African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 71: Chapter 67: Minister’s Route

March 2, 1867.

Saint Petersburg.

Kross, an assessment expert from the Heixinggen consortium, is bargaining with Sergei, a trusted confidant of Tsar Alexandria II (a fictional character).

”Count Sergei, is it really true that your country intends to sell the Alaska region?”

Kross cautiously verified with Count Sergei, as this was a significant deal, and no details could be overlooked.

”Someone of my status and position has no such petty thoughts to toy with you. In fact, some ministers had previously proposed to His Majesty the sale of the Alaska region. Some even wanted to contact the American government to have them take over the Alaska territory,” Count Sergei said seriously.

”Now, Alaska has become a burden to the Empire, and it also faces threats from the British, which is why there’s talk of selling the Alaska region.”

Hearing this, Kross realized the news was about right, so he asked, ”Mr. Sergei, is your country no longer intending to continue expanding into the Americas?”

This question from Kross was quite impolite, but Sergei didn’t mind at all since he’d already received the money.

He explained, ”Since the Crimean War, the Empire has embarked on a path of reform, and reform requires funding. Moreover, our focus is currently on the Central Asia region, leaving us with no energy to develop colonies in the Americas. In addition, for managing and developing the Alaska colony, not only does it fail to be profitable, but it also often incurs losses. The Empire’s economic situation has been poor in recent years, and some have long wanted to sell Alaska for cash.”

Kross responded, ”Indeed, our Heixinggen consortium is interested in purchasing your Alaska colony.”

”That’s certainly no problem, but if you want me to act as a bridge, there will be a service fee... you understand!” Sergei gestured as if counting money with his fingers.

”Count Sergei, if you can help us secure this deal, we won’t forget the friendship of our friends,” Kross quickly said.

Saying this, he discreetly handed a check for 20,000 Rubles to Sergei.

”This is just a token of goodwill, a little thought, and no disrespect!”

Looking at the check in his hand, acknowledging the amount, Sergei was quite satisfied.

He asked, ”What kind of result do you desire? I can find some friends to help, but the reward can’t be low!”

Kross cautiously probed, ”Count Sergei, do you think it’s possible to buy Alaska with a few million Rubles?”

”That’s absolutely impossible! You must know that Alaska has an area of over a million square kilometers. Even for affluent Americans, it would be unthinkable without several million US Dollars,” Sergei said firmly.

”Then what is your country’s psychological expectation?” Kross asked.

Sergei pondered for a moment and held up one finger.

”Ten million US Dollars!” Kross suppressed his shock; the Russians really dare to dream big.

Kross had also done his research; Alaska was basically a vast ice field, large in area but unsuitable for agriculture and devoid of significant mineral resources. The Russians had only developed the fur trade in Alaska.

In recent years, according to Russian fur traders, the fur business in Alaska has also become difficult, so where lies its value?

If not for the company sending him here to negotiate, Kross wouldn’t even think of buying this vast icy land.

”Count Sergei, you and I both know that although Alaska is vast, it is essentially a snowfield with not much value. Its value certainly doesn’t justify ten million US Dollars,” Kross said to Sergei.

”Moreover, our consortium wants to purchase this land, not out of any urgent need, so the price cannot be too high.”

Sergei curiously asked, ”Then why would you want to buy such a large land with no economic value?”

Sergei understood that the Alaska colony was a completely barren land with no output, and maintaining sovereign rights over Alaska cost the Empire considerable financial resources annually. Russia was currently seeking someone to purchase Alaska, but so far, only the Heixinggen consortium had reached out proactively to the Empire.

Kross feigned helplessness and explained to Sergei, ”It’s just some small notion of our boss. He once told us that if things can’t be done, they shouldn’t be forced.” Kross said candidly.

”Mr. Sergei, I don’t quite understand why anyone would buy such a barren land. Does your boss have some peculiar hobby?” Sergei curiously asked.

”To tell you the truth, Mr. Sergei, our boss indeed has a hobby, but this is just our speculation!”

Kross spoke mysteriously to Sergei, ”It’s said that he acquired a piece of land in Africa for colonization. However, Africa, as you well know, comes with tropical diseases and a harsh natural environment. Yet he whimsically engages in agriculture there, and even at a loss, recruits immigrants from elsewhere. Honestly, the indigenous people are the most suitable labor force, so isn’t this putting the cart before the horse?”

”This doesn’t seem like something a shrewd businessman would do,” Kross remarked.

In short, our boss is an oddball, a fool; if you miss this opportunity, there won’t be another. If you don’t cherish our offer, we won’t carry on.”

”Mr. Kross, it’s not that I don’t want to help your company, but your price is indeed too low, so naturally, our country will still choose the Americans to purchase the Alaska region,” Sergei said to Kross.

When receiving the money, he didn’t say this, did he? Kross thought sarcastically.

However, Ernst had already anticipated this aspect. To make these Russians work, you must entice them with benefits. Imagine, in the past, to obtain money from selling Alaska, the traditionally greedy Russians had to bribe American officials to get back their money, which was quite amusing (there are also versions claiming Russia didn’t receive a penny, but this is unlikely).

So Ernst’s choice this time was to bribe the Russian ministers. I can’t offer a better price than the Americans, but I can buy off the Russian ministers.

As for whether the Americans had a similar idea, they probably didn’t. After all, historically, most Americans were opposed to purchasing Alaska, so they were unlikely to be this proactive.

Therefore, Ernst instructed Kross and others, ”This time going to Russia, don’t directly confront the Alaska issue but rather accomplish it by indirectly buying off those ministers.”

So Kross said, ”Count Sergei, as long as you can persuade your government to sell the Alaska colony to us, we’ll provide you a reward of 300,000 Rubles, provided it doesn’t exceed 15 million Rubles. If, on this basis, you can reduce the purchase price for us by 1 million Rubles each time, we’ll pay an additional 100,000 Rubles as a reward each time...”

Sergei’s eyes sparkled, and a greedy expression involuntarily emerged from his eyes.

”Mr. Kross, if you had stated these terms earlier, there wouldn’t have been so much trouble. Rest assured, leave the rest to me, and I will certainly make your company satisfied.”

For Sergei, this was no different from picking up money.