Chapter 319： French response

On March 26, 1861, the Austrian Navy set out from the port of Venice to begin a global visit. The first stop was the Ottoman Empire.

Unfortunately, the Sudanese government has moved its capital to inland areas, otherwise they can have a good feel of what is stress. Even with the relocation of the capital, the Sudanese government was still shocked.

Seven iron armored ships plus a dozen auxiliary warships constitute the world's most powerful fleet, which is not comparable to sail fleets.

When it comes to visits, it is just visits. This time, Franz did not plan to take root, and after frightening the Sudanese government, he visited the Mediterranean countries and went straight to Asia.

Paris

Excited Napoleon III announced at a government meeting: "We want to build a larger iron armored fleet and let the world know the power of France."

Napoleon III had no way to react less fiercely, even if the navy was not as good as the British. He can also comfort himself that the British are a pure sea power country, and France is an amphibious land and sea, which can't bear it compared with the Austrians.

The French navy's advantage over the Austrian navy is only based on tonnage and combat experience.

Unfortunately, these experiences have all stayed in the era of sailing warships, many things have fallen behind in the era of ironclad ships, and tactical concepts have also changed. Even if the tonnage has several times the advantage, the sail warship cannot win the iron armored ship.

There is no way. The sails of the warship are also used to deal with the sails. Suddenly the enemy becomes an armored ship.

Secretary of the Navy Dike replied confidently: "Your Majesty, please rest assured. We have started to build the Armored Fleet. At present, there are two Armored ships in service, and three Armored ships at the end of the year.

The Admiralty is planning to build ten iron armored ships, which can be completed in a maximum of two years to let the world know our strength. "

The technical level has passed, and building an armored ship is no longer an issue. This is also the speed of shipbuilding in peaceful times. If you are willing to rush to work, the construction time of a warship only takes a few months.

During this period, the tonnage of ironclad ships has not skyrocketed. The big ones are only eight or nine thousand tons, and the small ones are only two or three thousand tons. The dock does not need to be modified, and basically can meet the needs of shipbuilding.

Napoleon III said with satisfaction, "OK!"

The world's first navy cannot get the name, the world's second is to say that it can no longer be lost, and the French also want to lose face.

According to the international rankings of military forces, the French army and navy are second, and Austria is closely followed by the army and navy. The military forces on the two countries are very close.

Before the advent of the armored ship era, the strength of the Austrian navy was still six or seven or eight. As a result, when the ironclad landed, he overtook the car and jumped away from Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Many people now believe that the Austrian Navy can be compared with the French Navy. This concept is very marketable in the Mediterranean, and Napoleon III did not know it.

In terms of naval tonnage, the Austrian navy is close to 70% of the French navy. Considering the increase in the combat effectiveness of ironclad ships, this statement is very convincing.

Therefore, the French Admiralty announced the long-planned shipbuilding plan. When these warships enter service, the navies of the two countries will be stretched again.

As for Spain, the Netherlands, and Portugal, at this time they have fallen behind and are unable to participate in this navy feast.

After a pause, Secretary of the Navy Dike added: "Your Majesty, our navy has insufficient military expenses. To build so many iron armored ships, the government will need to increase funding."

Apparently, it was not without purpose that the Navy asked Napoleon III to come and see the Austrian navy fleet in person. On the surface, the French navy has lost face, in fact, it is still for shipbuilding funding.

Without paying attention to the mini-calculations of the Admiralty, Napoleon III asked: "How much worse?"

Secretary of the Navy Dike replied solemnly: "At least another 120 million francs must be allocated before we can complete the plan."

Shipbuilding alone is definitely not worth so much money, but also basic training, staffing, new technology research and development ...

The current appropriation is only an upfront cost. Once the construction is completed, the subsequent maintenance costs of the navy will also increase, in other words, the naval military expenditure will increase.

Without waiting for Napoleon III to answer, Minister of Finance Monier couldn't wait to jump out and say, "No, you guys are talking big in the lion.

How much is the construction cost of an iron armored ship? How could it be 120 million francs, and the maximum would not exceed 80 million francs. If you save a little, 70 million francs may be enough. "

Now the French Empire's fiscal revenue has reached 1.72 billion francs (about 68.8 million pounds), the French have the confidence of cattle B, and the British fiscal revenue at the same time is also 70 million pounds.

(Note: the chronology of the statistics looks like it only calculates the local)

However, no matter how high the fiscal revenue, the money will never be enough. The Ministry of Finance still has to save the province, and it must fight decisively against such a lion's big opening.

Secretary of the Navy Dike explained solemnly: "How can this be saved, Earl? In the age of ironclad ships, we are one step behind the Austrians, mainly because of insufficient military expenditure.

If military expenditures are reduced now, how can we develop new technologies?

Ironclad ships are not the same as the previous sail ships. After serving, our soldiers must be retrained to be able to operate skillfully. This is another expense.

In addition, the tonnage of iron armored ships is much larger than that of sailed warships. Many of our original military ports need to be rebuilt, which requires money. "

Chancellor of the Treasury Monier did not buy the account: "Don't say these nonsense. Except for research and development and the use of new technologies, other projects have funding every year. Do not want to repeat the budget.

Even if the Ministry of Finance allocates funds to you, you will not pass the government audit in the future. It is better to make a detailed budget again, and we will discuss the issue of appropriation. "

This is very political art. The warship must have been built. This was the will of Napoleon III, but the shipbuilding expenditure was still reduced. Otherwise, how could the Ministry of Finance be serious and responsible?

Knowing that the two had more elements to quarrel and play, Napoleon III still looked at the excitement casually. Apparently, his emperor is still qualified in power.

The emperor's life would be difficult if the people were held in a hug. Such a small battle, even if it is clear that this is just a routine business, the contradiction will be deeply rooted after a long time.

The power of the Ministry of Finance is too great, and all departments need their funding to offend God of Wealth. If there is no contradiction and the Ministry of Finance sells it everywhere, the emperor will not sleep.

...

Seeing that the fire had arrived, Napoleon III interrupted the argument between the two: "Well, if you want to make a noise, go back to your office and make a noise, don't affect my mood.

I remember that the United States seemed to be divided. How did the Foreign Ministry respond? "

Foreign Minister Auvergne replied: "His Majesty, we have news from our Minister in Washington, and now we have reached an agreement with the three British and Western countries, and everyone agrees on US affairs.

Now that we have convinced the southern government to agree to the abolition of slavery, the four countries have officially recognized the legitimacy of the southern government, and are currently lobbying more cattle slave states to join the southern government.

If nothing else, the United States should split this time. If we are lucky, our chances of returning to North America will come. "

Napoleon III asked in confusion: "Since the southern government is willing to abolish slavery, why are they independent? Hasn't the northern government ever made concessions?"

Foreign Minister Auvergne explained: "His Majesty, the main contradiction between the North and South is still tariffs. In recent years, the population of the northern states has grown rapidly, while the population of the South has grown slowly.

The current North American government is a spokesperson for the interests of capitalists, and their commitments have no credibility at all.

If the southern states do not take action, their interests will gradually be eaten away.

After the southern states became independent, the neutrals proposed to add an animal slave state to balance the power gap between the two sides, but they were rejected by the northern government.

Others have proposed double tariff standards, which impose trade barriers in the northern states and increase tariff rates; while southern states implement free trade to reduce tariff rates.

The person who made this suggestion has grown grass. Capitalists refuse to compromise on this issue, they want to get cheap industrial raw materials and markets. "

Napoleon III nodded, this explanation is more reasonable. There is no love or hate in the world for no reason. If there is no interest, do you still expect the capitalists to fight a civil war for the benefit of slaves?

If there is such a Virgin, why don't these people be better to the workers? This is true for yourself, not to mention ****.

"So, the Austrian navy's global visit is also aimed at Americans?"

Obviously, Napoleon III's political vision was good, and Franz's true purpose could be seen at a glance.

Under normal circumstances, even if there is an exchange visit, it is impossible to send such a large team, and the navy is very expensive to run.

"There should be factors in this regard, as well as the readiness of the Vienna government to stand up.

In recent years, the Austrians have frequently opened colonies overseas, and have encountered many problems that may be resolved during this visit. Foreign Minister Auvergne replied

After a moment of contemplation, Napoleon III made the decision: "We can't be idle either. In recent years, the rate of overseas expansion has been somewhat slow.

This American civil war is an opportunity, and even the Austrians have to swim in troubled waters. If we miss the opportunity again, we are really behind.

Come up with a plan as soon as possible, the interests of the Americas must have France. "

In fact, the French have not slowed their overseas expansion at all, but they have only slowed down their strategic focus on the Kingdom of Sardinia in the past two years.

This slowness is only relative. Except for Austria, the fastest expansion on the African continent is the French.

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