With the commissioning of the "Roma", the smell of gunpowder in the world suddenly became stronger. The relationship between the two giants of HRE and Britain is tense, and all countries are afraid of being accidentally involved and being torn to pieces.

Then, an interesting scene appeared. After the Vienna and London governments announced their plans to build ships and kicked off the naval arms race, the countries of the world turned a deaf ear.

Mo said that it was followed by the construction of "super battleships", and even conventional warships were rarely approved by the state. It is as if everyone has made up their minds to fight this "arms race" by ignoring it.

It's right to think that the superiority of HRE and Britain has long been established. The naval strength of any one is stronger than the countries ranked second, three, four, five or six combined.

The gap is so huge, no matter how much you struggle, it's useless, so you just accept your fate. Anyway, you can't turn the tables, so why bother to make yourself unhappy?

The most important thing is that everyone wants to follow the trend, and there is no way to follow it. The industry of Britain and HRE is strong, and it is not necessary to build super battleships, but it does not mean that other countries can too.

Let's not talk about other problems, we can't solve the photodynamic system.

Don't look at the power system of the "Roma" has reached 23,000 horsepower, just think that the power technology has been very developed, in fact, the power system used by most warships has less than 10,000 horsepower.

The South Carolina-class battleships built by the Americans in the original time and space were equipped with compound steam engine power, and the power was only 16,500 horsepower.

That was ten years later, and at this juncture, only Britain and HRE were the only ones who made breakthroughs in steam turbine technology.

If the power can't keep up, it means the speed can't keep up. When you win, you can't catch up with the enemy, and when you can't win, you can't outrun the enemy. Snail-class battleships don't make any sense at all, except for a waste of resources.

Not only is the power technology not up to standard, but a series of technologies such as armament, fire control, and armor are all problems that hinder everyone from entering the era of dreadnoughts.

Of course, if a country has a lot of money and doesn't care about losses and costs, it can be smashed out by money.

It's a pity that it's 1900, and it's not suitable for local tyrants to survive at all. With deep wealth and backward science and technology, that is the food of the great powers, and there is no chance to spend money on development.

There are no followers, which overshadows this arms race. Frenz, who originally wanted to make a fortune by exporting dreadnought technology, was greatly disappointed.

No way? In these days, the countries of the world are still too poor. Can't afford such an expensive toy? can only let the two local tyrants of Britain and Austria play.

Even the ambitious tsarist government, after learning about the cost of the construction of the "Roma"? All silent? Not to mention other countries.

I don't know if it's because no one is there to cheer up, which disappointed the two British and Austrian performers? In the ensuing competition, the two governments have more time to fight with each other? Less has been taken into action.

That kind of today you announced the construction of two? The scene where I announced the construction of three ships tomorrow and the day after tomorrow when you announced the construction of four ships did not happen.

The Vienna government announced a plan to build five ships in five years, and the London government only came up with a plan of "seven ships in five years." Counting the "Roma" already in service? The gap between the two countries is only one.

The British pressed their heads? But it did not achieve absolute superiority. After all, the HRE Navy is mainly nested in the Mediterranean Sea and has a geographical advantage.

In the competition, the governments of the two countries maintained "restraint", which disappointed the melon-eating masses? At the same time, I was relieved.

There are many who want Britain and Austria to be unlucky, but there are few who want the two countries to go to war immediately. Especially the small countries in Europe? is even more worried that the two "demons fighting" will affect them mortals.

The scene was not fierce enough, and in the final analysis, the competition between Britain and Austria was not white-hot. The contradictions between the two countries revolve mainly around hegemony? The focus of core interests is on the currency.

The battle between Aegis and the pound sterling for the world currency began twenty years ago? Although it was not possible to tell the winner? However, the scope of their respective interests is largely delineated.

Generally speaking? The European continent, Africa, the Middle East, the South Seas and other regions are the circulation areas of Aegis; In the Americas, South Asia, the Far East and other regions, the pound is dominant.

In addition to the struggle for currency hegemony, Britain and Austria also clashed over overseas trade, but the competition was not so fierce.

Because of the industrial structure, the current trade pattern is: British industrial and commercial products dominate traditional fields such as the textile industry; HRE, on the other hand, has the upper hand in emerging industries, agricultural product processing and other fields.

As for the colonial strife, it is not worth mentioning. The HRE did not expand to India, nor did the British expand their sphere of influence in Africa, neither of them broke through the bottom line of the other side.

Contradictions can accumulate, and the current conflict of interest is not big enough, which does not mean that the future conflict of interest is not big enough.

Time was on his side, Franz had enough patience to wait, it was the British who should be in a hurry.

Of course, with Britain's special system, it is estimated that the top level of the London government will not be too worried.

"Potential threat" is still "potential" after all. For politicians, as long as they don't explode during their term of office, everything is negotiable.

Whoever governs is the same, and it is far more important to continue the glory of the "Victorian era" than to pierce the window paper in advance and eliminate the "potential" threat.

More importantly, because of the Holy Roman Empire, this "potential threat" is too great a threat to Britain, like a person suffering from "terminal cancer".

It is easy to go up and down the operating table. If you win the bet, you can live for a few more years, but it is more likely that you will be paralyzed in the hospital bed for the rest of your life.

On the contrary, it is conservative treatment, which can be dragged on for a period of time. Although it will definitely be over later, that will also be the future.

The times are moving so fast, maybe in the last few months, medical technology suddenly broke through.

That's what the current British government thinks. On the one hand, he is trying to find a way to contain and suppress Shinra, and on the other hand, he doesn't want to tear his face directly, waiting for the international situation to change.

……

No matter how much you calculate, life always has to pass. The cabinet government, which has been at the helm of the Vienna government for more than 20 years, finally came to an end this year.

This time there is no need for Franz to stay, the old body no longer allows these old ministers to continue to fight for this empire, and the change of office is necessary.

"Government change" is a major event in any country, and HRE is no exception.

In a sense, the fact that the arms race has not expanded has nothing to do with this reshuffle.

Before the new leadership came out, the first task of the Vienna government was to sort out its internal affairs, and it did not have the time to go around doing things at all.

The same applies to the United Kingdom, where a few months ago the government in London had just completed a general election. Only this time the British didn't toss the moth, and the London government guys won re-election.

……

At the Vienna Palace, Franz is tasting art in the exhibition hall. Of course, this was an outsider's opinion, and as far as Franz was concerned, he felt that it was more appropriate to describe it as "vassal elegance".

"Art", such a lofty thing, is simply not something that ordinary people can taste. Even Franz once suspected that this thing was a way for the elite to deliberately make up and harvest the leeks that broke out.

Suspicion is suspicion, but Franz has no intention of delving. As the very top of the ruling class, he was very tolerant of anything that was conducive to domination.

Despite his lack of artistic talent and average creative talent, this did not prevent Franz from becoming a great artist.

Thanks to the special status of the emperor, as long as his name is hung, whether it is calligraphy, painting, or other handicrafts, it will become a work of art.

Franz has no doubt that his graffiti works can be sold for sky-high prices.

Just think about it, as a wealthy emperor, Franz has not yet been reduced to the point of selling works to make a living. Even if an occasional work goes out, it is given away.

Scarcity is expensive, and once there is a large number of works of art, it is not worth much. Worthlessness is a trivial matter, the key is to force it down.

As the emperor, Franz can not care about the price of the work, but he must not lose it.

Watching Franz leisurely wielding pen and ink and practicing calligraphy on paper, Frederick, who hurried over, was not good in an instant.

For the sake of the change of government, he, the crown prince, is about to die, but the main lord is like no one, and anyone will be unbalanced.

There is no way to be unbalanced, a sentence of "exercise your ability" is enough to block all his words.

There was no time to rest, Frederick panted and said, "Father, this is the last list of candidates. There are 46 people in all, and there are three to five candidates for each position in the cabinet. ”

"Hmm!"

"Let's put it down for now, find a place to rest by myself, and I'll talk about it when I'm done."

Franz replied nonchalantly.

"Okay."

This scene in front of him forced Frederick to accept a reality: the diligent emperor of the past is no longer there.

Recalling his old memories, Frederick suddenly realized that in the depths of his memory, it seemed that he had never seen his father busy.

Even if you need to work overtime occasionally, it's a special time. In normal times, Franz was a staunch to the four-hour workday, or the kind of irregular vacation.

It's just that Frederick has never figured out why such an idle father would become a representative of "diligent government".

After a while, the masterpiece was finally completed, and Franz put away the pen, moved his shin for a moment, and then opened the file and browsed it.

"It's okay, the candidate's information is complete enough, and the evaluation given is also very pertinent, and I didn't let the abusive people get in.

It seems that you have done your homework well, and these candidates are the best candidates in terms of political performance and political skills.

Whoever you like more, put their names first, and at the next Imperial Council, just nominate them for election. ”

Unlike the election of government leaders in other countries at the same time, the HRE was still popular for nominating the emperor and voting for the imperial parliament.

There are two eligibility criteria for candidates: first, they must have sufficient political performance and outstanding political skills; Second, politically you must be a staunch royalist member.

In particular, the second point is particularly important, because a lack of ability is acceptable, but any political flaw is intolerable.

The Holy Roman Empire was so large, and the last thing it lacked was capable officials. According to the provisions of the HRE Constitution, cabinet candidates nominated by the emperor can be officials of high rank and above.

Electing a cabinet government from among the hundreds of people is almost one in a hundred, and the room for choice is completely large.

There are no fools who can climb to this position. The lack of ability has long been in the previous competition, and it has already been pulled down.

They are all in charge of one side, and no matter who is in the cabinet government, they can ensure the normal operation of the government.

Otherwise, Franz would not have been left unattended by such an important task, and all of it would have been left to Frederick.

After so many years of hard work, the small states in the HRE have also been almost co-opted by Franz. A few disgruntled people dare not be demons because of the general trend.

Just look at the Reichstag and see that any proposal made by Franz himself was never vetoed.

Hearing that he was in charge of everything, Frederick asked in disbelief: "Isn't it too ...... for me to determine all the candidates?"

Before Frederick could finish speaking, Franz interrupted with a wave of his hand: "Not so much. Sooner or later, you'll be in charge of all of this, but it's just a little bit ahead of schedule.

What you need to do now is to elect the best possible government team and smooth the transition of power.

On top of that, you also have to be concerned about the changing international situation. In recent times, the number of laborers shipped from France to Russia has decreased significantly.

It seems that there are enough laborers for the Trans-Siberian Railway. If I am not mistaken, it will not be long before the Russians withdraw their troops from France.

At this point, it is estimated that the tsarist government has also understood. The reparations of the French are the moon in the water.

You can see it, but you can't touch it.

France has been tossed and broken, and there are not enough interests, and the tsarist government will not die in France.

Regardless of whether the tsarist government wanted to go south or east, it made no sense to continue garrisoning France.

If it weren't for the Trans-Siberian Railway, it is estimated that they would have retreated two years earlier. It has not been easy to drag on until now.

The Russian army can be evacuated, but the gap left by the withdrawal of the Russian army must be filled in a way.

France is a big country with a long history. Although they have suffered heavy blows in recent years, their arrogance has not been exhausted.

In the past years, the French have been entangled with us for hundreds of years, and it is only with great difficulty that they have been pressed down, and they must not be allowed to rise.

The Russians have helped to do all the bad things, and the next thing we have to do is to spread anti-war ideas in France, and when their fighting spirit is exhausted, we can return to normal. ”

It is easy to defeat a big country, but it is difficult to defeat a big country. The more traditional a country is, the harder it is to be defeated.

After so many years of tossing, the French still did not give up resistance. The Russians were on the verge of collapse, and if it had not been for the Vienna government's military expenses, the tsarist government would have been dragged down long ago.

However, the reality is harsh. The stronger the French showed their will to resist, the less they could succeed in the anti-French alliance.

At this time, the benefits of having more allies are manifested. No matter how much France is tossed, there is no need to provoke the intervention of the international community.

What should be done and what should not be done, the Russian army has already done it. Violence has been used, and now it's the turn of politics to play.

Regardless of whether the French elite is willing to accept it or not, anyway, if it does not accept harmless treatment for a day, France will not be able to return to normal for a day.

Only when anti-war ideology becomes the mainstream of society and the wrongness of waging a war of aggression is realized can France become a normal country.

Of course, garrisoning and restricting armaments are still indispensable. Franz didn't want the French to arm themselves again.

In fact, the Russian army has done a good job in this regard. Send all the opponents to God, and get all the young and strong laborers of the affected families to Siberia to build the railway.

Although the French gritted their teeth with hatred, under the bloody suppression of the Russian army, they were still unable to turn over the big waves.

There is no way, the mountainous area of France is too small. ran into a Russian general who likes to burn mountains in fire, and the guerrillas really don't have much room to survive.

In the past few years, the Russian army has consumed hundreds of thousands of tons of fuel every year because of the setting fire to the mountain. If it weren't for HRE and the world's largest oil producer, such consumption would really be unbearable.

According to the current situation, if the Russian army burns all the way, sooner or later it will be able to finish the forest disaster.

With successful cases, it is enough to follow suit. Anyway, there may not be much else in the HRE, but there must be a lot of oil.

You don't really need to burn the mountain down, you just need to make a gesture to scare the intellectuals and cut off their thoughts.

Frederick, who reacted, asked uncertainly: "Do you want to divide France again?" ”

It's not that Frederick thinks too much, but the main thing is that France has been severely weakened in recent years, not only the economy is in a mess, but the country's population has also fallen sharply.

The Viennese government wanted to continue to carve up France, and as long as it pulled in a few allies, the success rate was quite high.

Franz replied sternly: "Don't be cranky, France has been liquidated once after the European War." Now let's do another wave, why should people be convinced?

Unless you want to go out in the future and be assassinated every day. Otherwise, when doing such a thing, there must be a reasonable reason that can convince the majority.

What's more, there is no more France. Do you think Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Sardinia and other countries will still rely on us so much? ”

Reparations for losing the war and reparations for land cession are the common rules in European society. What's more, it was the homeland of the Shinra that was taken away, which is completely justified legally.

Even if the French have a grudge in their hearts, they can slowly digest and accept it. Coupled with the Russians, the big boss who pulls hatred, there are not many people who count the accounts on the Habsburgs.

If there is another wave of carve-up now, there is nothing to say. It is estimated that the French will hate the Holy Roman Empire to death.

Unless he can kill all these guys, Franz really won't dare to go out. Although he has many guards, he often walks by the river, and who can guarantee that his shoes will not get wet?

The core of the existence of the anti-French alliance is the "French threat theory", and if there is no common enemy of France, the people's hearts will soon be scattered.