Chapter 1149 Old Ali's Transaction (Part 2)
“But your country is powerful, and we have witnessed with our own eyes how the Austrian Empire’s Armada defeated the British twice.
We also know how those British people disappeared at sea."
Muhammad Ali was very smart and courageous, but Franz did not like others to threaten him at all.
"so what?"
Franz's tone was cold, but Old Ali continued to talk to himself.
"As long as Austria is willing to support our country, we have nothing to fear when our two countries join forces. I believe in your country's naval strength."
To be so shameless is worthy of being a self-made king.
"Let's talk about cooperation first. Since cooperation cannot be limited to Sudan, Egypt itself should also be open. Only in this way can we facilitate win-win cooperation."
After being pressured for a long time, it was time for Franz to fight back.
Old Ali felt a bit in his heart. It was okay for him to borrow flowers to offer to Buddha, but he still couldn't accept the idea of foreign powers entering Egypt.
But the old guy quickly figured it out. Anyway, there were too many lice to worry about. It just so happens that the Austrians can also be used to contain the British and French.
But tobacco was his bottom line, and Franz knew it. After all, Muhammad Ali was a tobacco dealer, and touching tobacco would be equivalent to killing him.
In fact, the tobacco franchise was also Muhammad Ali's last trump card. Historically, he died in depression because of losing this trump card.
Franz doesn't care about this guy's life or death, but Egypt's attitude will greatly affect Austria's future strategy.
Moreover, it is easier to discuss business with smart people. If a fool comes to power, he may not be able to figure out the situation, which will affect Franz's plan.
After some bargaining between the two parties, Austria obtained the commercial rights that the British dreamed of in Egypt. It was regarded as a relatively close source of raw materials and a million-level market.
Egypt received a guarantee that it would get the east bank of the Jordan River, which was very different from Muhammad Ali's demand to regain all his homeland.
But both sides knew full well that Egypt's goal was Aqaba, the port city at the end of the Red Sea, and control of the Gulf of Aqaba.
Aqaba is the gateway to Egypt and the springboard for Egypt's attack on the Hijaz region. Old Ali's ambition never really disappeared, it was just hidden.
In fact, Franz had an unexpected gain this time, that is, the Tunisian monarch was a loyal fan of Muhammad Ali, so he was willing to provide Austria with the most favorable conditions to ensure that he would not be annexed by Duke Omar.
The self-proclaimed Lord of North Africa, Duke Omar, has no plans to attack Tunisia, thanks also to the Tel Atlas Mountains, the natural geographical dividing line between Tunisia and Algeria.
In fact, before coming here, Muhammad Ali had already made up his mind to hold on to the Austrian Empire, so he would make money no matter what Franz proposed.
When the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves, Franz finally took action when Old Ali thought everything was over.
"Old Pasha, do you know why the Ottoman Empire has been able to thrive for five hundred years?"
Mohammed Ali was stunned for a moment. He thought that by exchanging the gold mines in the Sudan and the opening of Egypt for Aqaba, the business would be over.
The things that old Ali regarded as treasures were at best the icing on the cake in Franz's eyes, and were not worth the latter's waste of so much time.
"Holy war? Received the Byzantine legacy?"
Countless thoughts flashed in Old Ali's mind. He also wanted to revive the Great Arab Empire, but no one responded to him at all. Even the Arabs in Najd and Hanjaz just wanted to be independent and had no interest in the Arab empire. All lack interest.
"Do you want me to focus mainly on the Anatolian Plateau? But then I will encounter the Russians."
Muhammad Ali secretly cursed in his heart, but this was seriously inconsistent with the previous attitude of the Austrian Empire. What was the young devil in front of him planning?
"Wrong, old Pasha. What really made the Ottomans rise was their control of the Silk Road. They then monopolized the trade between the East and the West."
Muhammad Ali suddenly realized that the Ottoman Empire had indeed prospered for hundreds of years by monopolizing trade between the East and the West. However, after the Age of Discovery, the oceans resumed trade between the East and the West, and the Ottoman Empire began to decline.
"But what does all this have to do with Egypt? Unless your country can support us in taking over the entire Asia Minor, I will be willing to sell Eastern goods to you at cost price.
Then try to sell your country’s goods at the highest price possible.”
The old guy started drawing cakes again, but what he didn't know was that Franz had seen more cakes in his previous life than he had ever heard of.
"No, I said that your country does not have enough strength to occupy the entire Asia Minor, and the British and Russians will not allow any country to do so."
Franz suddenly changed the subject.
"But Egypt can create a new road of its own."
"new road?"
"That's right! There were actually two ancient Silk Roads. One was on land and is now occupied by the Ottomans."
"What about the other one?"
Old Ali asked eagerly.
Franz asked someone to bring in a giant map and drew the route of the Maritime Silk Road.
"Right in Egypt."
Old Ali's eyes widened in excitement at first, but soon dimmed.
"Your Majesty, you are talking about something that happened more than a thousand years ago. Who would be willing to sell goods to us now?
I have ruled Egypt for so long, and there are only a handful of Eastern merchants who come to Egypt to do business. Moreover, the British caravans almost monopolize all trade. They would rather bypass Africa than sell goods to me."
Franz smiled.
"Times have changed, and Egypt should also make changes."
"How to change?"
"Open a route from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean."
"What's the use? The British can still choose to bypass Africa instead of the Red Sea. They will never let other countries profit from it."
"No, as long as the route from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean is opened, the British will beg you to fleece them."
"Why?"
"If the British don't leave, the French will, the Russians will, and our country will also.
If the British want to ensure their competitive advantage, they must go through the Red Sea to reduce costs, otherwise their products will lose competitiveness and die slowly."
Old Ali was born a businessman, so he naturally understood the importance of cost, otherwise he would not have risked being killed by robbers and bandits to purchase tobacco leaves in the Macedonian mountains.
As long as Egypt digs a new route from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, all merchant ships of the great powers must pay tolls, and they can even fleece not only the European powers, but also the Eastern powers.
The Austrian Empire was the most direct beneficiary after the opening of the new route, so it made sense for them to take the initiative to help themselves.
Exploiting the whole world, this made old Ali's blood boil again.