North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 230 Intercepting America

After much pleasantries, Baron Nicholas managed to secure a spot in front of the fireplace.

Even so, Baron Nicholas only dared to sit on half of the chair, adopting a humble and respectful posture.

It seems this baron isn't so arrogant after all!
Ah Zu couldn't help but think to himself.

Thinking of this, Azu smiled and said, "Baron, sir...!"

"No, no, no, I dare not address you as 'sir' in your presence!"

Baron Nicholas replied humbly, "Your Excellency, you may simply call me Nicholas!"

“So… Nicholas, we in California would like to lease a small port in Alaska for the resupply of merchant and immigrant ships.”

Azu said, "How come I heard that the Russian-American company has been dragging its feet on this small request and refusing to process it?"

“Alaska and California are neighbors, after all!”

"Nicholas, this is not the kind of friendly attitude you should have towards your neighbors!"

Baron Nicholas thought to himself, "So that's what they came for!"
“Your Excellency, the matter of leasing the port concerns the national sovereignty of the Russian Empire and is not something that a mere baron like myself can decide.”

Although the Russian-American Company was called a company, it was actually a semi-official organization of the Russian Empire, responsible for the colonial administration of the entire Alaska.

This is somewhat similar to the former East India Company.

Unlike the East India Company, the Russian-American Company was directly controlled by the Tsar and was more official than the East India Company.

Azu waved his hand: "Nicholas, don't try to fob me off with these high-sounding excuses."

"Renting a port is just a trivial matter in a remote and desolate place like Alaska."

“Alaska is a vast country with a total population of only a few thousand. It is full of undeveloped natural harbors.”

"Especially the Aleutian Islands, which are even more desolate, the vast majority of the islands are completely uninhabited desert islands."

"Renting one or two deserted islands is a very simple matter for you, Baron."

Azu said bluntly, "Baron, just name your price. How much would you be willing to rent it?"

“This…!” Baron Nicholas hesitated.

Although the Russian-American company is a semi-official organization, it is always driven by profit.

In Alaska, a godforsaken place, there was absolutely no source of profit other than a little fur trade and supplying whaling ships.

Upon hearing what Azu said, Baron Nicholas was also somewhat tempted.

“Your Excellency…shouldn’t we consider this?” Nicholas asked hesitantly.

Azu smiled and said, "Baron, there's one more thing... well, this is something you really can't decide!"

Nicholas said in a deep voice, "Your Excellency, is there anything else that matters to you? If I truly cannot make this decision, then I will report to His Majesty the Tsar as soon as possible...!"

“Indeed!” Azu nodded and said, “Only His Majesty the Tsar can make this decision!”

"My lord, what is it?"

Azu pondered for a moment and said, "My Huamei Company intends to buy the entire Alaska...!"

"What......?"

"What……?"

"Oh my God...!"

……

When Azu said this, not only Baron Nicholas, but also Duke Joseph, Bismarck, and Princess Sissi were all completely shocked!

"Your Excellency... what did you say?" Baron Nicholas could hardly believe his ears. "Your Excellency, could you please say it again...?"

Azu calmly smiled and said, "I said, my Huamei Company intends to buy the entire Alaska...!"

"This...this...!" Baron Nicholas's voice trembled. "Your Excellency, are you...are you serious?"

Azu nodded calmly: "Of course I'm serious! I never joke about such important matters!"

"Gulp...!" Baron Nicholas swallowed hard. "This...this thing, I...I think, is absolutely impossible!"

Azu smiled and shook his head: "Baron, you have absolutely no say in this matter. So, you'd better not make such definitive statements!"

"You should convey my words to His Majesty the Tsar as soon as possible, so that His Majesty can make a decision personally!"

Historically, the following year, 1853, Tsarist Russia completely occupied the two principalities along the Danube River, which is now Romania.

Moreover, Tsarist Russia annihilated the Ottoman Turkish fleet.

In this time of crisis, it's time for the British Empire to shine!
Shocked by the greed and expansion speed of Tsarist Russia, the British Empire, France, Austria, and the Ottoman Empire formed an anti-Russian military alliance and jointly sent troops to the Crimean Peninsula and the Far East of Tsarist Russia.

This is the Crimean War, which has a little notoriety!
Alaska bordered British-occupied Canada, and the Tsar feared that this vast land would fall into British hands. Moreover, the Tsar had not gained any noteworthy benefits from this remote and barren land, so he conceived the idea of ​​selling Alaska to the United States.

But the land was too barren and cold, and the United States never had much interest in it.

It wasn't until more than a decade later, in 1867, that the United States, unable to withstand the persistent pleading of Tsarist Russia, finally gritted its teeth and bought Alaska for a "huge sum" of seven million two hundred thousand dollars.

This is the largest land deal in history, and the price per acre is a mere two cents!

The American people once scoffed at this deal, ridiculing it as "Seward's stupidity," "Seward's refrigerator," and "President Johnson's polar bear garden"...!
It wasn't until the late 19th century, with the discovery of vast amounts of gold and oil in Alaska, that the United States realized just how much of a bargain it had gotten.

Years later, Alaska even became a forward base for the United States to deal with Russia, possessing irreplaceable and enormous strategic significance.

Therefore, when a nation's destiny arrives, there's simply no way to stop it.

Even if you don't want this kind of national destiny, fate will force you to swallow it!
However, no one's lifespan lasts a hundred years, and no nation's lifespan has ever exceeded two hundred years.

No country's period of prosperity has ever lasted more than two hundred years.

Whether it's China, Spain, the British Empire, Tsarist Russia, a humble life, or America...!
And now, Azu doesn't even intend to leave the nation's fate for the next one or two hundred years to America.

At least, let's intercept Alaska first.

……

Azu calmly smiled and said, "Baron, please convey a message to His Majesty the Tsar: my Huamei Company is willing to purchase Alaska for ten million US dollars!"

"Within the Baron's authority, leasing me a port is the matter that should be handled as soon as possible."

"Baron, what do you think?"

"Gulp...!" Baron Nicholas swallowed again, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with a clean white handkerchief embroidered with his name.

It wasn't that Baron Nicholas was cowardly, but rather that what Azu said about acquiring Alaska was simply too horrifying.

"My lord, I will make a decision as soon as possible!"

Baron Nicholas, striving to remain calm, said, "At the same time, I will report your intention to acquire Alaska to His Majesty the Tsar as soon as possible!"

"That's right!" Azu laughed. "Baron, you see, isn't everyone happy doing things this way?"

……

After Baron Nicholas took his leave with a meek and obsequious expression, Bismarck stared at Azu with a look of surprise and asked, "Count, do you really want to buy Alaska?"

“Yes!” Azu nodded: “Haven’t I already made my intentions very clear?”

Bismarck shook his head slightly: "Count, you have greatly underestimated Tsarist Russia's greed for land!"

"Based on my understanding of that iron-fisted Tsar, he would absolutely not agree!"

"In the West, this iron-fisted Tsar, Nicholas I, in order to satisfy his greed for territory, amassed an army of a million and launched numerous wars of aggression against the Ottomans."

"In the East, this Nicholas I is also gradually encroaching on the Heilongjiang River basin of the Qing Dynasty!"

"A ruthless and greedy tsar like him would never give up the vast territory of Alaska for money."

Azu nodded in agreement: "Mr. Ambassador, you're right!"

"The current Nicholas I will not agree to this territorial acquisition deal."

"Disagreeing now does not mean you will not agree in the future."

Azu continued his analysis: "Alaska is right next to the British Empire's colony—Canada!"

"If one day the British Empire were to wage war against the greedy Tsarist Russia, could Tsarist Russia still hold onto such a remote and desolate place as Alaska?"

"If it can't be saved, do you think Nicholas I might consider selling the land to raise funds for military expansion?"

……

"This...!" Bismarck was stunned and stood there dumbfounded after hearing Azu's analysis!
At first glance, the young Chinese count’s intention to acquire Alaska seems absurd.

But upon closer examination, his thinking is so clear, and so practical and feasible!
Thinking of this, Bismarck looked up, staring in utter shock at the young Chinese man in front of him.

"Count, I must admit that I must once again express my utmost amazement and admiration for your wisdom and foresight!"

Bismarck exclaimed sincerely, "Count, you are still so young, but your wisdom has completely exceeded my comprehension."

"If what you say is true, and the British Empire goes to war with Tsarist Russia, then perhaps you really can buy Alaska!"

Having said that, Bismarck was already carefully considering this possibility and how Prussia could profit from it should it become a reality.

At this moment, Duke Joseph couldn't help but interject, "Earl, Alaska is just a cold and desolate land. Even if you could buy it with money, what use would it be?"

Ah Zu laughed and said, "As long as it's land, it's bound to be useful!"

Even in the desert, even in the icy and snowy land, who knows how many treasures might be buried beneath the earth?

(End of this chapter)