"Can it be reduced by half? No, I want it higher, so they must reduce the size to more than 60%, and the weight must also be reduced!"
"Send the order and let the ordnance factory produce extra-large hot air balloons. All the expenses incurred will be paid separately from me!"
When Xiao Letian heard the reports from the engineers, he couldn't help but smile. He was nominally a guest of Prussia, but in fact he already had certain command rights. In the Berlin base camp and in the general headquarters of the Franco-Prussian War, there were From Xiao Letian's office.
Generally speaking, Xiao Letian's orders to Prussia would not be rejected as long as they were not too bizarre, but today's order gave the logistics officials a bit of a headache.
Directly issue an administrative order to the Military Research Institute, and also ask the ordnance factory to allocate a certain amount of production capacity to produce hot air balloons during its busy schedule?
Whether money is money or not is a trivial matter, and it doesn't matter who spends it, but don't forget that the current production plans of the research institute and arsenal are scheduled until next year, and there is simply no manpower available to meet the requirements of the head of state.
After a while, Bismarck walked in with Xiao Letian's approval document. "Dear Xiao! What are you doing? Are you disrupting our production plan?"
"Oh...my Prime Minister, please support me. This is just a personal request of mine. All expenses do not need to use the empire's military expenditure..."
"This is not a matter of money. Even though Prussia is financially tight at the moment, it won't be short of money like this! But I want to know what you want to do?"
At this point, Bismarck's eyes suddenly lit up and he said with a strange expression, "Is it true? Are you really out of your mind to build that thing?"
Xiao Letian nodded, "It's a big toy of mine! That's why I won't use the empire's military funds... You don't have to look at me like this. What if it succeeds?"
Bismarck sighed and shook his head, "I really can't persuade you anymore... Let me introduce someone to you later, and leave your processing tasks to him!"
"Who?" Xiao Letian asked.
"He is a nobleman from the Kingdom of Württemberg. He is only 32 years old and is young and promising. He is currently running his family's business in Berlin. This man has the same fanatical hobby as you!"
"His name is Ferdinand von Zeppelin!"
Damn it, Xiao Letian cursed himself in his heart, how could I forget this man? It turns out that he is only 32 years old now! When I am still young and strong, I must be right to find him for this plan.
"But head of state, please be careful. This Mr. Zeppelin's ambitions are greater than yours. If you really cooperate with him, be careful that you will lose money. The investment he wants is not a small amount!"
"No problem, as long as my airship dream can come true, I will do it at any cost! Tell this Mr. Zeppelin that once the airship is successful, I will allow his name to be co-branded with mine!"
"But as for the internal combustion engine, I still have to ask for your help. Making the gasoline engine smaller and lighter is probably not a problem we can solve!"
Zeppelin! The famous Zeppelin airship in history! There are no big technical difficulties at this moment, all he needs is sufficient start-up capital.
The combustion of an internal combustion engine can generate enough power and heat, which are the basic elements necessary for an airship. When the airship can discard the heavy and old coal, the stability and endurance of the airship will be greatly improved.
The most important thing is that when the airship has its own power, it can have huge military effect!
Bismarck was really unable to defeat Xiao Letian, so in the end he had no choice but to agree to his request and ordered the research institute to produce an additional miniaturized internal combustion engine to meet the head of state's requirements as much as possible.
When Bismarck's secretary left with the approval document signed by the Prime Minister, the two of them lit a cigar and sat on the recliner to rest. They were really exhausted during this period, and the average rest time every day was less than three hours. High-intensity work is really beyond the reach of ordinary people.
"France hasn't put pressure on you during this time?" Xiao Letian blew out a smoke ring.
"Haha... Another telegram was sent yesterday. From the issuance of Napoleon III's ultimatum to now, France has issued six strongly worded statements in a row!"
"It all means the same thing, asking Prussia to immediately cut off the contact between you and me! It seems that the Emperor is determined to use you as a scapegoat to quell the anger of the people!"
"Understandable!" Xiao Letian said nonchalantly, "Now the French Emperor and others are not ready for war. They haven't even filled the gap of new rifles, so they don't dare to go to war with Prussia immediately!"
"At this time, suspending the conflict with Prussia and focusing all the artillery fire on my head might not be a good way to calm the anger of the people!"
"He Xini! Use me as a shield to calm down the anger of the people first. When they are fully prepared for war, they will naturally turn their guns against you, Prussia!"
Bismarck sneered and said, "It's a pity that the French Emperor underestimated Prussia's desire to fight! This battle can no longer be fought!"
"How have you prepared your final trump card?" The Iron-Blooded Prime Minister turned to look at Xiao Letian and asked.
"As you wish! This gift package will be delivered as scheduled during the French Bastille Day!"
Hahaha, the two looked at each other and laughed.
Throughout June, anxious clouds filled the sky over Europe. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent telegrams to Prussia almost every other day, and the wording of each telegram was extremely strong.
And in order to calm the anger of the domestic people, the French Emperor actually ordered that all the details of the diplomatic negotiations that should not have been made public be published in newspapers.
Everyone in Paris can see what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said to the Prussians. Those offensive sentences full of flavor made people all over France roar with joy.
The words were so intense that the French Emperor even threatened war. He reminded Prussia that if it ignored the French people's call for justice before the French Bastille Day, Prussia would face the most severe punishment!
The national sentiment was raging, and the French Emperor's tough speech was like buckets of boiling oil poured on it, and the people of France were completely excited.
Although there were countless rational voices reminding the French Emperor, Napoleon III had no way out, because since the ultimatum was issued, domestic opposition and protest had really disappeared.
The people seemed to have returned to the time when the empire was first established, and the people's hearts suddenly united around the emperor's voice!
Time passed day by day. Under the toughness of France, Prussia was indeed retreating step by step. Although the iron-blooded Prime Minister Bismarck did not part ways with the Chinese, his stance in various public occasions was obviously much weaker.
"I hope the respected French Emperor can remain calm! Diplomatic negotiations take time, and nothing is off limits, but ultimatums are not advisable!"
"As long as His Majesty the French Emperor can cancel the ultimatum and give sufficient time for negotiations, then we can also have summit-level talks in a neutral country. This is Prussia's sincerity!"
Bismarck's statement suddenly made France excited. All newspapers and public gathering places shouted excitedly!
"Bismarck has given in! Prussia has given in!"
"Long live France! Fight to Jena! Restore the glory of the empire!"
