Chapter 12

January 1st of 1894, Bucharest capital of the Kingdom of Romania.

Frederick was reading a document in his office. It was a contract of partnership with Branobel(Oil company) to develop the Ploiesti Oil fields. If not for his consortium's technological, and technical limitations Frederick wouldn't have let anyone touch Romanian oil fields.

"According to this report after partnering with Branobel we still need to purchase oil extraction equipment, two large oil refineries, and an oil pipeline linking Constanta for the large-scale exploitation in Ploiesti. The annual output can reach more than 9 million barrels in 1905," said Frederick while reaching out the drawer and pulling out other documents

"Your Highness, the German side had replied about our interest in purchasing technology for industrial machinery, a 500.000 tons steel plant, and military technologies as long as we reach an agreement with the German arms industry's companies, They also allowed our capital to invest in several major arms companies. Although the Germans provided a lot of conveniences as our goal of jointly developing infantry arms like your highness said before they refused to share naval ships and submarine technologies," reported Alexandrei

"Heh, it seems Wilhelm wants something from us. They allowed us to purchase so many technologies at once without any conditions even if I am part of the Hohenzollern House I don't believe he wouldn't have used this opportunity to let our nation lower the trading tariff or get shares of our oil fields, he must be scheming something" Frederick murmured to himself.

"Kaiser Wilhelm II wrote a letter to his majesty Carol I, it's unknown the content" replied Alexandrei.

Frederick entered deep in thought after that

'It must be the triple alliance! Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted my father to join them. Although Romania is not a powerful country, over the years my father has managed to stabilize the country. I can't let him sign anything with Kaiser Wilhelm II, he's doomed to lose. It's a shame a great country like Germany is ruled by such an arrogant fool. Wilhelm refused to sell us naval technology because they wanted us to help them restrain the Tsarist Russian Empire on land." Frederick sneered at the thought.

"Forget it, send someone to scout the land near Constanta and build the steel plant there. The Anghel Saligny Bridge over the Danube River that my father ordered is expected to conclude in 1895, we can use sea freight and import iron ore and coal from the Ottoman Empire or Tsarist Russia. What I'm worried about is other industries like chemicals, The consortium is expanding too quickly but never mind, send someone to find chemical industry companies like agricultural chemicals, basic chemicals, specialty chemicals, petrochemicals, ceramic products, and pharmaceuticals near or in bankruptcy and coordinate with the board members to buy it and relocate the companies here" Frederick took a breath and continue:

"We can help Romania in bringing these industries over with my capital but that's not what I wish for our great nation, I want Romania to be able to grow by itself, so I'm approving a new policy for the Sigmaringen Bank. Use 100 million pounds of my personal funds to support "Entrepreneurs" or promising "Startups" that our Kingdom of Romania needs right now, Support them in exchange for shares of their business! I'll talk with the government to pass the relevant policies and encourage people to innovate." Said Frederick with enthusiasm.

Alexandrei watched him in awe but quickly composed himself and said:

"Yes, Your Highness, Romanian people are blessed to have a wise King and a crown prince who cares for them" Alexandrei sincerely praised.

Frederick is in a hurry to build military facilities as soon as possible after checking the Balkans map, The Ottoman Empire(Turkey) still has a lot of territories in Europe: Kosovo, Ishkodra, Yanya, Manastir, Salonica, and Adrianopolis all with huge populations of different ethnic groups. I don't know when the next Balkans war will begin but I'm 100% sure that war is inevitable due to the ethnic contradictions, backward economic, religious confrontations, and a decadent political atmosphere. Furthermore from the information I gathered these bastards of the ruling class in the Ottoman Empire were just throwing parties, trafficking slaves, and countless other backward practices while watching the country crumble.

The principality of Bulgaria is also one of my major concerns, If I want to get a good piece of Ottoman territories I need to annex part of Bulgaria or exchange territories with them in the future. I hope we can come to an understanding instead of going to war for it.

January 21st, outskirts of Bucharest

Frederick was inspecting the first railway in the Kingdom of Romania opened in 1869 and linked Bucharest and Giurgiu. 

'The next step is to build railways linking Ploiesti with Bucharest and then to Constanta where our steel plant will be constructed. Constanta will be our first industrial city far away from the European battlefield and where Constanta's port will be receiving ores from the black sea.' Though Frederick

"Your Highness, from Ploiesti to Constanta railroad distance is approximately 293km. We estimate at least one to two years to complete its construction mainly due to the poor industrial conditions of the country" reported Jeremiah.

Jeremiah is an engineer who graduated from a prestigious American university, he worked at his father's railroad company for 5 years until the economic crisis broke up in the US forcing his father to apply for bankruptcy. Shortly after his father committed suicide and he was left alone without money nor a place to live, his siblings didn't recognize him as a family so there was no inheritance for him. Jeremiah is an illegitimate child but his father always supported him. By the way, Jeremiah is an Afro-American descendant which is the reason why he was ignored and despised by his "devoted Christian" siblings and family.

Frederick has no problem with him working here, he's an extremely talented individual and one of the few who willingly came to Romania to work for his consortium. Frederick noticed the strange gazes of some people but eventually, everyone will realize that black natives from Africa are completely different from educated African descendants as long as they educate themselves, and cut off worshipping animals or doing human sacrifices.

'I won't do radical things like accepting and educating African natives, that'll disrupt social order and may create discontent from a lot of conservative people, but talented individuals like Jeremiah are an exception ' though Frederick.

The same goes for Chinese and other ethnic groups. I won't let them come here in groups and create huge families or clans. Only talented or merit-based individuals are welcome for now.

The next morning, Frederick visited his father, he wanted him to write a letter to his uncle Friedrich a general of the German cavalry to contact German retired personnel in the army to be advisors for our Romania Royal Army. Frederick wanted to sponsor a group of talents to go and study in Berlin but it couldn't be too large because it would alert some keen people and Frederick didn't want to involve themselves too much with the Kaiser Wilhelm II reign or be suspected to have joined the Triple Alliance.

He asked Carol I to help him pass a few bills about the guarantees of peasant's rights and mandatory basic education for this he planned to give a long-term and low-interest rate loan issued by Sigmaringen Bank to the government. Although Romania already implemented bills of education similar to those in Germany, it's only in cities and major settlements. Frederick wanted nationwide basic education and the issue of scholarships for outstanding students in the name of the Royal Family.

When Frederick was ready to leave, Carol signaled him to sit down and gave him 5 maroon carpets.

Frederick then proceeded to pull out 5 documents, each of them had a photo and detailed information about the person. He understood immediately, that each document has a lot of detailed information even his mother left notes behind on each one, It seemed that she visited each marriage candidate before.

"What with that reaction? I thought it would be hard to convince you to marry, didn't you have a lot of fun in Berlin? Are you ready to give up all of that? Carol I annoyed with his son's lack of reaction

Frederick stared back in disbelief.

Carol I smiled and said:

"Did you think you could keep your adventures secret from me? I know everything about it that's why your mother is in a hurry to find a suitable fiance for you" Carol I with a mocking expression.

Frederick didn't know how they found out but he knew that sooner or later his little secret would be exposed.

A few years ago he met an interesting girl, he thought it would be a brief romance and that they'd soon part ways but the girl's parents found out about their relationship and it was when Frederick came to know she was a noblewoman from a declining house. It's impossible not to take responsibility and insult the dignity of a noble house even if they're declining, so he bought her a villa in Hannover.

Frederick didn't know what to do with her back then. He cares a lot for her but it is impossible to give up everything to be with her, his ambitions and dreams are too great to be compared with the so-called love.

"I'm not reproaching you for anything but you can't marry that girl, it was the right choice to keep it secret. I will give you a year to find a suitable bride, you may talk with your future spouse about how to handle this matter, and no more than that our Hohenzollern family is a conservative old house, this already is my greatest concession to you" Carol I said with a firm voice and serious expression.

After chatting a little more with Carol I, Frederick left the Golescu Mansion, the royal palace of Romania.

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Special note: I really appreciate any of your suggestions, Nathan_just, he helped me a lot this time! Originally I was going to use an American oil company but decided to change it to Branobel. Since it's supposed that our MC doesn't know a lot of history and frequently investigates before making any plan. Branobel was so famous back then so it makes a lot of sense to partner with them instead of other companies!

Notes: (1) I like very much the mindset that everyone in the world is family, I'll continue making the novel as realistic as possible so, do you understand right? Don't worry, I'm not biased towards anyone, If you feel I'm being too harsh with a particular country feel free to let me know.

(2) This is not a Harem novel, it is just unrealistic that old nobleman waited even after being 30 years old for the "right one". You can check historical data, marriages of 10-20 years younger or older weren't uncommon between them. Not just noblemen, noblewomen of higher status also had lovers although I don't know if they "kept themselves pure" and I doubt that info would have been made public.

(3) The butterfly effect took place in the early chapters.

(4) MC is just a normal person without special hobbies of remembering ALL important events in history, so he's just guessing or letting go of good opportunities.

(5) Golescu Castle and Peles Castle are two different places btw.

(6) The Petroleum Production Company Nobel Brothers, Limited, or Branobel, operates mainly in Baku and Azerbaijan.