no time to pay attention to the rumors in St. Petersburg. He has more and more responsibilities now, his work is getting busier and busier, and his rest time is getting later and later.
In addition to the Governor of the Far East and the Commander of the Military Region, George now also serves as the Minister of the Navy and is also responsible for military reform. He is more powerful than Sergei at the time, truly one person is less than ten thousand people.
George's staff team is now getting bigger and bigger. Not only does the navy and the military reform have a team each, but the Governor of the Far East and the military region are also not affiliated with each other, and each has a team responsible for it.
In terms of the navy, Peter is now more professional than George, and George is able to focus more on military reform.
In addition to shortening the service period, George's military reform is divided into four parts. The first is to boost the morale of the Russian army.
The victory of the Russo-Japanese War had nothing to do with St. Petersburg. It almost caused a devastating blow to the morale of the Russian army. The naval mutiny fully proved that the morale of the Russian army was on the verge of collapse.
George improved the treatment of the Russian army and raised the treatment level of local garrison officers and soldiers to the same level as the Guards.
Not surprisingly, this decision was opposed by Stolypin.
George increased not only his salary, but also the level of equipment and benefits, which made the empire's already stretched finances even worse.
The current Guards are the same as when George served. The cavalry is cavalry and the infantry is infantry. There is no concept of mixing.
George equipped each marine division with an artillery regiment and increased the number of machine guns to 60. Although this plan was welcomed by the military industry department, Stolypin was uncomfortable with it.
Stolypin approved of George's responsibility for military reform because he hoped that George could help the empire save money and spend more money on developing economic strength.
After George punched a series of combinations, the number of troops was indeed reduced, but next year's military expenditures will soar by at least 20%.
“The results of the Russo-Japanese War prove that our current armaments have lagged behind the development of the times. In order to ensure the security of the empire, we must do this.”
George in Hope Storey Ping can accept this plan.
“Yes, it is indeed necessary——”
Stolypin is not opposed to it, he just hopes to use a more moderate approach to minimize the financial pressure brought by military reform.
“Military reform does not happen overnight. We can completely carry out it in stages. For example, we will first improve the salary of soldiers next year, and then wait for the financial situation to improve in a few years before we start to improve equipment levels.”
"Peter, do you know how many years it took for the Empire to upgrade to new rifles?"
George was a witness to this incident.
Stolypin was speechless. When the empire began to install new rifles, Stolypin was still studying at St. Petersburg University.
"Even if we start upgrading the equipment level from next year, if we can complete it within 10 years, then thank God."
George is not optimistic.
Upgrading equipment level is a very complicated task. The military’s dispute about machine guns mainly lies in the consumption of bullets. Based on the logistics supply level of the Russian Empire, if each marine division is equipped with 60 machine guns, then the logistics supply will be greatly reduced. Supply has brought unprecedented pressure.
So logistics is the second part of George's military reform.
"Your Highness, please take into account the actual situation of the empire and the average equipment level of each country when planning."
Stolypin focuses on gradual progress.
Although the arms race between Britain and Germany has begun, Stolypin does not believe that the competition between Britain and Germany must end in war.
Edward VII was William II's biological uncle. When Queen Victoria died, William II's name was at the top of all the guest lists.
The second place is Nikolai. In order to challenge Britain's maritime hegemony, Germany put almost all its resources on the navy, and the development of the army was suppressed. For now, the equipment level is about the same as that of the Russian army.
This is also the purpose of George's decision to upgrade his equipment.
Britain and Germany were engaged in an arms race over their navies.
If the Russian Empire's army improves its equipment level, then the German army will have to respond accordingly. This has nothing to do with the relationship between Nicholas and Wilhelm II.
George hopes to join forces with Britain to completely destroy Germany.
As for the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, George did not take it to heart at all. Even if they did not reform, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire were not opponents of the Russian army.
"Peter, I haven't asked the army to start equipping armored fighting vehicles yet -"
George was dissatisfied, he was already very restrained.
Artillery and machine guns are where they are, and armored tanks are the big spenders of the military. If George equips the Guards according to the equipment level of the Fu division and the Harbin division, Stoly will be pissed to death.
“Your Highness, the purpose of the military reform is to protect the security of the empire, not to sweep across Europe!”
Stolypin is worried that George, just like the song sings, our Russia will punish the whole world. world.
Oh, I almost forgot, this song seems to have been written by George.
You are really versatile.
"Peter, if we don't do this, then the safety of the empire cannot be guaranteed."
George wanted to tell Stolypin directly that the world war was not far away.
In other words, a world war may break out at any time.
In another time and space, the trigger for the World War was the assassination of the Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which triggered the World War.
So George is not sure now whether the World War will break out on time in 1914 like in another time and space.
In case the Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary is assassinated tomorrow.
Then a world war will break out the day after tomorrow.
Before the outbreak of the World War in Another Time and Space, the standing army of the Russian Empire totaled 1.4 million. After the outbreak of the war, the Russian Empire went through many mobilizations, and finally mobilized a total of 15.8 million troops.
Compared with the 15.8 million troops, the money spent now is really nothing.
"George, you are the God of War. We all believe in you and you will be able to protect the empire."
Storypin's level of flattery is not even as good as that of little Nicholas.
Since Alexei's death, little Nicholas has never been to the Peter and Paul Fortress once, as if the Peter and Paul Fortress is a dragon's den and a tiger's den.
Although little Nicholas also believed that Alexei's death had nothing to do with George.
But little Nicholas is sensitively aware that St. Petersburg is becoming more and more dangerous.
The aftermath of Alexei's death has not disappeared. Grand Duke Vladimir, who had been bedridden for a long time, passed away, and rumors in St. Petersburg reached a new level.
Alexey and George just have different political opinions.
Vladimir really had conflicts with George on the issue of Guandong.
(End of this chapter)