Holy Roman Empire

Vienna Palace

Franz asked in surprise: "France and Russia are getting closer?"

Franz is not surprised that France and Russia will move closer, but what surprises him is that the time for the two countries to move closer is too early.

An agricultural crisis is brewing, but it hasn't exploded yet.If you go to the doctor in a hurry, you will not fall into panic until the condition is serious.

It's still early, the French have only one plan for their large farm plan, and the British's plan for food self-sufficiency has not even determined the origin of the food.

Even if it will impact international food prices, we have to wait until they grow the food.

This kind of indispensable just-needed product is not futures and stocks betting on future market changes.

Regardless of whether it is bad or good, the demand in the market is indispensable.Before the occurrence of excess grain production capacity, even if the international grain market is in turmoil, there will be no major changes.

At least until the major grain exporting countries abandon the implementation of a unified grain sales price, it is impossible for the international grain trading market to change drastically.

Foreign Minister Weissenberg: "Your Majesty, the tsarist government is also compelled.

Although after the outbreak of the agricultural crisis, we can still solve the problem by expanding domestic demand, but the debt pressure of the Tsarist government is too great.

The Russian Empire is also seriously short of foreign exchange. After losing the source of income from food exports, their financial system will soon collapse.

The French were willing to let the grain of the Russians enter the domestic market, and the Tsarist government had no way to refuse. "

There is no way, no matter how much we increase income and reduce expenditure, the debt still has to be repaid, and we can only choose to pay in foreign exchange or gold. The ruble is basically no one cares about in the international currency market.

Every year, a large amount of foreign exchange has to be used to repay debts. Naturally, the tsarist government must work hard to earn foreign exchange, or else it will use a large amount of gold to fill the pit.

Once there is insufficient foreign exchange and a large amount of gold flows overseas, the value of the ruble will be ruined.When a country's currency loses its credibility, the financial system is doomed.

The tsarist government has personally experienced the suffering of this, and it can even be said to have rich experience.

Every financial crash is accompanied by - government bankruptcy.

The seemingly effective method of repudiation, in fact, has endless troubles.It's all right to be isolated and rejected by the international community. The key is how to deal with mortgage loans?

You can't rely on the debts of the Nordic Federation and Austria at the same time, refuse to perform the pre-signed loan mortgage contract, and fight a battle with the two countries to wipe out the debts, right?

Naturally, the tsarist government would not reject such an approach without a lower limit. Allies have always been worthless in front of their interests.But the current problem is one against two, that is really unbeatable!

In this era of the weak and the strong, the winners on the battlefield can renege on their debts, but I have never heard that the losers can also renege on their debts.

If you can't renege on your debts, you can only find a way to make money.

The French offered tangible benefits, and even knowing that this might be a poisonous bait, the Tsarist government still had no way to refuse.

Franz nodded, and said slowly: "It seems that we all underestimated the French, maybe the Paris government's large farm plan is just a cover.

The French region itself is the largest food producing area in Western Europe. If it weren't for the annexation of the Italian region, they would not be short of food at all.

These peasants are the foundation of the Bonaparte dynasty. As long as Napoleon IV is not crazy, the interests of these people will not be harmed.

Politically, it has been decided that the price of food in France will be at a relatively high level to protect the interests of the peasantry.

The French's large farm plan can reduce dependence on external food, but it does not mean that they must achieve self-sufficiency.

Once the food is self-sufficient, the price of food in France is doomed to decline driven by interest groups, and it is difficult to guarantee the interests of the peasantry.

Only by leaving a certain gap and importing grain from overseas can we provide a reason for keeping grain prices at a high level that is acceptable to all parties.

Winning over the Russians may also be part of their prior plan.Our laissez-faire has only accelerated the development of the situation.

Next, how is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs going to respond? "

The facts are in front of us, whether the French prepared in advance or had a sudden inspiration, the final situation will develop in a direction that is beneficial to France.

Without compromising the interests of domestic farmers, implementing the large farm plan not only reduces the loss of foreign exchange, but also helps promote the development of the domestic grain processing industry.

Since the industrial revolution has developed to the present, there are actually only a few mainstream economic sectors, namely: light industry led by textile industry and agricultural product processing industry, and traditional heavy industry including shipbuilding, iron and steel metallurgy, and mining.

Next comes transportation, and finally the newly emerging electric power industry.As for the automobile and internal combustion engine industries, they are still infants and occupy a very small proportion in the socio-economic volume.

The foundation of France is still very solid, the industrial chain is basically complete, the only regrettable lack of leading industries.

The British occupy the dominant position in the financial industry, textile industry, and shipbuilding industry, and also occupy an important position in the mining and iron and steel metallurgy industries.

Austria has a dominant position in the agricultural product processing industry, electric power industry, transportation and other fields. In the fields of mining and iron and steel metallurgy, it also surpassed the British with a slight advantage and became the industry leader.

The French are tragic. There is not a single one in important industries who can resist the flag, which is quite a bit of overall mediocrity.

Leaving aside heavy industry, innate resources have already determined that it is difficult for the French to make a difference in this field. It is already very hard work to be ranked third in the world.

The textile industry, which the government focuses on, has been beaten by the British in the international competition. It seems that the industry is huge, but in fact, the total volume is not as good as that of Austria, which is not obvious.

The transportation industry in France has developed very well. Since Napoleon III, the railway has been overhauled. Unfortunately, other industries have not followed suit.

Capitalists have to consider the return on investment. A railway that has no hope of profit for a long time will be ruthlessly abandoned even if it is repaired.

Frankly speaking, the development of emerging industries in France is still very good, but it is a pity that there are too many inherent restrictions.

For example: In the power industry, the French entered very early.It is a pity that the French are short of coal and rely heavily on overseas imports. The high cost of power generation restricts the promotion of electric power.

It is difficult for a single company to dominate the real economy. Even if you can't become the leader in the industry, you can still live a good life as the second in the industry.

The big farm project now seems to be just for self-sufficiency in food, and farming is enough.

In fact, due to the existence of tariff barriers, domestic agricultural product processing enterprises have an advantage in taxation and cost. As long as the grain production capacity increases, these enterprises will develop.

While promoting the development of the domestic economy, it also hit competitors. It can be said that this large farm plan has all benefits and no harm to France.

Foreign Minister Weisenberg replied: "The French's large farm plan is beyond our reach, and there is no way to destroy it for the time being.

However, what they want to win over Russia must not be allowed to complete smoothly. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is looking for a suitable point of intervention to interrupt France and Russia from continuing to move closer. "

It's definitely a fake.

France or Russia alone has obvious shortcomings, and Austria can still deal with it calmly. If the two are united, the situation will change.

Franz hadn't forgotten that there was a shit-stirring John Bull beyond the strait.The First World War in the original time and space was detonated after John Bull joined the Allied Powers.

In a sense, the Russians would not have rushed to the street so quickly if there hadn't been John Bull, a cheater and no cheating teammates.

The material assistance was timely, the tsarist government did not fall so early, and the Second German Empire could not last that long. The Americans had nothing to do with World War I.

"It's very difficult to do, the French are willing to open up the domestic market, that is a real benefit, it is very difficult for the Tsarist government to refuse.

If we want to prevent them from getting closer, we must also pay a price. Even if we add political influence, at least it cannot be much lower than the French.

Unlike the French, they can do whatever they want. If they succeed, they will make a lot of money, but if they fail, they will cause us trouble.

If you come a few more times, I'm afraid you won't be able to stand it.If things go on like this, the French will not be suppressed, and the appetite of the Russians will be raised first.

Unless we can win with one blow, it will be very detrimental to us if we continue to entangle like this. "

Here lies the problem. The French made a purely disruptive move. No matter whether they succeed or fail in the end, the result will not be worse than it is now.

In contrast, Austria cannot continue to play like this.After a long time, this will create an illusion for the Russians-Austria cannot do without Russia.

Chapter 77 釜底抽……

Prime Minister Karl: "If you can't hold it back, you can only suppress it.

The Russians have gained too much from the Russia-Austria alliance for so many years, if they are not satisfied, then there is no need to continue..."

It is only a matter of time before the conflict between Russia and Austria occurs. People's desires can never be satisfied. Austria cannot always satisfy the desires of the Russians.

Although he had been prepared in his heart, Franz still did not expect to come so soon.

Now it's only the French who make the move, so it's so troublesome; if the British also get involved later, things will be even more difficult.

It is basically certain that as long as Britain and France are willing to spend their money, it will be a matter of time before the Russians defect, because Austria can no longer afford the price.

This is determined by geographical location. Austria blocked the way for the Russians to advance westward, and the Vienna government had no way to continue to make concessions on this issue.

Once the international situation changes drastically, the huge debt between Russia and Austria is also one of the factors that induce the two countries to turn their faces.

If you can't pay off your foreign debts, you will kill the creditors. There is a precedent for this kind of thing on the European continent.With Russian morals, Franz was not at all surprised that this happened.

Foreign Minister Weissenberg shook his head and said with a smile: "Things are not that bad. There are three main reasons that hinder the Russians from defecting:

One is that Britain and France have not paid enough attention to it, the price offered to the Russians is not high enough, and the bargaining chip for betrayal is not enough;

The second is that the friendship between Russia and Austria has lasted for three generations since the period of the Anti-French War, and the pro-Austrian faction has taken the upper hand from the people to the government;

The third is the economic and trade exchanges between the two countries. Once they go to the opposite side, the fledgling Russian national industry will suffer a devastating blow.

If these three problems cannot be resolved, at most they will ease the relationship, and the Russia-Austria alliance can still continue.

Judging from the current situation, the French just want to alienate the Russia-Austria alliance, and they haven't reached the point where they want to pull the Russians to fight us.

Even if Britain and France attack together, the Russians will not turn against them for a while.I can safely say that the Russians don't want to see us on the battlefield. "

This explanation made many people breathe a sigh of relief. It is almost impossible to solve the three major problems at the same time.

Especially the last two, the friendly relationship between Russia and Austria has been determined by three generations and six monarchs together.

Politicians can change their positions at any time, but it is not possible for the public to change their positions in a day or two.

The group of "Pro-Austrians" was not created by fooling around, but was bound by real interests.

Once Russia and Austria turn their faces, this group will become the biggest victim.On the contrary, there is also a pro-Russian faction in Austria, and these are the vested interests of Russia-Austria friendship.

When it comes to interests, you can't convince people by lip service.If the tsarist government wants to turn around, it must first suppress the pro-Austrian faction in the country.

The problems in the industrial system are even more troublesome. Even with the help of Britain and France, they cannot be rectified in three to five years.

If Austria suddenly blocks the Russians, within half a year, most of the factories in Russia will shut down due to mechanical equipment problems.

Of course, many people don't realize this.After all, there is no precedent in this regard, and no one knows that controlling a country's industry can start with spare parts of mechanical equipment.

On the issue of building a security moat, Franz is still satisfied. With so many protections, it is much more reliable than the German Second Empire in the original time and space.

Judging from the current situation, as long as Austria does not do things that anger people, Britain, France and Russia will not be able to unite at all.

The French feel the threat from Austria and need to win over the Russians to share the pressure, but the problem is that the British feel the pressure from the Russians now?

As for Austria, although it has become a little stronger and more active, it has not violated their core interests after all.

In the minds of most British people, the French are the biggest enemy of Britain, the Russians are the second enemy, Austria is at most four or five, and there are annoying Yankees in front of them.

This ranking has no real value, and too many national sentiments are mixed in it.

On the eve of the outbreak of the First Time and Space War, the biggest enemy in the minds of the British people was France, so it was not without reason that John Bull dragged his allies back in the World War, and dug pits and planted mines for them after the war.

After weighing the pros and cons, Franz slowly said: "Since there is no situation that is still under control in a short period of time, then wait and then take action.

The Ministry of Agriculture should make preparations first. Once the French's large farm plan has achieved results, it will promote new types of potash fertilizers and directly draw the bottom line. "

Since Austria can no longer make money in food production, no one should even try to make money.

There is still technical difficulty in producing synthetic ammonia in large quantities, but there is not much technical difficulty in mining the potassium ore buried in the ground.

Phosphate fertilizers have already appeared, and adding another potassium fertilizer is too much to guarantee. It is still easy to increase the current grain production by more than ten percentage points.

It is not realistic to promote it to the whole world, but it is still very promising to increase food production in most parts of Europe within three to five years.

Needless to say, the outbreak of the agricultural crisis is appropriate, and it will even be unprecedentedly tragic.

The open-minded French people have always been at the forefront of world agriculture and are still very keen on promoting chemical fertilizers.

With the increase of more than ten percentage points in the production of local agriculture in France, coupled with the contribution of colonial farms, the domestic food is basically enough to eat. The Paris government can't suppress its own agriculture and make room for the Russians, right?

The agricultural crisis broke out, international food prices collapsed, and the French defaulted on the contract. I wonder if the Tsarist government can bear this double blow. Franz has already mourned for Alexander III in advance.

The Russians will definitely hold grudges if they are severely swayed. This is Austria's opportunity.

Regardless of interests or strategies, it is people who decide all of these.As long as you are a person, you will inevitably be affected by your personal perception, and it is impossible to be 100% rational.

There is no harm in fooling around, how will you know if it will work if you don’t try it?If it succeeds, it will be blood money; if it fails, it will be as if nothing happened, anyway, it is thick-skinned and fearless.

……

Following Franz's order, the Ministry of Agriculture got busy. It has not been a day or two since the "potash fertilizer" was discovered, but the relevant news was blocked by Franz.

At present, only agricultural experts are researching in the experimental area, and have not applied it to agricultural production. Hols, the Minister of Agriculture, is only known by name.

After getting the report, Halls knew the specific ingredients of this thing.

The agricultural demand for potash fertilizers is huge, which cannot be filled with a little plant ash, so hurry up and look for mines!

From Franz's memory, he knew that plant ash was equivalent to a weakened version of potash fertilizer, all thanks to the news that the burning of wheat straw was prohibited before crossing, which caused a lot of noise.

So this achievement is to allow scientists to study the ingredients in plant ash that are beneficial to agricultural production, and then compare them in nature.

Franz didn't even know what the potassium ore looked like, let alone the specific distribution area.