Chapter 244： Colonial road

The refugee crisis in the Balkans has received no outside attention, although it has been reported by many media outlets.

It doesn't matter, it hangs high. Common in any world, the Ottomans did not have a good impression on Europeans this time.

It can almost be regarded as a barbaric endorsement, plus a heretic, it belongs to the kind without human rights.

Of course, everyone can't pay attention to it. Their stomachs are still not full. Who has the mood to care about the life and death of the Ottomans?

The outside world didn't care, and Franz was happy. In the later generations, Bai Zuo, who is standing and speaking without pain, is still in the primary stage and has no right to speak.

Everyone's eyes have converged on Constantinople and the Crimean Peninsula. Now that the Near East War has hit, the belligerents have begun to beat the speed.

If the Russians conquered Constantinople first, then they would gain a strategic advantage and could cut off the Bosphorus. Apart from compromise, Britain and France could only die with them in the Balkans.

On the contrary, Britain and France first captured the Crimean peninsula, so they had a strategic advantage, and they could smash the Russian shipbuilding industry in the Black Sea, and the battle of Constantinople was not necessary.

Don't watch the Black Sea Fleet dead, the Russians are not ready to fight back. The construction of sail warships of this era was not difficult, and the Russian shipyard in the Azov Sea did not stop.

After a loss, the Russians carried out repairs on the shore guns along the Black Sea coast. Even if the bureaucrats of the Tsarist government were incompetent, they knew that they could not continue to be beaten passively.

An important military port, shore guns have been redeployed. The British and French navy are not stupid. Naturally, they will not bomb warships and shore guns.

According to the plan of St. Petersburg, as long as Constantinople is conquered, the British and French fleet entering the Black Sea will become rootless, and slowly grinding can also kill the enemy.

The fortress of Sevastopol began to crumble, and Constantinople also fell into the majority, and the time to determine the fate of both parties had arrived.

History has changed, and Russians with Austrian support have erupted into more powerful combat capabilities. Under the personal intervention of Nicholas I, after clicking several logistical officials, the Russian army in the Crimea finally managed to change clothes.

However, logistical supplies have also become more difficult. The more advanced the modern weapons, the greater the logistical pressure, which is also a big challenge for Russians who rely on ox carts for transportation.

Vienna

Franz is looking at the map of Africa, and the colonies cannot be opened up indiscriminately. There is no place to touch, and Austria is not suitable for launching a big conflict with the old colonial empire.

Secondly, Franz is not prepared to touch areas that are poor and have no resources and no development potential. Colonization also depends on costs. It has always been a losing trade, and it is not long-term.

In the end, the powerful indigenous people can't mess with it. In case the teacher is not good enough to take it down, it will be shameful.

After excluding these three factors, there are not many options left.

Of course, the latest is the attack on the Ottoman Empire. Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt are all recent options. After thinking about it, Franz did not hesitate to cross the three options.

The timing was not right. Now that the Ottomans and Britain and France are still allies, they took the initiative to cause British and French interference, and Austria made wedding dresses for them.

The most valuable South Africa, the coastal areas have fallen into the hands of the British, Algeria is already the meat in the French bowl, and Morocco has been peered by Britain, France, and Spain.

Franz reluctantly found that good places are owned by others. Morocco hasn't been divided up yet. It's okay to step in and get a cup of tea. Of course, this must be done by choosing an entry point.

The land that was not targeted by the powers in this era is almost non-existent. It doesn't matter if you look at it, as long as you don't eat it, everyone can use their own means.

All of a sudden the list came up: Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Gabon, Congo, Namibia, Kenya, Tasonia, Somalia, Zanzibar, Madagascar ...

Landlocked is not considered, and farther beyond Africa is not planned. Franz is very skeptical of the Austrian navy's ocean-going capabilities.

Franz asked: "Plans can't keep up with the rapid changes. The outbreak of refugees in the Balkans is a trouble and an opportunity. Since we encounter them, we cannot waste them.

It is very difficult to migrate from the country to the African continent. Just look at the British and French countries. People would rather go to the American continent on the side of Oceania than to the African continent within easy reach.

The quality of the refugees in the Balkans is not good, but it is even worse than the indigenous people. The population of the early stages of colonial development has already existed, so our colonial plan must begin in advance.

This is a map of the African continent. These unmarked are borderless land. Everyone think about it. Where do we start from? "

The mineral resources of Shenma are unknown in this era. European colonists have not been able to complete exploration, so everyone's judgment is very primitive now.

Looking directly at the level of development, whether the local area is rich enough or not can the colony be profitable. The Austrian government also needs to consider whether it is suitable to develop agriculture and whether it can support these immigrants.

Prime Minister Felix analyzed: "His Majesty, Guinea can consider that the coastal plain area is easy to control, the local area has sufficient water resources, is suitable for the development of agriculture, and it is very good to establish a colonial stronghold.

From a distance perspective, this is also the closest. At present, there are not many competitors here, that is, the French chief has signed a treaty with several chiefs, which has little influence in the local area.

Nigeria is also good, with excellent natural conditions and relatively high economic value. However, the local indigenous strength is relatively strong, and the British's power has also penetrated.

Then there is the Congo region. There are water channels deep inland and it is easier to control. The properties are also good, and the colony should not lose money here.

At this stage, these three places are more appropriate. There is no guarantee of how much benefit can be obtained, at least within five years, these three places can achieve a balance of payments.

Coupled with the immigrants I sent from the Balkans, after a dozen years of operation, a small market can be formed locally, which is also a small supplement to the domestic industry. "

Other regions are naturally postponed, and colonization must also consider costs. Of course, we must choose the region with the most suitable interests.

Strategic location and future development are not within the scope of everyone's consideration. A colony that can make money now is a good colony.

Future issues, let's talk about it at that time. Everyone is a realist, and the colonies are not indigenous. Don't expect everyone to think about how far.

Colonial activity is also a long-term investment. It is the pursuit of colonists to be able to recover costs as soon as possible and realize profits.

Of course, there are also colonies that do not make money. For a country, it is not possible to simply calculate the administrative costs.

It is also acceptable if the colonial market can promote the development of domestic industry and commerce, or make up for some of the resources that are lacking in the country, and bear a certain loss.

The Germans in history in this regard were negative teaching materials. The area of ​​the occupied colonies was not small, but unfortunately the development was limited. As of 1914, there were only more than 20,000 German immigrants on the continent.

The German colonial operation has always been at a loss. The vast colonies have not contributed much to the development of domestic industry and commerce, and the colonial market has only contributed 0.5% in foreign trade.

Franz naturally has to learn a lesson. The first is to control the cost of colonization. The domestic management model is obviously unusable.

Metternich suggested: "Your Majesty, we have just begun overseas colonization. We can only succeed but not fail. It is not appropriate to take risks now.

Let ’s get started in Guinea and Congo. The competitors in these two places are not strong enough, as long as we are fast enough to create the established facts. "

Colonies are different from homeland. Austria's target now seems to belong to a region of some value but not high value.

Now that the Near East War is at a critical moment, everyone's attention has been attracted, and this is a good opportunity to take action.

The opening of African colonies in this era is a coexistence of risks and opportunities, and Britain and France will not work hard for the two chicken colonies.

That's right, the chicken rib colony, there are too many areas suitable for agricultural production in Britain and France, and Austria's goals have not seen anything special yet.

What's more important is that in these two places, there is no unified power in the local area. The former Kingdom of the Congo has long since fallen and has not blocked Austria's strength.

In contrast, Nigeria is not a soft persimmon, at least it seems to have some strength. You can see the Fulani empire that ruled it, and the power to launch a jihad.

Of course, this is not to say that Austria cannot get here, it is mainly a matter of pay and benefits. No matter how the Fulani Empire, they can't change them. They are just an agricultural country with a population of millions.

Africa's largest population in later generations has no shadow now. The entire African continent has a population of more than 20 million and is spread over more than 30 million square kilometers of land.

This is also the reason why Metternich opposes aggressive actions. Religion is also very crazy. Once launched, it will be enough for Austria.

Coupled with the sparse population, these religious fanatics can also cause headaches if they cause damage. Although human flesh bombs have not yet been born, suicide attacks have emerged.

In order to maintain colonial rule, Austria sent hundreds of thousands of troops to destroy these miscellaneous fish? Cost is the core of the establishment of a colonial empire. If you cannot control the cost, then the colonial empire is not far from the collapse.

Without much hesitation, Franz made the decision: "Take these two places first, as the first step in our overseas colonization!

The General Staff immediately began military deployment. This time, the Army and Navy will conduct joint operations. Don't make any jokes. By then, everyone's face will be bad. "

Marshal Radsky answered: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Obviously, Franz's words also mean that the Balkan refugee wave has not passed, and the General Staff has not been held accountable. It is only for the stability of the government, and it does not mean that it will not be held accountable.

If this matter is done well, then the atonement for the merits will be exposed; if something goes wrong, even Marshal Radsky will inevitably be ashamed.

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