Palace of Paris

Napoleon III asked inconclusively: "Ausvergne, are you sure that the Vienna government is really willing to join us in leading the canal project, rather than deliberately making trouble?"

Foreign Minister Auvergne replied affirmatively: "Your Majesty, the Vienna government should be sincere. They are willing to contribute funds to dig the Grand Canal with us.

No one would joke about tens of millions of francs, and as long as they invest money in the canal company, they would support us for their own benefit.

But the Austrians have always been conservative. They are worried that according to our plan, the final navigation volume will not meet the needs, so they require four meters to deepen the depth of the canal design."

Napoleon III rubbed his forehead and asked, "I remember that the design depth of the Canal Company is nine meters. All the largest ships in the world can be freely navigated. Is the Austrians not enough?

Don’t they know that every meter they add will increase huge investment? Now, adding four meters means that the budget will increase significantly."

The planned funding of the Suez Canal is 200 million francs, a figure that challenges investors' ability to bear. Before the canal was opened, no one knew that this golden waterway would be so profitable.

Nowadays, most people do not think that the Suez Canal can make a profit. After all, there is a free channel to go, and the Suez Canal cannot be too high.

With such a high investment, no one can guarantee how long it will take to recover the cost. Capitalists will naturally not be interested in such long-term investments and uncertain returns.

Auvergne explained: "We have communicated this issue with the Vienna government many times. However, they are considering more strategic value, which is related to the emergence of ironclad ships.

The Vienna government believes that ship tonnage is about to rise sharply, and the newly established Royal Austrian shipyard is already building 10,000-ton cargo ships.

It is said that some designers have increased the tonnage design of ships to 20,000 tons. The Vienna government believes that the mainstream ships in the future will exceed 20,000 tons, and technically speaking, the problem is no longer great.

The Vienna government believes that the tonnage of warships will also increase significantly. If investment is saved now and the navigation volume is insufficient in the future, the strategic value of this canal will no longer exist."

Napoleon III fell into contemplation. When the arrival of the ironclad ship, the keel that restricts the size of the ship is no longer a problem. In theory, it is inevitable that the ship's tonnage will increase significantly.

But the bigger the ship, the better, and market demand must be taken into account. The million-ton ships in later generations were useless in this era, and there was no such lot of goods to be loaded into it.

However, the 10,000-ton giant ship has become competitive during this period. At least Austria needs such a big guy to export agricultural products.

Navy Minister Diko said, "My Majesty, from a strategic perspective, the greater the navigation capacity of the Suez Canal, the better.

If Austria joins, the funds for digging the Grand Canal will be shared by our two companies. The problem is not too big. Even if the people cannot raise it, we can still invest in the government."

There is no doubt that the Paris government's planning of the Suez Canal also has a strategic value that exceeds the economic value, otherwise they would not have invested a lot.

After hesitating for a while, Napoleon III said boldly: "If you add, add. Since Austrians dare to invest so much, we have no reason to be afraid!"

The French people's strategic vision in this era is really good. They built the Suez Canal and Panama Canal first, but unfortunately they were unable to defend it.

...

On May 10, 1858, France and Austria signed the "Suez Canal Cooperation Letter". The treaty stipulated that the two countries each invested half of the capital to dig the Grand Canal, and the French, as the initiator, held 51% of the shares and Austria held 49%.

There is nothing to say about this. France has invested a lot in the early stage for the Suez Canal, so it is inevitable that it will take over.

With the change of the design plan, the canal budget also increased to 340 million francs. Franz disdained this amazing number. Not to mention 340 million francs, even 540 million francs are not necessarily enough.

Of course, there are free labor, so the construction cost is still saved by most of the time, and Franz is not sure how much the final cost is.

After all, the two countries are joining forces now, and they will not be forced to give up the use of slave labor in the later stage because of the British's sabotage, thus significantly increasing construction costs.

Looking at the agreement in his hand, Franz smiled and said, "Emute the French and let them start construction as soon as possible."

Since we joined the canal plan, it is naturally impossible to be as arduous as the French in history, and it took more than ten years to dig the Grand Canal.

"Yes, your majesty!" Metternier replied

Chancellor Carl asked: "Your Majesty, are we learning from the French to raise shares from the capital market for investment?"

The Suez Canal is a sure-making investment, but only a few people can see this.

In most people's opinion, this is a long-term investment with unknown returns and is not so popular in the capital market.

Historically, the Suez Canal was shut down due to insufficient funds. If it were not for the support of the French government, the canal company would have gone bankrupt before the canal was dug.

Franz, who is used to making a fortune in silence, naturally would not yell that the whole world knows that others are unwilling to invest, so he just happens to get a bargain.

Considering the harm of eating alone, Franz decided to let the government take the lead, otherwise the future wealth would be filled with the royal family's pockets, which would easily cause criticism.

"The economic crisis has not passed yet, and the market's tolerance is limited. The government subscribes half of the shares and puts them into the market for circulation."

There is no doubt that all stocks in circulation only have dividend rights, and the voting rights are still in the hands of the Vienna government and the Paris government.

History has taken a turning point. The Suez Canal, which was originally dominated by private capital, is now full of strong political significance.

London

The joint digging of the Suez Canal by France and Austria has brought a huge impact on the British government's railway plan, after all, the cost of water transportation is lower.

Once the Suez Canal is opened, the British's geographical advantage will decline, and the road from France and Austria to enter the Indian Ocean is closer than the British Isles.

Prime Minister Granville is not only worried about a Grand Canal, but more about the improvement of relations between France and Austria, which makes the London government uncomfortable.

Unlike in history, the Russians have not yet lost their continental hegemony, and both France and Austria are still potential competitors, not to the point of directly competing for hegemony.

Without sufficient interests, the two governments will naturally restrain each other. Austria is much stronger now than in history. After suffering a loss in the Near East War, the French became cautious.

"Everyone, the heated relationship between France and Austria has brought a huge impact on our continental balance strategy. What do you think?"

Chancellor John Russell said: "Your Excellency, you are too sensitive.

France and Austria cooperated on the issue of the Suez Canal. There are still many conflicts in other places, and it is unlikely that the two countries will truly join forces.”

France and Austria do have conflicts. Not to mention continental hegemony, the two sides have had many conflicts on the issue of African colonies alone.

However, this kind of small conflict exists among almost all colonial empires, and it has not risen to the point where the two countries are hostile.

Foreign Minister Thomas analyzed: "Under the Vienna system, the relationship between France and Austria has been very good over the past few decades.

It was not until after the February Revolution that the relations between the two countries gradually became cold. The relationship between the two countries was broken down and was still in the War of Reunification of the German War, and now they stand together again because of their common interests.

However, this will not affect our interests. As long as France and Austria have the ambition to compete for the European continent, the relationship between the two countries will sooner or later break down.

Even if the Russian-Austrian alliance, which is now intimate, will part ways sooner or later on the issue of continental hegemony, I don’t believe that the Vienna government has no ambitions.”
Chapter completed!