War Palace and Knee Pillow, Austria’s Destiny

The compensation of nearly 14 million pounds is indeed a headache, but it is still acceptable compared to the insurance payment of more than 200 million pounds.

And the money will be recorded in the country's account, and they and the sponsors behind it will not need to bear it. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

However, such a result is not what Prince Albert wants to see, because including the previous investment and losses in the war, the total loss of the British side in the entire war will exceed the 41 million pound mark.

If the previous 27.55 million pounds was paid for tuition fees, then the 14 million pounds at this time is purely an unnecessary disaster.

Moreover, most of the merchant ships that entered the war zone were not innocent. Most of them would also use strong ships and guns to do some shameful things under the British flag.

You must know that it is not easy to destroy criminal evidence on the vast sea. There were no reconnaissance satellites back then. If you wanted to find out the truth, you would have to find a needle in a haystack.

From ancient times to the present, the first priority for evil people before committing a crime has never been the size of the crime, but whether they can escape punishment or use some means to avoid the punishment they deserve.

Therefore, during the naval battles in the Mediterranean, things such as killing people, stealing goods, and destroying corpses and traces were not uncommon. Some British people even had the idea of ​​their own people. After all, as long as no one discovered it, there would be no problem. Even if the other party escaped, they could rely on the Austrians. on the head.

War is the best talisman for these people, which is one of the reasons why the British later took the initiative to ban privateering licenses.

Some people think that due to the increasing professionalization of warfare, civilian ships cannot provide sufficient combat power.

However, at that time, Britain had no restrictions on the purchase of weapons by merchant ships, and many of the merchant ships were equipped with artillery that was more advanced than the British Navy's standard equipment.

It was so advanced that some merchant ships could capture warships and sell hundreds of white soldiers to native Africans.

But at this time, it was more the Irish who suffered the consequences. After all, privateers were never picky about their food.

Some ships transporting refugees were also attacked. The privateers killed all the rebels and missionaries, and then sold the remaining people to the indigenous chiefs of North Africa.

"White slaves" are not unfamiliar to North Africa. After all, many of their ancestors relied on running this business to dominate. Many of them might still have the genes of these "white slaves" in their blood. .

Even though the Ottoman Empire has long since declined, raising white slaves is still regarded as a symbol of power and wealth, and a brave act that brings glory to the country.

It's just that it's difficult for these skinny refugees to sell for a high price after experiencing long-term wandering at sea, but compared to other goods they plundered, it's still very good.

Although the price is not as high as that of black slaves in North America, they can still be sold for as high as eighty pounds. Some women of childbearing age and in good health can be sold for more than one hundred and fifty pounds.

These Irishmen probably never dreamed they could be so valuable, but their subsequent fate would be tragic.

Men will receive special enslavement education, while women will have to reproduce endlessly until they no longer have this value.

(At this time, due to the obstruction of the slave trade, the price of black slaves has been rising, from US$150 in the early 19th century to US$600.

It would be premature to think that it is an exaggeration at this time, because as time enters the 1850s, the price will double again. )

If it is a traditional monarchy, it is the duty of the country to save its citizens. Even if it is to execute these people, people from their own country must do it in person.

However, as a constitutional monarchy, the British royal family does not care about reputation as much as traditional European royal families, and they are not willing to be taken advantage of.

So Prince Albert asked back.

"How does your country determine which losses were caused by our country or our businessmen?

If your country has no basis, can we also seek compensation from your country for the 27,550,7121 pounds lost? "

Prince Albert's words were very clever. He did not compete with domestic political and economic interest groups, but kicked the ball to the Austrian side. After all, whoever claims it has to provide evidence.

If the Austrians cannot produce evidence, then these compensations will naturally be waived; if the Austrians can produce conclusive evidence, then whoever caused losses to the Austrians will compensate them.

No matter what, the British royal family can save a lot of money, and they won't offend anyone. If they want to hate, they can only hate the Austrians.

At the same time, it is also knocking the domestic politicians and the Austrians in front of them, telling them that Britain is not easy to bully.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with Prince Albert's handling of the matter, but the timing is not quite right.

Baron Brooke nodded after hearing this, and couldn't help but feel in his heart that Archduke Franz's prediction was completely correct, and the other party would definitely mess around with the issue of compensation.

He directly signaled the members of the mission to carry out seven or eight large boxes. The boxes were opened and filled with documents and price lists.

The members of the British mission were all shocked, thinking that the Austrians had really collected all the evidence, right? What kind of work efficiency is this?

“Here is a partial list of merchant ships and their cargoes, together with price certificates from the same period.

In addition, there is also proof of the detailed origin and price of those goods, including certificates issued by the shipper and consignee, as well as further losses caused thereby.

This also includes 2,324 eyewitness testimonies and records from third-party countries, as well as 600 complete interrogation records proving that the commander of your country’s Mediterranean Navy ordered the burning of Chinese ships and cargo detained in the port before evacuating Malta Island.

The total loss of this part of the merchant ship was 97,231,852 florins."

Prince Albert was soon sweating profusely. He did not expect that the Austrian side could really find this evidence. He even predicted his next step, and there was actually a buyer's contract.

In fact, these things are already in the hands of Austria. After all, these are the statistical lists of the Royal Development Company. They can be used as evidence by asking hundreds of people to modify them casually.

Franz had no intention of proving anything from the beginning. After all, according to the ancestral motto of the Habsburg family: "The royal family never proves itself," it was naturally impossible for him to violate this ancestral motto.

"He who claims it, gives evidence." This Roman proverb could indeed be regarded as a great progress for mankind in Rome more than 2,000 years ago. However, it may not be called a "golden rule" in the 19th century. People need to give it some thought. It adds a scope of application.

This was not applicable in this war that affected the entire Mediterranean. Although the war was not long, the British army's attack range was very wide. Even the Austrian merchant ships parked in Cairo Port to avoid the war were not spared. Not to mention those ocean-going caravans who didn't know the news of the war.

It is a ridiculous behavior to let the victims of the war prove themselves. Just like some Japanese historians said that the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in the East were slandered by other Asian countries. The comfort women were voluntary, and those who were massacred were not civilians, only those who were upright. Soldiers who died in battle.

The evidence provided by the Austrian side weighed nearly a ton. Prince Albert gave up after only taking a few glances. He chose to settle for the next best thing.

"Our country can pay this part of the compensation that is supported by evidence after careful review, but it still needs to break down the responsibilities in detail. After all, there is some evidence showing the behavior of unofficial ships.

If your country wants more compensation, then it must provide more evidence."

Baron Brooke sighed, it seems that this is the so-called national trend.

"No problem. We will collect as much evidence as possible to prove all this, but your country's ships, cargo and personnel will also need to cooperate with us for a while."

Baron Brooke agreed to provide more evidence, which made the members of the British mission happy, thinking, "Such a fool really exists!".

However, the next sentence ignited the anger of the British mission. The Austrian Empire refused to release the seized ships and personnel. Wasn't all the talk for so long been in vain?

"Are you kidding us?"

British Lord of the Admiralty George Eden took action.

"You Austrians really think that you can keep winning after winning twice? Let me tell you! We in Britain are fully capable of wiping out all the fleets of all countries in the Mediterranean!"

The members of the Austrian mission were sneering. They were all old people who hung out in shopping malls and were completely immune to such empty threats.

As for whether it is playing tricks on the British, those who want to play on the Austrian Empire should know better.

Baron Brooke stood up and said.

"Is this what you want to say? Your country's fleet is very powerful, we know this very well.

But we are here to negotiate, not to fight.

If you want to prove something on the battlefield, then so be it. "

The second negotiation between Britain and Austria broke down again. George Eden's words were inspired by Prince Albert.

He felt that the Austrians came to London early and did not leave even when it was cold. They must be very desperate for peace.

Prince Albert consciously found the Austrian side's weakness. As long as he exploited it, he would definitely gain greater benefits in the negotiations, but he did not expect the Austrian side's representatives to be so tough.

What Prince Albert didn't know was that this was not used to deal with him, but that Franz knew Palmerston too well and made a plan in advance because he was afraid that Baron Brooke would not be able to withstand the pressure.

After reading Palmerston's resume, Franz felt that Palmerston must have been a child king when he was a child. He was really good at bullying others.

Especially when dealing with those who are weak and timid, after eating someone completely and wiping them clean, they will spit out a mouthful of phlegm and fart to severely humiliate the other party.

So Palmerston likes to compare politics to a sport rather than a science. After all, for him it is as simple as eating and sleeping.

Although Prince Albert also wanted to lower the price by flipping the table, he really wanted to talk, and His Royal Highness was not as shy as Palmerston. The pace of peace between Britain and Austria once again stalled.