Chapter 580： Capital appreciation and Austrian industry

"Hey! When did the empire become what it is now!"

Franz Joseph sighed at the predicament faced by the Austrian Empire. In his heart, he even complained about his grandfather (Emperor Franz), who had been out of date for more than ten years.

If it wasn't for his grandfather's repeated mistakes in judgment, the Austrian Empire would not have been reduced to this point.

However, after complaining, Franz Joseph still knew what to say and what not to say.

"Your Majesty, the reason why the empire has become what it is now is because of me!" Prince Metternich took all the mistakes on himself, "It's all because of our original strategic mistakes that led to the current situation. Facing the current situation!"

"Advisor Metternich, it's not your fault!" Franz Joseph quickly comforted Prince Metternich: "You have done a great job!"

In fact, as Franz Joseph said, Austria was able to maintain the decency of the victorious country of the Vienna Conference thanks to Prince Metternich.

Although the Austrian Empire at that time had the third largest land in Europe, its troops were even inferior to that of the Kingdom of Bavaria, with only about 50,000 people.

With a force of more than 50,000 people in his hands, Prince Metternich won the land that did not match their contribution.

Although these lands became a burden on the Austrian Empire after 1848, from the perspective of the time, the Austrian Empire was simply a winner.

As for the Kingdom of Prussia, which established the victory of the Battle of Waterloo, in addition to annexing most of the territory of Saxony, the Rhineland that Metternich forced into his arms is simply a negative asset.

It’s just that history is always full of drama. The once negative assets have become the industrial heart. The once richest and best ruled region in Italy has now become the most turbulent region of the empire.

"Your Majesty, please be blunt!" Prince Metternich persuaded Joseph Franz bitterly: "Please don't be against the French Empire! Because the Austrian Empire not only needs the support of the French Empire in the military field, we It also needs the support of the French Empire in the economic field!"

"Economic field?" Franz Joseph repeated twice.

"That's right!" Prince Metternich nodded and explained to Franz Joseph in the most straightforward words: "Your Majesty, on the way from Strasbourg to Paris, you should have seen France and Austria. What a difference there is!"

"Ok!"

Although Franz Joseph was reluctant to admit that the French Empire was superior to the Austrian Empire in all aspects, he still admitted the gap to Metternich.

"Your Majesty, do you know why France and Britain are developing so rapidly?" Prince Metternich asked in return.

"Because of the commercial development of France?" Franz Joseph responded tentatively.

"This is only one aspect of it!" Prince Metternich nodded with relief: "When I was in the Kingdom of Great Britain, I had a review with Russell and Palmerston of the Kingdom of Great Britain, and they told me why the Kingdom of Great Britain would The most important factor for such rapid development is industrialization!"

"What is industrialization?" Franz Joseph asked Prince Metternich.

Although it is said that the pace of industrialization in Europe is progressing steadily, the only countries that can really understand industrialization are Britain and France. For Joseph Franz, the concept of industrialization is still vague.

"Industrialization means a process of capital appreciation led by large-scale mechanical production!" Metternich explained his understanding of industrialization to Franz Joseph.

Franz Joseph frowned, and then nodded in understanding.

"If the Austrian Empire wants to become an industrialized country like Britain and France, it must vigorously develop factories, improve the efficiency of steam engines, and improve the country's transportation... This requires sufficient manpower, sufficient resources, a unified market, and a number of Technology in billions of capital and cash!" Metternich explained to Franz Joseph: "Our Austrian Empire does not lack human resources, resources, and markets. What we lack is capital and technology! These two are The two countries of Britain and France are monopolized, which means that if we want to develop rapidly, we cannot do without the support of the two countries of Britain and France.”

"Is France really willing to help us?" Franz Joseph asked Prince Metternich.

"Your Majesty, our son Richard told me that His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte is very willing to provide some help to the Austrian Empire!" Prince Metternich responded to Franz Joseph with a relieved smile on his face. : "Richard also told me that during his tenure in Paris, he also knew a large number of industrialists who were very willing to run for the friendship between the French Empire and the Austrian Empire!"

"Richard?" Franz Joseph muttered softly, and then added, "I didn't expect that his connections in Paris would be so wide!"

"It's all because of you!" Prince Metternich replied to Franz Joseph complimentably.

"Because of me?" Franz Joseph looked at Prince Metternich with some surprise.

"Many industrialists are willing to invest in the Austrian Empire because they admire your vigorous style!"

……

Just when Prince Metternich was trying to persuade Franz Joseph to hug the thigh of the French Empire, Jerome Bonaparte and Mocart also came to the Orsay Pier.

As soon as Jerome Bonaparte entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he had a face-to-face with the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Your Majesty!" After seeing Jerome Bonaparte's arrival, the Secretary of State hurriedly bowed to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte immediately asked the Secretary of State if Minister de Ruiz was still in office.

"Your Majesty, Minister Ruiz is still in the office!" The Secretary of State immediately responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Take me to see him immediately!" Jerome Bonaparte ordered.

"Yes!"

The Secretary of State took Jerome Bonaparte to the minister's office and pushed open the door.

After hearing the movement from the door of the room, De Ruiz, who was working with candles, raised his head and found Jerome Bonaparte standing at the door of the room.

"Your Majesty, why are you here!" De Ruiz said as he got up and walked in the direction of Jerome Bonaparte.

"What's the matter? Can't I come?" Jerome Bonaparte asked De Ruiz in a joking tone.

"Of course not!" De Ruiz, who came to Jerome Bonaparte, bowed to Jerome Bonaparte, and then invited Jerome Bonaparte to sit on the sofa beside him: "If you If there is anything important, you can send someone to inform me! I will rush to the Tuileries Palace as quickly as possible, so why bother you to come here in person!"

"The current Tuileries Palace is not a place to talk! If it's not good, our guest who came from afar thinks we are doing some conspiracy behind his back!" Bonaparte had something to say about De Luiz.

"Your Majesty, are you talking about His Majesty Franz Joseph?" De Ruiz replied.

"Of course!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, "The Austrian Empire is the most important strategic partner of the Empire in the future! Forget it, let's not talk about it! I came to you today not for the Austrian Empire. , but the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg!"

"The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg?" De Ruiz showed a puzzled expression. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg seemed to have no connection with the French Empire.

"I'm going to buy the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg from my brother-in-law, the King of the Netherlands, but I'm afraid of the British kingdom's opposition!" Jerome Bonaparte said bluntly to De Ruiz.

De Ruiz looked at Jerome Bonaparte with a bewildered expression. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he didn't even know there was such a thing.

Looking at De Ruiz with a blank face, Jerome Bonaparte explained to De Ruiz the ins and outs of purchasing the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The purchase of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg began after Augusta returned to Paris from the Kingdom of Württemberg. At that time, Queen Augusta not only brought the Mauch family, but also in a small chat, to Jerome Bona. Ba revealed that the king of the Netherlands, the brother-in-law of Jerome Bonaparte, wants to sell the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to his old father-in-law William I There is a saying that the speaker has no intention, the listener intentionally.

Jerome Bonaparte immediately thought of the crisis of the Duchy of Luxembourg in history (1869). The King of the Netherlands at that time also wanted to sell the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to Napoleon III. Who knew that a Bismarck was killed halfway, and the This transaction was completely shaken out. As a result, the French Empire was under pressure from Prussia, Russia, and Britain, and was forced to give up the redemption of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

He immediately realized that this was an opportunity for France to expand its territory, so Jerome Bonaparte, without anyone's notice, sent his most powerful confidant, Persini, to Württemberg in secret. The kingdom discussed with the old father-in-law.

Persini lived up to Jerome Bonaparte's expectations and established contact with the old father-in-law, and then directly maintained contact with his brother-in-law William III of the Netherlands through the old father-in-law.

Jerome Bonaparte and William III discussed with the old father-in-law of the same country for half a year, and it is only now that a preliminary consensus has been reached.

"My brother-in-law is very timid. He wants to buy the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg at a good price, but he is afraid of Britain and the Austrian Empire!" Jerome Bonaparte explained the ins and outs to De Luis, and then explained The character of William III: "So I told him through the Kingdom of Württemberg, let him relax! All the consequences are left to France to bear!"

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