Struggle in Russia

"This old bastard, he always uses the same rhetoric every time, and every time he is perfunctory, damn old eunuch!"

Needless to say, Grand Duke Constantine lost again in this struggle, and his plan to develop a new type of navy in an all-round way was once again completely rejected by Menshikov. In the end, only one 2,000-ton ship was left in the ambitious construction plan. The so-called Royal Cruisers of the class survived.

What is a Royal Cruiser?

In fact, it is a lightly armed steam yacht. Its main purpose is not to fight wars, but to serve as a ship for Nicholas I to inspect the navy and visit foreign countries. To put it bluntly, it is just a high-end royal toy.

Such a flashy ship was fought by Grand Duke Constantine in every possible way, and Menshikov agreed to allocate funds after receiving the support of his father Nicholas I. As for the construction plans of other battleships and large cruisers, they are all stillborn, and even pre-research is not allowed. Menshikov's reasoning was that foreign shipbuilding companies had to be consulted, which would cost a lot of money, and the navy didn't have that much money.

Is the navy really out of money?

It must be false, but most of the shipbuilding funds were allocated to the old sailing battleships. A large battleship with one hundred 18-pound and 20-pound cannons on three decks is Menshikov's favorite. As for a steamship, to hell with it!

"What's the use of those old antiques!" Grand Duke Constantine was still venting his anger, "Does he think it's still 1804!"

In a sense, veterans like Menshikov are still stuck in 1804, and the war mode they are familiar with and understand is still so retro and traditional. Know nothing about new technologies and tactics.

"Unfortunately, we lack convincing evidence!"

After venting his anger, Grand Duke Constantine was very discouraged. Russia really doesn't even have an entry-level level in steam engine technology. When Britain, France and even Prussia are starting to build railways, Russia is sleeping. Can you believe that as of 1847, there was only one poor railway line with a total length of 37 kilometers in the vast Russia!

And it's not so much a railway as it is the Czar's big toy. Because this railway is only for the tsar and the royal family, the main purpose is to carry the tsar's family from St. Petersburg to the royal village of Gatchina for vacation.

The vast majority of the railway is idle. Nicholas I had no love for the train as a means of transportation, and he did not see its potential huge military and economic value at all.

This is true even for railways, not to mention ships. The dignitaries of Nicholas I were not interested in any new gadgets, and only wanted to maintain the glorious traditions of Russia. Even if this so-called tradition is completely outdated and backward, as long as no one beats them all over the head with new weapons, they refuse to accept the reality that they are far behind.

"We must step up publicity so that more people can see the great value of the steam engine!"

So said the Grand Duke Constantine. But it is easier said than done. It is precisely because of Russia's backwardness in the first industrial revolution that Russia's academic circles are very closed. Not many people understand steam engines and boilers, and they have little international influence. But with the old-fashioned and proud Russian dignitaries, they can't listen to the preaching of foreign authorities, thinking that they are all tricks by foreigners to cheat money.

At this moment, Grand Duke Constantine hopes that the Russians can help him, otherwise the million rubles he invested before will be in vain.

Yes, it is not without reason that the Grand Duke Constantine is so vigorously raising the flag for steam ships. Three years ago, he invested in a new steel factory and a boiler and steam engine factory. Prepare for the production of steel and boiler turbine equipment needed for the construction of steam ships.

Last year, these two factories were completed and put into production, but the sales volume was very little after one year. The rolled rails can barely drink some porridge by relying on the Huangcun Railway, but basically no one cares about boiler equipment and steam engines.

Millions of fortunes are about to go to waste. Do you think Grand Duke Constantine can not get angry? Before that, he was planning to use his power to find a way in the naval budget. As long as three or four new steamships can be built, his steel factory, boiler factory and steam engine factory can at least continue to be maintained, not to mention making a lot of money.

And now it's all over by the bastard Menshikov. How much iron can a royal yacht sell for? How many boilers and steam engines can be sold? This amount is too little!

"Why don't you go to His Majesty again to find a solution?" Nikolai Milyutin suggested.

Grand Duke Konstantin replied dejectedly: "It's useless, the royal yacht was approved by my father, otherwise Menshikov would not even agree to this."

"Then can you work with the big businessmen who run shipping and the aristocrats who mine mines?"

Grand Duke Constantine sighed again: "I tried it. Those old profiteers and old fried dough sticks are all cunning and cunning. They only consider ordering if they agree to their harsh conditions. I can't accept this kind of threat!"

It can only be said that Russia's backwardness is all-round. Both merchants and nobles have expressed their rejection of new ships and machines that are expensive and require higher maintenance. Anyway, they have a lot of serfs who have to work hard to get something to eat. The cost is low, so why do they need expensive machines?

Those very few who were interested in Grand Duke Constantine's proposal did not come for the machine, but hoped that the powerful Grand Duke Constantine would open the way for them. Either ask for the promotion of a few children, or directly ask for a certain official position. It's like a power-for-money deal in disguise.

It's not that Grand Duke Constantine is absolutely incorruptible, but that the other party's asking price is too high, far exceeding his psychological expectations, which makes him feel uneconomical. So things are deadlocked.

Nikolai Milyutin suggested again: "Then can we find a way to export? Sweden, Denmark and Prussia have a lot of demand for steel, right?"

Grand Duke Constantine was a little bit about to cry: "They said that the quality of my factory's products is average, the price is too expensive, and our country's tariffs are too high..."

Nikolai Milyutin sighed in his heart. In fact, he liked and was optimistic about Grand Duke Constantine, but sometimes the Grand Duke lacked foresight and was too impulsive in his actions. At that time, I felt that the iron and steel plant and the boiler and steam engine plant had a future, so I immediately expanded them regardless.

As a result, the quality and output of the products in the factory are very average, the production cycle is extremely long, and the scrap rate is extremely high. Naturally, the cost is high and the price is high. It is normal that they cannot compete with similar foreign products.

This made Milyutin scratch his head a little bit, not knowing what to do, should he persuade Grand Duke Constantine to sell the factory and stop the loss early?

When Nikolai Milyugin and Grand Duke Konstantin were relatively speechless, Dmitry Milyugin rushed in excitedly. He raised the newspaper in his hand and said happily: "Your Excellency, look quickly, Good news! Your factory may be saved!!"