"It's a miraculous invention, and compared to this work of art, the gun lighter and Professor Bélena's invention are ridiculously crude."

"Well, I'm also proud that I have such a good student."

The modern lighter had not yet been invented in this era, and there were only two less common lighters.

One is the gun lighter, as the name suggests, the principle used is exactly the same as the way the pistol is fired, not only is it very complicated to use, but also has a battlefield flavor, not only gunpowder, but also gunsmoke.

The other was invented by the German chemist Bélena, using the principle that hydrogen will catch fire when it encounters platinum cotton.

A small glass cylinder is filled with an appropriate amount of dilute sulfuric acid, an inner tube is installed in the cylinder, zinc sheets are loaded into the inner tube, a top cover is installed in the glass cylinder, and there is a nozzle, platinum cotton and a switch on the top cover, and the zinc sheet in the inner tube is in contact with sulfuric acid to generate hydrogen.

The pressure generated by a certain amount of hydrogen discharges the sulfuric acid in the inner tube into the glass cylinder, and when the switch is turned on, the hydrogen in the inner tube rushes to the platinum cotton and catches fire; The pressure in the inner tube and the glass cylinder is rebalanced, and the sulfuric acid enters the inner tube again, reacting with the zinc sheet to produce hydrogen.

The most important thing is that this lighter is about the size of a modern electric kettle, and it can explode at any time due to bumps and open flames.

However, the Europeans at that time still had a strong interest in this kind of thing, so they went further and further down the evil path.

Of course, Franz did not have such distress, but for safety reasons, he did not use gasoline, but kerosene.

Franz didn't want to let the biggest man in Austrian history leave early, otherwise the vast pot in 1848 would not be able to be divided.

In order to improve the quality and taste, Franz deliberately mixed whale oil and kerosene, so as not to make the taste of kerosene too strong.

As for the design style, Franz followed the design concept of the more successful Zippo lighter. The all-metal shell even had the famous sculptor of Vienna engrave the logo of a double-headed eagle on it.

Speaking of men, it was a strange creature, and the sculptor did not ask for Franz's payment, but for a lighter.

After the design of Franz's lighter was sent to the Academy of Sciences, a group of smokers worked overtime to complete it in one day.

Sure enough, love is the source of motivation, and letting a group of smokers develop lighters is really the right person.

Viscount Stratford listened to Metternich's words and exclaimed.

"I didn't expect you to be a great inventor!"

"No, it was my student who invented this, not me. I can only point a little bit at him on the political side. Metternich said modestly.

"To be able to create such a great invention and be guided by you, it seems that your students are extraordinary." Viscount Stratford could only pick up good things and say, after all, the other party had a tough attitude, and if things collapsed, it would be the British Empire that would be lost.

(Britain wasn't an empire at this time, but the British Empire read a lot more imposing than Britain.) ）

"Extraordinary, indeed, he was a member of the Austrian Imperial Family. Mr. Canning, what are you doing on behalf of your country? Let's put it bluntly. ”

Although Metternich was very patient, he really didn't like the other party's clumsy sycophancy, so he simply got on the right track.

(Mainly for fear that you will say that I am water.) ）

Metternich went straight to the point, but Viscount Stratford was a little unaccustomed to it, and still said to himself.

"Your Excellency, there are many common interests between our two countries. Throughout Europe, the only countries willing to send troops to uphold justice and maintain order are we, Britain and Austria."

Metternich nodded, and it seemed that the other party still had some sincerity. Russia wants to send troops, but you Britain don't agree.

Metternich wanted the French to send troops to copy the British route, but their king was a softie.

As for Prussia, nothing can be done but votes and protests.

"I believe that as long as our two countries join hands, we will be able to ensure the interests of both sides to the greatest extent. The sudden dispatch of troops by your country to Serbia and Bosnia will certainly be strongly opposed by France, Russia, and Prussia. I think your country must need the support of our Britain," said Viscount Stratford.

"You are right, but I do not think that the French will easily abandon their position, and will certainly oppose the imposition of excessive penalties on Egypt by your country. Moreover, Britain did not hesitate to lose its troops at the expense of its troops this time, and it was not just to maintain the integrity of the Ottoman Empire. ”

Metternich deliberately aggravated the two key words of France and the loss of troops, and he believed that the British would not be reconciled to suffer such a great loss this time, and would definitely have to make up for it from elsewhere.

Viscount Stratford scolded in his heart, "Damn old fox, you really won't give an inch." Helmut is an idiot, he really deserves to be hanged. ”

The fiasco at Helmut did have disastrous consequences for British diplomacy, and European countries have not been defeated by a non-Western civilization for a long time.

And the Tories (opposition parties, Conservatives) seized on this and frantically attacked the incumbent Whigs, which also expanded the impact of this naval battle.

At the same time, some unscrupulous media were involved, and under their hype, Helmut's defeat was almost comparable to Napoleon's Battle of Waterloo.

But in fact, Helmut's fleet can only be regarded as a branch of the North Sea Fleet, and it is still far from the carotid artery.

It's just that most politicians are not military strategists, and they only know the impact of this fiasco, which has plunged the entire Whig Party into crisis.

So much so that the always mild-mannered Viscount of Melbourne threatened to put Helmut on trial and hung him on the gallows.

It's just that the British Navy has the highest punishment for a defeated admiral who retires early.

As for the problems of the French, it is not big, but it is not small. France's attitude is an unavoidable issue for the current crisis in the Near East.

After all, if France had not been in the background for Egypt, Muhammad Ali would not have dared to rashly attack the Ottoman Empire.

It's just that France betrayed his allies at the most critical moment, which made Viscount Stratford very confused.

Now Viscount Stratford was only one thing sure, and it seemed that the trick would not work if Austria owed Britain a favor before saying its own terms.

"Your Excellency, I think that in this crisis in the Near East, our two countries share the same position and interests. The further expansion of French power in the Near East is even more detrimental to peace in the Near East."

Metternich had no interest in such empty talk, and personally, he hoped that France would continue to fight the British to the death in the Near East. In this way, the day of complete integration of Italy by Austria was just around the corner.

"In view of the above, my country hopes that your country will shoulder the responsibility of the great powers of the Near East and preside over this meeting to discuss sanctions against Egypt, the shameful aggressor, and France, the master behind it."

Metternich just smiled and didn't answer. He was indeed waiting for the other side to invite Austria to preside over the meeting, but the invaders? Obviously, Ottoman did it first.

(End of chapter)