Chapter 1193 The Storm is Coming (First Update, Please Subscribe)
No one expected that the situation would change so quickly, and such a change was beyond Shi Qikuan's expectation. He originally came here to discuss the Kokand issue with the Russian side, but who would have thought that just a few days after arriving in Kokand, the Russian army set out and even launched an attack in the border area.
The war broke out inadvertently.
"Where are we going?"
Looking at the direction the car was heading with some curiosity, Consul Constantine turned his head and asked.
Of course he was not worried about his own safety. It didn't matter whether the Kingdom of Heaven was a civilized country or not. What mattered was that the Ming Empire was a civilized country.
Well, the European countries’ criteria for identifying civilized countries are… those with a strong fist are the ones. If your fist is not strong, no matter whether you can enforce Western laws or not, you are not a civilized country.
After all, everyone is raising their fists to teach others to be civilized.
"Go outside the city."
Shi Qikuan said.
Soon, the car drove to the airship field outside the city. The airship field was very noisy. The car drove straight to several large carriages. With the roar of the engine, a giant Kunpeng-6 airship slowly landed at the airship field with the help of the lift fan.
"This is?"
Constantine asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Kunpeng-6 airship!"
Shi Qikuan pointed at the airship and said.
"It is the latest scientific achievement of the Empire. Its appearance is simply a miracle. It not only has a long range, but also has a large payload. It can transport 21 tons of materials and fly 5,000 kilometers. Currently, the Empire has 25 Kunpeng-6 airships! The Imperial Airship Company can manufacture 2 such airships every month."
What?
21 tons!
How is this possible!
The largest Russian airship can only carry a few tons... Well, it was bought from the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty's airships were so big! They can carry so many things.
In fact, it can't carry 21 tons at all, at most it can only carry 12 tons, but why say 21 tons? It's to tell him that the Empire's airship has a very strong carrying capacity.
Consul Constantine looked at the Ming Empire diplomat in front of him with some confusion.
What does he mean?
Although he didn't understand the other party's intention, he still complimented him.
"The Ming Empire's advanced technology and industry are truly enviable!"
"Mr. Consul, do you know what this airship is carrying?"
Almost as Shi Qikuan finished speaking, Constantine saw the supplies being carried down from the cargo hold, or to be more precise, being carried down on the back.
It's a gun!
The soldiers of Heaven carried out rifles from the cabin. Each of them carried more than ten rifles and walked out like that. Some of them also carried backpacks.
"This is……"
Before Constantine could come to his senses, Shi Qikuan spoke in a calm tone.
"Mr. Consul, if we want, we can use airships to transport more than 500 tons of supplies, rifles, cannons, and various ammunition here every day. If necessary, we will build more airships. Is this inland?"
Hundreds of tons of supplies can be transported every day!
Even the Roman Empire couldn't do it. After all, there was no railway in Central Asia at that time, and the Roman Empire could only rely on horse-drawn carriages to transport supplies and for military operations.
Looking at Constantine whose expression kept changing, Shi Qikuan said.
"For the Ming Empire, there has never been any inland. Please do not doubt our determination. For the Empire, we will never tolerate any actions that threaten the Chinese homeland. The Empire's determination and will cannot be shaken, Your Excellency the Consul."
Now Constantine finally understood the other party's intention. He looked at the giant airship with a frown on his face. What was he thinking?
It was a steady stream of airships, one after another, taking off from the royal territory in the Persian Gulf, transporting large amounts of supplies here.
"This is a Roman protectorate!"
"This is the homeland of China!"
…
The same dispute also occurred in Constantinople. In fact, since the day Shi Dakai occupied Kokand, similar disputes have never stopped. It was just that the Roman Empire was focused on digesting Asia Minor and conquering the Caucasus mountain tribes at that time, so it did not have time to spare.
Now that he has his hands free, he will naturally launch an attack.
"So, the Ming Empire will never make concessions on the issue of the Khanate of Kokand?"
Alexander II, the "Caesar" of the Roman Empire, frowned. Unlike the history of another world, he escaped the assassination attempt by the Narodnaya Volya in 1881. To be precise, the recovery of Constantinople and the conquest of Turkey successfully eased the contradictions in Russia. From the relocation of the capital to the change of the country's name, Tsar Alexander II also gained unprecedented reputation and popular support.
Although some underground revolutionary organizations still emerged in Russia and actively carried out terrorist activities, trying to change Russian society by assassinating the Tsar and politicians, they failed repeatedly because Constantinople was always on high alert and the Tsar's defense measures were appropriate.
Four years ago, Alexander II was about to sign a decree to reorganize the State Council and start the political reform process of Russia's constitutional monarchy. In another world, he was assassinated on that day.
But now, he is alive, which allows the reforms he presided over to continue.
"Based on our current communication with the Ming Dynasty, they will never compromise or make concessions in Central Asia. They insist that the Bukhara Khanate, Khiva, and Turkmenistan are all the homeland of China..."
Nikolai Karlovich Gilles, the foreign minister of the Roman Empire, has always implemented a pro-French policy, trying to maintain the "Four Emperors Alliance" of Russia, Ming, France and Austria. He even advocated the signing of the "Reinsurance Treaty". In his view, the "Four Emperors Alliance" was the fundamental guarantee for the rise of the Roman Empire.
"Gilles, that place is a Roman protectorate, there is a treaty!"
The Minister of the Army immediately retorted that this military offensive against Kokand was promoted under the auspices of the Ministry of the Army.
"If we make concessions in Kokand, we will certainly lose Bukhara, Khiva and Turkmenistan!"
Faced with the rebuttal, Giles did not back down and spoke directly.
"If we insist on occupying Kokand, we will definitely lose Ming, Your Majesty!"
Turning his attention to the Tsar, Giles, the Empire's Foreign Minister, spoke directly from the perspective of the interests of the Roman Empire.
"We will not only lose the Ming Dynasty, but also France and the Four Emperors' Alliance. Without the Four Emperors' Alliance, how can we maintain the interests of the Roman Empire in the ever-changing world situation?"
Faced with the reminder from the Foreign Minister, Alexander II fell into deep thought. The reason why he agreed to the military's plan at the beginning was because the military told him very confidently that it would only take one charge to capture Kokand!
But what about now?
"Marshal, how long will it take us to conquer Kokand?"
"Three days!"
Marshal Vladimir said with his chest puffed out.
"Three days later, the double-headed eagle flag will be hoisted on the top of Kokand City!"
"Marshal, you have five days!"
Alexander II stared at him and said.
"Five days! If the problem cannot be solved within five days, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will step in."
(End of this chapter)
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