Since the Anglo-Boer War, Benjamin's cabinet has been in a political maelstrom. Not to mention considering re-election, it takes hard work to complete this term.

The Colonial Office took responsibility for this, and the Colonial Chancellor Louis and the Governor of Cape Town, Delphi, resigned at the same time, and the opposition continued to pursue the issue.

If it weren't for the "Triple Alliance" to attract the public's attention and divert the focus of public opinion, perhaps Downing Street would have changed owners by now.

This is not enough, and if the Cabinet is to cover up this stain, it must also make greater political and diplomatic achievements.

Relations with Russia are also part of this, and the capitalists need to open up the Russian market and make more profits.

Against this background, Aleksandrovich's visit to London was naturally welcomed by the London government.

……

"Your Royal Highness, we agree in principle to the question that your country wants to borrow. As long as you can convince the bankers, it doesn't matter how much you borrow. ”

Foreign Secretary McLean said in a personable manner that this was what he really thought. As long as the Russians can convince the bankers, no matter how much money is borrowed, the London government will not interfere.

Aleksandrovich frowned, if he could convince the banker, he would not have to deal with the British Foreign Office.

"Your Excellency, we are in trouble right now and need the help of your government."

When he said this, Aleksandrovich was strongly stimulated in his heart, and for a loan, he actually asked him, the crown prince, to ask for a low-level favor.

There was no way, people had to bow their heads under the eaves. If he had not come out in person, Aleksandrovich was sure that the bureaucrats in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would never have been able to negotiate results.

It's not that they're incompetent, it's mainly that the British want to put on a political show and improve the government's reputation among the people.

Compared with an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, talking to him, the crown prince, can add more topicality.

Aleksandrovich also needs this qualification to increase his prestige at home, and both sides can be regarded as taking what they need.

Foreign Secretary Maclean's smile smiled slightly, and said calmly: "We are also happy to help our friends, but there is a little trouble now."

The tariff barriers erected by your government have seriously affected the normal functioning of bilateral relations. If your country is able to join the free trade system, then none of this is a problem.

This is a win-win option, and once you join the free trade system, your country's agricultural exports will not be restricted in any way. It will be of great help to your country in solving its financial problems. ”

The free trade system, which was proposed by the British in order to open up the markets of European countries. The expansion of the British goods market was accompanied by the pound sterling - the golden settlement system, or rather, the introduction of monetary hegemony.

At present, the Russians are still practicing the gold and silver double standard, and once they join this system, they must carry out the reform of the gold standard currency.

The reform of the monetary system of the tsarist government had already begun, but it had been carried out with the help of Austria. As relations between the two countries cooled, the Russians' currency reform also came to a standstill.

This made the British see an opportunity and wanted to take advantage of it to replace it. Pull the Aegis-gold system into which the Russians have stepped from half a foot into the pound-gold system, thus distancing themselves from their competitors.

At present, there are three major systems in the international currency market: the British pound - the gold system, the Aegis - the gold system, the franc - the gold system, and the silver system.

There is no doubt that the British own Canada and Australia, the two major gold producers, and with so much colonial plunder accumulation, the pound-gold system naturally has the upper hand.

This was followed by the Aegis-gold system, and Austria's domestic gold production was not low, and the replenishment of gold on the African continent also occupied an important position in the international currency market.

However, there was still a long way to go before the British, and in order to make up for this gap, the Vienna government had been courting the Russians to join in.

It's just that Alexander II was unwilling to be a junior brother, and this issue was never discussed. After the outbreak of the financial crisis of the tsarist government, the two sides began negotiations again, but the bottom line gap between the two sides was too large, and it still ended in nothing.

In contrast, the French gold and silver standard system is more tragic. Gold production in France was too low to meet demand, and it had to adopt a double standard.

Although most countries in this era were on a mixed standard, the value of gold and silver coins changed frequently, which made it very difficult to settle.

To maintain the stability of the franc, the French also struggled. However, this still does not stop the fact that silver is depreciating.

The gold standard is undercapacity, and the silver standard is overcapacity. Silver production in this era had already begun to skyrocket, growing far faster than the wealth of society.

Aleksandrovich was silent, joining the British-dominated free trade system was too broad for him to decide.

Don't look at McLean's statement that loans are not a problem, it sounds very good, but in fact it is a big problem.

If nothing else, once tariff protection is lost, will Russia's fragile industry and commerce survive?

The free trade system of the British, why did not the industrial powers join? It's not that I'm worried about being hit by domestic industry and commerce, but British manufacturing is a guarantee of quality in this era.

The economic shock will also affect the political situation. Joining the British-led free trade system also had to take into account Austria's reaction.

Don't look at the relationship between the two countries is cooling, it is only political, and the non-governmental business contacts are still very close.

The Second Russo-Prussian War was already on the horizon, and both sides were preparing for war, and at this time Austria's importance became irreplaceable.

Even if it had joined the British free trade system, the London government could not have supported the Russian Empire in the Russo-Prussian War, and Prussia and Poland were the loyal little brothers.

Of course, as long as the tsarist government was willing to renounce hatred and take revenge on the two countries, then the British could also mediate the contradictions between the two sides.

This thought flashed through Alexandrovich's mind. It's true that he's a pacifist, but he's definitely not a virgin, and he's so brainbroken that he can't even put himself in the right place.

After thinking for a while, Aleksandrovich asked: "Your Excellency, I also know the benefits of free trade.

Your country's industrial strength is the largest in the world, and once there are no tariff barriers, I am afraid that it will not be long before China's nascent national industry will be crushed.

At present, the industrial population of the Russian Empire has exceeded 6 million, and if there is a problem, it will lead to a wave of unemployment and a serious threat to national security. How can these problems be solved? ”

Marquis McLean explained unhurriedly: "Your Royal Highness, you are really worried. There may be many industries that will be affected, but there are also many industries in which your country has advantages.

For example, in agriculture, your country's agriculture has the most potential in Europe, and once it joins the free trade system, it will be a matter of time before it overtakes Austria.

No one knows the scale of Austria's agro-processing industry better than you.

If your country relies on the advantages of local grain production to develop supporting processing industries, it will not be afraid of competition from anyone at all.

Your country can generate hundreds of millions of pounds in exports of agricultural products alone, and the profits in this are not enough to make up for the lack of other industries?

Not only agriculture, but also your country's abundant resources are also an innate advantage. As long as it is integrated, there is no fear of competition at all. ”

Aleksandrovich didn't show it on his face, but deep down he was already very disgusted. Except for provoking Russian-Austrian relations, everything else is false.

The international grain market is saturated, and now that the Russian Empire has joined it, it will at most get a piece of the pie. If you want to get to the level that Maclean's said, let's defeat Austria first!

My family knows that there is a serious gap between Russia and Austria in agricultural production technology, and this cannot be made up overnight.

Poor natural conditions are also an important factor restricting the export of Russian agricultural products. Among other things, the high shipping costs alone increase the cost.

In addition to these problems, agricultural processing technology is also an issue. First of all, these machinery and equipment must be imported, and the quality of locally produced machinery and equipment is not up to standard.

Secondly, there is a shortage of skilled workers, resulting in a high rate of defective products produced. This is a common problem of Russian industry and commerce, and even with the same machinery and equipment, they produce a higher rate of defective products than in European countries.

With so many problems, all added together, and a huge increase in costs, how can they compete with their competitors in agricultural exports?

The Russian Empire is rich in resources, and it should be added that - backward transportation. No matter how abundant the resources are, what else is there to say if they can't be transported?

It is possible to join the free trade system, but it will have to be done by the British. What Aleksandrovich needs is tangible benefits, not an illusory picture.

"Your Excellency, what you said is only the direction of future development, and in the short term the Russian Empire will not gain any benefits by joining the free trade system.

But the price we have to pay is very heavy, not only will domestic industry and commerce be affected, and even lead to the rupture of the Russian-Austrian alliance. It's not a reciprocal deal, and you shouldn't be so hypocritical with your friends. ”

Aleksandrovich deliberately accentuated his tone and expressed his dissatisfaction to McLean.

……

In the first round of confrontation, the two sides failed to test each other, and the negotiations came to an end for the time being.

However, Aleksandrovich was really tempted, whether the British were painting cakes or not, but it was indeed very tempting to be able to achieve hegemony in the agricultural export market.

Just thinking about competitors made him feel hopeless. At this time, the Russian Empire only exported grain to the outside world, and did not export other agricultural products, for not so many reasons, that is, transportation problems.

Fruits and vegetables, like fruits, were shipped from the Russian Empire to European countries for sale, and they were almost rotten halfway through.

Wheat, potatoes, beans, corn, were the fist products of the Russian Empire. The area under cultivation of cash crops is too small, and the share of exports is very small.

For example: cotton. Because of the production technology, geographical conditions, transportation and other factors, the Russians lost their competitiveness in cotton.

These problems cannot be solved overnight, and it is too difficult to make up for the innate deficiencies.

……