Chapter 1051： Like me

Hearing the news that seemed like a fantasy, everyone was stunned. The Americans want to build the "Siberian Railway." Isn't this the sun coming out from the west?

The Americans want to strengthen economic exchanges and cooperation between Russia and the United States, and everyone can barely accept it. After all, the divided United States is seriously lacking a market for merchandise sales.

As a member of the fringe world, there is no conflict of interest. The relations between Russia and the United States have been good in recent years. It's just that the Americans want to build the "Siberian Railway", which is a bit funny.

The Siberian Railway has such a great effect that it can promote Russia-US economic and trade cooperation. Why don't we know?

Everyone knows that in the case of a small distance difference, the cost of rail transportation is much higher than that of sea transportation. What's more, the transportation cost of special railways such as the Siberian Railway is even higher.

Whether starting from the east coast or the west coast, it is better to ship goods directly to the Russian Empire than to go to the Far East for transit.

If we really want to talk about promoting the economic and trade between the two countries, there are actually some. It is just not to promote commercial trade between Siberia and the United States.

Different from later generations of Siberia, the Siberian region of this year was useless except for its size.

The Siberia area of ​​more than 13 million square kilometers has a population of less than 7 million. This is the result of Ottoman immigration. Otherwise, this figure can be discounted.

The development of Siberia was still after the opening of the railway. Mainly due to Stalin's exile policy, which increased the local population.

With such a small population, it is still spread over 13 million square kilometers of land. Talking about trade is a joke.

The purchasing power of the market in Siberia is probably not as good as one-tenth of that of St. Petersburg.

To say that Americans have taken a fancy to this "large and unmanned" market and want to cultivate and operate in depth, it is estimated that a normal person would not believe it.

Nicholas II asked: "What do Americans want?"

There is no love and hate for no reason in the world, especially among countries. As a normal person, Nicholas II did not believe that Americans would come to do charity without benefit.

You must know that the construction cost of the Siberian Railway is not a small figure, and it can rank second in the entire human history, second only to the Shinra ring railway.

As early as a few years ago, the Tsarist government completed the exploration of the Siberian Railway. If it were not that the budgetary costs were too scary, and the Tsarist government had no money, the railway would have already started construction.

Although the financial resources of the United States of this year are stronger than those of the Russian Empire, it is also very limited, and it is also highly indebted.

His own railway was not completed, and suddenly he ran to help build the Siberian Railway, but Nicholas II did not doubt their motives.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhailovich explained: "In recent years, the United States has encountered bottlenecks in its development and urgently needs to open up a larger commodity sales market.

It's just that now the world has been divided up, including America, which was originally regarded as a back garden by the Americans, is now reduced to the sphere of influence of Britain and Shinra, and there is no room for them to intervene.

In order to change this situation, the Americans have set their sights on expansion to the Far East. But their strength is limited, they are unable to compete with the British, and it is even difficult to suppress the Japanese.

Without the intervention of external forces, it is only a matter of time before the Americans are expelled from the competition in the Far East.

Judging from the current international situation, we are the only one who can provide assistance to the Americans, and it is possible to provide assistance.

Apart from joining hands with us, they have no way to deal with the Anglo-Japanese alliance. The Americans proposed to build the Siberian Railway, which seems to be helping us, but in fact this is also their strategic helplessness.

Of course, Americans are not vegetarian, and their appetite is quite good.

In addition to cooperating with us to expand in the Far East, they also want to obtain the franchise of the Siberian Railway and the most favored nation status in international trade. "

Starting from defeating Napoleon, the Russians had a kind of "fascinating self-confidence", especially after the capture of Constantinople, it reached its peak.

The Russian-Prussian War once awakened the Tsarist government, but after the victory of the war, everyone quickly became addicted to it.

This "confidence" is also reflected in politics and diplomacy. Including the strategy of going south to India, it is based on this "mysterious self-confidence."

After hearing this explanation, everyone including Nicholas II was tempted.

Most-favored-nation treatment is the same as not giving. Anyway, the Russian Empire is already the world of Shenluo's industrial and commercial products, so it's okay to let an American come in and act as their competitor.

For Nicholas II, who wanted to get rid of the influence of Shinra, he was just worried that the Americans were useless, and even if the market was opened up, they would not be able to compete with Shinra.

Joint expansion in the Far East is not a condition at all. The expansion of the Russian Empire itself in the Far East requires allies to share the pressure.

As for the dominance of the Far East and the completion of the Yellow-Russia Plan, that is the future, and it will not affect the current US-Russia cooperation in the slightest.

It can be said that the requirements of the Americans are within everyone's bottom line, except that the railway franchise is somewhat embarrassing.

Prime Minister Sergey Witt: "The Americans are willing to help build the Siberian Railway, which is naturally a good thing, but it should not be now.

The strength of the empire is not unlimited. The French rebellion needs to be suppressed by the empire. The Central Asia Railway is halfway through. We really don't have the ability to start another big project.

Judging from the current construction progress, if the later projects progress smoothly, the Central Asia Railway will be opened to traffic in 1899, and it will not exceed 1900 at the latest.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can talk to the United States and put the construction time of the Siberian Railway to three years later, so that we can deal with it calmly. "

Even if the Americans are willing to help, the Tsarist government still has to pay for the construction of the Siberian Railway, and it has to bear the bulk of it.

Including the Central Asia Railway under construction, it seems that the Vienna government is assisting in the construction, but the labor and raw materials are still provided by the Czarist government.

In the era of lack of machinery and equipment, almost all processes were completed manually. Labor and raw materials account for more than 80% of railway construction costs.

As for the old difficulties of demolition and relocation that future generations of railway construction will face, it simply does not exist now. Including taxes in all aspects, now it is all zero.

On the surface, the tsarist government did not pay much, but it hurts the country's strength! Free labor is not unlimited, and once the recruitment is over, it will also cause serious problems.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhailovich shook his head: "I'm afraid this won't work. The American steel giant is leading the construction of the Siberian Railway.

They promote this plan, the main purpose is to clean up their inventory. If the time is delayed by three years, their losses will be very large.

Besides, the US government will be changed in two years. If the project is not finalized as soon as possible, a new government will come to power..."

Unlike the surplus of agricultural products, which can only be scrapped, surplus steel can still be backlogged. But this backlog time is also limited, and the longer the backlog time, the higher the cost.

Capitalists are the most realistic. Once it involves harming one's own interests, then it is useless to say anything.

Capitalists can’t handle it, so it’s even more difficult for the US government. If you can be re-elected, that’s all, if the government changes, the continuity of the policy simply cannot be counted on.

This government is pro-Russian, and maybe the next government will be anti-Russian. The speed of American political change is comparable to that of women changing clothes.

Nicholas II's indecisive character was exposed, and he could not make up his mind. He now wants to build the Siberian Railway, but he is also worried that the railway will consume too much national power to support it.

...

The scorching sun is scorching the earth, and Franz is now sheltering from the heat in the Albis Mountains, accompanied by a small mountain pool. Quite a bit of the charm of "the spring eyes are silent but the trickle, the shade of the tree loves the softness of the water".

Since having his son as a strong man, Franz has been liberated from tedious government affairs and led a good life of traveling in mountains and rivers.

People like to toss once they are free. If it is not too painful to take the transportation of these years, maybe Franz has already realized the dream of traveling around the world in his previous life.

Think about the beauty along the way, you can get drunk and taste exotic, it is definitely a treat.

It's a pity that there was no money in the previous life, and I couldn't put it into action; now I have money, and the conditions for global travel are no longer available.

If you can't travel the world, then travel around Shenra. If you want to suffer in a poor place, then indulge yourself in the bustling comfort zone.

Anyway, at his current age, Franz doesn't have to worry about killing his will and depraved himself for fun.

I ran out to play capriciously. Although he has been in contact with government affairs for many years, but now he has suddenly become a decision maker, he still feels tired.

There is no way, any decision now involves great interests, so he cannot be careful.

As the crown prince, Frederick did not have the prestige of Franz that is unequivocal. Before making a decision, it is indispensable to coordinate the relationship between all parties.

Fortunately, the bureaucrats of the Vienna government have been trained by Franz in recent years, and no one dared to stab the crown prince. Otherwise, Frederick's life would be even more sad.

...

Prime Minister Carl: "His Royal Highness, the French-Russian Army sent a telegram to the Allied Command for help last night, hoping that the commander can solve their logistical problems for them."

The seemingly unremarkable report, Frederick knew that trouble was coming again.

The Vienna government has controlled the Allied Command for a long time. Naturally, no one had any opinions during the European War. The situation after the war was completely different.

No one wants a mother-in-law to take care of her, and the anti-French allies are no exception. In view of this situation, the Vienna government, which pays attention to food, naturally did not insist.

Soon the Allied Command was reduced from the highest military command of the alliance to a liaison and coordination agency.

Except when it is politically necessary, to stand up and brush up on the sense of existence, most of the time, he does not talk about specific military commands.

No matter how the real power changes, nominally the Allied Command is still the highest military command organization of the Anti-French Alliance.

Now that the Russians are asking for help, the Allied Command, which is nominally the supreme command body, cannot sit idly by.

Perhaps in the eyes of the outside world, the Russians came here at this time, providing the Vienna government with an opportunity to re-intervene in the command of the French troops of various countries.

However, Frederick would rather not have this opportunity. Interfering with the command power of the troops stationed in France seems to have huge benefits, but in fact it is useless to Shinra.

France is like this now, and there is no way to squeeze oil. Excessively deep into the military command stationed in France, what else can there be other than the culprit and hatred?

You can't take this as an opportunity to intervene in the internal military and political power of various countries, right?

Mo said it was going to be implemented, but whenever there was a little sign, Shenluo would fall into criticism.

Similar tragedy cases, the Habsburg dynasty has experienced it firsthand. When he was young, he was full of enthusiasm and chanted a few unified slogans. After he succeeded, he was targeted by the princes.

The current situation is similar. European countries are willing to recognize the overlord of Shenluo. In addition to their own strength, the most important thing is that Franz does not like toss.

It's rare to run into a boss who doesn't do things, everyone will naturally flatter. The flattery of others goes to flattery, but you still have to be self-aware.

If it really does drift, Napoleon is a role model. Single-handedly against the whole of Europe, even if it is won on the battlefield, it is also lost politically.

In this context, the telegram for help from the Russian troops stationed in France is a hot potato. If it is not handled properly, it will cause great trouble to the Vienna government.

The Vienna government has not encountered similar things. It's just that Franz handled it before, and Frederick was just a bystander. Now that I have encountered it, I still have some headaches.

After a moment of silence, Frederick asked, "What advice does the Prime Minister have?"

"Now we have two choices. Either allocate a part of the supplies to the front-line Russian army and take the opportunity to take command of the Russian army, but we must grasp the degree of this and we must not interfere too much.

Or send a diplomatic note to the tsarist government, urging them to provide supplies to the frontline as soon as possible. Only in this way, the effectiveness of the Allied Command will be lost, and the future will no longer be capable..."

Frederick sighed secretly. The two choices that Prime Minister Carl gave were actually one choice.

In the name of the Anti-French Alliance, a note was issued to the Tsarist government, urging the Russians to provide supplies to the frontline troops. Isn't it also interfering in Russia's internal affairs?

What's more, they have to catch up with the majesty of the Allied Command. This kind of thankless work is obviously better than doing less.

Providing logistical supplies to the Russian army is also not a good job. It seems that they have obtained the command of the French and Russian troops, but it has also deteriorated the relations between the two countries.

It can be said that no matter what choice the Vienna government makes now, it will eventually affect Russia-Austria relations. A bad operation may also affect the international image of Shinra.

However, it is impossible not to choose. Since the Prime Minister mentioned it, it is obviously the result of careful consideration. There may be better ways to cope, but everyone hasn't thought of it yet.

After contemplating for a while, Frederick nodded: "The most important thing on the battlefield is efficiency. The Russians are busy now, and it must be too late for them to deal with it.

For the sake of the overall situation, we will suffer a bit and provide logistical supplies to the frontline Russian army first. When the situation in France stabilizes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will communicate with the Tsarist government. "

The other abilities are uncertain, but the ability to tell lies with his eyes open, Frederick has already moved closer to Franz.