Bulgarian Empire

Chapter 62: Launch of Steel Plant

On September 15, 1891, the front page of the Bulgarian Daily published the "Draft Plan for the Bulgarian State Steel Plant".

The Bulgarian media is in luck, starting with Nikolai's visit to Sofia, followed by the Russian-Bulgarian talks, which have been a constant topic of discussion and sold out of newspapers.

And now the government has come up with the steel plant plan. The Bulgarian people are used to it when the government comes out to make plans. Since the earliest Five-Year Plan, the government has not been idle, always keeps making moves.

However, it was still amazing to see what was inside. The government will invest in the creation of the steel plant, which is planned to be put into production within three years, to build a large steel plant generating 270,000 tons of pig iron, 140,000 tons of steel, and 90,000 tons of steel products, for a total of 500,000 tons per year.

It instantly attracted the public's interest and ignited public opinion. Some agree, and those against, each voicing their own views and arguing.

The opposite side believes that the government is talking nonsense, which they cannot achieve for a reason that: the world's annual production of more than 500,000 tons of steel, except for those six major countries, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, the United States and Austria-Hungary and then there are Belgium and Luxembourg, then there are none!

Some people may feel wondering, where is Italy for the rest? Well, at least it is also a European power. It is a pity that Italy's steel industry is such garbage that it is just starting now, with less than 50,000 tons of scrap.

With one steel plant in Bulgaria, it's a joke to increase production capacity to the top 10 in the world. And does Bulgaria need that much steel? It's all more than Italy. A total waste of money might as well invest in other industries.

If the Bulgarians of the future see it, they will definitely say, better than Italy is not a problem! History seeks to a period, Bulgaria's steel production has exceeded Italy.

Those who support it think: whether it can be accomplished or not, they must always do. Steel is the foundation of a strong nation. There is always a dream, just in case, it comes true!

Well, no one cares about Konstantin's fears of disrupting free competition in the market.

The capitalists said we are not stupid. The business destined to lose money is only when the brain is in trouble that they rob it! If the government wants to do it, we are also patriotic and will not oppose the country to be strong.

And then, amid all the noise, it passed without anyone taking to the streets to protest. It is estimated that no one dared. The last group of people who protested in the streets, there are still builders on the site to repair the road!

They violated Bulgarian rules of law and order, which affect the normal life of citizens. Bulgarian law allows protests and demonstrations but not to disturb other people's lives. It is equal to say that it is better to protest and demonstrate in a place where nobody is around!

They can build a steel plant, Ferdinand can say for sure, no problem! As for the production capacity, it is written: "put into operation within three years". As for when it can reach 500,000 tons, let's wait. It will be sooner or later.

Well, we also have Mr. Konstantin, who is in a terrible mood, in trouble. A whole bunch of experts and scholars came to the door, asking about the progress of the steel plant, saying they could volunteer to help. At first, it was okay. He was impressed and answered all patiently. Later, there were more people, and he got a headache. Some of them also came to urge him to hurry up for three days.

Konstantin really wanted to say: 'Progress, my ass! Didn't you see the newspaper ad that said it was only a draft? He just used it to test people's reactions. How did I know it would go so well!'

"Oh, how did you all come one by one? Scholars in chemistry and physics are concerned. It can be counted and related well! A major in mechanics can be your counterpart. It's right to care!"

"You study art? Oh, thanks for that one. We can't use you!"

"That what, you're not kidding! What is this for it? It's a flax oil production plant... It was just set up yesterday, for... can it, the door is over there, take your time!"

All sorts of people, in disarray, have been coming knocking on the door, and Konstantin has had to keep his doors closed.

If it is a voluntary help, people are sent to register to seek information about their needs. If they want to take a chance to make a profit and sell equipment, they can leave now, although not even Bulgaria has such a powerful machinery factory.

These are only minor problems. The key is how to solve the problem of steel plant managers and skilled workers? Those small workshops in Bulgaria are useless to poach them!

After watching the government act blindly, Ferdinand gave a bold call for a halt. What to do? There is no good way, but there is a stupid way to take a step back and learn from the Hanyang Iron Works.

People are sent directly to learn, at first to invite British technical engineers. No choice, because this year, the British steel industry is the most advanced one!

For one Hanyang Iron Works, Zhang Zhidong spent 5.8 million taels of silver. (At that time, silver had not been greatly devalued.) It is a pity that it never had all the capacity to expand due to officials' recklessness, and it remained the first steel plant in Asia.

Bulgaria is now planning to build a steel plant with a similar total investment of about the same amount as 7 million Leva, although the capacity aspect is vastly superior.

Anyway, the loan contracts signed between Stambolov's cabinet and Britain back then all stated that they must purchase British goods.

The loan of more than 50 million Leva is just in time to be used. It is a tragedy for small countries that they do not get cash for the promised loan and have to pay interest.

The loan contract signed by the Statham government is not different in essence from the Qing Dynasty borrowing foreign debt. The only advantage is to know a little better and pay a little less.

The manpower problem is solved. The next is the purchase of equipment. Ferdinand was prepared to take action personally, but it is a pity that it can only be forfeited given the diplomatic impact, which is being negotiated with Russia.

This purchase is steel plant equipment and includes industrial equipment needed for other industries in Bulgaria.

Due to the industrial revolution, the rapid development of science and technology in recent years, many factory equipments need to be updated. Ferdinand simply let the government come forward and organize the capitalists who need to purchase in the country to go together to buy, but also easier to cut prices.

Due to the massive amount of purchases, the government had to send a person with influence. Ferdinand could not go, and this glorious and arduous task fell on Chekhov's shoulders.

He formed a super team led by a cabinet member and brought together most of Bulgaria's industry elite. The first stop was London, and then it had to go to Vienna.

The phrase 'those who owe money are masters'1) only applies to future times. Bulgaria does not have this bottom line now.

Oh, and what's worse is that the money is given in installments, with interest from start to finish. A loan of hundreds of millions of leva, Bulgaria now only gets a fraction. There is no choice. The great powers of the late 19th century are so imposing.

"Mr. Chekhov, you have a big task this time. Besides purchasing equipment, you have to dig up a few engineers as much as possible!" Ferdinand said with concern.

"Your Highness, don't worry! I swear by God that I will get this done!" Chekhov assured him.

Translator:

1) It means that the one who owes your money can control you. I will take the explanation from someone in the forum: "Because money in arrears is in short supply, you urged to pay the money. He may not payout, only to drag your pressure on, but he can not afford to pay out the money. He can only fall into a mess, ready to lose face. It makes you say that there is no need to pay money to survive it. So he is the master.

At the same time, if you do not push too hard, he will have two ideas. One, you did not ask him to ask. He thinks that now he has no money, you did not ask for it. He can slow it down and then pay you back when he earns money. Another idea is that you did not ask him to. He thinks you are not lacking that money or think you may not care about that little money, so it tends not to pay back the money. So he is the master.

If you have not asked him for money, over time, he may feel that you have forgotten about borrowing money for this matter. If he is thankful, maybe he will still pay back later. If he is not grateful, he will feel that you have just forgotten. There is another situation that you did not ask him to return the money, a long time. He thought that he suddenly said the money thing would feel embarrassed, sorry to say, and thus ashamed to go directly to return the money and then help you through other means, such as you have trouble he will try to help and so on. So he is still the master.

And all of this, for you, again is not the same. You will feel that the one who owes the money is the master, their kindness to him to lend money, he actually does not payback, and so on. As in your case now.