Hearing this news that seemed like a fantasy, everyone was directly stunned. The Americans want to build the "Trans-Siberian Railway", isn't this the sun coming out of the west?

The Americans want to strengthen economic exchanges and cooperation between Russia and the United States, which is barely acceptable, after all, the United States after the division seriously lacks a market for goods.

As both members of the periphery and without conflicts of interest, relations between Russia and the United States have been good in recent years. It's just that the Americans want to build the "Trans-Siberian Railway", which is a bit funny.

The Trans-Siberian Railway has such a great effect and can promote economic and trade cooperation between Russia and the United States, how do we not know?

Everyone knows that in the case of a small distance difference, the cost of rail transportation is much higher than that of sea transportation, not to mention the special railway such as the Trans-Siberian Railway, the transportation cost is even higher.

Whether from the East Coast or from the West Coast, it was better to ship goods directly to the Russian Empire than to go to the Far East for transit.

If we really want to promote economic and trade between the two countries, in fact, there are also some things. Only not to promote commercial trade between the Siberian region and the United States.

Unlike Siberia in later generations, the Siberian region in these years can be said to be nothing but large.

The Siberian region of more than 13 million square kilometers has a population of less than 7 million, and this is still the result of Ottoman immigration, otherwise this figure could be discounted.

The development of the Siberian region was only after the opening of the railway. Mainly thanks to Stalin's policy of exile, the local population was increased.

With such a small population, spread over more than 13 million square kilometers of land, it would be a joke to talk about trade.

The purchasing power of the market in Siberia is probably less than one-tenth of that of St. Petersburg.

To say that Americans have taken a fancy to this "vast and uninhabited" market and want to go deep into farming and management, it is estimated that a normal person will not believe it.

Nicholas II asked: "What do the Americans want?" ”

There is no love-hate in the world for no reason, and even more so between nations. As a normal person, Nicholas II did not believe that without interests, the Americans would run to do charity.

You must know that the cost of the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway is not a small amount, and it can rank second in the entire history of mankind, after the Ring Railway of the Shinra.

A few years earlier, the tsarist government had completed the exploration of the Trans-Siberian Railway. If it weren't for the fact that the budget costs were too scary, and the tsarist government's pockets were not bulging, the construction of the railway would have begun long ago.

Although the financial strength of the United States in these years was stronger than that of the Russian Empire, it was also very limited, and it was also heavily indebted.

Having not finished the construction of their own railways, they suddenly came to offer to help build the Trans-Siberian Railway, and Nicholas II did not doubt their motives.

Foreign Minister Mikhairovich explained: "In recent years, the United States has encountered a bottleneck in its development, and there is an urgent need to open up a larger market for the sale of goods.

It's just that now the world has been carved up, including the Americas, which were originally regarded as the backyard of the Americans, and now they have been reduced to the sphere of influence of Britain and the HRE, and there is no room for them to interfere.

In order to change this situation, the Americans set their sights on expansion to the Far East. It's just that their strength is limited, they can't compete with the British, and it is difficult to even suppress the Japanese.

Without the intervention of external forces, it was only a matter of time before the Americans were expelled from the competition in the Far East.

Judging by the current international situation, we are the only ones who can and may be able to help the Americans at the moment.

Except for joining forces with us, they simply have no way to deal with the Anglo-Japanese alliance. The Americans proposed to build the Trans-Siberian Railway, which seemed to be helping us, but in fact it was also their strategic helplessness.

Of course, Americans are not vegetarians either, and their appetites are quite good.

In addition to joining forces with us to expand in the Far East, they also want to get the franchise of the Trans-Siberian Railway, as well as the most favored nation status in international trade. ”

From the defeat of Napoleon, the Russians had a "self-confidence", especially after the capture of Constantinople, which reached its peak.

The Russo-Prussian War woke up the tsarist government for a time, but after the victory in the war, everyone quickly became addicted to it.

This "self-confidence" is also reflected in politics and diplomacy. The strategy, including the southward expansion into India, is based on this "self-confidence".

Listening to this explanation, everyone, including Nicholas II, was moved.

MFN treatment, that's the same as not giving it. Anyway, the Russian Empire is already the world of industrial and commercial products of the HRE, and it would be good to let another American in and act as their competitor.

For Nicholas II, who wanted to get rid of the influence of the HRE, he was just worried that the Americans were useless, and even if the market was opened, they would not be able to compete with the HRE.

Joint expansion in the Far East is not a condition at all. The expansion of the Russian Empire itself in the Far East required allies to share the pressure.

As for dominating the Far East and completing the Yellow Russia plan, that is a matter of the future, and it will not affect the current cooperation between the United States and Russia in the slightest.

It can be said that the demands of the Americans, except for the railway franchise, which are somewhat difficult, are within everyone's bottom line.

Prime Minister Sergei Witt: "It's a good thing that the Americans are willing to help build the Trans-Siberian Railway, but it shouldn't be now.

The strength of the Reich is not unlimited, the rebellion of the French needs to be suppressed by the Reich, and the Central Asian Railway is even more halfway through, and we really cannot afford to start another big project.

Judging from the current construction progress, if the later works go well, then the Central Asian Railway can be opened to traffic in 1899, and no later than 1900.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs could talk to the United States about putting the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway three years from now, so that we can deal with it calmly. ”

Even if the Americans were willing to help, the Tsarist government would still have to pay for the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and it would have to bear the lion's share.

Including the Central Asian Railway, which is under construction, it seems that the Vienna government is helping to build, but the labor and raw materials are still provided by the tsarist government.

In the era of lack of machinery and equipment, almost all processes were completed by hand. Labor and raw materials alone accounted for more than 80 percent of the cost of railway construction.

As for the old and difficult demolition that railway construction will face in later generations, it does not exist at all now. Including the tax on all links, it is now all zero.

On the surface, the tsarist government really didn't contribute much, but it hurt the national strength! Free labor is not unlimited, and once the conscription is excessive, it is also going to be a big problem.

Foreign Minister Mikhailovich shook his head: "I'm afraid this won't work, it is the American steel giant who led the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway this time."

The main purpose of this initiative is to clear their own inventory. If they dragged back the clock by three years, their losses would be very large.

What's more, the U.S. government will change in two years. If the project is not finalized as soon as possible, a new government will come to power......"

Unlike the surplus of agricultural products, which can only be scrapped, the surplus of steel can still be backlogged. But this backlog is also limited, and the longer the backlog, the higher the cost.

Capitalists are the most realistic, and once it comes to harming their own interests, then it is useless to say anything.

If the capitalists are not able to handle it, then it will be even more difficult for the US government to do it. If he can be re-elected, it will be fine, and if the government changes, there is no hope for policy continuity.

This government is pro-Russian, and perhaps the next one will be anti-Russian. The speed at which Americans change their political faces is comparable to that of a woman changing her clothes.

The indecisive character of Nicholas II was exposed, and he was slow to make up his mind. He now wants to build the Trans-Siberian Railway, but he is also worried that the railway will consume too much power and will not be able to support it.

……

The sun was scorching the earth, and Franz was now taking refuge in the Albis Mountains, with a small mountain pond. There is quite a bit of "the spring is silent and cherishes the trickle, and the shade of the tree shines on the water and loves the sunny and soft".

Since having a son as a strong man, Franz has been liberated from cumbersome government affairs and has lived a good life of traveling in the mountains and rivers.

People like to toss once they are idle, and if it weren't for the pain of taking the transportation of this year, maybe Franz has already begun to fulfill the dream of traveling around the world in his last life.

Think about it all the way to the company of beauties, you can get drunk and taste exotic customs, it is definitely a pleasure.

It's a pity that there was no money in the previous life, so I couldn't put it into action; Now that I have money, I don't have the conditions to travel around the world.

If you can't travel around the world, then travel around Shinra. If you go to a place with poor mountains and bad waters, you will suffer, so you can indulge in a prosperous comfort zone.

Anyway, at his current age, Franz doesn't have to worry about draining his will and playing with himself.

Lao Tzu ran out to play willfully, which made Frederick bitter. Although he has been involved in government affairs for many years, he is still tired of becoming a decision-maker.

There is no way, now any decision involves great interests, and he can't be careless.

As crown prince, Frederick did not have the prestige of Franz. Before making a decision, it is indispensable to coordinate the relationship between all parties.

Fortunately, the bureaucrats of the Vienna government have been almost trained by Franz in recent years, and no one dares to stab in front of the crown prince. Otherwise, Frederick's life would have been even more sad.

……

Prime Minister Karl: "Your Highness, last night the Russian forces in France sent a telegram asking for help to the Allied Command, hoping that the commander could solve the logistical problems for them. ”

Seemingly a bland report, Frederick knew that trouble was coming again.

For a long time, the Vienna government controlled the Allied command, and naturally no one had an opinion during the European War, but the situation was completely different after the war.

No one wants a mother-in-law on top of their heads, and the countries of the anti-French alliance are no exception. In view of this situation, the Viennese government, which was concerned about food, naturally did not insist.

Soon the Allied Command was reduced from the highest military command of the alliance to a liaison and coordination body.

Except for when it is politically necessary, he stands up and brushes up on his presence, most of the time he does not bother with specific military commands.

No matter how the real power changes, the Allied Command is still nominally the highest military command body of the anti-French alliance.

Now that the Russians are asking for help, the Allied Command, which is nominally the supreme command body, cannot sit idly by.

Perhaps in the eyes of the outside world, the arrival of the Russians at this time provided an opportunity for the Vienna government to regain command of the armies of various countries in France.

Frederick, however, preferred not to have this opportunity. Interfering in the command of the armies of various countries in France seems to have huge benefits, but in fact it is useless for the HRE.

France is like this now, and it can't be squeezed at all. Going too deep into the military command in France, what else can there be besides carrying the black pot and pulling hatred?

We can't take this as an opportunity to meddle in the internal military and political power of various countries, right?

Don't say that it was carried out, but as soon as the slightest sign is revealed, Shinra will fall into the target of public criticism.

Similar tragic cases were experienced by the Habsburg ancestors. When he was young, he was full of enthusiasm and shouted a few unified slogans casually, and after succeeding to the throne, he was targeted by the princes in various ways.

The situation is similar now, European countries are willing to recognize the overlord of the HRE, in addition to their own strength, the most important thing is that Franz does not like to toss.

It's rare to meet a boss who doesn't do things, and everyone naturally has to flatter. Others flatter and flatter, but you still have to be self-aware.

If it really floats, Napoleon is an example. Single-handedly taking on the affairs of the whole of Europe, even if it is won on the battlefield, it is also lost politically.

In this context, the telegram of the Russian army in France asking for help is a hot potato. If it is not handled well, it will cause very big problems for the Vienna government.

Something similar happened to the Vienna government not unprecedented. It's just that it was all handled by Franz before, and Frederick was just a bystander. Now that I have encountered it, it is inevitable that I will have a little headache.

After a moment of silence, Frederick asked, "What does the Prime Minister recommend?" ”

"Now we have two choices, either allocate a part of the supplies to the Russian army on the front line first, and take the opportunity to take the command of the Russian army, but we must grasp the degree of it and not get too involved.

Either send a diplomatic note to the tsarist government, urging them to supply the front as soon as possible. It's just that in this way, the effectiveness of the Allied Command will be nullified, and it will no longer be able to ...... in the future."

Frederick sighed to himself, the two choices given by Prime Minister Karl were actually one choice.

Sending a note to the tsarist government in the name of the anti-French alliance, urging the Russians to supply the front-line troops, is not it also meddling in the internal affairs of Russia?

What's more, it is necessary to take the majesty of the Allied command. This kind of thankless work is obviously better to do less.

Providing logistical supplies to the Russian army is also not a good errand. It seems that he has obtained the command of the Russian troops stationed in France, but it has also deteriorated the relations between the two countries.

It can be said that whatever choice the Vienna government makes now will ultimately affect Russian-Austrian relations. If the operation is not good, it may also affect the international image of the HRE.

However, it is not possible not to choose. Since the Prime Minister has brought it up, it is clearly the result of careful consideration. There may be a better way to deal with it, but people haven't thought of it yet.

After pondering for a while, Frederick nodded: "The most important thing on the battlefield is efficiency, the Russians are busy now, and it will definitely be too late for them to deal with the time themselves."

For the sake of the overall situation, we will suffer a little loss and first provide logistical supplies to the Russian army on the front line. When the situation in France stabilized, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicated with the tsarist government. ”

Other abilities are uncertain, but the ability to tell nonsense with his eyes open, Frederick has moved closer to Franz.