Chapter 1123 The Fuse of War (3rd update, please subscribe)
In fact, not only the embassy in Constantinople discovered the problem, but also the embassies in Berlin and other places, as well as the commercial offices and branches. All the intelligence gathered in China at the same time.
From the Investigation Department to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then to various companies, the company investigation agencies shared the intelligence with the Investigation Department, and finally through the Investigation Department, the intelligence was incorporated into intelligence briefs and presented to Emperor Zhu.
"…We have reason to believe that the so-called Grain Law is a part of Bismarck's pro-Russian policy. According to the analysis of Wufeng and other companies, this law appears to be beneficial to wheat exports to Germany, but the quota system implemented under the pretext of protecting domestic farmers is obviously exclusive. If the company that controls the import quota purchases wheat from a fixed country, it will inevitably be difficult for wheat from other countries to enter the German market."
Qian Zizhuang, the Minister of the Imperial Investigation Department, would not deliver intelligence briefings personally in the past. Usually, there were special commissioners responsible for delivering briefings to the palace. However, today is different from the past. This intelligence is very important.
The reason why he emphasized the analysis of companies such as Wufeng is that compared with the agents of the Investigation Department, they are more professional in this matter. Take the new employees assigned to be responsible for wheat trade as an example. In addition to receiving professional knowledge training in wheat, they have to receive intelligence on the global wheat market, output, and origin every day at work. After several years of training and work experience, they quickly become experts. However, only experienced people can analyze and judge the value of intelligence.
A section chief of a company's overseas agency must have been with the company for at least ten years, and a director is required to have more than fifteen years of experience. Otherwise, even if a lot of intelligence is collected, if he does not know how to analyze and judge, the information may be of no value.
It is for this reason that Qian Zizhuang firmly believes in the conclusion of this intelligence.
"And what is the conclusion?"
"The conclusion is that Germany has already started its plot against the Roman Empire. According to current intelligence analysis, this bill is only part of Germany's pro-Russian policy. In the future, they will continue to increase their bargaining chips. Bismarck's ultimate goal should be to pull Rome to their side through similar means to what we did at that time."
Nodding slightly, Emperor Zhu took another look at the intelligence briefing in front of him, then he stood up from the desk and paced around the office.
Finally, he stood in front of the window, watching the flock of pigeons flying in the sky outside the window. They were passenger pigeons that had taken root in South America. This type of pigeon, which had been decreasing in North America, had now multiplied by hundreds of millions in the Ming Dynasty. They were migrating and flying in the empire.
When you stare at them, you get the feeling that a black cloud is moving in the sky.
However, Emperor Zhu did not pay attention to these. He was thinking about the problem brought up by Qian Zizhuang.
It's not just Bismarck's "pro-Russian policy", but the food problem in Germany. Any time travelers who have a certain understanding of the economic situation of the German Second Empire know very well how big the food gap will be in the future. Take 1880 as an example. Germany needs to import 2.2 million tons of wheat, 800,000 tons of barley and 200,000 tons of oats in one year! At the same time, the corresponding crop outputs in Germany were 2.4 million tons of wheat, 1.3 million tons of barley, and 470,000 tons of oats!
Not to mention how many gold marks Germany has to pay to import food each year!
But Germany must import food to meet domestic demand, and of course it also needs to import beef and milk powder, which is the strength of Ming Dynasty and has nothing to do with Russia. But food exports... are indeed Russia's strengths, and the Ukrainian region is known as the granary of Europe.
After turning around, Emperor Zhu looked at Qian Zizhuang, thought for a while, then walked to the table, nodded at the intelligence briefing, and asked:
"Well, how do you think we should handle this?"
"Your Majesty, this is an unusual incident. I think this is just the first step of the Germans. They will adopt other pro-Russian policies next. We should be prepared in advance."
"We need to be prepared, but we need to note that we can neither influence Germany to stop purchasing grain from the Roman Empire nor stop their exports!"
"We can't stop it, but we can find some ways to make the Germans stop importing it themselves!"
Emperor Zhu, who was standing next to his desk, took out a Cuban cigar from the wooden cigar box on the table and said with a smile.
"Germany needs to import food. No matter how much the Junker landlords object, they need to import food because the output of German land cannot meet the food needs of more than 50 million Germans. Therefore, they need to purchase food from foreign countries. We also export a lot of food to them, but what if their food production increases?..."
Emperor Zhu asked back.
"Food production has increased? Your Majesty? How is this possible?"
"How is that impossible? Fertilizer!"
Emperor Zhu laughed.
"Fertilizers can greatly increase food production, but by using fertilizers made from guano and saltpeter, crop yields can be increased a lot. As early as 20 years ago, German chemist Liebig proposed the "plant mineral nutrition theory" and established a fertilizer factory that produces potassium chloride. By applying fertilizers such as phosphate fertilizers and bone fertilizers, Germany's food production will definitely increase significantly. With the increase in food production, their demand for imports will be greatly reduced, but food importers will definitely not give up the cheap food of the Roman Empire. Under the dumping of cheap Roman Empire food, how can the Junker landlords in Germany ignore the losses?"
Emperor Zhu said with a smile, pointing to the briefing on the table.
"Even Bismarck needs the support of the Junkers in Congress. Perhaps he has won their support now, but when their grain production increases, the dumping of grain by the Roman Empire will be unacceptable. By then, Germany will start a trade war with the Roman Empire without our intervention. You know, grain... has been one of its most important exports since the Russian era."
What else?
They are wood and minerals. As for industrial products, Tsarist Russia, of course, exported raw materials and imported industrial products.
After a pause, Emperor Zhu took out a lighter, put the flame to the cigar, lit the cigar, took a puff, and then smiled.
"Since Bismarck thinks he can be friendly with Russia in this way, then we should increase the export of phosphate fertilizers. Phosphorus fertilizers have a very obvious effect on increasing grain production."
Phosphate rock!
The distribution of colonies in Africa is extremely extensive, and now is the time to increase exports.
"Let Bismarck learn what it means to shoot himself in the foot!"
In the past few years, the British have moved a lot of stones, and now it is Germany's turn to move the stones. Alas, it has only been a few years, and the Germans have also become arrogant!
Emperor Zhu muttered to himself while smoking a cigar and lamenting the Germans' arrogance.
"Did the Germans open up a colony in Southwest Africa? It looks like they're going to extend their reach into Africa as well!"
"Your Majesty, as we all know, Africa is the last virgin land! With no colonies to divide, it is only natural for me to reach out to Africa. Moreover, I am afraid they also have ambitions for our colonies in Africa."
Emperor Zhu Da agreed with his judgment.
"In the past, they thought that the interior of Africa was a barren land, but now the whole world knows that it is a very fertile land. There are even some people who are interested in the land flowing with milk and honey. Now that we have monopolized it, how can they not be jealous?"
Not only ordinary people but also countries are affected by red eye disease. When they see others occupying so many colonies, they will naturally be jealous of those countries that do not have colonies.
For this reason, it is conceivable that the war in the future will most likely be for the fight for colonies.
After all, the colony is a piece of fat meat that no one can ignore...
If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight.
Perhaps in the past few years, Emperor Zhu had won extremely vast colonies for the Ming Empire through speculation and adventure again and again, but this was only temporary.
Why is it temporary?
Because there is no blood!
There was no bloodshed between the Ming Dynasty and those powers because of known power, which is why there will inevitably be a war in the future.
This is of course the fuse of the future world war. If the Ming Dynasty wants to defend that vast living space, it must pay a corresponding price...
(End of this chapter)
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