There is a saying in the Farea continent that only when the time comes for war is the war with fewer soldiers. This refers to the war pattern of arquebus shooting and queuing up to kill, which has led all countries in the continent to adopt large army formations. For example, a small group of twelve soldiers, a division of more than 30,000 soldiers, etc. However, the military expenditure of raising so many soldiers in peacetime is a huge burden on the national finance. Therefore, basically each country has only two or three standing corps. During wartime, new soldiers are recruited to form new corps.
Claude was telling the truth. The Kingdom of Morosik, the Kingdom of Resnia and the Principality of Vasiliko on the southern coast of the Farea continent, as well as the Opsaro City-State Alliance, all mobilized for war. , recruiting new soldiers to form a new legion. It's just that the first three countries are all mobilizing for full-scale war, and the latter Opsaro City-State Alliance is only mobilizing for war preparations and is only preparing to recruit and form a legion. After all, the war has not yet burned into their colonies.
Although the other countries on the west coast have not mobilized for war preparations, they have also transported local troops to the colonies. At the same time, they have also strengthened the monitoring and management of the indigenous peoples in the colonies to avoid repeating the situation of the Kingdom of Morosik, the Kingdom of Resniya and Vasilko. The mistakes of these three unlucky countries in the Principality. It only takes at least half a year to recruit new soldiers to form a legion, conduct military training, and then transport them to the colonies to fight. Therefore, General Beach Kerin does still have about eight months of preparation time to deal with the four to five million troops of the three countries. Attack...
Claude recalled General Beachlin to the overseas dominions to take up his post because the dominion military region was facing a difficult problem to solve, that is, the military region was running out of money and had to make some extra money. What Claude chose was to launch a war to rob a country of its wealth. There was no business more profitable than this.
If the wildfire plan had not been implemented, the autonomous military region would have carried out the new military reform step by step, reducing the strength of the legions and local garrison regiments. The military expenditure allocated to the military region by the overseas autonomous regions would be more than enough, and there would even be nearly 20 million left in the Overseas Minsheng Bank. The financial reserves of gold crowns are all gray proceeds robbed from the Kingdom of Nasseri. As long as Claude doesn't mess around, these funds will be enough for the Dominion Military Region to live comfortably for more than ten years.
But no one has long-term worries, and there must be immediate worries. Claude is very clear about the current situation. The colonies on the west coast must become the back gardens and dumping markets of overseas autonomous territories in order to ensure the economic development of overseas autonomous territories in the future and in the coming decades. This forced the Dominion Military District to implement a wildfire plan and use it to train junior officers and senior commanders in the Dominion. Otherwise, if the soldiers are allowed to sleep comfortably on their merit books, then no matter how elite the troops are, they will soon become useless, with silver barrels and wax tips.
What's more, the colonies on the west coast have implemented a trade ban on the overseas autonomous territories. This is simply *naked* hostility. No wonder the Dominion MPs shouted slogans declaring war. Cutting off people's wealth is like killing their parents. You must know that the overseas dominions rely on high-quality and low-priced goods to be sold throughout the west coast through smuggling, ushering in the great development of the dominion's manufacturing industry. Now the colonial countries on the West Coast prohibit goods from overseas autonomous territories from entering their colonial markets. This is simply a sworn enemy...
It's just that Claude didn't expect that a wildfire plan would cost so much. The military expenses advanced by the Dominion Military Region alone had exceeded more than 12 million gold crowns. The cost of raising two Hicks volunteer divisions, assistance with arms, ammunition and armaments to the Pamigars and Rusmans, as well as the Skolos and Gisds in the colony of the Principality of Vasiliko, and Subsequent military support to the Pamigal National Republic and so on.
In Claude's impression, to implement the wildfire plan, the Dominion Military Region should provide some weapons and ammunition, and let these indigenous peoples form several armed squads to fight guerrillas with the colonists. This is the most economical thing for the Dominion Military Region. It's just that the plans submitted by Colonel Bockal and senior staff at the military region headquarters were all aimed at helping the indigenous peoples form regular standing corps. This caused the funds for the wildfire plan to suddenly exceed the budget.
Of course, there are effects. At least the Pamigals have achieved independence and established a country. Although the Rusmans are still fighting among themselves for power, at least they are at odds with the colonists of the Kingdom of Resniya and there is no reconciliation. possible. However, in this way, the Dominion Military Region must ensure the existence of the Pamigal National Republic, because this will become the object of imitation by other colonial indigenous peoples...
Less than two days after the secret meeting between General Bichlin and Claude, he left Lanhu City. He wanted to personally inspect the west coast front line to see the actual combat strength of the Pamigal armed forces. It was not until the 1st and 2nd Panshi Divisions arrived in the overseas autonomous territories that they came back to carry out the reorganization and reconstruction of the Panshi Corps. And Claude has to stay at the military headquarters to continue busy with official duties, and will not go to the Kingdom mainland until the next spring.
Now Claude is holding in his hand the military region's financial settlement document for one year. The dazzling red letters on the report are the funds spent to implement the wildfire plan, 12.83 million gold crowns, which includes the funds just spent by the Dominion Military Region. The third batch of military aid and funds allocated to the Pamigal National Republic has a total value of nearly three million gold crowns. Fortunately, the Pamigal people's pension does not need to be paid by the Dominion Military Region, otherwise the casualties of 178,000 or 80,000 people would wipe out the Dominion Military Region's bottom line...
The Overseas Minsheng Bank still has nearly 10 million gold crowns in reserve funds from the Dominion Military District. The military expenditure allocated by the Dominion Parliament next year is still sufficient. Coupled with the military establishment after the restructuring and reduction, we can still save money on military salaries and welfare subsidies. Hundreds of thousands of gold crowns. I just don’t know how much funding for the wildfire plan will need to be paid next year. Although the assistance to those indigenous nations is considered a loan, depending on the situation, there is a possibility that it will not be repaid in recent years...
In addition, although the financial income of the overseas dominions is increasing every year, if they ask for special financial support next year, the dominion parliament will not be able to provide it. The year before last, the Dominion Parliament spent 30 million gold crowns in cash from His Majesty the King in exchange for the northern bay area along the coast of Karrnath Steppe as a hereditary family territory for all the nobles of the kingdoms in the Dominion. In addition, it owed 15 million gold crowns to the Dominion Military District. weapons and ship purchase costs...
Speaking of which, the overseas autonomous territories earned over eight million gold crowns from this arms deal with the Kingdom, but no cash was seen. Because these 400,000 new rifles, 30 million rounds of new bullets, and 16 armored warships are used to compensate for the promotion fee and land selection fee of more than 24 million gold crowns. In calculation, it is earned, but the kingdom’s mainland But there is no need to pay a gold crown.
The Dominion Council gave a memorandum of fifteen million gold crowns to the military region headquarters, and allocated another two million gold crowns to four shipbuilding workshops as a budget for the reconstruction of ironclad battleships. As for the construction of sixteen latest iron-clad warships, the five million gold crowns to replace the sixteen old-fashioned warships that will be handed over to the Kingdom's Navy Ministry were advanced by the Dominion Military Region.
In the next few years, the Dominion Military Region will not need to ask the Dominion Congress to increase special military expenditures, because the Congress has no money. Most of the proceeds will be used to develop the Beibu Gulf Territory, where it will be possible to maintain balance of payments only in two or three years. At present, it still needs continuous blood transfusions from overseas autonomous territories to enable it to be planned and developed in a unified manner... ..
"Report, Your Excellency Marshal, the special envoy of the United Kingdom of Fox Islands requests to meet with you..." The new adjutant, Captain Fahsselin, came in to report.
"He hasn't left yet?" Claude thought for a moment and said, "Invite him in and tell him that I only give him ten minutes..."
The special envoy of the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands arrived in Lanhu City half a month ago. The purpose of his visit was to recover the Rodex Bay Colony from the overseas autonomous territories. However, what is interesting is that this envoy also wanted to ask the overseas dominions to return the Rodex Bay colony to the United Kingdom of Fox Islands without spending a penny.
Unfortunately, he failed to achieve his goal. Neither the members of the Dominion Parliament nor the senior generals of the military region would agree to his unreasonable request. Claude once met with the envoy and gave the envoy the final bottom line requirements of the Dominion Military Region regarding the Rodex Bay Colony.
That is, the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands will pay a ransom of two million gold crowns, and the Dominion Military District will return the Rodex Bay Colony to the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands. In addition, there is another condition. The Dominion Military District requires troops to be stationed in the Rodex Bay Colony to guard against threats to the overseas Dominion from the Rusman territory.
The ransom of two million gold crowns was already Claude's preferential price after repeated reductions. As for the garrison, there was no way to avoid it. As Claude said to the special envoy last time, Rodex Bay Colony is a useless existence to the United Kingdom of Fox Islands, but to the Rocky Mountain State of the Overseas Dominion, it is a strategic location. If the enemy occupied Rodex Bay Colony, they could attack the Rocky Mountain State from the east and north.
To avoid yet another heavy casualty from an enemy surprise attack such as that of the two Hicks Volunteer Divisions, the Dominion Military District had to garrison the Rodkers Bay Colony. Of course, this garrison is also beneficial to the colony. At least the residents of Rodex Bay City will not be robbed of all their property by those hateful Hicks mercenaries like last time. They still have to rely on The Third Panshi Division provides them with free food and drink...
The request made by the Dominion Military District was simple. For a ransom of two million gold crowns, the colony could be handed over to the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands. Then there is the garrison. Because it has a protective effect on Rodex Bay Colony, it requires the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands to pay a small symbolic protection fee every year. It is not much. Fifty thousand gold crowns is enough. The fee is very small, just enough. Used to pay welfare subsidies for garrison officers and soldiers.
By the way, one more thing is that the more than 5,000 residents of Rodex Bay City have been following the Third Rock Division to eat and drink for free. The United Kingdom of Fox Islands should pay a fee to the Third Rock Division. Thanks to the Panshi Third Division for rescuing these residents and supporting them until now. The cost should be 500,000 gold crowns. After all, the 3rd Panshi Division fought with Hicks' two mercenary divisions to retake Rodex Bay Colony and suffered nearly 10,000 casualties.
These requests made by Claude to the special envoy of the United Kingdom of Fox Islands are very reasonable, and it can even be said that he has given him a great deal of face. But the envoy still hesitated and refused to agree. Claude said that back then, the Kingdom of Hicks spent five million gold crowns to lease Rodex Bay Colony for five years, but now the Dominion Military Region only asks for a ransom of two million gold crowns, which is not excessive at all... ..
The envoy said at the time that he could not make the decision, and that he would send a message to the kingdom, and the decision would be made through consultation between the king and the five princes. As a result, five days later, General Iquique, the commander of the 3rd Panshi Division stationed at the Rodex Bay Colony, sent a hawk message saying that a sailing battleship squadron from the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands had entered Rodex Bay and landed. Anchor, he was informed that he would hold a banquet on the deck of the fleet with the residents of the city to comfort the more than five thousand robbed British immigrants.
General Iquique certainly agrees. This is humanitarianism and human nature. As a result, the bay was very lively that night. The decks of more than 40 sailing warships were brightly lit, and there was endless singing and dancing. It was not quiet until late at night.
Then at dawn the next day, the sentries of the 3rd Panshi Division discovered that the more than 40 sail warships in the bay and the more than 5,000 residents had disappeared without a trace, leaving only dozens of unknown people on the beach. The confused Nikancha servant...
Obviously, the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands abandoned the Rodex Bay Colony and did not even come up with the cost of rescuing and eating and drinking the more than 5,000 residents. It used a cunning trick to take away the more than 5,000 immigrants from the United Kingdom. . This was not unexpected by Claude, because the annual income of the Rodex Bay Colony to the United Kingdom of Fox Islands was less than 20,000 gold crowns, and there were no special products or gold and silver mineral resources. At the same time, it did not carry out sufficient research and development. development, it would not be a pity to lose it.
The Kingdom of Hicks was a great success back then. It leased the Rodex Bay Colony to continue the colonial war with the overseas autonomous territories. As a result, the five-year rent cost 5 million gold crowns, which was 2.5 million gold crowns. The United Kingdom of the Fox Islands made a killing.
It is said that the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands originally wanted to sell the Rodex Bay Colony to the Kingdom of Hicks, and quoted a sky-high price of 20 million gold guilders. It's just that although Melchid III was prodigal, he couldn't bear the money. He chose to rent it for five years at a price of one million gold gram shields a year.
As a result, the Kingdom of Hicks was defeated. The expeditionary force composed of eleven standing regiments was completely annihilated. The colonial war was a complete failure. Even the last two-year lease of Rodex Bay Colony was occupied by the troops of the Dominion Military Region. It became The big joke of the colonies on the west coast.
Now the Dominion Military Region is demanding a ransom of two million gold crowns, an annual garrison protection fee of 50,000 gold crowns, and a reward of 500,000 gold crowns for the officers of the 3rd Panshi Division for rescuing more than 5,000 residents. Although it is reasonable, it can be But this is unacceptable to the United Kingdom of Fox Islands, so we might as well give up this colony.
Claude did not expect that the special envoy of the Fox Islands United Kingdom would still stay in the overseas autonomous territory until now. He thought that the sailing warship squadron had secretly taken away more than 5,000 residents, and this special envoy should have escaped. After all, taking people away without even paying for the rescue and free food and drinks. It was extremely embarrassing to say it. How could he still have the nerve to come and ask for a meeting with him
Soon the special envoy of the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands appeared in Claude's office again. Claude did not give him a good look and kept a gloomy face. On the other hand, the special envoy saluted Claude with a calm demeanor, meticulous and showing his aristocratic demeanor.
"Your country played a clever trick. You just took away more than 5,000 immigrants from your kingdom. It seems that you don't want to pay a gold crown to your savior, right?" Claude said with a cold face. said.
The special envoy bowed slightly: "Dear Marshal, it's not that our country does not want to pay your army, but it is unable to pay. In recent years, our country has suffered from natural and man-made disasters, the people's livelihood has been ruined, and the economy is in dire straits. It is really impossible to pay what your army wants. It’s a huge sum of money, so I have no choice but to walk away.”
Claude curled his lips and talked nonsense. I have not heard of any disasters suffered by the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands in the past few years. The information sent last year about the eight colonial countries in the southern part of Farea continent also said that the Kingdom of the Fox Islands had a bumper harvest of potatoes. The people gathered and celebrated joyfully: "So you don't want Rodex Bay Colony anymore?"
"Yes, after much thought, only by transferring this colony to your army can we repay the kindness of rescuing the immigrants from this country." The special envoy took out several documents from the document bag beside him and handed them over.
Claude took it and looked at it, but it was a document proving the transfer of the Rodex Bay Colony. It said that the United Kingdom of the Fox Islands voluntarily handed over the Rodex Bay Colony on the west coast of the Nubisian Continent to the overseas self-controlled territory as a thank you. The Dominion Military District's saving grace for immigrants from its Kingdom.
The document certificate was signed by the King of the United Kingdom of Fox Islands and stamped with the Kingdom's seal. If you look carefully, you can also tell that the king's signature and seal were stamped on the blank document in advance, and the handwriting on it was written later.
Claude laughed and threw the documentary evidence on the table: "The Dominion Military Region does not need this, Mr. Special Envoy. Please don't forget that our soldiers paid the price of nearly 10,000 casualties to get the mercenaries from Hicks. The colony of Rodex Bay was seized from his hands and the immigrants of your kingdom were rescued, but this colony was not transferred from your hands.
Compared to these transfer certificates, I prefer you to pay ransom and pay us protection fees. Overseas Dominions don't care about such a small piece of territory..."
The special envoy was stunned. Claude's reaction was beyond his expectation. He quickly said: "Your Excellency, Marshal, these documents only express the sincerity of our kingdom. I am here to represent our kingdom to discuss military matters with your army." For a cooperative project, our kingdom hopes to introduce your army’s technology for building iron-clad warships... "
Claude shook his head: "After paying the ransom, protection fee, and the reward of 500,000 gold crowns, your country will be able to discuss military cooperation with our autonomous military region to purchase armored warships and introduce construction technology. Otherwise, there will be nothing." There is no need to talk. Someone, please send Mr. Special Envoy out..."