Chapter 446 Development of Bosnia and Herzegovina

On April 6, 1869, the weather in Stockholm was exceptionally sunny. In the laughter of the people, the Nordic Federation was established.

After the collapse of the Kalmar Union, the three Nordic countries were once again unified. The only regret is that Finland is missing, the Baltic region is also gone, and there is no glory at its peak.

The emergence of the Nordic Federation also means that Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the three European border countries, can make their own voices in the world.

Franz did not go to the ceremony in person, it is really inconvenient to travel far in this era. Unless it is a master who loves to join in the fun, in general, everyone's enthusiasm for going abroad is not high.

Nordic unification had little effect on Austria, but the Russians were the ones who suffered. Presumably at this time, Alexander II's expression must be very exciting. With the emergence of the Nordic Federation, the defense pressure on Russia's northern borders has increased a lot.

With the example of Prussia, who can guarantee that the Nordic Confederation will not follow? If all of a sudden, poaching Finland, then the Russian Empire can only move the capital.

St. Petersburg is indeed a good place, but it's a pity that the defense pressure is a little bit bigger. It didn't matter when the Russian Empire was strong, once it fell into a state of decline, it was dangerous.

In comparison, Moscow is much better. Located in the center of the Russian Eastern European land, it is basically absolutely safe strategically. When the enemy hits here, they will be finished in winter.

There are granaries around the Moscow region, so there is no need to worry about food problems. There are also rivers to facilitate the transportation of materials, and the transportation is also convenient. It will be perfect if a few railways are built.

Of course, Poland is not lost, there is sea transportation, and St. Petersburg is even more advantageous. Moscow still needs to be developed now, and at least the railway network must be built before moving the capital.

Alexander II certainly did not think so much. Under the dual suppression of politics and military, the rebels are now compressed in the Moscow area.

After this toss, the economy of the Moscow region has been devastated. The bourgeoisie, who supported the revolutionary party, shot itself in the foot.

It is easy to start an uprising, but difficult to control it. Originally, I supported the revolutionary party, just to fight for rights and interests, but now I haven't got the rights, so I took it in first.

When the civil war broke out, in the face of life and death, the revolutionary party did not show courtesy to them.

In short, they lost a lot. Unless the rebels are victorious, these upfront investments may still be recouped.

If the rebels fail, it's a question of whether they can escape the purges of the tsarist government. Alexander II's mind was not small, but he could not tolerate rebels.

This negative example, Franz naturally wants to hype it up. Recently, the news of Moscow rebels in the Vienna newspapers has suddenly increased, and the position determines the opinion.

The taint of the rebels was naturally magnified, and along the way, it also beautified the tsarist government. Everyone is a monarchy, and you can't sit on your ass.

Otherwise, Alexander II lost the Prussian-Russian War, and he would have long been the endorsement of the faint-hearted monarch. How could he possibly be worthy of the title of the Lord of Reform?

Not only Austria, but most of the media in Europe did not blame the failure of the war on Alexander II, but the bureaucrats he cleaned up.

Including the news of the Prussian-Russian war, it also downplayed the Kingdom of Prussia intentionally or unintentionally, emphasizing that the corruption of the Russian bureaucracy led to the failure of the war. Obviously, everyone is not willing to accept the fact that Prussia is rising.

Although the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Russian Empire and became a member of the European club of great powers, they did not replace the Russians.

Originally, Europe was dominated by the four major powers. Now the Russians are out, and the three major powers of Britain, France and Austria dominate Europe. The Kingdom of Prussia has not achieved the desired international status.

The international status of this era is not just status, but also the division of interests. As vested interests, Britain, France and Austria did not intend to give Prussia the right to speak.

This made the Berlin government very hurt. Britain, France and Austria can be regarded as world empires. Everyone has a large colony, and together with Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, they carve up the world.

As a newly rising power, Prussia was embarrassed. It is now the last bus of the colonial era, and the old colonial empire has completed the staking, even if there is no actual occupation, it has sworn an oath of sovereignty first.

What was left to the Prussians was not even the scraps, except for a small colony in Asia, where Prussia could not be seen.

It is very unfavorable for the Kingdom of Prussia, which has recovered its economy after the war, but the world is so big, and there is really nothing left.

In the original time and space, there was also a colonial conference to carve up the African continent, but now it is not needed. They are about to be divided up, and what kind of international conference is needed.

At least the coastal area is the case, most of the area was occupied by Britain, France and Austria, Portugal and Spain also occupied some areas, and the Netherlands was squeezed out.

This does not need to say that the colony is abandoned, there is simply not much land to colonize. Moreover, they did not have the strength to invest overseas, and it would be good to be able to keep a small colony in the Indo-China Peninsula.

In desperation, Prussia could only develop itself. The arrival of the Japanese delegation at this time was welcomed by the Berlin government.

Mosquitoes are meat no matter how small they are. Even adding an overseas trading partner may boost the development of the domestic economy.

The Berlin government took the opportunity to sell a number of products to the flattered Japanese delegation, and the best sellers were second-hand weapons and equipment.

Strengthening the army was the first and most important step in the Meiji Restoration. The Japanese have done nothing wrong in this regard.

Age does not have enough force, no amount of wealth is prepared for others.

Prussia's efforts to expand the East Asian market did not attract the attention of the outside world. In everyone's impression, the Japanese government is very poor, including Franz, who ignored the madness of the Japanese in developing their military.

In 1869, the Japanese delegation and Prussia signed a large foreign trade order of 1.58 million Aegis. This number is not small. In a single foreign trade transaction contract, it can be ranked in the top 20 of the year.

The surprise in the newspapers only made the capitalists sigh that they missed an opportunity to make money. Franz never read this kind of business news.

Now he is reviewing the development strategy plan of the province of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As one of the poorest provinces in Austria, this term of the provincial government of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not intend to continue to salt fish.

This is also forced out. The previous provincial governments only needed to do one job well, and their political achievements came out, and their predecessors had already done it.

The population of the province of Bosnia and Herzegovina was originally small, and it was thoroughly cleaned up. After more than ten years of perseverance, the assimilation work has come to an end.

The language and characters have been unified, and the change of customs and habits is almost done. By the time of this government, this fixed political achievement cannot go on.

Time flies, and many people in the Austrian cabinet are getting old.

Candidates who are eligible to fill the seat are all outstanding in local governance. This does not mean that local officials have no chance, as long as they have outstanding political achievements, they can also counterattack and rise to the top.

Even taking a step back and becoming a minister of a certain ministry would be a step further. Ambitious people will naturally not miss this opportunity.

Franz is not afraid of the ambitions of those under him, and ambition also represents motivation. If it were all a bunch of salted fish waiting to die, it would be a disaster.

Austria's bureaucratic system model climbs up step by step. Without the achievements of local governance, it is impossible to enter the cabinet at all.

Even if you want to form a party for personal gain, you must have that opportunity. If you don't have political achievements, you can't climb up at all. No matter how wide your connections are, it's still useless to stay below.

It is easier to split a faction than to create a faction. The bureaucrats themselves compete with each other, and once the main figures within the faction become political enemies, they will fight themselves.

This often just takes a position, and it does the trick. If the bureaucracy becomes a group, it can only show that the emperor is hopelessly stupid.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is not completely without advantages, at least there are mines here. Including: coal, iron, copper, manganese, lead, mercury, silver, lignite, bauxite, lead-zinc ore, asbestos, rock salt, barite and other minerals.

These are the gifts of nature and the basis for the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The government of Bosnia and Herzegovina is ready to mine, not only mining but also developing heavy industry.

Simply put, it is steelmaking and copper smelting, and by the way, it is selling salt. Of course, other minerals will also be developed, but these three are more "money" at the moment.

Franz remembered that the heavy industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina developed well in the original time and space, but later declined because of the war.

Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is mountainous, there are rivers here that can develop water transport. If the railway branch line is extended, there is also potential for the development of heavy industry.

Austria's heavy industry is too concentrated in Bohemia, which doesn't matter in peacetime, but in wartime, Bohemia is too frontline.

The conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina are naturally not as good as those in Bohemia, but it is not a big problem to build a smaller heavy industry base.

Not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but many areas in the Balkans have the potential to develop heavy industry. Compared with the European continent, the mineral resources of the Balkan Peninsula are still rich.

Not to mention long-term development, at least at the beginning of the industrial age, the required resources can still be satisfied. However, in terms of development costs, the Balkans is still relatively high.

After all, the Bosnia and Herzegovina region has been assimilated, and Franz is still willing to invest certain resources. If it can develop, it will make money. If the economy cannot develop, there are more heavy industries, which is also a good result.

Without hesitation for long, Franz marked a "√" on the document, which was considered to approve the plan. He doesn't need to worry about the rest of the matter, given the policy, the bureaucrats should be free to play the following issues.

As long as it is not a crazy plan, he rarely rejects the development plan submitted by the general local government.

No one can guarantee that any big strategic plan will be successful, but it will not be successful if you don't try.

For a country, the fault tolerance rate is still very high. In particular, a strategic plan for economic development in a poor province like Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot shake its foundation even if it fails several times.

Originally, the central government needs to subsidize administrative expenses. How bad can it be?

But as long as you succeed once, you will make a lot of money. Not to mention becoming a developed province of Austria, as long as it is financially self-sufficient, it is a great victory.