Chapter 771 The Impending Crisis

In fact, in recent years, the Austrian Empire has been reforming agriculture under Franz, and investing a lot of agricultural machinery and fertilizers.

If it weren't for the constant natural disasters in recent years and the explosive population growth, the grain production at this time would probably be in excess.

And it is impossible for Franz to prevent Prussian and Russian grain from entering the Austrian market, because grain exports are the punching products of these two countries and the most reliable rope for Austria to tie them to its chariot.

At this time, the area of ​​newly reclaimed arable land is also increasing, and agricultural reforms are also deepening. In the next ten years, the yield of wheat per mu in Europe will double again, and the era of famine will be bid farewell.

In fact, the wheat hybridization project presided over by Father Mendel is also constantly improving varieties. The new wheat has a higher yield per mu, fewer diseases and pests, and a stronger ability to adapt to the environment.

In fact, compared with hybrid wheat, Father Mendel prefers to cultivate other things, such as pumpkin-flavored watermelons, cucumber-flavored grapes and the like.

Compared with taste, Father Mendel pays more attention to yield, but these things are too dark for Franz, so he did not provide much support.

Back to the point, the grain produced by those colonies can only feed horses in Austria, and it may further cause the collapse of Austrian grain prices. Selling it to Britain can not only make a lot of money, but also gain a good reputation.

After all, Franz sold the grain to Ireland, but it was bought by the British. The British were wrong, not Franz.

In addition to Britain, the grain prices in France and Spain are soaring, but Austria, which has only a few colonies, can bring down the grain prices. There is no reason for the world's first and second colonial empires to make the people unable to eat.

There is only one reason that can explain it, that is, someone is hoarding. This practice is very common throughout human history, and Franz is not surprised.

The reason why no one dared to raise the grain price in Austria is that the market mechanism is relatively perfect due to the establishment of the German Customs Union, the Apennine Customs Union, and the Russo-Austrian Friendship Alliance. At the same time, the plate is too big for ordinary people to eat.

Another reason is that Franz once took action to regulate the grain price. After repeated attempts, any businessman who had such an idea was bankrupted.

As for the bankers headed by Solomon, they were even more panic-stricken at this time. They dared not go against the imperial family. In addition, with the establishment of the central bank, the era of individual bankers has declined.

As for why they had to sell to Britain instead of France and Spain? Learn about the 200% import tariff. Trade protection is not just talk.

Although the customs in Spain are in name only, and although there are a large number of smugglers willing to do it in Belgium and Bavaria, they have to sacrifice transportation capacity for concealment. After all, no one knows whether the other party will rob them if they are forced into a corner.

At the same time, although this can escape tariffs, it cannot escape commission.

And these grains can be transported to Britain, even if they are sold at a low price, they can still make a lot of profit. The British "Corn Law" has just been repealed, and only Americans can compete with Austria for the market.

Although Prussia and Russia have low grain prices, the shipping capacity of the two countries is hard to describe. If the transportation work is contracted to the British, they will become wage earners instead. It is better to continue to sell grain to Austria.

Although the crisis of the British is getting worse, they still need a little help. For example, the price of grain plummeted, causing grain merchants to go bankrupt.

So can those grain merchants not buy Austrian grain? The answer is no, because if you don't buy, there are people who will buy.

Even if they unite all the grain merchants in Britain, the people will still buy, and even the British government may take action.

As for whether the grain merchants will stop the loss in time? The answer is no, 150% profit is enough to make people crazy, especially for those tycoons with huge amounts of money.

So those who hoard goods have only one choice, that is, to eat all the food before everyone reacts.

In fact, dozens of ships of food are just a small case in their eyes, and most of them even believe that the disaster will continue.

Franz is not interested in correcting their wrong ideas. He just wants to find some people worth saving to do business with, or send people to Austria's mainland or colonies.

Although Austria cannot absorb all the Irish victims, and may even cause some chaos in its mainland and colonies, it can also bring relatively cheap labor, which can promote Austria's industrial development for a period of time.

At the same time, the reduction of the immigrant population will be an irreparable loss for the United States, and when the Irish who took refuge in Austria return to Britain, it will have a serious impact on the local society.

——

This is the dividing line of the planned economic crisis——

Finally, a village that is not so dilapidated appeared in front of me. In fact, it is similar to other villages, with thatched roofs and earth walls, and the houses are arranged crookedly. The construction level is almost the same as that of the Middle Ages.

However, the people in the village are still in spirit. Seeing that the caravan did not flee in panic due to famine, nor did they kneel down to beg, or turn a blind eye.

Instead, each household began to go back to the house to rummage through the boxes and cabinets, hoping to find something to exchange.

There are also bold villagers who ask if they need fodder for livestock or accommodation.

In fact, Franz also saw some crops that do not belong to the island of Ireland. They must have been left behind by the priests before they withdrew.

Franz thought of many ways and tried many plants, but at this time, no plant could replace potatoes.

When Franz got off the carriage, a little boy ran over holding a shiny stone.

"Sir, can I exchange these gems for some food with you?"

Franz picked up a piece and played with it in his hand. The so-called gems were probably just pebbles that could be found everywhere, but they were very round and smooth.

Franz nodded and took out a paper bag with a few dry and hard biscuits in it. Although this thing tasted bad, it was very resistant to hunger.

As for why they didn't give compressed biscuits, it was because they were afraid that people would die of bloating. After all, the children were too young, and compressed biscuits didn't seem to be very resistant to hunger.

The little boy ran home quickly.

Skaha Jennings was studying how to eat those red wheat grains at this time. She didn't know how the priests made them into cakes at that time.

But the poor have their own ways. When they are in doubt, they simmer over high heat. Soon, a pot of porridge with vegetable leaves mixed with unhusked sorghum was cooked.

Scathach scooped out a spoonful and put it in her mouth to chew. She showed an impatient expression on her face, but she still decided to swallow it. As a result, her throat felt as if it was cut by a blade.

In order not to waste food, she still covered her mouth and did not spit it out. A painful expression appeared on her face, but it was fleeting. She said to her younger brother and sister beside her.

"It's not cooked through. It will be better if you cook it for a while."