MTL - The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria’s Mandate of Heaven-v3 Chapter 12 Big business
April 21, 1842.
Northern Italy, Savoyon.
Vittorio, as the eldest son of Alberto, married Marie Adelaide of the Habsburg family, the daughter of the Governor of Venice, which seemed to prove that Savoyon was moving closer to the Austrian Empire.
However, just one day later, Carlo Alberto I, King of the Kingdom of Sardinia, signed a trade agreement with the French. I won’t talk about the content, but the result was that it became another trade agreement between France and Austria after Bavaria. Two dealers.
The game between Habsburg and Bourbon in Italy has lasted for hundreds of years, and both sides are not surprised by Savoyon's actions.
The Austrian Empire drew the Papal State and a group of its own relatives to form the Apennines Business Alliance, and France drew relatives from Sardinia and Southern Italy who did not have a good relationship to form the Western Mediterranean Alliance.
Of course, France and Austria are fighting for hegemony, so how could Britain, a shit-stirring stick, not get involved? With the help of Britain, the Pan-Mediterranean Free Trade Alliance was established.
The logic of the British is very simple, beat up whoever is strong, maintain the independent status of these countries, and avoid any country from becoming bigger. Of course, the most important thing is to organize these countries as their own economic colonies and vanguards.
In fact, with the development of industrialization, European countries are no longer inclined to trade protection, but to free trade. Because each country feels that it has an advantage and can crush other countries.
Italy became the first battlefield in the name of "free trade". Why not Germany? Because the German Customs Union shut out most of the power of Britain and France, and Bavaria's "consciousness" was a little higher than that of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
It's just that this time Austria is not too busy investing too much manpower and material resources to seize the market in Sardinia or South Italy, but instead encloses itself like in the past.
The economy in the south of France is poor, and it is possible for the Austrians to attack with all their strength to open a gap in the south. In the competition for high-end industrial products, Austria is not afraid of the British at all, but so what?
This does not bring much benefit to the Austrian Empire, and due to the problem of raw materials, the domestic demand for many products is very tight, and it seems that it is not worth the loss to use it to expand the market.
This kind of false market share can be cleared by other powers with a single decree. Someone must be asking, isn't there a spirit of contract and free trade?
But that can only be established when both parties agree, otherwise the "spirit of abandoning the contract" will teach you to be yourself every minute.
It is not enough to rely on Austria's own industrial capabilities to become the world's factory like the British. After all, the British have not been fooled by the Jewish financial consortium and deindustrialized like the American elders in later generations.
So Franz is still working on the one-acre three-point land in his home, and there is an unstable time bomb in Hungary, which flashes out from time to time.
The pro-Austrian aristocrats such as Széchenyi and Prince Elthhazi once again proposed to build a railway to connect Hungary and Austria to participate in the national economy, but as expected, it was again characterized as a "traitor" and the proposal was also rejected and rejected it.
Of course, it is impossible for Kossuth to let all Hungarian agricultural products rot in the ground. Since the two roads of Germany and Italy are not feasible, he thought of the Ottoman Empire.
In fact, McGidd also wants to expand the market. After all, reforms cost a lot of money, and where does the money come from? Naturally, it depends on trade and taxation. You can't cut your own expenses, can you?
But it is a pity that both countries are agricultural countries, the repetition rate of goods is high, and the transportation hub Belgrade is blocked by Austria. This kind of trade that was not worth the loss lasted only for a short period of time before it was declared bankrupt.
August 10, 1842.
Trieste, Headquarters of the Austrian Imperial Navy.
In an astonishing move, Friedrich decided to sell 11 refitted second-tier battleships to his former enemy, the Oman Empire.
This may be the largest transaction in human naval history so far.
Oman also sent Suwei Ni, the heir of the Said dynasty, and Majid, Said's favorite son, which shows how much he attaches importance to it.
In history, after Said's death, they split the powerful empire built by their father, and finally both became colonies of great powers.
The reason why Saeed came to discuss this business is also desperate, because he knows very well that the arrival of Britain and France will indeed increase Oman's income, but once he discovers the nature of weakness, it will be the two most terrible reminders.
Said is willing to pay any price to keep the foundation he created, but that also needs the help of the great powers.
It just so happened that Friedrich looked down on the Egyptian battleships very much. Even after the Austrian modification, the firepower, defense, speed and other performances still could not meet his requirements.
However, things like battleships were big killers in the 19th century. Just getting a few of them could change the country's defense posture, and even use them to go to other continents to kill the Quartet.
So who to sell to and how to deal with it became a big problem that troubled Friedrich. Fortunately, the successive visits from Britain and France stimulated Said's nerves and made him determined to strengthen his naval strength at all costs.
Friedrich immediately found Franz.
"I'm going to sell all the second-tier battleships captured from Egypt to the Omanis. What do you think?" Friedrich's words came to the point, and Franz was used to it.
The Austrian Imperial Navy has always been blank. The only general in the Ministry of War is Friedrich himself, who was born in the navy. Others can't help at all, let alone put forward useful opinions.
"With such a big budget, how can we fill the vacancy in the Austrian Imperial Navy. The current empire is different from the past. If the sea power forms a vacuum, or if it is too weak, I am afraid that many people will come to make a fuss about it~www.novelbuddy. com~ including the Omanis who bought battleships from you."
Friedrich had thought about this a long time ago, and he was already prepared.
"Over the years, in addition to refitting the rags in Egypt, we have also built and launched five battleships, including my current flagship, the Venetia.
After the Turkish-Egyptian war ended, the navy built another batch of warships, and it is expected that three more ships will be launched next year. Moreover, in terms of performance, the battleships built by our country are far better than the garbage of the Egyptians, and their shipbuilding level is not as good as that of Napoleon! "
It seems that Friedrich really doesn't like the Egyptian battleships very much, and in terms of the current world situation, Franz feels that the possibility of war between Britain and France is more likely.
Although there have always been conflicts among other countries, it is far from the time to resort to war.
"Strategically speaking there is no problem selling the battleships to the Omanis, they are not a threat to us, but I think the navy is still seriously undernumbered. Because I have reliable information, the French and the British are engaged in a naval arms race .”
The French took great pains to keep the Texas colony. They even approved the establishment of the Greater Texas Naval Base, and the fleet size would be equal to the Great Eastern Fleet Mediterranean Fleet and the Great Western Fleet Atlantic Fleet.
At this time, the situation faced by the British is much more unfavorable than in history. The Austrian Imperial Navy suddenly rose, the Russian Navy has been expanding its arms and preparing for war, and France wants to build a large fleet to enhance its maritime strength. Constantly challenge the bottom line of the British.
Although the United Kingdom still has the ability to wipe out all the navies of other powers combined, its power is too scattered, and the news that France will build 21 battleships at a time has indeed touched the sensitive nerves of the British.