Faced with Jero Bonaparte’s inquiry, Franz Joseph nodded without hesitation.
"Jero, you should understand what our Austrian Empire needs right now, so I hope you can give us an opportunity!" Franz Joseph pleaded with Jero Bonaparte to provide him an opportunity to earn foreign exchange.
Currently, various sectors of the Austrian Empire have investnts from the French Empire, and those banks provide investnt funds to the Austrian Empire mostly in the form of bonds raised.
It can be said that the economy of the Austrian Empire is linked to the fluctuations of stocks and bonds on the Paris Stock Exchange.
In the event of fluctuations on the Paris Stock Exchange, the economy of the Austrian Empire could suffer a significant blow.
From Jero Bonaparte’s perspective, this kind of tied-up economy indeed benefits the French Empire’s control over the Austrian Empire.
However, from Franz Joseph’s perspective now, this situation is greatly disadvantageous to the Austrian Empire.
This is equivalent to entrusting the lifeline of one’s ho to another’s hands; although this ally shows no signs of turning against them for now, no one can guarantee that the future will always remain peaceful and friendly.
Therefore, like Cavour, Franz Joseph hopes to take advantage of Jero Bonaparte’s need for laborers to accumulate so foreign exchange for the Austrian Empire to prepare for potential changes.
Of course, Jero Bonaparte can be sure that Franz Joseph did not think of such things by himself; it was likely Prince tternich who egged him on to speak to Jero.
The reason tternich knows about this is probably related to the little Prince tternich in Paris.
However, Jero Bonaparte is not interested in "exposing" the Prince tternich hiding behind Franz Joseph.
He smiled and responded to Franz Joseph: "Of course, I am willing to cooperate with the Austrian Empire!"
"How many laborers do you need? I will arrange for them imdiately!" Franz Joseph asked Jero Bonaparte again.
"At the mont, Algeria does not need many laborers!" Jero Bonaparte said casually, "We have previously signed a labor agreent with Cavour, and about tens of thousands of Sardinian laborers will head to Algeria in batches!
These laborers are sufficient to et the needs of the Algerian region!"
"Then forget it!" Franz Joseph responded to Jero Bonaparte with a hint of disappointnt.
"However..." Jero Bonaparte continued, "there are still large labor gaps in so companies I have in Senegal and the Holy Land!
If the Austrian Empire is willing, I can persuade dostic companies to sign labor agreents with you!"
"Of course!" Franz Joseph promptly replied to Jero Bonaparte: "When can we sign the agreent?"
"There’s no need to rush!" Jero Bonaparte responded calmly and then gave Franz Joseph a heads-up: "Let be clear, I only want Croatian laborers!"
"Hmm? Why?" Franz Joseph asked curiously.
"Because Croatians are loyal!" Jero Bonaparte casually replied.
"Them? Loyal?" Franz Joseph’s expression was sowhat odd; he couldn’t quite connect Croatia with loyalty.
During the European Revolution Period, the current Croatian Governor Josip Jelačić took the lead in defying the orders of the Austrian Empire.
Although Josip Jelačić later did comply with the Austrian Empire’s orders, that was after the Hungarian rebellion.
Franz Joseph always believed that Croatia initially wanted to oppose the Austrian Empire, but at that ti Hungary, under the influence of the rebel Kossuth, was unwilling to accept them.
Only then did Josip Jelačić stand with the Austrian Empire, and he reluctantly recognized Josip Jelačić’s position as Croatian Governor after taking office.
"That’s right! Loyal!" Jero Bonaparte nodded again in response to Franz Joseph.
"Alright! I will select the Croatian laborers!" Jero Bonaparte decided not to dwell on the loyalty of Croatians.
"By the way, those laborers will be incorporated into the Foreign Legion’s ranks!" Jero Bonaparte reminded Franz Joseph once more.
"Foreign Legion?" Franz Joseph looked even more puzzled.
"Senegal is too dangerous, so those heading to Croatia must undergo a few months of military training in Lyon! After completing the training, they beco part of the Foreign Legion!" Jero Bonaparte explained emphatically.
"If soldiers in the Foreign Legion die, how should the compensation be calculated?" Franz Joseph asked Jero Bonaparte again.
"According to the annual wages of the laborers multiplied by two as their death compensation!" Jero Bonaparte responded decisively to Franz Joseph, "This money will be given directly to you, and it’s up to you how to distribute it!"
"Alright! I agree!" Franz Joseph replied to Jero Bonaparte.
Then, Franz Joseph discussed the annual salary of Croatian laborers with Jero Bonaparte.
"1000–1200 francs!" Jero Bonaparte replied to Franz Joseph, "Slightly lower than the wage of an average worker in Paris!"
"Alright!" Franz Joseph nodded once again.
1000–1200 francs is equivalent to the basic wage of an average worker in a third-tier city in France, whereas in the Austrian Empire, it is the highest wage outside of Vienna and Prague.
The life of a laborer is worth twice the annual wage, equivalent to 2000–2400 francs, and this is the price given due to Jero Bonaparte’s kind heart.
Sending these laborers to the United Kingdom, not expecting compensation, would already be comndable if they didn’t deduct wages for London entrepreneurs.
Jero Bonaparte was willing to offer this price to recruit Croatians because he didn’t view these people as normal laborers.
Instead, they were militarily trained militia units, and their purpose in Senegal and the Holy Land was naturally to stir up trouble.
Especially in Senegal, Jero Bonaparte has now formulated a colonial expansion strategy for Africa, with Senegal as the only occupied land in West Africa by the Second Empire, naturally serving as a forward base.
What mattered to Jero Bonaparte was not Croatia’s so-called loyalty, but the unique loyalty culture of the Balkan nations.
Jero Bonaparte clearly rembered the "Ustasha" organization of the Independent State of Croatia ninety years later, which caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands in Yugoslav territory.
The current Croatian Governor, Josip Jelačić, also led Croatian troops to inflict certain massacres in Hungary.
Though 19th-century imperialism was no good thing, the Croatian tradition inherited in the Balkans was exemplary.
Therefore, Jero Bonaparte particularly needed these "loyal and capable" Croatians to help him eliminate part of the population in West Africa.
After settling on the price, Franz Joseph and Jero Bonaparte chatted for a while before leaving the study.
Jero Bonaparte returned to the bedroom and saw Augusta sitting on the sofa, then slowly walked over to sit beside her.
"What did Franz ask of you?" Empress Augusta inquired to Jero Bonaparte.
"Discussing with how to resolve France’s economic constraints on them!" Jero Bonaparte responded offhandedly, "Franz feared being controlled by our money and hence hoped to earn foreign exchange through labor!"
"So you agreed?" Empress Augusta asked again.
"Of course!" Jero Bonaparte softly replied, "Anyway, we need labor to populate our lands in Africa now!"
Just then, a knock was heard from outside, prompting Empress Augusta to hurriedly get up to open the door.
Elizabeth and Countess Raphaelt appeared at the entrance, "Augusta sister, hope we’re not disturbing you!"
"No, what’s up?" Augusta curiously asked.
"It’s a long night, shall we play so cards!" Elizabeth spread her hands, revealing a stack of cards to Augusta.
"Sure!" Augusta invited Elizabeth and the Countess Raphaelt inside.
Elizabeth and the Countess Raphaelt, upon Jero Bonaparte’s invitation, sat on the other two sofas.
Elizabeth explained the rules to Jero Bonaparte and Augusta, they were playing Whist.
The four were divided into two opposing teams.
"Then Augusta and I will form a team, and you with Madam Raphaelt!" Jero Bonaparte imdiately suggested to Elizabeth.
"No, we should leave this to God!" Elizabeth handed Jero Bonaparte and the others a coin.
The four present tossed the silver coin, and after a few rounds, finally decided the teams,
Jero Bonaparte was paired with Elizabeth, Rafael with Augusta.
"Don’t hold back!" Jero Bonaparte said to Elizabeth.
"You’re the one who shouldn’t hold back!" Elizabeth retorted.
Once the ga officially started, Jero Bonaparte and Elizabeth had no rapport, quickly falling behind against Augusta and Rafael.
After several rounds, the two began to verbally attack each other, finding new ways to confound the other.
Augusta and Rafael’s teamwork gradually beca more coordinated, with Jero Bonaparte and Elizabeth losing even more badly.
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