Holy Roman Empire

The power revolution is not just about lighting. Some small appliances without much technical content have also begun to emerge.

For example: an electric fan is one of the accidental products, and the inventor is a skilled worker.

The reason is still to cool the equipment. He dislikes the use of mechanical fans and wants to make a fan that does not require human operation.

As soon as the clever machine moved, an iron piece was added to the motor. After the power was connected, the blades quickly turned, and the earliest electric fan was born.

Originally, Franz thought that another great scientist was born. After investigation, it was found that this is an ordinary skilled worker.Apart from accidentally inventing the electric fan, I have no talent for scientific research.

Realistic cases once again prove that technological inventions are full of coincidence.There are many similar cases. Many practical technological inventions are made by ordinary people.

This strengthened Franz's determination to increase hands-on skills in education, so from 1871 on, Austrian students had another practical class.

It's like a paragraph in the later generations: the real schoolmaster is to be able to build a nuclear reactor in his garage.

This kind of talent is what Austria needs most.At the forefront of the technological revolution, Austria now has no object to copy, and the original cottage empire now has to carry out independent innovation.

In this regard, Franz rarely intervenes. A country that wants to be truly powerful must have the ability to independently develop forward, instead of being led by his emperor.

The results of the previous life can certainly be used to take fewer detours, but for a country, this can only be used as an aid.Once it becomes dependent, it is a disaster.

Usually Franz just mentions the needs, and how to achieve them is the scientist's business.Success is good, but failure is no problem. Scientific research has never been smooth, and it is impossible not to go through wind and rain.

Of course, this is also related to the scum properties of Franz ’s previous life.As an ordinary person, I have always just enjoyed the convenience brought by technology. Who cares about how these technological products are made?

Based on a little knowledge seen on the Internet, it's okay not to take it out.If it comes out, it will be bad.

The economic conference is continuing. At this time, everyone is discussing how to promote the popularization of electric power technology.In summary, there are two points:

One is to reduce taxes on enterprises engaged in the power industry, in this way, reduce the operating costs of power companies;

The second is to reduce the price of raw materials, or lower the price of copper and rubber, thereby reducing the cost of electricity promotion.

The method is so rude, not so much technical content.The first problem faced by any new technology is cost.

Only when the cost is within the controllable range can it have economic value; only if it has the economic value first can it be promoted in the market.

It has been many years since the birth of electricity, why has it begun to be promoted now?It is not because of the birth of high-power generators, which has reduced the cost of power generation to the market.

At present, only one hundred kilograms of coal is needed to burn electricity. If it is high-calorie coal, this consumption is even smaller, and the cost is already within the market's acceptance.

Looking at the controversy, Franz couldn't help but want to speak.But he resisted it, and during the intermission, Franz summoned the prime minister alone.

Austria is not short of coal. In terms of reserves, it is only the Russian Empire in the European continent, which is a big site benefit.However, the quality of these coals is hard to say.

"Prime Minister, I suddenly discovered a problem. Most domestic coal mines are lignite. These coals can be used to fire or generate electricity, but they can't be used to make steel.

Now the domestic demand for steel products is increasing day by day, and the future demand for bituminous coal will also increase sharply. For the sake of long-term development, it is now necessary for us to subdivide the types of industrial coal used."

(Remarks: There is only a small amount of coking coal in nature, which can be directly used for steelmaking, most of which are produced after bituminous coal processing)

After thinking about it, Prime Minister Felix shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry about it! The domestic coal reserves are still quite abundant. At the current consumption rate, even if it lasts for 500 years, it will be enough.

Although the bituminous coal reserves for steelmaking are not too high, that is enough.Even if the demand for steel has increased tenfold, these coals have been used for hundreds of years, and there is still such a long time, we are now considering these issues too early.

There are still many issues involved in compulsory industrial coal classification.Many areas that produce bituminous coal have to purchase lignite from the outside world at high prices, which increases the cost of industrial production and is not conducive to economic development."

This is a real problem, and if coal classification is mandatory, you will have to face this economic problem.

In this era, the demand for coal resources is not too large, and the energy problem has not entered the public's attention.

Moreover, do n’t look at the fact that iron and steel are often linked together. In fact, “steel making” and “iron making” use coal differently.

Austria now produces more than 6 million tons of steel every year. In fact, more than 6 million tons are iron in the first place, and only hundreds of thousands of tons in the back are steel.

Steel production is so low, the demand for bituminous coal is naturally low.Even if it is increased tenfold, the actual steel output is only a few million tons, and at this point, the steel can't consume much coal.

Franz began to hesitate. The actual situation seems to be beyond expectations. The bituminous coal reserves in Austria are not too high, but the industrial demand is smaller.

After a little thought, Franz decided to continue to promote industrial coal classification, but the method has changed a bit and is not so radical.

This is not a matter of course, but a decision that Franz made after careful consideration.He believes that Austria's future demand for steel will rise rapidly, and perhaps this demand will exceed 10 million tons by the end of this century.

Then the demand for bituminous coal will also increase accordingly. If it is successfully obtained in the Rhineland region and has the coal resources of the Ruhr region before then, there is naturally no shortage of coal.

But there are always accidents. If something happens in the middle, Austria will get a coal mine in the Ruhr area in a short time. Can the domestic production of bituminous coal meet the demand?

No one can answer this question.In this case, of course, Franz is planning ahead.Even if it is done useless work, it is better than when it is needed, and it is found that the supply of high-quality bituminous coal is insufficient.

After the power of nine bulls and two tigers was abolished, Franz persuaded Prime Minister Felix.Perhaps Felix now feels that this is mediocrity, only accepted by the emperor's face.

It doesn't matter, Franz only focuses on results.As long as the goal is achieved, it does not matter that the process is somewhat tortuous.

The content of the conversation between the two is naturally unknown.Because of this episode, the intermission of the meeting was extended.

Both the emperor and the prime minister were absent, and the meeting was naturally unable to proceed.This is similar to an ordinary meeting. You must wait for important leaders to be present before you can start.

The staff was very discerning, and delivered coffee, pastries, and the newspaper just issued today during the break.

Perhaps it was because it was not good for so many people to wait. After about twenty minutes, the two entered the meeting room and the meeting continued.

Towards the end of the meeting, Prime Minister Felix said sadly:

"Don't forget, you need to use coal for power generation. Although there is a lot of domestic coal production, we must also give priority to steelmaking.

In the future, domestic demand for steel will usher in a surge.Among domestic coal production, more than 80% is lignite, and bituminous coal production suitable for steel making is less than 20%, of which high-quality coal is less than 5%.

It is now necessary to introduce an energy law to ensure the safety of coal used in steelmaking.Of course, this cannot be forced by administrative means, mainly relying on economic means to regulate market supply.

In general, the most suitable coal for steelmaking is used in steelmaking, so as to produce the best quality steel, and let the remaining ordinary coal flow into the market."

It can be seen that Prime Minister Felix is ​​not so petitioning.Of course, this is limited to Franz. In different people's eyes, the answer is different.Many officials directly understand that this is "anxiety" because they only have this expression because they are worried about this issue.

This statement is still far-fetched, but it is more acceptable than Franz's statement.It is basic common sense that only the highest quality coal can produce the highest quality steel.

The adjustment of economic means is very simple and rude. The Vienna government also has a similar successful experience, which is to increase taxes on high-quality coal.

If these high-quality coal flows into steel mills to make steel, then tax rebates will be applied; if they flow into other fields, they will naturally not be eligible for tax rebates.

The benefits of doing so are very obvious, is to increase the price of high-quality coal.The higher the price, the lower the market competitiveness, at least the power plants will not buy these high-quality coal.

Stimulated by interests, the capitalists will adjust the market by themselves.The only problem is regulation, and they cannot be allowed to evade taxes.

In contrast, this is a small problem.There are two concepts of law and no law. Even if it is secretly tax evasion, it is only a small scale.

Only a small number of participants can be kept confidential.If the scale is increased, it will be difficult to escape the supervision of the tax authorities.

Moreover, even if coal sellers are willing to take risks, people who buy coal are not necessarily willing?

Even if it is tax evasion, the price of high-quality coal cannot be lower than that of ordinary coal-burning. For many people, the difference is not that great, but it is very risky.

Even if you ca n’t catch it, the consequences will be serious once you get caught.It's a common thing to be fined and ruined. It's not uncommon for you to go to prison and reflect on it.

The proposal of Prime Minister Felix was not small, but it was barely approved at the meeting.Franz ’s little action clearly said that the emperor supported the proposal.

Throwing this issue out at the economic conference is actually to share the pressure.By convention, the contents of all high-level meetings in Austria are kept secret.

Officials attending the meeting cannot possibly announce to the outside world: I am against the law.All have become laws, and where an official is qualified to object, all he can do is comply.

It is not clear to the outside world how loud the opposition is in the government, which will make many people misjudge.The grievances of the profit-impaired will be borne by everyone.

There are too many officials involved, but no one dares to be a demon.This policy has no effect on ordinary people. They have always been loyal users of cheap coal.

Except for the coal boss, it is almost unaffected.After all, the government regulates only the best part of bituminous coal without affecting the interests of others.

If you want to talk about losses, it is also Franz ’s biggest loss.Unconsciously, he has become the largest coal supplier in Austria.

This was the benefit of buying and buying. The railway had not been repaired, and the mines in the old forests of the mountains were not worth much.

However, with the completion of the major railway plan, there are now railways in every city in Austria, and the original traffic problem is no longer a problem.

The transportation problem is solved, and the minerals can be transported out. This has made many mines buried in the mountains and forests also economically valuable, and mining tycoons have thus developed.

Franz doesn't care about the loss at this point. After all, this policy still has a beneficiary-the iron and steel enterprise, which has left-handed and right-handed problems.

The losses in the coal mine were recovered from the iron and steel enterprises. In the dark, he also invested in heavy industry.

This is the terrible point of the consortium, with a complete industrial chain, and its ability to resist risks far exceeds that of ordinary enterprises.

Today, a huge royal consortium has lurked in Austria.If all the assets in it are exposed, it will be enough to shame all the consortia in the world.

Obviously, this is impossible to expose. The deeper the cards are, the better.Although the royal consortium is irrelevantly connected, it actually exists in several parts, or several consortia exist.

Franz only remotely controlled in secret, these separate consortiums also have a large group of allies, forming a community of interests.

On the bright side, some financial groups are still opposed to each other, often fighting for interests.To say that they are a family, even if they put the evidence in front of them, it is estimated that few people will believe it.

This is still a beginning. With the rise of emerging industries, these consortia will continue to grow like snowballs in the future, increasing Franz's control of the country.