Chapter 920 Food Source
In fact, most Japanese workers did not have the opportunity to farm. Canal digging and pioneering were two very demanding activities.
Yes, it's expensive.
Regardless of the amount of work required to build the canal itself, just staying in an environment full of poisonous insects and plagues like a tropical rainforest for a long time is enough to make people frightened.
Pioneering is also not an easy job. Although Spain established a colony here in 1524, the Spanish character has always been to control the killing and not to bury.
The extent of their colonial management was outrageous. In more than three hundred years, less than 20% of the total land area of Nicaragua was developed.
There are also very few people of Spanish descent, and there are still a large number of indigenous Indians living in the jungle.
The large-scale pioneering activities after the Austrian Empire took over undoubtedly broke the fragile balance between the indigenous people and the colonists.
These indigenous people were able to survive for hundreds of years under the eyes of the Spaniards because they naturally had two brushes, so it was the Japanese laborers who were the pioneers who suffered.
The Japanese laborers who were able to go to the rear and farm the land with peace of mind were carefully selected after nearly nine deaths. The obedience and loyalty of these people were naturally very guaranteed.
In addition, feudal society has also played an important role in shaping people for thousands of years. They have a strong sense of hierarchy.
This is different from the relationship between Western serfs and lords, farmhands and landowners. They can easily develop a mentality of worshiping a group.
There were indeed some wild samurai among the Japanese laborers sent to Central America, but these people were often the first to surrender to Austria, and their loyalty put the Austrian magistrates to shame.
As for those Japanese laborers with untouchable backgrounds, they have long been accustomed to being submissive, and compared to the life of long-term starvation and frequent unprovoked beatings in Japan.
In the Central American colonies, at least they could have enough to eat, and they would not be beaten for no reason. However, they would still be whipped if they were lazy or not working hard enough, but it was considered a good life for most of them.
At the same time, it is time for the religious electorate theory to come into play. Religion has always been very effective in maintaining stability, otherwise it would not have been sought after by so many rulers at home and abroad in ancient and modern times.
Generally speaking, the Central American colonies of the Austrian Empire ushered in a bumper harvest at this time, and there was enough food to be shipped back to Europe to solve the food crisis.
The West African colonies mainly grew cash crops, but this did not mean that the local Austrians could not forcibly expropriate the indigenous food rations.
In fact, the tribal chiefs who cooperated with the Austrian colonists were themselves large slave owners and exchanged the slaves' rations for more valuable commodities. They felt no guilt and even thought this was natural.
In addition to those tribes, there were also some early feudal kingdoms and religious orders who were very happy to exchange their own country's food for Austrian goods, and even lent it to the Austrian Empire.
On the one hand, the goodwill of the Austrian Empire is indeed very good, and on the other hand, it is the prestige gained by Franz's several sending of troops to sweep away the tribes in the coastal areas.
East Africa is basically a planned food-producing area. However, with the end of the Indian Civil War, the demand for overseas food has dropped significantly.
The Oman Empire did not dare to hand over food security to the Austrians. This has to be said that Said was worthy of being the greatest emperor in the history of the Oman Empire. His strategic vision was indeed very advanced.
In order to prevent Austrian grain from completely occupying the Oman market, Emperor Said even canceled agricultural taxes and even collected tax subsidies from businessmen to provide farmers with subsidies.
Said was naturally for the future of the Oman Empire, but what he did went against tradition. Businessmen have a very high say in the Arab world.
Said's actions put a lot of pressure on him and his court. All eight of his sons expressed their willingness to abolish agricultural subsidies to businessmen.
Especially his two heirs, Suwini, the governor of Muscat, and Majeed, the governor of Zanzibar. These two filial sons are ready to overturn all the national policies formulated by their fathers at any time.
Fortunately for Majid, who was closer to the Austrian East African colonies, Suwini, who was supposed to be the next sultan, had already established a line with the British.
To be honest, Suvini could not understand his father's approach at all. He did not think that the so-called Austrian Empire was worthy of being an ally of the Oman Empire.
After all, the Oman Empire had become the most powerful empire in the Arab world at this time. Suwini felt that his old father was too accommodating to his allies, and that Western pagans were not worthy of trust.
In addition, Suvini also felt that his old father was too partial to his sister. Since Sneka has married into another family, she has nothing to do with them.
Said should not bet the future of his country to protect the country of his bullshit son-in-law.
In fact, the Austrian East African colonies were not at peace. The Eastern Bantu people had invaded in large numbers, and wars had been raging. Coupled with the arrival of the rainy season, floods easily destroyed the shoddy projects of Indian workers.
Floods flooded farmland, making it impossible to harvest more than one-third of the crops, but even so, there was still a surplus compared to the Tanzania colony's own needs and exports at this time.
However, although East African food is almost free, shipping costs are not cheap. Before the opening of the Suez Canal, East African goods were of little value to Austria, with the exception of spices.
With a steady stream of supplies from the colonies in Mexico, Central America, West Africa, and East Africa, Franz dared to say that he could solve the food crisis in the Papal States.
Food from the Austrian Empire was also continuously transported from Venice to all parts of Austria. Although Franz had established a reserve warehouse before, Franz did not want to use it unless he had to.
After all, there are too many uncertain factors on the sea. Weather, equipment, personnel quality, and disease may all affect the outcome of the war.
For example, no one thought that the British would lose dominance in the Mediterranean, let alone imagine that the entire Mediterranean fleet would be annihilated.
Although the Austrian Imperial Navy had achieved an epic victory at this time, Franz did not believe that the Austrian Navy could stabilize the British Navy.
If they want to completely wipe out the British Navy, then the Austrian Navy will have to fight at least ten more times for such an epic victory.
This is under the premise that the British do not continue to build warships. With the British shipbuilding level at this time, if the national machinery is operating at full capacity, they can build several more fleets in half a year.
In addition, the British could also requisition those large armed merchant ships. In the early 19th century, large merchant ships with less than thirty gun positions were not insured.
The firepower of the Great Eastern mentioned earlier is much stronger than that of the third-tier battleships.
As long as the British want to, it is entirely possible for them to temporarily piece together a few more fleets.
In order not to be choked by the other party when he clashed with the British, Franz had to leave enough backup.
However, Franz did not think that the British would really break up at this time. After all, the two sides had just reached a peace agreement.
The reason why Franz stayed in Rome was not because he liked the feeling of being respected by all the people, but because the Frankfurt Parliament was too stupid.
To preserve the hope of Greater Germany, Franz cannot refuse the crown, but if he wants to wear the crown, he must bear its weight.
"Heavy is the head who wears the crown."