"Oh-oh——!"

"Yo roar - rise up! The big ball is up—"

Time flies, in late May 1753, on the lawn of the Royal Garden on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, the three members of Peter's family and the president of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Mihai and others, were looking up at the sky, only to see a huge spherical thing like a Russian-style circular dome slowly flying into the sky.

Compared to the first hot air balloon experiment recorded in normal history, Peter and his team saw the balloon 30 years earlier than the hot air balloon displayed by the French Mongofeld brothers at the Palace of Versailles in 1783.

"O my God! It really flew! It's amazing! ”

Catherine hugged her daughter Sophia and exclaimed, and the little girl kept shouting, her expression was super cute and excited.

"Haha, fortunately, it's silk, or I'm afraid it's too heavy and doesn't have enough lift!"

Mihai said to Peter with great emotion and gratitude.

The hot air balloons they made this time, like many earlier hot air balloons and hydrogen balloons, were made of expensive silk fabrics. Silk that is both light and dense meets the needs of lightness and airtightness, but ordinary people cannot afford to use it, which is also an important reason why the cost of scientific research was extremely expensive before the popularization of universities.

"Hehe, let's hope Micah and David can go back to earth."

This hot air balloon display is not only done by Peter to make his daughter Sophia happy, but he also puts his two beloved dogs in the hanging basket to prove that the hot air balloon is not a crooked and blasphemous act. Such an end would have been unimaginable in later generations, but it was still in the age of scientific enlightenment, and it would not be until a hundred years later that the Victorian era of science would have emerged.

At the same time, in the palace, Count Razumovsky, a red man at the side of Empress Elizabeth, Count Shuvalov, the mysterious clerk, and Duke Volentsov, the deputy prime minister, asked to meet the empress.

"How about gentlemen? Is there any important news for me? ”

Queen Elizabeth walked into the office in a rage.

"Your Majesty, at noon received an urgent report that the British were secretly building light battleships for Prussia"

The head of the secret spy with the reflection above his head said cautiously.

"No, Britain has been our ally against Prussia since 1750, please verify the authenticity and accuracy of your information!"

Empress Elizabeth replied with a grim face.

"Your Majesty, the source is very reliable, and there is conclusive evidence to prove this"

The mysterious clerk replied without hesitation.

"Oh? What is the source? ”

The empress frowned deeply, and her nose snorted.

"The news was revealed by the Deputy Director of Shipbuilding of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth Harbor, because my country had ordered warships in the UK before, so it took this line"

"Impossible! Why did the British build battleships for Prussia? What's going on? ”

"Yes, since the death of Fred, the heir to King George II, the new Prime Minister Henry Brown. The Whig Party, represented by Pelham, came to power and changed its previous policy of softness and acted very aggressively, not only clashing with France in the East Indies, but also raising taxes at home, causing public resentment to boil. So I guess that most of the British secretly helped Prussia build ships because of money..."

Deputy Prime Minister Volyntsov explained.

"Isn't Bestuzhev well acquainted with the British? Why didn't you disclose it at the Cabinet meeting? ”

As prime minister, although Bestuzhev is a Russian nativist, he has always had good relations with British officials, and Russia's alliance with Britain was also achieved through Bestuzhev.

"This... I don't know if it's down."

Warrentsov deliberately made a very embarrassed expression.

"What's more, the type of battleship that the British built for Prussia was modeled after the four warships built for our country back then, and even the drawings have not changed. According to sources, some people in the British Navy have released rumors that it is too much to build only 4 ships..."

The bald clerk chimed in.

"Humph! The British are playing continental equilibrium, and they want to dip it anywhere! ”

Empress Elizabeth angrily tossed aside the letter she was reading.

"Your Majesty, there is also news from Vienna..."

Razumovsky also spoke at this time.

"Say!"

"This is a confidential letter that will only be sent urgently in exceptional circumstances according to the alliance agreement"

Razumovsky presented a roll of paper in both hands.

"Huh? What is written? ”

As soon as she heard the words of the urgent secret letter, the empress couldn't help but cover her forehead and snort coldly.

"The secret letter revealed that Prussia was undergoing a large-scale army reform, changing the traditional four-row line formation to a three-row formation... And the army will be expanded again, and it is expected that the size of its standing army will reach 180,000 people! ”

"What's going on? Yes? Within a day, our allies suddenly had a secret affair with the enemy! And what I once completely denied turned out to be someone else's! It's..."

"Your Majesty, are you alright? Call the doctor! ”

The Empress slammed the table in anger, and then suddenly covered her lower abdomen with a pained expression, which frightened Razumovsky and hurriedly called for her attendants.

"It's okay! I'm okay! ”

The Empress waved her hand violently and sat up straight with a gasp.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"Don't you really need to call a doctor?"

Razumovsky asked with concern.

"No, you don't! Deputy Prime Minister, what do you suggest? ”

"Your Majesty, I propose to sever all relations with Britain immediately! Sooner or later, such perfidious people will become a serious problem for our country! ”

Volyntsov replied with a sneer.

"Humph! Severing ties... You're taking your idea for granted, aren't you? What about the terms of assistance that were previously signed? At present, the treasury is still empty, and if trade with Britain is cut off again, it will only make it worse! ”

The Empress glanced at the secret letter that had been thrown on her desk.

"No, we still need British gold! Since the British did not take the initiative to tear their faces, they continued to implement the terms of aid! ”

“... Understood, Your Majesty"

Volyntsov nodded awkwardly.

"Also, call the field marshal, I want to call an emergency meeting"

Queen Elizabeth pouted and glanced at the three.

"Then, you still need to call Bestuzhev..."

"No, you don't! Does this still need to be asked? ”

"Yes, Your Majesty"

Volyntsov's eyes rolled, and he leaned over and snickered.