Greece’s Roman Road

"However, regarding the construction of the steel plant, there will be intentional investors to come to Athens in the past two days, and it is estimated that there will be results soon. You also know that a heavy industry like a steel plant requires a huge amount of investment and a period of cost recovery. It is relatively long, if we do not show enough sincerity, I am afraid that it will be difficult for people to make up their minds to invest in such a project,” Constantine said to Trikupis.

"As long as they are willing to invest, even if they don't pay taxes for a few years," Trikupis said quickly when he heard Constantine lament that it is difficult for steel mills to find investment.

"However, who are these investors? People who are not rich enough to invest in projects such as steel plants are afraid to invest."

"Prime Minister, you are well-informed, have you heard of the "dynasties" of maritime transport among Greek shipowners?" Constantine deliberately sold out.

Hearing that the word dynasty was revealed by Constantine, Trikupis suddenly realized, and instantly understood the origin of Constantine's so-called intentional investors.

Greek merchants, especially Greek shipowners, have a huge influence on the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts. Some Greek merchants have gradually become well-known due to their long-term maritime transportation.

Among them, the best ones are dubbed the "dynasties" of shipping because of their reputation in the ocean transportation industry.

Such as the London-based Laris Brothers and the Rodo Karnaski family.

In the 1830s, Greek merchants gradually regained the market that the Greek shipping industry had lost due to Greek independence.

In the 19th century, Russia was an agricultural country, and its biggest export commodity was grain.

Exporting grain to Western Europe is an important source of income for the Russians, and 50% of Russia's imports and exports of goods are completed through the Bosphorus Strait.

From this, we can also understand why the Russians fought against Ottoman Turkey for nearly three hundred years in order to get Constantinople.

The fact that the Ottoman Turks levied tolls on ships passing through the Bosphorus alone made Russia itch.

This strait is very important to Russia.

Most of the goods on the Black Sea coast are transported by Greek shipowners. From the ports on the Black Sea coast, such as Odessa and Crimea, Russian agricultural products and some other minerals are transported to Western Europe. shipped back to Russia.

Among them, the Laris Brothers Company and the Rodo Kanazky Family are one of them.

Trikupis nodded and said, it is indeed appropriate to ask them to invest in the Gang Steel Plant.

"So, in your railway and highway route planning, try to meet the needs of these enterprises as much as possible," Constantine asked.

"Also, when the cotton textile factory is established, you will need the Prime Minister to increase the tariff on imported cotton."

As the birthplace of the industrial revolution, the cotton textile industry is a very mature industry developed in the UK. The symbols of the industrial revolution, the Jenny textile machine and the steam engine, are themselves the machines used in the mass production of the textile industry.

If Greece wants to develop in the textile industry and compete directly with the old industrial powers, it is almost impossible without the protection of tariffs.

"You can rest assured that the development of industry and commerce in Greece has always been my political proposition, and I fully support it."

Trikupis said.

After bidding farewell to the Prime Minister, night has come.

"Go back the road from Syntagma Square"

On the road leading to the Tatoi Palace from the Prime Minister's residence, Constantine, sitting in a carriage, told the coachman to do so.

When the coachman in front of the carriage heard Constantine's request, he threw his whip loudly.

The carriage came to Constitution Square, and saw two rows of black iron pillars on both sides of the road. At the top of the iron pillars, the dim light from the light bulbs dispelled the darkness nearby and illuminated the road.

Citizens crowded around the street lights, curiously observing these new landscapes.

"Every night, Athenian citizens come to watch the lights," Schmidt explained, watching Constantine talking about the curtain and observing the scene outside the window.

These street lights are the lighting facilities installed together with the electric lights in the Tatoi Palace.

"I heard that after seeing these street lights yesterday, someone shouted loudly to the surrounding people, saying that a miracle of God had appeared, causing a lot of trouble."

"After all, this is the first time humans have used lighting other than fire."

Schmidt sighed.

The reason why Constantine came here specially was to observe the attitude of the Athenian people towards electricity, a new type of energy.

"Let's go," Constantine ordered to the coachman.

The next day, while Constantine was in his office in the Tatoi Palace, reviewing the army's requirements for new weapons, Schmidt came in and told: "His Royal Highness, Mr. Laris and Rodokana from London. Mr. Sky is here to visit"

Hearing the news, Constantine raised his head and said, "Welcome to the reception room, don't be slow."

Having said that, she tidied up her clothes in front of the mirror in the office, and then hurried to the reception room to wait.

After a while, two young men in their thirties, wearing round hats and black woolen coats, with civilized battles in their hands, walked into the reception room.

After the greeting ~www.wuxiax.com~ everyone sat down.

"Mr. Laris, Mr. Rodokanasky, you should already know the purpose of inviting you, but what are your opinions?"

asked Constantine.

Through the Greek ambassador in London, Constantine invited Laris Brothers and the Rodokanaski family to send commissioners to Athens to discuss the investment in the steel plant.

The reason why these two companies whose main business is fancy transportation was invited as the theme of investing in steel plants is also the result of Constantine's careful consideration.

First of all, as the leading businessmen engaged in the routes between the Black Sea-Mediterranean-Western Europe, the two families have a deep relationship network in Britain and Russia.

Greece lacks high-quality coal and iron ore, and its own lignite cannot be used for steel smelting.

Under such circumstances, to develop the steel industry, Greece can only import iron ore and coal from overseas like Italy.

In terms of the geographical location of Greece, the most convenient countries for importing coal are the United Kingdom and Russia.

The UK is rich in coal reserves and ranks among the top in the world in terms of mining volume. It has always been an important coal exporter in Europe.

Among them, Welsh white coal is a world-famous thermal coal. For example, in the Sino-Japanese War, Japanese warships used imported Welsh white coal.

There are also huge coal mines in the Ukraine region of Russia, such as the Donbas coal mine.

Therefore, the reason for choosing these two companies as investors in the steel plant is to facilitate the transportation of coal in the future, and they are doing it by sea. The coal needed by the Greek steel plant must be transported by others.

Secondly, they have taken a fancy to the relationship network between the two companies in the United Kingdom and Russia, which is to facilitate the transportation of a large amount of coal, and possibly even iron ore, in Greece.

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