Chapter 41 Continuous Investment

"Your Majesty, I really don't know what you are talking about," Constantine said with a confused look on his face.

After all, this kind of adventure in a foreign continent is inherently risky.

Leopold only suspected that the Congo Commission had done something wrong, but after the dozens of Cameron expedition members entered the Congo River Basin from Africa on the Indian Ocean side, they disappeared without a trace.

Therefore, Leopold had no evidence.

"Your Excellency the Duke, you have already taken over Congo, but," Leopold said with a mocking look on his face.

"Where do you get the money to develop Congo? As far as I know, a large section of the lower reaches of the Congo River is not navigable, and a railway must be built to connect Matadi and Kinshasa. This is a railway of nearly 400 kilometers. How much money are you going to spend to build it?" Leopold smiled faintly.

Constantine was stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect that the other party invited him to come for the railway.

"Your Majesty, what is your intention?"

"I know that even the royal family is already unable to do it after the initial expenses, right?"

It's not that they are short of money, but it's impossible to invest a large sum of money to support it.

After all, the royal family's own expenses are not small.

"Your Majesty, just say it directly," Constantine didn't want to beat around the bush.

"In fact, it's like this. The Makin Railway (Matadi to Kinshasa) will be handed over to us Belgium to build and operate, so you don't have to worry about raising huge amounts of money."

Constantine lowered his head and thought about Leopold's suggestion.

Admittedly, this did save Constantine himself trouble, and he directly handed over the railway to the Belgians.

But this railway is too strategically important for Congo.

This is the only channel for the outside world to exchange what they have with Congo. In the future, whether it is the import of European and American industrial products into Congo or the export of Congo's raw materials, this railway is a must-go route for Congo.

It can be said that holding this railway in hand is almost equivalent to strangling Congo's neck, not to mention that due to Congo's natural "international" color, all countries will retain a considerable voice.

If the Belgians are really allowed to build and operate this railway, who will have the final say in Congo in the future, and whether Greece, which is weak in strength, still has a voice, I am afraid there will be doubts.

It seems that Leopold is planning to do this!

"Your Majesty, thank you for your kindness, but it is impossible for this railway in Congo to be completely handed over to others to build," Constantine said with a cold face.

Hearing this, Leopold finally stopped staring at the stage, turned his head and looked at Constantine, sighing in his heart, worthy of being the one who successfully captured Congo surrounded by wolves, and almost immediately saw through his calculations.

"In this case, we Belgium can always invest part of it, anyway, you also need financing," Leopold said with a hint of helplessness.

It was not until then that Constantine knew the real intention of Leopold. It seemed that he was optimistic about the future of Congo and planned to bet first.

Although Belgium is not a big country, it is rich.

The first country in the world to complete industrialization is Britain. With its superior geographical location, Belgium, which faces Britain across the English Channel, has become the second industrialized country in the world.

With the improvement of industrial production efficiency, capitalists naturally accumulate a lot of capital.

As a country with a lot of capital, Belgium has a small and saturated domestic market and low investment profits, so it has set its sights on foreign countries.

In fact, Belgian bankers have taken a fancy to the important strategic location of the Makin Railway. As long as this railway is built, they can make money in the future.

Therefore, Leopold was asked for help to test Constantine's attitude.

However, after the two met, Leopold looked at Constantine's youth and was unwilling to give up. Moreover, as an industrialized country, Belgium itself is in urgent need of the market to digest the huge domestic production capacity.

It is just the right opportunity to see if there is a possibility of a turnaround. Taking control of the Makin Railway and expanding Belgium's voice in the Congo in the future will undoubtedly bring huge profits.

After all, the future Congo is similar to a public colony. The greater the voice, the more benefits it will get in the Congo region.

But Constantine didn't give him a chance at all.

"This railway has not yet been surveyed by professionals. As for how much money to raise to build it, I am not sure yet."

"After the survey, the cost will be estimated, and a part of the share will be given to the Belgian financial industry."

Seeing Constantine gave a positive answer, Leopold turned around and continued to watch the dance performance.

After dealing with the Congo, the purpose of this European trip has been completed, so he took a train from Belgium to Paris, and from Paris to Marseille Port to Greece.

On August 12, 1884, Constantine returned to Athens.

As for Banning, he was still attending the Berlin Conference.

Sitting in the garden of the Tatoi Palace, Constantine enjoyed a rare quiet afternoon tea, thinking about his father George I asking him to serve in the Thessaly Legion.

Constantine has received a complete military course in Germany and Athens.

According to royal rules, the next step is to serve in the army.

"Mr. Costerbrough from Alpha Bank is here to visit, Your Excellency the Duke," Butler Capet came to inform.

"Let him come here"

Costerbrough, the two have not met since the last hunting trip.

Thinking of the 500,000 pounds check that Costerblue sent last time, it was euphemistically called to support the African development plan.

Now it is estimated that the Congo Commission has obtained the management rights of the Congo River Basin at the Berlin Conference, and the news has spread.

Thinking of this, Constantine has already guessed the purpose of Costerblue's visit.

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"Your Excellency the Duke, long time no see, the style is still the same", Costerblue held the civilized stick in his left hand and took off his hat with his right hand to salute.

Constantine stood up to greet, "Long time no see, Costerblue, why are you here this time?"

I saw Costerblue took out a check from his pocket and handed it to Constantine.

Constantine really couldn't react for a while.

The Coster family is worthy of being a bank, and they took out checks when they disagreed.

The two met twice in total, 500,000 pounds each time, is it too face-saving for him?

"Costerblue, what does this mean?" Constantine asked in confusion, holding up the check in his hand.

"I heard that His Highness has obtained the management rights of Congo, congratulations"

"As for the 500,000 pounds, Your Excellency the Duke, the huge Congo must have a lot of expenses at the beginning. I heard that the construction of the Makin Railway in the Congo region is imperative. My father ordered me to come here to do my best."

At this moment, Constantine felt sincere admiration for Costerbrew's father, Jon.

The other party's unique investment vision, boldness, and firm attitude made Constantine stand in awe.

The other party sent 500,000 pounds last time without any requirements, which was considered a venture capital. This time, the 500,000 pounds was nominally to help me, and invested in the Makin Railway in advance to solve my difficulties in raising funds.

There is no doubt that the other party also saw the importance of this railway. This time, the 500,000 is not only to help me alleviate my financial difficulties, but also the return requested by the other party.

Killing two birds with one stone.

And Constantine couldn't say no for both emotional and rational reasons.

You also have to consider other people's feelings.