It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 61｜Welcome to…Budapest

Mr. Shang's journey was full of twists and turns and was delayed for two days.

The high-horsepower Wright engine used in the Boeing 314 must be filled with No. 100 aviation gasoline. However, when it landed in Baku for refueling, the local people could not get enough because the Ivan Rus Empire could only produce No. 93 gasoline at most and the imported No. 100 gasoline had been used up.

The technology for producing high-grade gasoline is currently only mastered by the industrial Cthulhus on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, and even the old European powers are still working on technological breakthroughs.

What should I do?

As long as the mind does not slip, there are more solutions than difficulties.

The octane number (anti-knock performance) of alcohol is very high. Shang Ke discussed with the flight engineer and decided to mix half alcohol and half gasoline to fill the engine. After verification, the engine can operate normally.

However, alcohol has a low combustion calorific value, so the fuel was consumed quickly, but the Asia Clipper still arrived at its destination safely.

Budapest, a city with a strong ancient atmosphere, is located at the intersection of the Hungarian Plain and the Carpathian Mountains, with the Danube River running through it.

In the early years, it was actually divided into two cities, formed by the merger of Buda on the west bank of the Danube and Perth on the east bank.

Buda to the west is mostly mountains and ancient castles.

Perth in the east is mostly plains and factories.

In the winter of the 44th year in the history of the original plane, a brutal siege broke out here and lasted for more than a hundred days.

"Not bad, it looks nice." Shang Ke looked out the window and saw the area below filled with exquisite and beautiful Gothic spire buildings.

"I lived in Budapest for a few years, and the beef soup and ice cream here are delicious," said the Bohemian flight attendant with a smile.

The Kingdom of Hungary bore the war guilt of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and lost a lot of territory, but it was better than in the history of the original dimension.

Now, it is sandwiched between the two major powers of Varland and Ivan Rus. The situation is turbulent and it is not easy to protect itself.

Hungary and Varland had economic cooperation, exporting large quantities of wheat and bauxite, but they maintained a certain distance to avoid angering Ivan Rus. Furthermore, since the end of the European War, Hungary had actively promoted relations with the Grand Commonwealth, hoping to gain the help and protection of the Eastern giant.

Simply put, it dances very hard on three eggs.

The feeling of setting foot on foreign soil is very subtle. If you savor it carefully, perhaps you are missing a sense of belonging?

"Welcome to Budapest, gentlemen." A major general with a big beard came to greet them.

The members of the advisory group received a very warm reception. It can be said that the Hungarians are very knowledgeable about the ways of the world and have a good understanding of Eastern customs.

First, a sumptuous lunch was prepared at the Suzanna Hotel to entertain everyone. After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they headed to the Kovács military camp on the eastern outskirts of the city.

Apart from anything else, just based on this point, Shang Ke's initial impression of the Huns was two points higher.

The Kovacs military camp is about four or five kilometers away from the city center and is separated from the outside world by a red brick wall. There are many small buildings and several rows of barracks inside.

This is the office of the Grand Command Federal Advisory Group, and it is also one of the bases of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Hungarian Royal Army. The division headquarters and the 4th Infantry Regiment are both here.

Although the Treaty of Trianon had severely limited the size of its armed forces, four years earlier, with the support of both Varland and the Grand Control Confederation, Hungary had resolutely announced its rearmament plan and tore up the treaty. Under the direction of the Control Government, the Southern Armaments Group signed a contract with Hungary, and the Hungarian Ministry of Defense subsequently announced the ambitious Györ Plan, which aimed to establish a modern armed forces and a basic military industrial system.

As of January 1 this year, Hungary and Sweden have placed orders totaling more than 1 million pesos, mainly for heavy weapons, including:
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214 J-37 fighter jets
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36 H-35 light bombers
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100 CJ-30 primary trainer aircraft
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570 105mm howitzers
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220 155mm howitzers
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80 105mm cannons
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520 65mm infantry guns
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1240 12mm anti-aircraft machine guns -
285 Type 32 medium tanks, customized versions
250 6-ton heavy-duty towing vehicles
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1600 2-ton trucks
In addition, there is a large amount of ammunition, and the Southern Armament Group also undertook the arsenal construction project.

According to the contract requirements, the Southern Armament Group helped build the Veszprem Artillery Factory and the Sosto Artillery Factory, and the Quag Railway Machinery Company helped build the Fred Tank Factory.

As a semi-agricultural and semi-industrial country, Hungary has a population of only tens of millions, so it is naturally impossible for it to pay out such a large sum of money in one go.

In fact, three-quarters of these funds came from loans specially approved by the centralized government with very low interest rates.

In other words, it is equivalent to buying on credit.

But for the Grand Unification Federation, this is actually a very cost-effective investment.

Hungary and Sweden reciprocated by offering many preferential policies, allowing private enterprises in the Grand Unified Federation to gain a foothold easily. Since the 1930s, hundreds of Chinese-funded companies have taken root here like mushrooms after a rain, and the bridgehead of influence deep into Europe has begun to take shape.

There is also an intangible benefit - the weapons and equipment orders of the Jer Project will help the military industry of the Grand Federation to warm up and adapt in advance.

"The higher-ups have a good eye."

Shang Ke felt that this strategy was a good one, killing two birds with one stone.

The personnel arrangements have been made. Shang Ke was assigned to work in the General Staff Headquarters, and Su Ji, who came with him, was assigned to the Zrinyi-Miklos National Defense University.

There is no doubt about the tactical talent of the Coffee Shop God. Tian Shang has discussed many issues with him seriously these days and has benefited a lot.

An embassy military attaché who had nothing to do was also at the Kovacs barracks, so he offered to take them there.

The military attaché drove the car, his left hand on the steering wheel, and introduced it with a smile: "This Xiong Errui is quite popular with some people above him. Although he has his own little thoughts, he is generally obedient and treats people politely. It's very comfortable to work here."

"Likeable?" Su Ji expressed doubt.

"Back then, Austria-Hungary was still around, and this place hadn't even gained independence yet they came all the way here. Guess why?"

"What?"

"Hey, looking for our ancestors," the military officer said happily. "We sent several groups of people there, looking through ancient texts and conducting on-site research. In the end, we determined that their ancestors, the Magyars, migrated all the way here during the Han Dynasty."

Su Ji and Shang Ke were both at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

However, the Huns are indeed an outlier in Europe. Even their name order is the Eastern style with the surname first, rather than the Western style with the surname after the given name.

In his previous life, Shang Ke knew very little about Hungary, and the popular meme "Public Trial of Horthy" alone accounted for most of his knowledge.

Now he was surprised to find that the regent Horthy had actually been ousted. After debate, the Hungarian upper class decided to invite a royal descendant from the Wedin royal family to succeed to the throne.

　Note:
　　(1) Wei Dian!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)