Struggle in Russia

The Grand Duke Constantine never thought that Sir Symonds was actually coming for him. He didn't know that vulgar Englishman, let alone dealt with him, so it was impossible to offend him. But the opponent suddenly jumped out and criticized the steamship and attacked his naval innovation plan.

After ruling out the option that the opponent is a psychopath, Grand Duke Constantine believes that there is only one truth: Li Xiao offended the opponent, and the opponent went after Li Xiao. So he, Grand Duke Constantine, was really injured and innocent, and he was the unlucky ghost who was implicated.

It can only be said that the grand duke really can't see the situation clearly and thinks highly of himself. It never occurred to him that his innovation plan would actually offend people more than those articles written by Li Xiao. After all, no matter how many articles Li Xiao wrote, they were nothing but talk, but his actions really touched the hearts of many people. .

It's just that those unlucky ghosts who were robbed of the cheese didn't dare to trouble the son of Nicholas I openly, and could only point out that Sang Huahuai spit at Li Xiao, who supported the steamboat.

In a sense, it was Grand Duke Constantine who implicated Li Xiao, not the other way around.

It's just that Grand Duke Constantine couldn't see it and didn't want to admit it. He naturally felt that he was wise and powerful, and everything was right, and that troubles and problems were the fault of others. For example, Li Xiao is a guy who is particularly good at causing trouble for him, and he doesn't have the slightest affection for such a guy.

"Leave it alone!" Grand Duke Constantine said angrily, "That guy will settle the trouble himself. I won't help him wipe his ass. We can just do our own thing!"

Speaking of this, he was filled with righteous indignation: "Also, send someone to warn him, let him calm down a bit, jump up and down again, cause trouble for me, I will clean him up!"

Nikolai Milutin was very speechless, because his political level was still a bit higher than that of Grand Duke Constantine. The truth that Grand Duke Constantine couldn't see through, he could more or less perceive a thing or two. At least he knew that those yin and yang voices were not directed at Li Xiao, they were just appearances!

"Your Excellency, I'm afraid the matter is not that simple!" He said after deliberation, "I'm observing, this unhealthy trend may be directed at you!"

"Come at me?!"

Grand Duke Constantine opened his mouth wide, looking stunned, and immediately retorted: "How is that possible! I didn't offend that British guy, it must be that bastard who brazenly advertised some so-called new technologies that are not ashamed. Brits..."

"I told you a long time ago that he is a half-assed advocate of propellers? My God, he thinks that such a small number of blades can drive a huge ship of thousands of tons! He is absolutely crazy, a bit I have no sense at all! Everyone knows that the paddle wheel is the best choice, and the propeller is crooked!"

Yes, the steamships of Grand Duke Constantine refer to paddle steamers. The poor scientific knowledge and imagination of the Grand Duke made it impossible for him to accept the "evil ways" of propellers. He naturally thinks that a huge device like a paddle wheel is more powerful and can drive a larger ship. Little propellers are useless, useless.

So in the naval budget for the new year, all steamships are paddle wheel driven. None had propellers. And this grand duke who thinks he is smart has no idea that the Royal Navy has conducted a comparative test and found that the propeller is more efficient than the paddle wheel for steam ships with the same power. Moreover, the huge paddle wheel installed in the middle of the hull is eye-catching, takes up a lot of space and is easily damaged. That is really crooked.

Of course, even if Grand Duke Constantine knew about it, he would not change his support for the paddle wheel. The reason is very simple. The British company that produced the paddle wheel gave him a high rebate. Wheels are better propellers.

However, these careful thoughts of Grand Duke Constantine cannot be hidden from Nikolai Milutin. Although he admires Grand Duke Constantine very much, he will not flatter all the bad feet of the other party against his will.

Nicholas Milutin sighed and said, "You didn't offend that Sir William Symonds, but your naval innovation plan greatly offended many people in the Admiralty. They didn't like your plan, let alone your plan. I don't like my own interests being damaged. And that Sir William Symonds, if I understand correctly..."

After a short pause, he smiled wryly and said, "The jazz is also well-known in the Royal Navy as a conservative, and he strongly opposes steamships. So it's normal for him not to like your innovation. As for attacking your innovation with great fanfare, that's the reason. It may be very complicated, I can only say that Grand Duke Andre is just the fuse..."

Grand Duke Constantine's complexion suddenly became very ugly, and he could tell that the meaning behind what Nikolai Milutin said was very clear. It was his Grand Duke Constantine's naval reform plan that caused all this. The fundamental reason is that Li Xiao is the unlucky ghost who just happened to meet.

This made him completely unacceptable, even if it made sense, he could not accept it. Because this directly pointed to the essence of the problem—he was the one who caused Li Xiao to suffer, not the other way around, which meant that all of this was his fault.

But how could the great Grand Duke Constantine and the future Constantine the Great be wrong? This is a great offense, an attack and slander against him, which is completely unacceptable!

"Nikolai! My friend!"

Grand Duke Constantine called my friend, but his expression and tone didn’t sound like he was talking to a friend at all. Instead, he seemed to be teaching a subordinate who made a mistake.

"From the tone of your voice, it seems that I am extremely unpopular in the Navy! This is unacceptable to me! The officers of the Russian Navy are always an upward force, always united around me, I am popular and loved by them! This is obvious !"

"Those who try to drive a wedge between me and the core officers in the Admiralty will viciously attack my innovative plans! Everyone knows that's not the case! My plans are popular! All the officers are in favor! They can't wait I want to see my plans come to fruition!"

"And you have fallen for the tricks of those very few scumbags and believed the lies they tell. It is not like you! Sir! Your ideas are dangerous! Very dangerous! I hope you will return to the Get on the right track!"

Speaking of which, Grand Duke Constantine gave Nikolai Milyutin a stern look as a warning, and then emphasized again:

"All the troubles and problems are caused by that bastard Andre. He is the root of all problems! As long as he gets rid of him, all problems will be solved! And this is our current priority!"