Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

Franz, who had just enlightened Friedrich, seemed to feel that something was missing, right! Why didn't a third party break the situation and then change the plot?

In fact, I also want to know that Franz and Friedrich are both royal dukes, although the former did not say it explicitly, but a good chamberlain knows what to do.

So the conversation between the two people is really just two people, and no one dares and no one can disturb it.

"As for His Majesty the Emperor and the Church, you don't need to worry. Your Majesty is a good man, he rarely interferes in the affairs of the state, and even less in your private life.

As for the doctrine, it has never been explicitly stated that you are not allowed to marry infidels, so you don't have to worry about it at all.

It really can't be done to convert Princess Sneka, the women of the Omani Empire are just subordinates. And we are not the only ones who want to marry, the Sayyid the Great is even more eager than we are.

I heard that those nomadic tribes in Somalia were preparing to fight for independence with the support of the British.

So you just have to make her realize the reality, and Princess Sneka will definitely die for you. ”

Franz gave his analysis based on the latest intelligence, in fact, the nomadic tribes of Somalia have a fairly high degree of autonomy, they are only nominally subject to the Omani Empire, and usually do not pay taxes at all.

So historically, Somalia wanted to become independent, and the Omani Empire did not stop it, on the contrary, the latter also blessed those chiefs. Then Somalia, which had lost the patronage of the Omani Empire, was divided among the great powers.

The British were trying to repeat their old tricks at this time, and Franz was not prepared to let them get what they wanted. The Omani Empire was also reluctant to give up easily, for the simple reason that the spice trade was expanding.

In addition to the two labels of Horn of Africa and Black Hawk Down, Somalia also had the title of the spice state in the past.

Somalia and Ethiopia almost monopolized the world market for frankincense and myrrh, and trade with Austria opened the Omani Empire to Europe.

Demand for spices surged, and Austria also had trade routes from the East, where the demand for frankincense and myrrh was equally great.

The Oman Empire even sent people to try the artificial cultivation of frankincense and myrrh in Somalia, and Saeed, such a cash cow, was naturally unwilling to give up easily.

In fact, Britain, France, and Austria were all business partners for Said, and he originally wanted to find the one that would be most beneficial to the Omani Empire.

However, after seeing the terrifying strength of the Austrian Empire on several occasions, the Emperor wisely chose to marry the former.

"Are there any new weapons, new tricks?" Friedrich was still more concerned with military issues.

"There are some improved models of weapons, which have already been sent to the armory in Trieste. There is a weapon called a mine, which I guess you will like. Franz said expectantly.

"What's so strange about mines? No experienced captain would salvage such a strange thing at sea. Friedrich was completely unimpressed.

As early as 1585, during the Dutch War of Independence, the Dutch used a super-large drifting mine filled with 500 cubic feet of black powder to directly sink two Spanish warships, killing more than 1,000 people.

During the American Revolution, Washington also used mines, but at that time it was very rudimentary to put gunpowder in beer kegs and detonate them when the kegs floated near the British warships.

In addition to this lowest-level man-operated mine, a watchmaker at the time also invented a mine with a mechanically triggered fuse.

In fact, this thing is very unstable, and it may explode even if it is not hit, and of course it may not explode even if it is hit.

But it was this kind of gadget in a beer barrel that made the British fleet so annoying that the British army did not dare to go into the water to pick up drift casually, which is known as the "keg war".

(Europeans are actually very fond of collecting drift objects, a hobby that has been around since ancient Greek times.) Since the ocean is always a dangerous place with shipwrecks, pirates, and all kinds of risk accidents, sailors drifting on the sea can always pick up some mess.

This can also be reflected in the games made by Europeans and Americans, such as Heroes Invincible)

The Russians also bombed the bridge with mines, which the Austrians and Prussians used to bomb French warships (river lines).

Overall, however, little has been achieved.

In addition to being powerful, it seems that there is no advantage, and it is expensive and extremely unstable.

"No, not traditional floating mines and floating mines, but anchor mines." Franz argued.

"Anchor Mine?" Friedrich was clearly interested.

In fact, it was not that Friedrich was unheard, but that the navy at that time paid great attention to mines, and the army used mines even more often than the navy on the European continent.

Franz: "That's right, it's a mine that can be completely hidden underwater, and it will only blow up large ships that exceed a certain tonnage. ”

Friedrich: "How is this possible? Could it be that those mines have long eyes? Won't a boat blow up if it hits them? ”

Franz: "It's not that you have long eyes, it's that you use buoyancy." ”

"Using buoyancy? You mean draft!? Friedrich, one of the greatest commanders in the history of the Austrian Navy, quickly thought of the principle of anchor mines, but soon became worried.

Franz: "Yes, exactly. I know what you're worried about. This new type of anchor mine has abandoned the original mechanical collision fuze, and the chemical fuse used is more sensitive than before. ”

In fact, Franz wanted an electric contact fuse, but the Austrian Empire was still too backward in this regard, and he himself had only heard the name of this technology, and he did not know the specific principle and method of making it.

As for the chemical fuse, it can only be dealt with for a while, because it is so sensitive that a large fish can trigger it when it is placed in the water, and the shelf life is very short, and it will be completely ineffective after six months after launching, and it will not be effective for decades like the mines of later generations.

"Why don't you send this good thing to California?" Friedrich couldn't help but ask, a little confused.

Franz: "It's been in development, whether it's in mass production or not, and I hope to be professionally tested by marines and get feedback before continuing to improve." ”

Friedrich: "Then don't you ask Ferdinand to get more ordinary mines so that you don't have to be afraid of the US Navy?" ”

Franz: "How can it be so easy? And the terrible thing about mines is that they are easy to deploy and difficult to discard, they are really everywhere, and when the Americans are driven away, what will we do ourselves? ”

"Okay, okay. I really hope that those savage Americans can have a bottom line like you. Friedrich said impatiently. Oh, yes. One more thing, my wife, you can take care of it for me. ”

“.” Franz was speechless for a while: "What is this unfolding?" ”

Friedrich: "I finally know why you had to let that Japanese woman stay with you when you were sailing at sea.

People really go crazy if they stay at sea for a long time, and half of Sneca's twenty maids have big bellies now, and there are so many people that it is not even clear who did it. ”

“.” Franz was even more speechless: "I thought you had always been strict in governing the army." ”

Friedrich: "I'm about to change the people on the ship, I can't kill them all." ”

(End of chapter)