Chapter 277: Central Asian chaos

Due to Franz's butterfly effect, despite the Russians ’heavy losses in the Near East War, they won the coveted Constantinople, and the domestic crisis was suppressed in the face of victory.
After two years of self-cultivation, the tsarist government became restless again. It was only at this time that the Vienna system was rebuilt, there was no chance for them to expand on the European continent, and the tsarist government had to set its sights on Asia.
In October 1856, under the agitation of the Russians, the Persian dynasty captured Herat. The stimulated British immediately declared war on the Persian dynasty, and the British-Polish war broke out.
Herat borders the Persian Gulf to the west, the Caspian Sea and the Yaksalt River to the north, and the Indus River to the east. Its special geographical position determines its strategic position and has become an important part of the British-Russian battle for the Asian continent.
During the Near East War, the Russians planned to send troops to India, forcing the British to withdraw from the war, and Herat was the inevitable hurdle.
At that time, the Herat government feared that it would offend the British, rejected the Russians' request for excuse, and relations between the two countries deteriorated.
In order to remove this nail, the Tsarist government turned to support the Persian dynasty, and now even supports the Persian invasion of Herat.
Affected by the outbreak of the Central Asian War, the negotiations in the Gulf of Guinea also turned around. In order to gain the support of international public opinion, the British government had to make concessions.
Without the British crap, subsequent negotiations would be much easier. Because the entry time was too late, the French's local interests were not great, the Paris government did not make a vigorous effort to compete, and the remaining few countries did not compete for strength.
On November 1, 1856, the British, French, Western, American, Portuguese, Dutch, and Dutch countries signed the "Guinea Gulf Treaty" in Vienna, also known as the "Seven Nations Treaty."
The treaty stipulates that the coastal areas of the Gulf of Guinea use the actual occupied areas of various countries as the dividing line. Colonial strongholds of various countries must not attack each other. Whoever finds gold mines in inland areas belongs to whom.
On the surface, no one has suffered. In fact, this has determined Austria's hegemony in the local area, and Austria with its human advantage has the absolute advantage.
The United States, Spain, and France jointly occupy Liberia, Austria, Britain, and Portugal jointly occupy Sierra Leone, Austria, Portugal, France, and Netherlands jointly occupy Côte d'Ivoire, Austria, Britain, and Netherlands jointly occupy Ghana, and Britain and Austria jointly occupy more Brother, Austria owns Guinea.
The forces of the various countries in the Gulf of Guinea have crossed together, which has made it the most chaotic region in the world. The "Seven Nations Treaty" only temporarily suppressed the contradictions among countries and could not eliminate them.
Seeing the power distribution maps of various countries, Franz had nothing to say, it was completely intertwined. For example, the British in Togo had only a stronghold of several hundred people, but they just did not leave.
There is no way, this time the British Empire was so bullish at sea, even if Austria had the local advantage, they could not be expelled.
Franz didn't feel imbalanced, diplomacy was within the range of the artillery, and the British colonies could not be moved on the bright side. Couldn't it be a dark hand in secret?
Don't look at the crisscrossing powers of the Gulf of Guinea, think that the competition between countries is very fierce. In fact, it was only that the British played a role of scumming, and did not want to see Austria dominate the Gulf of Guinea. .
Without the power of so many countries, based on their local strength alone, the possibility of being squeezed out of the Gulf of Guinea is very high. After all, their advantages are at sea, and it will not work on land.
Unless the tortoise does not appear in the colonial stronghold, once you go out for colonial activities, you may be in danger. This is the African continent, and a little accident can't be more normal.
In order to avoid this situation, the London government only invited all countries to share the Gulf of Guinea. Anyway, I got the biggest benefit, and Franz naturally won't do it all.
Don't look at the strength of the countries here, but this also represents everyone's face and directly expels them, and Austria does not have to mingle internationally.
...
"My Majesty, the British-Polish war broke out, and the Russians want us to support their actions," Metternich said.
Support, you must support it! At least verbal support is needed, no matter how restless the Russians are, as long as they don't do things in continental Europe, Franz doesn't matter.
The West African negotiations had been deadlocked. It was impossible for the British with a navy advantage to easily concede defeat. As a result, the Russians immediately gave in.
Now is the crucial moment for the British to settle the Indian colony. The Russians beat the Persians to occupy Herat. Is the motive still doubtful?
Without the French as a fighter, the land may face the Russians. Even with the first mover advantage, the London government is not afraid to take it lightly.
Franz thought for a while and said, "The Tsarist government is looking for the obscurity of the British, which is convenient for us to expand overseas. What kind of support do they want?"
Metternich replied calmly: "In addition to diplomatic support, they want a loan."
It was another "loan", and Franz understood why the German-Russian alliance collapsed in history. This is not the stupidity of the William II government, it is because they cannot afford the Russians.
Don't look at the development of the German Empire at the time. It seemed very rich. In fact, as a new empire, they didn't have much capital accumulation at all.
No matter how fast the economy develops, it can't change the fact that they lack money. In the era of the gold standard, rival British people controlled most of the world's gold, and the German government must be cautious to issue additional currencies.
The size of the economy in the market is here. Unfortunately, the government reserves are not enough. It is good that the issued currency can meet their own needs. There is not much money for Russians.
In order to restrain the British, Franz decided to recognize and thought about it: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russians have talked well. If the loan amount is small, they can be promised, but they must have collateral."
Huge loans are impossible, and the Vienna government is not affluent, even if the use of loans is restricted.
With regard to the blind issue of currency, Franz is not afraid to act recklessly, even if there is sufficient gold reserves, the flood of money into the market will cause inflation. Even if economics is bad, he still knows this.
Metternich explained: "Your Majesty, the tsarist government will not be in battle in this war, so their funding gap will not be too big.
The victory in the Near East War, though, caused many people in the Tsarist government to drift away. But many people of insight have recognized their own strengths. They want to promote the reform of serfdom and have the support of Nicholas I.
After the war ended, Nicholas I was prepared to give all soldiers freelance status. As a result, the nobles used the excuse of inadequate compensation to join back.
Now that reformists and conservatives are in trouble, it is difficult for the tsarist government to concentrate on its external expansion in a short period of time. "
Franz asked with concern: "Is it possible for the tsarist government to use the opportunity of war to divert domestic attention and carry out serfdom reform?"
After a moment of contemplation, Metternich replied, "Your Majesty, this is almost impossible. The tsarist government is now very difficult to finance and they cannot raise so much money for war.
India is the most important colony of the British, and the London government cannot easily give up. Once this war breaks out, it will be protracted.
The tsarist government cannot know this. What they are doing now is nothing more than blocking the British and delaying the British annexation of India. "
Obviously, the Tsarist government also knows the strength of the British. As the biggest competitor, if it is not hindered, is it an enemy?
Launching a proxy war is a good choice. Although it is successful to make a lot of money, it does not matter if it fails. The tsarist government is also very experienced in selling teammates.
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