The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1232 People die for money
Vienna, Hofburg Palace.

Zhu Qiongying, who was forcibly called back, glared at Franz. After all, she had been called the prince charming for so many years and was a little angry.

After being repeatedly tormented by Franz, this time he asked her to go to the Qing Dynasty to receive refugees.

"You think you can threaten me? I'm not your toy, you can do whatever you want to me!"

Franz explained.

"No, it's not a threat."

Zhu Qiongying was delighted, as she felt that she had won the bet again. She was about to say something, but Franz continued.

"This is an order."

Zhu Qiongying's face turned ugly. She had endured the humiliation before, but now she really couldn't bear it anymore. However, Zhu Qiongying took a deep breath and spoke softly.

“Your Majesty, Franz, your request is not within the scope of our previous agreement, and our Southern Ming territory is limited and the population has reached its limit.

You don't allow us to compete with the Dutch for territory, so what can we do?"

Franz laughed.

"It's very simple. Just do what I say and I'll give you a new Jiangnan!"

"Really?"

Zhu Qiongying's eyes lit up after hearing this. Although she didn't like the guy in front of her, she knew that he was a man of his words.

"of course."

Franz answered affirmatively, then walked over and picked up Zhu Qiongying.

"But I will eat your secret for the rest of my life."

On the other side of the world, Australia, with an area of ​​774 million square kilometers, currently has only 43 residents, but its population will soon quadruple.

This is the charm of gold.

However, gold in Australia was not discovered in 1851 as people know it, but earlier in 1823 when a surveyor discovered gold by the river. After that, a geologist named Clark was ordered to investigate.

Soon the geologist made an amazing discovery, and he excitedly brought the large number of samples he had found to Governor George Gipps.

"Governor, we are going to get rich! There is a mountain of gold here! No! Maybe more than one!"

However, Governor George Gipps said solemnly after hearing this.

"Mr. Clark, put those things away quickly, or we'll have our throats cut!"

In fact, the Australian authorities regard security and stability as more important than gold. After all, this place was once a place of exile for British criminals, and various large and small public security cases have emerged one after another.

There are often outsiders, tourists, and even hired workers who mysteriously disappear in the local area. These cases are often defined as missing. After all, getting lost in Australia is a very normal thing.

Occasionally, mutilated bodies are found, which the authorities attribute to attacks by savages.

In fact, those officials were not unaware of what had happened, but they were afraid of retaliation and habitually pretended that nothing had happened.

After all, Australia is so huge and its wild resources are so abundant that as long as the murderer wants to escape, he can always find a place to settle down.

In the eyes of the British government, killing a person was nothing in Australia at that time. These descendants of demons would do anything as long as there was enough temptation.

Therefore, the Australian government was afraid that gold would cause unrest or even rebellion. In their view, it was not impossible for these criminals to establish an independent country like the Americans.

Later in 1839, another geologist put forward the same view, but it still failed to attract the attention of the authorities.

In 1847, a shepherd discovered gold under a fallen tree. In 1849, a goldsmith in Melbourne picked up gold while out. Not long after, a shepherd in Ballarat picked up gold.

In the same year, a builder on Gippsland Island accidentally discovered gold while repairing a fence, and rumors about gold continued to spread. Until the news reached Britain in 1851, gold diggers all over the world were crazy about it.

Franz had already started planning in Australia, but his goal was not gold.

In fact, it may be as difficult as climbing to the sky for ordinary people to mine gold under the noses of the British, but it is not difficult for the Austrian Empire.

However, petty theft could no longer satisfy Franz's appetite. Instead of engaging in small-scale mining privately, it would be better to cooperate with the British, which would benefit both parties.

However, even if they wanted to cooperate, it couldn't be done officially. This kind of thing could only be done in private. The lobbyist Franz chose was the Grand Duke Leopold I of Belgium.

After the Luxembourg Crisis, the Kingdom of Belgium had been downgraded to the Duchy of Belgium. However, after being a caged bird by the French for many years, especially after he was almost imprisoned during the Second Republic, Leopold I did not hate Franz and Austria as much as he did.

Leopold I was well aware that the core of the German Confederation was the Austrian Empire, and the fate of the Duchy of Belgium was in the hands of Franz.

Both sides were smart people, and they got straight to the point without much nonsense. The Austrian Empire provided people, equipment, and technology, and had already discovered the approximate location of the gold mine.

The British royal family only needed to issue a permit and allow the Austrian Empire to import labor and equipment. After deducting the cost of the gold mined, the two parties would split the profits 50-50 or the company would pay the British government 100,000 pounds a year.

Leopold I took a deep breath, he could not help but be shocked by Franz's courage. Whether it was a 50-50 split or a dividend of 100,000 pounds a year, it was a bit unrealistic.

After all, most of the gold mines in the world only produce 10,000 or even a few thousand pounds a year. After deducting the costs, Austria needs to mine at least 20 gold mines at the same time to ensure that it does not lose money.

To maximize the output of these twenty gold mines, tens of thousands of workers would be needed. Where could the Austrian Empire find so much cheap labor?
Are all the gold mines in Australia rich mines?
Leopold I shook his head, he thought it unlikely.

"Franz, my brother. Isn't this taking a risk?"

In response to Leopold I's temptation, Franz asked directly.

"Is there any business in this world that is guaranteed to make a profit?"

"But I see you look confident."

"If you don't believe you can win, what else can you do?"

Leopold I smiled.

"I believe the British royal family will accept your proposal."

"I wish you immediate success."

Half a month later, London, England.

Victoria and her husband were very excited to hear the news of Leopold I's visit, but they also felt a little guilty.

After all, when Belgium faced two life-and-death crises, Britain chose to stand idly by.

In terms of personal relationships, Leopold I was Victoria's uncle, Albert's uncle, and also the matchmaker between the two parties. Their relationship could be said to be very close.

It was for this reason that Franz chose Leopold I as his lobbyist.

"Uncle, will he blame us?"

Victoria asked a little nervously.

"No, as a king, he should be able to understand our choice. Moreover, both Britain and Belgium are constitutional monarchies, and the king cannot replace the will of the country with his personal will.

He will understand us."

Prince Albert hugged his wife and comforted her.

"Aren't you cheesy?"

Their eldest son, Edward, complained.

Thanks to book friend Zhan Wuliang for the reward.