Chapter 1051

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

Americans want to strengthen economic exchanges and cooperation between Russia and the United States, and everyone can barely accept it. After all, the split United States seriously lacks a commodity sales market.

Both are members of the marginal world, and there is no conflict of interest. The relationship between Russia and the United States has been good in recent years. It's just a little funny that the Americans want to build the "Siberian Railway".

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

Everyone knows that when the distance difference is not large, the cost of railway transportation is much higher than that of sea transportation, not to mention the special railway such as the Siberian Railway, the transportation cost 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. Just not to promote commercial trade between Siberia and the United States.

Unlike Siberia in later generations, the Siberia region these days is nothing but big.

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 number can be discounted by half.

The development of the Siberia region 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 spread over an area of ​​more than 13 million square kilometers, it would be a joke to talk about trade.

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

It is estimated that even a normal person would not believe it if Americans are interested in this "vast and uninhabited" market and want to cultivate and manage it in depth.

Nicholas II asked: "What do the Americans want?"

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

You must know that the construction cost of the Siberian Railway is not a small number, and it can be ranked second in the entire history of mankind, second only to the Ring Railway of Shinra.

As early as a few years ago, the tsarist government completed the exploration of the Siberian Railway. If it weren't for the scary budget cost and the tsarist government's pockets, the railway construction would have started a long time ago.

Although the financial power of the United States these days is stronger than that of the Russian Empire, it is also limited, and it is also heavily in debt.

Their own railway has not yet been repaired, and they suddenly came to help build the Siberian Railway. Nicholas II couldn't help but doubt their motives.

Foreign Secretary Mikhailovich explained: "In recent years, the United States has encountered a bottleneck in its development, and there is an urgent need to open up a larger commodity sales market.

It's just that the world has been divided up now, including America, which was originally regarded as the back garden by the Americans, and now it has been 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 set their sights on the Far East for expansion. It's just that their strength is limited, they are unable to compete with the British, and it is even difficult to suppress the Japanese.

If there is no external force to intervene, 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 ones who can and may help the Americans.

They have nothing to do with the Anglo-Japanese alliance other than joining forces with us. The Americans' proposal to build the Siberian Railway seems to be helping us, but in fact this is also their strategic helplessness.

Of course, Americans are not vegetarians, and their appetites are quite good.

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

Since defeating Napoleon, the Russians had a kind of "mysterious self-confidence", especially after capturing Constantinople, it reached its peak.

The Russian-Prussian War once woke up the Tsarist government, but after the victory in the war, everyone quickly indulged in it again.

This "confidence" is also reflected in politics and diplomacy. The strategy, including going south to India, is based on this "mysterious self-confidence".

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

Most-favored-nation treatment is the same as not being given. Anyway, the Russian Empire is already dominated by Shinra industrial and commercial products, and it would be good to let another American in to 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 domination of the Far East and the completion of the Yellow Russia plan, that is a matter of the future, and it will not affect the current cooperation between the United States and Russia in the slightest.

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

Prime Minister Sergei Witte: "It is a good thing that the Americans are willing to help build the Trans-Siberian Railway, 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 Asian 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 stage of the project progresses smoothly, then the Central Asian Railway may 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 in three years, 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.

Including the Central Asian 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 Tsarist government.

In the era of lack of mechanical equipment, almost all processes were done manually. Labor and raw materials accounted for more than 80 percent of the cost of railway construction.

As for the perennial difficulty of demolition and demolition that future generations of railway construction will face, it simply does not exist now. Including taxes on all links, they are all zero now.

On the surface, it seems that the tsarist government did not pay much, but it hurt the national strength! Free labor is not unlimited. Once the recruitment is excessive, it will cause big troubles.

Foreign Minister Mikhailovich shook his head: "I'm afraid it won't work, the US steel giant is leading the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Their main purpose of promoting this plan is to clear their own inventory. If the time is delayed by three years, their losses will be very large.

What's more, the US government will change in two years. If the project is not finalized as soon as possible, and a new government takes office..."

Unlike the surplus of agricultural products, which can only be scrapped, the surplus of 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 comes to harming their own interests, it is useless to say anything.

If capitalists are difficult to deal with, then the US government will be even more difficult to deal with. If you can be re-elected, that's all. If the government changes, the continuity of the policy can't be counted on at all.

This government is pro-Russian, and maybe the next government will be anti-Russian. Americans change their political faces as quickly as women change their clothes.

Nicholas II's indecisive character was exposed, and he couldn't make up his mind for a long time. He now wants to build the Siberian Railway, but also worries that the railway will consume too much power and cannot support it.

...

The scorching sun is scorching the earth, and Franz is currently escaping the summer heat in the Alps, with a small pool in the mountains. It has a bit of the charm of "the spring is silent and cherishes the trickle, the shade of the tree shines on the water and loves the softness of the sun".

Since having a son who became a strong man, Franz was freed from the tedious government affairs and lived a wonderful life of traveling in mountains and rivers.

People like to toss around once they are free. If it weren’t for the pain of taking the means of transportation these days, Franz might have begun to realize his dream of traveling around the world in his previous life.

Thinking about being accompanied by beauties all the way, you can indulge in luxury and enjoy exotic customs, that is definitely a kind of enjoyment.

It's a pity that I didn't have money in my previous life, so I couldn't put it into action; now that I have money, I don't have the conditions to travel around the world.

If you can't do it around the world, then go around Shinra. You will suffer if you go to a poor place, so you can enjoy it in the prosperous comfort zone.

Anyway, at his current age, Franz doesn't have to worry about wearing down his will and corrupting himself.

Lao Tzu ran out to play willfully, which was a pain for Frederick. Although he has also been in contact with government affairs for many years, but now he has suddenly become a decision maker, and he still feels tired.

There is no way, any decision now involves great interests, so he can't help being careless.

As the crown prince, Frederick did not have the same prestige as Franz. 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 dares to prick in front of the crown prince. Otherwise, Frederick's life would be even more difficult.

...

Prime Minister Karl: "Your Highness, last night the Russian troops stationed in France sent a request for help to the Allied Command, hoping that the commander can solve the logistical problem 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 would have any objections during the European War. The situation after the war is completely different.

No one wants to have a mother-in-law on top of their heads, and the countries of the Anti-French Alliance are no exception. In view of this situation, the Vienna government, which pays attention to eating, naturally did not insist.

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

Except when political needs arise, to stand up and brush up the sense of presence, most of the time they don't bother with the specific military command.

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

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

Perhaps in the eyes of the outside world, the Russians came to the door at this time, providing the Vienna government with an opportunity to re-intervene in the command of the troops stationed in France.

However, Frederick would rather not have this opportunity. Interfering in the command of the troops stationed in France in various countries 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. Excessive penetration into the military command stationed in France, what else can there be besides taking the blame for hatred?

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

Don't say it's going to be implemented, but

If there is a little sign, Shinra will fall into the target of public criticism.

Similar tragic cases, the Habsburg dynasty experienced it personally. When he was young, his blood was boiling, and he chanted a few unified slogans casually. After succeeding to the throne, he was targeted by the princes in various ways.

The current situation is similar. European countries are willing to recognize Shinra as the overlord. Apart from their own strength, the most important thing is that Franz does not like to toss.

It's rare to meet a boss who doesn't do anything, so everyone will naturally flatter him. Flattery from others is flattery, but you still have to be self-aware.

If it really drifts away, Napoleon is a role model. To single out the whole of Europe, even if you win on the battlefield, you will lose politically.

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

Similar things have not been encountered by the Vienna government. It's just that Franz handled it before, and Frederick was just a bystander. Now that I have encountered it, it is inevitable that I will have a bit of a headache.

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

"Now we have two choices, either to allocate some supplies to the Russian army on the front line, and take the opportunity to take the command of the Russian army, but we must grasp the speed and not intervene too much.

Either send a diplomatic note to the Tsarist government, urging them to provide supplies to the front line as soon as possible. It's just that in this way, the effectiveness of the Allied Command will be abolished, and it will no longer have the ability in the future..."

Frederick sighed secretly. The two choices given by Prime Minister Karl are actually one choice.

Sending a note to the tsarist government in the name of the anti-French alliance, urging the Russians to provide supplies to the frontline troops, isn't it also meddling in Russia's internal affairs?

What's more, the majesty of the Allied Command is also needed. This kind of thankless work is obviously better done less.

It is also not a good job to provide logistical supplies to the Russian army. It seems that he has taken command of the Russian army stationed in France, but it has also deteriorated the relationship 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 Shinra's international image.

However, it is impossible not to choose. Since the prime minister raised it, it is obviously the result of careful consideration. Maybe there is a better way to deal with it, but everyone hasn't thought of it yet.

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

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

Not sure about other abilities, but with the ability to tell lies with eyes open, Frederick has already moved closer to Franz.