Holy Roman Empire

Alongside rapid economic development, many hidden challenges are emerging, with the widening wealth gap being one of the most concerning.

Currently, no specific index measures this disparity, so Franz relies on available government statistical data. This data, accessible only to the government’s upper echelons, remains unaltered and confidential.

In 1875, the homeland’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was approximately 5.46 billion guilders, placing it at the top globally (including figures from integrated African territories and other states).

Looking at the data alone, the homeland’s GDP is twice that of Great Britain’s—a seemingly impressive figure. However, a closer look at additional metrics reveals a less favorable picture.

Austria’s European population is around 78.26 million, with another 6.2152 million in the integrated African regions, totaling about 84.47 million, compared to Britain’s 30 million.

While Austria’s population is 2.8 times larger, its total economic output barely exceeds twice that of Britain. In terms of per capita income, Austrians now lag behind the British.

Due to incomplete data, the Austrian government estimates Austria’s per capita income at roughly 70% of Britain’s.

The only consolation is that it remains higher than France’s. Italy’s economic struggles have impacted France, resulting in a lower per capita income than Austria’s.

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Still, France’s total economic output has increased. Like Austria, it leverages a large population to raise its GDP beyond Britain’s.

Comparing totals alone offers limited insights. Apart from Austria’s own surveys, other countries’ data are typically economist estimates, with a usual margin of error of one or two percent.

However, this one or two-percent margin is significant. Currently, Austria’s economic community holds diverse views, though there is consensus on the world’s top five economies: Austria, Britain, France, the Far Eastern Empire, and India.

The debate on their rankings, however, remains unsettled, with no side convincing the others.

One view ranks them as follows: Austria, France, Britain, the Far Eastern Empire, and India.

A second opinion states that the Far Eastern Empire and India were on par with Austria, France, and Britain.

A third opinion ranks them as the Far Eastern Empire, India, Austria, France, and Britain…

(TN: The Far Eastern Empire most likely refers to Great Qing or the Qing Dynasty of China)

Without detailed survey data, each view has its own theoretical basis, and Franz cannot discern which one is most accurate. Nonetheless, this does not deter the Austrian government from positioning itself at the top.

Even if Austria is not currently the world’s leading economy, it is only a matter of time. This is the era of the Industrial Revolution, with rapid economic growth favoring industrialized nations over those still primarily agricultural.

Beyond domestic figures, Austria’s colonial GDP also drew attention, with Franz surprised to discover that the output of the South Sea colonies nearly rivals that of Austrian Africa (excluding integrated regions).

It is worth noting that the Austrian government places much greater strategic value on Austrian Africa than on the South Sea colonies, as their scales are vastly different.

Currently, Austria’s territories in the South Seas include Borneo, New Guinea, and several smaller islands. While not among the wealthiest in the South Seas, these territories have nonetheless achieved substantial economic output.

Specific data:

Austrian Africa: 450 million guilders

Austrian South Seas: 360 million guilders

Austrian Central America: 250 million guilders

Austrian South America: 11 million guilders

Austrian Alaska: 54,000 guilders

(The Austrian Arabian Peninsula has not been fully occupied and is in a state of chaos, so it has not been accounted for.)

From a data perspective, a gap of twenty percent remains—significant, though it has narrowed by eight percent compared to five years ago.

Noticing Franz’s confusion, Minister of Colonies Stephen explained, “Your Majesty, the development of the Austrian South Seas has accelerated remarkably in recent years, especially in the Lanfang Autonomous Province, where agriculture has seen impressive progress. 𝙍àꞐồ𝔟Ɛ𝓢

The world’s largest rubber plantation has been established there, along with new pepper plantations. Local residents have opened approximately 15 million hectares of farmland to cultivate rice, corn, pumpkins, and other crops.

Moreover, recent discoveries include several gold mines on the island and coal mines in the southwest, which are already being actively mined.”

Franz was left even more perplexed. From his memory, while a few areas in Borneo were fertile, most of the land was not particularly suitable for large-scale agriculture.

Of course, crops could be grown, but without the benefit of modern fertilizers, yields would likely be modest.

Franz knew that Chinese settlers were adept at farming but would still weigh the expected returns. With so much farmland now in use, he wondered—did Borneo truly have that much arable land?

Franz asked, “What is the current population of the Lanfang Autonomous Province? How is the output from that much farmland?”

Minister of Colonies Stephen replied, “The population in the Lanfang Autonomous Province is growing rapidly. It’s currently around eight million and could exceed ten million within a few years.

Agricultural methods on the island remain somewhat primitive, primarily relying on human and animal labor with minimal machinery. Despite this, the output is only slightly lower than that of the homeland.

I must say, the people of Lanfang are exceptional farmers. They’re still highly motivated to clear land. If other regions had even half their enthusiasm, there would be a surplus of food worldwide.”

Unlike the British, French, and Italians, the Germans showed a notable enthusiasm for farming, as reflected in the number of farms within their colonies.

In this era, most colonists are more interested in seeking fortune than farming, preferring to take risks over settling down to cultivate land.

Austria, however, has been fortunate. Many German farmers aspire to become landowners, and these individuals have become the backbone of Austria’s colonial economic development.

Yet, they are practical: farming must be profitable. They would never work barren land, and much of Borneo is indeed seen as unproductive.

Franz frowned slightly, “How do they sustain food production? I remember the survey report described the land in the Lanfang Autonomous Province as barren, lacking agricultural value.”

The Austrian government has assessed every colony, detailing areas suited for development and those that are not, providing comprehensive data for colonial officials to reference.

The Lanfang Autonomous Province was no exception. After it raised the Austrian flag, these foundational tasks became essential.

After a moment of thought, Stephen replied, “Guano. Lanfang Province relies heavily on guano as fertilizer. We have several guano islands in the Pacific, near the Marshall Islands.

Initially, these islands were not under our control. Only after the Lanfang Province submitted a request did the Colonial Ministry include them in its jurisdiction.”

Franz nodded. Unless mistaken, this likely referred to what would later be known as Nauru.

Austria controls no fewer than ten thousand islands, and due to the butterfly effect, many island names have changed entirely, making it difficult for Franz to recognize them.

“Well done. Guano is a valuable resource and plays a significant role in agricultural productivity. It’s a gift of nature, and for long-term development, we need to protect and use it responsibly.

The colonial government should promptly draft regulations to prevent any hunting around the guano islands. Guano harvesting must also occur in the appropriate seasons to avoid disturbing bird populations.

We should expand our efforts in this area. Claim more uninhabited islands. Even if they currently hold no value, at the very least, we establish a presence.

Consider it an extension of maritime territory. Given the current climate, after next year’s international conference, the delineation of spheres of influence will likely include coastal areas.

Particularly for islands with ports, regardless of immediate utility, we should secure them first.”

Protecting the guano islands is essential. If the birds disappear, the guano industry disappears with them.

This unexpected wealth presents a valuable opportunity. With sustainable management, it could bring benefits for many years, so reckless exploitation must be avoided.

Seizing islands is crucial. In this era of “flag-planting,” those who act quickly will succeed, while the slow will miss out.

Once the international landscape stabilizes and spheres of influence are established, such opportunities will be lost.

For Austria, this new order holds promise. Once international boundaries are recognized, the gold mines in Alaska can be developed.

Franz could hardly contain his anticipation. Unfortunately, Alaska is not well-suited for large-scale settlement, with a harsh climate even in the valleys.

This makes it challenging for Austria to establish a strong foundation there. Although no one might openly attempt to seize the territory, the risk of covert sabotage remains.

Moreover, the long border between Alaska and Canada means that Austria cannot fully prevent gold smuggling.

When international order is established, however, the situation will change. Nations will sign treaties agreeing to avoid underhanded actions, forcing them to exercise restraint.

If they were to break these promises right away, they’d undermine their own credibility on the world stage.

Although Alaska’s gold reserves are substantial, they cannot be extracted all at once. The currently accessible deposits are not worth risking John Bull’s reputation over.

Of course, Austria’s ability to retaliate is a key factor.

If the Austrian government were to abandon restraint and actively trouble John Bull, it might not destabilize their colonial empire, but it would certainly increase their governance costs by several million pounds each year.

Given current technology, it remains uncertain whether mining Alaska’s gold could yield several million pounds in annual profit.

John Bull may be inclined to act in ways that harm others without clear benefit to himself, but the British government would hesitate to engage in actions that damage both sides.

Minister of Colonies Stephen added, “Yes, Your Majesty. The Colonial Ministry will work diligently to bring as many uninhabited islands as possible under our jurisdiction before the Paris Conference concludes.”

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