Ferdinand still knew nothing of the internal struggle about to erupt in Russia. This was also one of the effects his butterfly effect had had on the world.
Because of Bulgaria's rise, the Russian Empire's channels for importing supplies had not been cut off, and the Russian military was far less tolerant of domestic capitalists.
If there had been no alternative, that would have been one thing. But now that there was a better choice, why should they continue letting these capitalists bleed them dry?
This was not merely a matter of money that could be settled with bribes. Problems with weapons and equipment directly affected victory or defeat on the battlefield—and everyone's lives.
The young officer faction below certainly could not tolerate this. The air force had taken the lead in challenging the capitalists this time; was that not precisely because Russia's air force had been established only recently and had become a gathering place for young officers?
It was their push that had forced the air force's senior leadership to step forward. And if the air force dared to stick its neck out, could the army and navy possibly fail to follow?
Clearly, these high-ranking generals were not fools. Whoever dared to stand up for the capitalists now had better watch out for a black bullet on the battlefield.
Even if they had taken money, they now had to turn their backs and deny it, showing their subordinates that they were one of them—staunchly opposed to these unscrupulous capitalists!
Perhaps Lieutenant General Nikolai Nikolaokas had not considered so much when he went to the Tsar to lodge his complaint. Otherwise, he would not have been so uneasy.
But Nicholas II understood. He possessed at least that much political awareness. He knew that once capitalists went head-to-head with the