Cannons rumbled.
On the battlefield in St. Petersburg, several Russian soldiers gathered together to bake potatoes.
The intermittent gunfire and cannon fire outside did not affect them. They turned a deaf ear to everything around them and only used daggers to turn over the fire from time to time.
It wasn't until a strange scream came from above that several soldiers gave up on the fire and ran toward the rear like crazy.
A few seconds later, a black shadow in the sky hit the ground, and a huge explosion exploded in the position.
France's 240 siege heavy artillery achieved certain results and cleared several fortresses in the outer positions of St. Petersburg.
Napoleon and several guards stood on the slope, observing the impact of the cannonballs in the cold wind.
"How many 240 shells does our army have?"
"There are only 34 left, Your Majesty."
Napoleon didn't say anything, he just quietly put down his telescope and tightened his coat.
"It seems that winter is coming earlier this year. How many winter coats have been sent from the rear?"
"We only received more than 6,000 pieces. The Spanish Flu swept across Europe, and many workshops could no longer support the production of winter clothing...
Moreover, a large number of patients have also appeared in our army! "
Napoleon frowned, and when he turned around, he saw a sickly blush on the guard's face.
He seemed to be trying to hold back a cough.
…
"It's strange. Why is it so cold at the end of October?"
Kong Er wore a military coat and entered the general's mansion, rubbing his cold hands.
In the staff hall on the top floor, he met someone he didn't really want to see.
General Kong Er's coat was hung on the hanger, and he reluctantly sat down at the Army Department's seat, squinting at Shen Yulong, Sa Zhenbing and others "plotting".
"Look at these heavy cruisers, which are expanded from the hull of a battleship. Which one do you think is better?"
"Do you still need to choose? It's just a cruiser. Let's build one of each and see."
Shen Yulong rolled his eyes at Sa Zhenbing and said, "What are you thinking about? Our military expenditure for next year has only increased to 12 million silver coins. Where can we get so much money to build new ships?"
"Then how many can our navy build?"
"If we tighten our belts, we can launch four cruisers and four destroyers."
"Ah? This is too little..."
Sa Zhenbing murmured in his heart, it's not a battleship, so why would it cost so much money?
Then he picked up the Admiralty's tender and saw at a glance where the money was being spent.
The heavy cruiser that the Navy is preparing to launch is based on the Shen Yulong Admiral-class battleship, with reduced armor and the addition of a steam turbine.
It has a speed of nearly 18 knots, a huge hull, and three quadruple-mounted 203-caliber main guns, with two in the front and one in the back.
Compared with battleships, the cost of building these four heavy cruisers is almost a fraction of the price.
At this point, the Navy still has a shortfall of more than 30 million silver coins that has not been filled.
Fortunately, the cost of Shen Yulong Admiral-class battleships is falling, more than half compared to when it was first demonstrated.
Otherwise, the Navy really does not have the extra money to replenish the First Fleet.
Shen Yulong and Sa Zhenbing chatted animatedly over the design drawings.
On the other side of the Air Force Ministry, Li Siming was drinking tea with the old god present.
In front of him was a model of an airship.
The Ministry of Industry made adjustments to the structure of the next-level airship based on the experimental data of the Pioneer.
The new generation of airship is larger and longer, and its body of nearly 100 meters made Li Siming squint his eyes.
The navy has new warships.
The Air Force has new airships.
The army, on the other hand, only has recruits.
The three standing divisions completed their training, and Ming Dynasty's border defense pressure dropped sharply.
Zhu Zaiming decided to upgrade the army to four standing divisions, and together with the old standing divisions, they formed the central main force of the Ming Army.
The 1st to 4th divisions were codenamed Qinglong, Zhuque, Baihu, and Xuanwu.
New soldiers are undergoing nationwide selection and are expected to enter the military camp and start training by the end of the year.
Kong Er silently took a sip of Kuding tea. The tea that makes people frown would have no taste at all in his mouth.
It's not that it's tasteless. Everyone at the War Department just thinks the tea is so sour, as if lemon has been added.
Finally, Kong Er couldn't stand it anymore and knocked on the table hard.
"You two groups, where is the General's Mansion? Please keep your voices down, why are you so noisy?"
"Yoha~"
Shen Yulong raised his head, looked at the people in the Army Department with purple faces, and then looked at the naval officers and soldiers who were busy challenging the ship, and he instantly understood something in his heart.
He picked up a design drawing, sat down closely next to Kong Er, and pointed at the giant cannons in front of Kong Er.
Kong Er couldn't help but tilt his head back, but the design of the heavy cruiser followed him like a shadow, and Shen Yulong's mean words came to his ears.
"Oh, these 120 secondary guns are too few, only 12 twin guns..."
"That's enough! Is Lao Shen as yin and yang as you are? I'm going to complain to His Majesty!"
Seeing that Kong Er seemed really angry, Shen Yulong stopped showing off. He put the drawings aside and started to rub Kong Er's back.
"Lao Kong, don't be angry, don't be angry, my brother, it's my fault. I'll treat you to a drink when I have time!"
"snort!"
Zhu Zaiming had just returned from the hospital, and as soon as his coat was hung on the hanger, he saw Shen Yulong comforting Kong Er, and the hall was filled with a happy atmosphere.
"How is it? Have the models of the Navy's new warships been confirmed? Lushun Shipyard and Kyushu Island Wugang Shipyard are already ready for use, and the construction period is expected to be shortened by 30%."
"Really, Your Majesty, this is great!"
The people in the Admiralty were as happy as if they had eaten honey.
"But..." Zhu Zaiming knocked on the table, attracted everyone's attention, and said, "Da Ming is under great financial pressure now.
Therefore, I am thinking of opening two more sources of wealth for Daming. "
With that said, Zhu Zaiming spread out the map.
On the map, two lines are drawn between Panama and Egypt, and the words Panama Canal and Cairo Canal come into view.
After the meeting, Zhu Zaiming put on his military coat again and prepared to go to Jinling Hotel.
From a distance, I saw Kong Er running over.
"Your Majesty, slow down~"
"Huh? Lao Kong, if you didn't tell me something, why did you stop me at the stable?"
"Your Majesty, didn't I just remember this? Hey, when will our army's armored vehicles be ready?"
Zhu Zaiming looked Kong Er up and down curiously and said, "You should ask the Ministry of Industry about this matter yourself. Why did you come to ask me here?"
Kong Er rubbed his hands in embarrassment, his face turned red, and he was a little embarrassed to speak.
"Your Majesty, the Navy has new battleships, the Air Force has new airships, but our Army is the only one with new recruits.
Our army is suffering..."
Then, Kong Er stood in front of the stable door, dripping with snot and tears, shaking off the "poor" Army had been in for the past few months.
If Zhu Zaiming hadn't clearly known how much military expenditure the Army had implemented, he would have almost thought that the Army had followed the old path of the late Ming Dynasty and was eating empty pay.
