Greece to roman road

Promoting compulsory education and improving the literacy rate of the people are one of the necessary conditions for industrialization.

Compulsory education is as important to industrialization as rifles are to soldiers.

"In short, I will figure out how to use this money for compulsory education. I just need your cooperation from the government. This is a good political achievement, right?"

"If compulsory education in Greece is put on the right track during your term as prime minister, your name will be recorded in the history of Greeks."

"I need your Greek government to make a commitment to cooperate with the colonial operations in the Congo," Constantine made his request.

"As long as you are serious about compulsory education, you can rest assured that the Greek government will definitely cooperate," Trikoupis said.

"By the way, Prime Minister Trikoupis, I don't know if you have noticed that among Greece's current export commodities, seedless raisins account for an increasing proportion," Constantine said.

"I heard that there seems to be an insect infestation in the vineyards in Western Europe, and the grape harvest has failed in large areas," Trikupis said nonchalantly.

"And more and more people no longer plant wheat. You know, the land in Greece has a low yield of cereals. Considering the economic benefits, people are naturally willing to plant grapes. The climate in Greece is suitable for the growth of grapes."

Greece's climate type is a Mediterranean climate, which is very unique.

Most climate types are characterized by relatively abundant rainfall in summer and drought in winter.

However, the Mediterranean is very different.

It has dry and hot summers and mild and rainy winters.

Such climate characteristics are contrary to most plant growth needs.

But this climate is ideal for growing wine grapes.

"But Greece is now importing more and more wheat. No matter how serious the grape disaster in Western Europe is, it will pass sooner or later, and people will definitely find ways to deal with it."

"At that time, once the British and French vineyards recover, Greece's raisin exports will immediately suffer a major setback. They are likely to directly increase raisin import tariffs to help the country's vineyards restore production capacity. Have you ever thought about Greek farmers? What will be the outcome?"

Constantine said earnestly.

In fact, ever since phylloxera hit European vineyards, grape growers have been looking for ways to deal with it.

In any case, the grape growing industry is now the backbone of Greece's economy. Once there is a problem with the economic backbone of a country, there will be a big turmoil in the entire country.

In fact, after decades of attempts, Western Europeans are gradually exploring ways to deal with phylloxera.

This also means that the crisis in Greece is getting closer.

There is less and less time to make money when others are unlucky.

Trikupis frowned, thinking about Constantine's words, and couldn't help but feel worried about the situation in Greece.

If you want to use administrative power to forcefully change this situation that has arisen spontaneously in the market, it is not impossible, but the cost is very high.

And it will cause public resentment. After all, it will delay a large number of people from making money.

"I will try to find ways to solve this hidden danger, but based on my years of political intuition, the results will not be too great. After all, it is really thankless for the government to take the initiative to burst the bubble, and the resistance will be very high," Triku said. Pease said with a troubled expression.

"I'm just telling you about the hidden dangers of the grape market. After all, you are the prime minister of the Greek government," Constantine stood up and said.

After returning to Tatoy Palace in a carriage, Constantine met Nina in the garden after three years of absence.

Wearing a long black dress, she no longer looked stiff as before and became a tall and graceful girl.

"Nina, long time no see. I heard from Butler Cape that you have graduated?" Constantine walked forward quickly.

"Yes, Constantine, can I help you now?" Nina stood up and said proudly to Constantine.

"Then what are your plans next?" Constantine asked.

"If you have no other plans, come and help me. I'm busy every day now, like a top."

After receiving an affirmative answer, Constantine told him that the Greek head office would be established in three days, and asked Nina and Schmidt to receive the visiting guests.

By October, the Berlin Conference, which had lasted several months, finally came to an end.

Through this meeting, various countries coordinated the interests of Africa and basically divided Africa up on the map.

As the president of the Congo Committee, Banning finally returned to Athens after traveling for several months.

"Banning, I plan to appoint you as the Governor of the Congo, responsible for handling Congo affairs on my behalf. You know, I can't leave at all now."

The Congolese Commission was able to get a happy ending thanks to Banning's management.

Naturally, Constantine would not treat him badly.

"Your Majesty the Duke, I will do my best to properly manage the Congo region," Banning said excitedly.

After all, during his years of planning in the Congo, Banning himself had the idea of ​​​​achieving a career.

"After you arrive in Congo, you must cooperate closely with Brut. I need you to stabilize the situation in Congo as soon as possible and maintain good order for Congo's trade," Constantine warned.

After all, with the Congolese Commission having the power to charge a 10% tariff, the more merchants who come to trade, the more profitable it will be.

As for tariff collection, because of the special location of the Congo River, a tariff card is simply set up directly on the lower reaches of the Congo River.

"By the way, before going to Africa, your Congo Committee will also go to Britain and France to hire some staff from Western Europe, especially those who are familiar with customs, to get Congo's customs on track as soon as possible."

"Yes, Duke, do you have any other instructions?" Banning said respectfully.

"In the future, 15% of the Congolese Committee's financial revenue will be allocated each year, 10% of which will be used for compulsory education in Greece, and 5% will belong to the royal family," Constantine said.

The Greek royal family took huge risks and invested millions of francs in the development of the Congo colony. It was impossible for them to gain nothing.

This 5% is the reward for the royal family's adventure.

With 20 million people in Congo, 10% of the income earned should be more than enough to invest in education in Greece.

It was not in vain that Constantine had painstakingly planned, and the African plan finally had a happy ending.

On October 11, the Congo Committee announced in Athens that Constantine was the king of Congo, and the name of Congo was officially changed to the Congo Free State.

This piece of news itself did not attract much attention in Europe. After all, he was just an African king, and Europeans did not like him at all.

Even in the eyes of others, this is just a cover for Constantine's colonization.

The royal families in Europe will not look at Constantine with admiration just because he became an African chief.

However, a very interesting phenomenon still makes people talk about it.

That is, although the King of Congo is a parallel title, three generations of Constantine's family have been kings.

Constantine's grandfather, Christian IX, is the current King of Denmark.

Constantine's father, George I, is the current king of Greece.

Now Constantine himself became King of the Congo.

It is also a strange thing for three generations of grandfather and grandson to become kings together.