In a farm in Texas, in the Confederate States of America, the flag is being raised at this moment, and the smoke is billowing from it, which can be clearly seen dozens of miles away.

Looking at the fire, Odell, as a farmer, had mixed feelings.

After living for most of his life, it was the first time he met a buyer who did not transport the grain after buying it, but burned it directly on the spot.

However, for the sake of Aegis's face, even if the buyer's request is bizarre, Odell will not refuse.

Still unable to hold back his curiosity, Odell asked the doubts in his heart: "Mr. Ulbert, our deal is complete.

But don't you think it's a pity that such a good grain is burned like this? ”

Urbert said helplessly: "There is no way, the French are sharpening their knives and are going to invade my homeland."

As a businessman, I couldn't afford to go back to my home country to fight, but I still wanted to do what I could.

Not long ago, news came from Europe that Austria had finally officially intervened. A proclamation was also issued ordering the French to cease their acts of war, or calling on the countries of the world to impose an embargo on French supplies.

It is said that thirteen countries have already announced their accession, which is the only chance to avoid war.

As long as the French cannot buy enough strategic supplies, they will not be able to launch a war of aggression, and my motherland will be barely threatened by war. ”

Naturally, there were announcements, and in order to occupy the moral high ground, Franz had issued a number of declarations in recent times to persuade the French to pull back from the precipice.

In the same way, when it falls on different people's ears, the effect is completely different.

In the eyes of the European public, Franz was doing his best to avoid war; In the eyes of the French, this is what Austria is afraid of.

On the one hand, he was dealing with diplomatic toughness, and on the other hand, he shouted the banner of peace, obviously not wanting to fight.

Except for being afraid of France, there was no need for Franz to stand up and shout meaninglessly. Even the threat is a weak material embargo, and there is no domineering attitude at all.

Many French also suspected that as soon as they made their own moves, Austria would retreat and easily seize Central Europe.

The embargo of the thirteen countries, it sounds scary, and anyone who knows the inside knows that it is a joke, just look at the participating countries.

Needless to say, there are three countries, Belgium, Germany, and Austria, which are mandatory, and then Greece and Montenegro.

If you look at the map, you can see that these two small countries had to join the embargo because their trade with the French had been interrupted since the Austrian blockade of France.

The rest of Sardinia, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Papal States, Tuscany, Lucca, Modena, and Parma, all of which are clearly French territory, have also announced their participation in the embargo.

There is no doubt that these people who are making fun are all announced by the government-in-exile on behalf of their own country, and it is impossible for the French-controlled state government to rebel at this time.

Coupled with an exile in the Mexican Empire in Austria, it was just enough to make up the embargo of the Thirteen Kingdoms.

Odell sighed: "You are really a patriotic businessman! But you don't just sell the grain to the French, so why burn it? ”

In these years, it is popular that capital has no borders, patriotic businessmen are definitely rare creatures, and most businessmen only have interests in their eyes.

Ulbert replied righteously: "I don't sell to the French, there are others who will sell grain to the French." As long as it is resold and sold, the final flow of food is not something I can control.

As far as I know, in order to put pressure on the French, the Austrian government also carried out sweeps in the market.

As long as the French government does not make concessions, the grain in their hands will not flow into France, and it is inevitable that food prices will continue to rise in the short term.

You know, I'm a businessman, and a businessman can't resist the temptation of profit.

In the unlikely event that food prices continue to rise in the middle of the process, I can't guarantee that I will be able to stand up for myself.

In order to avoid the worst from happening, it is better to burn. ”

……

Perhaps by accident, when the two were talking, they happened to meet a reporter from the daily newspaper Saint-Franco, who recorded all this with a pen.

When the newspapers published this news, it quickly caused a sensation in the Union State. Patriotic merchants would rather burn grain than sell it to the French, and such a touching story will naturally be widely circulated.

Soon there were frequent news of merchants burning grain everywhere, some patriotic merchants, some out of pure indignation, and no one wanted the French to buy grain anyway.

The bullish case emerged. Grain is a rigid necessity, before Austria rushed to buy, and then there were righteous merchants who burned grain, the grain circulating in the market decreased, and the price rose inevitably!

Fueled by the capitalists, everyone thought that the price of food was going to skyrocket, and even ordinary citizens began to hoard food.

Then, the price of grain traded in the Union countries began to soar, and there was a tendency to catch up with Europe.

Especially in the futures market, the price of grain trading after a few months has more than doubled.

A similar scene was played out not only in the Allied countries, but also in other American countries.

It's just that the script has changed, and the bullish ones are not necessarily grain, and other industrial raw materials have not been left behind.

……

The rise in prices is not only affecting the French, but also the whole world.

There is no way, the capitalists are too powerful. Austria is just starting a start, and the rest is up to them.

As the newspaper put it: "When the emperor gives an order, Europe trembles and the world changes."

Smoke rose from the farm, changing the color of the heavens and the earth; A mountain of flames was born in the coal mine, turning day and night upside down!

Poor people, still running for three meals a day, worrying about keeping warm......"

Whether the ironic news was sprayed by Franz or Napoleon IV is a question worth exploring.

However, Franz, who had a good attitude, directly tacitly acquiesced in satirizing Napoleon IV, and quietly sent someone to change the emperor to the French emperor.

Later, the act of burning materials was also interpreted as a means for the people to oppose the hegemony of France, but unfortunately it was used by unscrupulous capitalists, and finally hurt the world by mistake.

Foreign Secretary Wessenberg: "Your Majesty, these are diplomatic notes from various countries that want us to exercise restraint and stop our current economic tactics. ”

What should have come is still coming, in any case, the matter was also made by Austria, and there is nothing wrong with the protests.

But is the Austrian government responsible for rising prices?

The answer is: no!

No matter how rich the Austrian government is, there is no way to buy up all the world's supplies. In fact, only a small part of the materials were actually bought by the Austrian government.

Although the burning operation was first planned by the Austrian government, it was only for show, and thousands of tons of grain were burned before and after.

The materials bought with real money were burned, and Franz was not so brain-dead.

The incineration of materials is nothing more than an excuse for the capital market to believe that there is an imminent shortage of materials in the market, driving up prices.

In the case of insufficient domestic resources, it is natural to restrict exports. France is not a member of the free trade system, and it must be the unlucky one.

As for some small countries that were injured by mistake, Franz can only say that he regrets it. After all, there are no perfect tactics in this world, and it is inevitable that someone's interests will be damaged.

Franz asked with concern: "How much have the prices of goods in the international market risen compared to a year ago?" ”

Wessenberg: "Overall prices were raised by 31.4 percent, coal by 94.1 percent, food by 144.1 percent, steel by 79.7 percent......"

After hesitating for a moment, Franz said slowly: "The price is almost there, let's start shipping!" If it drags on like this, everyone will not be able to sit still. ”

Although economic tactics are good, the problem is that public anger is hard to make. If you keep playing, governments will definitely interfere.

In fact, the governments of various countries have been able to delay their protests until now, and the capitalists have also made great efforts.

Prices are determined by market supply and demand, no one can get along with money, Austrian sweeps push up prices, and the capitalists are the biggest beneficiaries.

In order to make huge profits, I don't know how many capitalists burn materials under the guise of resisting French hegemony, fueling the rise in prices.

Karl said in the opposite direction: "Your Majesty, we will start shipping now, and these materials will flow into the hands of the French......"

In a sense, the Austrian government is now shipping, increasing the war potential of the French, and it can be regarded as a kind of "capital enemy".

If Franz hadn't said it, if anyone else had proposed to sell the supplies he had hoarded overseas, Chancellor Karl would have greeted his entire family.

Franz shook his head: "I can't drag it anymore, the price has risen to a high level, and if we drag these materials any further, they will be smashed in our hands."

It was originally bought at a high price, and if you don't take advantage of the opportunity now and don't sell it, it will be difficult to sell it later.

As for the enemies you are worried about, they are completely superfluous. Even if we don't sell it, the French can buy it.

Do not forget that now the world of capital is overcapacity, not undercapacity.

The materials we hoard account for only one or two percent of the total market.

The French only had to delay the start of the war a little later, and all the problems would be solved.

The current international situation is not suitable for us to take the lead in provoking a war. Politically, it is the French who must fire the first shot, and we can only respond passively.

Now selling materials, not only selling the governments of the government a face, but also taking the opportunity to make a profit, by the way, pit the French, why not? ”

This is a fact, whether the French government wants to accept it or not, prices have already gone up anyway, and if you want to buy it, you must accept high prices.

After pondering for a moment, Prime Minister Karl nodded: "If this is the case, then we had better stimulate the French and provoke a war before shipping." ”

If you want to do it, you have to do it, and the highest point of prices must be after the outbreak of war. The biggest problem of the French delay in starting the war was that they did not have enough strategic materials in their hands.

Once the war continues, in less than half a year, they will be in trouble.

The French were not stupid either, naturally taking into account the consequences of the continuation of the war. After all, in addition to Bede, the enemy this time also has a giant Austria.

The decisive battle between the great powers cannot be ended in a single battle, and there is a chance to make a comeback if it fails. As long as the enemy refuses to compromise, it will not be over in a short time.

When the materials are bought, it does not mean that they can be used immediately, and they have to be shipped back to China for processing, which takes several months or even longer.