If Portugal is dissatisfied, then a war between the two Iberian powers might break out. For Spain, a war could actually serve to train its army.
Such colonial disputes aren’t significant enough to warrant forcible intervention from other great powers; at most, they would diate. As long as the major powers do not intervene, Carlo has no fear in the Iberian conflict.
Not to ntion a small Portugal. Even if two Portugals united, they would still not be able to rival Spain.
The gap between Portugal and Spain is not only in land area and population, but also in terms of comprehensive backwardness in economy, industry, population, and agriculture.
The land in Congo is extrely important to Carlo. It can not only develop agriculture and cultivate cash crops but also possesses extrely rich natural and mineral resources.
Congo is later known as the world’s raw material repository, rich in various natural resources and many rare tals.
It has more than 75 million tons of copper ore, 4.5 million tons of cobalt ore, 7 million tons of zinc ore, 600 tons of gold mines, and 2 billion carats of diamond mines. It also has more than 25 million tons of oil, 40 billion cubic ters of natural gas, and more than 60 million tons of coal mines.
Such abundant mineral resources are a good supplent to Spain itself, and given its location in Africa, transportation is relatively convenient.
More importantly, Congo also has a large amount of high-purity uranium, which is a vital raw material for making atomic bombs in the future.
Although atomic bombs belong to the distant future, Carlo must consider his future heirs if not for himself.
If Spain could beco the first country in the world to possess an atomic bomb, it would have more confidence in future world wars, significantly altering the course of war and Spain’s fate.
As the first Spanish Duke to associate with Carlo, Duke Jacopo plays a significant role in Carlo’s plans.
After receiving Carlo’s summons, Duke Jacopo hastily went to the Imperial Palace and respectfully sought an audience with Carlo.
At this mont, Carlo was completing his developnt plan for the Congo River Basin, and when Duke Jacopo arrived, the plan happened to be reaching its conclusion.
"His Majesty the King." Duke Jacopo respectfully saluted, without the slightest contempt for the 24-year-old king before him, rather he valued and respected him greatly.
Duke Jacopo understood that the young king before him was not a child with immature tactics. Underestimating such a king was tantamount to playing with his own title and future.
Although European kings rarely abolished noble titles, this does not an the kings lacked such power. Moreover, Carlo was not a native Spaniard, and he did not have deep feelings for these native Spanish nobles.
If these Spanish nobles recklessly stood in Carlo’s way, perhaps the event of abolishing certain nobles could happen in the near future.
Whether a king can abolish a noble depends on the power the king holds and his influence within the entire European noble system.
After all, nobles are also human. They would fear when facing such power that could strip them of their noble status. When nobles are frightened, they would naturally unite to resist royal authority.
If the king cannot handle the opposition from a united noble class, then naturally he would have no power to strip a noble of his title. Otherwise, any internal war between king and nobles could at least lead to national instability, or at worst, dethrone the royal family or nobles and deal heavy blows to the monarchy.
Therefore, typically, European kings rarely turn against their subordinate nobles unless the nobles court death by violating the interests of the king and other major nobles.
Such nobles don’t even require the king to act personally; the nobles themselves would unite to eliminate the traitors.
Carlo smiled and nodded, then directly said, "Duke Jacopo, I plan to establish a United Agricultural Developnt Company in Congo. Are you interested in serving as the head of the company?"
The United Agricultural Developnt Company, as the na implies, is the main institution for Carlo’s Congo agricultural developnt. It is a joint company because it takes into account the involvent of nobles in Congo’s developnt.
"United Agricultural Developnt Company?" Duke Jacopo was first stunned, then he asked, "Your Majesty, what is the purpose of this company? Is it only engaged in planting and selling agricultural products, or is it to extensively develop Congo region’s agriculture?
There are several ways to develop agriculture in the Congo region. The first is to establish plantations of a certain scale, using the simplest thod to exploit Congo’s interests.
The second is to build plantations on a large scale, develop agriculture, and construct transportation routes, monopolizing the agricultural trade in Congo region and extending influence beyond, such as to Portugal’s West Africa Colony, etc.
The choice is different, so the power and status of the so-called United Agricultural Developnt Company are naturally different as well.
If it’s just the first thod, then this so-called company is essentially just an organization of a few agricultural plantations with no substantial power.
But if it’s the second thod, then the Agricultural Developnt Company would beco an important ans for Spain to exert influence over the Central Africa region, even potentially controlling the Central Africa region through the company.
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