Trade with East Africa and United States is the life-saving straw for Russia's industry and commerce today, especially trade with East Africa, which maintains the stability of Russia's internal society today.
For example, the large amount of food and materials required by the frontline Russian Army need to be provided by East Africa. Although Russia's food production can theoretically be self-sufficient, poor transportation and a bloated and decaying logistics system prevent the food from Russia's rear from reaching the front line to supply the needs of the frontline army and the western industrial cluster.
This led to the frontline Russian Army even eating East African wheat bread, which was simply unimaginable for Russia, a major food-producing country. Before the war, Russia produced almost one-fifth of the world's wheat.
The prices of domestic industrial products in Russia have increased wildly with the advent of the war. For example, the price of boots has increased by more than 200%, and the price of matches has increased by more than 300%. It is winter now, and both of these are indispensable basic materials. This is the result of the import of a large amount of East African goods goods.
This is true for industry and agriculture, and Russia's poor military-industrial capabilities are most vividly reflected on the battlefield. Although Russia mobilized a large number of troops, at least a quarter of the Russian Army were not equipped with rifles.
From ordinary ammunition to telephone wires, almost nothing is in short supply. The number of heavy weapons is already small, and one less one is damaged. There are even cases where Russian Army on the front line can fire less than three artillery shells a day.
This resulted in the majority of East Africa's commodity exports to Russia being military supplies and semi-finished products, a situation that did not exist for other major powers. However, exports to other countries were dominated by raw materials and light industrial products.
As the war progressed, many participating countries gave up some unimportant civilian industrial production, but the production capacity of heavy industry was basically met, while Russia's light industry and heavy industry did not meet the standards.
All in all, the disintegration of Russia in the war in the previous life was not unjust at all. At least from the current East African perspective, Russia's internal situation is already very bad. However, most officials do not know that Russia's lower limit is far beyond this.
After the internal meeting of East African government, Ernst met with Franz IV and his team at the Rhine Palace, and started some detailed negotiations around Basra Railway.
At this time, Germany and Austro-Hungarian Empire were simply not able to support the construction of Basra Railway due to war reasons, and Ottoman Empire did not have the ability to build railways independently, so the construction of Basra Railway could only fall on the "neutral" country of East Africa.
"The funds and labor are provided by the Ottoman Empire, and we in East Africa are responsible for providing technology, materials, engineers and other important links."
"Of course, based on the Ottoman Empire's financial ability, we can lend to the Ottoman Empire, but there must be collateral."
The conditions provided by East Africa are reasonable, but the collateral makes Ottoman Empire more difficult. The money is definitely not enough. After all, Ottoman Empire's finances are already difficult, and now they have to prepare for war, and they can't spare any money.
Ottoman Empire's envoy Allelud looked at Franz IV with a troubled expression, obviously wanting Franz IV to help intercede.
So Franz IV had to come forward again. He said to Ernst, "Your Majesty, it is obviously impossible for the Ottoman Empire to come up with such a huge sum of money due to the war, so can we wait until the war is over and then the Ottoman Empire government will slowly repay it."
Ernst vetoed. "This is definitely not possible. Your Excellency, you must also know that Basra Railway is not a simple railway line. It involves the game between various big countries."
"Although this railway is endorsed by Germany, Austro-Hungarian Empire and Ottoman Empire, Britain, France and Russia will definitely not agree to the construction and opening of this railway."
"So we are undertaking the construction of Basra Railway under huge political pressure. Although East Africa is the leading country in the Indian Ocean region, the UK's strength in Indian Ocean cannot be ignored."
"Especially Persian Gulf region, the UK has many military bases and colonies. Our East African ships will bear the risk of being attacked every time they pass by Persian Gulf."
This is naturally a fact, but it is also an excuse made by Ernst. After all, the previous life Ottoman Empire was dismembered directly after the war. If Ottoman Empire's ending is still the same, if East Africa does not get actual benefits in advance, then it will really be a dead end without evidence.
"Then does Your Majesty think Ottoman Empire can have something worthy of East Africa's fancy as collateral?" Franz IV could only ask.
Of course, there is. Ottoman Empire, as one of the largest countries in the world with a strong family background, must have something that East Africa can like.
Ernst pretended to meditate for a long time, which made Franz IV and Ellerud feel very nervous.
Ellerood only hopes that East Africans's appetite will not be too big. To be honest, Ottoman Empire has regarded this war as a battle for the destiny of the country and has put all his wealth on the line.
Therefore, Basra Railway is bound to be built. In this way, trade between East Africa and Ottoman Empire can be guaranteed to be smooth and Ottoman Empire's worries can be solved.
After pretending to think for half an hour, Ernst finally said, "How about using the territory as collateral?"
Although Ernst said it in a very calm tone, it also made Elelulud break into a cold sweat. Territory has always been an untouchable forbidden zone for all countries.
Franz IV seems a bit bland, after all, this is Ottoman Empire's business.
Alleludd could only bite the bullet and ask, "I wonder if His Majesty plans to use that territory as collateral?"
Looking at the nervous Ellerud, Ernst pretended to be relaxed and said, "There is no need to be nervous. Naturally, we in East Africa will not do anything too extreme. As for the collateral, I think this small area in the northwest corner of Persian Gulf your country is very good. How do you feel?"
Ernst pointed to the west coast of Persian Gulf on the map, and asked the coast of Saudi Arabia in his previous life. At this time, the coast of Saudi Arabia was still under the control of the Ottoman Empire, and it was not a very important place.
The area requested by Ernst makes sense in the eyes of Elerud, because this land is very close to Northern Bay Territory in East Africa, and is only separated by the power of Rashid Emir. Does that mean that East Africa wants to expand Northern Bay Territory.
Rashidi Emirate is a family-ruled country that relies on the existence of the Ottoman Empire. It looks like a subordinate country of the Ottoman Empire. Later Saudi Arabia defeated this country and thus snatched a large amount of land from Rashidi Emirate, including First Company string of oil producing areas.
Of course, Ottoman Empire still controls most of the coastal areas today, while Rashidi Emirate is mainly located inland, and there is an outlet to the sea in the Bahrain area next to Qatar.
Ellerud said, "If it is just this small area, there is indeed a basis for negotiation, but I need to seek advice from the country on this matter."
Now Persian Gulf region, except for Basra, Kuwait and other northern coasts, which are Ottoman Empire's important outlets to the sea, other places really do not have much value in the Ottoman Empire's eyes.
Moreover, the area requested by East Africa is not large. It is completely desert. It can be regarded as a piece of leftover material from the empire. If it is used as a mortgage for the construction of Basra Railway, at least for Ellerud, it is not too much.
Ernst, who succeeded in his conspiracy, said with a smile, "If your country can assign this land to East Africa, we can completely use this area as payment for Basra Railway's goods. In this way, Come, East Africa has expanded its interests in Persian Gulf region, and your country has opened up the last section from Baghdad Railway to Persian Gulf, which is very beneficial to both parties."
Based on the previous negotiations, Ernst chose to continue to increase the stakes. If it could directly obtain the sovereignty of the coast of Persian Gulf, it would be much better than wrangling in the future. East Africa would only help Ottoman Empire build a railway of less than 700 kilometers at its own expense. If this deal is realized, Ernst would definitely make a big profit.