On November 14, 1873, the Southwest Africa Railway was completed. This major artery, which started from Guinea in the west and bordered Pretoria in the south, was built, and Austria's rule in South Africa was completely consolidated.

From exploration to completion, this strategic railway took more than ten years to work, and was the longest time, most difficult to construct and most investment in Austria so far.

Of course, only the main road is completed. The branch lines along the way may not be completed for another twenty years. The main reason is not that the construction is difficult or that the labor force is insufficient, but that the colonial government has no money.

The development of the African continent is relatively lagging behind, with limited government tax revenue and unable to support the construction of railways. The construction of main roads is a strategic need, and funds allocated by the central government.

This railway, which is as long as 7476 kilometers, costs as much as 74.286 million ASCH. On average, the construction cost per kilometer is nearly 10,000 ASCH, which is far more expensive than the local area.

This is based on the premise that there are free labor use. In order to build this railway, the colonial government recruited millions of workers and maintained a huge construction team of more than 200,000 people all year round.

After the main road is completed, the branch railways behind can only take a slow start. Railways with high economic value and high strategic value are given priority to construction, while railways with low value are placed as planning maps.

This southwestern Africa railway has created many records, such as: the largest investment, the most labor force is used, the longest distance is used, and the most new technology is developed and used...

If labor is converted into money, one more thing can be added: the most expensive long-distance railway.

Perhaps it is easy to build such a railway in the 21st century, but in this era, it is a well-deserved world record and a reflection of Austria's comprehensive national strength.

Although the Southwest Africa Railway is of great significance, Franz still did not go to attend the opening ceremony. There was no way to seasickness. If you were unlucky and died halfway through the road, the happy event turned into a funeral, it would be a tragedy.

In order to show importance, Crown Prince Frederick and Prime Minister Felix both went to attend the opening ceremony in person. Frankly speaking, Franz opposed it.

Prime Minister Felix is ​​73 years old. Although he is in good health, his medical technology is limited in this era. If he catches a cold along the way, he may get sick directly.

There is no way, the old guy is stubborn as a German, and he insists on going to the African continent for field investigation in person, and Franz can't stop him.

This is related to Franz's "African Localization Strategy". Many people in the Vienna government are skeptical. In recent years, the government has been sending people to conduct on-site inspections to make them feel at ease.

No matter how well the information is said, it is better to take a look. With a responsible attitude, Prime Minister Felix has always wanted to go to the field inspection in person, but the matter was delayed.

Frederick was only an accident. It was not his turn, after all, he was only 17 years old, and he was just a soy sauce when he went there and could not make a decision on behalf of the emperor.

It just so happened that the Habsburg family's grand dukes were very busy, and their two younger brothers were not in China, so the railway could not be allowed to wait for the railway to be closed.

The only idle person is Massimirino, but after thinking about it, Franz felt that sending his son in the past was more reliable than him.

Besides, Masimirino is now the emperor of Mexico and no longer the grand duke of Austria. It is rude to do this.

Just be smaller. Anyway, Prime Minister Felix is ​​still there. He can decide on the occasion of an emergency and major event.

In fact, after Franz's teaching for so many years, Frederick's ability is not bad, but he lacks experience.

Franz is in good health, and he has time to cultivate the next generation, so he will naturally not rush to pull out seedlings and encourage growth.

He came here like that, and as a time traveler, he felt a little difficult. If it weren't for the assistance of his old minister, Franz wouldn't have been in power so easily.

There has been no exchange of forms over the years. In addition to the continuity of politics, the friendship established in times of crisis was also an important factor.

Even if those heroes were not capable, they were confessed by Franz. In addition to their friendship, there were actually too many helplessness.

The emperor also needs to win people's hearts. It is right to hide the birds with all bows, but it is necessary to take them out and show them to show their glory to those who are later.

Franz can proudly say that he has never done anything about "the rabbit is dead and the dog is cooked", and he also wants to raise a dog to guard the family. In this great battle, there is no saying that horses will be put on the Nanshan Mountain.

...

Compared to Franz's calmness in Paris, Napoleon III is a hero in his late life. Although he did not have the failure of the Franco-Prussian War, he did not die in depression, but his body could not deceive people.

The indulgence left by the youthful indulgence is now revealed. If it weren’t for the good luck, with Eugen, the crown prince, he would have been lucky enough to work hard all his life and would have to make wedding dresses for others.

European illegitimate children cannot inherit the throne. Napoleon III's life was unrestrained in his youth. When he was in his forties, various diseases began to appear, including kidney disease, bladder stones, chronic bladder disease, prostatitis, arthritis, gout and obesity.

In the face of disease, no distinction between high and low. Napoleon III was still defeated by the disease in his lifetime, and is now trying to instill his experience in his son.

This is not a stupid drama. I want my son to grow up happily. As the heir to the French Empire, if he had no skills, Louis XVI would be a ready-made example.

In this regard, Napoleon III is worthy of pride. He can counterattack the throne from the exiled royal family, and his life is a legend.

There is one person behind the original time and space, and it is only a little short of completing this great cause again. However, with the intervention of foreign forces, he chose to retreat at the last moment and did not forcefully restore the throne.

Napoleon III put down the newspaper in his hand and asked, "What do you think about the storm in the Balkans?"

Reflecting on a little bit, Crown Prince Eugen: "It is a coincidence that the Greek coup and the Bulgarian uprising happened almost at the same time.

According to the intelligence we collected, just a few days before the incident, the Austrian police wiped out an independent Balkan organization in the Macedonian region.

Looking at it separately, there is no connection between these things, and it is a big problem to look at them together. Initial judgment, someone should be instructed behind this.

But the people behind the scenes are wrong and overestimated the Balkan independent organization and failed to launch a rebellion in Austria."

Napoleon III nodded and shook his head again: "The analysis is good, so who do you think this is done? Or who has the greatest suspicion and what is the ultimate goal?"

Without any hesitation, the Crown Prince Eugen made a judgment: "I guess it was the Ottoman Empire. Affected by the agricultural crisis, Russia and Austria suffered heavy losses, and they needed to transfer the crisis to the outside world.

The Ottoman Empire happened to be their common enemy. The hatred between the two sides lasted for hundreds of years. Now the Ottoman has declined and has become the flesh at the mouths of both countries.

Some time ago, there was news that the two countries were going to join forces to revenge the Ottoman Empire. Austria did not make much noise, but the Russians were already preparing for war.

The accuracy of this news is as high as 80%. The Sudanese government felt the crisis and took action in advance to cause trouble for them and buy time for themselves.

However, there is something wrong with the Bulgarians and the Ottoman Empire. Even if they want to make independence, they will look for us or the British to support us."

Napoleon III smiled slightly: "Yes, on the surface, the Ottoman Empire is the most suspicious, but in fact the most unlikely is the Sudan government.

If they had this strength, they would not have fallen into the current land. At the same time, they would not have been able to control the Greek coup, the Bulgarian uprising, and the Balkan independent organization without showing any flaws. This is not that easy.

Without long-term preparation, it would be impossible to do it. There are not many countries in the world who can do this. We are one, but we definitely didn’t do it.

And the UK and Austria are experts. Remember, if there is such a riot and revolution that cannot be found in the future, more than 90% of the UK and Austria are doing it. Just keep an eye on London and Vienna.”

While speaking, Napoleon III showed a deep fear. If possible, he wanted to kill these two biggest enemies and leave a solid empire.

Unfortunately, both enemies were unscathing and did not give Napoleon III a chance to take action. After being emperor for twenty years, France was rejected by European countries for more than half of the time.

The leaders in charge were Britain and Austria. Napoleon III was sure that as long as he was not careful with one move, the anti-French war would begin.

Fighting alone, France was not afraid of any enemy, but the enemy had to play in groups! This forced Napoleon III to be cautious, fearing another anti-French war.

As a military emperor, it is a pity that he has never been able to live a war in his life.

Eugen asked in confusion: "Why is there Austria? They are also victims of the Balkan storm. There is no reason to do this?"

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Napoleon III coughed for a while, and Eugen quickly slapped his reserves. Then he poured a glass of water and handed it to Napoleon III.

After taking a sip, he paused for a moment. Napoleon III: "Think carefully, what exactly did Austria lose and what did it gain?

In the future, you must be more careful when dealing with Franz. Especially when it comes to interests, you should weigh the pros and cons first and then decide if you can’t figure it out.”

This is a lesson learned by Napoleon III. Since the annexation of the Kingdom of Sardinia, France has been broken on the road to annexation of Italy.

At first, Napoleon III did not find any problem, but as time went by, he gradually understood.

Everything in Italy is good, but it has no resources. It looks very plump, but its actual value is not as good as the land west of the Rhine.

An open plot brought France into an embarrassing situation. Now many French resources need to be imported, especially coke used for steelmaking. The output of French African colonies cannot meet domestic demand and can only be imported from Britain or Prussia.

But there is still hardship. In everyone's opinion, annexation of Italy is a great victory for France. Now I can't let go, so I can only bite the bullet and digest it.

Before digesting the Italian region, France needs strategic contraction. The pace of overseas expansion has slowed down, let alone the European continent that has a single blow to move its entire body?

Seeing Eugen thinking, Napoleon III added: "The same is true for the British, and we should not take it lightly when dealing with them.

Don’t look at Britain, France and the Austrians are allies now. In fact, everyone wants to stab the knife in the back and kill the other party.

Franz is not a person who seeks fame and has never violated the contract for so many years. It’s not that he has good reputation, but that the interests are not big enough to make him breach the contract.

Not to mention the British, they are more vigilant than being enemies as allies. The Near East War is an example, if they hadn't stabbed the knife in the back, we wouldn't have lost."

Even now, Napoleon III was still worried about the failure of the Near East War and recorded this account on the British.

There is no way, who made the French military chess defeated a move and sold by the British and Sardinians? Sardinia won’t say that they have paid the price and become part of France.

The seemingly failed British people became winners after the war, and Napoleon III, who was cheated, naturally couldn't swallow this breath.

...

(Note: Eugen's full name is Napoleon Eugen Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon III's first illegitimate son, also known as Eugen, is not alone)
Chapter completed!