At the same time that the railway plan was launched, Franz did not forget the other two core industries, but in these two industries, the government directly intervened much less.
To a certain extent, the processing and manufacturing industry can be regarded as a whole. The agricultural product processing industry can be spun off separately, and there is no other factor, that is, it can simply make money.
At present, the largest source of foreign exchange for the Austrian Empire is the export of agricultural products. Including the export of refined agricultural products and the export of original ecological agricultural products.
Undoubtedly, the processed grain is much more profitable for export, which can drive a large number of jobs and bring a lot of tax revenue to the country.
From the perspective of economic development, this is the growth point of GDP. Franz also counts on the profits from agricultural exports to make up for the trade deficit.
In international trade, the Austrian Empire was in a deficit for most of the time, which was also the main factor causing the continued devaluation of the Austrian guilder.
The currency of this year is not the credit system of later generations. It is completely real gold and silver. When international trade is settled, everyone uses gold and silver.
International Monetary? The pound can barely be counted, but it did not have the status in the late 19th century, and most countries and regions did not recognize it.
In this context, if the trade deficit continues, it will cause wealth outflow and affect domestic economic development.
After Franz came to power, in order to allow the normal development of the domestic economy, the currency value of the Austrian guilder was stabilized.
Finding a way to quell the trade deficit as soon as possible has become a top priority for the government.
In the short term, the Austrian government can achieve trade balance only by exporting refined agricultural products to earn added value.
In August 1849, the Austrian government issued regulations: reducing the tax rate of agricultural product processing enterprises by 2 points, and also announced that after 1850, the export tariffs of original ecological agricultural products will be raised by 1 point.
In order to encourage more people to invest in this industry, the Austrian government also stipulates that newly established agro-processing enterprises enjoy tax-free treatment for the first year and half-tax treatment for the next three years.
Affected by this policy, 221 agricultural processing enterprises were added to Austria in the last few months of 1849, including Franz.
Austria has always been a major exporter of agricultural products. It has natural advantages to develop agro-processing industry. It is enough to introduce policies to encourage it.
The manufacturing industry is in trouble. The scope of this coverage is too broad. In some areas, Austria has advantages, and most industries have already begun to lag behind.
However, this backwardness is only relative to the British who have completed industrialization. Austria's industry in Southeast Europe still has an advantage.
In Franz's view, promoting the development of manufacturing is actually accelerating the pace of industrialization, and mechanized production has great advantages over handicraft.
This is not something that can be done in a short period of time, but the government still supports heavy industries, such as the iron and steel industry and the machinery and equipment manufacturing industry, which has been taken care of.
This care is not only about lowering the tax rate, but also local governments will help solve infrastructure problems, such as industrial water use and transportation problems.
To develop the manufacturing industry, the most important thing is to endure loneliness. Not to mention one year, even if it is three or five years, you may not see results, but after ten or twenty years, you will definitely achieve results.
Innovation
It is too early to say this. Before industrialization was completed, the Austrian manufacturing industry followed the path of copying the British. Of course, there are occasional windfalls, which are also pleasant.
…
In general, from the second half of 1848 to the end of 1849, the economic reforms carried out by the Austrian government were aimed at removing obstacles to domestic economic development.
As a unique country with a semi-planned economy and a semi-market economy, Austria achieved remarkable economic results in 1849.
The most intuitive feeling of the citizens of Vienna is that the price of food has dropped by 15% compared with 1847.
Don't look at this data as insignificant, but it's actually very important in industry. Falling food prices means lower costs to feed workers.
The reduction in the cost of living has also made the lives of the underprivileged citizens better. There are insignificant savings in the hands of many people. Some people choose to store this money, and some people choose to consume it.
One or two are inconspicuous, and the number of people gathered together is not a small number, and the prosperity of the market has increased.
These inconspicuous consumption were finally fed back to industrial production. There is a market and there will be production, which promotes the increase of industrial production capacity.
If this effect is negligible, then without internal tariffs, the market in the Hungarian region is opened, and the effect is large.
No matter how backward the economy is, there are still more than 10 million people. After the liberation of serfs and the redemption of land, these people became property owners.
Assets naturally have purchasing power. Perhaps the market has not fully grown yet, but the increase in total consumption is also an indisputable fact.
Without tariffs, the competitiveness of Austrian industrial and commercial products in Hungary has greatly increased, and the expansion of the Hungarian market has naturally stimulated the development of domestic industry and commerce, and there has been a small prosperity.
According to the statistics of the Ministry of Industry, the industrial capacity of Austria in 1849 increased by 15% compared with that in 1847. This data was unexpected and reasonable in Austria.
Industrial production capacity cannot be achieved in one fell swoop, and it takes time to expand production. This era is no better than later generations, and equipment can be obtained immediately after placing an order.
The next few years will be the period of explosion of Austrian industrial production capacity.
In addition to the expansion of the domestic market, the establishment of the Holy Roman Economic Union, the domestic industry and commerce have a broader market, which will naturally stimulate industrial production.
While Franz was thinking about a better future, bad news came.
"Your Majesty, there is news from St. Petersburg that the patience of the Russians has run out.
A week ago, Tsar Nicholas I made a tit-for-tat decision after the Prussian government announced a nationwide mobilization, and the troops of the Russian Empire were massing toward the Prussian border.
Yesterday morning, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Prussian ambassador to Russia.
If nothing else, the Prussian government will soon compromise with the Russians, who now dare not go to war with the Russians. ' said Metternich, frowning.
The confrontation between Prussia and Russia because of the Danish War was in the interests of Austria. While consuming the strength of the Prussian government, it also deteriorated the relationship between Prussia and Russia, highlighting the importance of the Russian-Austrian alliance to the Russians.
But the Russians were impatient, and the Prussian government could not hold on.
At first, the Prussian government had confidence in annexing the two duchies of Schleswig-Holstein, but after seeing the tough attitude of the Russians, their confidence gradually decreased.
Up to now, the factor that supports them not to give up is not the annexation of the two duchies of Schleswig-Holstein, but the public opinion in the German region not to let them back down.
The Russians are terrifying, and they feel the deepest feelings from their neighbors, not the German state separated by Poo.
In order to please the public at home, the government of the Duchy of Saxon-Gotha publicly announced: "For the territorial integrity of the German Confederation, we will not hesitate to fight the Russians to the death!"
The Kingdom of Hanover also said strongly: "As long as the Russians dare to invade Schleswig-Holstein, we will fight the Russians to the end!"
Even Franz had to say: "If it is necessary to send troops to defend Schleswig-Holstein, Austria will not be left behind."
…
The toughness of these kingdoms and principalities is still just words, so the areas ruled by public opinion like Free City have already taken practical actions.
The German National Expeditionary Army in Hamburg, the German National Guard in Lübeck, the Hansa German Volunteers in Bremen…
Don't take it too seriously. These troops with very loud names are actually composed of three-digit nationalists, and their political significance is greater than their practical significance.
Everyone has done this, and the Prussian government is naturally embarrassed to back down.
Frederick-Wilhelm IV said that he also wanted to be embarrassed. If there is no reason to convince everyone, he will back down. Do you want to mix in Germany
But the hard top is also not enough. If Prussia and the Russians really fight, believe it or not, these slogans shouting earth-shattering people will change their positions in an instant
In the eyes of politicians, what is the integrity of the horse? With thousands of excuses, are you afraid that you won't find it
It's really not possible, organize a group of volunteers to serve as reinforcements in the past, and stuff the unpleasant enemy into cannon fodder. It's not that everyone can't do it.
Just look at the practice of the Austrian government. Anyone who wants to go to the front to participate in the war can sign up. After the outbreak of the war, they will be sent there.
In the end, there were no parades, and the Austrian government did not suppress or expel them, but only sent a few secretaries to record the names of those who participated in the parade.
The people on the list are all activists who love the German Confederation. Get ready to go to the front. The war has broken out, and the Federation needs your defense. Just shouting slogans is not enough, you must prove your patriotism with practical actions.
The gangsters are cowardly, let them shout slogans, but let others go to the front line desperately.
The students who were supposed to be the main force are still reading books at school. Although they care about what happens outside, they can't get out
Coupled with the government's performance, it seems to be very positive. They don't need to do anything, and they can't violate the school rules
Ordinary people all have jobs. It is one thing to support the reclaiming of the two duchies of Schleswig-Holstein, but it is another thing to go to the streets to march. Could it be that the march will be able to reclaim the country
Everyone is rational. It is enough to cheer up the Kingdom of Prussia. There is no need to cause chaos in the country. You must know that demonstrations also affect economic development.
"The Prussian government wants to compromise, and there is nothing we can do about it. After procrastinating for so long, the Kingdom of Prussia must have a hard time this year.
This guy, Frederick William, is probably regretting it. After spending such a huge price, it is now a basket case and nothing. ' Franz said with a wry smile
He really did not gloat over the misfortune. If the Prussians did not stimulate the Russians to mobilize the country, Nicholas I would not be so easy to get angry, then the Pudan war would not be a problem until next year.
At that time, Franz's investment has already withdrawn a part of the funds, and the savings funds absorbed by the Royal Bank will be able to fill the hole in which he misappropriated donations.
Now the Prussians are obviously unable to hold on, so they deliberately provoked the Russians and used the Russian military threat to persuade the nationalists at home to make concessions.
Otherwise, Frederick William IV is full and wants to order a national mobilization
The current strength of the Kingdom of Prussia is enough to fight against the Kingdom of Denmark. If it is to fight the Russians, the national mobilization will not be enough, right
The nationalists in Prussia can be persuaded. After all, anyone who wants to fight the Russians will have a guilty conscience. This time the Prussian government was mobilized across the country, but they were also incorporated into the army.
Everyone is not afraid to shout slogans. After arriving at the barracks, many people began to rethink. Can't let them take their lives for the sake of the two principalities of Schleswig-Holstein
Once Prussia and Russia go to war, even if the German states all support them, Prussia will suffer the most in the end. If they lose, not only will the two principalities not be taken back, they might even have to cut a piece of land and go out.
The odds of winning in the military are too low, and everyone's enthusiasm will naturally be low. As long as the country was persuaded, the Prussian government was over.
Public opinion in the German region, Frederick-Wilhelm IV clearly gave up. With such an obvious question, how could the stumbling block that the German Confederation jointly set for them could be so easily reversed
If you are scolded, you will be scolded, and there will be no less meat anyway.
They have the ambition to unify the German region, but they don't have the corresponding strength. Even if they have the support of the people, it's no use if they can't win on the battlefield
The Prussian government made the right choice, and stopped the loss in time. Compared with the actual interests, the reputation can also be sacrificed.
Without the prestige in the German region and the deterioration of Prussian relations, the Kingdom of Prussia basically has no chance to unify Germany.
Strategically, Austria was victorious. But Franz couldn't be happy. Money, money, and no money are absolutely impossible.
After gritted his teeth, Franz decided to adopt the dragging decision. Once the Prussian government gave in and gave up the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein, he asked the Royal Bank to ask the Prussian government for donations.
You must know that the war has dragged on to the present, and the Royal Bank has paid more than four million dongs to the Prussian government. The money was used in the war, and the Prussian government is obviously impossible to refund.
Delaying time in the name of claiming back the donations, creating time for the money back, although this is a little despicable, it also offends the Prussian government to death, and Franz can't care so much.
If he doesn't do this, what will he use to refund people's donations
If it is paid in proportion to the remaining funds as promised in advance, Franz's financial hole will soon be exposed.
Only by insisting that the Prussian government defrauded the donations, and asking them to return the donations on behalf of all the people who have donated money, and diverting everyone's attention, can they get enough time for fundraising.
"Contact the governments of the German states. Once the Prussian government gives up the two principalities of Schleswig-Holstein, everyone will attack together, and encourage the people to ask the Prussian swindlers for the donated money." Franz thought for a while. Say
"Yes, Your Majesty," Metternich replied