"British Revenue Report 1918: British Government Revenue for That Year Was 889 Million Pounds, Equivalent to 9,334,500,000 Silver Dollars..."

"Report on the Fiscal Revenue of the United States in 1921: The Fiscal Revenue of the United States Government for that Year Was 5,571 Million US Dollars, Equivalent to About 1,150 Million Pounds Sterling, or 12.06 Million Silver Dollars..."

In 21 years, the revenue of the Nationalist government was only 2.6 billion silver dollars, which is equivalent to 240 million pounds. Even if you include the oil revenues from the three oil fields in the Middle East, it is almost 350 million or 60 million pounds.

There is no way, although the current China is no longer the same as the China of the past, but the gap between China and Britain and the United States is not something that can catch up overnight, not to mention that it has only been less than eight years since the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

Eight years may not be a short time for a person, but for a country...

Don't you see, it took 30 years for the reform and opening up of the Celestial Empire in later generations, and the GDP caught up to the second place in the world?

Although the gap between the former Qing Dynasty in 1911 was not as big as the gap between the Celestial Empire and other countries in later generations, there were still many difficulties on the way to rise, after all, China taken over by the Nationalist Government did not have a complete and comprehensive industrial base like the Celestial Empire in later generations, and everything needed to be established by the Nationalist Government itself.

Of course, it is not without exceptions.

For example, in the United States, in 1900, the annual fiscal revenue of the United States was only $588 million, which was only more than 100 million pounds sterling.

However, even this was much stronger than that of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, because the annual fiscal revenue of the Manchu Qing government in the same period was less than 140 million yuan, while the annual fiscal revenue of the American government in the same period was almost 1.3 billion silver dollars.

But then again. By the time of World War I in 1914, U.S. revenues seemed to have grown to only $725 million. The growth in these four decades does not seem to have taken a leap forward.

It was not until 1917 that the United States officially entered the war. This revenue only grew to $1.1 billion, to $3.6 billion in '18 years, to $5.1 billion in '19 years, and to $6.6 billion in '20 years. It wasn't until 21 that it fell back to 5.5 billion...

It follows that the rise of the United States was entirely dependent on the First World War.

In fact, it is the same in China. During World War I, China, like the United States, continued to sell arms and other goods, including scarce supplies that the Allies lacked.

There is only one thing that China is different from the United States. That's the industrial base ...

Truly. By the time of the First World War, China's industrial strength was second only to the United States, Germany and other countries, but don't forget that when the First World War broke out in 1914, China's steel production was only a few hundred thousand tons, and what about the United States?

As early as 1901, the United States produced more than 13 million tons of steel. It is equivalent to the sum of the five countries of Britain, Germany, France, Russia and Japan.

By the outbreak of World War I in 1914, it had reached nearly 24 million tons (31.8 million in 1913). It can be seen that the outbreak of the war also had a certain impact on the United States, of course, the same is true for other countries, but the United States is the most affected, after all, the United States directly fell by nearly 10 million tons, but by 15 years it recovered to 32 million, and in 16 years it jumped directly to 43 million. ）

Although China made rapid industrial progress because of its industrial development, the war was already halfway through by the time it reached the level of France or Russia, and by the time it reached the level of England, the war was already nearing its end. What's more, a considerable part of the industrial output at that time had to be supplied to the country, not to mention anything else, China's shipbuilding tide at that time was quite crazy. …,

Therefore, although China has gained a lot of benefits in normal European wars, it has always been less than the United States.

Moreover, in order to develop industry and commerce, the government not only abolished the centi, but also announced many tax exemption policies to help the development of light and heavy industries in the country. For example, the automobile and shipbuilding industries still enjoy the five-year tax exemption policy...

Therefore, China has indeed gained a lot of benefits in the European war, but the government has not gained much...

――――――――――

"It's going to take at least twenty years..."

Shaking his head, Yan Guang looked at another document about the oil field.

This document is a draft of the expansion of oil field production just prepared by the Ministry of Energy, according to which the production of the three oil fields in the Middle East will be greatly increased in the next ten years.

"At least half of the hope of surpassing Britain and the United States in the future will be pinned on the oil fields..."

Even so, Yan Guangzhi is not afraid of Britain and the United States.

Last year's US fiscal revenue was $5.1 billion, a figure that China could not reach, but with the end of the war in Europe, the United States will not be able to sell arms as much as it did during the war, so although less than two months have passed this year, the Military Intelligence Agency has estimated that the US fiscal revenue this year will only reach $4 billion at most, and it may drop by $200 million in the coming year.

(Historically, U.S. fiscal revenues were $5.1 billion in '21, $4 billion in '22, $3.8 billion in '23, and then it fluctuated on that number, and then, there was a financial crisis...) ）

If it is $4 billion, although it is still a difficult figure to cross compared with China, it is still much stronger than the original more than $5 billion.

As for the UK?

The revenue of 1918 was £889 million, which was by no means a fraud.

But what was Britain's revenue in 1913? Just £198 million. Although the figure of 2 billion silver dollars is still not comparable to that of the Manchu Qing government or the Beiyang government, in just five years, the number of 198 million to 889 million is a fourfold difference, and it is impossible without any extraordinary means.

This extraordinary measure was naturally to increase the source of tax revenue, and throughout the war, in order to be able to cover the running costs of the entire war, the British government began to implement heavier and heavier direct and indirect taxes.

The direct result of this was during the war. There are many families that go bankrupt, although it would be an exaggeration to describe it as a poor livelihood. But at least during this period, the British and French were definitely uncomfortable.

This is also why after the end of the war. The reason why the anti-war sentiment of the British would be so high.

You must know that in 1913, the British government's fiscal revenue was 198 million, and the fiscal expenditure was 197 million, and the British government was still able to ensure a balance between revenue and expenditure during this period.

By 1915, however, the British government's revenues had risen to only 337 million. But the expenditure has reached 1.559 billion pounds...

And that's not even counting, wait until 16 years. The British government's fiscal expenditure has reached 2,198 million, 2,696 million in 17 years, and 2,579 million in 18 years...

Until 1919. That number has only been reduced to 1,666 million...

In 18 years, the British government's fiscal revenue was 889 million. However, fiscal expenditure reached 2,579 million. You know, it's not a silver dollar, it's a pound.

It is 10.5:1 pound sterling.

In other words, in 1918 alone, the British spent two hundred and seventy billion silver dollars...

This is why the United States owed Britain more than £400 million before the war began. And after the war, Britain owed the United States more than 800 million pounds. …,

This is the United Kingdom. The whole war, which has been plundered all over the world for many years, can only be sustained, and if it were another country, even the United States may not be able to sustain this world war that has lasted for more than four years.

After all, the British were not only the main force in the war, but also maintained the finances of other countries.

For example, the Russian government owed more than 700 million pounds to the British during the war, but after the October Revolution in Russia, the newly elected Soviet Russian government did not admit that it owed the British, so that the British lost all their money...

The same is true for France and Italy, the British, and even for China, which has an interest-free loan of 20 million pounds a year...

"British, paper tigers ..."

If there is another big war, the British economy will probably collapse completely, which is why Yan Guang has no fear.

But even so, it will take at least two decades for China to catch up with Britain and France...

"Twenty years..."

Listening to the discussion and argument of Song Dinghan and others, Yan Guang shook his head.

At this time, he remembered nothing else, but the world financial crisis of 1929.

Putting aside whether this financial crisis will break out at that time, the most important thing is that it is difficult for China to be immune to this financial crisis...

Although China pursues National Socialism, it is not as isolated as the Soviet Union, and has extensive ties with Britain and other countries, and it will be difficult for China to stand alone if a financial crisis breaks out in Europe and the United States.

"When that time comes, I'm afraid I can really only look at the oil fields..."

Thinking so, Yan Guang scratched his head.

"Just thinking about how to rely on the oil field, isn't it a little too unambitious?"

――――――――――

It didn't take long for Britain and France and other countries to come to them and demand that China give them a share of the oil interests in the Middle East, and behind Britain and France, Japan was also waving its flag and shouting.

Although even if Britain and France succeeded, Japan would have no benefit, but as long as China's benefits become smaller, the Japanese will be very satisfied...

"Rest assured, Mr. President, we are only hoping that your country will be able to sell one of its oil fields in the Middle East..."

In front of Yan Guang, a well-dressed English gentleman said so.

Beside him, another Englishman spoke.

"That's right, Mr. President, rest assured that after the sale of the oil fields to our Anglo-Polish company, we will pay a part of the profits to your country..."

Looking at the two Englishmen, and after looking at the French and Japanese around them, Yan Guang shook his head.

"Is this your wishful thinking?"

That's right, this is the wishful thinking of the British.

Forcing the Chinese to return land in Iraq and Kuwait? The British did not believe that the Chinese would do this, although the British felt that China had gained enough in this war.

As for simply asking the Chinese to hand over the three oil fields that currently produce oil to the British?

"What is the difference between doing this and letting the Chinese give up Iraq and Kuwait?"

When a member of the Cabinet proposed this, Churchill spoke up.

In the end, Churchill proposed a solution that perhaps the Communist government would propose. That is, the British government came forward to "plead" with the Communist government to sell the oil fields in the Middle East to the British Anglo-Polish oil company.

This Anglo-Polish oil company. That's what the British and Persian oil companies mean.

Petroleum. In fact, it was discovered in the Middle East as early as 1908, and the place of discovery was Persia, but the British only found one oil field in Persia, so the world's three major oil exporters at that time were still the United States, Russia (before the October Revolution and the European War) and Mexico. …,

As everyone knows. Britain during this period, including the colonies controlled by the British. None of the larger oil fields exist.

Fifty years ago, all this would have been nothing to Britain, after all, ships and trains at that time were made of coal. And coal or something. There are many, many in the UK.

However, ships in various countries have begun to use fuel oil, and new vehicles such as airplanes and automobiles are indispensable. In this situation, there is no oil producing place in the UK, how can this not make the British anxious?

It is also for this reason that after the discovery of oil in Persia, it was the Anglo-Polish company that controlled the Persian oil. This company with a deep background in the British government is behind it―――――― and by the way, the establishment of the Anglo-Polish company is also behind Churchill.

Now the British think it is. Let the Anglo-Polish company buy an oil field in Kuwait or Iraq, of course, the tax that should be paid still has to be paid, but even so the Anglo-Polish company and the British government behind the scenes can still obtain considerable benefits, and at the same time, although the Chinese have lost the direct interests of an oil field, but they can also get the taxes paid by the Anglo-Polish company, and the loss of interests will not be very large...

In this way, the Chinese can also accept some British proposals.

An oil field is not impossible in the eyes of the British.

However, after listening to the words of the British, Yan Guang just shook his head and said.

"I'm sorry, but in my country, oil and other energy sources are all owned by the state, so there is no problem for my country to export oil, but let my country sell oil fields..."Yan Guang smiled contemptuously. I'd better trouble you to go to the Congress..."

Hearing Yan Guang say this, the faces of the two Britons were ugly.

In China, the so-called parliament is a puppet body, only responsible for post-stamping, which even the British know, and now that Yan Guang asked them to go to the parliament, how could the British not hear the meaning of refusal.

It's just that after thinking of the expectations of the British government, and most importantly the expectations of the directors and shareholders of the Anglo-Polish company, the two of them still tried their best to persuade Yan Guang.

It's a pity that for Yan Guang, the weakening of Britain is an ideal thing, and he will never give the golden egg-laying treasure of the oil field to others, so Yan Guang has always been biting the ground and not letting go.

"Anyway, the British are also paper tigers now, can a little pressure still overwhelm me?!"

In the face of Yan Guang, who was resolutely refused, the British were also powerless, and in the end they could only harass Yan Guang while seeking other help.

For example, those who have influence on Yan Guang.

However, within the government, everyone is well aware of the importance of the oil fields, and they are also well aware of Yan Guang's temperament. In addition, the current Britain is not as good as before, as long as people who are smarter know this, so no matter what they say, there are only one or two people who are willing to persuade Yan Guang in the end.

"These damn Chinese..."

Faced with this dilemma, the British cursed so.

The British had also tried coercion and inducement, otherwise they would not have drawn the Japanese and the French in. It's a pity that the French are in a worse situation than the British now, let alone Japan, which has been defeated many times.

In addition, it is impossible for the British to start another big war against China for an oil field that belongs to someone else, so in the end, it can only be over.

――――――――――

The retreat of the British also made Yan Guang breathe a sigh of relief, not because he was afraid of the British, but because these Britons were too noisy, they had to go to Yan Guang's office almost every day, and they would have to stay for at least three or four hours. …,

"It's like a fly..."

While saying this, Yan Guang was listening to Xu Shichang and the others' explanations.

At present, China pursues national socialism, which is certainly different from the capitalism of Britain and the United States, but even so, China still has to hold elections.

Of course, there are exceptions, that is, the first time, that is, when Yan Guang captured Beijing in 1913, at that time, due to many reasons, Yan Guang was directly on the throne, but at that time, no one said anything.

Because China's presidential system is changed every five years, when it comes to 18 years, Yan Guang has to run again.

Fortunately, the First World War was coming to an end, and China became the country that benefited the most after the war. As for the election results? Just look at the latest map of China, who dares not to choose Yan Guang?

Similarly, because Yan Guang left a secret door when he wrote the constitution, and did not limit the president from serving consecutive terms (like the United States, it can only serve two terms), so now, that is, in 22 years, Yan Guang has to prepare for the 23-year election.

However, Yan Guang is also not worried about this election, although people are forgetful, but now it has only been more than three years since the end of the First World War, so it is no problem to win this election.

In fact, Yan Guang has also considered such a thing as a presidential tenure system, but he is thinking about the mood of his subordinates...

There is no difference between the presidential life system and the emperor, if that is the case, Yan Guang does not want to become the same as Yuan Shikai.

As for when Yan Guang will come to an end? Yan Guang still wants to lead World War II!

However, he didn't want to be in charge of this president all the time, so when the third president expired from 23 to 28, he gave up the fourth one, which would definitely suffer a financial crisis, to someone else ^o^

――――――――――

The vast majority of heavy industry is a private industry invested by Yan Guang^0^