Holy Roman Empire

For such a matter of life and death, it is better to go into battle by yourself.

The Minister of State frowned and said: "Your Excellency, it is imperative to establish a cotton production area completely controlled by us, and we cannot be so stuck in the lifeline.

Even the Austrians have built a cotton planting base regardless of the cost to meet domestic demand. There is no reason why we cannot do it. "

John Russell's face changed, and he exclaimed: "No, we must immediately send a fleet to America to deter the Austrians and prevent them from falling to the northern government."

Everyone realized that when there were problems with the supply of cotton in European countries, the Austrian textile industry did not come out to grab the market.

Even if it is for the dominance of the cotton spinning industry, the Vienna government has reasons to cheat them.As for diplomatic agreements, they were meant to be torn up.

The British have done a lot of this kind of thing, so they naturally think that the Vienna government is doing the same.

For the sake of profit, there is nothing wrong with suddenly changing their position to support the northern government in exchange for the federal government cutting off their cotton supply.

Minister of State Agarwal added: "The Austrians may indeed be peeping at the supremacy of our cotton spinning industry. Judging from their cotton consumption in previous years, the cotton production in West Africa has exceeded a lot.

But they were not exported, but all shipped back to the country.Because of the relationship between the American Civil War, it is a foregone conclusion that the world's cotton production will decrease this year, but cotton plantations in West Africa are increasing.

We can send people out to make tentative purchases, and if they insist on not selling it, then we're in big trouble. "

……

Chapter No.16 The Cotton Crisis

Naturally, Franz didn't know what the British were worried about. At this time, he was still having a headache for the Suez Canal project.

There are two main problems:

First, the canal company used a large number of slave labor, which aroused the condemnation of European public opinion;

Second, the construction of the canal is overrun and needs to be increased.

The second problem is easy to solve. The Canal Company has decided to issue additional shares to raise funds. It will not take long to solve the problem.

Under normal circumstances, it is not difficult for France and Austria to join forces to suppress European public opinion.There are not many Holy Mothers in this era, and few people will stand up for a group of Egyptian slave labor.

Moreover, these slave labors were provided by the Egyptian government, and the canal company paid the Egyptian government.

Previously, even if there were reports in newspapers, they were all aimed at the Egyptian government.After all, they organized the labor and withheld their wages.

Anyway, Egypt is not a European country, and European public opinion is crazy, and they can't feel it, so they can take the blame.

It is different now. In order to promote cotton cultivation in Egypt, the British must compete with the canal company for labor.

The Suez Railway built by the British was also in competition with the Canal Company.

The conflict of interests between the two parties cannot be avoided, and conflicts arise.In order to combat the canal company, John Bull provoked public opinion to put pressure on the canal company.

Once the shit stick is out, the fig leaf is not enough.France and Austria are not doing charity. The canal company wants to save costs, which inevitably reduces labor costs.

Now the canal company pays 100 million Aegis to the Egyptian government every year, which seems to be a lot, but it is shared among 15 workers, and the per capita is only 6.66... ​​Aegis.

This figure is less than a month's salary for ordinary workers in Austria.What's more, this money also includes land compensation, labor management fees and so on.

John Bull not only revealed all these inside stories, but also attached several photos, including photos of the workers' life and work.

The bloody photos, accompanied by artistically edited text descriptions, made Franz overflow with sympathy.

If you look carefully, you will find that the overseer who did the violence was an Egyptian, which is the only good news.

The benefits of labor subcontracting have emerged, and there is one more thug.If John Bull hadn't intentionally created public opinion, and the canal company had pushed the responsibility onto the Egyptian government, nothing would have happened.

"What are the French going to do?" asked Franz.

Now it is the French who are leading the construction of the canal, the French are also at the center of public opinion, and the French government is also under the greatest pressure.

After all, the French people are full of internationalism.Newspapers in France are attacking the canal company, and even directly attacking the French government, demanding that the Paris government be responsible for this.

When the same thing happened in Austria, the public opinion would be much more relaxed. The newspaper's fair and objective analysis responsibility will never take the blame.

The first to be criticized is naturally the Egyptian government. The mainstream public opinion believes that the Egyptian government has not fulfilled its responsibilities and should bear the main responsibility.

The second is the ineffective supervision of the canal company, which is the responsibility of the company's management.

Problems with listed companies and multinational joint-stock companies are naturally not the business of the Austrian government.If all minority shareholders need to be responsible for this, shouldn't all shareholders be responsible?

Foreign Minister Weisenberg replied: "The French are still hesitating and have not given a clear attitude. Public opinion in France has brought them a lot of pressure.

News came from the embassy that people in Paris had already taken to the streets to march, and the headquarters of the Canal Company in Paris was surrounded by crowds of marchers many times, making it impossible to work normally.

Our representatives have proposed to the board of directors of the Canal Company to relocate the headquarters to Vienna to ensure that the office can go on normally, and it is still under discussion. "

Franz had no doubts about the relocation of the headquarters.Historically, there were not one or two companies that were forced out by the French people. The companies couldn’t work normally, and they couldn’t do without moving.

As an investor, Franz also does not want the French government to admit defeat and intervene in the operation of the canal company.

Anyway, the reputation of the canal company is not within the scope of investors' consideration.Unless the government intervenes, the management of the canal will definitely die.

The current situation, in any case, is much better than in history.Everyone knows that the Suez Canal is a joint project of France and Austria, but the private newspapers scolded it fiercely, and the governments of all countries have not expressed their opinions.

Politicians are not stupid. Now it is the three countries of Britain, France and Austria who are engaged in a political game, and showing their attitude is to take sides in diplomacy.

The British are really awesome, but on the European continent, the words of France and Austria carry more weight. Even the younger brother of the British now knows that silence is golden.

Franz thought for a while and said: "Well, since the British broke the rules first, then you don't have to be polite.

Take a chance and sell the black history of Britain we've collected to the Canal Company.Let us guys at the Canal Company get their hands dirty and drive this counterattack. "

This is not the best way, but it is the most effective way.In the colonial empire of this era, no one is much cleaner than the other.

The British can expose the dark history of the canal company, so the canal company can naturally expose the dark history of the British.

Anyway, behind the Suez Canal Company are France and Austria, and it will match up with the British government, so there is no need to be cowardly.

When everyone is pulled to the same level and public opinion becomes busy, they will not continue to stare at the canal company.

News attracts everyone's attention only because it is new.After the turmoil has passed, the management of the canal company will announce to improve labor treatment, such as adding a potato a day, and buying a few newspapers to wash it will be useless.

This is a matter of policy theory, and now the Canal Company absolutely cannot admit defeat.No matter what you do, it is impossible to satisfy everyone, and it may even cause even greater disturbances.

……

In West Africa, Carlos, a large plantation owner, welcomed an uninvited guest in his manor.

"Sir Carlos, we are very sincere in coming here to buy cotton this time. We can add another ten percent to last year's cotton price."

Carlos smiled slightly and said, "Unfortunately, Mr. Max, I really didn't feel the sincerity you said.

With the outbreak of the American Civil War, a reduction in cotton production this year is a foregone conclusion.Coupled with the blockade by the northern government, how much cotton can be shipped out in the end is a problem.

However, last year's cotton harvest was bumper, and the price was already low.Under so many favorable conditions, cotton prices will definitely be guaranteed.

As far as I know, the price of cotton in the futures market in London has risen by 50.00%. "

Max explained nonchalantly: "Sir Carlos, the cotton price in the futures market is speculated.

You should know what it means to increase the price of cotton by 50.00%. The market simply cannot bear this sky-high price. "

It is a fact that the cotton spinning industry simply cannot accept the 50.00% rise in cotton prices.Otherwise, even if the cotton cloth is produced, it will not be sold in the end.

In this era, the market's capacity to bear is limited.Industrialized cotton cloth can be popular mainly because it is cheap.If the price is suddenly increased by half, the people simply cannot afford it.

The two fell silent, and Sir Carlos quoted the price after a while: "With a 40.00% increase in last year's price, I will sell all of my cotton this year to you."

Max shook his head and said: "Increasing 12.00% on last year's price, this is already the highest price of cotton in the past ten years."

Sir Carlos sneered: "As far as I know, Felix Trading Company seems to be planning to increase the purchase price of cotton this year by 12.00%. If it is the same price, why should I sell it to you?"

Max quoted again: "Okay, I'll raise two more points, is that okay?"

Sir Carlos shook his head: "Mr. Max, Felix Trading Co., Ltd. has been buying cotton in West Africa for a long time, and your Dawell company has been buying cotton in the United States.

This multiple-choice question is easy to do. It is impossible for me to offend my long-term partners for a little profit. Planters in the whole of West Africa will not do this.

If you just want to buy a batch of cotton for emergency, then I suggest you buy it directly from Felix's firm! "

Max got a headache, which was the biggest trouble.It is precisely because the cotton supply in the United States cannot be guaranteed this year that China has allowed him to purchase cotton in West Africa.

But the market here has already been established by someone, and they want to step in, and they have no choice but to raise the price.

As for buying from cotton merchants, it is no wonder that they are not extorted.Originally, he wanted to make a time difference and fool the ill-informed plantation owner, but he failed at the very beginning.

……

News of the failure of the cotton rush from West Africa is being discussed at the London headquarters of the Dawell Cotton Buying Company.

Purchasing Director Kenneth said: "It is now clear that the news of the American Civil War has come. Unless we increase the purchase price of cotton significantly, otherwise we will not win the Austrians at all.

You must know that when we buy cotton from West Africa, we have to pay import and export tariffs, and the cost is much higher than them.

If there is a price war now, even if enough cotton is purchased in the end, it may not be able to make money. "

This is a practical issue. It is still unknown whether the cotton in the United States can be shipped back, which is related to the price of cotton in the coming year.

If the northern government blocks the south, the price of cotton will definitely skyrocket, and these merchants who hoard cotton will make a lot of money.On the contrary, it is necessary to consider how to sell the cotton in hand.

Marti, the market director, analyzed: "Because of the civil war, US cotton production has dropped by at least three levels this year, because the cotton harvest in war-torn India has been out for three consecutive years.

Even if the cotton harvest in West Africa is bumper, the international cotton production is still on a downward trend overall, and the rise in cotton prices has become inevitable.

Now the day of cotton harvest is not far away.If we are going to get enough cotton, we have to be fast. "

……

Chapter No.17 The French who are good at learning

It is not just the British who are affected by the cotton crisis, the French are also having a hard time.As a large country that has completed industrialization, the French also have a very large demand for cotton.

The cotton textile industry is also an important part of the French economy. Napoleon III, who attached great importance to the development of the domestic economy, naturally could not ignore this issue.

After seeing the success of the Austrians in promoting cotton planting in Africa, Napoleon III also wanted to follow suit, and even chose the place.

At the Palace of Versailles, Colonial Secretary Stern said in embarrassment: "Your Majesty, our colonies in West Africa lack enough immigrants, and it is very difficult to promote cotton planting."

Cotton is a labor-intensive industry, especially when it is harvested, requiring a lot of hands.

France's population growth rate is slower than that of a snail, almost standing still.If immigration is organized from within the country to develop the African continent, the local population may experience negative growth.

This is obviously impossible. The decline in population will lead to a shortage of labor force, which will inevitably lead to an increase in labor costs. Domestic capitalists will definitely not be able to bear it.

Napoleon III asked: "If we introduce preferential policies to absorb immigrants in Europe, can this problem be solved?"

"Your Majesty, most of the immigrants who leave Europe every year come from the German region. Since Austria opened up the African colonies, most of these immigrants have entered the Austrian colonies.

From 1854 to the present, in just seven years, Austrian Africa has absorbed more than 7 million immigrants.

Relying on these immigrants, the development speed of Austrian Africa far exceeds that of any other region on the African continent.They are under the banner of rebuilding Germany's second home, and it is difficult for us to compete with him. "

Foreign Minister Auvergne directly broke Napoleon III's fantasy. Since the beginning of the 19th century, the German region has been the main place of immigration in Europe, accounting for half of European immigrants.

It is followed by Ireland, Italy, and Southern Europe.Needless to say in Ireland, the peak period of immigration has passed.

Southern Europe is the basic base of Austria. Even if they are immigrants, everyone is going to develop a better Austrian colony.

Because France invaded the Kingdom of Sardinia, it caused resistance from the people in the Italian region, and few immigrants went to French Africa.

Napoleon III nodded, this is an undeniable fact.Insufficient population resources make it difficult to engage in overseas colonization.

This difficulty did not deter Napoleon III, but stimulated his ambition to annex Italy.The Napoleon family comes from the Italian region and has a special affection for Italy.

Returning home is the dream of many people, and Napoleon III was no exception.Going back as the emperor of France is certainly eminent.It would be even more perfect if he also served as the king of Italy.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Pelisis said: "Your Majesty, if you want to solve the labor shortage in Africa, it is not impossible."

Napoleon III happily asked: "Oh, tell me, what can you do?"

Pelisis suggested: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, when Austria opened up its African colonies, the earliest immigrants were refugees from the Balkan Peninsula.

Although there are no refugees now, we can still find ways to solve the problem of insufficient immigration from the Balkan Peninsula. "

The Balkan Peninsula colony is also considered the best developed part of the French colonies. After so many years of restoration, the population of the French Balkan Peninsula has reached 380 million.

It's just that because of its geographical location close to Russia and Austria, the military pressure it faces is very high.

Russia and Austria stabbed them secretly again, the local people often rioted, and the French ruled there was very difficult.

Prior to this, some people in the French government proposed to sell the French Balkans and just keep the Dardanelles.

It is a pity that there is no buyer in the world. The British do not want to be neighbors with Russia and Austria on land. The Russians have no money and cannot afford it. Franz thinks that the French ask for too high a price, and it is easy to cause a rebound from the Russians.

After going around in a circle, it was finally left in the hands of the French.In order to defend this Fushuo colony, the French government stationed 8 troops in the Balkan Peninsula.

Huge military spending has offset the French government's gains from the Balkans.This seemingly delicious land has long since turned into tasteless.