Chapter 545 What the Hell?

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

Franz, who had just finished convincing Friedrich, seemed to feel that something was missing. Right! Why didn't a third person come in to break the situation and change the plot?

In fact, it is easy to know that Franz and Friedrich are both royal dukes. Although the former did not say it explicitly, an excellent attendant knows what to do.

So the conversation between the two people is really just between the two people. No one dares and no one can interrupt.

"As for His Majesty the Emperor and the Church, you don't need to worry. His Majesty is a good man. He rarely interferes in state affairs, let alone your private life.

As for the doctrine, it has never been clearly stated that you cannot marry a pagan, so you don't have to worry at all.

If it really doesn't work, you can let Princess Sineka convert. Women in the Oman Empire are just subordinates. And we are not the only ones who want to marry. I think that Emperor Said is more eager than us.

I heard that the nomadic tribes in Somalia are preparing to fight for independence with the support of the British.

So you just need to make her face the reality, Princess Sineka will definitely be devoted to you."

Franz gave his own analysis based on the latest intelligence. In fact, the nomadic tribes in Somalia have a high degree of autonomy. They are only nominally subject to the Oman Empire and usually do not pay taxes.

So in history, the Oman Empire did not prevent Somalia from independence. On the contrary, the latter blessed those chiefs. Then Somalia, which lost the protection of the Oman Empire, was divided up by the powers.

The British wanted to repeat their old tricks, but Franz was not going to let them get their wish. The Oman Empire was also unwilling to give up easily, for a simple reason: the expansion of the spice trade.

In addition to the two labels of the Horn of Africa and Black Hawk Down, Somalia also had the title of the Spice Kingdom in the past.

In later generations, Somalia and Ethiopia almost monopolized the world's market for frankincense and myrrh, and at this time, trade with Austria allowed the Oman Empire to open up the market to Europe.

The demand for spices surged, and Austria also had trade routes in the East, and the demand for frankincense and myrrh was equally huge.

The Oman Empire even sent people to try artificial cultivation of frankincense and myrrh in the Somalia region. Said was naturally unwilling to give up such a cash cow easily.

In fact, Britain, France, and Austria were all business partners for Said, and he originally wanted to find one that was most beneficial to the Oman Empire.

However, after seeing the terrifying strength of the Austrian Empire several times, the great emperor wisely chose to marry the former.

"Are there any new weapons or new tricks?" Friedrich was still more concerned about military issues.

"Some improved weapons have been sent to the arsenal in Trieste. There is a weapon called a mine that you may like." Franz said with expectation.

"What's so strange about mines? Any experienced captain would not salvage such strange things at sea." Friedrich looked completely unconcerned.

Because mines have been around for a long time. As early as 1585 during the Dutch War of Independence, the Dutch used an oversized floating mine filled with 500 cubic feet of black gunpowder to directly sink two Spanish warships, killing more than 1,000 people.

During the American War of Independence, Washington also used mines, but at that time it was very simple. He put the gunpowder in a beer barrel and waited for the barrel to float near the British warship before detonating it.

In addition to this lowest level of man-controlled mines, a watchmaker at the time also invented mines with mechanical trigger fuses.

In fact, this thing is very unstable. It may explode even if it is not hit, but of course it may not explode even if it is hit.

But it was this little gadget in a beer barrel that annoyed the British fleet so much that the British army even dared not go into the water to pick up floating objects, which was known as the "barrel war".

(Europeans actually like to pick up floating objects very much. This hobby started in ancient Greece. Since the ocean is always a dangerous place with shipwrecks, pirates, and various risks and accidents, sailors drifting on the sea can always pick up some messy things.

This can also be reflected in the games made by Europeans and Americans, such as Heroes of Might and Magic)

The Russians also used mines to blow up bridges, and the Austrians and Prussians used them to blow up French warships (inland rivers).

But overall, the results were minimal.

It seems that there are no advantages except for its great power. It is expensive and extremely unstable.

"No, it's not the traditional drifting mines and floating mines, but anchor mines." Franz argued.

"Anchor mines?" Friedrich was obviously interested.

In fact, it was not that Friedrich was ignorant, but that the navy at that time paid little attention to mines. The army on the European continent used mines more times than the navy.

Franz: "Yes, it is a kind of mine that can be completely hidden underwater. It will only explode large ships that exceed a certain tonnage."

Friedrich: "How is this possible? Do those mines have eyes? Won't they explode when small boats hit them?"

Franz: "It's not that they have eyes, but that they use buoyancy."

"Use buoyancy? Do you mean the draft?!" Friedrich is worthy of being one of the greatest commanders in the history of the Austrian Navy. He quickly thought of the principle of anchor mines, but soon showed a look of worry.

Franz: "Yes, that's right. I know what you are worried about. This new type of anchor mine has abandoned the original mechanical impact fuse and uses a chemical fuse, which is more sensitive than before."

In fact, what Franz wanted was an electric contact fuse, but the Austrian Empire's technology in this area was too backward. He himself only heard the name of this technology and didn't know the specific principle and production method.

As for the chemical fuse, it can only be used temporarily, because this thing is too sensitive. When it is placed in the water, a large fish can trigger it, and the shelf life is very short. It will be completely ineffective six months after it is launched into the water. It can't be effective for decades like the mines in later generations.

"Why don't you send this good thing to California?" Friedrich asked with some confusion.

Franz: "This thing is still under development. It has not been mass-produced yet. I hope it can be tested by professional marines and improved after getting feedback."

Friedrich: "Then if you ask Ferdinand to get more ordinary mines, you won't have to worry about the US Navy, right?"

Franz: "How can it be that easy? And the scary thing about mines is that they are easy to lay but difficult to remove. If they are spread everywhere, what will we do after driving the Americans away?"

"Okay, okay. I really hope those barbaric Americans can have a bottom line like you." Friedrich said impatiently. "Oh, by the way. One more thing, please take care of my wife for me."

"." Franz was speechless for a while. "What is going on?"

Friedrich: "I finally know why you must let that Japanese woman stay with you when you sailed on the sea before.

People will really go crazy if they stay on the sea for a long time. Half of Sineka's twenty maids are now pregnant. There are too many people and we can't even figure out who did it."

"." Franz was even more speechless. "I thought you were always strict in managing the army."

Friedrich: "I almost changed the people on the ship twice. I can't kill them all."