Holy Roman Empire

Playing football, the Ministry of Agriculture has no way to deal with the agricultural crisis and has to pin its hopes on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"This is impossible!

The French have withdrawn from the free trade system. Even if international food prices fall to the bottom, they can still adopt tariff barriers to protect the domestic market from impact.

With the realization of food self-sufficiency, the French government can save a lot of foreign exchange expenditure every year and reverse the current trade deficit. I really can't think of a reason for the French to give up.

Instead of expecting the French to lose their minds and give up the big farm plan, it is better to start thinking of ways to reduce food production capacity or expand market demand now. "

Facing the kicked ball, Foreign Minister Oscar Jimenez fought back without hesitation.

Both Russia and Austria are competitors of France on the European continent. While fighting against competitors, they can also reap huge benefits. The French government has no reason not to do so.

Not to mention the pressure from the Russians in the past, even if European countries put pressure together, the French will not give up.

Minister of Agriculture Bolshak refused with righteous words: "There are as many as 6000 to [-] million people engaged in agricultural production in China, and it is simply impossible for so many people to cut production capacity together.

Expanding the market is even more of a joke. Hasn't the domestic food demand market expanded?

However, with the expansion of the market, our grain production capacity is also growing at the same time, even at a faster growth rate.

This is still based on the premise that the domestic agricultural production technology is backward. If the latest agricultural production technology is adopted, the domestic grain production capacity can be increased by one third.

If it weren't for the fact that after the increase in grain production capacity, there would be no market for it, the Ministry of Agriculture would have promoted new technologies long ago. "

Although the words are not very pleasant, Alexander III knows that this is true, and it is unrealistic to reduce production capacity and expand the market.

"Once the French plan is completed, Austria will also suffer heavy losses. What is the Vienna government going to do?" Alexander III asked expectantly.

There's nothing to be ashamed of, if you can't handle it yourself, just learn from others. The worst thing is that others don't know what to do.

After hesitating for a moment, Balshak replied: "Your Majesty, the situation in Austria is different from ours.

It is also a big grain exporter, but Austria mainly exports finished grain and by-products, and its ability to resist risks is stronger than ours.

As early as 1884, the trade volume of agricultural by-products and grain industry products exported by Austria accounted for 47.9% of the total agricultural product exports, and this proportion is still growing.

The sharp drop in food prices has little impact on canned food, biscuits, snacks, and industrial chemical products. Even because of the reduction in production costs, profits will further increase.

The main ones that are directly affected are the sales of finished grains, such as: flour, potato flour...

After the price of grain falls, it spreads to the retail market, and for a while, processing companies can lower the purchase price of grain and pass on their own risks..."

Seeing the tsar's face getting uglier, Bolshak's voice became smaller and smaller, until finally he just shut up.

It is normal for Alexander III to be unhappy. He thought that someone would be with him to be unlucky, but he did not expect that he had already prepared a retreat.

Once Austrian companies lowered the price of grain purchases, most of the losses fell on the Russian Empire, and they could not refuse.

After all, during the agricultural crisis, it is considered lucky to be able to sell. If you are unlucky, you can only pile them up in the warehouse and wait for mold.

Seeing that the atmosphere became tense, Finance Minister Alisher Gurov deliberately changed the topic: "No matter how you transfer the losses, Austrian agriculture will be affected, it is nothing more than a matter of size.

Judging from the size of Austria's agriculture, even a drop of one percentage point is enough to hurt the Vienna government.

Once the agricultural crisis breaks out, no matter how perfect their industrial chain is, they will suffer heavy losses. It is impossible for the Vienna government to take no action.

There is no movement now. It is estimated that they were also stunned by the sudden action of the French, and they didn't know how to deal with it for a while. "

After hearing this explanation, Alexander III's expression softened slightly.It's good to have someone with you, it's too bad to be alone.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pays close attention to the movements of Austria, and will report to me at any time if there are any changes."

……

Did not keep Alexander III waiting long.

On June 1885, 6, Austria sent invitations to agricultural product exporting countries such as Russia, Denmark, Argentina, the Confederate States of America, and Brazil, preparing to hold the third agricultural summit in Vienna next March.

This result made many people breathe a sigh of relief.It's fine if there is any movement, the worst thing is that there is no reaction at all.

The French's big farm strategy is currently just a plan, to be precise, an intention, without even a specific plan.

It is not a matter of a day or two to implement it concretely.Among other things, site selection alone cannot be achieved in a month or two.

After the agricultural experts have selected the location and completed the preliminary design and planning, it is estimated that it will be too late to level the land, and this year will be over.

There is still plenty of time, so there is no need to worry.It is still several years before it becomes a threat.

Chapter 66 Collected money

Influenced by the French large farm plan, British experts and scholars also advocated the "grain self-sufficiency strategy" and suggested that the government open up British granaries in overseas colonies.

Unlike the French, the British have too many choices.Relying on the advantages of the Royal Navy, Britain does not actually have to worry about food issues.

Whether it is the Confederate States in North America, or Argentina and Brazil in South America, they are all the granaries of Britain.

Even newly developed regions such as New Zealand, Australia, and Canada also have the potential to become the granary of the empire.

It really doesn't work, it's enough to squeeze from India.

Anyway, the population of the British Isles is only so small, and the local people can provide 70% of their own food. The problem of feeding the remaining millions of people is not a problem for John Bull.

No matter how high the food security of Britain is, it does not prevent experts and scholars from boasting.As long as the money is in place, there is nothing to fix.

For the sake of the pound, the experts quickly cited a lot of reasons, and even the embarrassing Irish famine was brought up.

Before the government responded, the people panicked first.I don't know which unscrupulous capitalists are spreading rumors, claiming that Russia and Austria have suffered from drought, and the autumn grain harvest in the second half of the year has been exhausted.

Some people believe such absurd rumors, not just one or two, because food prices have really risen.

As a lawyer, Bill's knowledge is much better than that of ordinary people. He was not influenced by rumors and ran to buy food.

"Sir, it has been rumored that Eastern Europe has been hit by a drought recently. This year's autumn grain harvests in Russia and Austria have failed, and grain prices in London have risen slightly.

In order to reduce expenses, it is recommended that you first stockpile a batch of food.If the funds are sufficient, you can reserve more and sell them after the price of food has risen sharply. "

The butler's reminder did not shake Bill's judgment.What kind of drought can completely wipe out the grain harvests in Russia and Austria?

You must know that it is only June, and the grain has not been planted for a long time, and there is still a long time before the harvest of autumn grain.

Even if there is not a drop of rain in the first half of the year, as long as there is enough rain in the future, most of the crops can still be preserved.

If it were true that the grain harvests of the Russia-Austria alliance and the two countries would never be harvested, international food prices would have already gone up.

A small increase?

If it does not increase by three or five times, it will be a shame for the conscience of the capitalists.

Bill smiled and said: "These are all rumors, only ignorant idiots will believe them. If Russia and Austria had no grain harvest, they would have stopped exporting grain long ago.

Without Russian and Austrian grain, the international grain market would be paralyzed.With none of the most sensitive futures markets reacting, there is nothing to worry about. "

It is true that the futures market is indeed the most sensitive.On the contrary, there are signs of a slight decline in grain production capacity, and the market makers will not give up the hype.

"Yes, sir. I too don't think it's possible that there will be no crops in Russia and Austria, but a drought may be real.

Just yesterday, the London Daily also reproduced a drought plan of the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture.Such a plan would not have occurred had it not been for the drought.

With the credibility of the London Daily, they should not lie about such news.The futures market did not respond, and it is likely that the dealer concealed the news. "

After listening to the housekeeper's explanation, Bill believed three points at once.After all, the futures market is too heavily manipulated by market makers, and the ups and downs in many cases are really not determined by the market.

After hesitating for a while, Bill made a decision: "Then go buy a batch of grain first, but I don't need to go to the grain store to buy it. I will contact the wholesaler directly."

……

In the spirit of "it's better to believe what you have than to believe what you don't have", there are quite a few people who have made similar decisions.

Anyway, food is the necessities of life, even if the price does not rise in the later period, it should be kept and eaten slowly.

It is better than being unprepared and rushing to buy food after the sharp rise in food prices comes.

Affected by the panic-buying trend, the price of grain in London has been rising all the way. Affected by this price increase, more and more people joined the grain-grabbing team.

In the prime minister's official residence in Downing Street, the intensified wave of food looting has made Prime Minister Gladstone restless.

Food is the most important thing for the people, which is universal in ancient and modern China and abroad.

Just a rumor can raise food prices in the UK, which is enough to prove that Britain's food security is not so stable.

Gladstone: "What do you think of the recent public advocacy of food self-sufficiency and the continuous rise in domestic food prices?"

How to see, sit and watch.

Everyone present knew that they were just watching the French engage in a large farm project. A group of guys who wanted to profit from it were manipulating public opinion behind the scenes to artificially create panic.

Minister of Agriculture Dies Barreiros: "The government has arranged to refute the rumors, but it has had little effect for the time being. After a while, the autumn grain will be on the market, and domestic grain prices will stabilize.

From this fluctuation, it also confirms from the side that our food security is too affected by external influences and is not as stable as we imagined.

Fortunately, this time it is just a rumor. If Russia and Austria really suffer from a severe drought, the consequences will be serious.

In terms of safety, the French food self-sufficiency plan is still very worthy of our emulation. "

Regardless of whether it can make money or not, once the agricultural self-sufficiency plan is launched, the Ministry of Agriculture's voice in the government will greatly increase.

As one of the vested interests, it is impossible for Dies Barreiros to object.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Hudge Childers warned: "We are not like the French, and what works in France may not work in Britain.

The French are not in the free trade system. They are engaged in a food self-sufficiency plan and can rely on tariff barriers for protection. This investment is still guaranteed.

Judging from the current situation, it is inevitable that international food prices will fall, and the future market competition will be very fierce.

If we follow suit, we will have to compete directly with the major grain-producing countries in the world, and we may not even be able to sell the grain at the cost price.

From an economic point of view, this is an investment doomed to lose money.Domestic market turmoil is only temporary and will recover soon.

There are too many places where Britain can import food, and with the presence of the Royal Navy, there is no need to worry about being blocked. "

While enjoying the benefits of the free trade system, Britain must also be subject to the free trade system.

In normal times, there is nothing wrong with it.Anyway, what Britain imports are industrial raw materials and food, and these necessities do not need tariff barriers at all.

It is impossible to achieve food self-sufficiency. This requires direct competition with major grain-producing countries, or a price war.

Whatever you think about it, you know that growing food in the colonies will cost more than other food exporting countries.

Losing money and making money, at most gaining a reputation of food self-sufficiency, in essence, did not have much effect on the growth of the British Empire's national power.

Foreign Secretary George retorted: "Economically, we may lose money, but politically it's different.

Judging from the performance of the French, they are gradually losing their ability to check and balance Austria, and the balance of the European continent is being broken.

The French's agricultural plan seems to be just to ensure their own food security, but it is actually a retaliation against Austria.

If we follow up, the international grain market will directly shrink by half.Affected by this, countries that rely on food exports will be hit hard.

As the world's largest exporter of agricultural products, Austria is the first to bear the brunt, which helps to balance the strength comparison between France and Austria. "

Suppress anyone who is strong. This has been the foreign policy of the British government for hundreds of years. Now it is Austria's turn.

The more issues considered, the harder it was for Prime Minister Gladstone to make a decision.This is not just a matter of money, but also involves the political changes in the European continent of the British government.

After hesitating for a while, Gladstone asked, "Has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered the reaction of the Russians?"

This is not a question of suppressing one, but suppressing two major powers at the same time. If Russia and Austria are united, they will be an invincible combination on World Island.

In case of emergency, people use war to divert the crisis, regardless of whether they go straight to India, then it will be a lot of fun.

Foreign Minister George shook his head: "The Russia-Austria alliance has lasted for three generations. For nearly a century, the interests of the two countries have long been intertwined.

In order to split this alliance, we have also put in a lot of effort, but now the two countries are still standing together.

How about the diplomatic means of the Habsburg dynasty, you can read the history books to know.Franz is even the best among the monarchs of all dynasties, and it is simply unrealistic to isolate Austria.

The Russian-Austrian alliance will not be separated for a while. Since the Russians expanded to Central Asia, they have been our enemies, and if they are offended, they will be offended.

Maybe after the international grain market shrinks, in order to compete for the market, Russia and Austria will part ways because of interests.

Even if the alliance becomes more consolidated, the situation will not be worse than it is now. "

Threat to India?

If no action is taken, Russia and Austria will not threaten India?Anyway, in George's view, powers close to India are hidden dangers.

There is no way, the crisis awareness of marine civilization is so strong.Instead of facing a strong Russia and Austria, it is better to face a weakened Russia and Austria.

As long as Austria, the benefactor, has no money, the poor Russians can't afford to make waves.As for Austria, isn't the French still holding it back?

Although France's economy is not doing well, everyone still has no doubts about the combat effectiveness of the French army.

If it weren't for such a big boss, the British would have been unable to sleep for a long time. Now Austria is much more powerful than the German Second Empire in the same period of history.

After hesitating for a while, Gladstone, who is politically savvy, decided to play football.