After some research in Northeast China, Zheng Yu knew that these data were not mixed, so he could only sigh in the face of this situation.

The Chinese Empire's military expenditure accounted for more than half of the country's fiscal revenue in recent years, which is equivalent to Japan before the Russo-Japanese War. Of course, Japan and Russia in this time and space are not to be outdone. In 1904, Russia's military expenditure was as high as 640 million rubles, which also reached half of Russia's national fiscal revenue. As for Japan, it is naturally not to be outdone. Last year, its national fiscal revenue reached 280 million yen, while military expenditure reached 200 million yen.

"Our latest additional budget is only 2.3 billion Huayuan. Our agreement with the Navy is to start June 4th. The army accounts for 1.4 billion Huayuan and the navy accounts for 900 million Huayuan. This 1.4 billion Huayuan is only enough for the National Defense Forces to barely support until the end of the year, and the premise is that no troops are eliminated and there is no new division that is not newly established." Jiang Sheng sighed, "If it is reduced, the troops will be really difficult. The army is not afraid to fight, but modern warfare is first of all, to compete for logistics. If the war is not going well, the number of casualties exceeds expectations, and the pension and disability allowances are enough."

"I have a way," Zheng Yu was silent for a while and said, "The finances are not rich now, but it does not mean they are not rich in the future. The government compensation of Russia and Japan is not expected, which does not mean that the people have no money. I have some ideas, so you can also consider it."

Everyone looked at each other and thought to themselves what the reason was this person making?

"You must have all heard of the war style in medieval Europe, the so-called war of the knight lords." Zheng Yu said calmly, "When the war was fought, both the enemy and us were nobles. They would not easily kill each other, but the prisoners came over as hostages to ask for ransom. If the ransom you asked for was less, your prisoners would even think that you were insulting him and asked you to raise the ransom to match his identity."

Everyone nodded, their eyes lit up with some brains.

"According to the practice of the empire, the prisoners were sent to build roads." Zheng Yu said, "Although they were caught in Manchus and Japanese before, if they were changed to Russians this time... they would not break the rules."

"The Empire will win this battle and restore its homeland in the Far East and Central Asia, so that it will be necessary to build railways in barren areas on the border." Zheng Yu sighed seriously, "The environment is so harsh... Most of the Russian officials are nobles. I wonder if they can withstand ten years of labor. I really worry about building roads in places where birds do not lay eggs. I guess their families will also worry, right?"

Many officers were already stunned.

"As long as the empire defeats and we arrest enough officers and soldiers, we will ask the Tsar for huge compensation. Even if we can't pay it at one time, we will pay it in batches. If he doesn't give it, we will send them to build the railway. As for how much he can survive in ten years, it depends on God's will... We must make a good publicity in Russia so that the Russian nobles and people can know how stingy the Tsar is. They would rather watch the officers and soldiers who work for him to serve the hard labor of a lifetime, but they can't bear to give up some money... In the face of unanimous opposition from the nobles and the people, what should the Tsar do?" Zheng Yu smiled, "Even if he borrowed money from foreign banks, he had to redeem people, right? At worst, it would be better to add some taxes in the future than to lose the throne..."

Jiang Sheng looked at the man in surprise.

"So, you can't kill these people easily. Don't shoot machine guns and shells like water. These people are treasures, money trees." Zheng Yu smiled. "The cannons in one hundred are not as good as those in one. The emperors are well-trained. I believe there are naturally ways to defeat the enemy more accurately, rather than relying solely on the firepower of absolute superiority."

Everyone in the audience was silent. Many people felt that there was something wrong with this matter, but they couldn't find any reason to refute it for a while. After all, this was already related to the face of the National Defense Force.

"In this way, I think the budget can be reduced. In addition, I have another one," Zheng Yu said, "The government always needs to see the effect when spending money. For war, it is naturally the result. The more smooth the military fights, the greater the initiative in negotiations in the future, and the government is naturally willing to give more money. Now there is nothing to see, so they will be able to approve all the fiscal revenue for you for military expenses for three years. Isn't that a little bit?"

Zheng Yu looked around everyone and asked in a deep voice: "Tell me, do you have confidence in the Emperor* Team?"

"Everyone shouted in unison.

"Then it's over." Zheng Yu slapped the table, "I paid part of it first, then formulate a combat condition, and then pay the rest. Isn't that good?"

Jiang Sheng looked at Zheng Yu with a wry smile and whispered: "Your Highness, this is not business, it is a war."

"I know it's a war." Zheng Yu glanced at him sideways, "Political transactions are also a kind of business, and wars are a continuation of politics, so they are essentially business. What's strange about this? President Jiang, do you have confidence in the Emperor* Team? OK... Since you have confidence, what's the point?"

Jiang Sheng didn't know what to say, and turned his head with a wry smile.

Zheng Yu said again: "The biggest problem now is that the finances are tight, so even if you divide the budget, there are still problems. I still have an idea to discuss with you."

Everyone was excited and looked at the very maverick prince together.

"Although the budget cannot be expanded, it can advance the future." Zheng Yu smiled. "Now the empire's fiscal deficit is too high. No matter whether it wins or loses in this battle... Of course, it will definitely be able to win, but the troops will definitely have to disarmament after the war. This battle is a battle to establish the country's Asian status. In His Majesty's view, this battle is enough to ensure that Asia has been safe for ten years. In this regard, Colonel Ding's meaning just now is similar."

"Since that's the case, we must completely defeat Russia and Japan this time, and we must firmly control Japan. In addition, national defense expenditures must also be reduced. In the past two years, not special funds, the normal defense budget has exceeded half of fiscal revenue. This is definitely not a normal state for a country." Zheng Yu's tone became serious, "As the army, it is supported by the state to defend national defense, we must understand the difficulties of the country. I think the army should express its opinion and take the initiative to reduce national defense expenditures after the war."

There was an uproar in the audience.

"Report"

Jiang Sheng glared at everyone and said slowly: "My Tianyou, what are you going to say?"

"Report to the Chief General, Your Highness, I want to say that it is a matter of bloody battle among soldiers. But national defense is the foundation of the country. In the past 30 years, for the sake of the nation, for the Empire, the National Defense Forces have fought bloody battles and sacrificed a lot..." Ma Tianyu, director of the Second Bureau of the General Staff Training Department, had tears in his eyes, "Ten years ago, the Empire was founded, and the National Defense Forces made sacrifices for the overall national construction. Now they have to go to the battlefield without hesitation for national war. After the war, they have to disarmament and reduce their treatment. I... cannot face the brothers on the front line."

"The rise of the empire in Asia, defeating Japan and Russia is just the first step in the face of the rising China. Britain, the United States, France and Germany will never be willing to be the post-war situation. It is probably even more dangerous and unpredictable. Disarmament at this time is tantamount to suicide." The man said, his eyes shining, "With a humble attitude, after the war, national defense should be further consolidated, the defense circle should be expanded, and after the war, after pacifying the north, infiltrate Central Asia, launch domestic national independence, build a protective country, and control Siam to the south, suppress British Malaya and Myanmar, help the Chinese in the Dutch South Ocean to establish an independent country, and expel Spanish colonists to the east, and establish the Luzon Chinese kingdom within the Chinese Empire system. As long as these are done, Asia is the Asia of the empire, our Chinese Empire's millennium foundation is laid."

"Winning the national war and the people are inspiring. It is a good opportunity to further integrate national resources, expand military strength and liberate Asia." Matianyou's words made many young and strong officers flushed with excitement, and looked at him eagerly, "When I was in the town school, His Majesty once taught us that colonists were strong outside and the emperor's men were bayonets. France vanished, the Qing Dynasty was destroyed, Japan was scared, and Russia would soon follow in the footsteps. In the future, there would be Britain, the United States, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany... the imperial flag, which must be..."

"Ma Dapao, get out of me and take the confinement." With a roar, the door of the conference room opened without wind. A marshal wearing a yellow khaki uniform covered with medals and ribbons, holding a golden marshal's scepter and wearing a big red cloak walked over first, with his eyes cold and fierce as an eagle, "I listen to your loud voice from afar. This is the General Staff, the Prince's House discussing military affairs. It is not a red and blue pencil on the map to send your dreams of the Spring and Autumn Period. It is you a shitty half-baked guy talking about here? Get out of here."

Ma Tianyou's face turned black when he was scolded, but he didn't dare to say anything. He hurriedly saluted and followed the expressionless guards out in shame.

Mu Tie's eyes swept over everyone present, and he was silent wherever he went.

He snorted coldly and raised his scepter to Zheng Yu. Zheng Yu had already stood up to greet him.

"Uncle Tie, why are you back early?"

"I won't come back, these Qiu Bas are still rebelling against the sky?" Mu Tie glared at Ding Wu, who was still a little angry, and the other party quickly shrank his neck.

Zheng Yu smiled bitterly and hurriedly advised: "Don't calm down first... I see that all brothers are bloody men. Although their thoughts are a bit radical, they are still for the sake of state affairs."

"State affairs? What are they doing? A bunch of kids who have not grown up all their hair?" Mu Tie snorted, strode towards the main position, sitting in the middle where Zheng Yu was sitting just now. Zheng Yu sat on one side, one left and one right with Jiang Sheng, making Mu Tie in the middle more majestic.

"You all listen to me." Mu Tieru's eyes shaved the faces of the generals present like a knife, and many people had sweat faintly appeared on their faces, "This is the prince, the future Emperor. The emperor, if you want to be loyal to the empire and your majesty, are you still soldiers? If you are nonsense and unruly, just transfer to the reserve service and go home to plant your children and listen clearly."

"I heard it clearly"

"I didn't hear it"

"List—clear—"

Mu Tie snorted, turned to Zheng Yu, and his face calmed down: "Your Highness, you mentioned the reduction of the national defense budget. What's going on? Although Ma Tianyou's bastard is a stubborn donkey, what he said is not unreasonable."

Zheng Yu felt a stern, knowing that the marshal had just shown his majesty to him, and now he was about to start talking about the serious matter. He smiled bitterly and wanted to say that the donkey was afraid that he would be the hardest end of the empire?
Chapter completed!