My Italy

"Your Majesty, what is going on?"

The Prime Minister was a little confused by Carlo's words. It wasn't that Antonio couldn't understand, but that he knew what kind of person the king was, so he also knew that the king's words were not just literal.

"Let the foreign secretary tell you."

At Carlo's signal, Bacona spoke. "Our embassy in Madrid received a summons from the Spanish Foreign Minister, who wanted to purchase a new battleship from our country."

Of course, the Foreign Secretary's words were more than that, otherwise Carlo would not have needed to signal. Then Bacona continued to explain the reason why Spain purchased the warship island.

This matter still has to start from the United States.

As we all know, Spain is currently in a state of ruin, with most of its property lost. But no matter what, the ancestors who settled down were still rich, and they still had two treasures. Among Spain's ruined treasures, the most valuable is Cuba. How valuable is Cuba? Let’s put it this way. Currently Italy’s most profitable colony of Borneo is far behind Cuba. The colony of Cuba can provide Spain with an annual income of 5 to 6 million pounds (1 pound ≈ 25 lire).

Cuba's ability to provide such high financial revenue depends entirely on its unparalleled sugar cane cultivation and sugar refining industry. Cuba has a unique environment that allows Cuba's sugar cane to have the highest sugar content, so Cuba's cane sugar production reaches 30% of the world's. Although sugar at this time was not an expensive food, it was much more expensive than the two yuan a bag in later generations. It is precisely because of the cane sugar industry that Cuba has become the richest region in the Caribbean.

The richness of Cuba is also a temptation for the United States, which is separated by the sea.

As a late-developing country, although the United States' industrialization did not start early, its unique geographical environment and resources made the United States the world's number one in the economic field in the past two years. As the saying goes, money makes people bold. This wealthy American wants to make his voice heard in the world and let people know that the United States is no longer ordinary and needs the respect it deserves.

After a round of selection, Spain was lucky enough to be selected.

First of all, Spain is a first-generation world power. Although it is now dilapidated, it is well-known at least. Second, Spain has a colony called Cuba in the Caribbean, which is not far from the United States and is very rich.

At this time, Spain was also giving the Americans an opportunity. Its long-term oppression of Cuba made the local people in Cuba extremely dissatisfied. So in February 1895, a large-scale riot broke out in Cuba. The United States took this opportunity to express its sympathy for Cuba. The U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution on April 6, 1896, approving the formal recognition of the Cuban rebels and urging the president to help them gain independence.

The United States' ambitions towards Cuba have been fully exposed. Spain, as the owner of Cuba, immediately felt heavy pressure.

At this time, when Spain faced the naked threat from the United States, on the one hand it wanted to seek help from various countries, and on the other hand it wanted to strengthen its own armaments, and purchasing warships from Italy was one of them.

As for choosing to buy warships from Italy, on the one hand, you have a good relationship with the two countries and the price will not be too high. Another reason is that it is fast, and you can get the warships faster. As for how fast, it depends on when the Italian shipyard is building this type of warship will be completed.

What, you said this is built for the Navy, sorry. According to the government as well as the Navy's own regulations, the shipyard has the authority to handle the warships under construction before delivery. This is specially stipulated by the Italian government and navy in order to find orders for shipyards.

"Your Majesty wants to take this opportunity to improve relations with Spain?"

Antonio deserves to be the Prime Minister. After listening to the details of the Foreign Secretary's explanation, he immediately thought of Carlo's intentions.

"Yes, I hope to win over Spain, but I don't expect it to make a difference in western France."

Obviously, Carlo was afraid that the Prime Minister would misunderstand his intentions. Although surrounding France from three sides sounded good, Carlo knew that Spain must not expect that the capital of Spain would be deceived.

"So, we are going to increase Spain's strength and try to narrow the gap between Spain's strength and the United States, and then make plans. For example, can we start from other places, or let Spain voluntarily sell a certain place to alleviate its impending financial collapse? "

Well, although the Prime Minister's guess was not accurate, it was very close.

Carlo stopped him from guessing and said. "I think one battleship cannot enhance the strength of the Spanish navy at all. To be able to contain the U.S. Navy, Spain needs at least two new battleships, preferably two cruise ships."

Sure enough, he knew that it would not be easy for the king to find him. Antonio sometimes felt that he, the king, liked to get involved in hot spots. Whether it was to add fuel to the fire or to fish in troubled waters, Italy never suffered a loss. He was so perceptive. Terrible eyes.

So after hearing the king's thoughts this time, Antonio was not surprised, but asked. "Then, Your Majesty, under what conditions are we going to purchase two warships without the Spaniards knowing about it?"

"I plan to take out a loan, what do you think?"

Antonio frowned at the thought of the king. "It is not good for your Majesty to do this. A sudden loan without any reason will arouse suspicion. It is better to use barter. We allow Spain to use wool and pyrite to pay for the two warships. Spain must deliver them within three years." . I think in this case, the Spaniards will not be suspicious."

The wool and pyrite Antonio mentioned are exactly what the Italian industry needs, and wool is not mentioned as the necessary raw materials for wool spinning. In this era, in addition to being used as a raw material for the chemicals sulfur and sulfuric acid, pyrite can also be used as jewelry. Its light brass color and bright metallic luster are often mistaken for gold, so some parts have a high gloss. The ore can also be used as jewelry.

"This is no problem, but can Spain sell so many goods?"

Don't blame Carlo for asking this. You must know that two new warships are not cheap at all. One is quoted as high as 25.5 million lire, and two ships cost 51 million lire. This is not cheap at all.

"Your Majesty, I think Spain will not refuse this condition because there is no more suitable choice than us."

It was Foreign Minister Bacona who said this, because he not only knows Spain, but also knows the character of its Prime Minister Antonio Canovas del Castillo. This Castillo Prime Minister is a dictator. activist, he will not give up on Cuba.