Chapter 226 Prepare for a Rainy Day

Constantine nodded, knowing that Greece actually had more advantages in the competition between Greece and Serbia for North Macedonia.

In the previous infiltration of Macedonia by the three countries, the North Macedonia region was controlled by forces supported by Greece.

The Greek guerrillas had already integrated the rural forces in North Macedonia in advance.

"What is the opinion of the General Staff? You came to inspect this time, should you bring a plan for the Macedonian Corps?" Constantine asked.

Emmanuil's face was serious, holding a document in his hand, and he said to the officers seriously: "General Staff Order"

The officers sitting around the table, including Constantine, stood up in unison with a "swish".

"The Macedonian Corps, immediately launch an attack on Thessaloniki. After conquering Thessaloniki, draw the strength of the Macedonian Corps and go north to support the Albanian Corps." Emmanuil solemnly read the order of the General Staff to everyone.

The so-called army going north to support Albania is actually facing the Serbian army.

Once the Albanian army led by Manugiansky occupies Skopje, the exasperated Serbian army will inevitably take action.

The two sides will inevitably have dirty tricks around the issue of the ownership of North Macedonia.

Facing more than 200,000 Albanian troops, the Albanian army with only 130,000 soldiers may be unable to cope with it and face great military pressure.

"But Mr. Chief of the General Staff, the fortress built by the Ottomans in Salonika is very strong. If our Macedonian army attacks by force, the casualties will be very large," said Major General Tsipras, the commander of the Second Division, with an embarrassed look.

"The General Staff has raised a batch of heavy artillery to conquer these fortresses," Emmanuil said calmly.

"The military train that came with me carried 45 280mm mortars."

Hearing that they would be equipped with such a powerful weapon soon, the faces of the officers in the tent changed from resistance to joy.

The 280mm caliber heavy artillery was built by the Greek Steel Machinery Factory based on the Italian 280mm howitzer.

In fact, after learning that the Germans helped the Ottomans to build a fortress outside Thessaloniki, the Greek military leaders who were determined to take Thessaloniki began to look for ways to crack the fortress.

As a result, the Russo-Japanese War that broke out between the two major powers, Japan and Russia, in recent years (1905) entered the vision of the General Staff.

The 280mm naval gun that shined in the Russo-Japanese War entered the eyes of the General Staff.

In this war, during the battle for the Port Arthur Fortress, after the failure of the first general attack, the Japanese army pulled the 280mm mortar to the front line. This gun played a decisive role in the Japanese army's capture of Hill 203 and the destruction of Russian warships in the port.

However, such artillery has a very obvious shortcoming. Its huge body makes it a big problem to move.

Therefore, in order to use such heavy artillery in the future battle of Thessaloniki, Greece extended the railway line to the border in advance.

"With such a cannon, there is no need to be afraid of the strong fortifications built by the Germans to help the Ottomans"

"Yes, damn Germans, they are determined to stand with the evil Ottomans"

Constantine's face also relaxed, and he secretly sighed that fortunately the Greek railway line was laid to the border, otherwise such a big guy, even if it was made by the military factory, would not be moved to the front line.

"By the way, where are the heavy artillery that I asked the military factory to help transform, have they been transported?" Constantine asked hurriedly.

Emmanuil was startled, then thought of something and said, "It has also been transported, a total of 8 cannons"

The cannons Constantine mentioned came from the navy, or more precisely, from the two Invincible-class battlecruisers equipped by the navy.

The navy has more stringent requirements for naval guns.

When naval guns are fighting at sea, due to the special working environment, they need to shoot at moving targets. This design mode must take into account factors such as the shaking of the hull by waves, the speed of one's own ships, the speed of local ships, etc., and it is very difficult to hit the target.

This naturally leads to the navy's demand for excellence in naval guns.

Once the 305mm gun equipped by the Invincible-class battlecruiser reaches about 100 shots, the rifling in the barrel is seriously worn, which has a great impact on the accuracy, and the navy will replace the barrel.

Unlike the navy, the army is not so demanding on the shooting accuracy of artillery, and the army does not have high requirements for accuracy for large-caliber heavy artillery such as 305mm caliber, and firepower coverage is enough.

After all, it is impossible for a person to be covered with thick and solid armor like a warship, so large-caliber shells and shock waves can solve the enemy.

Therefore, these expensive wastes replaced by the navy have entered the army's field of vision.

Of course, a 305mm naval gun of the navy is worth a lot of money, even if it cannot be used on a warship, it is not without value.

In the words of the navy, these inaccurate gun barrels can be used on the artillery platforms built by the navy, which can also be regarded as part of the Greek coastal defense.

In order to obtain these artillery pieces, Constantine also had a lot of arguments with Kontoriotis.

These retired artillery pieces of the navy were sent to the military factory by Constantine for expansion and re-rifling, and the caliber reached 315 mm.

Of course, the price is that the barrel wall of the artillery has become thinner, and the chamber pressure that can be tolerated has decreased. It is impossible to install as much propellant as before, otherwise there is a risk of explosion.

The range has also shrunk.

Nevertheless, for the army, this is also a rare equipment.

Compared with those 280mm mortars, these 305mm heavy artillery mainly have long range and high accuracy.

After getting a positive answer, Constantine has more confidence in solving the Ottoman fortress.

Looking at the happy Constantine, Emmanuel thought of his mission and continued: "Your Highness, in fact, I came here this time for another important matter, and I need to ask for your consent"

Constantine was puzzled and motioned Emmanuel to continue.

"According to the war plan of the General Staff, we will obtain most of Macedonia's territory in this war. Once successful, it is very likely that we will clash with Serbia and Bulgaria."

"The General Staff means whether Congolese soldiers can be recruited to Europe in advance. The number of soldiers in Serbia and Bulgaria puts a lot of pressure on the General Staff," Emmanuil said sincerely.

The number of soldiers in Serbia alone is equal to that of Greece.

Not to mention Bulgaria.

Although the two countries are still allies, once the Ottoman Empire is resolved, the two sides may go to a new war for the issue of spoils.

Constantine asked: "In this case, can the government's finances support it?"