amaotonovel Chapter 86: Updating Weapons, Eliminating the Threat of the Military-Industrial Complex
Chapter 86: Updating Weapons, Eliminating the Threat of the Military-Industrial Complex
Alice ultimately chose the Carcano rifle. The reason was simple: given Amelia's current industrial capabilities, the Carcano M1891 rifle required relatively little manufacturing time, while the best-performing Mauser Gew 1898 rifle required too much manufacturing time, so Alice simply abandoned that thing.
After all, a standard weapon cannot be judged solely on its performance. The standard rifles that equip the entire army are also constrained by industrial capacity, manufacturing time, price, and the operational area.
Alice couldn't possibly allow Amelia's current industry to manufacture the expensive Mauser G98. After all, bolt-action rifles would be replaced within ten years anyway, so why use such an expensive thing? To fight against the current troops who were carrying flintlock rifles?
Alice pulled the bolt, and the Carcano M1891 rifle fired a deadly bullet. The rifle was a bit stiff, but the tolerances of the parts were still good. She put down the weapon, and the group began to talk. They knew that the Carcano rifle was going to be the standard weapon for the entire army in the future.
"The Carcano rifle, after our modifications, fires 7.62x51mm smokeless powder bullets, which we have named the M59 7.62 standard rifle cartridge."
Alice nodded. She had set the standard for rifle ammunition, and this 7.62x51 was actually the NATO standard 7.62 NATO large-caliber full-power round from her world.
Now, she's starting to think about the future. Every step she takes needs to be taken slowly, and she needs to consider the next step after each step.
The roar of the cars suddenly drew her attention. Alice looked toward the gate, where two trucks drove into the testing ground. Everyone around nodded. Smedley leaned closer and said, "Your Highness, this is the army breech-loading cannon you need. In fact, the people from the Trian Artillery Factory came knocking on our door after the order was issued."
The cannons brought by the Trian artillery factory were not Krupp or Armstrong. Alice recognized the distinctive muzzle at a glance—the French 75mm cannon, also known as "Miss 75"!
This is truly modern technology. The French 75mm howitzer was the world's first modern field gun. While the world was using recoil-operated artillery, the French 75mm howitzer taught the world a solid lesson with its hydraulic-pneumatic recoil structure!
It was precisely the emergence of this artillery that changed the main source of damage in modern warfare from light weapons to heavy weapons, with a firing rate of thirty rounds per minute perfectly showcasing the production speed of the industrial age.
The other type is more ordinary; it's a 155mm steel Krupp breech-loading cannon, probably intended for naval use.
"Your Highness, Mr. Defense Commissioner, let me introduce the 75mm field gun to you!"
The head of the Trian artillery factory gestured for them to proceed, and three artillerymen quickly picked up the fixed 75mm shells from the ammunition cart beside them. Unlike in the past, the 75mm artillery shells were fixed-load shells. The gunners only needed to pick up the cannon, load it into the breech, lock it, and fire. The entire process could be completed in as little as two seconds, just as fast as the Hotchkiss machine gun.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The gun barrel recoils backward under the action of hydraulic recoil control. The recoil force is absorbed by the complex mechanical structure, reducing the time required for resetting.
Alice watched all this silently without showing any expression. In the end, she still signed the order to replace the army's artillery. The Napoleon cannon was gradually retired and would be granted an export license after the end of next year.
As for the other support weapon—the Maxim machine—Alice didn't watch the demonstration. She knew the Army would definitely not let such a thing go, but it would take ten years to use, so Alice let the Army decide.
Finally, a list was delivered to her desk, and the Army and Navy reached a rare consensus: they would gradually replace their weapons, and the rifles were all given new models.
Carcano M654 rifle
Maxim M654 water-cooled machine gun
75mm M654 rapid-fire field gun
155mm M654 howitzer
These weapons were added to the defense industry's list, and Smedley was in his office watching Alice, who was giving him an unfriendly look.
“I await your explanation, Mr. Smedley. You are the head of the National Defense Committee, and all of this owes a great deal to you.”
Alice's words were appreciative, but her tone held no hint of approval. Smedley knew Alice was angry. Before presenting her with those advanced weapons, those people had repeatedly brainwashed him about their benefits, but after that day, Smedley learned from various sources that Alice and Alicia were very displeased, and that Princess Alice had even unusually swore in front of Alicia.
He quickly found the reason—this matter was very serious for Alice, and there was one word to describe it: kidnapping by the military-industrial complex!
After carefully reading those words, he immediately felt a chill, because it meant that if such a thing happened again, it would mean that the rulers of the entire country would no longer be the royal family, but those arms dealers!
“Your Highness Alice, I am deeply ashamed of this. I failed to consider all the reasons. Those arms dealers bribed these people in private. I have compiled a list and hope Your Highness will have mercy.”
Alice took the list, handed it to her secretary Rafis Yao without even looking at it, and the latter immediately took it away. Smedley knew without a doubt that the list must have gone to the Secret Intelligence Service right away.
Alice stopped talking and deliberately let the atmosphere continue for half an hour. This torment made Smedley feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. When the maid knight returned, Alice handed her another list.
"This is the head of the chemical industry, and this is the Ordnance Bureau... Tell Ms. Lavinia that I want to see these people at the North Mountain Prison in Trian by tomorrow afternoon."
Alice acted swiftly and decisively, resolving these issues before the military-industrial complex could take shape. The nation could not be held hostage by arms companies, which were only good for starting wars.
Smedley shuddered again. The little girl sitting in front of him was so ruthless. He knew those people, many of whom had made great contributions to the industry, and now she was eliminating them because of this.
“Mr. Smedley, this matter, on a small scale, is about the military’s urgent need for new weapons; on a larger scale… it is the first power grab by the military-industrial complex!”
Alice's words struck me like a thunderbolt: seizing power! This is the most serious of crimes!
"As the head of the defense department, Mr. Smedley should understand the meaning of the word 'seizure' better than I do."
This situation prompted Alice to correct herself by using "I" instead of "we," and Smedley knew that Alice was truly serious.
“If you don’t understand the nature of these capitalists, then there are many gentlemen who would be more suited to this position than you.”
Alice nodded. Smedley knew that there were many people in the military who supported Alice personally, which meant that Alice would not receive much help in wanting to replace him as Minister of Defense, and that there were many legitimate reasons for her to do so.
For example, in the recently reorganized military regions, the elite Southern and Western Military Regions almost entirely support Alice, while the Northern Military Region has more new recruits and its inclination is not obvious.
Moreover, the commanders of each military region are replaced every two years, and apart from wartime command authority, they do not have much power to mobilize troops.
Smedley had no choice but to obey Alice's orders. He promised that this would not happen again. Alice, seeing that she had given him a good talking-to, waved her hand and told him to submit a self-criticism in a few days.