Chapter 244 Colonization Road

The refugee crisis in the Balkans has not received any attention from the outside world. Although many media have reported it, it is a one-off event.

It's none of your business, hang up high. It is universal in any world, and the Ottomans have a bad impression in Europeans in this era.

It can almost be regarded as a barbaric endorsement, plus a heretic, and it belongs to the kind without human rights.

Of course, everyone can't pay attention, and their stomachs are still full. Who is in the mood to care about the lives of the Ottomans?

The outside world does not pay attention, and Franz is also happy. In later generations, Bai Zuo, who stood and talked without backache, is still in the primary stage and has no right to speak.

Everyone's eyes are focused on Constantinople and the Crimean Peninsula. The war in the Near East is now, and the warring parties have begun to compare their speed.

If the Russians conquer Constantinople first, then they will gain a strategic advantage and can cut off the Bosphorus Strait. In addition to compromise, Britain and France can only fight with them in the Balkans.

On the contrary, if Britain and France conquered the Crimea Peninsula first, then they would have a strategic advantage and could destroy the Russian shipbuilding industry in the Black Sea, and there was no need to continue the Battle of Constantinople.

Don't watch the Black Sea Fleet die, the Russians are not ready to fight back. The construction of sailing warships in this era was not difficult, and the Russian shipyards in the Sea of ​​Azov did not stop work.

After a loss, the Russians' coastal artillery on the Black Sea coast were all overhauled. Even if the bureaucrats of the tsarist government were incompetent, they knew that they could not continue to be beaten passively.

An important military port, shore artillery has been redeployed. The British and French navies are not stupid, and naturally they will not be bombarded with warships and shore artillery.

According to the plan of St. Petersburg, as long as Constantinople is conquered, the British and French fleets entering the Black Sea will become rootless, and the enemy can be ground to death by grinding slowly.

The fortress of Sevastopol began to crumble, and Constantinople also fell for most of the time. The moment to decide the fate of both sides has come.

History has changed, and the Russians, with Austrian support, have erupted in greater combat power. Under the personal intervention of Nicholas I, after a few logistics officials were clicked, the Russian army in the Crimea Peninsula finally succeeded in changing its clothes.

However, logistical supplies have also become more difficult. The more advanced the modern weapons, the greater the logistical pressure, and it is also a big challenge for the Russians who rely on ox carts for transportation.

Vienna

Franz was looking at a map of Africa, and colonies were not to be created indiscriminately. The land that has the owner cannot be touched, and the current Austria is not suitable for launching a big conflict with the old colonial empire.

Secondly, Franz is not ready to touch areas that are poor, have no resources, and have no development potential. Colonization also depends on the cost, and the business that will always lose money is destined to not last long.

In the end, the powerful natives should not be provoked.

After eliminating these three factors, there are not many options left.

Of course, the most recent one is to attack the Ottoman Empire, and Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt are all recent options. After thinking about it, Franz crossed the three options without hesitation.

The timing was not right. Now that the Ottomans and Britain and France are still allies, they dared to cause Britain and France to interfere, and Austria made their wedding dresses, and in the end they couldn't get any hair.

The most valuable South Africa, the coastal areas have fallen into the hands of the British, Algeria has been the meat in the bowl of the French, and Morocco has been peeped by the British, French and Western countries at the same time.

Franz reluctantly found that the good places belonged to others. Morocco has not been divided up, it is okay to step in and get a piece of the pie, of course, you must choose the entry point.

Land that has not been targeted by foreign powers in this era is almost non-existent. It doesn't matter if you stare, as long as you don't get eaten, everyone can use their own means.

The list of candidates came out at once: Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Gabon, Congo, Namibia, Kenya, Tasania, Somalia, Zanzibar, Madagascar…

Inland was not considered, and beyond Africa was not in the plan, and Franz was very skeptical of the Austrian Navy's ocean-going capabilities.

Franz asked: "The plan can't keep up with the rapid changes. The refugee wave that broke out in the Balkans is a trouble and an opportunity. Since it is encountered, it cannot be wasted.

It is very difficult to immigrate from China to the African continent. Just look at the British and French countries. People would rather go to the American continent on the side of Oceania than to go to the African continent that is close at hand.

The quality of refugees in the Balkans is not very good, but no matter how poor they are, they are better than the indigenous people. With the early population for colonization, our colonization plan will start ahead of schedule.

This is the map of the African continent. These unmarked ones are no-man's land. Everyone think about it, where should we start? "

The age of mineral resources is unknown, and the European colonists have not been able to complete the exploration, so everyone's judgment method is very primitive now.

Directly look at the degree of development, whether the local area is rich enough, and whether the colonization can make a profit. The Austrian government has to consider one more thing, whether it is suitable for developing agriculture and whether it can feed these immigrants.

Prime Minister Felix analyzed: "Your Majesty, Guinea can consider that the coastal plain area is easy to control, and the local water source is sufficient, which is suitable for the development of agriculture, and it is very good to establish a colonial stronghold.

In terms of distance, this is also the closest. At present, there are not many competitors here, that is, the French are fooling around.

The chiefs signed a treaty and had little local influence.

Nigeria is also good, with superior natural conditions and relatively high economic value. However, the local indigenous strength is relatively strong, and the British power has also penetrated.

Then there is the Congo region, which has water access deep inland and is easier to control. The properties inside are also good, and colonization here should not lose money.

At this stage, these three places are more suitable. There is no guarantee of how much benefit will be obtained, at least within five years, these three places can make ends meet.

Coupled with the immigrants I sent from the Balkans, after more than ten years of operation, a small market can also be formed locally, which is also a small supplement to the domestic industry. "

Naturally, other areas have been postponed for the time being, and the cost of colonization must also be considered. Of course, the area with the most suitable interests must be selected.

Strategic location, future development, these are not within the scope of everyone's consideration. A colony that can make money now is a good colony.

Future issues will be discussed later. Everyone is a realist, and colonies are not native, so don't expect everyone to think far.

Colonial activities are also a long-term investment, and it is the colonists' pursuit to be able to recover the cost as soon as possible and realize profits.

Of course, there are also colonies that do not make money. For a country, it is not possible to simply calculate the profit and loss of administrative costs.

If the colonial market can promote the development of domestic industry and commerce, or make up for some resources lacking in the country, it is acceptable to suffer a certain loss.

In this regard, the Germans in history are the negative teaching materials. The colonies they occupied are not small, but unfortunately the development is limited. As of 1914, there were only more than 20,000 German immigrants on the African continent.

The Germans' colonial operation has always been at a loss. The vast colonies have not made much contribution to the development of domestic industry and commerce, and the colonial market only contributed 0.5% in foreign trade.

Franz naturally has to learn a lesson. The first is to control the cost of colonization. The domestic management model is obviously unusable.

Metternich suggested: "Your Majesty, we have just started overseas colonization, we can only succeed but not fail, and it is not appropriate to take risks now.

Let's start in Guinea and Congo first. The competitors in these two places are not strong. As long as our speed is fast enough, we can create established facts. "

The colony is different from the mainland, and the target that Austria is eyeing now seems to belong to the area with some value but not high value.

Now that the war in the Near East is at a critical juncture, everyone's attention is drawn, and it's a good time to take action.

In this era, the development of African colonies is a combination of risks and opportunities. Britain and France will not fight for the two tasteless colonies.

That's right, it's a chicken-rib colony. There are too many areas suitable for agricultural production in the hands of Britain and France. At present, there is nothing special about Austria's target.

More importantly, in these two places, there is no unified power in the local area. The former Kingdom of Congo has long since fallen, and it has not blocked the strength of Austria.

In contrast, Nigeria is not a soft persimmon, at least it seems to have some strength. It can be seen that the Fulani Empire, which rules here, still has the energy to launch a holy war.

Of course, it's not that Austria can't win here, it's mainly a matter of pay and benefits. No matter what the Fulani Empire is, it cannot change that they are just an agricultural country with a population of several million.

The most populous country in Africa in later generations has no shadow yet. The entire African continent has a total population of more than 20 million, spread over an area of ​​more than 30 million square kilometers.

This is also the reason why Metternich opposes rash action. Religious beliefs are also very crazy. Once activated, it is enough for Austria.

Coupled with the vast area and sparse population, it would be a headache for these religious fanatics to cause damage. Although human bombs have not yet been born, suicide attacks have appeared.

In order to maintain the rule of the colony, Austria can't send hundreds of thousands of troops to exterminate these trash fish, right? Costs are the core of the establishment of colonial empires. If costs cannot be controlled, then the colonial empires are not far from collapse.

Franz made a decision without hesitation: "Let's take these two places first as our first step in overseas colonization!

The General Staff immediately started military deployment. This time the army and navy are going to join hands, so don't make any jokes, and everyone's face will be bad. "

Marshal Radesky replied: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Obviously, what Franz said also meant beating. The issue of the Balkan refugee flow has not yet passed, and the General Staff has not been held accountable. It is only for the stability of the government, which does not mean that it will not be held accountable.

If the matter is done this time, then the atonement will be revealed; if there is a problem, even Marshal Radesky will inevitably be disgraced.