Chapter seven hundred and seventy-five preparations before the currency union
"And after you return to the War Department, be sure to tell the Bureau of Munitions that they must strictly control the production of rifles!
It is expected that we will need to replace it with a new rifle soon!"
Jerome Bonaparte once again revealed his plans to Montauban. He planned to equip all Mauser breech-loading guns into the army by the end of 1857 at the latest.
Hearing Jerome Bonaparte's plan, Montauban showed a slightly surprised expression on his face, and then said that he would definitely bring his words to the Bureau of Munitions.
"By the way, the next model of rifle will be equipped in Algiers first. You, the Governor of Algiers, don't let me off the hook!" Jérôme Bonaparte said in an easy-going manner.
"Your Majesty, will the next model of rifle still be a muzzleloader?" Montauban then asked Jérôme Bonaparte.
"No!" Jérôme Bonaparte shook his head and replied to Montauban: "The next type of rifle will be a breech-loading rifle!"
"Breeze-loading rifle!" Montauban looked at Jérôme Bonaparte in surprise. He didn't understand why the shrewd emperor would do such a "stupid" thing.
The breech-loading rifle is far smaller than the front-loading rifle in terms of range and power. Its only advantage lies in the rate of fire and the freedom of shooting.
However, what France pays attention to now is not the rate of fire, but the accuracy of shooting and the organization of the army.
Therefore, in Montauban's view, these two advantages are not advantages, but its shortcomings are very obvious.
"What's the matter?" Although Jérôme Bonaparte knew what Montauban was thinking, he still pretended to be curious and asked Montauban: "Do you also have any objections to breech-loading guns?"
"Your Majesty, I believe that breech-loading guns should not be the weapons of the next generation of France!" Montauban retorted to Jérôme Bonaparte, "We should continue to move forward on the road of muzzle-loading guns!"
"Then tell me, what's the future for muzzleloaders?" Jérôme Bonaparte asked rhetorically.
As a time-traveler, he is very aware of the limitations of muzzle-loading guns. The Minie rifle can be said to be the masterpiece of muzzle-loading guns, and subsequent improvements will be in vain.
The breech-loading gun is different. Its potential can be said to have no limit within a hundred years.
These are the experiences given to Jérôme Bonaparte by the "predecessors". Jérôme Bonaparte would not be foolish enough not to follow the route prescribed by his predecessors and have to explore alone.
"Your Majesty, breech-loading guns also have many shortcomings!" Montauban replied to Jérôme Bonaparte.
"Yes! The breech-loading gun does have many shortcomings!" Jérôme Bonaparte nodded and admitted, "But you can't deny that it also has many advantages!
A qualified breech-loading rifle can effectively reduce the difficulty of training, and at the same time, it can also allow our army to suppress the opponent's firepower in a short period of time!
Just imagine, others only shoot one bullet per minute, but you shoot 3 or even 4 bullets at once! This way you have more possibilities to eliminate your opponent!"
"However, this will cause us to face logistical difficulties!" Montauban retorted subconsciously.
"Minister Montauban, didn't the Crimean War give you a warning?" Jerome Bonaparte's tone was slightly disappointed. He did not expect that the war minister he chose was so timid that he had not yet realized the future war pattern.
transformation!
Montauban, who was "mentioned" by Jérôme Bonaparte, suddenly remembered that Jérôme Bonaparte repeatedly emphasized the role of railway transportation. He realized that the logistical difficulties that had been wrong in the past could be completely made up for by railway transportation.
"I understand!" Montauban quickly replied remedially: "Your Majesty, what you want to say is that logistics can be compensated by the railway, so there is no need to worry about logistics problems at all!"
Jérôme Bonaparte smiled slightly, with a "teachable" expression on his face.
"You are right!" Jérôme Bonaparte said to Montauban, "Our era is different from that of my uncle. We have a more powerful transportation system than the previous generation!
As long as you arrange it properly, you don't need to worry about logistical issues at all.
Just like we did during the Crimean War, as long as we can coordinate the railway dispatch!
This is why I have repeatedly emphasized that your War Department must calibrate the time and memorize the railway timetable!
The factor that determines the outcome of future wars lies in the intensity of both sides’ use and mobilization of railways!”
"The role of the railway and the intensity of mobilization!" Montauban muttered.
"The future war will not be a battle of one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand, but a general mobilization of one million or even two million troops!" Jérôme Bonaparte said to Montauban in a low voice: "One day the front is facing
A place with a width of only more than a hundred kilometers may be separated by an army of more than one million people, and the depth of the battle between the two sides may not exceed 20 kilometers!"
"This...impossible!" Montauban did not believe the war mentioned by Jerome Bonaparte. Even during the Napoleonic Wars, France had never experienced such a thing.
"Minister Montauban, nothing is impossible!" Jérôme Bonaparte sighed to Montauban, "Technology is changing our destiny, and it is also making the fighting in future wars more tragic.
!
Crimea is just the beginning of our cruelty!"
Although Montauban did not want to believe what Jérôme Bonaparte was saying now, he had a vague feeling that the future war mentioned by Jérôme Bonaparte was indeed possible.
"Okay!" Jérôme Bonaparte decided to stop talking, and then replied to Montauban: "Let's stop this question for now!
France's next-generation rifle is indeed a breech-loading rifle. I don't care whether you like it or not, there is no possibility of easing on this issue!
After you become the Governor of Algiers, you must actively cooperate with the rifle test!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!" Montauban nodded and replied to Jérôme Bonaparte.
Jérôme Bonaparte, who saw that Montauban was a little emotional, responded to Montauban again: "But don't worry! I can guarantee you one thing. The performance of the next generation of rifles will definitely be better than the current one, and it will be airtight."
They are also trying their best to solve the problem!
If you still don’t believe it, you can go to Mauser Company to try it yourself!
I think you’ll like it!”
Montauban nodded again, and decided to take the time to go to the Mauser Gun Manufacturing Factory to take a look.
"Also, as for the problem of the next-generation rifle, it is enough for you to know!" Jérôme Bonaparte warned Montauban, "I don't want to cause trouble in the city! If this matter spreads, I will be the first
Just looking for you!
have you understood?"
"Got it!" Montauban replied to Jérôme Bonaparte.
"Okay! You can go back!" Jérôme Bonaparte replied to Montauban with a wave of his hand.
Montauban stood up, saluted Jérôme Bonaparte and left his office.
…
In the days leading up to the arrival of Victoria and his wife, Jérôme Bonaparte was processing the information sent by the Secretariat non-stop while convening bankers in France to discuss the European Monetary Union.
However, he did not call them all together for a meeting, but called them in batches to ask their opinions.
The first group of people summoned were four people, namely Finance Minister Magne, Bank of France President Bemini, Minister of State Fuld, and former Bank of France President Argoux.
For Count Argoux, who has been idle at home, Jérôme Bonaparte's summons is undoubtedly the greatest respect for him.
Although he himself did not agree with the European Monetary Union mentioned by the emperor, he still came to the imperial meeting at the Tuileries Palace.
When Count Algu entered the royal meeting hall, he immediately saw two ministers and a bank president who had been waiting for some time.
Looking at the smug "Iron Triangle", Count Argu showed a bitter smile on his face.
In the beginning, I was pulled down by the group of people in front of me.
"Count Argoux, you are here!" Bemini, who is the president of the Bank of France, saw Count Argoux already leaning on a cane, and hurriedly came to him and pretended to respect the old and care for the young.
His expression helped Argu.
"Count Bemini, thank you!" Count Algu said to Bemini with a forced smile on his lips.
At the same time, Earl Argou also kept warning himself in his heart that the more this time came, the less likely he would lose his grace.
The most taboo thing in the political game is to break up, which means that there will be no room for relaxation between the two parties!
In this way, Bemini supported Argu and waited for the arrival of Jérôme Bonaparte.
Five minutes later, Jérôme Bonaparte appeared in front of them.
Everyone present saluted Jérôme Bonaparte. Jérôme Bonaparte gently raised his hand and said to everyone present, "No need, everyone!"
Then, he issued an order to Mokar, asking him to move some armchairs.
Mokar hurriedly moved three armchairs, and Jérôme Bonaparte, who was sitting on the throne, discussed with the four people under the throne.
"Everyone, I think you all know that I am telling you the purpose of calling here!" Jerome Bonaparte said straight to the point to the three people present: "Tell me who should be responsible for this European Monetary Union meeting.
Better organized!”
"Your Majesty, I think it should be left to your personal leadership!" Fuld immediately responded to Jérôme Bonaparte.
Bemini, Magne and Count Argoux also unanimously expressed that it would be the best thing for Jérôme Bonaparte to personally lead and organize the meeting.
"Then who will be the French representative at this meeting?" Jérôme Bonaparte asked slowly and leisurely as he glanced at the three people present.