Chapter 1079: The Mediterranean Sea Is Our Inland Sea

  Chapter 1058 – The Mediterranean Sea is Our Inland Sea

With Franz’s intervention, the Admiralty’s plan for an all-heavy-gun battleship was passed as a matter of course.

There was no fanfare or deliberate secrecy.

After all, it was only a test ship, and no one could guarantee success. On the path of exploration of naval technology, the Vienna government had already stepped on too many potholes.

There is no accident, after each failure, will attract a group of “hindsight” attack. It makes the Ministry of the Navy look like a waste of taxpayers’ money.

In fact, the failure of the new technology is nothing, the key is the Navy’s lack of convincing war record. If the Army had a better record, there would be no such criticism.

“Learn from your mistakes.”

After the lessons learned from the previous experience, the Admiralty took a cold approach when it came to exploring new technologies and ideas.

It was enough to announce it to the public and enjoy the applause if it succeeded. If it failed, it was natural to swallow the bitter fruit in silence.

This was the price that had to be paid for being at the forefront of the times. In the field of scientific research, there is never a so-called constant victory. Behind every success, there are countless failures piled up.

Of course, the same gap exists between failure and failure. The test ship’s performance failing to meet the design requirements or the lack of real-world capability could be forgiven, but the basic mechanics still had to be followed.

If a ship is built and sinks before it even leaves the harbor, it will be held accountable.

No publicity can be, but “secrecy” is not necessary. In fact, warships such as big things, once on the platform can not keep secret.

Battleships of the 19th century are the embodiment of a country’s highest industrial level. To build a qualified battleship, at least hundreds of related enterprises to cooperate.

With such a big commotion, there was no way to hide it from the past. The only thing that could be hidden was the performance parameters of the warships, and the construction of the warships was not a secret at all.

Even in the Holy Roman Empire, there were only a few shipyards capable of building battleships. Early on, they were targeted by international spies, and once the materials were shipped in, they knew that they were building ships.

Of course, if the Vienna government was willing, it could also play strategic deception. Putting merchant ships in the dockyards of battleships could be equally fooling.

Except that it wasn’t necessary. Franz would have poked the parameters of an all-heavy-gun battleship if he hadn’t been worried about being too deliberate and arousing British suspicion.

Arms race, naturally, people have to participate in it. If the British do not know, how to play?

“Secrecy”, using the advantages of new technology, to hit the enemy a surprise attack, that only exists in theory.

The most important thing is that the Dreadnought is full of uncertainty. No one can guarantee success until the ship is launched.

If he was 100% sure of success, Franz would not have minded to start construction of a dozen or so ships and catch the British by surprise immediately after they were commissioned.

As a matter of fact, the road to the birth of the original space-time dreadnought was full of twists and turns. Everyone only saw the success of the British, no one paid attention to the setbacks experienced behind the scenes.

Ten years ahead of time, Franz can not guarantee that the Admiralty’s “Dreadnought” program, really perfect.

It would have been embarrassing if the design had been flawed and a bunch of toys had been built that had no combat value. The emperor could not afford such a political risk.

Gambling was a taboo for monarchs, and the people wanted a stable emperor.

It is only when a small country has no more options that it needs to take risks; when a large country has more options and a higher margin for error, conservatism is king.

The parameters of the warship were not leaked, the outside world just thought of it as an ordinary battleship, Shen Luo built it almost every year, naturally it did not cause waves.

For all of this, Franz was not in the least bit anxious. Anyway, when the warship was launched, the British would know. The London government would be even more irritated by then.

According to the plan, the first “all heavy gun battleship” of Shinra would be started in early February 1898, and if nothing happened, it would be launched in 1899, which was the same year as the first battleship of Shinra. If there were no accidents, the ship would be launched in 1899.

The Central Asian Railroad opened at about the same time. With the threat to maritime hegemony and India at the same time, the British government was likely to be driven mad, if not mad, then mad with anxiety.

……

In the evening, the Spanish Embassy in Vienna was brightly lit, and with a burst of music, a diplomatic ball began.

“Your Excellency the Minister, we really don’t have any prying eyes on your colonies, don’t you get tired of trying this for three days?”

Shen Luo Foreign Minister Weisenberg, who was invited to the banquet, was now having a huge headache. Don’t know where the Spaniards got the news of Shen Luo’s plans for Morocco, and in recent times Minister Bullard has been pestering him every day.

In order to verify the authenticity of the news, Weissenberg not only looked for the military and colonial ministry, and even sent a telegram to ask the province of Algeria, all said that “recently” there is no similar plan.

However, no matter how Wessenberg explained, the Spanish Minister Brad did not believe him.

Well, this is not surprising. The absence of recent plans for Morocco does not mean that there have been no plans in the past, let alone in the future.

In the matter of overseas colonization, the Viennese government was fully decentralized.

Not only can the military and the Colonial Office take the lead in opening up colonies, but overseas colonial governments, nobles, and civic groups can also open up colonies.

Generally speaking, before the start of colonization activities, it is sufficient to report to the nearest government, and there is no mandatory requirement.

In any case, whoever is in charge is responsible for the success of the colonization, and the Vienna government recognizes it retroactively. If a non-government planner fails to start a colony, he or she is responsible for the consequences.

In recent decades, the Vienna government issued colonial licenses, not 100,000 or 80,000. The number of groups and individuals with colonization credentials is enormous.

There are all kinds of birds in a big forest. With so many colonial groups, there are definitely not a few that have their sights set on Morocco.

Among them, there are a few Iron Bean, the colonization plan they made leaked into the hands of the Spanish government, that is more than normal.

Weissenberg had encountered similar protests many times. Not to mention the Spanish colonies, even the English colonies, the same people dare to spy.

As a rule, these remained in the planning stage. Without the support of the Viennese government, there were still few who dared to take practical action.

Weissenberg can only guarantee that the official Shen Luo did not hit Morocco’s idea, as for whether there are people in the private sector to make things happen, it is none of his business.

In any case, Spain is also a medium-sized country, not a few civil colonial groups can provoke.

In Weissenberg’s opinion, Minister Bullard’s current nervousness was completely trivial.

As if he had been stepped on by his tail, Bullard flatly denied, “Your Excellency the Minister, I really didn’t try.

As you know, we have been suffering from the war in recent years, and the government’s finances are under great pressure.

Although the colonial rebellion was suppressed not long ago, it will still take a long time for the local economy to return to normal.

Within the next few years, our colonies will not only be unable to create wealth, but will require the government to pour money into them instead.

In order to minimize our expenses, we are planning to sell Morocco after a careful study. Considering our traditional friendship with your country, I have prioritized contact with Your Excellency.”

Obviously, Weissenberg’s denial, not only did not clear the suspicion, but also made Minister Bullard firm up the domestic judgment.

Since it was determined that Shinra was plotting against the Moroccan region, the defenseless Spanish government naturally had to find a way to stop the damage.

Anyway, can not keep, then we must find a way to sell a good price. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find buyers these days, the Moroccan region of many countries eyeing the tiger, dare to take the tiger’s mouth but no country.

Even the British, but also not willing to run for a Morocco, and Shen Luo as neighbors.

For the British government, the longer the border line on land and Shen Luo, the greater the pressure to bear.

Buying the Moroccan region was easy, the problem was what to do after the occupation? Can’t deploy hundreds of thousands of troops to face off with Godroe just for the sake of a Morocco, right?
Sea power countries running to the continent to play confrontation with land power countries, that is definitely a sign of a brain in the water.

To put it bluntly, the Spanish government also only has a nominal suzerainty. Still obtained by illegal means, the Moroccans simply do not recognize.

If Spain completely occupied the Moroccan region, and established a complete order, it is possible that there are still people who dare to take the tiger’s mouth.

After all, to this point, the Vienna government has begun to face, it is impossible to rob everyone colonies for no reason.

Unfortunately, all the Spanish government could sell was a nom de plume. At most, add the control of the northern region, only this control area is not only limited in size, even the control is very lacking, from time to time to face the threat of indigenous tribes.

In this context, spend a lot of money to buy Morocco, not only may offend the Vienna government, but also their own troops to go to war with Morocco, obviously a loss of money.

No one is willing to pay a big price, the Spanish government can only hit the idea to the head of the Vienna government.

After a long time of contact and understanding, the Spanish government found that the Holy Roman Empire is different from the previous European hegemony, this is a pay attention to food and image of the Lord.

For the Spanish government, the Vienna government to face is the biggest “good”. Since the boss pay attention to their own image, then we can not take advantage of the fire.

Even for the purpose of “a thousand dollars to buy bones”, do not want to bear the bad reputation of bullying little brother of the Vienna government, but also must give a high price.

Colonies as a kind of wealth, itself can be traded. In the original time and space, the Spanish government also almost sold Cuba, but the United States manpower black a little.

Although the offer to buy, but the conditions are full of traps of blank checks. You should know that the dollar was not an international currency at that time, and the U.S. government was only willing to pay the dollar, and it was not a one-time payment.

If the 100 million U.S. dollars into 100 million pounds, and cash payment, it is estimated that there is no later U.S.-West War.

Words have reached this point, Weissenberg also lazy to continue to explain. Misunderstanding on the misunderstanding, want to do the hegemony can also be afraid of people misunderstanding not.

Since the Spanish government dares to sell, the Vienna government dares to buy. In any case, Morocco is also a rare good place in Africa.

Not only is there a piece of fertile land, there is also a “cool country under the hot sun”, “the garden of North Africa” reputation. More importantly, it can hold the Mediterranean Sea to the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean.

In the hands of the Spanish government, Morocco’s strategic value is infinitely close to zero. Once in the hands of God Luo, it will be able to lock the western gate of the Mediterranean Sea.

When the domestic media boasts, it can add another sentence: “The Mediterranean Sea is our inland sea”.

Although this boast is a bit unselfish, but think than the same as the Mediterranean countries of Spain, France, Greece, Montenegro, Sardinia and other countries, will not have too much to say.

With the military and political gains added, even just a nominal suzerainty, the same is not likely to be cheap.

Pausing for a while, Weissenberg slowly said: “Well then, since your country’s financial difficulties, then sell the Moroccan region, we can also understand.

Just your country does not have full control of the Moroccan region, the Kingdom of Morocco still preserves a certain strength, so in the price will have to make a discount.

If your government really wants to sell at a good price, I suggest that your country still send troops to occupy the Moroccan region, and then talk to us.

In that case, we will definitely give a price that will satisfy your country, and will definitely not make your country suffer.”

Knowing that “encourage Spain to send troops to Morocco” is not realistic, Weissenberg still do not mind throwing out.

Not to pressure the price, mainly to let Minister Brad recognize the reality, do not think that the Vienna government needs to pay attention to the appearance, they can take Shen Luo as a wrongdoer.

The words just fell, Minister Brad’s face is wonderful. If Spain had the strength to finish off the Kingdom of Morocco, there was no need to wait until now.

As the closest country to the European powers, Morocco has been able to maintain its independence for so many years, in addition to the mutual restraint between the powers, their own strength is also an important factor.

To know, in order to deal with a few indigenous tribes in the north, the Spanish government has been tossed back and forth a number of times, have not completely solved the problem.

Sending troops to destroy the Kingdom of Morocco is just as easy to say. If you really go to implement, do not know how much military expenses need to be spent.

Weissenberg mouth “satisfactory price”, Brad directly chose to ignore. This kind of words to listen to on the line, if you take it for real that will become a fool.

“Your Excellency, with our current situation, it is no longer suitable to continue to wage war. For Spain, the most important thing right now is to recuperate.

As for the Kingdom of Morocco you mentioned, there is actually no need to care at all. It’s just an indigenous kingdom, and to your country, they can be wiped out without much effort.

You don’t even need to mobilize your army, as long as your government gives you a signal, you can exterminate Morocco ten times with your civilian army alone.

A little dust like that won’t affect this sale at all.”

Touting, shameless touting. In order to sell the Moroccan region at a good price, Minister Bullard had clearly given up his modesty.

Knowing that Brad was touting, Weissenberg still laughed nonchalantly. Hegemony should be hegemonic momentum, if you do not have confidence in their own strength, then how to mix?
Besides, Brad’s boasting was not excessive. The Kingdom of Morocco is really not a problem for Shen Luo, in the issue of expanding colonies, Shen Luo’s civil armament has a super high enthusiasm.

If God Luo puts all the civil armies together, not to mention the destruction of the Kingdom of Morocco, even if it is to kill Spain is not a problem.

If one were to get a ranking of the world’s land forces, then it would be:

First, Holy Roman Empire;
Second, the Russian Empire;

Third, Holy Roman Empire noble private armies;
……

There’s no way around it, these guys have earned their status by fighting from the battlefield, sword by sword. They may not be able to do anything else, but they definitely don’t wimp out in war.

Before this group of military powerhouses went to meet God, the noble private army of the Holy Roman, were an important armed force.

“Your Excellency the Minister, there is no point in talking about this. Since your country genuinely wants to sell the Moroccan region, let’s start with a price?”

It could be seen that Weissenberg was in a good mood. It seemed as if Brad’s boasting had happened to have an effect, and it also seemed as if he was satisfied with the sale.

Minister Brad: “Well, Your Excellency the Minister. The Moroccan region has a very high economic value, military value, and political value, and I think 300 million guilders is a reasonable figure.”

(End of chapter)