Chapter 1148 Old Ali's Transaction (Part 1)
Vienna, Hofburg Palace.
Franz, who was sitting on the throne, really couldn't let a 79-year-old foreign envoy stand and express his sincerity to him.
You must know that the interview process is just a routine matter and takes more than an hour, and the other party obviously has something to talk about.
Franz had no doubt that the drunken old man in front of him might die suddenly on the spot.
"Please bring a chair for old Pasha Ali."
"No, your Majesty the Emperor of the Austrian Empire, I don't need it. Please let me fulfill my duties as an envoy."
Franz was a little helpless, but nodded.
In the eyes of the officials of the Austrian Empire, Muhammad Ali's behavior was obviously very unreasonable, arrogant, and ignorant.
They didn't have a good impression of people wearing white turbans, and now they were even more disgusted.
But Baron Bordeaux knew what to do. After all, he had followed Franz for so long. He immediately ordered people to invite the best team of doctors in Vienna. He absolutely could not let the old guy in front of him die in the Hofburg Palace.
After the ceremonial ceremony, Franz directly invited Muhammad Ali to attend a small dinner at the Hofburg Palace.
In fact, it was a private meeting, because Muhammad Ali almost ran out of energy when he read out the lengthy credentials.
This time the stubborn Albanian finally agreed to Franz's suggestion.
A quarter of an hour later, the small banquet hall.
Muhammad Ali, who was sitting in the chair, was obviously in much better condition than before. At least he did not have symptoms of panic, asthma or other breathing difficulties.
"Dear Your Majesty Franz, I have always envied you. Your country is so beautiful and rich, and the people are obedient and full of wisdom.
Unlike the Egyptians, except for the reckless men who only know how to fight and the villains who only know how to flatter themselves, there are savages everywhere who cultivate the land. I have been working hard to make them civilized people."
Franz had seen too many of Muhammad Ali's behavior of singing praises after he ascended the throne, and the former's status as a hero immediately made the latter alert.
When things go wrong, there must be monsters. There must be a huge conspiracy and ulterior ambition behind such a hero's condescension.
To be honest, Franz didn't want to waste time at all, but in this kind of thing, whoever speaks first will be passive. Franz pretended not to care and continued to work hard, but he really had no appetite.
After ascending the throne, Franz had too many things to think about, especially the recent ceremonial receptions that had taken up a lot of energy. It seemed like he should find a queen.
Muhammad Ali was still getting old, and he soon ran out of energy, so he had to be the first to let go.
In fact, we just want to ask your country to uphold justice and get back the land we once had.
As shown in the picture
Franz's eyelids twitched and he thought to himself: "I really have a big appetite, but I'm afraid old Pasha Ali can't eat it."
Seeing that Franz remained calm, Ali offered his own price.
"If the great Austrian Empire is willing to support us, we are willing to develop these lands with your country and give away the holy city of Jerusalem."
Franz nearly choked after hearing this. He didn't want the hot potato of Jerusalem. Although Austria was officially the guardian of Catholicism, Franz was no religious fanatic.
Even if he is full and full, he will not touch that hot potato.
Looking at the other party's expression, Muhammad Ali knew that this price was not enough, so he gritted his teeth and said.
"Our country is also willing to open up the Sudan area to develop together with your country."
"Sudan?"
At this time, Sudan was a completely remote and remote area, and rebellions broke out from time to time among the barbaric tribes. If we really wanted to invest, it would be difficult to even recover the cost.
"We discovered gold and silver. I only told my most trusted friends."
Ali smiled and said that he believed that gold and silver had endless magic power for Europeans.
Franz looked up at Muhammad Ali, who looked confident.
However, in Franz’s memory, the gold and silver in the Sudan seemed to have been discovered by the British during World War I or World War II, but there was no large-scale predatory mining that led to today’s gold mining industry in Sudan.
The gold and silver collecting industry is a business that can quickly return the investment. However, transportation in South Sudan is likely to have to go through the Nile River. Whether the gold and silver can be transported out of Egypt is a question.
Moreover, Franz could not tell whether the so-called gold and silver mines were true or false. The hero in front of him was best at attacking the white wolf with nothing, so Franz had to guard against it.
To put it bluntly, the greedy British did not directly carry out predatory mining, so there is a high probability that there are some special problems in it.
However, southern Sudan is close to the Central African colonies of the Austrian Empire. It is not impossible to take advantage of this opportunity to infiltrate.
Africa is still in the stage of encircling the land, and the indigenous countries blocking the road are not a problem, as long as they can reach an agreement with other powers.
Franz shook his head, which clearly meant that Ali's chips were not enough.
“I ask for your support because I feel that the Austrian Empire needs us, and we are willing to be the Austrian Empire’s best friends.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t make friends with the French, the British, and the Russians! "
As expected of a hero of his generation, he actually dared to threaten Franz face to face, but Franz knew very well that there were not many countries Egypt could turn to for help, and at this time there was no difference between asking Russia for help and asking Austria for help.
Franz sneered, obviously disdaining Muhammad Ali's words.
The latter had already clenched the knife and fork in his hand, but the two were nearly 30 meters apart, and with the guards and waiters in the room, he could not hurt the former even if he regained his youth.
Muhammad Ali quickly regained his composure and said as if nothing had happened.
"I am presumptuous. People are confused when they are old. This glass of wine is for you."
After saying that, he picked up the wine glass and drank it all, completely disregarding the so-called doctrine.
He really has two brushes, and he started to act crazy and stupid.
Franz picked up the wine glass and saluted from a distance, then drank it all. In fact, nobles usually have to be polite, and they should not drink all the wine.
But this so-called rule cannot restrain the king at all. Besides, drinking all the wine in one gulp also looks more heroic. How could he really let others suppress him?
And if he took a sip at this time, he would probably be regarded as a sissy or look down on the other party.
"Old Pasha, are you speaking for yourself, the Ottoman Empire, or something else?"
Ali could naturally hear the meaning and answered immediately.
"I, and my entire family!"
Franz nodded and continued as if he had made up his mind.
"I think the Transjordan region is the limit of your expansion at this time."
"Why!" Ali asked unwillingly. In fact, he had long known in his heart that what he said before was just for bargaining.
Both sides are smart people, but Franz still has to say it.
"Your country is not strong enough."