Chapter 24 After joining the alliance
Vienna, Lion's Pride Hotel.
Unlike the Caesar Hotel, which is filled with aristocratic atmosphere, the layout of the Lion's Pride is very simple, giving people a simple and light feeling, with only a few porcelain as embellishments.
Austrians like to decorate their rooms with porcelain to show their wealth and taste.
In the past, porcelain was very expensive in Europe, which was definitely the best reflection of financial resources and strength.
There are several bands in the hotel taking turns playing for guests, and the lion statue in front of the door is the hotel's signature.
In a VIP room, Friedrich List was repeatedly counting his share. One million florins, although it was still unredeemable banknotes, still made him ecstatic.
This was the first time that he felt the benefits of power, but Count Korolaf's words always lingered in his ears, making him unable to sleep or eat well.
“Metternich was a sanctimonious beast who enjoyed all the benefits of power, but always asked his secret police to investigate the corruption of officials. Once discovered, they did not report it to the emperor, but used it as a blackmail to suck out the bones and marrow. "
Friedrich List had already seen several officials being arrested and dragged away by the secret police like dead dogs. They came back in rags and in a daze.
Is Metternich now sending someone to keep an eye on him, trying to get some money from him? This made Friedrich List sleepless and uneasy.
After all, in Friedrich List's eyes, all the money he had earned with his own hard work could be taken away from him at any time, which made him both frightened and angry.
He thought that he would just do what Count Korolaf said and bring down Metternich.
This way, they can sit back and relax.
In another room, Count Korolaf was drinking with Count Latour.
"Didn't you say that the situation is still unclear, so don't fall into it? Why did you fall into it first? One or two million is not enough to build a railway." Count Latour spoke first.
"What a joke. Once a gambler, always a gambler. As a gambler, how can you not take a gamble when you see such an opportunity." Korolaf replied with a smile.
"Then what is your choice? You have to choose this route that no one wants. The Semmering area is full of high mountains, but no one has built a railway in the mountains, let alone a canyon." Count Latour asked.
"I didn't ask you to invest, why do you care?"
"I know Trieste is important, but it's too hasty now."
"How likely do you think I am to succeed?" Count Korolaf asked.
"Twenty percent at most," Count Latour replied.
"Twenty percent, that's not bad for a gambler. You must know that there is a commonly used gambling tool in the East called a dice, and it has six sides, that is, six possibilities." Count Korolav gestured at the shape of the famous dice.
"But why can't you wait any longer? At least you need an experienced engineer." Count Tural continued.
"There must be the first person to eat the wolf peach." Count Korolaf replied calmly.
Wolf peach, also known as tomato, was once considered a highly poisonous food.
It was discovered in the 16th century, and it was not until the 18th century that a painter who was not afraid of death took a bite and found that it was not as poisonous as the legend said, but instead increased his appetite.
At this point, the wolf peach has completed its transformation from an ornamental plant to a food.
"But what is this for?" Count Latour asked in confusion.
"I am a corrupt criminal. No one in the entire Austrian Empire is more greedy than me except that old bastard Metternich. I have made profit for myself and my family. Now it is time to make profit for the country." Korolav The count said confidently.
"Very well, come on, I respect you, the corrupt criminal." Count Latour smiled and raised his glass.
"To the Empire." Count Korolaf also raised his glass.
On the other side of Vienna, the Caesar Hotel.
"It's just a bandit!" Solomon Rothschild was in extreme anger. He raised an expensive piece of porcelain, raised it high and put it down gently, picked a cheap plate, and threw it to the ground.
There was a crisp sound, and the porcelain plate was smashed to pieces.
Several fragments fell onto Metternich's leather shoes, but Prince Metternich ignored the fragments.
"Solomon, as I said, His Majesty will not allow anyone to take away his basket," Metternich said.
"Damn it! Where's my money! He's not an emperor, he's just a bandit and a scoundrel. Did my fifteen hundred gold bars just go down the drain?" Solomon Rothschild roared.
"Solomon, you should know that he is the emperor."
"So what! I am Solomon Rothschild!" Solomon roared angrily.
"Solomon, for the sake of our many years of friendship, let me remind you that this country belongs to His Majesty, and you and I are both his subjects." Metternich's tone was cold.
Like cold water poured over his head, Solomon immediately sobered up.
Then he broke out in a cold sweat. He had dominated the financial world of the Austrian Empire for many years. All bankers in Austria followed his lead. Whether they were the emperor or ministers, or major national projects, they could not do without his support.
However, since the Austrian Empire joined the German Zollverein, North German bankers have poured into Austria like crazy.
Solomon Rothschild could ask his brothers in Frankfurt not to lend money to the Austrian Empire. But there was no way to stop the profit-seeking North German financiers.
With the capital injection from North Germany, Austria's debt problem has been greatly alleviated.
Moreover, mainstream bankers are unanimously optimistic about the future of Austria joining the German Zollverein and have jumped on this big ship full of holes.
The Austrian Empire has begun to solve the debt problem, and one of the ways to solve the debt problem is to solve the creditors.
Just like King Philip IV of France did to the Knights Templar, once and for all.
Moreover, it was rumored that Emperor Franz II used a sword to force Prince Elthazy to submit in the palace, thereby occupying his family property.
Arresting a Jewish banker seemed like nothing if he could commit such crazy behavior.
As for the charges, they are not even needed against Prince Elthazy, let alone him, a Jew.
At this time, the reputation of the Jews was very bad, and cases of persecution of Jews were not uncommon in European countries.
Not to mention Russia, Austria also had many expulsions of Jews in its history.
It's just that Francis II was notoriously weak, so people forgot his existence.
Thinking of this, Solomon Rothschild made an action that he had never done in his life. He bent down and took out a handkerchief to clean Prince Metternich's leather shoes.
"Your Excellency, forgive me for being reckless. His Majesty the Emperor, just use the money if you need it. You can pay it back at any time. I won't charge any interest. Please consider our friendship over the years." Solomon said very seriously. sincere.
"I have good news to tell you. His Majesty has specially approved a route from Prague to Bavaria for you."
Now any route that can involve the German Customs Union is a good route, and Solomon naturally knows this. He said quickly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, and God bless our Emperor Franz II."
"I have one more thing to do."
"What's up."
"Your Majesty said, settle the balance."