Holy Roman Empire

When the civil service examinations were in full swing, the Austrian army far away from the Papal State-on the farewell of Pope Pius IX, set foot on their way home.

Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, who had just stepped into the presidency and wanted to take advantage of the Pope ’s presence, had to choose to give up.

The Austrian army had finished the matter, and Pope Pius IX had no intention of changing the boss, and the French army would have invaded again.

If the Austrian army does not leave, maybe Pius IX will still find the French to check and balance, but now that they are all evacuating, why should he find himself happy?

History had a turning point here. The French forces could not take the opportunity to penetrate into the Italian region. By interfering with the military actions of the Papal State, Austria retained its influence in the Italian state.

This is very important for the Austrian business community, which preserves its political influence, and also means that this commercial market is preserved, which injects a stimulant into the ongoing industrial revolution.

In a new round of government meetings, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Karl Ludwig von Brook said with enthusiasm: "The development of industry and commerce is inseparable from the market.

Throughout the world, only the British have completed the industrial revolution, which is based on their huge colonies.

There is no vast colony in Austria, we want to catch up with the pace of the British, which requires the establishment of a market that belongs to Austria.

We have released the local market through a series of reforms, but it still takes time to cultivate, which is far from meeting the actual needs of our industrial and commercial development.

Using diplomatic means to establish a business circle headed by Austria will greatly promote domestic economic development and accelerate our industrialization process.

By including the Kingdom of Naples, the Papal State, Tuscany, Bavaria, Wurttemberg and other regions into the economic circle, we will form a large market of 67 million people and become the largest economy on the European continent.

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Bringing the Italian state and Southern Germany to form the largest economy on the European continent is not only economical, it can also consolidate Austria's position as the hegemon of southern Europe.

By the way, it can also hit the rising Kingdom of Prussia, the establishment of a business circle with Austria as the core, and the German Customs Union has survived.

Because of transportation, even if the Prussians were to join the new economy, they would not be able to reach the Italian region. Before the railway was connected, the cost of transportation alone would make their products uncompetitive.

The new market is out of reach, but the original German market will face the impact of Austrian commodities. The current Kingdom of Prussia is not the Kingdom of Prussia two decades later. Manufacturing has no advantage over Upper Austria.

Although the plan is good, it is not easy to implement it.The first is to convince everyone that a common economy is good for them.

Regardless of any alliance, interests are the best link.The economic circle dominated by Austria is obviously in the interest of Austria, but it is not necessarily the case for these joining countries.

The Austrian Industrial Revolution needs to draw blood from the outside world, at least in the primary stage is essential, no one can deny this.

Only in the later period can we use the high value-added products to make a profit under the guise of trade balance, and make the appearance more attractive.

Metternich objected: "Mr. Karl, your plan is indeed very good, but unfortunately the success rate of this plan is too low.

Whether it is the State of Italy or the State of Southern Germany, once exploited too much, they will change jobs, Austria is not their only choice."

These small countries are following Austria for the benefit. If Austria cannot protect their interests, it is not bad to change a boss.

Do n’t talk about loyalty between countries, it does n’t exist.There is no betrayal, it is because the betrayal chips are not enough.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Karl explained with confidence: "But Austria is their best choice! The common economy is indeed the one that we get the most from, but this does not mean that they will be totally unprofitable.

At least a part of the people who cooperate with us can obtain greater benefits. If the ruling class is turned into this interest group, then everything is not a problem.

As long as we can control this degree, the people at the bottom will not feel it. For example, the German Customs Union, did the people not resist the Kingdom of Prussia?

Once the industrial revolution is completed, with technical advantages, we can also promote commercial balanced trade and further hide this wealth plunder."

Franz's heart was shocked, this is to support the comprador class.

The industrial sprouts of the Italian region are to the north, the central and southern regions are blank, and the capitalist economy has not yet developed. The Southern German region is not much better. The economic development is also slow, and the market is flooded with goods from the Kingdom of Prussia.

Now Austria wants to establish an economic circle. For the ruling classes of these states, there is no harm to their interests. On the contrary, we can achieve a win-win situation through cooperation.

"What about the attitude of the other powers? If we promote this plan, will it create an uncontrollable diplomatic situation?" Felix asked concernedly.

Metternich got up and wandered a few steps indoors before giving the answer.

"It's not a big problem. The above areas are our traditional sphere of influence. We haven't crossed the border. The reaction of the powers will not be too intense.

Not long ago, British Foreign Secretary Palmerston visited Vienna, and we also redefined the sphere of influence of everyone in the Italian region. Even if the British are dissatisfied, there is no reason to interfere.

On the Russian side, we can still get support, and the tsarist government will not care about these small problems.

The French were overwhelmed, and Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte used disgraceful means in order to be elected president, and the Republicans would not convince him.

The Republican-led cabinet and the parliament and the president are working against each other. For a long time in the future, the French can do nothing.

It is estimated that the Prussians will strongly oppose, but their opinions are optional and unable to stop our actions."

"The British have no reason to interfere". This is a joke. Franz prefers to believe that the British have no power to interfere, or that they have no interest in taking action regardless of everything.

In this era, the British Empire did not lack a market. As the only industrial country, plus the broadest colonial market, their lives were too comfortable.

British investment in Italy is mainly concentrated in the Kingdom of Sardinia, and there are Lombardy and Venice. Few merchants will be foolish about what they want for investment, there is no southern Italy.

The Italian states are still feudal dynasties, and the commercial market is dispensable to John Bull, and it is not worth turning over with Austria for this.

With the support of the Russians, even if the British were opposed, it would be useless.Before the Crimean War, the British had not yet been recognized as the hegemonic status, at least Austria did not recognize it.

The attitude of the Kingdom of Prussia is not enough to fear Austria. Now they have not unified Germany, and they are not the coveted Second Empire of later generations.

The Kingdom of Prussia in 1848 had a population of only 13 million, less than 40% of Austria, and the total economy was about half of Austria.(Remarks: Total economic volume is not equal to industry)

"What about Spain?" Franz asked with concern.

Other European countries can ignore it, but Spain ’s attitude cannot be ignored. Spain ’s influence in the Kingdom of Naples is not weak, or even greater.

Spain is not the age of the Habsburg dynasty, it is now the age of Isabel II of the Bourbon dynasty, and their attitude must also be taken into account.

Metternich explained: "Your Majesty, according to the information we have, there are serious contradictions within the Kingdom of Spain, and revolutions are possible at any time.

We just established a business alliance and did not harm their interests. The Spanish government is unlikely to interfere."

Franz nodded, isn't it the most routine operation to pinch the soft persimmon, as long as Austria does not annex the Kingdom of Naples, the Spaniards can accept it.

Besides, at the current industrial level in Spain, there are really not many industrial products exported to the Kingdom of Naples.

"Mr. Karl, if we expand the market in this way, can the domestic industry and commerce keep up with it? If we can't seize the market in the first place, if we train a group of competitors, we will be disgraceful." Prime Minister Felix asked frowning Tao

Do n’t joke about others, the Austrian industry in this era is not well developed.In southeastern Europe, it is at a developed level, and it is far worse than the British, that is, it is a bit worse than the French.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, you can rest assured that our Ministry of Industry can guarantee to beat any competitor!" Industry Minister Kaschin-Kubek said confidently

His self-confidence is based on the premise of the initial success of establishing a state-owned enterprise system. Compared with the pursuit of benefits by private enterprises, the strategic goal of state-owned enterprises is to complete the industrial revolution as soon as possible, and the profits are all floating.

The Austrian government did not draw blood from enterprises, and now the profits generated by these enterprises are naturally invested in technological innovation and expansion of production.

Because the damage caused by the war to industry and commerce has now been restored, Austria's manufacturing industry is rapidly climbing.

This speed is not the limit, as long as the government is willing to throw money on it, it can continue to increase.

This is what Franz expected, no matter how the later generations attacked the state-owned system, but in the stage of primitive capital accumulation, the state-owned economy played an active role.

As long as the management of the enterprise has not rotted, state-owned enterprises with many advantages are definitely more effective than private enterprises.

The Soviet Union is the best example. It developed by leaps and bounds in a short time and built a huge empire.

As for the issue of late decline, Franz was completely dismissive.If you want to decline, you have to rise first.There are no problems, why do you want to go so far?

It's a big deal to wait until the state-owned economy is gone, and then carry out economic transformation.Anyway, Austria is not just a state-owned economy, and private enterprises are also developing.

After the industrial revolution is completed, the non-profitable light industry enterprises will be sold out one after another, and the government will control the industries that are related to the people's livelihood.

Seeing that everyone has no doubts, Franz said: "If you have no doubts, then establish a business circle plan with Austria as the core, and start voting now. Please raise your hands if you agree.

A democratic vote is not an innovation of Franz. It has already existed in Europe. He just learned the advanced experience of his predecessors.

Austria is eligible to participate in decision-making are senior officials above ministers, the main purpose is to check and balance power.

Franz is not a power-loving person. Most of his government affairs were thrown to the cabinet. In order to avoid being overhead, he added a democratic vote to the government expansion meeting.

Officials above the ministerial level are appointed and removed by the king personally, and under normal circumstances it is impossible to be bought off.They are all candidates for cabinet ministers. While accepting the leadership of the cabinet, they also divided the rights of the cabinet.