Chapter 13

Frederick called Alexandrei and asked about the development of the consortium in the automobile sector and related branches.

"Your Highness, the company has made a significant breakthrough, and now the company sales in Europe are booming, and our next marketing campaign objectives are the US, Japan, and emerging countries in Asia. We acquired our main competitor Daimler Motors and renamed it Sigmaringen-Daimler Motors after many years of repeated refusal from its owner Gottlieb Daimler. Daimler invented a new type of vehicle called the Sigmaringen-Lastwagen(truck) a few weeks ago that can transport products by land, he said that with enough funds he could develop better versions that support more cargo." Alexandrei finished the report

Crown Prince Frederick is surprised by how fast the automobile industry is developing. In a few years maybe we can adopt trucks as the main cargo transportation in Romania and be pioneers in the transportation industry.

Sigmaringen-Daimler Motors focuses on middle-low-end automobiles and now trucks while Singmaringen-Benz focuses on High-class luxury automobiles and a few upper-middle-end ones. The two companies are jointly developing military trucks, vehicles, and motorcycles for the army. These two companies also provided civil servants loyal to the royal family and high executives of the consortium special civil edition vehicles for a discounted price.

"And how about bicycles? Had you started the construction of factories in the country?" Asked Frederick

"Yes, last month began the construction of 5 large-scale factories. As you ordered we coordinated with the local authorities of different regions to encourage people to buy one and use it as a method of transportation. Sigmaringen Bank also offered interest-free loans to peasants helping them to buy one" Replied Alexandrei.

Frederick's next step in the reformation of Romania was to facilitate workers' transportation to construction sites that would be all over the country as soon as the new bill passed. This new bill is about building roads, bridges, and related infrastructure therefore improving Romania's transportation network, in the short-term creates a lot of jobs for workers as well as opportunities to improve their living conditions and in the long term can help our nation's economy developing trade between cities, towns, and small settlements.

The subsequent action plan is land reforms, the government alongside Sigmaringen Bank will purchase the lands of big landowners and at the same time will issue loans for peasants if they want to own land. Furthermore, soldiers with enough merit can redeem lands for free according to their merits.

Frederick never liked to give something for free, there's nothing free in this world. It's best to cultivate this thought in the minds of the Romanian people earlier, to prepare against communist revolutions' promises of free land, services, and food.

After that, Frederick went to a High-class restaurant in Bucharest to meet representatives of German, French, and British companies.

Before bringing the Sigmaringen Consortium over to develop Romania. French, British, and German companies were dominant in Romania, Carol I as a German favored a lot of German businessmen, so the only electrical power plant in Romania was located in Bucharest and owned by a German company. British and French businessmen were involved in mining the few mineral deposits in the country. Since Frederick's consortium invested all over Romania, even American, Dutch, and Russian companies were interested in railroads and other profitable businesses. Crown Prince Frederick allowed them to invest in a few civil projects aside from the military projects and key industrial transportation in the hands of the consortium.

Frederick walked into a private VIP dining room and saw several men in suits stop talking and stand up from their seats to greet him with a perfect aristocratic greeting.

"Good afternoon gentlemen, I hope not been too late for our business discussion." Frederick with a smile.

Without letting them reply he continued:

"I invited you here to discuss new business opportunities that your companies might be interested in jointly developing. As you may know, our consortium and the Romanian government are heavily investing in the Ploiesti>Bucharest>Constanta route, everything related to transportation, roads, bridges, railroads, and factories is being concentrated in these cities." paused briefly to watch everyone reaction

Everyone in the room kept silent and expressionless but from the vibes in this room, all of them were highly anticipating his next words.

"We need help to expand the Electric power supply, expansion of Constanta's port, modernize water supply plants, subcontract some minor civil railroad projects connecting towns to the main railroad, and subcontractors to build new public facilities. In a few days an auction will be held for you to bid on the projects your respective companies might be interested in helping us develop" concluded Frederick

Contrary to what many would think, a country can't be developed by a single consortium... No matter how much money or influence it has, innovation and competition are essential for any emerging country to flourish and prosper. What we need to be careful is not to hand over key industries, if possible military projects, and main transportation lines to foreign investors. Foreign investors essentially aren't evil but their interests are mainly in their country of origin if one day that country collides with our nation they'll prioritize their country where their main interests are! Frederick's consortium has several "foreigners" as high executives they'll never betray him nor the country unless a crazed patriotic individual is among the high executives but that's impossible, Frederick chose carefully each one of them. The other way of them betraying is by offering them better terms but that's also possible for "foreigners" and nationals as a countermeasure Frederick is already training and forming the royal intelligence agency.

Everyone's face brightened by the announcement and quickly started asking questions to the crown prince. After discussing for 2 hours, they all agreed with Frederick's conditions of prioritizing hiring Romanian citizens, respecting their rights, and maximum work hours imposed by law.

Around 2:30 p.m., Frederick arrived at the Golescu Castle ready to rest but was ambushed by his mother and dragged to the main hall.

"When do you plan on deciding on your future fiance?, your father already told me what you two discussed but I need a specific date. As you know, marriage between nobles has to be fast if not you may lose your chance! We must take advantage of your current achievements and reputation to get a good bride!" Elisabeth I berated him while concerned about his future.

"Mom let me think for a few more months please, as you know this is not a joke I need to carefully consider my options" said Frederick exasperated.

"I will give you half a year to decide, you aren't allowed to visit Germany during this period. I want you to concentrate on finding your life partner, not playing with that woman" Elisabeth berated him again.

Frederick just nodded and left, It's meaningless to discuss with his mother about the topic, she's hellbent on finding him a good match to be his wife.

A few days later, Frederick planned a trip to London. He wants to buy a few ships for trade and plans for the next two years.

London is the right place to find cheap and high-quality ships in 19th century Europe, Old maritime powers like Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands declined many years ago and their ships might be compared in quality to British ships but never in price. British Empire has a long collection of ships, many of them discontinued from their numerous fleets around the world, so they always sold them in batches at good prices. Discontinued ships are by no means century-old ships, these ships were made before the Second Industrial Revolution, so many technologies are becoming obsolete. The British Empire prides itself on always having the most advanced fleet in major quantities.

Additionally, Romania doesn't have many experienced sailors, so for this trip, I plan to hire if possible retired sailors and officials of the British Royal Navy to sail the ships I brought from there as well as train new Romanian sailors. We need to set a firm foundation for the future Romanian Royal Navy.

February 28th, Frederick welcomed more than a thousand veterans from the Imperial German army, he used up a lot of his contacts to bring these people here. All of them veterans with great merits during the Franco-Prussian war, he wanted to imitate the Imperial German army's structure.

In peacetime the Imperial German Army was divided into four basic levels, the Army inspectorate (Armee-Inspektion), the army corps (Armeekorps), the division, and the regiment. During wartime, the staff of the Army inspectorates formed field army commands, which controlled the corps and subordinate units.

After a few formalities and the signing of contracts, these people will train the Romanian Army for 6 years, Frederick must allocate them housing during this period and travel tickets to visit or bring their family over. He organized a big banquet for them in celebration of their new jobs and left at night for the Golescu castle to rest.

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Author note: (1) Gottlieb Daimler invented the first truck, called the Daimler Motor-Lastwagen in 1896.

(2) Golescu castle is an old castle in Bucharest that serves as the king's main residence. Peles castle was constructed in Sinaia during Carol I's reign.