Holy Roman Empire

Palais Royal

Napoleon III did not dare to ask confidently: "Auvergne, are you sure that the Vienna government is really willing to join us in leading the canal plan, rather than deliberately making trouble?"

Foreign Minister Auvergne replied affirmatively: "Your Majesty, the Government of Vienna should be sincere, and they are willing to fund and dig the Grand Canal with us.

No one will joke tens of millions of francs, as long as they invest money in the Canal Company, they will support us for their own benefit.

Only the Austrians have always been conservative, and they are worried that according to our plan, the final traffic volume will not meet the demand, so they asked to increase the depth of the canal design by four meters."

Napoleon III rubbed his forehead and asked: "I remember the design depth of the Canal Company is nine meters. The world's largest ship can be freely navigable. Are the Austrians still not enough?

Don't they know that every additional meter will increase huge investment?The increase of four meters now means that the budget will be greatly increased."

The Suez Canal's planned funding is 200 million francs, a figure that is already challenging the affordability of investors.Before the canal was opened, no one knew that this golden waterway would be so profitable.

Now most people do n’t think that the Suez Canal can be profitable. After all, there are free waterways to go, and the Suez Canal charges cannot be too high.

With such a high investment, no one can guarantee how long it will take to recover the cost.Capitalists naturally have little interest in such long-term investment projects with uncertain returns.

Auvergne explained: "We have communicated with the Vienna government many times on this issue. But they are thinking more about strategic value, which is related to the emergence of the armored ship.

The Government of Vienna believes that the tonnage of ships is about to rise sharply. The newly established Royal Shipyard in Austria is already building 10,000-ton freighters.

It is said that a designer has increased the tonnage design of the ship to 20,000 tons.The Vienna government believes that the future mainstream ships will exceed 20,000 tons, technically speaking, the problem is not too big.

The Government of Vienna believes that the tonnage of warships will also be greatly increased. If investment is saved now and there is insufficient future traffic, the strategic value of this canal will no longer exist."

Napoleon III was lost in contemplation. The arrival of the armored ship, the keel that restricts the size of the ship is no longer a problem. In theory, a large increase in ship tonnage is inevitable.

But the ship is not the bigger the better, but also needs to consider the market demand.The million-ton giant ship of the later generations was useless in this era, and there was not so much goods loaded inside.

However, the giant ship of 10,000 tons is already competitive during this period. At least Austria needs such a big guy to export agricultural products.

Navy Secretary Dick said: "Your Majesty, strategically, the Suez Canal's traffic volume is indeed the greater the better.

If Austria joins, the capital for the Grand Canal will be shared between the two of us, and the problem is not too great.Even if the private sector is unable to raise funds, we can still invest in the government."

There is no doubt that the Paris government's plan for the Suez Canal is also a strategic value that exceeds the economic value, otherwise they will not make a profit.

After hesitating for a while, Napoleon III said boldly: "Add it, and since Austrians dare to invest so much, we have no reason to be afraid!"

The strategic vision of the French in this era is really not bad. The Suez Canal and the Panama Canal were the first ones they carried out. Unfortunately, they have not been able to hold it.

...

On May 10, 1858, France and Austria signed the "Suez Canal Cooperation Letter."The treaty stipulates that the two countries will each invest half of the capital to dig the Grand Canal, with the French as the initiator country holding 51% of the shares and Austria with 49% of the shares.

There is nothing to say about this. The initial investment in France for the Suez Canal is not small, and dominance is inevitable.

As the design changes, the canal ’s budget has also increased to 340 million francs.Franz dismissed this amazing figure, not to mention 340 million francs, even 540 million francs may not be enough.

Of course, there are free labor, the construction cost is still saved by more than half, and the final cost is not clear to Franz.

After all, the two countries are now joining forces, and they will not be forced to abandon the use of slave labor in the later period because of the British destruction, thereby greatly increasing the construction cost.

Looking at the agreement in his hand, Franz said with a smile: "Hurry the French and let them start work as soon as possible."

Since joining the canal plan, it is naturally impossible to rub it up like the French in history. The Grand Canal was dug up more than ten years ago.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Metternich replied

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Karl, asked: "Your Majesty, are we investing in Canal companies to learn from the French and raise shares in the capital market?"

The Suez Canal is a profitable investment, but only a few people can see this.

In the eyes of most people, this is a long-term investment with unknown returns, and is not so favored in the capital market.

Historically, the Suez Canal was suspended due to insufficient funds.If it were not for the support of the French government, the canal company would go bankrupt before the canal was dug.

Franz, accustomed to making a fortune and making a fortune, would naturally not shout that the whole world knows that others are reluctant to invest, and he just picked up the bargain.

Taking into account the dangers of eating solitary food, Franz decided to let the government be at the front, otherwise the future financial resources will be rolled into the royal family's pockets, which is easy to cause criticism.

"The economic crisis has not passed, and the market's affordability is limited. The government subscribes for half, and the remaining stock is put into the market for circulation."

There is no doubt that all stocks in circulation are subject to dividend rights, and voting rights are still in the hands of the Vienna and Paris governments.

The inflection point occurred in history. The Suez Canal, which was originally dominated by private capital, is now full of strong political significance.

London

France and Austria jointly excavated the Suez Canal, which had a huge impact on the British government's railway plan. After all, the cost of water transportation is lower.

Once the Suez Canal is open to navigation, the geographical advantage of the British will decline, and the road between France and Austria into the Indian Ocean is closer than the British Isles.

Prime Minister Granville was concerned not only about the Grand Canal, but also about the improvement of the relationship between France and Austria, which made the London government uncomfortable.

Unlike in history, the Russians have not lost European hegemony. Both France and Austria are only potential competitors, and they have not reached the point where they are directly competing for hegemony.

Without sufficient interests, the two governments will naturally restrain each other.Now Austria is much stronger than in history, suffered a loss in the Near East War, and the French also became cautious.

"You, the relationship between France and Austria is heating up, which has a huge impact on our European balance strategy. What is your opinion?"

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Russell said: "Your Excellency, you are too sensitive.

France and Austria have cooperated on the Suez Canal. In other places, they still have many conflicts. The possibility of the two countries really joining hands is unlikely."

There is indeed a conflict between France and Austria. For the time being, European hegemony will not be mentioned. On the issue of African colonies alone, the two sides have had many conflicts.

It's just that such a small conflict exists between almost all colonial empires, and it has not risen to the point where the two countries are hostile.

Foreign Minister Thomas analyzed: "Under the Vienna system, the relationship between France and Austria has been very good in the past few decades.

It was not until the February Revolution that relations between the two countries gradually became cold.The breakdown of relations between the two countries was still in the German war of reunification, and now stands together because of common interests.

However, this does not affect our interests. As long as France and Austria have the ambition to contend for Europe, the relationship between the two countries will break sooner or later.

Even the now-close Russian-Austrian alliance will part ways sooner or later on the issue of continental hegemony. I do n’t believe that the Vienna government has no ambitions."

This is a real problem, and allies are unreliable in the face of interests. Unless the strength of all countries has been kept in balance, sooner or later they will face confrontation.