The cabinet meeting was over, but Wu Haoxuan did not leave the cabinet immediately, but went to the office with Yang Du. He knew that Yang Du must have a lot of questions to ask him.

"Your Highness, although the five-year development plan has been decided, it will be implemented next. But is there really no problem with funding? The amount of money involved in the entire plan is more than 5 billion oceans. Yang Du said worriedly.

With the current revenues of the Empire, it is almost impossible to support this plan. It is estimated that only the real powers of the West have the financial resources. In particular, in addition to the expenses of the five-year plan, there will be other expenses of the empire. For example, military spending, administrative spending, and other expenditures. If calculated in such a general way, the annual expenditure required may exceed 1.5 billion oceans. That's more than ten times the current empire's revenue.

"Well, I know, that's a lot of money. However, this money cannot be saved. The gap between us and the Western countries is getting wider and wider, and if we don't catch up with them in a hurry, we will only be left farther and farther away by them. When the time comes, if you want to catch up again, it will be impossible. Wu Haoxuan said. Five years later, World War I was an opportunity for the Empire to rise. This time, the five-year plan is to lay the foundation again. Only when the foundation is laid can the empire take off.

Yang Du nodded, and he agreed with Wu Haoxuan's words. However, even if it is recognized, funding is still a big problem.

"I have the following thoughts on the source of funding. On the one hand, we have adjusted tariffs, and now our tariffs are controlled by foreigners, and they are only 5 percent. As for the other powers, their tariffs are generally above 10 percent. And even more. If we can recover the tariffs, it will increase our fiscal revenue by tens of millions of oceans every year. As our economy grows, so do the tariffs. So, we have to start thinking about how to get rid of tariffs. Wu Haoxuan said.

Yang Du frowned, although he knew the importance of recovering the tariffs. This not only benefited the imperial government's tax revenue, but also helped to protect the development of domestic industry. However, now that the tariffs are controlled by the great powers, are they good talkers?

"The second aspect is that it is raised from the country. Although China is poor, that refers to ordinary people. Many large landowners and big businessmen still have a lot of wealth. If we can guide them into business and industry, it can save us a lot of money and at the same time further increase the government's tax revenue. Wu Haoxuan said. Chinese have the habit of buying land when they have money, which will make the money tied to the land. And the imperial government was about to implement the policy of land redemption. These funds will be completely liberated from the land and invested in industry and commerce, which will enable the rapid development of industry and commerce in the empire. Wu Haoxuan's plan, investment in heavy industry, led by the government. However, those light industries are entirely done by private capital. In this way, it can effectively alleviate the financial pressure on the government.

"The third aspect is that we can get loans from abroad. A huge market with a population of more than 400 million. It would be a huge temptation for any country. What we're doing now is cultivating this market. Western countries. They will not refuse to take out a loan from us for this. Wu Haoxuan said anxiously. It is almost impossible to rely on domestic financial resources alone to support such a huge development plan. Borrowing from the Western powers, it is inevitable.

"But, Your Highness, we already owe them a large loan. Will they still lend it to us? Even if it's to lend it to us. What if we don't? Yang Du said worriedly. After all, now the money they owe, is already an astronomical amount.

"Don't worry, the so-called debt is not worried. There are more lice and it is not itchy. These loans can always be repaid. In the Western world, the antagonism is very serious. War between the Allies and the Entente is imminent, and we must make good use of this plan to make a windfall. Before that, we must build our industry well, and only in this way can we have the strength to participate in the competition in the war. Wu Haoxuan said very firmly. Once war broke out, the Allies alone imported tens of billions of pounds sterling of war materials abroad. If a piece of the cake can be obtained from it, then the debt owed by the empire is simply a small problem.

Historically, before the outbreak of World War I, the United States and Japan were debtors to Europe. By the end of the war, however, they had become creditors of Europe. Both countries have achieved tremendous development in the midst of war.

Yang Du nodded, he chose to believe Wu Haoxuan's judgment. If everything is really as Wu Haoxuan said, then the future is indeed a good opportunity for the empire that should not be missed.

"Fourth, the princes and nobles of the previous dynasty had a lot of wealth in their hands. This money is all the people's fat and people's ointment exploited by the Manchus. If we can absorb all this wealth, then our financial pressure will be much less. Wu Haoxuan's eyes flashed with ten murderous intent . He had long wanted to attack the princes and nobles of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Ordinary flag people may not have much wealth. But those nobles are all rich and oily. The gold and silver treasures, real estate such as houses and land, and antiques in their possession alone are undoubtedly astronomical. It's just that now Wu Haoxuan lacks a reason to do it. However, if you really have to find a reason, it is undoubtedly very easy.

"Do it to the old and the young? Will this provoke a fierce revolt from them? Yang Du was a little worried. After all, there are quite a few bannermen in Yanjing City, hundreds of thousands.

"The guns are in our hands, and even if they resist, it's useless. If they dare to resist, it will undoubtedly further confirm their accusation of attempting to rebel. According to conservative estimates, the wealth in the hands of those who are left behind is also as high as more than one billion oceans. With the addition of real estate, this figure quadruples. We have to get our hands on this wealth no matter what. Wu Haoxuan said firmly. This money is very important for the development of the country, and we must find a way to get it.

Yang Du hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded, although he thought that there was a lot of risk involved. However, the empire was too short of money. Knowing that a huge fortune is dangling in front of you, how can you not want to snatch it?

The Manchu Qing Dynasty has perished, but those old and young have huge wealth in their hands, which is supposed to bring disaster to themselves. Now they are like a young child walking in the downtown with gold bricks in his arms. The so-called innocent and innocent sin is exactly this truth.

"I will arrange this matter, and I will minimize the impact as much as possible." Wu Haoxuan said.

The founding of the empire had a great impact on the situation in the world. Originally, the Western powers all regarded China as a fat meat to be slaughtered at will. However, the empire, which has no weak military strength, makes the Western powers dare not be so arrogant and arrogant towards China anymore. Although, compared to the Western powers, China now resembles a man with a thin body and tattered clothes, but with a rifle. And they were men in suits and with delicate pistols. Under such circumstances, they would not have a large-scale conflict with the Empire unless absolutely necessary.

It is precisely because of this that China has a certain degree of self-preservation.

Now the war between the Empire and Russia continues, and hundreds of thousands of people on both sides are at war in Siberia. As the weather warms up, the scale of the two sides is also expanding. It's just that because the Trans-Siberian Railway was constantly blown up by the Imperial Army, more than 2,000 kilometers of wilderness has become an obstacle that Lao Maozi cannot cross. Therefore, the battles between the two sides were fought mainly in the cavalry.

Relying on the superiority of firepower, the imperial cavalry has been firmly suppressing the Cossack cavalry of Lao Maozi. Although the Cossack cavalry had suffered many losses, they did not change much in armament as if they did not have a long memory.

As the war continues, everyone knows that it is unlikely that Lao Maozi wants to reverse the situation. Although, Lao Maozi may not want to end the war like this, and wants to continue fighting. However, their allies will not agree anymore. As Germany continued to develop its military power, the Entente was greatly threatened. Lao Maozi still invested his precious military strength in the meaningless battle in Siberia, which is undoubtedly a waste of the military strength of the Entente!

So, in such a situation, the British and French intervened. They demanded that the Russians end the war and enter into peace talks with China. British Foreign Secretary Edward. Sir Grey visited Paris and had a long conversation with the French Foreign Minister. The two countries agreed on the issue of war between Russia and China. At the same time, they put pressure on Russia to end the war and devote its main energies to the Central Powers, led by Germany.

At the end of March 4607 (09), the British government and the French government issued statements one after another, demanding that China and Russia, which were at war, negotiate peace, end the war, and let peace come back to the world. Both China and Russia have expressed their acceptance of this. (To be continued......)

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