Holy Roman Empire

Stockholm, since becoming the capital of the Nordic Federation, this ancient city has once again renewed its vitality, "Northern Venice" deserves its name.

The beautiful scenery and unique Nordic style add a special charm to this city, which is endless aftertaste.

No matter how pleasant the beauty is, Philip Francis cannot be moved.As an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire, Francis has always been proud.

However, his so-called arrogance was still defeated by reality.Since accepting this task, he has lost all his energy.

In order to win a new round of the Russo-Prussian War, the tsarist government not only found ways to raise money from the three countries of Britain, France and Austria, but even the Nordic Federation, which was covered with water, did not let go.

Of course, Francis ’s main task is not to raise money, but more to stabilize the Nordic Federation, lest the old opponent stab them at a critical moment.

With the unification of the three Nordic countries, overall national strength is not a problem of 1 + 1 + 1 = 3.After the three countries complement each other, the Nordic Federation has established its own system, and its overall national strength is up to Prussia 20 years ago.

Thinking long ago of the old battle with Sweden for Nordic hegemony, the tsarist government did not dare to underestimate this potential opponent, and ultimately decided to appease the old rival first.

For diplomats, this is undoubtedly a chore.There is no way to not give in to the cruel reality.

Having experienced the last war in person, Francis knew the advantages of the Russian Empire over the Popper Federation, not as great as government propaganda.

To a certain extent, the Nordic Federation already has the power to balance the balance.In order to win this war, the tsarist government has lost its shame.

Not only to appease the Nordic Federation, all the neighbors are the targets of their co-op.Instead of asking these neighbors to support them, just let them be neutral.

With a depressed mood, Francis, the Tsar's special envoy, stepped into the Nordic Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Unlike the last time he came here, he no longer has arrogant capital.

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Francis: "My Excellency, we are very sincere this time. The Russian Empire is willing to use the Finnish region as a mortgage in exchange for a loan of 800 million kronor.

We can make a promise that half of the money in this loan will be used to import your country ’s commodities.The interest is in accordance with the practice of international commercial loans, with an annual interest rate of 6%, and repayment of principal and interest in annual instalments."

The currencies of Denmark, Norway and Sweden are all Kronor, and the currency value is also the same (1 Kronor is about 0.4 grams of gold). After the establishment of the Nordic Federation, there is no need to change the currency name.

"Your Excellency, you are too overestimating us. The Nordic Federation is just a small country, not as rich as your country. Don't say 800 million kronor, even 100 million kronor. We can't get it out." Carla Valenti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nordic Federation Resolutely refused

Francis was not angry, and he was aware of it carefully. When he first heard about Finland as a mortgage, Cara Valenti frowned and quickly covered up the past.

This is an expected thing. After the establishment of the Nordic Federation, the domestic demand for Finland to withdraw gradually increased.

It is unrealistic to recover Finland by force.The Russian Empire cannot be challenged by the Nordic Federation, and the gap between the two sides is too great.

Moreover, there is also a pro-Russian Denmark within the Nordic Federation, which has provoked a war and failed to break this fragile new government, and split it again.

If you take a different approach and take Finland back economically, the situation is quite different.

The Danish government will not refuse Finland's return, a strong Nordic Federation can only help them recapture the lost two principalities.

That's right, the Nordic Federation is a national alliance that compromises with each other.It was established while the Russian empire was in a state of weakness with the support of the great powers.

In this context, when the government conducts internal and foreign affairs, it must also take into account the interests of all parties.For example: Sweden supports Denmark in recovering the two principalities in exchange for Denmark supporting Sweden in recovering Finland.

Of course, the prerequisite is sufficient strength.Although the Nordic Federation is a small country, it also has a historical heritage. With a comfortable natural environment, everyone tends to be conservative in strategy.

In other words: if the strength is enough, the opportunity comes, and the lost ground will be recovered; if the strength is insufficient, then bear with it first!

The Russo-Prussian War was the opportunity they waited for. Oscar II's strategy was: whoever loses will fall to the ground.

This is a very obvious problem.If the Pupo Federation loses, the country will be lost if it fails. Naturally, the actions of the Nordic Federation will not be blocked; the Russian Empire will not lose much of the war, and the Finnish region is definitely unsustainable.

The Tsarist government's willingness to use the Finnish region as a mortgage is also for this reason.Anyway, the war was lost, and finally Finland could not be saved. It is better to use it to stabilize the Nordic Federation first.

Francis: "Your Excellency is too humble. With the economic strength of your country, the 800 million kronor is nothing to say.

As far as I know, your government ’s fiscal revenue this year is as high as 320 million kronor, and the liquidity in the Stockholm financial market alone exceeds 840 million kronor.

Your bank is fully capable to undertake this loan."

About 800 million kronor: 87.43 million Aegis, or 43.715 million pounds.For any country, this is a huge sum of money.

Francis proposed this number, which is also valid.Although Finland is not small in size, it is after all a bitter cold place in Northern Europe.

There are many similar Russians in bad places. If it is not of high strategic value, the tsarist government will not attach such importance.

In this era of weak meat and strong food, the European continent may not be peaceful. Small countries have no sense of security at all, and everyone is as strong as possible.

The Nordic Federation is eyeing Finland. Apart from the nationalist factors, there is still no better choice.

Cara Valentie shook her head: "His Special Envoy, loans need to be considered for risk. Your government's financial situation has always been bad, and there may be a war with the Pupo Federation at any time.

Once the war breaks out, your country's debt repayment ability will definitely be in trouble, and it can only be offset by collateral in the end.

The Finnish region is too barren, and the fiscal revenue is only enough to spend.If there is not enough minerals, just rely on selling wood, how long will it take to recover the cost?

One hundred years, or two hundred years, everyone can't wait that long."

It was no surprise that it was rejected, and even if some talks were half successful, it showed that the Nordic Federal Government was tempted.

Francis's task is to stabilize the Nordic Federation, not really how much to borrow.If you want to raise funds for war, you can only find a way from the three countries of Britain, France, Austria, and France. Other countries are too poor.

After the tentative inquiry failed, Francis resigned and left Carla Valentie secretly having a headache.

Although the stuffed cakes in the sky are good, we should also consider whether they are poisonous.The Russians are not easy to get along with, and if they want to take advantage of them, they can be easily repulsed.

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In the palace, after receiving this good news, Oscar II's first reaction was not surprise, but shock.

After pondering for a while, Oscar II expressed his doubts: "If the Russians won the war, what would they do if they refused to perform?"

No way, the credibility of the Tsarist government is so good.After losing the war, the Russians will definitely fulfill the contract, because they have no money to pay their debts, and they have no strength to protect the Finnish region.

But it ’s different to win the war. Although the tsarist government still has no money to pay the debts, they ca n’t hold them back!

At that time, when the Tsar refused to pay the debt, and refused to hand over the Finnish region, they would be dumbfounded.

Can't you use force to collect debt?

This is only a proprietary method for strong countries to collect debts from weak countries, and weak countries simply cannot work against strong countries.

Foreign Minister Carla Valenti said uncertainly: "It should not be! The tsarist government is raising war funding, not only borrowing money from us, but also borrowing money from Austria.

If the tsarist government breaches the contract ... "

Before he had finished speaking, Count Carla Valenti himself did not believe it.Borrowing money from Austria and borrowing money from the Nordic Union are completely two concepts.

To get rid of Austria ’s debt, the tsarist government must think twice, and must consider the political risks behind it, as well as possible countermeasures taken by the Vienna government.

The Nordic Federation is different.At least Carla Valenti did not find out what countermeasures they could use.

Needless to say, the risk of lending money to the Tsarist government is too great, far exceeding the risk tolerance of the Nordic Federation.

After being silent for a while, Oscar II: "Continue to talk to the Russians, this is an opportunity anyway.

We cannot rely on economic means to take back the Finnish region. We simply cannot refuse it. The most important thing now is to reduce the risk.

Now that the Russians have made a loan request, there must be measures that can reassure us.For example: a third party provides loan guarantees.

If the Tsarist government can persuade one of Anglo-French to provide debt performance guarantees, it is not impossible to consider."

The Tsarist government may not care about credibility, that is their own credibility is not good.The three countries of Britain, France and Austria are different. The economic credibility of the three countries is a bar, but it can not be bought for only 800 million kronor.

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