I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 339 Secret Treaty between Qing and Russia
Before the Sino-Japanese War, Japan's annual income was 8000 million yuan, a far cry from the Russian Empire.

The annual wine tax in the Russian Empire has reached 7 million rubles.

The gold content of the Japanese yen and the ruble are almost the same, one is 0.75 and the other is 0.77.

Therefore, if Japan really wants to go all out to build ships, even if Japan has blood transfusion from Britain, it will not be able to catch up with the Russian Empire.

The biggest disadvantage of the Russian Empire is that it has to maintain three major fleets at the same time, and it is impossible to allocate all resources to the Siberian Fleet.

At the same time, the battleships being built by the Russian Empire are all designed for the environments of the Baltic Sea and Black Sea, and are not suitable for use in the Pacific region.

Finally, due to the limitation of the size of the dock, the maximum displacement of the battleships built by the Russian Empire did not exceed 1.3 tons, and there was a certain gap between the range and power of the artillery and the Japanese battleships.

The battleships under construction in the Russian Empire use the 1886-type 305 mm 35-caliber main gun produced by the Obukhov Iron Works.

Japanese battleships use 305mm 40-caliber main guns produced by the British Armstrong Company, which have improved range and power.

The 203mm naval gun that George sent to the Admiralty for testing used a 45x caliber.

George never let down the hard work of his technicians.

George didn't interfere with the Navy's decision. Anyway, the things were there and it didn't matter whether they were used or not.

Alexey has a black face, Qian Chuanzi really wants money.

Now the empire has begun to strengthen the Siberian fleet. In a few years, the strength of the Siberian fleet will surpass the Baltic Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet and become the most powerful fleet in the empire.

Why are new technologies emerging in Vladivostok?
Because as long as they develop new technologies, they can get rewards equivalent to retirement after one job, so technicians are motivated.

"Are you under my command?"

Naturally, this is impossible to give.

“Can the technology transfer fee be cheaper?”

But the navy's budget is limited, so Alexey wants to have sex for free.

The test results showed that the artillery sent by George was significantly improved in terms of firing rate and range compared with the artillery currently in service in the Russian Empire.

Alexey definitely wants to use it.

George has not given up on the Siberian fleet.

Alexei gave up.

According to the requirements of the Vladivostok Steel Plant, if the Obukhov Steel Plant wants to produce new armor, in addition to the technology transfer fee, the Obukhov Steel Plant must pay additional fees for each ton of new armor produced.

Alexey made conditions to George on behalf of the Obukhov Steel Plant.

In the past, the Siberian fleet was given to the Amur Military District, and the few broken ships were given to them without any concern.

"These battleships will go to the Far East in the future!"

The three majors obviously have a better foundation, so why are they half-dead?
Technicians and managers alike are busy fighting for profits, so who has the time to develop new technologies?

The test results of the new armor are also surprising. If the new armor is adopted, the battleship's protection will be increased by more than 30%.

"Doesn't it cost money to research and develop?"

However, the production of new armor is limited and the cost is higher. If new armor is adopted, the cost of battleships will increase again, which will be another test for the empire's finances, which are not well-off.

George doesn't care, he won't give it if he doesn't give it. Anyway, Amur still has a river fleet.

One day in the future, the flagship of the Amur River Fleet may be a battleship.

I feel emotional just thinking about it.

At that time, George sent battleships to chase Japanese fishing boats every day.

In March, delegations from various countries attending Nicholas' coronation ceremony arrived in St. Petersburg one after another. The one who visited on behalf of the Qing Empire was Li Zhangtong.

The Russian Empire attached great importance to Li Zhangtong's arrival. Nikolai actually sent Duke Ukhtomsky, chairman of Dousheng Bank, to the Suez Canal to greet him, and asked Li Zhangtong to take the yacht "Russia" directly to Odessa. Unexpectedly, Give Li Zhangtong the opportunity to contact other people.

Waiting for Li Zhangtong in St. Petersburg were George and Witte, as well as Foreign Minister Prince Lobanov Rostovsky.

The task of George and the three of them was to sign formal treaties with the Qing Empire on loans, concessions, the Eastern Railway, and a mutual defense alliance.

After the three countries intervened and returned Liao Dynasty last year, the Russian Empire and the Qing Empire had reached a preliminary agreement on borrowing money, but no formal treaty was signed.

Nicholas's personality was too out-of-the-box, and his ideas changed three times a day. On the basis of the previous agreement, a mutual defense alliance was added.

The purpose of the Mutual Defense Alliance was not to provide protection for the Qing Empire, but to encroach on the Qing Empire.

After Li Zhangtong arrived in St. Petersburg, he took the initiative to visit Witte at the Ministry of Finance.

Witte asked Li Zhangtong if he smoked.

Li Zhangtong shouted, and two servants immediately came in to help Li Zhangtong smoke. Werther finally realized the pomp and circumstance of this powerful official of the Qing Empire.

The servant brought the hookah to Li Zhangtong's mouth. Li Zhangtong remained motionless, which was an eye-opener for Werther.

Since most of the terms had been agreed upon in advance, the negotiations went smoothly, but in order to get the Qing Empire to sign as soon as possible, Werther prepared some small gifts for Li Zhangtong and his nephew Li Jingfang. The part that George knew was a total of 50 rubles.

In addition, Witte also issued a check for 200 million rubles to Li Zhangtong through Daosheng Bank as an advance payment for the China Eastern Railway.

After the Three Kingdoms intervened and returned to the Liao Dynasty, the relationship between the Russian Empire and the Qing Empire heated up sharply. In order to maintain the relationship with the Russian Empire, the Qing Empire made huge concessions. In addition to granting the land management rights along the Eastern Railway to Daosheng Bank, the Qing Empire also allowed Daosheng Bank has the power to mine mines, open factories, and collect taxes along the China-Eastern Railway.

Unlike the legendary cruel and greedy Super Duke Yurievsky, George did not show too much activeness in the negotiations. These terms were all agreed upon in advance, and George had little room to play.

George was very interested in whether the Qing Empire reorganized the Beiyang Navy.

The Beiyang Navy was completely wiped out in the Sino-Japanese War, "Dingyuan" was sunk, and "Zhenyuan" was captured by the Japanese army. They continued to use the name "Zhenyuan" and joined the Japanese Navy.

The Qing Empire did not expect that the Japanese appetite was so big before the war, and the compensation of 2.3 million taels was enough to frustrate the Qing Empire. Therefore, after the Sino-Japanese War of -, some people in the Qing Empire hoped to reorganize the Beiyang Navy. Yixue Former shame.

So George held a banquet in the Yekaterin Palace to entertain Li Zhangtong and his nephew Li Jingfang.

Since George could speak Chinese, Li Zhangtong did not bring a translator. There were only George, Li Zhangtong, and Li Jingfang at the dinner table.

What George didn't expect was that Li Zhangtong had no intention of rebuilding the Beiyang Navy. Even when George said that the Bank of Siberia could provide loans, Li Zhangtong remained indifferent.

Could it be that the Huai Army suffered so heavy losses in the Sino-Japanese War that Li Zhangtong gave up?
George didn't quite believe it.

"After the agreement is signed, I will continue to visit Europe and the United States. All matters will be discussed after I complete the inspection."

Li Zhangtong did not stick to his words.

"The Japanese are very ambitious. The Sino-Japanese War was just the beginning, not the end. You have successfully given the Japanese a taste of the sweetness, and they will not let it go."

George reminded Li Zhangtong that people without long-term worries must have immediate worries.

"Your Highness the Duke, I think you should be more worried now—"

Li Zhang is an old man and is not as easy to fool as Nicholas.

"What you said makes sense, but if a fire breaks out at the city gate and affects Chiyu, don't you make any preparations?"

George knew that there must be a war between Japan and Russia, otherwise Japan would not form the Sixty-Sixth Fleet.

Japan ordered "Fuji" and "Yashima" from the UK for a unit price of 100 million pounds, equivalent to about 1000 million yen.

Japan is continuing to negotiate with the United Kingdom on the purchase of battleships. This time the Japanese are eyeing the Majesty class.

"Fuji" and "Yashima" are improved versions of the monarch class.

The "Majesty" class battleship is Britain's latest first-class main battleship, with a displacement of 15000 tons and a unit price of 120 million pounds.

Two "Fuji" ships and four "Majesty" ships, the total price is close to 7000 million yen.

Adding six heavy cruisers and auxiliary ships, as well as other expenses, the total amount Japan needs to spend to build the Sixth Fleet is 2.13 million yen, of which 1.395 million yen comes from the Sino-Japanese War reparations.

The "Great Navy Plan" formulated by the Russian Empire lasted for 10 years, with a total scale of 4.5 million rubles, and a total of 17 battleships to be built.

George couldn't comment on which plan was more scientific. Anyway, the British took the lion's share of the credit, and Germany and France were also making noises.

The battleships Japan needed were ordered from Britain.

Heavy cruisers, both Germany and France may get orders.

Russia has limited domestic slipways, and sooner or later it will have to order warships from abroad.

The Vladivostok Shipyard is expanding the slipway. The two newly built slipways can build up to 1.5 tons.

"His Royal Highness the Duke is proficient in Chinese and should know the truth that harmony is the most precious——"

There was not a word of truth in Li Zhangtong's mouth.

But this is understandable.

Li Zhangtong, who was born in 1823, is already over seventy years old, and his time is running out. Even if the Qing Empire rebuilds the Beiyang Navy, there is a high probability that he will have nothing to do with Li Zhangtong.

Li Zhangtong stayed in St. Petersburg for a total of 2 months. On April 4, Li Zhangtong led Li Jingfang and others to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and exchanged opinions with Lobanov, Witte, and George on the plenipotentiary decrees of both sides, and reviewed the Qing and Russian treaties. The text was correct, and each of them stamped and stamped it, and the "Treaty of Mutual Assistance between Qing and Russia in Defending Enemies" was concluded.

The full text of the treaty contains six articles. The first article stipulates that if Japan invades the Russian Far East, or the lands of the Qing Dynasty and Goryeo, the Qing Dynasty and Russia shall assist each other with all their naval and land forces.

At the same time, it was stipulated that in order to facilitate Russia's transportation of troops, the Qing State agreed to the Russian Empire's construction of the Middle East Railway, and the project was handed over to the Sino-Russian Daosheng Bank.

After the treaty was signed, George signed a project contract with Dowson Bank on behalf of the China Eastern Railway Company.

On the night when the contract was signed, George hosted a banquet at the Yekaterin Palace for Prince Ukhtomsky, chairman of Daosheng Bank.

Duke Ukhtomsky had accompanied Nicholas to Vladivostok and had a fairly good relationship with George.

George hopes that Dowson Bank can cooperate more closely with Siberia Bank.

"George, I'm afraid not-"

Prince Ukhtomsky is sorry, but George is not the only one who is eyeing Dowson Bank.

(End of this chapter)