Chapter 387

The turbulent international environment did not affect Austria's Near East development plan. All work was carried out in an orderly manner.

In the first quarter alone, the Government of Vienna immigrated 128,000 people from the mainland to the Near East. Nearly half of them were newly rising military farmers.

Everyone was very active in developing their own land. If it wasn't for the fear of the Black Death and the government stopping them from going, they would have gone there long ago.

After all, the earlier the development, the earlier the harvest. Generally speaking, the earliest immigrants were given preferential treatment and could choose their land in advance.

It was still the 19th century, and the gap between industry and agriculture was not as wide as later generations. The background of the world's food shortage did not improve, especially the Asia- Pacific region.

Agriculture was still a "profitable" industry, especially in the context of the population explosion in Europe. International food prices began to slowly climb again.

In fact, as the world's largest agricultural exporter, Austria was also the largest food importer.

This was due to the increase in market demand brought by the population growth. After domestic food met their own needs, the amount that could be exported was greatly reduced.

In this context, agricultural processing enterprises engaged in international trade had to import raw food from overseas to ensure smooth delivery of orders.

In fact, this situation had already occurred during the Prussian War. The Government of Vienna once prepared to lift the restrictions on the colonies and open up the cultivation and export of food in the African continent.

But considering the political impact, Franz stopped it. Instead, they imported food from the Russian Empire, processed it, and then exported it.

In a sense, the Government of Vienna's food policy saved the Tsarist government.

Otherwise, with the addition of an African food-producing land, the international food price plummeted, and the high cost of planting Russia's agricultural system would be the first to be destroyed.

It was even possible that the international food price would be inverted. After losing this source of income, it was unknown whether the Tsarist government could hold on.

Of course, the Government of Vienna's food policy was not only for the Russians. The international food price fell, and the biggest loss was still Austria, the world's largest agricultural exporter.

Austria's political system determined that the government must stabilize agriculture. Once the international food price collapsed, the government could only subsidize the farmers with their own money.

It was a common practice in later generations, but it was still too early.

The Government of Vienna was not that rich. They could obviously make a large profit every year, so why would they make a loss?

Even if they wanted to suppress the Russians, it was not now. If they stabbed the Tsarist government in the back at this time, it was probably the end.

Being neighbors with a Tsarist government that was slipping into the abyss was much safer than dealing with an unknown existence.

The consequence of flipping the table was the end of the Tsarist government that was pro-Austrian. Austria would also suffer heavy losses, and only the major European food importers would benefit.

Importing cheap food would reduce the industrial and commercial production costs of various countries, thus enhancing the competitiveness of industrial and commercial products.

It was a vicious cycle of asking for trouble. Once it started, Austria's advantage would be greatly weakened.

…

Vienna Palace.

The maid said softly, "Your Majesty, the cause of the Prime Minister's fainting has been found. It's said that the blood supply to the brain is insufficient.

Doctor recommended resignation, please. This is the resignation letter submitted by the Prime Minister, please have a look.

In the future, this might not be a serious illness, but in this era, it was fatal. It was the kind of illness that could kill people at any time.

It might not be a serious illness in later generations, but it was fatal in this era. Franz didn't immediately approve it after taking the resignation from the maid.

Franz took the resignation letter from the maidservant and glanced through it. He didn't immediately approve it.

After a sigh, he ordered, "Prepare the carriage, I want to leave the palace."

Today, Prime Minister Felix was also a flag of Austria.

To this day, Prime Minister Felix was also a flag of Austria.

Especially for the German nationalists, Prime Minister Felix was their spiritual leader and had been working hard for the unification of the German Region.

Especially for the German nationalists, Prime Minister Felix was their spiritual leader and had been working hard for the unification of the German Region.

Since 1853, Felix would visit the various states in the German Region almost every year to discuss the issue of "peaceful unification."

After all these years, he had achieved great results. Although there was still a long way to go before they could truly be unified, they had already come together economically and culturally.

A customs union was necessary. No one could reject Austria's large market. The economic prosperity of North Germany couldn't be separated from Austria's support.

Until now, the Aegis could be freely circulated in the German Region without any restrictions. There were even 16 states in the North German Empire that used the Aegis as the only legal currency.

In terms of cultural exchange groups, there were countless of them. People from any state could freely travel and work in the German Region without the need for a visa.

As the founder of all this, Prime Minister Felix was naturally supported by all nationalists.

…

"Your Majesty, you're here again."

A familiar voice sounded in Franz's ear.

Seeing Felix trembling as he walked, Franz knew that the high-spirited Austrian prime minister was no longer here, only an old man with one foot in the grave.

"Yes!"

There were thousands of words in his heart, but now there was only one word left.

Felix laughed, "You shouldn't have come. Every time you leave the palace, you'll send away an old friend. It's like I'm going to see God soon. "

This was a joke, but it was also the truth. As an emperor, Franz didn't need to visit ministers. If he did, it would be the last time he saw them.

Awkwardly touching his nose, Franz didn't want to be outdone. "Save it, God is busy. He doesn't have time to see you now!"

After more than 30 years of getting along, the two were not only monarch and minister, but also friends.

Especially after Felix experienced a life and death situation, the way the two got along became more casual. At this moment, they were friends more than monarch and minister.

From Felix's behavior, Franz understood that he was determined to retire from politics, and it was impossible to keep him.

Although the monarch and minister in the European world wasn't as strict as the East, etiquette and rules were still indispensable. Keeping an appropriate distance was the way to get along.

A mature politician wouldn't make this kind of mistake. Only after abandoning the monarch and minister relationship could they be so casual.

Felix nodded, "That's for the best, but you shouldn't come. I still want to live to see the unification of the German Region!"

Obsession? Perhaps, anyone who had been doing a job for more than 30 years would have feelings when they suddenly had to leave.

As the final ending, who wouldn't want to have a glorious ending?

However, Felix was very clear that the German Region couldn't be unified in the short term. He couldn't push for the unification of the German Region at all costs just for his own obsession.

Before this, Felix had always thought that he could complete the great cause of the unification of the German Region in his own hands. He subconsciously ignored the problem of his own age.

This sudden illness made him sober up. In an era where the average life expectancy was more than 40 years, Felix, who was already 85 years old, had lived the life of two ordinary people.

Time waited for no man, and his body made him have no choice but to lower his head.

Perhaps with his past achievements, even if he couldn't perform his duties, Felix could still continue to stay in the position of prime minister, but his inherent pride didn't allow him to do so.

In the past, Felix hated "people who hogged the position but didn't do anything" the most. When he was prime minister, he had always cracked down on people who didn't do anything.

Over the years, at least more than four digits of officials had been driven home because of this.

In order not to become the person he hated the most, Felix didn't give Franz the chance to ask him to stay.

Looking at the proud and stubborn old man, Franz shrugged helplessly, "If you don't want to come, then don't come. You make me sound like a jinx.

But if you want to see the unification of the German Region, then you can't stay idle. If you have nothing to do, go to the German Unification Organization and guide the little guys. "

This time, Felix didn't refuse Franz's good intentions. Giving up power wasn't as simple as it sounded. If it wasn't for the fact that his body couldn't take it, he wouldn't have left so early.

Felix joked, "I'll go! But to unify the German Region, it's mainly the government's business.

Your Majesty, you have to hurry. Otherwise, when the emperor is free and wants to summon me up, I can only watch from the sky. "

Franz rolled his eyes. It was impossible to be indifferent to life and death. Perhaps he didn't feel it when he was young, but once he got older, he would feel that life was more precious.

Pretending to be humorous, he replied, "Don't worry, before your 100th birthday, the German Region will definitely be unified."

Deep in his heart, Franz couldn't stay calm. If it really happened in 15 years, he would also be at the age of old, and there wouldn't be many years left to toss and turn.