Chapter 151 The Brave Man Is Not Alone (Added for book friends who often vote
Chapter 151 The Brave Man Is Not Alone (Additional update for book friends who often vote)
At this time, although European countries had signed a declaration prohibiting the slave trade, the slave trade market was still stable.
As long as there is a market, there will be demand. North and South America are in urgent need of a large number of high-quality slaves, so European merchants continue to transport black slaves from Africa to North and South America to make high profits.
Among them, the most demanding countries are the United States, Texas (French colony), Brazil, and Argentina. Cameroon, Congo, Ethiopia, and the Cape Colony before the arrival of the British were all important during this period. Slave trading center.
(Although there are not many black people in Argentina now, the number of black slaves imported back then was not large at all. At this time, Argentina only had hundreds of thousands of people. In order to increase the labor force, it had to import black slaves.)
If Franz chose to colonize these places at this time, it would be like pulling out a tooth from a tiger's mouth. Not only would he have to deal with powerful local forces, but he would also have to defeat all the major powers in Europe one by one.
Namibia, on the other hand, does not have to worry about any powerful country jumping out to compete with Austria, and the weak indigenous people are even more vulnerable.
Diamonds, gold, and copper, which was very valuable during this period, the vast arable land on the plateau, and the geographical location that was easy to defend but difficult to attack, all were in line with Franz's wishes.
The development of the colony could not be completed overnight, and Franz had more troublesome things now. He felt that he should go to Hungary in person.
The storm in Hungary this time is much more destructive than the storm in history. A large part of the reason for this is that the completion of the Danube Dam-Austria section has further raised the water level of the Danube, and at the same time, the destructive power downstream will be reduced. Become stronger.
Although the devastating floods in Hungary in history were astonishingly destructive, there were only tens of thousands of victims. They were forced to flow into the city out of desperation, and were almost consumed without causing much trouble.
This time, coupled with the help of some nobles in Hungary, the number of victims reached hundreds of thousands.
At the same time, the effect of disaster relief was very poor. Several attempts by hungry victims to rob manors and grain depots were repelled.
According to Franz's estimation, someone must be hoarding or planning something. Franz would not be able to draw conclusions about these things without taking a look and walking around.
The Austrian military is already planning to attack Hungary. Once an uprising breaks out in Hungary, the Austrian army will attack the rebels from three directions, Graz, Galicia, and Transylvania, if Hungary asks for help.
Hungary, Budapest.
No one followed in Széchenyi's footsteps, so he could only accept it and move on.
Szechenyi admired the Austrian Empire's approach to disaster relief very much. He took out a large sum of money from the bank. He wanted to do a major thing that no one had done before - to connect Buda and Pest. Szechenyi Construction of the Chain Bridge officially started.
At the same time, he planned to invest three million florins to strengthen the river embankments to prevent the Danube from changing its course.
Széchenyi did everything he could, but the flood of victims continued like the waters of the Danube.
Not only did many nobles laugh crazily at Széchenyi's behavior, but some unscrupulous businessmen took the opportunity to drive up prices, make unscrupulous money, and watch Count Szechenyi's jokes.
However, he did not despair, but placed his hope on the next generation. He knew that he alone could not save Hungary.
As a result, Széchenyi found his childhood friend, the Hungarian Minister of Education at this time, and asked for a list. He decided to sponsor those Hungarian students who were both good in character and academics, regardless of whether they were nobles or not.
Among them was the Petrovich family, whose house and fields were destroyed by the cold floods, as well as the livestock grazing on the grass. He had lent money to acquaintances and relatives before, but no one was willing to return the money to him after the disaster.
Petrovich was destitute and homeless, and could only live in other people's houses. His son Petofi had to drop out of school and work as a butcher to make ends meet.
Until Count Széchenyi found their family and promised that as long as Petofi could pass the entrance exam to Pest's high school. And if they keep their grades above average, their family will receive a scholarship of three hundred dong per year.
There are many people in Hungary like the Petrovich family, and Széchenyi is deeply in debt as a result.
Drought, floods, and droughts, Count Szechenyi could only lament the impermanence of the world. He did not expect that these disasters would happen one after another. He felt that he needed to go to Vienna again, maybe the royal family would help him.
Mrs. Sophie was opposed to Franz's idea of going to Hungary. She could not understand Franz's approach.
"Do you really believe that old bastard Rauscher called you a born saint? You are a little pervert and can't even walk when you see a beautiful woman. If you are a saint, who am I?"
Madame Sophie poked Franz on the forehead with her fan, obviously very unhappy.
"This matter may be much more serious than you think. After all, Hungary is the territory of the Habsburg family. We should not sit back and let those irreversible things happen."
Mrs. Sophie understood what Franz meant, but said it disdainfully.
"That's what they asked for. Why didn't there be a wave of refugees in other parts of the Austrian Empire for the same amount of money? And you don't have to worry, the empire's army is very powerful, and it's just a good opportunity to show off the military might of the Austrian Empire and let those in Hungary Nobles have less other thoughts."
"Mother, it is best to avoid things like civil war. In the end, the only ones injured are the subjects of the Austrian Empire."
"Don't you always say that if you can't get it on the battlefield, you can't get it at the negotiation table? If you don't hurt them, how will they know they are wrong?" Mrs. Sophie started to tease Franz.
"Mother, shopping malls are like battlefields. I am indeed going to fight, but fighting does not necessarily involve bloodshed."
"What if you can't come back in Hungary?" Franz's safety is what Mrs. Sophie cares most about. She doesn't want her eldest son to encounter any accidents.
"Don't I still have two younger brothers? If anything happens to me in Hungary, then the Austrian Empire will have every reason to completely cleanse Hungary and cancel their autonomy."
"Then why don't you let your two brothers go?"
"Should Maximian support Hungarian independence? Or should Ludwig go find his mother?"
Mrs. Sophie could only sigh helplessly. She knew that her eldest son, Franz's decision, would not change easily.
"Have a safe trip Franz."
"I will, mother."
Franz left Vienna three days later. There was no railway between Vienna and Hungary, so Franz could only choose to take a boat.
In addition to Thalia and Adjani, Franz was accompanied by Archduke Karl's eldest son, Archduke Albrecht.
At that time diamonds were very valuable, very valuable, very valuable.