I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 381 A piece of fat falls from the sky

More than 5900% of the million rubles spent to purchase Fengtian Iron Mine was funded by the Japanese government.

Like Dowson Bank, the Japanese government, which invested more money, did not obtain the dominant right of Henry Company. It only obtained the right of first refusal for the iron ore, and the price was based on the market trend without any discount.

There's nothing we can do about it. The Japanese government knows it's a trap, but it has no choice but to jump in.

After the Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese government spent huge sums of money to order steel equipment from Germany and rebuild the Yawata Iron Works.

After the Yawata Steel Works was built, the Japanese government found that there was no steel to be smelted, and almost all the iron ore supply in East Asia was monopolized by the Amur Steel Group.

In order to purchase iron ore, the Japanese government tried every means, even spending a lot of money to purchase iron ore from the United States, and finally succeeded in igniting the Yawat Steel Works.

In April this year, Yawata Steel produced its first batch of steel. The Japanese government invited ministers from various countries to hold a grand commemorative ceremony.

As a result, another accident happened during the memorial ceremony.

After the first furnace of steel was made, the door of the steel-making furnace could not be opened for a long time and failed.

"1.9 million - 1.9 million yen!"

That's why Japan is investing so much.

Steelmaking is a very complicated matter. The Hanyang Iron Works of the Qing Empire was unable to start operations due to equipment problems.

Kinda Kojima can only go to darkness in one way.

If Fengtian Iron Mine cannot be put into production, it means that the previous investment will be lost.

Ordering equipment from Amur will cost nearly 2000 million more.

"Actually, it's the same when we order iron ore from India."

"Mr. Henry, do you know what the total revenue of the Japanese government is for the whole year?"

"Buy! No matter what, we must get the iron ore."

After inviting technical personnel from many countries for "consultation", it was determined that it was not a technical problem, but that the iron ore from the United States and the steel equipment ordered by Japan were not suitable.

Henry looked at Kinda Kojima with pity.

Yawata Iron Works made the same mistake as Hanyang Iron Works. If it wanted to make steel smoothly, it had to either continue to invest heavily in equipment modifications or find suitable iron ore.

Kaneda Kojima reported last year’s fiscal revenue.

Henry smiled awkwardly but politely.

Japan has invested more than 100 million yen in steelmaking.

If Jintian Xiaodao fails, he will become a benevolent person, and there is no way out.

Robert Henry also wanted to take a bite out of the Japanese and ordered iron ore from India, but the freight was more expensive.

The cumulative investment from the Japanese government in Yawata Iron Works and Fengtian Iron Mine has exceeded 100 million yen.

The iron ore from Fengtian Iron Mine was determined by technicians to perfectly meet the requirements of Yawata Iron Works.

The Japanese government believed that problems with steel equipment and German technical instructors led to the failure.

If these equipment are ordered from the UK, they will only cost 120 million pounds, which is equivalent to about 1200 million rubles.

What Henry is worried about is that the 2000 million is not the end. Even if it is given, there is no telling what tricks the Russians will make.

George has many ways to torment the Japanese.

Ordering equipment, from design to production, it probably takes a few months a year.

After the equipment is produced, it still needs to be installed, which will take several months.

To load the iron ore from Fengtian Iron Mine, it must go to Dalini via the South Manchuria Railway. This journey is full of difficulties.

Giving up the mining rights of mineral resources along the China-Eastern Railway is not a loss for George. The St. Petersburg auction alone earned George nearly 7000 million rubles.

George was very happy. 4000 million rubles were given to East India and 3000 million rubles were given to the Siberian Fleet. Warships could be built as desired.

Peter was in pain and pleasure.

3000 million rubles is indeed a lot.

But in the smashing navy, not even a splash can be seen.

A "Borodino" class battleship costs the Navy Ministry 1100 million rubles. According to the calculation of the Vladivostok Shipyard, the cost is about 750 million rubles.

If it's too much, even if it's 800 million, maybe 3000 million, you can build four ships.

If it is a fully heavy artillery battleship, then only 2 can be built. The Siberian Fleet not only lacks battleships, but also lacks heavy cruisers, light cruisers, destroyers, transport ships, supply ships, hospital ships, and submarines——

In short, everything is lacking.

If you have a warship, you must have a military port, and the corresponding logistics personnel and maintenance personnel must increase. Based on this calculation, another 10 3000 million yuan will not be enough.

George has nothing to say. Anyway, there is only so much money, you can do whatever you want.

Peter convened a meeting with the officers of the Siberian Fleet all night long, and finally decided to build 4 heavy cruisers, 6 light cruisers, two transport ships, two supply ships, and a hospital ship.

The total cost of these warships exceeds 3600 million rubles.

This is still the cost price given by the Vladivostok Shipyard.

If it is the normal price, it should be at least double.

"Don't want a battleship?"

George was curious and didn't know how Peter made this determination.

"I can't afford it!"

Peter, Chief of Staff Krzhakov, and Deputy Commander Rakitsky were crying. If they could, they would definitely double up.

"That's all you have!"

George laughed.

Krzhakov and Rakitsky looked at each other, wondering what George meant.

"Our ambition is all given by you——"

Peter was crestfallen. What he meant was, if we are embarrassed, it will be your shame too.

"Get out of here!"

George was furious.

The three giants of the Siberian fleet fled.

Ye Luoxin and Milyujing rarely came to George for a drink.

Ye Luoxin is in trouble.

Milyujing was dragged here by Ye Luoxin.

George sees things through without telling them.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, Ye Luoxin became more energetic as she drank.

"Is it time for our army to expand?"

Ye Luoxin really did not come for the Siberian Fleet.

The Amur Military District has two regular army divisions and four reserve divisions, totaling 6 people.

Ye Luoxin not only has to worry about Amul, but also takes care of East India, which is really too much to take care of.

However, in an emergency, the Amur Military Region can also mobilize two divisions from Goryeo and four divisions from the Aceh Sultanate.

So I can make do.

George frowned.

Milyugin smiled and said nothing.

Amul is actually not short of money.

But it was rare to get such a large windfall, and the army didn't get a kopeck. For some reason, Ye Luoxin always felt like he was at a disadvantage.

"Kuklev said that the aircraft can already be used in actual combat - after the train guns were sold to the Siberian fleet, they were not replenished in time. I heard that the 330 artillery pieces are now available, right - the police station's armored vehicles have been installed for several years. When will heavy tanks be equipped with troops——"

Ye Luoxin talked a lot, and the Army had a lot of money to spend.

Not to mention anything else, the aircraft can indeed be used in actual combat.

The technology of the Vladivostok airship is actually very complete. One of the important reasons why it has not been put into use is that the technology of aircraft develops too fast. The airship has become useless and is on the verge of being eliminated.

It can’t be said to be eliminated.

The advantages of airships are actually quite obvious. They have a long stay in the air, a heavy load, and can fly far. They are especially useful for monitoring enemies.

(End of this chapter)