Chapter 892
In the Confederate States of America, on a farm in Texas, the flag is being raised at this moment, and thick smoke can be clearly seen from dozens of miles away.
Looking at the fire, Odell, the farmer, had mixed feelings.
For most of his life, it was the first time he met a buyer. After buying food, he would not transport it away, but burn it directly on the spot.
However, looking at the face of Aegis, even if the buyer's request is very strange, Odell will not refuse.
At the end of the day, he couldn't help but be curious, Odell asked his doubts: "Mr. Ulbert, our transaction is complete.
But don't you think it's a pity that such good food is burned like this? "
Ulbert said helplessly: "There is no way, the French are sharpening their knives and want to invade my motherland.
As a businessman, I don't have the ability to go back to my country to fight, but I still want to do what I can.
Not long ago, news came from Europe that Austria finally officially intervened. A proclamation was also issued, ordering the French to stop their acts of war, or call on all countries in the world to impose an embargo on France.
Thirteen countries are said to have announced their participation, and this is the only chance to avoid war.
As long as the French cannot buy enough strategic materials, they will not be able to launch a war of aggression, and my motherland can barely be threatened by war. "
Announcements are naturally there. In order to occupy the moral high ground, Franz has recently issued a number of declarations to persuade the French to pull back from the brink.
The same words fall into the ears of different people, and the effects are completely different.
In the eyes of the Europeans, Franz was doing his best to avoid war; in the eyes of the French, this was what Austria feared.
On the one hand, it was tough diplomatically, and on the other hand, it shouted the banner of peace, obviously not wanting to fight.
In addition to being afraid of France, there is absolutely no need for Franz to stand up for meaningless shouting. Even the threat is a weak material embargo, and there is absolutely no domineering to fight.
Many French people also suspect that as long as they make a move, Austria will retreat and can easily capture the Central European region.
The 13-nation embargo sounds scary. Anyone who knows the inside story knows that this is a joke. Just look at the participating countries.
Needless to say, the three countries of Bi, Germany, and Austria are necessary, and then there are Greece and Montenegro.
It is not difficult to open the map to see that these two small countries must join the embargo alliance, because after Austria blocked France, their trade with the French has been interrupted.
The rest of Sardinia, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Papal State, Tuscany, Lucca, Modena, and Parma are clearly the territory of the French, and they have also announced their participation in the embargoed alliance.
There is no doubt that these guys who join in the fun are all announced by the government in exile on behalf of their own country, and it is impossible for the French-controlled state government to jump back at this time.
Coupled with an exile in the Austria-Mexico Empire, the thirteen-country embargo was just rounded up.
Odell said with emotion: "You are really a patriotic businessman! But if you don't sell the grain to the French, why burn it?"
What is popular these days is that capital knows no borders, patriotic businessmen are absolutely rare creatures, and most businessmen only have interests in their eyes.
Urbet replied righteously: "I don't sell to the French, there are other people who will sell the grain to the French. As long as it is resold, the final flow of the grain is beyond my control.
As far as I know, in order to put pressure on the French, the Austrian government is also sweeping the market.
As long as the French government does not make concessions, the food in their hands will not flow into France, and it is inevitable that food prices will continue to rise in the short term.
You know that I am a businessman, and businessmen cannot resist the temptation of profit.
In the event that food prices continue to rise in the middle, I cannot guarantee whether I can stand up to my own interests.
To avoid the worst, it's better to burn it. "
...
Perhaps it was an accidental coincidence. When the two were talking, they happened to meet a reporter from the San Franco Daily and recorded everything with a pen.
After the news was published in the newspapers, it quickly caused a sensation in the Confederate States. Patriotic merchants would rather burn their grain than sell it to the French. Naturally, such a touching story will be widely circulated.
Soon, there were frequent news of merchants burning grain. Some were patriotic merchants, and some were simply out of righteous indignation. Anyway, no one wanted the French to buy food.
The bullish case emerges. Grain is a just-needed commodity. Austria was snapped up in the past, and righteous merchants burned grain later. The amount of grain circulating in the market has decreased, and the price increase is inevitable!
With the help of the capitalists, everyone thought that the price of food was going to skyrocket, and even ordinary citizens began to hoard food.
Then, the trade prices of grains in the Confederate countries began to soar, and they tended to catch up with Europe.
Especially in the futures market, the grain transaction price more than doubled directly after a few months.
A similar scene was not only staged in the Confederate countries, but also in other American countries.
It's just that the script has been changed. It is not necessarily all grain that is bullish, and other industrial raw materials have not fallen.
...
It is not only the French who are affected by rising prices, but the whole world is also suffering from the unpredictable disaster.
There is no way, the capitalists are too powerful. Austria just got a head start, the rest is up to them.
As the newspapers put it: "By the emperor's order, Europe
Tremble for it, the world changes for it.
Thick smoke rose from the farm, changing the color of the sky and the earth; from the coal mine, a mountain of flames grew, turning day and night upside down!
The poor people are still running around for three meals a day and worrying about heating..."
Ironic news, whether it is Franz or Napoleon IV is sprayed, this is a question worth exploring.
However, Franz, who is in a good mood, directly tacitly tacitly satirized Napoleon IV, and quietly sent someone to change the emperor to the emperor.
The later act of burning materials was also interpreted as a means for the people to oppose French hegemony. Unfortunately, it was used by unscrupulous capitalists and finally hurt the world by mistake.
Foreign Secretary Weisenberg: "Your Majesty, these are diplomatic notes from countries that want us to exercise restraint and stop our current economic tactics."
What should come is still coming. In any case, the matter is also made by Austria, and there is nothing wrong with people protesting.
But is the price increase all the responsibility of the Austrian government?
the answer is negative!
No matter how rich the Austrian government is, there is no way to buy all the supplies in the world. The materials that were actually bought by the Austrian government actually accounted for only a small part.
Although the burning operation was first planned by the Austrian government, it was only a pretense, and several thousand tons of grain were burned before and after.
The materials bought with real money were set on fire, and Franz was not so brainless.
The burning of materials is nothing more than an excuse for the capital market to make everyone believe that there will be a shortage of materials in the market, driving up prices.
In the case that the domestic market is not enough, it is natural to restrict exports. France is not a member of the free trade system, it must be the number one unlucky.
As for some small countries that were accidentally injured, Franz can only say regret. After all, there are no perfect tactics in this world, and it is inevitable that someone's interests will be damaged.
Franz asked with concern: "How much has the price of commodities on the international market increased compared to a year ago?"
Wesenberg: "Overall prices have risen by 31.4%, coal prices have risen by 94.1%, grain prices have risen by 144.1%, and steel prices have risen by 79.7%..."
After hesitating for a while, Franz said slowly: "The price is almost there, let's start shipping! If it goes on like this, everyone will be unable to sit still."
Although the economic tactics are good, the problem is that it is difficult to cause public anger. Even if you make a fortune, if you keep playing, the governments of various countries will definitely intervene.
In fact, the governments of various countries have been able to delay the protest until now, and the capitalists have also made great efforts.
Prices are determined by market supply and demand. No one is in trouble with money. Austria’s sweeping goods has pushed up prices, and capitalists are the biggest beneficiaries.
In order to make huge profits, I don't know how many capitalists burned materials under the guise of resisting French hegemony, fueling the rise in prices.
Prime Minister Carl objected: "Your Majesty, we will start shipping now, and these materials will flow into the hands of the French..."
In a sense, the Austrian government is now shipping, increasing the war potential of the French, and it can also be regarded as a kind of "capitalist enemy".
If it wasn't for what Franz said, if anyone else suggested to sell the materials hoarded overseas, Prime Minister Karl would have to greet his family.
Franz shook his head: "It can't be dragged on, the price has risen to a high level, and if we drag these materials further, it will be smashed into our hands.
It was originally bought at a high price. If you don’t take advantage of the current opportunity and don’t sell it, it will be difficult to sell it later.
As for the enemies you are worried about, they are all superfluous. Even if we don't sell it, the French can still buy it.
Don't forget that the capital world is now overcapacity, not undercapacity.
Compared with the entire market, the materials we hoard only account for one or two percentage points at most.
The French just delayed the start of the war for a while, and all the problems were solved.
The current international situation is not suitable for us to take the lead in provoking a war. Politically, it is the French who demand that the first shot be fired, and we can only respond passively.
Selling supplies now, not only sells the face of the governments of various countries, but also can take the opportunity to make a fortune, and by the way, make a fool of the French, why not do it? "
This is a fact, whether the French government is willing to accept it or not, the price has already gone up anyway, and you must accept the high price if you want to buy it.
After pondering for a while, Prime Minister Karl nodded: "If that's the case, then we'd better stimulate the French and start a war before shipping."
If you want to do it, you must do it, and the highest price point must be after the outbreak of the war. The French have not started the war for a long time, and the biggest problem is that they do not have enough strategic materials in their hands.
Once the war continues, within half a year, they will be in trouble.
The French were not stupid, and naturally took into account the consequences of continuing the war. After all, in addition to Bieder this time, there is also a giant Austria.
A war between great powers cannot be over in one battle, and if it fails, there is still a chance for a comeback. The war will continue as long as the enemy will not compromise.
Once the materials are bought, it does not mean that they can be used immediately, and they have to be shipped back to China for processing, which takes several months or even a longer period of time.