Chapter 433

Everyone was stunned when they heard this unbelievable news. The Americans wanted to build the "Siberian Railway." Wasn't that the sun rising from the west?

The Americans wanted to strengthen economic cooperation between Russia and the United States, which was barely acceptable. After all, the divided United States seriously lacked a market to sell goods.

As a member of the peripheral world, and there was no conflict of interest, the relationship between Russia and the United States had been good in recent years. However, the Americans wanted to build the "Siberian Railway," which was a bit funny.

The Siberian Railway had such a great effect, and it could promote economic and trade cooperation between Russia and the United States. How could they not know about it?

Everyone knew that when the distance was not large, the cost of rail transportation was much higher than sea transportation, not to mention a special railway like the Siberian Railway. The transportation cost was even higher.

Whether it was from the east coast or the west coast, it was better to directly ship goods to the Russian Empire than to go to the Far East.

To really promote economic and trade between the two countries, it was actually possible. However, it was not to promote commercial trade between Siberia and the United States.

Unlike Siberia in the future, the Siberian region of this year could be said to be useless except for its large size.

The Siberian region of more than 13 million square kilometers only had a population of less than seven million, and this was the result of Osman immigration. Otherwise, this number could be halved.

The Siberian region developed after the opening of the railway. This was mainly due to Stalin's exile policy, which increased the local population.

With such a small population spread over more than 13 million square kilometers of land, it was a joke to talk about trade.

The purchasing power of the Siberian region's market was probably less than one-tenth of that of St. Peter's Castle.

No normal person would believe that the Americans were interested in this "vast and uninhabited" market and wanted to go deep into farming and management.

Nicholas II asked, "What do the Americans want?"

There was no love or hate in the world for no reason, and this was especially true between countries. As a normal person, Nicholas II didn't believe that the Americans would run over to do charity without benefits.

The construction cost of the Siberian Railway was not a small number. It could be ranked second in the entire history of mankind, second only to the ring railway in Shinra.

As early as a few years ago, the Tsarist government had completed the exploration of the Siberian Railway. If it weren't for the frightening budget and the Tsarist government's lack of funds, the railway would have been started long ago.

Although the United States' financial resources were stronger than the Russian Empire, there was a limit. They were also heavily in debt.

Nicholas II could not help but suspect their motives when they suddenly came to help with the construction of the Siberian Railway before their own railway had even been completed.

Foreign Minister Mikhailovich explained, "In recent years, the United States has encountered a bottleneck in development and urgently needs to open up a larger market.

However, the world had already been divided up, including the Americas, which the Americans had originally regarded as their backyard. Now, it had also fallen into the sphere of influence of Britain and Shenluo. There was no room for them to intervene at all.

To change this situation, the Americans have set their sights on the Far East. However, their strength was limited and they were unable to compete with the British. It was even difficult to suppress the Japanese.

If no external forces intervened, it would only be a matter of time before the Americans were eliminated from the competition in the Far East.

Judging from the current international situation, we are the only ones who can provide help to the Americans.

Apart from joining forces with us, they have no way to deal with the Anglo-Japanese alliance. The Americans' proposal to build the Siberian Railway seems to be helping us, but in fact, it is also their strategic helplessness.

Of course, the Americans are not vegetarians. Their appetite is also quite good.

In addition to joining forces with us to expand in the Far East, they also want the exclusive rights to the Siberian Railway and the most favored nation treatment in international trade. "

Ever since the defeat of Napoleon, the Russians had a kind of "blind confidence," especially after the capture of Constantinople, which reached its peak.

The Prussian War had awakened the Tsarist government, but after winning the war, everyone quickly indulged in it again.

This "confidence" was also reflected in politics and diplomacy. Including the strategy of going south to India, it was based on this "blind confidence."

After listening to this explanation, everyone, including Nicholas II, was tempted.

The most favored nation treatment was the same as not giving them anything. Anyway, the Russian Empire was already the world of Shinra's industrial and commercial products. It would be good to let the Americans in as their competitor.

For Nicholas II, who wanted to get rid of Shinra's influence, he was only worried that the Americans were useless and couldn't compete with Shinra even if the market was opened.

Joining forces to expand in the Far East was not a condition at all. The expansion of the Russian Empire in the Far East required allies to share the pressure.

As for dominating the Far East and completing the Russian plan, that was a matter for the future and wouldn't affect the current US-Russian cooperation.

It could be said that the Americans' demands were within everyone's bottom line, except for the railway franchise, which was a little difficult to deal with.

Prime Minister Sergei Witte: "It's a good thing that the Americans are willing to help build the Siberian Railway, but it shouldn't be now.

The Empire's power is not unlimited. The French rebellion needs the Empire to suppress, and the Central Asian Railway is halfway done. We really don't have the ability to start another big project.

Judging from the current construction progress, if the later stages of the project go well, then the Central Asian Railway can be opened in 1899, at the latest by 1900.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can talk to the United States and postpone the construction of the Siberian Railway to three years later, so we can deal with it calmly. "

Even if the Americans were willing to help, the Tsarist government would still have to pay for the construction of the Siberian Railway, and they would have to bear the majority of the cost.

Including the Central Asian Railway that was under construction. It seemed like the Government of Vienna was helping, but the labor and raw materials were still provided by the Tsarist government.

In the era of lack of machinery, almost all processes were completed by hand. Labor and raw materials accounted for more than 80% of the railway construction cost.

As for the difficult demolition that the railway construction faced in the future, it didn't exist at all now. Including the taxes collected from all aspects, all of them were now zero.

On the surface, the Tsarist government didn't pay much money, but it hurt the national strength! Free labor wasn't unlimited. Once the recruitment was over, it would be a big problem.

Foreign Minister Mikhailovich shook his head. "I'm afraid that won't work. The Siberian Railway construction is led by the US steel giant.

The main purpose of this plan is to clear their own inventory. If the time is delayed by three years, their losses will be huge.

What's more, the US government will change in two years. If we don't finalize the project as soon as possible and a new government comes in … "

Unlike the surplus agricultural products, which could only be scrapped, the surplus steel could still be overstocked. But the overstocking time was also limited, and the longer the overstocking time, the higher the cost would be.

Capitalists were the most realistic. Once it was related to their own interests, it would be useless to say anything.

The capitalists were difficult to deal with, and the US government was even more difficult. It would be fine if they could be re-elected, but if the government changed, the continuity of the policy could not be counted on.

This government was pro-Russian, and the next government might be anti-Russian. The speed at which the Americans changed their political attitudes was comparable to that of a woman changing her clothes.

Nicholas II's indecisive personality was exposed, and he couldn't make up his mind. He wanted to build the Siberian Railway, but he was worried that the railway would consume too much national strength.

…

The scorching sun was scorching the earth. Franz was currently avoiding the heat in the Albis Mountains, with a small pond in the mountains. It had a bit of the charm of "the silent spring cherishes the thin stream, and the gentle shade of the tree shines on the water."

Ever since he had a son, Franz was liberated from the tedious government affairs and lived a beautiful life of traveling.

Once people were free, they liked to play. If it wasn't for the pain of taking transportation in this day and age, Franz might have already started to realize his dream of traveling around the world in his previous life.

Thinking about being accompanied by beautiful women, being able to live a luxurious life, and experiencing the exotic atmosphere, it was definitely a kind of enjoyment.

Unfortunately, in his previous life, he didn't have money, so he couldn't put it into action. Now that he had money, he didn't have the conditions to travel around the world.

If he couldn't travel around the world, then he would travel around Shinra. If going to a barren place was going to suffer, then he would enjoy himself in a prosperous and comfortable area.

Anyway, at his current age, Franz didn't have to worry about his willpower being worn down and degenerate.

If he went out to play willfully, it would be hard for Frederick The Great. Although he had been involved in government affairs for many years, now that he suddenly became a decision-maker, he still felt tired.

He had no choice. Every decision he made now involved great benefits, so he had no choice but to be careful.

As the crown prince, Frederick The Great didn't have the prestige that Franz had. Before making a decision, it was necessary to coordinate the relationships of all parties.

Fortunately, the bureaucrats of the Government of Vienna had been trained by Franz in recent years, and no one dared to stab the crown prince. Otherwise, Frederick The Great's life would be even more difficult.

…

Prime Minister Carr: "Your Royal Highness, last night, the Russian Army stationed in France sent a telegram to the Allied Command for help, hoping that the commander can solve their logistical problems."

The seemingly ordinary report, but Frederick The Great knew that trouble was coming again.

For a long time, the Government of Vienna had controlled the Allied Command. During the European War, no one had any objections, but after the war, the situation was completely different.

No one wanted to have a mother-in-law above them, and the countries of the Anti-France Alliance were no exception. Given this situation, the Government of Vienna, who paid attention to table manners, naturally didn't insist.

Soon, the Allied Command was reduced from the highest military command of the Alliance to a liaison and coordination agency.

Other than when it was politically necessary to stand up and show their existence, most of the time, they didn't ask about the specific military command.

No matter how the real power changed, the Allied Command was still the highest military command agency of the Anti-France Alliance.

Now that the Russians asked for help, as the highest command agency, the Allied Command couldn't just sit back and do nothing.

Perhaps in the eyes of the outside world, the Russians came at this time and provided an opportunity for the Government of Vienna to intervene in the command of the troops stationed in France.

However, Frederick The Great would rather not have this opportunity. Intervening in the command of the troops stationed in France seemed to have huge benefits, but in fact, it was useless for Shinra.

With France in this state, there was no way they could get anything out of it. What else could they achieve other than being a scapegoat and attracting hatred for the troops stationed in France?

They couldn't use this as an opportunity to intervene in the internal military and political power of the countries, right?

Not to mention implementing it, as long as there were any signs of it, Shinra would become the target of public criticism.

The ancestors of the House of Habsburg had personally experienced similar tragedies. When they were young, they were hot-blooded and shouted a few unified slogans. After they succeeded to the throne, they were targeted by the feudal lords.

The current situation was similar. The European countries were willing to recognize Shinra as the hegemon. In addition to their own strength, the most important reason was that Franz didn't like to cause trouble.

It was rare to meet a boss who didn't cause trouble, so everyone naturally flattered him. Others flattered him, but they still had to know their own limits.

If they really became arrogant, Napoleon was the example. Even if they won on the battlefield, they would lose in politics.

In this context, the rescue telegram from the Russian Army stationed in France was a hot potato. If it wasn't handled well, it would bring a lot of trouble to the Government of Vienna.

It wasn't like the Government of Vienna hadn't encountered similar situations before. It was just that Franz handled it before, and Frederick The Great was just a bystander. Now that he encountered it, it was inevitable that he would have a headache.

After a moment of silence, Frederick The Great asked, "What does the Prime Minister suggest?"

"Now we have two choices. Either we allocate some supplies to the Russian Army at the front line and take the opportunity to take over the command of the Russian Army. But we must grasp the degree and not get too involved.

Or we send a diplomatic note to the Tsarist government to urge them to provide supplies to the front line as soon as possible. But in this way, the Allied Command will be useless and will no longer have the ability in the future … "

Frederick The Great secretly sighed. The two choices given by Prime Minister Carr were actually only one choice.

Sending a note to the Tsarist government in the name of the anti-French alliance to urge the Russians to provide supplies to the frontline troops, wasn't this also interfering in the internal affairs of Russia?

Not to mention, it also involved the dignity of the Allied Command. It was obviously better to do less of this kind of unrewarding thing.

Providing logistical supplies to the Russian Army was also not a good job. It seemed that they had obtained the command of the Russian Army stationed in France, but it also worsened the relationship between the two countries.

It could be said that no matter what choice the Government of Vienna made now, it would ultimately affect the relationship between Russia and Austria. If the operation wasn't done well, it could also affect the international image of Shinra.

However, they had to make a choice. Since the Prime Minister proposed it, it was obviously the result after careful consideration. Maybe there was a better way to deal with it, but no one had thought of it yet.

After contemplating for a while, Frederick The Great nodded, "The most important thing on the battlefield is efficiency. The Russians are busy now. If we wait for them to deal with it, it will be too late.

For the sake of the overall situation, we will suffer a little and first provide logistical supplies to the Russian Army at the front line. When the situation in France stabilizes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will communicate with the Tsarist government. "

He wasn't sure about other abilities, but the ability to lie through his teeth, Frederick The Great was already close to Franz.