When the civil service examination was raging, the Austrian army, who was far away in the Papal State, set off on its way home with the farewell of Pope Pius IX.
Louis-Napoleon-Bonaparte, who had just ascended the presidency and wanted to use interference in the Papal State to gain a sense of existence, had to regretfully choose to give up.
The Austrian army has already finished the matter, and Pope Pius IX has no intention of changing the boss at all, and the French army will become an invasion if they go over.
If the Austrian army did not leave, perhaps Pius IX would find the French to check and balance it, but now that they have begun to withdraw, why should he be so upset with himself
History took a turning point here. The French forces were not able to take the opportunity to penetrate into the Italian region. By interfering in the military operations of the Papal States, Austria maintained its influence in the Italian state.
This is very important to the Austrian business community. To maintain political influence also means to maintain this commercial market and inject a boost to the ongoing industrial revolution.
At the new round of government meetings, Chancellor of the Exchequer Karl Ludwig von Bruck said in high spirits: "The development of industry and commerce is inseparable from the market.
Looking at the countries of the world, only the British completed the Industrial Revolution, which was based on the fact that they had huge colonies.
Austria does not have a vast colony, and we want to catch up with the British, which requires the establishment of a market that belongs to Austria.
We have released the local market through a series of reforms, but this still takes time to cultivate and is far from meeting the actual needs of our industrial and commercial development.
Use diplomatic means to establish a business circle headed by Austria, which will greatly promote domestic economic development and accelerate the process of our industrialization.
By incorporating the Kingdom of Naples, the Papal States, Tuscany, Bavaria, Württemberg and other regions into the economic circle, we will form a market with a population of 67 million and become the largest economy on the European continent.
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Pulling together the Italian state and southern Germany to form the largest economy on the European continent is not only economic, but also politically, it can consolidate Austria's hegemony in southern Europe.
By the way, you can also attack the rising Kingdom of Prussia. The business circle with Austria as the core is built, and the German customs union exists in name only.
Because of transportation, even if the Prussians were allowed to join the new economy, they would not be able to reach the Italian region. Before the railway was connected, the transportation cost alone would make their products uncompetitive.
The new market is out of reach, and the original German market will face the impact of Austrian commodities. The current Kingdom of Prussia is not the Kingdom of Prussia in 20 years, and the manufacturing industry does not have an advantage over Upper Austria.
Although the plan is good, it is not easy to implement it. The first is to convince everyone that a common economy is good for them.
In any alliance, interests are the best bond. The economic circle dominated by Austria is obviously in the interests of Austria, but it is not necessarily the case for these countries.
No one can deny that the Austrian Industrial Revolution needed to suck blood from the outside world, at least in its initial stages.
Only in the later stage can you use the high added value of products to make profits under the guise of trade balance to make the food look better.
Metternich objected: "Mr. Carl, your plan is indeed very good, but unfortunately the success rate of this plan is too low.
Whether it is the Italian state or the southern German state, once exploiting too much, they will quit, and Austria is not their only option. "
These small countries follow Austria for their own interests. If Austria can no longer protect their interests, then it is not a bad idea to change the boss.
Don't talk about loyalty between countries, that doesn't exist. There is no betrayal, it is because the betrayal chips are not enough.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Karl explained confidently: "But Austria is their best choice! The common economy is indeed our greatest benefit, but this does not mean that they are completely without benefits.
At least some of the people who cooperate with us can gain greater benefits. If the ruling class is turned into this interest group, then everything will not be a problem.
As long as we can control this degree, the people at the bottom cannot feel it. For example, in the customs union in the German region, wouldn't the people not boycott the Kingdom of Prussia
Once the Industrial Revolution is complete, with technological superiority, we can also promote commerce to balance trade, further concealing this wealth plunder. "
Franz was shocked, this was to support the comprador class.
The industrial sprout in the Italian region is in the north, the central and southern regions are blank, and the capitalist economy has not yet developed; the southern German region is not much better, the economic development is also slow, and the market is full of goods from the Kingdom of Prussia.
Now that Austria wants to establish an economic circle, for the ruling classes of these states, it does not harm their interests. On the contrary, everyone can achieve a win-win situation through cooperation.
"What about the attitudes of other powers? If we push this plan, will it create an uncontrollable diplomatic situation?" Prime Minister Felix asked with concern
Metternich got up and wandered a few steps in the room before giving the answer.
"It's not a big problem. The above-mentioned areas are all our traditional spheres of influence. We have not crossed the border, and the reaction of the foreign powers will not be too violent.
Not long ago, British Foreign Secretary Palmerston visited Vienna. We also re-determined everyone's sphere of influence in Italy. Even if the British are dissatisfied, there is no reason to interfere.
On the Russian side, we can still get support, and the tsarist government will not care about these small issues.
The French can't take care of themselves. In order to be elected president, Louis-Napoleon-Bonaparte used disgraceful means, and the republicans will not accept him.
There is a republican-led cabinet, parliament, and the president working against each other. For a long time in the future, the French will not be able to do anything.
It is estimated that the Prussians will strongly oppose, but their opinions are dispensable and powerless to stop our actions. "
"There is no reason for the British to interfere" is a joke, Franz prefers to believe that the British have no strength to interfere, or that there is no interest in making them act recklessly.
In this era, the British Empire has no shortage of markets. As the only industrial country, coupled with the broadest colonial market, they lived a very comfortable life.
The British investment in Italy is mainly concentrated in the Kingdom of Sardinia, as well as in Lombardy and Venice. Few businessmen will be foolish enough to invest in South Italy, where there is nothing.
The capital of the Italian state is still a feudal dynasty, and the commercial market is dispensable to John Bull, and it is not worth turning against Austria for this.
Coupled with the support of the Russians, even if the British opposed it, it was ineffective. Before the Crimean War, the British had not yet achieved a recognized hegemony, at least not by Austria.
The attitude of the Kingdom of Prussia is not enough to make Austria fearful. Now they have not unified Germany, and they are not the second empire of the later generations.
In 1848, the Kingdom of Prussia had a population of only 13 million, less than 40% of Austria's, and its economic aggregate was about half that of Austria. (Note: total economic volume is not equal to industry)
"What about Spain?" Franz asked with concern
Other European countries can ignore it, but Spain's attitude cannot be ignored. The influence of Spain in the Kingdom of Naples is not weak at all, or even greater.
Spain is no longer the era of the Habsburg dynasty, it is the era of Isabel II of the Bourbon dynasty, and their attitude must also be taken into account.
Metternich explained: "Your Majesty, according to the information we have, there are serious internal conflicts in the Kingdom of Spain, and revolution may occur at any time.
We are just establishing a business alliance, and it has not harmed their interests. It is unlikely that the Spanish government will interfere. "
Franz nodded. Isn't it the most routine operation to squeeze soft persimmons. As long as Austria does not annex the Kingdom of Naples, the Spaniards can accept it.
Besides, as far as Spain's current industrial level is concerned, there are really not many industrial products exported to the Kingdom of Naples.
"Mr. Carr, if we expand the market like this, can the domestic industry and commerce keep up? If we can't seize the market immediately, if we cultivate a group of competitors, we will be ashamed." Prime Minister Felix asked with a frown. road
Don't laugh at others, the Austrian industry in this era is not very developed. In southeastern Europe, it is a developed level, and it is far worse than the British, that is, it is a little worse than the French.
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, you can rest assured on this point, our Ministry of Industry can guarantee to beat any competitor!" Industry Minister Kaschin Kubek said confidently
His confidence is based on the premise of the initial success of the establishment of the state-owned enterprise system. Compared with the pursuit of interests by private enterprises, the current strategic goal of state-owned enterprises is to complete the industrial revolution as soon as possible, and profits are floating clouds.
The Austrian government did not draw blood from enterprises, and now the profits generated by these enterprises are naturally all invested in technological innovation and expansion of production.
After the damage to industry and commerce caused by the war has now recovered, Austria's manufacturing industry is rapidly rising.
This speed is not the limit, as long as the government is willing to spend money on it, it can continue to improve.
This was expected by Franz. No matter how later generations criticized the state-owned system, the state-owned economy played a positive role in the stage of primitive capital accumulation.
As long as the management of the enterprise has not rotted, state-owned enterprises with many advantages are definitely more effective than private enterprises.
The Soviet Union is the best example. It developed by leaps and bounds in a short period of time and established a huge empire.
As for the question of later decline, Franz is completely dismissive. If you want to decline, you have to rise first. There is no problem yet, why do you want to go so far
The big deal is to wait for the state-owned economy to die, and then carry out economic transformation. Anyway, Austria is not only a state-owned economy, private enterprises are also developing.
After the industrial revolution is completed, the unprofitable light-duty enterprises will be sold off one after another, and the government will only need to control the industries that are related to the international people's livelihood.
Seeing that everyone has no doubts, Franz said: "If everyone has no doubts, then the plan to establish a business circle with Austria as the core will be voted on now. Please raise your hands if you agree."
Democratic voting is not an innovation of Franz. It has long existed in Europe. He just learned from the advanced experience of his predecessors.
Austria is qualified to participate in decision-making senior officials above ministers, the main purpose is to check and balance power.
Franz is not a person who loves power, and he left most of the government affairs to the cabinet. In order to avoid being overridden, he added a democratic vote to the enlarged government meeting.
Officials above the ministerial level are all appointed and dismissed by the king himself, and they cannot be bought off under normal circumstances. They are all candidates for cabinet ministers, and while accepting the leadership of the cabinet, they also divide the power of the cabinet.
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