Holy Roman Empire

St. Petersburg Winter Palace

The contract for the arms trade between Russia and Austria has already appeared on the desk of Nikolai I. The loan was blocked together, and the Austrian government proposed the issuance of debt documents.

Nicholas I had no comments on the purchase of the weapons production line and gave instructions directly on the documents.

The gap between the Russian military industry and European countries is huge, and it is not something that can be compensated in the short term. Buying production lines is the only option to close the gap in the short term.

Nicholas I asked: "Austria proposes to issue bonds, what do you think?"

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Stanley Rhode, analyzed: "Your Majesty, this is probably very troublesome. We have not issued bonds, but the previous bonds have been cold in the capital market.

Now if you want to sell bonds, in addition to the Austrian proposal to use collateral, you must also have high enough interest to be able to get the capital to sleep.

This will greatly increase our financial costs. Previously, we only received a 0.2% monthly interest rate on loans from Austria. If we issue bonds, I am afraid it will increase significantly.

The military expenditure of this war has far exceeded our expectations. If we increase the financial cost, our financial pressure will be very great in the future."

The tsarist government did not consider that the British and French would send troops directly, and all the battle plans were singled out with the Ottoman Empire.

According to the original plan, they had the power of the Black Sea, the Russian army could obtain supplies at sea, the logistical pressure was greatly reduced, and the strength of the Russian army that could be invested in the Balkan Peninsula was greatly increased.

Theoretically, the Russian army with sufficient advantages can defeat the Ottoman Empire in 1852, end the war in the Balkan Peninsula in 1853, and then proceed to attack the Asia Minor Peninsula in two ways.

As a result, the plan could not keep up with the rapid changes, and the British and French wars disrupted their deployment.From the beginning of the war, control was lost, and military expenditures increased substantially.

Nicholas I continued to ask: "Is it possible to continue to obtain low-interest loans from the Austrian government?"

Foreign Minister Carl Worsell replied: "Your Majesty, if there is no problem with small loans, it would be impossible to obtain a one-time loan of 200 million rubles.

Although Austria did not directly reject our loan, they clearly pointed out that the amount of funds was too large to exceed their affordability.

After our human analysis, the Austrian government has the ability to raise huge sums of money, but this will affect their domestic development. Unless we pay a big price, it is impossible."

200 million rubles is an astronomical figure, which is equivalent to one year of revenue of the Russian Empire.Under normal circumstances, the Austrian government does not have this financial resources.

But the situation is different now. Russian loans do not need to take away real money. All loans are used in Austria, and the money has not left Austria.

The money did not flow into the market all at once, but first lay in the accounts of Austrian banks, and slowly flowed into the market through the purchase of materials.

Because of taxation, a large part of the funds have returned to the Austrian government. In fact, much less money has to be paid.

For example, the purchase of one million commodities, the first round of transaction tax, value-added tax, corporate tax, customs duties, etc., the government will receive two or three hundred thousand; the second round of raw material suppliers will also have to pay payment Taxes, value added tax, corporate tax and other taxes are estimated to add up to tens of thousands.

Because this business has also promoted the development of transportation and the surrounding catering industry, it will also generate taxes.After the capitalists make a profit and the workers get their wages, they have to consume, and consumption drives the development of other industries. These are all taxes.

This is just the simplest circulation of commodities. In fact, the industrial circulation system is more responsible than this.Few companies buy raw materials directly, and they can turn them into industrial finished products for sale.

Most industries are in three or more rounds, in which funds are returned to the government's finances through taxation.In fact, the amount of money the Austrian government needs to pay for this loan is only half of it or even less.

Without these advantages, the powers of Britain and France would not be keen on loan sharking by relying on only a few points of interest.

Furthermore, through loans to speed up the circulation of goods between the two countries, it gradually penetrates into all industries in a country, especially the financial industry, which is the most vulnerable to penetration.

Nicholas I thought about it and said, "Because of interest? We can pay according to internationally accepted standards. Even if it is higher, it doesn't matter. Anyway, there will be no bond interest."

Foreign Minister Carl Worsell replied: "Your Majesty, I am afraid it is not a question of interest. The Austrians did not make a request to increase interest, it should be due to financial difficulties.

The Austrian government attaches great importance to domestic economic development and will not interrupt domestic economic development for a little interest.Unless we make substantial political concessions, they will not withdraw the money."

Nicholas I nodded. The countries are very realistic. Even allies cannot sacrifice their own interests to help.

If it is only for a few points of interest, it is necessary to sacrifice domestic economic development, and everyone knows how to choose.

"Austrian loans cannot be waived, and you can count as much as you can. The Ministry of Finance has developed a plan to issue bonds, not only in Austria, but also in all European countries.

I don't know when this war will end. Now the government needs to raise funds as much as possible, and higher interest rates are acceptable."

Nicholas I was a smart man and did not continue to increase domestic war taxes.

Historically, the Russians were boycotted by major European powers and were unable to raise funds from the international capital market before they were forced to search the country.

The consequences of tax increase are also very serious. After the defeat of the Crimean War, the foundation of the Tsarist government was shaken.

After the war, Nicholas I, who was in good health, died suddenly. Most historians believe that he committed suicide by taking poison. He used his death to bear the responsibility for the failure of the war, and gave the outside world an explanation to stabilize the rule of the tsarist government.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The Minister of Finance replied

...

How did Nicholas I die? Franz couldn't figure out exactly. In short, his death completely deteriorated the relationship between Russia and Austria.

Whether in terms of personal feelings or national interests, Franz hopes that Nicholas I will live for a hundred years.

Nicholas I has a good character and is a good ally. The tsarist government he leads is still credible.

And the longer he lived, the later the tsarist government reformed serfdom and the more difficult the reform.

An ally without threat is a good ally. After recalling historical data, Franz had to be glad to catch up with the good times.

If no accidents occur, the future generations of Russian tsars will be more peaceful, which means that Austria ’s back will be safe for decades to come.

The Russians are preparing to issue bonds, and Franz is also preparing to issue bonds. The money will never be too much.Especially during the war, it is necessary to reserve more ammunition.

Unlike the Russians who rely on high interest to attract capital purchases, Franz is prepared to take advantage of the national patriotism.

In order to support the Prussians to recover the two principalities in the north, everyone can donate tens of millions of dongs. Now for the reunification of the German region, everyone must be more active.

"Unified bonds", Franz did not add the German word in front, mainly to take care of other nationalities in the country.If possible, he did not mind adding — Holy Roman Empire.

This bond is still being kept secret and will be issued at the same time when the war of reunification is launched.Since it is for national reunification, it is too vulgar to talk about interests.

The annual interest rate of "unified bonds" is only 1%, which can be said to be better than nothing.Even with such low interest rates, Franz still has full confidence in the sale of bonds.

Under his influence, Austrian great German thought still dominated the mainstream, and everyone was still very interested in rebuilding the Holy Roman Empire.

In order to build the foundation of public opinion, the Austrian government in 1851, 1852, for millions of years in the propaganda has smashed millions of shields.

Not only Austria, but all states in the German region are within the scope of propaganda.

"Rebuilding the Holy Roman Empire" has become the hottest topic in the German region. Whether it is supported or opposed, in short this concept has been poured into everyone's mind.

University of Munich

A debate about the future of the German region began here.

Since the predecessor, King Ludwig I, published the declaration that the royal family will strive for the reunification of Germany, it will be legalized to talk about the reunification of the German region.

A series of messy plans can be brought out of the grand German thoughts, the small German thoughts, the division of north and south Germany, and the newly proposed reconstruction of the Holy Roman Empire.

Not only the Kingdom of Bavaria, but many German states can discuss these issues.The government must also express its support. This is the rights and interests of the people of the 1848 Revolution and it is also politically correct.

Simply put, you can support any kind of German regional reunification plan, that is, you cannot oppose German regional reunification.

A supporter of the Shinra faction and a passionate speaker at Christian: "The division of the German region has been too long, and the development model of each state is different. It is very difficult to integrate these regions immediately to build a great empire. easily.

If so, why don't we neutralize it?First rebuild the Holy Roman Empire and gather everyone in the framework of a unified great empire.

For other questions, we can sit down and discuss slowly.If one year is not enough, it is two years, and if it is not ten years, it is twenty years. After a few decades, the German region becomes a whole."

After the secret propaganda of the Austrian government, the people who support the reconstruction of the Holy Roman Empire are very shielded, and even the rulers of certain small states are supporters of this concept.

The Holy Roman Empire is not terrible. This empire has never been truly unified. The major states below do their own thing. The central government only exists in theory and has little binding force on the states.

If unification is really inevitable, such unification can protect their interests to the greatest extent.

There are also those who like to live in peace. The unification of the German region is simple to say, but in fact it is not far from war.

No matter whether it is the Great Germany or the Little Germany, it is necessary to conquer everyone with the army in order to complete the great cause of reunification.

Reconstructing Shinra is much simpler. Everyone will hold a meeting to vote and choose an emperor, and the German region will be unified.

How can everyone's interests be harmed within the country? Each state still has its own play, but it has strengthened exchanges economically.

The German region was unified again, even if it was a nominal unity, this great empire is the most powerful empire in the world.

A young student objected: "This reunification is too slow, and European countries will not give us time to integrate the whole country. The emergence of a unified German empire will immediately be resisted by all countries.

Even under the siege of various countries, only when the German region is completely unified and everyone becomes a whole can we defeat the enemy and complete the great rejuvenation of Germany."

As soon as the words fell, others objected: "Don't forget Napoleon's lesson. Any country's vain attempt to confront Europe as a whole is self-defeating.

The current international situation simply does not allow us to complete national reunification step by step.Once signs of unification appear in the German region, European countries are bound to intervene.

The British, the French, the Russians, the Spaniards ... will not look at the unification of the German region, and it is unwise to fight the European continent with one's own strength.

At this time, we must learn to walk step by step.First, unify the small German region. After the integration is completed and the strength is strong, we will unify the entire German region."

Another objected: "Unify the small German region? If so, we might as well divide the North and South German regions.

It is also possible to avoid the joint strikes of the great powers and accumulate strength in order to unify the whole country. Why should we look at the faces of Prussian outbreakers?"

"No, this is splitting the country, not reunifying the country. Whether it is the establishment of the Little Germany or the division of North and South Germany, the end result is the destruction of this empire.

The German divided into two, or our German?The key to our step-by-step is to rebuild the Shinra and build a empire that is nominally unified."

...

Undoubtedly, these messy thoughts spread, and Franz has done a great job.Many of these ideas were tossed out by him.

If you want to achieve the purpose of propaganda, you must not directly say: Austria wants to unify the German region, everyone should unite under the banner of the Habsburg dynasty.

If such propaganda is carried out, it is estimated that it has been suppressed by the governments of various countries just after it started.

Now throwing out the messy unification plan like this, it will dilute the figure of Austria, everyone will think it is spontaneous by the people.

In the eyes of most people, great German thinking and the reconstruction of the Holy Roman Empire theory may all be supported by the Austrian government, and the latter may also mean the German state.

The remaining small German thoughts and the theory of the division of rule in North and South Germany were obviously developed by the Prussians, and these two ideas were most widely spread in Prussia.

True, true, false, true, what is the true political position of the Austrian government?Franz will say that what kind of political proposition is in the interest of Austria, what is the political proposition of the Austrian government.

In the face of interests, national strategies and political ideas can be changed.The reason why it has not changed is because the benefits are not big enough.