Chapter 824 Transaction. Accident.

Chapter 824 Transaction. Accident.

Frankfurt, temporary conference center of the German Confederation.

(This is often changed, otherwise other countries in the confederation are unwilling, mainly Prussia.)

What is the concept of ten million pounds? It is equivalent to two years of fiscal revenue of the United States and half a year of Prussia's fiscal revenue during the same period in history. It is not a small number even for the entire German Confederation.

"Ten million florins."

Prince Metternich, the representative of the Austrian Empire, directly gave another figure tit for tat. Ten million florins was equivalent to one million pounds, which was one-tenth of what Palmerston said.

As soon as the negotiations began, the dialogue between the two sides was a bit jaw-dropping. Many representatives of small countries felt that the two sides would not be able to reach an agreement and would eventually go to war.

But it's none of their business, after all, they don't even have a navy. Among the German states, only a few have navies, including Austria, Prussia, Hanover, and Denmark. The other countries either don't have one or are just like a joke.

In fact, the vast majority of countries are not only unwilling to fight, but also unwilling to pay. However, due to the domestic situation, they have to step forward.

As a result, all the delis near the venue were sold out. After all, these gentlemen like to nibble on pig's trotters and chicken drumsticks when they have nothing to do.

How can we have meat without wine? There is wine and meat, how can we not be accompanied by a beautiful woman? They really didn't dare to do this. Women's social status was very low at that time. If they really called some prostitutes, it would become an international joke.

But even so, the scene was very shocking, and Palmerston was speechless looking at the group of "little people" in front of him.

But the price offered by Metternich felt low to him. Although the Transvaal was a barren land, it was also the territory of the British Empire.

In this world, only the United States, the rebellious son, has ceded territory from the British Empire. Palmerston feels that the price must not be too low, otherwise future generations will be left with nothing to lose, so they will not hesitate to give to others.

"Twenty million pounds."

"Five million florins."

Palmerston and Metternich spoke calmly and calmly, but the Prussian and Danish representatives could not sit still.

There is no other reason, that is to go to war with Britain, and they will be the biggest victims.

Even though Austria can't get out due to its broken terrain, it's also very difficult for others to get in. And Austria also has strong army support.

But the same cannot be said for Prussia and Denmark. The British could easily destroy their coastal areas.

"Five million pounds."

"Deal, but in our expected currency."

"Half gold, half silver, half banknotes."

"Eighty percent expected banknotes, 20% gold."

"make a deal."

While everyone was still confused, Palmerston and Metternich reached a deal.

It was Franz who proposed using expected banknotes to pay. Although expected banknotes have the same payment capabilities as real money and silver, it is not that easy to redeem them.

The British can only choose to consume within the German Confederation, which can also promote internal development. And the money will be paid off within five years, so there is no need to worry about inflation.

In fact, London did not have high expectations for the outcome of this negotiation, because the so-called Transvaal was still the territory of the Eastern Bantu people at this time.

And there are not many resources in this area, at least British geologists and expeditions did not find anything valuable when they passed by.

But after all, it is a large piece of land and it is close to the British Cape Colony, so one million pounds is the British bottom line.

Their main purpose was to prevent Austria or the German Confederation from intervening in a possible war, so Palmerston did not mind what the remaining four million pounds was used to pay for.

For the German Confederation, the Spanish Civil War has nothing to do with it. After all, there is France in the middle.

But some experienced politicians have understood the meaning, but since the Austrian Empire doesn't mind, those small countries that have no possibility of hegemony naturally don't care either.

Metternich naturally understood that the British were going to attack the Franco-Spanish alliance, which was good news for Austria.

Remaining neutral and watching the French take a beating was, in Metternich's view, Austria's best choice.

Although Austria's security was threatened by Britain several times, in Metternich's view, the old rival the French were more hateful.

Moreover, he felt that the dismantling of the Franco-Spanish Alliance would be of great benefit to Austria, but in fact it was a mixed blessing. After all, if the Franco-Spanish Alliance continued to exist, it would share the firepower of the British.

However, as the Year of the Storm is coming, the so-called Franco-Spanish Alliance is very likely to become the first victim of this storm.

In the end, the German Confederation purchased the land in the Transvaal for five million pounds, and the Transvaal officially became a member of the German Confederation.

Five million pounds was to be paid in five years, 80% of which was to be paid in futures banknotes, and the remainder to be paid in equivalent gold or silver.

However, the Transvaal could not exist as a commercial republic, but Andrés Pretorius was firmly opposed to arranging a state for them, even as a member of the Dutch royal family.

This actually allowed the Boers to offend all the German monarchies almost at once, and Congressman Kurdrey even thought he was crazy.

You must know that Luxembourg is already considered an outlier, but they still nominally respect the King of the Netherlands as the Grand Duke.

Metternich also felt that these guys were ignorant. Will the German Confederation rebel just after redeeming them?

At this time, almost all states hoped to expel the Transvaal from its German citizenship, so that they could throw away this burden.

So the German Confederation held another congress, and almost all states opposed the inclusion of the Transvaal into the German Confederation.

Prussia's new Foreign Minister Karl von Kannitz stood up and suggested.

"Since it was the deal negotiated between Prince Metternich and Palmerston, why not make it a colony of the Austrian Empire!"

The Prussians opened their mouths, and the other states immediately followed suit, especially the Danes who had eaten Gua Lao and shouted loudly.

"The non-Austrian empire is not enough to deter the indigenous Africans, and Austria already has colonies in East Africa. As long as it buys the Portuguese's Mozambique, it can be connected."

Note: eating melons and fishing means unreasonable disasters.

The most panicked person at this time was Andres Pretorius. If the Transvaal became an Austrian colony, would it suffer the same fate again?

If he was expelled again, he really didn't know what he would do when he went back to meet his fellow villagers. A good backer was about to become the straw that broke the camel's back.

Metternich was helpless in the face of this situation, but Archduke Franz seemed to be very knowledgeable about the situation in the colonies, and the latter might be able to give good suggestions.

In fact, Metternich was still unwilling to bear this amount alone. Although the Austrian Empire at this time was much richer than in its original history, he could not accept the waste of money in irrelevant places.