Greece to roman road

There was a party going on in the garden of Tatoi Palace.

The elites of Greece's industrial and commercial class gathered together in twos and threes, whispering.

"Why, this cotton textile factory has just been put into operation, and it is already interested in the dye business." Constantine looked at Kontoriotis in surprise.

"Hey, Your Highness, did you know that when our cotton is shipped to Ottoman Turkey, we only have to pay an 8% tariff?" Although Kontoriotis lowered his voice, he could not conceal his excitement.

Due to pressure from European countries, Ottoman Turkey's tariffs have been maintained at 8% for a long time. This tariff level is simply not enough to protect the development of Ottoman Turkey's domestic industry.

You know, the rising stars of industrial countries, Germany and the United States, have repeatedly raised import tariffs on industrial products in order to develop their own industries.

As the pioneers of the Industrial Revolution, Britain and France completed the first Industrial Revolution one after another, and their production capacity was greatly improved. In the late 19th century, both Germany and the United States tacitly raised tariffs to safeguard their country's industrial development. .

The tariffs between the two countries reached a high of over 40% in the mid-to-late 19th century.

Compared with this tariff level, the Ottoman tariff of 8% is really low enough.

The Ottoman Empire's industry was slow to develop and grow, and this low level of tariffs played a major role.

This also led to the Ottomans importing a large amount of goods from European countries. The trade deficit was serious and it was always in excess, resulting in a reduction in the currency circulating in the market.

"Those European cotton merchants, especially the British and French cotton merchants, are not as competitive as us at all."

After long-term trade exchanges with Europe, farmers in the Ottoman Empire also realized the benefits of planting cash crops. For example, large areas of cotton were planted on the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor.

These cottons are generally purchased by British and French merchants, processed into cotton cloth, and then sold to Turkey.

However, due to distance issues, Turkey and Greece are only separated by the Aegean Sea. This round-trip journey is much closer than that of Britain and France.

"Your Majesty the Duke, tell me, if we were to seize the Ottoman Turkish cotton market, what a huge deal it would be." Speaking of excitement, Kontoriotis rubbed his hands back and forth.

"At that time, the Turks' turbans and robes will all use the cotton produced in Greece."

"The only problem with such a big deal is the dye. Greece barely produces it now and all is imported from abroad. The cost is not small."

Constantine looked at Contoriotis with a dumbfounded smile. This man could really imagine.

Simply relying on the political influence of Britain and France in Turkey, it would be impossible for Greece to monopolize the Ottoman Turkish cotton market.

"You have to know that the production of dyes requires a deep chemical industry. Greece is completely blank in this aspect," Constantine said looking at Kontoriotis with regret.

"It's blank now, but it won't be blank in two days."

Looking at Cantoriotis's meaningful expression, Constantine thought of Nobel.

As for why Nobel, who was engaged in the explosives industry, became involved with dyes, it is a long story.

Explosives, dyes, and medicines all have one thing in common, which is the driving force for the development of the chemical industry in modern Europe.

For example, picric acid explosives first appeared in people's view as a synthetic dye. Until one day, an unlucky worker hit an iron can containing picric acid with a hammer. As a result, there was an explosion, and everyone realized that this thing could also be used as explosives.

There is also sulfonamide, which was originally known as a dye. German chemists accidentally discovered that sulfonamide has anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects and was the first anti-inflammatory drug used by humans.

Therefore, since Nobel can produce explosives, dyes are no longer a problem.

It seemed that Kontoriotis had gotten word that Nobel would come to Athens to open a factory.

Come to think of it, Kontoriotis has a good idea. Since he decided to develop the textile industry, he would wipe out this industrial chain, from the spinning of raw cotton to weaving, dyeing, and even clothing making. Coupled with dye production, every link in this one-stop industrial chain can provide numerous jobs for Greece.

Except for the textile machinery that cannot be produced in Greece yet, this industry is almost fully exploited.

"Since you are interested, after Mr. Nobel comes to visit, you can try to persuade him to set up a factory in Greece to produce explosives and dyes."

"I think it's not just explosives and dyes. Since Mr. Nobel is engaged in the chemical industry, he can also be allowed to produce some basic chemical industry raw materials, such as caustic soda."

"Our soap factory needs this stuff, so far it has been imported in large quantities from Europe."

Suddenly someone interrupted, Constantine looked up and saw that it was Costebleu.

Costebrough saw the two talking about the chemical industry and joined in the conversation.

The Greek Congo Corporation planted many palm trees in Congo. As general manager, in order to increase profits, Costebulu simply built a soap factory in Greece, using the company's palm oil as raw material.

"In that case, let's wait until Nobel arrives and discuss it together."

Immediately afterwards, everyone gathered together. Skarloi, the manager of the steel plant, Nina, the manager of the artemisinin factory, Tesla, Alexandros and others, almost all Greek industrial and commercial operators gathered together.

This was Constantine's intention. After all, he did not want to leave such a fixed impression: the Greek prince was just a soldier.

He needs to give the Greek people, especially the Greek upper class, a positive and progressive image. He is an enlightened person.

Seeing everyone gathered together, Constantine took the opportunity to say: "Since everyone is here, let me tell you the most important thing."

"I decided to open a machinery factory under the name of a steel factory. As for the initial product, it is to produce bicycles," Constantine said to the people gathered.

"You also know that a bicycle is a very complex industrial product, which requires everyone's cooperation."

If it were in the 21st century and someone said that a bicycle is a complex industrial product, people would definitely sneer at it. What kind of complex industrial product is a bicycle?

But for Greece, which had a weak industrial base at this time, Constantine was very satisfied if it could produce bicycles.

First of all, such an industrial product can connect various factories in Greece.

For example, in the rubber industry, vulcanized rubber is used to make tires, which requires Congolese rubber.

Steel is used to make bicycle frames, and special steel is used for bearings.

Although it is an industrial product with few integrated parts, it is very suitable for Greece to start the development of machinery.

Due to the recent large-scale road construction in Greece, it has provided a large market for bicycles.

"Costebro, your Greek Congo Corporation is considering building a vulcanized rubber factory. Now almost all tires in Greece are imported. Are you, the Greek Congo Corporation's rubber growers, willing to be just a raw material supplier?"