Chapter 1185: Uncertainty
Chapter 1185: Uncertainty
This wooden train model, standing a little over half a meter tall, already bore a striking resemblance to the old-fashioned steam locomotives in Joseph's memory.
The only major difference was its pair of massive front driving wheels. Trevithick hadn't yet designed a complex suspension system, and Joseph wasn't entirely sure of the underlying principles himself. Consequently, they had substituted a simplified mechanism with oversized drive wheels.
Trevithick pushed the model's piston rod by hand, and the wheels immediately began to turn smoothly.
He babbled excitedly, "Your Highness, I performed precise calculations last night. If we use a 90-horsepower steam engine, it can reach a speed of 38 kilometers per hour while hauling nine coal tenders and sixteen carriages. It can travel 600 kilometers continuously on a single load of coal."
Following the Crown Prince's suggestions, Trevithick had realized the LJ98 steam engine required modifications and a reduction in size, which lowered the output to 90 horsepower. However, thanks to significant improvements in the overall design of the train, this power was more than sufficient.
Joseph recalled Trevithick mentioning previously that each coal tender could hold five tons of fuel, and a standard carriage could carry four tons of cargo. This meant that even this first-generation train possessed a net transport capacity of 64 tons.
In fact, if the coal load were reduced, it could carry over 80 tons of cargo, provided they made more frequent stops along the route to refuel.
Joseph suddenly thought of the double-header configurations he had seen in the future, where locomotives were placed at both ends to push and pull simultaneously. That could potentially double the capacity.
The designer immediately shook his head. "I'm afraid that's unlikely, Your Highness. If there is even a slight discrepancy in speed between the front and rear engines, the carriages in the middle would be torn apart or crushed. We simply don't have the technology to control the speed with such precision."
Joseph nodded slightly. He was, after all, a layman in this field. Simultaneous front-and-rear propulsion would likely only be possible once locomotive technology was far more mature.
Still, the ability to transport 64 tons of supplies nearly 900 kilometers in a single day already crushed every existing form of logistics.
Gazing at the model, he asked Trevithick again, "How long do you think it will take to produce a prototype?"
"That depends on which ironworks we entrust with the trial production," the designer replied. "Based on what I know, the Namur Royal Ironworks would need about five months. The Nancy Steelworks would take seven, and there are likely factories in Luxembourg capable of it as well."
Joseph considered this for a moment. "Let's go with Nancy. War might break out soon, and Nancy is safer. It's also closer to the United Steam Engine Company, which will make testing more convenient.
"Oh, and how much funding will the trial production require?"
"Roughly 80,000 francs, I believe."
Joseph felt a wave of relief. Civilian technology was indeed far cheaper. He decided he should first establish a locomotive production company to prepare for mass production in advance...
Two days later.
Stirring music echoed through Dock No. 2 of the Brest Shipyard. Under the direction of master technicians, over a hundred craftsmen slowly pushed a massive oak beam onto the platform on the eastern side of the dock.
This was the main keel of the Décision, the newest class of fourth-rate steam battleship.
From this day forward, her construction would officially begin.
Joseph finished a brief speech for the commencement ceremony and was listening to Sané report on the construction schedule when Eman approached and bowed. "Your Highness, Mr. Lavalette has arrived. He says he has urgent matters to discuss with you."
Ten minutes later, in the dock's records room, the head of the Security Bureau gave the Crown Prince a quick salute, his expression grim. "Your Highness, a coup took place in Russia on the 4th of this month. Paul I is dead. Alexander has succeeded him as Tsar."
Joseph's brow furrowed instantly. "What happened?"
"The official statement from the Russian government is that 'Paul I accidentally stumbled and was fatally pierced by a candlestick.' However, rumors are flying from the nobility to the commoners in Saint Petersburg that it was Crown Prince Alexander who stormed the Tsar's bedroom and shot him."
The truth was hard to suppress. That night, no fewer than forty or fifty soldiers of the Imperial Guard, along with Zubov and a dozen others, had seen Alexander enter Paul's room and heard the gunshots. Some servants had even seen the Tsar's body later, and the wounds were far from accidental.
Joseph felt a surge of anger. "He was warned repeatedly to be careful of assassination!"
Paul had been assassinated nearly three years earlier than in the history Joseph knew.
While this was technically the internal affair of the Romanovs, Paul I had maintained a very favorable attitude toward France. With his death, the political landscape of all Eastern Europe was now shrouded in uncertainty.
Joseph also thought of Alexandra. Her father had been murdered by her brother; he didn't even know how to begin comforting her when he returned.
Lavalette continued, "Your Highness, in truth, Tsar Paul did everything he could. The guards at Gatchina Palace were all replaced with men from the guards who had followed him since he was the heir.
"The officers in charge of palace security were also veterans of the Gatchina Regiment. At night, anyone wishing to enter his bedroom needed a pass personally signed by him and had to pass through three separate checkpoints.
"He had even sealed off all passages leading to the Empress's chambers and dug a secret escape tunnel.
"But when the coup happened, only Arakcheyev remained loyal, and he was quickly placed under house arrest by the secret police.
"One could say that everyone in Saint Petersburg wanted him gone."
Joseph took a deep breath. "What about Count Bobrinsky?"
"It is said he was detained by Alexander's men outside the Tsar's bedroom," Lavalette reported. "The latest news is that he has been appointed as the Governor of Alaska."
Joseph felt a sense of powerlessness. Given that situation, even he would have struggled to survive—especially with Alexander himself taking the field.
Lavalette pressed on. "Alexander has pardoned all officers exiled by Paul I, quickly recalled the expeditionary force heading for India, and has begun reorganizing the army in Moldavia.
"We have also received intelligence that he may deploy troops to Transcaucasia again."
Joseph nodded silently. Alexander was indeed a very capable Tsar; these were all decisions aimed at maximizing Russia's strategic interests.
Now, they had to observe his attitude toward the broader European situation.
Thinking of this, Joseph suddenly clenched his fist. A nation's destiny could not depend on the whims of others. He had to prepare for the worst-case scenario immediately.
He turned to Eman. "Prepare the carriage. We are returning to Paris at once."
"Yes, Your Highness."
...
Paris.
The Palace of Versailles.
Count Morkov, the newly appointed Russian Minister to France, had never felt so out of his depth. If the French Queen hadn't insisted, he would have wanted nothing to do with such a thorny matter.
"My most sincere greetings to you, respected Princess," he said, swallowing nervously as he bowed to Alexandra. "I have come today because there are important matters I must relay to you."
"Please, speak quickly."
"In Saint Petersburg... there has been a coup."
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