At this time, there was news about several other things related to Peter.

Sure enough, Peter's suggestion about the formation of the three-lined line was not adopted, apparently as a result of Marshal Apleksin's interference. Peter, who learned of this, was furious and whipped the wooden stake for two hours before stopping, and none of the attendants and janissaries, including Mirkovsky, dared to dissuade him.

Peter was not angry with the field marshal for making small moves, although it was 100% of the small actions that led to the test results of the three-line shape being inferior to the four-line shape, but because his brain was too rigid and pedantic.

Because in a few years, although Peter did not know the exact date, the Seven Years' War, which can be called the first world war in modern history, was about to break out, which was the most influential war before the American Revolution, covering Europe, North America, the Caribbean in Central America, West Africa, and the South Asian subcontinent. If Russia could not secure the land along the English Channel in this war, Peter's colonial plans would be frustrated. Therefore, even if it is to help that cheap aunt, Russia must win more thoroughly. And if you want to win, you have to spend more time on the army.

The famous 'Red Shirts', also known as the lobsters of England, swept across Eurasia with a three-platoon circular firing formation trained during the Seven Years' War. This time it was ruined by Marshal Apleksin the Younger, which was enough to delay the reform of the Russian Empire's army by at least a few years, so it is no wonder that Peter was not angry.

As for his other idea, which was to improve artillery ammunition, it was adopted by the army.

Because Russia lacks everything, except wood and fur, it is particularly fast to promote the use of both paper and wood products. It is said that oil-soaked paper was developed for making gunpowder packets, and the wooden cork used to hold the air in the gun chamber was replaced by pine wood, which can be found everywhere, because the oak wood was too elastic and easy to jam.

At present, the only problem is the amount of gunpowder in the gunpowder pack, because the level of iron smelting and casting is uneven, even the same type of artillery, the amount of gunpowder that needs to be added is not the same, in fact, experienced artillerymen are repeatedly tried to find the amount when loading. So the problem now is either to make a large powder pack that is difficult to adjust, or to make a bunch of small powder packs to fit different guns.

Of course, there are also those who believe that the ratio of gunpowder should be changed, such as adding some new combustion and stabilizing components, and changing the size of gunpowder particles. Some people also think that powdered gunpowder burns too fast, and it is better to add some large particles of gunpowder appropriately to reduce the reaction speed. But these are still experiments, and no concrete conclusions have been drawn.

On this day, at a cabinet meeting, Field Marshal Apleksin Jr. was reading his military budget proposal.

"Your Majesty, this is about the construction plan for a new type of communication tower, which is expected to take five years and will require a total of 2 million rubles"

"2 million rubles? Are you kidding? 400,000 rubles a year just for this communication tower? Ridiculous, right? ”

Although under Empress Elizabeth, there were no foreign wars in the Russian Empire and the country was relatively stable, the treasury was still stretched, with an annual income of less than 10 million rubles. Although the population of the country is as high as 15 million, second only to France's 18 million, the standing army is less than 100,000, only two-thirds of the Prussian standing army, and Prussia's population is less than 5 million.

"Your Majesty, 2 million rubles here is calculated at an average cost of 500 roubles for the construction and maintenance of each transmission tower, which means that 4,000 transmission towers will be built throughout the country. With these towers, even as far east as Omtsk, news can reach St. Petersburg within a day or two, which is amazing."

The field marshal hastened to explain in detail.

"4,000? What do you want so much for? Besides, what kind of place is Omtsk, can it be used so quickly? ”

"This... After all, it is also the land ruled by Your Majesty, so the speed of control over the news..."

"No need!"

Empress Elizabeth waved her hand and said calmly.

"At present, the center of gravity of the Russian Empire is still Europe, so it is only necessary to build these towers on the borders of Sweden, Prussia, Poland, Lithuania, and the Ottoman Empire, which will also save unnecessary costs."

"Understood, Your Majesty"

Marshal Apleksin Jr. nodded hurriedly.

"Your Majesty, I suggest that the existing beacons be used on the border, and that these new communication towers be used in the inland areas, so that it will not be easy for foreign countries to discover our new secrets."

Count Bestuzhev, the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, said with clarity.

"Good, that's it"