No one made any more demands, and they made a summary in an orderly manner.

"Regardless of military salaries, I will find you about 4 million taels. If you train intensively after becoming an army, military spending is a bottomless pit, right? ”

Holren was a little uneasy, "We plan to form a new army in three years, so the military budget is invested in annual installments. ”

Westheim: "Because we built a new system from scratch, the first two divisions are more expensive, and the last two divisions are much cheaper. ”

Holren hurriedly said: "We only made a plan for 2 divisions, and the last 2 divisions are just an idea. ”

Shou Xuan frowned, not caring about the army's ambitions, "The navy also asked for a replacement of screw guns and flintlock guns, after I discussed with Sterling, he no longer asked for a change of guns, but the Navy and the Marine Corps insisted on flintlock guns, which is another 10,000 guns, and at least 200,000 taels will be spent." ”

If the navy also insists on changing guns, it is estimated that the order will not be able to eat this meal.

Westheim hesitated, "If it's really difficult, we can reduce some technical equipment appropriately." ”

Shou Xuan raised his right hand, "No, no one knows what the army is like on the battlefield now, and in order to obtain reliable feedback on actual combat, equipment and training funds cannot be saved." ”

Holren: "The cabinet is not willing to allocate funds for even one division, what can we do?" ”

Orderly smiled, "Ludwig, dismiss the guards at the gate, now we need to discuss the most critical issue, the government." ”

Maiden aspires to ascend to the throne of consul in this term, with the army and the arms dealers and steel merchants pushing him behind the scenes.

There are 1.4 million people in the country, and because of immigration, the proportion of young adults is higher than in normal countries. Aging countries can only hold on, while young countries are inherently expansionary.

Filhoff turned his glass, "The officers and soldiers of the army are all from Chinese mainland, and as they grow up, I can see in their eyes a certain desire to rise, and I am afraid that if it continues as it develops, this rising flame will burn us one day sooner or later." ”

Carl Langemann: "We all know what we're going to do when the army is expanded, but it's not up to us senior officers to do it. ”

Filhoff smiled, "If you don't follow the will of the army, I'm afraid that some majors will have very dangerous ideas at the instigation of the ensigns." Taipei's proximity to the front line makes the problem even more serious, with several unfortunate incidents in recent years. ”

Shou Xuan looked at the group of generals with gold stars on their shoulders.

There have been some very discordant voices lately, and if Maiden doesn't get enough votes before the election, the Army will enter the capital with cuirassiers and field artillery.

Shou Zhi knocked on the table, "There is absolutely no room for any outrageous behavior that could split the country, we have a charter and a senate, and all actions must be legal." ”

Carl Langemann: "We know the truth, in the past few days I have warned 2 majors and 3 lieutenants, this is only what I know. ”

Filhoff smiled, "Now we can still rely on prestige to suppress it." In a few years, when the major becomes a colonel and the second lieutenant becomes a captain, what pressure will we take? ”

Westheim shook his head: "Uncontrollable, inevitable thing." ”

Shou Xuan stared at Carl's face, judging how much was true and how much was false.

Could this have spread so quickly without the connivance of some generals? Lieutenant officers are busy training every day, who is agitating and propagating them?

As far as Shou Xuan knows, Carl Langemann married a Chinese aristocratic woman in exile.

The army has been suppressed for too long, and when the revenge mentality is combined with the desire for expansion, and the senior generals see the prospect of rapid expansion of power, this is an unstoppable force.

A coup d'état is not a fantasy.

Shou ordered to smoke his pipe slowly.

Engaging in politics is about following the trend, and it will come naturally.

According to the original plan of the Order, it is not appropriate for the army to expand at this stage. Ideally, in another five years, when Australian mine production grows and the domestic tax base population is larger, then there are some big moves.

But the order can wait, and many people in China can't wait.

Maiden was the first to stand up and undermine the tacit agreement that had allowed Marmont to be re-elected for two terms.

The elders of the army quickly followed up, causing the current embarrassing situation.

Orderly had tried to suppress the idea of danger at home, but he was powerless against the expanding machine that was gradually becoming fuller. If he doesn't support this force, he will lose a lot of supporters.

Karl Langemann: "We fed the soldiers so well that they forgot the fear of being dominated by the Tatars, so good that they could not see how terrible war was. ”

Holren let out a long sigh, "War will cause countless mothers to lose their sons, countless wives to lose their husbands, veterans with broken hands and legs begging on the streets, young and strong to go to the battlefield, villages are left with only old and weak women and children, and farmland is abandoned in large areas. ”

During the 30-year war, Germany's tragic experience resurfaced, and it was not much better than the melee at the end of the Ming Dynasty.

Carl Langemann: "It's useless to say that, we can't do it and we don't need to change it. What we should be concerned about is how to convince the Navy. ”

The Army's inclination is obvious, and domestic arms dealers and heavy industrialists don't care where their money is spent as long as they can get orders. So the key to the problem is the Navy.

Westheim: "At the moment we have about the same number of tickets as Marmont, only a third. Which side the Navy stands on, which side will definitely win. ”

Walter: "Will the Brits support us?" ”

Filhoff smiled, "As far as I saw in Taipei, the Navy is facing the same problems as us. In addition to training, the sailors will also remember some of the past events they encountered many years ago, such as the massacre of the city, and the sailors are also full of anger. But as you know, the Navy has always lacked a sense of honor compared to us, and they tend to use harsh laws in the management of soldiers, so the problem is not obvious. ”

There was a hint of tease on the corner of Carl Langman's mouth, "The Navy really deserves to be ashamed." ”

Filhoff laughed.

Westheim: "I don't think the Navy is going to support Marmont. ”

"Oh, please."

"At present, there are only a few people in the country who are qualified to compete for consuls, and there are four in the navy. Raheem Sterling, Collingwood, Allemand, and Edward, were all captains when they set sail from the Americas. Even if one person has one term, it may not be able to be rotated completely. ”

Carl Langeman: "By the way, if Sterling doesn't move, Collingwood won't be Admiral." ”

Westheim: "After this term, if we make it conditional on supporting the Navy for three consecutive consulships, will they agree?" ”

"Three terms in the Navy?" Shou Xuan looked at Holren, "Old General, I'm afraid this is not fair to you. ”

Holren smiled wryly, "I'm not suitable for politics, and from a personal leaning, I don't support the Army's interference in politics." ”

"What about you?"

Walter, Langemann, and Filhoff looked at each other and understood that they had to give up something.

"We're not interested in the position of consul."

Shou Xun looked into everyone's eyes, "If you are sure, you can't go back, the consuls in the back will be given to the navy, and I will take you to get greater honors." ”

"Yes, my Führer."

Leave Army Headquarters in an orderly manner. Next, he traveled to the navy, the Chinese community, and the autonomous alien community.

Born in the Navy, the Navy has served three consecutive consuls since the founding of the country.

As the Army's power grew and its political status grew, Sterling, Collingwood, and Edward agreed to give the Army a term as consul, but on the condition that the expansion of the Army would not affect the normal development of the Navy. Domestic tax revenues and mining expenditures remain at a 2-to-1 ratio for the Navy and Army.

Order, and Maiden agreed to the Navy's request that the Army Expansion rely on bonds secured by Australian gold mine tax revenues.

Kaiyan is a world-class gold mine, and with Dragonstone, it is not difficult to reach £400,000 a year with a steady stream of manpower. The government will receive 25% of the income tax from it. Long-term bonds will be issued at an interest rate of 10%, and the gold mine tax will pay interest, and the first batch of 4 million taels of army construction funds will be raised.

Arms dealers, traders, Sanya Iron and Steel Group, and mine owners of all stripes were shocked by such a grand support plan, and Maiden promised the oligarchs that if he came to power, everyone would get rich.

Taxes are used to pay interest, and what is the ultimate source of debt repayment for such a huge arms spending program? Population, production and trade data must keep pace with growth for borrowing to be sustainable. But under the feast of government procurement, only a very small number of people think of this problem at this time.

……

A month later, Marmont found Order in the consul's residence.

"Looks like I can't be re-elected for two terms, is it?"

"I'm sorry, that's not what I intended. My plan was to expand the army in 1661, but I couldn't stop it. ”

"I don't know why, I don't think you lied to me."

"I can swear."

Marmont smiled, a little bitter at the corner of his mouth, "It doesn't really make sense to talk about this now. ”

"Indeed."

"We're soldiers and politicians, so let's talk about politics."

"Duke, Perak is a hereditary domain, there are tin mines there, and besides, you can pick a colony as your governor."

"You're the Marquis."

"I'm not here."

Marmont nodded, "I don't want the current colony, support me to develop New Zealand, I heard that the agricultural conditions there are very good, the climate is always there, and the scenery is very beautiful." ”

"Can you give me 3 years? After 3 years, 200,000 taels of silver will be allocated every year to develop New Zealand, and in addition, your development company will be tax-exempt for 30 years. ”

"Under these conditions, I quit the race."

Orderly poured Marmont a glass of spirits.

Marmont took it and said to Shouxu, "How do you know I won't support your expansion plans?" ”

Shou Xuan shook his head, "I don't know, the army chose Maiden, I can only support them." ”

"I'm stepping back now, it seems that I am also a beneficiary of the success of the army? Expanding into New Zealand requires a lot of manpower. ”

"We can only get cheap enough manpower from one place."

"That's your plan, right?"

"You're aware of it, too."

"I have betrothed my eldest son to a Chinese aristocratic lady."

Shou Orderly raised his glass, "Congratulations." ”

————

(End of volume)