Chapter 833 Spread
The United Kingdom and France have experienced thunderstorms one after another, and the United States and Germany are also uncomfortable. After all, Britain and France are the largest customers of American raw materials. The reduction in imports from the two countries has directly led to the decline in the prices of American cotton, grain and other raw materials.
The German region was influenced by British and French financial capital. German Jewish bankers invested a large amount of money in Britain and France, which directly led to the shutdown of industry in the German region.
In fact, the German region also suffered a disaster, but because Austria is in this system, life in other countries is pretty good.
Coupled with the previous victory in Switzerland, the people and the government were intoxicated with a short-term victory.
However, all this came to an abrupt end after the collective betrayal of financiers. This behavior caught all countries by surprise. In fact, it is not entirely correct to call it betrayal. It should be called profit-seeking.
But whether it is betrayal or profit-seeking, the German countries have no money in their hands, let alone borrowing money.
As a result, a large number of projects have been put on hold, and there is no money for disaster relief. The hungry and displaced people cannot feel the power of the country.
These refugees wandered along the railway lines, causing trouble in the city, and soon the prisons in various states were filled with prisoners.
Soon the news spread that people could eat well in prisons, and a large number of poor people who could not afford to eat even began to commit crimes openly in the hope of being caught and imprisoned.
Overcrowding in prisons has worried various governments. At first, they thought these people wanted to go to prison because they were lazy and lazy.
So the government began to let the prisoners participate in labor. As a result, this group of people not only worked hard without complaint, but also had a very high technical level. They were able to complete the work well every time. Even some of the thorny prisoners became good citizens under the inspiration of collectivism.
This makes the governments of various states even more troubled. Because of the economic crisis, nothing is profitable, workers are unemployed in large numbers, good people cannot find jobs, and there are not so many jobs for prisoners to do.
At a high-level government meeting of a certain country, someone suddenly came up with an idea.
"Is it possible to send these criminals and refugees to the colonies? This can not only find jobs for them, but also reduce the burden at home and create value."
"How can we have a colony?"
"It's true that we don't have colonies, but the German Confederation does!"
"Yes! Transvaal!"
The senior officials suddenly became excited. They thought they had come up with a way to get the best of both worlds. However, someone soon poured cold water on them.
"Isn't it free to pay for the boat ticket? Isn't it free to eat and drink on the way?" A senior executive immediately sneered.
Indeed, one person's expenses along the way from Germany to the Transvaal (New Germany) were enough to relieve several disaster victims.
If they have so much money, wouldn't it be a good idea to just give them government relief?
On the other side, Prussia.
King Frederick William IV was also helpless. The domestic food harvest was failing and prices were soaring, but he could do nothing.
This is not because Prussian officials are incompetent, nor is the king not wise enough. In fact, Prussia can solve the current crisis as long as it imports food from Russia.
At this time, many people living on the border had begun to purchase grain from Russia. However, doing so not only violated the treaty of the German Customs Union, but also caused losses to the domestic Junker landowners.
William IV himself was the largest Junker landowner in Prussia, so he faced a very fatal problem at this time.
That is to save the people, or save himself. If he ordered to purchase a large amount of grain from Russia, not only might he be impeached by powerful countries such as Saxony and Bavaria, but he would also directly anger the domestic Junker nobles and those merchants who hoarded grain.
The previous example of the murder of US President Polk is still vivid in our minds. Although William IV was the king, he was helplessly surrounded by powerful enemies outside and traitors inside who were causing chaos in the country. He could only think of other ways.
In fact, the main reason why Austria could purchase grain from Russia unscrupulously was due to the opposition of Prussia and Hungary to joining the German Customs Union.
This gave Franz almost unlimited room for maneuver. He could use the name of the St. Stephen's Crown Territory to purchase various goods from Russia.
As long as the Russians can sell their own things, let alone Austria, Hungary, and even their mortal enemy the Ottoman Empire, it doesn't matter.
Historically, the Ottoman Empire has been the largest exporter of Russian grain for a long time, because the former refused to introduce Russian grain, and the two sides even fought a war.
In fact, in addition to the Jewish financiers in Prussia, the native factory owners in Prussia also had some small fortunes. Especially in recent years, Prussian factory owners had received a lot of government subsidies. William IV felt that he should be able to borrow money.
As a result, in addition to aristocratic factory owners such as Krupp and Siemens who were willing to subscribe for national debt, more factory owners chose to unite and negotiate with the king.
First they demand a higher discount rate, which means more returns. For a 200 million thaler bond, they were only willing to pay 170 million thaler, and directly made a net profit of 30 million thaler, which is equivalent to the cut-off interest of private small loans.
At the same time, they also demanded that the Prussian government implement a "representative system", expand elections, and reduce the power of the king and nobles.
Finally, it would be best to have another constitution.
William IV felt that there was no need to continue the discussion. As long as he was not crazy, he would not be able to agree to these outrageous demands.
It is impossible for the monarch of any country in the world to agree to such conditions as long as there is still a glimmer of hope. If people don't eat something like food for a day, they will go hungry. Over time, rebellion will inevitably occur.
If they can still afford weapons by then.
However, William IV did not want to sit still and wait for death. He also had the mission of the Hohenzollern family to revitalize Prussia and unify Germany.
Just when William IV was at a loss, the returning finance minister Friedrich thought of another good idea.
"Your Majesty, don't the Austrians always advertise that their country is tolerant and has a vast territory and abundant resources?"
"That's right! The damn Austrians often offer high salaries to our country's outstanding scholars and engineers. They are maliciously competing!"
William IV was very sensitive to this, because the Austrian side often used the banner of the German Confederation to scout for various talents throughout the Confederation.
However, as the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in history, Austria has never stopped poaching from other countries. Serving the emperor is a tradition among the people of various countries in the imperial era, and it is an honor.
However, various countries also have countermeasures, which is to use generous material rewards to retain talents. To put it simply, they include high-ranking officials, generous salaries, beautiful cars and beautiful women.
However, now the Austrian side has changed its tactics. In addition to the glory and tradition it has always promoted, it now also adds generous rewards, and even starts to talk about dreams (chicken soup).
As a time traveler from a later generation who drank chicken soup every day until fried, it was not difficult to write a few chicken soup articles to trick people in the 19th century into pursuing poetry and distance, as well as the wealth and status that matched themselves.