Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

Franz, who was listening to Adjani's report, keenly found a problem, that is, the amount of ivory brought back this time was too large to deal with, and it would take at least 10 years to realize it without depreciation.

A wide range of ivory products are not selling well in the Austrian market. Although ivory buttons and ivory fan bones are sold in large quantities, their added value is very low and they are only large compared to other products.

The Austrian Empire, having not previously set foot in the colonial sector, was unaware of the low level of acceptance of ivory products in the market. Ivory products sold relatively well in the markets of experienced colonists such as Britain and France, and the high tariffs made Franz sigh that he did not want to be woolen.

At this time, European trade protection was still prevalent, especially the tariffs on luxury goods were almost exaggerated, usually merchants could find middlemen in order to avoid tariffs, but Franz could not, such a large-scale smuggling, it was impossible not to be discovered by the French, and the revelation of the matter would seriously affect the reputation of the royal family.

"Grand Duke Franz, I think you can promote playing billiards instead of football."

Adjani knew that Franz was worried about the spoils he had brought back from Africa, and she was not an expert in economics, but she was confident that she could do everything about eating, drinking, and being merry.

"Playing billiards?"

First of all, Franz himself does not understand billiards, secondly, he is sure that the hegemony of ball sports in the future will be football and basketball, and thirdly, billiards does not look big, and it is very durable, and it is estimated that the market is easily saturated.

"Yes, the sport of billiards is very popular among the aristocratic circles of France and England. And those boys don't seem to be interested in football, and the latter seems to be a catalyst for family conflicts. ”

Adjani spoke in a calmer tone, but Franz could hear what was being said.

"Family conflicts? That's a very serious word. He said, after all, the families represented by the friends around him are not ordinary, and if there is a real fight, I am afraid it can be regarded as a political event.

"No, it's not too late for you to hear what's happened lately before you make a judgment."

Adjani pulled out a notebook and read it carefully.

"On February 18, 1840, Lord Leibstein fractured his left foot, on February 26 the eldest son of the head of the Taffe family had two teeth knocked out, and on March 11 Richard Metterne fractured his nasal bone."

"Are they playing kung fu football? And how do so many feet hurt? ”

In fact, football in this era has no rules, and the level of violence is comparable to that of hot-blooded football, punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and even sand throwing are all allowed.

Adjani took a soccer ball and carefully placed it on the ground.

"Grand Duke Franz, please try it."

"It's not a shot put, is it?" Franz felt that there must be something wrong with this.

"Of course not, I'm your squire, and I'm not a child, how can I play such a boring prank."

Adjani smiled with her hands outstretched.

"It's like it's less time to trick others."

That being said, Franz tried it with his feet.

"It's so heavy! It's so hard! How is this solid! ”

Only then did Franz remember, not to mention pneumatic tires, even rubber tires have not been popularized, how can there be modern football in this situation?

"It's the best football on the market, and it's using your vulcanized rubber technology. Otherwise, you're kicking the animal's bladder or stomach. ”

Football in this period was mainly made of animal bladders or stomachs, filled with filling, and covered with animal skins, and even the shape was not round, but an approximate circle.

"Okay, so how many billiards can I make with the ivory I brought back."

Adjani said, holding up three fingers.

"About three million."

"So little?"

Franz was a little surprised, considering that nearly ten boatloads of ivory had been looted in Côte d'Ivoire alone, which was the accumulation of local natives for decades.

Côte d'Ivoire, known as the "Ivory Coast", was swept away by Franz, and as a result, he could only make 3 million billiards, which was really unacceptable to him.

"This has to be further eliminated, those that are not round enough and not hard enough, and only one-third of them can be put on the table in the end."

Moreover, the attrition rate of billiards is far beyond Franz's imagination, and the texture of ivory billiards is hard, and it is inevitable that they often hit each other and be damaged.

"What about the rest?"

Franz didn't expect it to be such a waste, in fact, the technology at that time could only make five billiards with one ivory, and the defective rate was very high.

"Of course, it's sold to illiterate and poor ghosts who want to save face."

Looking at Adjani, it seems like she's done something like this. In fact, the business of second-hand billiards was quite hot at that time, but most of the transactions were carried out in small circles, which required a very wide range of contacts.

"But how can the price of billiards make ordinary people affordable?"

Franz is also immersed in the fantasy of his own plan to use sports to boost national self-confidence and cohesion, and although the idea is a bit self-defeating, as long as it works, it cannot completely negate its value.

"This is originally an aristocratic movement, do you know how much a good marble countertop costs? Three to five clubs are required, and different materials are used for special processing depending on the function. ”

Adjani is very proficient in such extravagant pleasures, and Franz does not want to refute it, so he can only sigh, it seems that his plans will be put on hold for the time being.

The direction of promoting football is generally correct, and it is in line with the development trend. However, this matter also needs to be considered in the long run, for example, the rules and the ball itself need to be reformed before it can be more easily promoted.

"Well, you win. But letting them play billiards is not just a matter of mouth, you have to teach me first, so that I can play with them. As for how to promote, it depends on luck. ”

It is no wonder that Franz doubted that the Austrian aristocracy was already prevalent in the atmosphere of appreciating opera and instrumental music, or hunting on horseback, while the country aristocracy preferred to climb mountains and fish.

And Franz Carr, because he shared the same hobbies as Archduke John and the country nobles, became an outlier among the nobility in the eyes of the people.

"Yes, Grand Duke Franz. However, do you want to learn English billiards or French billiards? ”

It seemed that Adjani had been prepared, and after pulling the doorbell, someone was busy ping next door.

In fact, Franz wanted to use the rules of later generations to set a new "Austrian style", but unfortunately he had no contact with this sport at all, and could only learn the most popular and famous British billiards at that time, that is, snooker.

After listening to Adjani explain the rules, the noise in the next room stopped. It was then that Franz realized that there was another door next door to his study.

"What is this?"

Franz found a problem, some women especially like to expand, and no matter how big a room is, it will not be enough for them.

"This is a billiard hall. Archduke Franz, do you think I am thoughtful? ”

Adjani made a look of praise on me, and it was clear that she was responsible for everything in front of her. It's just that Franz doesn't understand a little, what will be the impact if he doesn't play billiards?

Or maybe she thinks too much, she just has a preference for billiards.

(End of chapter)