I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1185 Uncertainty

This wooden train, which is only a little over half a meter tall, is at least in appearance very similar to the old-fashioned steam locomotive that Joseph remembered.

Aside from having a pair of enormous front wheels for drive—Trevischke hadn't designed a combined suspension system, and Joseph didn't understand the underlying principles. So, they used extra-large drive wheels instead.

Trevich pushed the piston rod of the model by hand, and the wheel immediately started to turn, appearing very smoothly.

He excitedly rambled on, “Your Highness, I calculated it precisely last night. If we use a 90-horsepower steam engine, with 9 coal cars and 16 carriages attached, the speed can reach 38 kilometers per hour. After refueling, it can travel 600 kilometers continuously.”

Following the Crown Prince's advice, he discovered that the LJ98 steam engine needed modification and size reduction, which resulted in a decrease in power to 90 horsepower. However, due to the significant improvements in the overall train design, this power was sufficient.

Joseph remembered Trevich mentioning that each coal car could carry 5 tons of coal, and each ordinary car could carry 4 tons of cargo. That is to say, this first-generation train had a pure carrying capacity of 64 tons.

Actually, if the amount of coal carried is reduced, it is possible to transport more than 80 tons of goods, but it will require more stops along the way to refuel.

Joseph suddenly recalled seeing a train driven by two locomotives, one in front of the other, which seemed to double the carrying capacity.

He looked at Trevichk and asked, "If we use another locomotive to push from behind at the same time, can we double the number of carriages?"

The designer immediately shook his head: "That's probably unlikely, Your Highness. If the speed of the two locomotives is even slightly different, it will tear the middle carriage apart. And it's very difficult for us to control the speed so precisely."

Joseph nodded slightly, realizing that he was still an amateur and that simultaneous front and rear drive would probably only be possible after train technology had become very advanced.

However, being able to transport 64 tons of supplies nearly 900 kilometers in a single day already surpasses all existing transportation capacity.

Looking at the model train in front of him, he asked Trevichk, "How long do you think it will take to produce a prototype?"

“It depends on which steel mill will be responsible for the trial production,” the designer said. “From what I know, the Royal Ironworks in Namur will take about five months, while the Nancy steelworks will take seven months. There should also be a factory in Luxembourg that can produce it.”

Joseph pondered, "Then let's keep it in Nancy. War may break out soon, and Nancy is safer. It's also closer to the United Steam Engine Company, which will make testing easier."

"Oh, how much funding is needed for trial production?"

"I think it will cost around 8 francs."

Joseph breathed a sigh of relief; civilian goods were indeed cheap. He should first establish a steam locomotive manufacturing company and prepare for mass production in advance…

Two days later.

Exhilarating music filled the No. 2 dock of the Brest shipyard as hundreds of craftsmen, under the direction of technicians, slowly pushed an enormous oak log onto the platform on the east side of the dock.

This is the main keel of the latest fourth-class steam battleship, the "Decisive Battle".

Its construction will officially begin today.

Joseph had just finished his brief opening speech and was listening to Sané report on the construction plan when Emmanuel came over and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, Mr. Lavalette has arrived and says he has something urgent to discuss with you."

A little over ten minutes later, in the shipyard's archives, the head of the security bureau quickly bowed to the Crown Prince and said solemnly, "Your Highness, a coup occurred in Russia on the 4th of this month. Paul I is dead, and Alexander has succeeded him as Tsar."

Joseph frowned immediately: "What's going on?"

The Russian government's version of events was that "Paul I accidentally fell and was killed by a candlestick." However, in St. Petersburg, from nobles to commoners, rumors were circulating that Crown Prince Alexander had stormed into the Tsar's bedroom and shot him.

Indeed, that night, at least forty or fifty Royal Guard soldiers, along with more than ten others including Zuboff, saw Alexander enter Paul's room and heard gunshots. Later, even a servant saw the body of the "open-minded" Paul.

So the news couldn't be kept secret at all. Joseph was somewhat angry: "I've repeatedly warned him to be careful of assassination attempts!"

Paul was assassinated almost three years earlier than historical records suggest.

Although this was a family matter for the Tsar, Paul I had a very good attitude towards France, and after his death, the political situation in Eastern Europe would be full of uncertainty.

At the same time, Joseph also thought of Alexandra. Her father had been murdered by his brother, and he wouldn't know how to comfort her when he got back.

Lavalette said, “Your Highness, in fact, Tsar Paul has done everything he could. The guards of Gatchina Palace have all been replaced with the personal guards who followed him when he was crown prince.”

"The officer in charge of palace security was also a former member of the Gatchina Legion. At night, to enter his bedroom, one needed a pass signed by him and had to go through three checks."

"He even sealed off all the passages leading to the Queen's room and dug a secret escape route."

"But when the coup occurred, only Arakcheyev did not betray him, but he was placed under house arrest by the secret police."

"It's fair to say that everyone in St. Petersburg wants him to step down."

Joseph took a deep breath: "Where is Count Boblinsky?"

“It is said that he was taken into custody by Alexander’s men outside the Tsar’s bedroom,” Lavalette said. “The latest news is that he has been appointed Governor of Alaska.”

A sense of powerlessness welled up in Joseph's heart. He figured he probably wouldn't have been able to save his own life in this situation either—even Alexander had personally intervened.

Lavalette continued: "Alexander pardoned all the officers exiled by Paul I, quickly withdrew the expeditionary force heading to India, and began to purge the Moldavia army."

"We have also received information that he may send troops to the South Caucasus again."

Joseph nodded silently. Alexander was indeed a very capable Tsar—these were decisions that maximized Russia's strategic interests.

Now, we need to observe his attitude towards the situation in Europe.

Joseph clenched his fist as he thought about this. The fate of the nation cannot depend on others; we must prepare for the worst-case scenario in advance.

He immediately said to Emmanuel, "Please prepare the carriage; we will return to Paris at once."

"Yes, Your Highness."

……

Paris.

Palace of Versailles.

The newly appointed Russian ambassador to France, Count Molkov, had never felt so helpless. He would never have wanted to deal with such a thorny issue if it weren't for the Queen of France's repeated requests.

"I extend my sincerest blessings to you, Your Highness." He swallowed nervously and bowed to Alexandra with his hand on his chest. "I am here today to tell you something important."

"Please speak quickly."

"A coup d'état recently occurred in St. Petersburg."

(End of this chapter)