European Financial Emperor

139 Alaska Development(1)

After Easterfield bought Alaska from Russia, railroads and roads began to be built at a rapid pace on the coast of western North America.

To date, Easterfield has connected railroads and roads to almost every city, and telegraph poles have been installed along it, providing complete transport and communications.

Easterfield’s plan was to extend such transportation and communications to Alaska and make him a forward journalist.

In the summer of 1831, Yi Hwan received a report on this.

“The railroad hypothesis is underway along the East Coaster Field. The cost of construction is estimated at around 3 million central.”

“Three million centrals.”

The West Coast, which previously belonged to British Columbia, was renamed East Coaster Field when the Kingdom of Easterfield took over.

Since then, development activities have been carried out at a tremendous pace, and most of them have been to establish the basis for entry into ports or shipyards.

But now, as the plan for land development is in full swing, a huge construction cost of 3 million Central is being spent a year.

Of course, from Easterfield’s point of view, 3 million Central wasn’t a huge amount.

“As long as the population is secured, it is the plan of the Ministry of Construction to triple the construction cost and complete it within two years.”

“It’s a good plan. I will approve.”

“Then, is the railroad going to the Bering Strait?”

“Of course.”

After developing the Alaska area, Lee Hwan will prepare a foothold for advancing into Russia based on it.

One day, in order to advance into Asia, Russia will have to serve as a foothold in the north, and the Far East was the first wealth.

“In the future, we plan to connect this place by road so that trains and cars can pass through it.”

“The Bering Strait is wider than you think.”

“Know. However, connecting the headland to the headland would not only be a huge profit, but would also have a military advantage. It’s not meant to be connected right away. If technology becomes available someday, we will connect it.”

“If you connect in the future.”

“Anyway, for him, we have to steadily develop the Far East. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lord!”

As Lee Hwan developed Alaska in earnest, Russia felt like taking a step back.

The servants asked Yi Hwan what Russia’s intentions were.

“Your Majesty, it is said that more than 90% of Russian troops have recently withdrawn from the Far East. In fact, except for a few soldiers guarding the watchtower, they said that only a network of contacts was on standby.”

“Russia retreated?”

“Are you thinking about giving up on the North American market?”

Russia sent explorers to dominate North America and worked tirelessly to establish a foundation for territorial expansion by establishing a corporation.

The advance of troops into the Far East was to solidify such a phase of expansion.

However, what was the intention of withdrawing troops from the Far East in an instant?

Lee Hwan defined it in one word.

“Looks like they really think of us as shields.”

“A shield?”

“If Britain and Russia compete for supremacy in Asia, the Far East will become a strategic point. All of this is to secure colonies and foreign territories, but giving up the Far East is not as logical as you say. But the variable is that there is an ambush called Easterfield in the middle. Britain isn’t sure they can win the war with us right now. That can be seen in the brief diplomatic friction that was brushed off by the mistake of the last deputy finance minister.”

Lee Hwan cut off the fingertips of the envoy from the British royal family, wrote a blood letter and sent it.

In the end, the Deputy Finance Minister, who came as an envoy, almost lost a finger because of a letter he had written on his behalf, but in the end he was punished too much.

Even though Yi Hwan directly imposed such a punishment, the fact that there was no response from the British royal family was not proof that they were afraid of Yi Hwan.

“You can see that Britain is shrinking just by looking at it, so there is no need for Russia to send troops to the Far East any more. In terms of not only reducing military expenditure, but also unifying the national debate, the Far East is giving us a chance.”

“iced coffee! Then, aren’t we the only ones suffering for nothing?”

“I believe that as much as you put in a lot of hard work, you can achieve results.”

As Lee Hwan had to advance to Joseon someday, he thought that the current situation was rather a natural stepping stone for Russian aggression.

He ordered the construction of a fleet base here and a supply of electricity.

“Is coal easy to procure in Alaska?”

“Yes, it is. So, the Ministry of Construction also decided to build a thermal power plant in Alaska.”

“Good. Then we’ll get the electricity, build a fleet base, and raise the shipyard and dock one by one. Also, operate submarines from time to time to monitor the dynamics of Russia and Britain.”

“I take orders!”

What Russia would mean to Lee Hwan in the future, he was very much looking forward to it.

***

Taken from readwn.com

Mid-September 1831.

As diamond mining, a joint venture between the African Union and Easterfield, paid off, Africa was growing at an alarming rate.

First of all, civil works were paying off for the construction of thermal power plants and hydroelectric power plants, and square buildings made of concrete began to form the city.

At the same time, road construction was underway to connect the city to the city.

In a word, it was demonstrating the tremendous power of proceeding with everything.

Taken from readwn.com

Maybe a year later, you won’t know if this is the same area.

Taken from readwn.com

Meanwhile, negotiations between the Ottomans and the African Union took place.

It was the position of the Ottomans that a trade route linking the Ottomans and Africa should be established as the same federation, and Africa was also attracted to it.

“Anyway, the federal government is cutting tariffs on our trade by nearly 90%, so I think any way you trade, you can make a profit in any way.”

“But for trade, we have to build ports and secure roads.”

“I know it is still going on.”

“Well, it is.”

Africa has become somewhat defensive because it clearly remembers the expansionist invasion of sovereignty carried out by the Ottomans in the past.

To such an African Union, the Ottomans emphasized that they themselves had joined the Union.

“We have given up on territorial expansion. All military activities are left to the Federal Army, and we are focusing on economic development.”

“okay. We know that.”

“If we can partner with us to trade, we will be of great benefit when the federal government enters Asia in the future.”

“Are you a beneficiary?”

“Even if a canal is opened in Suez, the exchange of goods from northern Africa to the Qing dynasty by rail will have undeniable safety.”

“So, invest in Istanbul as it will establish itself as a new powerhouse in land transport, what is it?”

“It’s like that.”

Even within the same federation, there is a separate central government, and independent decision-making must be pursued.

In addition, the economy was also fragmented, and the structure of the Easterfield Federation was that each country had to take care of its own profit.

From that point of view, Istanbul’s overland transportation route is quite attractive for the African Union.

The African Union is in deep trouble.

All was good, but they did not have enough money left to start a full-fledged trade route.

“Even if Easterfield gives us a loan on the mainland, it will not be easy to develop a trade route.”

“If the problem is money, we will cover a large portion of the construction cost.”

“… … Are you going to pay the construction cost?”

“We do it because it is the business that remains for us.”

As Ottoman said, pioneering a route for overland trade in Africa has many advantages.

No matter how poorly the financial situation was, the size of Tsarist Russia was comparable to that of Britain.

Taken from readwn.com

Moreover, if Africa started trading with many countries in Eastern Europe, it was clear that the Ottomans would make huge amounts of money from that intermediary trade.

Of course, that was also true of Africa.

“The rest of the business… … .”

“It is a business that remains for us, but I don’t think it will be bad for you.”

The African Union’s goal is to grow its economy so large that no one around it can be ignored.

In that case, Ottoman’s proposal had to be a temptation that they could hardly refuse.

Eventually, the African Union agreed to accept the Ottoman proposal.

“good. Let’s make a pact.”

“Oh, you made the right decision!”

“By the way, what can we sell to Europe and Russia in Africa?”

“There was a lot to sell. From precious metals to ivory and luxuries such as lion skins, don’t they sell at exorbitant prices in Europe?”

“Then what about the precious metals market?”

“Even if we leave precious metals to the precious metals market according to the trend, it is better for us to handle things like ivory and leather ourselves.”

“Hmm, that’s right. There are limits to what you can do in the precious metals market.”

“you’re right. You are very thoughtful.”

Combining the proposals made by the Ottomans so far, the conclusion was that the Ottomans would fall behind, so that the influence on trade should be boosted.

African leaders evaluated this as follows:

“Do you want to take the lead in trade?”

“I’m not going to hide it.”

“Are you going to take the lead?”

“We have all trade routes to lucrative lands. In fact, if you want to do business with wealthy Eastern European countries, it’s best to go through us.”

“Well, it is.”

“If we come to take the lead in the market, we will never forget you.”

The Ottomans joined the Federation late, and were not very well-received according to their past actions.

They had to do anything to establish themselves in the Federation and become the second most powerful force after the Kingdom of Easterfield.

Even if it’s a business that you go into on your own.

The African Union reached out to the Ottomans.

“like. Let’s try it.”

“thank you.”

“Then let’s adjust the terms of the agreement right away and start construction as soon as possible!”

Somehow it felt rushed, but the African Union signed the pact.

Even after signing, he looked a little uneasy, but Ottoman officials laughed at them.

“Africa is going to make a ton of money in the future! I’m not sure!”

Up to this point, the African Union was unaware of the destructive power this agreement would bring.