Jingle Clank Bell –

In mid-August, Empress Elizabeth and her entourage visited St. Petersburg's seaport district to inspect shipbuilding.

In the dock, a battleship with double gun doors has already set up its keel and is closing the hull.

Hundreds of workers are nailing thick planks to keels, and at the current pace, it should be no problem to launch sea trials in mid-October.

"Your Majesty, this new ship has two layers of guns, 28 24-pounder cannons on the upper deck and 28 32-pounder guns on the lower deck. Although there were some hiccups (accidents...) However, the gun mount for the new short and heavy cannon has been successfully tested, and two more finbones will be added to the hull to stabilize the hull, but it will definitely be completed before it freezes."

The newly hired British Naval Shipbuilding Director respectfully briefed the Empress on the shipyard.

Because the Gulf of Finland, which is part of the Baltic Sea, freezes in November, St. Petersburg, which borders the Gulf of Finland, is also a large ice mound, and from November to May, you can travel to and from the ice sea by sled.

"Well, if we don't spare money and workers to step up shipbuilding work, we must increase the number of capital ships to more than 16 within this year."

Empress Elizabeth said very seriously.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will guarantee the completion of the task at any cost!"

The shipbuilder with an English-style curly beard replied respectfully.

"How? Are you satisfied? ”

By the dock outside the shipyard, Queen Elizabeth said as she stared sideways at Peter, who was throwing stones.

"You didn't order the ship to be built for me, so what does it matter if I'm not satisfied?"

Peter muttered without looking back.

"Humph! If you hadn't messed around and made all this back then, would I have come here to supervise it myself? ”

The Empress shook her hand that had just been wiped with a wet hand towel and angrily accused.

"How can this blame me? If you hadn't canceled the contract for building ships that had already been signed for no reason, would the British have secretly made a grudge against Prussia? Don't forget, I've said many times that you have to have good relations with the UK, otherwise something will definitely happen, and as a result, you always don't take my advice because of prejudice, and you get to this point where you even shift the blame to me... Oh, what a good thing to say! ”

Peter replied not without mockery.

"Hehe, you're really going to put gold on your face! I don't take your advice yet... Just your suggestions are enough for Russia to make enemies for the whole of Europe, do you know! ”

"Ha, whatever you say, let's take a look."

Peter glanced at his aunt.

"Anyway, my first correct suggestion, the reform of the Army's combat ranks, has been confirmed by Prussia. Now, you see, hehe! ”

"Cut, what a boy who doesn't know the height of the sky!"

Looking at Peter with a headache, Queen Elizabeth angrily turned away.

Hehe, looking at the situation, it is estimated that the Seven Years' War will be advanced...

Peter sneered at the gloomy view of the Gulf of Finland.

In mid-October, Peter accompanied Mihai, president of the Royal Academy of Sciences, to the headquarters of the Izmailovsky Corps on the outskirts of the city.

The Izmailovsky Corps was part of the Guards, so it could be stationed in the capital, St. Petersburg.

They had come to demonstrate the new cannons to the Guards officers in response to the increasingly dense war clouds over Europe.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, there is love inside!"

The Legion Commander invited Peter into the main building where the officers were.

Woooo

The sound of metal clashes reached Peter's ears, and in the hall, a group of officers were facing each other, honing their sword skills.

"What's the name of the officer who fights the hardest?"

Peter asked, pointing to a tall, good-looking officer with a beard.

It stands to reason that since Peter the Great had ordered the breaking of the Russian tradition of growing beards, there would be no habit of growing beards among the nobility, otherwise they would certainly be ridiculed.

"No wonder His Highness notices that his name is Gregory. Orlov, an artillery lieutenant, was the second and most powerful of the five brothers."

The corps commander said with a smile.

"Oh - Orlov ..."

Although Catherine II had as many as 23 lovers in her lifetime, the more famous of them were Orlov and Potemkin, two officers from the Guards, in addition to his 'friend' Duke Saltykov and the future Polish king Poniatowski. Apparently, Peter met one of them today.

"He'll help with the demonstration in a moment."

Peter smiled and said to Mihai next to him.