I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 318: Good timing
After the Third Aceh War, George was put on the British key monitoring list and became one of the most dangerous Russians.

The British military expenditure for the Malay War exceeded 7000 million pounds. Not only did the British fail to conquer the Malay Peninsula, but they completely lost control of the Malay Peninsula. This was the most painful defeat for the British since the Anglo-Dutch War.

The controversy over the Malay War continues to this day. Some British generals blame the failure of the British army on lack of preparation and are still clamoring for the restart of the Malay War.

The Malay War led to the immediate collapse of Gladstone's cabinet, and the Marquess of Salisbury formed a government again.

The Marquis of Salisbury was still very rational. The Malay Peninsula was not indispensable to Britain. Britain did not want to fall into a proxy war supported by the Russian Empire, and hoped to use Japan to lock the Russian Empire in Siberia.

This was originally the original intention of Britain to support Japan.

The Qing Empire was not worthy of the British war.

Through the Malay War, Salisbury became sensitively aware that the colonial system constructed by the British had fatal flaws. If these flaws were not repaired in time, they would be exploited.

The Marquis of Salisbury was not interested in the Russian Crown Prince's marriage.

George became the focus of the Marquis of Salisbury. The day after arriving in London, George received an invitation from the Marquis of Salisbury.

In the first two years when George started selling champagne, Ekaterina exchanged most of the money she earned for real estate around the world. George even owned real estate in Miami, USA.

George and Anne lived in London at Graveford Hall, an estate in England purchased by Catherine for George.

I just don’t know whether to rule by drawing rivers or drawing rivers to rule——

Not to mention the Japanese Navy, the British Royal Navy is also scum in George's opinion.

George didn't expect Salisbury to be so thick-skinned and actually come to him.

George doesn't mince words.

It can't be said to be "governing", just a sphere of influence.

The Royal Navy dared to make expeditions, and George had the confidence to defend the enemy from outside the country.

George didn't want to deal with the old fox, so he refused the Marquis of Salisbury's invitation on the pretext of being busy with official duties.

"As for Japan's few broken ships, they have not yet threatened Amur's strength."

Salisbury wanted to share territory with George.

Salisbury was a test from the get-go.

Grewal is very large, with 350 acres, which is very rare in the suburbs of London.

If George doesn't take the move, the old guy must have failed to hold it in well.

"George, on the issue of the Qing Empire, I think we need to reach an agreement."

"I am only the commander of the Amur Military District, and your suggestion is beyond my capabilities."

"If London and St. Petersburg reach an agreement, will you abide by it?"

Salisbury knew all too well who George was.

The navy currently has no air defense capability at all.

Greveford is a British-style country villa. Since London in winter is not suitable for human habitation, British dignitaries left London in the winter and lived in country villas far away from the city. Over time, British rural culture was formed.

"A war is about to break out in the Far East, and you are still in London. Aren't you worried that the war will spread to Amur?"

"Of course! I am first and foremost the commander of the Amur Military District of the Russian Empire."

George was spotless.

"There were some minor misunderstandings between us over the past few years, and now everything has been resolved. Do you agree?"

Salisbury did not dwell on the Qing empire.

This question is not easy to answer.

If the problems have been solved, then George will have no reason to poach the British in the future, and trade with the Transvaal will be put on hold.

Of course, if George has the ability to do it so seamlessly that the British can't get a handle on it, then George doesn't break his promise.

But if the British get caught, the consequences will be serious. Considering that the Trans-Siberian Railway has not yet been opened to traffic, George decided to restrain himself for the time being.

"yes, I agree."

"Very well, I wish you a pleasant stay in London -"

Salisbury didn't stay long, and he gained something, but not much.

Although Salisbury and George failed to reach an agreement on the Qing Empire.

But if George stops causing trouble, Salisbury can start patching the holes.

After preparations are completed, Salisbury and George will settle the account slowly.

George was not at ease either.

The flow of goods between Vladivostok and St. Petersburg now relies entirely on the Suez Canal.

At least until the Trans-Siberian Railway is opened, Amur needs a safe and stable external environment.

Alex did not hold out for long. After spending an afternoon with Nikolai, Alex finally agreed to convert to Orthodox Christianity.

With this problem solved, there are no more obstacles to Nikolai and Alex's marriage.

On June 6, Nicola gave the gift he prepared to Alex.

Alex was delighted.

Queen Victoria reminded Alex to "don't make it public" and she was not optimistic about Nicholas and Alex's marriage.

All Nicholas' thoughts were on Alex and he didn't care about what others thought.

On the 12th, George and his party left London for Coburg.

William II personally attended the engagement ceremony of Nicholas and Alex to congratulate them.

Alex's parents are dead and her sisters are all married. Ernst is the current Grand Duke of Hesse and the Rhine, so his wedding is naturally more grand.

George and his party returned to Crimea only after attending Ernst's wedding.

Alex went to London again after Ernst's wedding.

"Are you happy this time——"

George's mood did not relax.

An engagement is not the end.

The opposite could be the beginning of trouble.

The Russian royal family already has enough problems of its own. If you add Alex who acts as a monster anytime and anywhere, George is really worried about Nicholas' future life.

No one else mentioned it, but the relationship between Alex and Maria was enough to give Nicholas a headache.

While George was in London, the Tsar's health showed no signs of improvement and his condition became increasingly serious.

On August 8, news finally came from the Far East that a war broke out between Japan and the Qing Empire.

The Sino-Japanese War began.

This war originally had nothing to do with the Russian Empire.

But on the first day of the war between the Qing Empire and Japan, a Korean fishing boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese warship, and another fishing boat was destroyed.

George had nothing to say and immediately instructed Ye Luoxin to claim compensation from Japan.

Japan and the Qing Empire started fighting, and George couldn't stop them.

But if the interests of the Russian Empire, or Goryeo, were damaged in the war, then George would have something to say.

As the commander of the Amur Military District of the Russian Empire, George has a duty to protect the interests of the empire and Korea from losses.

(End of this chapter)