If it weren’t for political antagonism, solving the agricultural crisis would have been quite simple. A few grain-exporting countries could have banded together, raised grain prices uniformly, and divided their export quotas, effectively resolving all the issues. This is similar to how OPEC operates in later times, where member countries intentionally control oil production to avoid cutthroat competition, ensuring the interests of all member countries. Unfortunately, Prussia, Poland, and the Russian Empire were already mortal enemies, and the Russian government would never agree to a reconciliation. This was a matter of principle. Even when Alexander III, a known pacifist, came to power, there would be no compromise on this issue. The Russian people could tolerate failure, but not submission. The Russian Empire grew strong thanks to its tenacious spirit. If that spirit were broken, the empire would crumble as well. Reaching this point required enduring multiple failures, which made it impossible for the Russian government to yield to Prussia and Poland. If they dared to compromise, a revolution would surely erupt in their country. The Russian government didn’t collapse after the First Russo-Prussian War, thanks not only to Austrian support but also to the political legacy left by Nicholas I—a loyal army that ensured the stability of the regime. Alexander II was no ordinary ruler. After the war’s defeat, he acted decisively, using the opportunity to purge government parasites and curb the arrogance of the conservatives, laying the groundwork for reforms. Although Austria appeared to be the biggest loser after the agricultural crisis, the real loser was the Russian Empire. While Austria was the top grain exporter, much of what it exported was processed grain with industrial-added value, which offset some of the losses. Moreover, certain snack producers not only avoided losses during this crisis but even increased their profits. No matter how much raw material prices dropped, the market prices for snacks remained relatively stable. These seemingly insignificant small products actually brought in considerable profits. If someone were to investigate the details of Austria’s agricultural exports, they would find that the total sales of canned goods, biscuits, chips, chocolate, and other processed foods exported from Austria have already surpassed the total sales of raw grains. Currently, there are thousands of registered food brands in Austria, and if these snack categories were to be further subdivided, there would be hundreds of different products. In pursuit of profit, capitalists have invested heavily in research, leading to the emergence of new food products almost every day. Only those that withstand market scrutiny can survive. Otherwise, they quickly disappear from the public’s view. Capitalists often organize food festivals, inviting people to taste new snacks and collect data. If a product receives widespread praise, it is promoted and sold. If the public rejects it, it is promptly removed from the shelves. In addition to independent research and development, capitalists also send people around the world to collect delicacies. In the face of profit, no one can resist, and even foreign flavors are produced locally. Any snack that sells well in the market is also produced in Austria. These seemingly insignificant items are actually the true backbone of Austria’s agricultural exports. In contrast, the export of processed grains has become secondary, primarily relying on volume to generate profit. The profit margin is far lower compared to these processed foods. Perhaps in the future, these small products may be produced by family workshops, but in this era, they are still considered high-tech products. To say nothing of other aspects, just the production of food packaging bags is something that only a few countries can manage. Preservation techniques are also a challenge. In this era, it’s not uncommon for capitalists to use mercury as a preservative. This kind of large-scale food export can’t afford to take such risks. If something goes wrong, it could lead to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people suffering from food poisoning—an event too large for anyone to handle. This demands advanced chemical technology. Overall, it’s still quite chaotic. Besides the commonly used table salt, there are all sorts of preservatives, which can only be said to be slightly less harmful than mercury. The only guarantee is that the food won’t cause immediate poisoning. Otherwise, it wouldn’t pass Austrian customs inspections. Since this concerns the entire agricultural export industry, the Austrian government takes it very seriously. The long-term effects of consuming these products are unknown. In any case, Franz never touches these packaged foods, and such junk food is never seen in the entire Vienna court. These are minor issues. People’s lifespans are already short, and perhaps the side effects won’t even have time to manifest before they meet their maker. So far, no one has come forward to denounce the harmfulness of these junk foods. No matter how harmful they might be, at least they taste good. These long-lasting junk foods are a favorite among sailors, becoming essential supplies for long voyages and spreading around the world during the Age of Exploration. With these industries as support, Franz can remain calm despite the shrinking of the processed grain export market. However, some are growing anxious. As Austria’s processed grain export market shrinks, domestic processing companies naturally reduce production, and the first to be affected are Poland and the Russian Empire. The Polish government was forced into action. With the Austrian government raising tariffs, Polish agricultural products were effectively blocked from the market. With large quantities of agricultural products unsold, not only do the farmers suffer, but the nobles and capitalists are also struggling. The government, in an effort to navigate the crisis, deliberately stirred up Austro-Polish tensions to divert attention. Of course, “provocation” wasn’t part of the Polish government’s plan. They had only intended to make some noise domestically, without actually confronting Austria. After clarifying the positions of various countries, the Polish government, while not fully accepting Austria’s terms, quickly offered explanations and apologies. As the mastermind behind the scenes, the Prussians were not about to let the Polish government off so easily. The news soon leaked, causing an uproar in Polish public opinion. The unfortunate soul who “committed suicide” suddenly became a national hero, with patriotic youths waving flags and protesting outside the Austrian embassy in Warsaw. The Polish government understood the severity of the situation. Further provoking the Austrians might actually lead to an invasion. Prime Minister Dąbrowski promptly dispatched police to block the streets, leading to violent clashes between the protesters and the police. The Polish government initially intended to deflect a crisis but instead found themselves facing a political one that spiraled out of control. Except for some reckless and naive youths, all the political figures knew that provoking Austria at this time was suicidal. It was no secret that the great powers liked to use war to divert internal crises. With Austria experiencing an agricultural crisis, wasn’t Poland asking for a beating by provoking them at this time? Poland is also a major agricultural country, holding a 13% share of the European grain export market. If the Austrian government wanted to eliminate a competitor and take this opportunity to teach them a lesson, it wouldn’t be difficult. As long as they didn’t expand, the other European countries wouldn’t even interfere. The Polish government was forced to suppress the wave of anti-Austrian sentiments at home, and the Austrian government begrudgingly accepted their apology, making it seem as though the Austro-Polish conflict had come to an end. However, this was only the view of ordinary people. The frequent activities of Austria’s Foreign Ministry indicated that something was brewing. The atmosphere in Europe suddenly became tense, and the smell of gunpowder grew stronger. In Berlin, the Prussian government was deeply disappointed that Austria didn’t immediately take action against Poland. As one of the victims of the agricultural crisis, the Prussian government naturally wanted to overcome the crisis as soon as possible. Stirring up the Austro-Polish conflict was a plan that could achieve multiple goals. Not only could it alleviate the agricultural crisis, but it also presented an opportunity to annex the Kingdom of Poland. The international situation was clear: Britain and France didn’t want to see Austria continue expanding on the European continent, and Austria didn’t want to see Prussia and Russia grow stronger. In the eyes of the Prussian government, Austria’s wariness of the Russians should have been greater than their wariness of Prussia, or else Austria wouldn’t have remained so passive during the last Russo-Prussian War. If Austria had fully supported the Russian government, there’s no doubt that at the very least, the Russian army wouldn’t have lacked strategic supplies. It would simply involve changing the marching route to move along Austria’s borders. By keeping supplies within Austrian territory and transporting them when needed, the Russians could even save on stationing troops. With that strategy, no matter how formidable the Prussian army might be in battle, they would eventually succumb to the Russian forces and their overwhelming numbers. Wiliam I, with a complex expression, waved his hand and said, “Franz, that old fox, is really patient. We handed them the perfect excuse, and yet he still hasn’t acted against the Poles. It seems Austria’s strategic focus truly isn’t on the European continent anymore. Could it be that their African integration strategy isn’t just a smokescreen?” No one could answer that question, but most countries believed Austria’s African integration strategy was merely a diversion, primarily to distract everyone and create opportunities for unifying the German territories. There was no need for further reasoning. Europeans of that era were simply that proud. To them, land outside the European continent was just uncivilized wilderness, with the African continent famously known as the “Continent of Poisonous Insects.” Austria’s expansion into Africa was, in reality, a tale of man’s struggle against nature. The greatest enemy they faced wasn’t the indigenous states or other great powers, but the harsh natural environment. Almost no one believed there was any need for localized development on the African continent. They were stubbornly convinced that the land on the European continent was far more valuable, particularly in Western and Central Europe, which they considered the best in the world. Prussian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Friedman said, “Your Majesty, the Austrians have already sent a political signal, hoping that we or the Russians will make the first move. It’s almost certain that they don’t intend to strike first.” The saying “the gun shoots the bird that pokes its head out” has always held true—those who make the first move are the most likely to suffer. Of course, if successful, they often reap the greatest rewards. Austria was a large country with a stable foundation. Whether they could expand on the European continent had become irrelevant to the Austrian government. This was not something Prussia could compare to. If possible, William I would also prefer not to continue expanding on the European continent. Europe is too complex, where even the smallest action can have far-reaching consequences. The Kingdom of Prussia had already established a foothold in the Indochina Peninsula, and if it weren’t for the threat posed by the Russian Empire, they would have joined the colonial movement as well. This real threat forced them to continuously strengthen their power but gradually building up through farming was clearly not enough. With a population of only 22 million, Prussia’s agricultural efficiency was far behind Russia’s 74 million. The fastest way to increase strength was through external expansion. Originally, the German Federal Empire was what they wanted most, but reality didn’t allow it. If the Kingdom of Prussia dared to make a move against the German Federal Empire, the Austrian government would likely compromise with the French, leading to a situation where Prussia would be attacked by a coalition of Austria, France, and Russia. With no other options, they had to settle for targeting the Poles. At least, in this matter, Britain and France were not too strongly opposed, and Austria was keen to see them clash with the Russians, so they were not likely to intervene directly. Looking at the map of Europe on the wall, William I sighed, “Alas!” After pacing back and forth for a while, William I pointed at St. Petersburg and felt much better. “We’ll keep waiting! Poland is still our ally, and for now, we can’t do anything. This agricultural crisis isn’t something that will be resolved quickly. According to the data released by Austria’s Ministry of Agriculture, the plans to cut production in various countries have all failed. Even Austria hasn’t been able to meet its reduction targets. There’s no need for them to fake these figures. We’re a prime example. This year, our domestic grain cultivation area hasn’t decreased but has instead increased. Implementing the Fallow Law won’t be easy. Austria is strong enough to withstand the losses caused by the agricultural crisis, but the Russians are not. Their grain production is the highest in Europe, so who will they sell all that production to? Meanwhile, Britain and France want to maintain stability on the European continent. Whoever stirs up trouble now will become their enemy.”
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