War Palace and Knee Pillow, Austria’s Destiny

But even so, it still cannot stop the British from loving Swiss handicrafts, especially those engaged in navigation-related careers, who regard them as a symbol of status and strength.

The environment at sea is harsher and more bumpy than on land, and there are also higher standards and requirements for time accuracy, so sailors are in urgent need of an object of spiritual sustenance.

After all, facing the vast and endless sea, without reference objects, it is easy for people to suffer from mental depression. With a watch, sailors can at least live with their fingers.

In fact, going from pocket watches to wristwatches is an inevitable development process, because the pace of human life will become faster and faster, and clothing will also develop towards simplicity and lightweight. This is a historical trend. Knowing this, Franz can do a lot. matter.

For example, the formal clothes that Franz wears every day are perfectly normal for people of this era, but in a hundred years, people who wear them all day long will be regarded as crazy.

Talking back to the watch industry, even if the level of the watch factory opened by Franz is not yet up to the level of Swiss watches, it will not be much worse.

But in terms of fame, I'm afraid it won't be able to compare with it for a long time. At this time, if we want to pry open the Russian market, there is no better billboard than the Tsar's family. And if the watch can really set off a trend, maybe the Austrian watch industry can also complete a counterattack.

Queen Alexandra put a watch on her hand and held her husband's arm.

"Dear, do you think it looks good?"

Nicholas I looked at it seriously and said.

"Isn't it just a watch with a strap? Isn't it good to put it in your pocket? It's so flamboyant."

Of course Alexandra knew her husband's straight temperament, so she said it carefully.

"Dear, just imagine, a lady puts her hand into the inner pocket of her skirt to fumble around in order to tell the time. I'm afraid it's not very elegant. It's much more convenient to wear it on the hand, and I think it looks good. .You see the children also like it very much.”

Nicholas I just replied lightly.

"As long as you like it."

Then he said to Archduke Karl.

"Karl, let's go. My children are also excellent hunters."

Olga Nikolaevna, Alexandra Nikolaevna, Konstantin Nikolaevich, Nikolai Nikolaevich, Mikhail ·Nikolaevich, among the 6 children of Nicholas I who are still in Russia, only Alexander did not come.

Queen Alexandra's explanation was that she was newly married and had a sweet and intimate relationship, so she could not be present. But in fact, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was wandering around somewhere, especially since Section 3 searched all over St. Petersburg and couldn't find him.

The Special Third Section was a secret service organization directly affiliated with the Tsar, similar to Austria's secret police force. Although it was smaller in number, it was much more efficient.

On the outskirts of St. Petersburg, the royal hunting grounds.

There was a gunshot, and then a brown bear 150 meters away let out an angry roar. A bullet hit it in the abdomen. Fear and anger overwhelmed its mind, and it chose to attack the crowd.

"Don't shoot yet!" Nicholas I said.

At this time, facing the brown bear running at high speed, Archduke Karl raised his gun, took aim and pulled the trigger.

There was another gunshot, and the brown bear was hit in the forelimb and immediately fell to the ground, but still roared angrily.

But the struggle soon ceased. The Tsar's gun had been loaded, and he shot the brown bear in the forehead.

The bullet penetrated the skull, and gurgling blood flowed out. I don't know who took the lead in shouting.

"Your Majesty the Great Tsar Ulla."

"Ula!"

"Ula!"

The Tsar had a great harvest today. In one afternoon, they hunted 3 bears, 1 tiger, five deer, and 12 rabbits.

The accompanying officials naturally tried their best to praise the Tsar's shooting skills. Only he knew that this was entirely due to the new bullets.

Just like what Archduke Karl said, this kind of bullet not only fills quickly but also has extremely high accuracy. A skilled shooter like him can complete the loading in only ten seconds.

During this period, it was generally believed that reloading speed was equal to firepower, and the design of the bullet was at the bottom of the box. Faced with such a generous gift, Tsar Nicholas I was a little overwhelmed.

"Karl, my friend. I really don't know how to thank you. This gift is so great!" After saying that, Nicholas I called his two daughters over.

"These are Olga and Nikolayevna. They are my most precious treasures. If possible, I hope they can marry your sons."

Nicholas I had only met Albrecht, and he had a good impression of the young man. He was a very brave young man and an outstanding soldier.

In fact, marriage with Austria has always been within the Tsar's consideration. Last time, he hoped that his eldest son Alexander could marry the youngest daughter of Archduke Karl.

Because Russia really needs an ally, and the British are like a mountain lingering above his head.

In the previous crises, Russia was increasingly isolated, which was not what the Tsar wanted to see. Although he does not want Austria to compete with it for hegemony in the Balkans, it is better than falling to the enemy.

"Your Majesty, I am flattered by your generosity, but it is better for the children to decide their own affairs." Although Archduke Karl was very rigid in many aspects, he was extremely liberal when it came to his children's marriage.

As a result, his children led to many strange marriages. In fact, Archduke Karl's own marriage was very strange because he married a Protestant, which was definitely considered a high priority among the Habsburg family who claimed to be the guardian of Catholicism at the time. The above is an alien among aliens.

"Oh? What do you want? My friend." Nicholas I was a very cheerful person, so he spoke directly.

"I want to discuss a business with His Majesty. Our country's textile industry requires a large amount of cotton, and this crop cannot be grown on Austrian soil."

Archduke Karl actually didn't quite understand Franz's purpose, but he believed in his elder brother's vision. Of course, even if he was wrong, it was because Franz II had nothing to do with him.

"Cotton?" Nicholas I didn't know much about the economy. He only knew that his country earned foreign exchange by exporting grain and timber.

"Hilarion." Nicholas I called the Prime Minister Hilarion Vasilyevich Vasilchikov, and the Prime Minister trotted all the way to the Tsar's side.

"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

"My friend wants to buy cotton. Let's talk." Nicholas I said, but Hilarion immediately looked embarrassed.

"what happened?"

"Your Majesty, we in Russia are also cotton importers." Hilarion replied.

Nicholas I immediately frowned, but he felt that the design of this bullet was much more valuable than some piece of shit cotton. He was about to ask Ilarion to meet Archduke Karl's request.

"Your Majesty, your land in southern Russia, the Black Sea and the Caucasus is actually suitable for growing cotton, but the local officials don't know it."