Chapter 323 Ocean Fleet

On June 18, 1861, the Austrian Ocean Fleet visited Korea. The two sides reached an agreement on the friendly exchanges between the two countries, and the diplomatic relations were upgraded to the ministerial level.

During this period, Korea, which was under the feudal system, excluded foreign trade. Previously, Austria had little interest in North Korea and had no embassy but only one office.

After this friendly visit, Hummel signed a friendly trade agreement with the DPRK government, and the two countries gave each other the most-favored-nation treatment.

This is a common practice. Along the way, Austria has signed commercial MFN treaties with more than ten countries, including Britain and France.

By the way, several military purchase orders were made. In addition to army equipment, Hummel also sold five ironclad ships.

Thailand and Yuehan each ordered one, and the Qing government ordered three in one go. Obviously, they were frightened by Britain and France and wanted to consolidate the coastal defense. No matter how expensive an ironclad ship is, it is better than being a bereaved dog.

Austria is not ready to expand in the Far East, and business will naturally do. As to whether this will bring trouble to European colonial empires, it is not within Hummel's consideration.

Not being able to fool the North Korean government, Hummel is still a bit unwilling, and can only see if the last Japan in East Asia can gain something.

After all, everyone is selling army equipment, and under the competition, profits have been suppressed. The only one selling ironclads is Austria, and the doubled net profit is really not high.

If someone is willing to pay a high price, the active equipment can also be like this ocean-going fleet. As long as someone bids more than 30 million Aegis, Franz doesn't mind selling it as a package.

Anyway, the production cost of these warships will not exceed 7 million Aegis, and it will take more than a year to build such a fleet.

With the adoption of the gold standard in Austria, the international gold-silver ratio has also been hit.

Obviously, in this era, there are very few countries that have the strength to spend 45 million taels of silver at one time. Unless it is a last resort, no one will come to take the blame for this.

...

Edo, Hummel just had a goodwill visit with the shogunate, and one more MFN in Austria.

Charlie, the envoy to Japan, asked suspiciously, "Your Excellency, why don't you take the opportunity to expand our interests in Japan?"

Hummel smiled and said, "Isn't it already expanded? We have signed a treaty of mutual most-favored-nation treatment. Any power that expands its rights here will directly enjoy the same treatment."

This is a fact, a treaty that is completely equal on the surface, but because of the difference in national strength between the two sides, the final outcome is different.

The most-favored-nation treatment signed with Britain and France is a pure equality treaty, and both sides get what they need. Anyway, no one in this era has the ability to force them to sign unequal treaties and sell domestic commercial interests.

It will be different if you change to Japan. If the Japanese government gives any country commercial privileges, then Austria will automatically enjoy it.

However, compared with the practices of other countries, Austria is actually quite moderate. There is no coercion and occupation by force, no damage to everyone's sovereignty, but only limited to commercial cooperation.

Minister Charlie shook his head and said: "Your Excellency, this is not enough. We can establish a concession, a port, or occupy a few islands here."

Hummel explained solemnly: "Your Excellency Minister, we do have the strength to do this now. The ocean fleet is currently the strongest armed force in East Asia, and it is not a problem to turn Japan into a protectorate.

However, the ocean-going fleet cannot be stationed here forever, and we will be leaving soon. Will Britain and France see us occupying so many interests?

Without the use of force, will the local indigenous people still accept our rule? Just relying on our strength in the Far East, we simply cannot afford such great benefits.

If that's the case, then it's better to have a good relationship with everyone from the beginning. East Asia is not the focus of our expansion, we can do business here. "

Minister Charlie said unwillingly: "Isn't there still a Russian ally? If our two countries join forces, it will not be a problem to defend these interests."

Not long ago, Charlie helped the Russians occupied Tsushima Island, and there were considerations in this regard. The introduction of Russian forces is for the two countries to jointly win the biggest cake.

Hummel sighed and said: "The Russians are too greedy, and a Japan cannot satisfy their appetite. If you cooperate with them, you will be tied to a chariot in the future.

This is too far from Austria, beyond our reach. Don't forget that the ocean-going fleet was able to reach East Asia smoothly, and borrowed port supplies from various countries along the way. "

The Russians are too greedy, this is a fact recognized by all. When it comes to territorial expansion, the tsarist government seems to be never satisfied.

Dissolution of the Russian-Austrian alliance also has a high voice in the Vienna government. Many Austrians believe that cooperating with the Russians outweighs the losses. It is better to cooperate with Britain and France to suppress the Russian Empire, and the benefits can be greater.

After some thought, Minister Charlie said: "Well, you convinced me. It's just that we don't do anything, and it won't be long before the Russians are in big trouble."

Pit the Russians? This should not count, Charlie is also a veteran of diplomacy, and he has never made any promises to the Russians.

Out of the obligation of an ally, he unconditionally helped the Russians occupy Tsushima. Now the Nagasaki area has been reduced to the sphere of influence of the Russians, but Austria has not benefited at all.

After the departure of the Austrian ocean-going fleet, can the Russians resist?

Pressure, to keep Nagasaki area is the problem of the Russians themselves.

After the ocean-going fleet left, Austria's nearest fleet was far away in the Southeast Asia. At that time, the support that Austria can provide will really be limited to words.

After taking an inventory, Charlie made sure that there were no hidden dangers left, and he could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Hummel smiled slightly, stood up, took two steps forward, turned his back to Charlie, and said, "Your Excellency Minister, don't you think that the relationship between Britain and Russia has been a little better recently?"

Charlie was stunned for a moment, and responded quickly. Provoking the conflict between Britain and Russia is also one of the responsibilities of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Not only the conflict between Britain and Russia, but also the conflict between Britain and France, the conflict between Britain and Spain, and the conflict between France and Russia... all are the work of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign ministries of various countries are doing this. If it wasn't for European countries stabbing each other, how could there be so many contradictions in the world.

It's just that these work are carried out in secret, and everyone maintains a gentleman's demeanor on the bright side. In this day and age, many people still think that European countries are one.