Greece’s Roman Road

"Your Majesty, I really don't know what you're talking about." Constantine looked confused.

After all, this kind of adventure in a foreign continent is inherently risky.

Leopold also only suspected that the Congolese committee had made a bad hand. However, after dozens of Cameron expeditions entered the Congo River basin from Africa on the Indian Ocean side, they were like mud cows entering the sea, and there was no news.

So Leopold had no proof.

"Your Excellency the Duke, you have already won the Congo, but" Leopold mocked when he said this.

"Where do you get money to develop Congo? As far as I know, a large section of the lower reaches of the Congo River is not navigable, and a railway must be built to connect Matadi and Kinshasa. This is a railway of nearly 400 kilometers. How much are you going to spend? Come to build?" Leopold's mouth had a faint smile.

Constantine was stunned when he heard the words, but he didn't expect that the other party invited him to come for the railway.

"Your Majesty, what is your intention?"

"I know that even the royal family, after going through the upfront expenses, is already out of reach, right?"

It's not enough to say that you are shy, but it's just impossible to invest a lot of money to support it.

After all, the royal family spends a lot of money in this province.

"Your Majesty, just say it straight," Constantine didn't want to go around the corner.

"Actually, the Ma-Kim railway (Matadi to Kinshasa) is handed over to Belgium to build and operate, so you don't have to worry about raising huge sums of money"

Constantine lowered his head to consider Leopold's suggestion.

It is true that Constantine himself did have less trouble and handed over the railway directly to the Belgians.

But this railway, for the newcomer, has a very important strategic position.

This is the only channel for the outside world to communicate with the Congo. In the future, whether it is the import of European and American industrial products into the Congo or the shipment of raw materials from the Congo, this railway is the only way.

It can be said that holding this railway in your hand is almost equivalent to jamming Congo's neck, not to mention that because of Congo's natural "international" color, all countries will retain a considerable right to speak.

If the railway was to be built and operated by the Belgians, who would have the final say in the future Congo, and whether the weak Greece would have the right to speak, I am afraid there would be doubts.

Emotional Leopold is planning to do this!

"Your Majesty, thank you for your kindness, but this railway in Congo cannot be completely handed over to others to build." Constantine's expression was indifferent.

Hearing this, Leopold finally stopped staring at the stage, turned his head to look at Constantine, and sighed in his heart, worthy of being surrounded by wolves and successfully winning the Congo, he saw through his calculations almost immediately. .

"In this case, we in Belgium can always invest part of it, and you have to raise money anyway," Leopold said with a hint of helplessness.

Until then, Constantine didn't know Leopold's real intention. His feeling was to be optimistic about the future of Congo, and he planned to preemptively bet.

Although Belgium is a small country, it is rich in wealth.

The first country in the world to complete industrialization is the United Kingdom. With its advantageous geographical location, Belgium, which faces the United Kingdom across the English Channel, has become the second industrialized country in the world.

As the efficiency of industrial production increases, capitalists naturally accumulate a large amount of capital.

As a country with a large amount of capital, Belgium has a small and saturated domestic market and low investment profits, so it has set its sights abroad.

In fact, Belgian bankers took a fancy to the important strategic position of the Ma-Kim railway. As long as the railway is repaired, they will lie down and collect money in the future.

So I asked Leopold for help to test Constantine's attitude.

Just after the two met, Leopold was unwilling to see Constantine's youth. Moreover, as an industrialized country, Belgium was in urgent need of a market to absorb the huge domestic production capacity.

Just taking this opportunity to see if there is a possibility of turning the tide, taking control of the Majin Railway and expanding Belgium's future voice in the Republic of Congo will undoubtedly bring huge benefits.

After all, the Congo in the future is similar to a kind of public colony. The greater the right to speak, the more benefits the Congo will get.

It's just that Constantine didn't give him a chance at all.

"This railway has not yet been surveyed by professionals. As for how much money will be raised to build it, I am not sure yet."

"After the survey is completed, the cost will be estimated, and a part of the share will be given to the Belgian financial industry."

Seeing that Constantine gave an affirmative answer, Leopold turned around and continued to watch the dance performance.

After dealing with the Congo, the purpose of this trip to Europe has been completed, so I took the train from Belgium to Paris, and from Paris to Marseille Port back to Greece.

On August 12, 1884, Constantine returned to Athens.

As for Banning, he is still attending the Berlin conference.

Constantine was sitting in the garden of the Tatoi Palace, enjoying a rare quiet afternoon tea, thinking about his father George I letting him serve in the Thessaly Legion.

Constantine had already received a complete military course in Germany and then Athens.

According to royal rules, the next step is to serve in the army.

"Mr. Costerbloom of Alpha Bank is here to visit, Your Excellency," butler Capet came to inform.

"Let him come here"

Costerbloom, the two haven't seen each other since the last time they hunted.

Thinking of the 500,000 pounds cheque sent by Costerbloom last time, it was euphemistically called supporting the African development plan.

It is now estimated that the Congolese Commission, at the Berlin meeting, has been given the right to manage the Congo River Basin, and it has already spread.

Thinking of this, Constantine has already guessed the meaning of Kestelbrough's visit~www.wuxiax.com~ His Excellency the Duke, it's been a long time, and the demeanor remains the same." Costebrough held the Civilization Staff in his left hand and took off his hat in his right hand in salute.

Constantine stood up to greet him, "Long time no see, Costerbloom, are you here this time?"

I saw Costebro take out a check from his pocket and hand it to Constantine.

Constantine really couldn't react for a while.

The Coster family is worthy of being a banker, and they draw a check if they disagree.

The two met twice in total, one time for £500,000. Are they too proud of themselves?

"Costerbloom, what does this mean?" Constantine asked in confusion, raising the check in his hand.

"I heard that His Royal Highness has obtained the management rights of Congo, congratulations"

"As for the 500,000 pounds, Your Excellency the Duke, the huge Congo, at the beginning of taking over, must have spent a lot of money. I heard that the construction of the Ma-Kim railway is imperative in the Congo region. My father ordered me to come and do my best."

At this moment, I feel my heartfelt admiration for Costerbloom's father, Jon, Constantine.

The other party's unique investment vision, boldness, and resolute attitude made Constantine awe-inspiring.

The other party sent 500,000 pounds last time without any requirements. It was considered a venture capital investment. This time, the 500,000 pounds was to help him in name, and he invested in the Majin Railway in advance to relieve himself of the difficulty of raising funds.

Undoubtedly, the other party also took a fancy to the importance of this railway. This time, the 500,000 yuan was not only to help him alleviate his financial difficulties, but also the return the other party demanded.

one stone two bird.

And Constantine was in love with reason, and he couldn't say anything to refuse.

I also need to think about the feelings of others.

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