Things always have two sides. Although the huge military expenditure in the past three years has caused the empire to bear huge financial pressure, at this stage, the strength of the empire's navy, army, air and other forces is not challenging around the world. Why is Britain afraid of China now? Because China and Britain do not need to spend more extra money when going to war with Britain, and Britain cannot afford so much money at all.

Just compared to combat levels, the British Spitfire fighter jets are not worse than the J-3 series fighter jets, and they are even stronger in many performance parameters. However, if we have to produce 28,754 aircraft, where can the UK find so much money?

The situation is very simple now. If you want to go to war with China, there is no problem. The premise is that you first take out 3 billion pounds of military expenditure to be at the bottom. The total central fiscal revenue of the UK is only 200 million pounds per year. Where can it borrow 3 billion pounds?

Modern warfare is about fighting for money, and having money is the real world overlord.

The British can insist that whites are better than Chinese in any way, but machinery and military equipment are the same. When the war between China and Britain begins, even if Britain sells out all its assets and raises 3 billion pounds of military spending to start a war, will China be able to raise 10 billion pounds of military spending?

If you don’t have money, don’t compete with the Chinese Empire, and don’t compete for the throne of the world’s ocean overlord.

After reading the financial report submitted by the central government, Song Biao felt that the military expenditure over the years was too large. Even if the central government is the richest government in the world, it cannot withstand such long-term consumption.

When he looked at this financial report, he was thinking about a problem, that is, between Germany and Britain, he could only choose to attack one. Germany, like the United States, belongs to the current and future threats of the empire, while Britain is actually just a threat from the past.

Britain is the main obstacle to preventing the Chinese Empire from becoming the world hegemon. Only by kicking Britain out of Asia can the Empire officially become the well-deserved world hegemon. However, if the Empire does not prevent Nazi Germany from expanding, it will definitely encounter challenges from Nazi Germany in the future. Even if the Empire barely defeats Britain and Germany at the same time, it will be too difficult to deal with the challenges of the United States in the future.

In a peaceful development environment, China is not afraid of the challenges of the United States, but lacks enough means to limit the development of the United States. Therefore, when facing the competition of the United States, China can only rely on normal competition and development to suppress the United States in the second place in the world for a long time.

The decline of Britain is an inevitable trend in history. There is no need to worry too much about this issue. As long as you cook the frogs slowly and gradually promote the liberalization of Asia and Africa, the British Empire will become a thing of the past.

Therefore, for the current Chinese Empire, the real biggest threat is Nazi Germany, which has always insisted on expanding its national strength through military expansion.

Song Biao knew this very well.

After reading this report, Song Biao did not give any special approval because the situation was not particularly bad. The overseas debts held by the central government and trust assets at home and abroad are all operating assets. Just like the German government holds 15 shares of Siemens, these are all assets that can be sold, excluding non-profit roads, reservoirs, schools, etc. that are nominally owned by the state. The total value of these assets is higher, but they cannot be sold and cashed out.

This means that the central government can continue to cash out 20 billion to 40 billion yuan of Chinese Yuan funds for other wars and to cope with other new challenges, including continuing to expand large-scale and continuous investment in scientific and technological research and development and education.

After the empire defeated the Soviet Union and Japan, it was indeed not easy for the central government to maintain its current level.

In principle, Song Biao did not plan to give any comments on this matter, so he simply approved the word "read" and returned the report to Chen Jin who was accompanying him without any comment.

As the Minister of Finance, Chen Jin was the first person in charge in this matter. After waiting for a long time, he saw that the emperor had no special opinions, so he took the initiative to mention: "Your Majesty, will the central government's operating investment continue to maintain the original policy?"

Song Biao took this time to order a Yuxi cigar and thought for a moment before answering: "It can continue to maintain it. I personally believe that in addition to normal large-scale project operation, investment and financial management services, the four major trust companies should also consider supporting the development of high-tech enterprises and small and medium-sized private enterprises. The four major trust companies can also go public and introduce more reasonable and appropriate management mechanisms and regulatory mechanisms."

The four major trust companies in China usually refer to the four central government operating asset trust management companies, including China International Trust and Investment Company, China National Trust and Reserve Company, China National Investment Bank, and China Industrial Holding Corporation. Together with China Far East Trust and Investment Bank, China United Holdings Corporation is a six major trust, namely CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CITIC, CIT

These four major government trust companies owned by the central government have different business scopes. China Reserve is mainly responsible for participating in commodity trust management and investment operations at home and abroad. The main investment areas are concentrated in conventional international commodities such as oil, iron ore, copper, manganese, tungsten, soybeans, cotton, wheat, etc., and are responsible for stabilizing the value of international commodities and avoiding the impact of short-term commodity prices on the domestic economy as much as possible.

China Investment Corporation mainly participates in financing services for domestic and foreign financial enterprises and super-large projects, issuing loans to foreign governments and underwriting treasury bonds. One of its common functions is to provide development loans to foreign governments and contract projects to domestic enterprises.

Zhongkong mainly participates in trust investment in domestic pillar enterprises and industries, provides entrepreneurial capital for high-tech enterprises, participates in the construction and management of industrial parks at home and abroad, cooperates with the central government to provide funds, technical support, support and coordinate key enterprises to participate in international competition, adjust domestic industrial production capacity, promote overall industrial progress, and leads large-scale cross-company technical cooperation and scientific and technological research and development.

China Reserve Bank, China Investment and Zhongkong are all extremely professional and super-large government asset trust management companies, while China International Trust Company is a typical comprehensive super-large trust company with branches in 92 countries and regions around the world and widely participate in investment and financial services in the global economy. CITIC is also the most powerful among the four major companies.

The central government adopts an appointment system for the management of the four major trust companies, and runs for qualified senior management through public recruitment in China. The Prime Minister personally appointed the presidents of the four major companies. The Central Audit Bureau and the social review agency of the ** jointly conducted annual reviews on the four major companies. In fact, the four major trust companies are also the goal of the Central Bureau of Investigation every year to focus on census supervision.

The investigation is very strict, but in terms of specific business management, the presidents of the four major companies will obtain absolute management authority once they are appointed, which is conducive to flexible operation and more effective internal management. Except for the central government's ownership, there is no difference between other aspects from normal companies.

At least in the past few decades, the model of the four major companies has been very successful. On a global scale, the situation of the four central trust companies in the Empire is also an exception, so many people believe that the Chinese Empire belongs to the category of state bourgeoisie.

Success in the past does not mean success in the future.

Song Biao was skeptical about this, so he felt that the four major trust companies should still go public and accept supervision from more channels. Of course, the situation of the four major trust companies is very special. Before listing, it may also have to promote new legislation specifically in Congress to ensure that the four major trust companies serve the country.

Chen Jin agreed with Song Biao's proposal.

Chen Jin nodded and said, "The four major trust companies are now the most important fiscal pillars of the central government. Without the financial guarantees provided by the four major companies, the central government's finances can fully insist on the empire fighting the two wars between China and Japan and China and the Soviet Union, but the huge fiscal deficits that will be faced in the future will definitely be very tormenting. As for the current finances, even if we start a war with Britain on the Indian region, it will not be too difficult."

Song Biao smoked a cigar and continued to think about this matter in his mind. After a moment, he said to Chen Jin: "I think Britain is not the enemy we must face in the end. The end of European colonialism is an inevitable trend in history. As long as we advance step by step, it may be within ten to twenty years, and we can gradually advance this process."

Chen Jin was a little surprised. Thinking of the editorial that the emperor arranged for the inner court in Vladivostok to write, he guessed that the emperor had adjusted his policy ideas for Europe in his heart, and immediately asked: "Does His Majesty think that Nazi-style Germany poses greater threat to our country?"

Song Biao nodded slightly and said, "The only countries that can challenge the empire are the United States and Germany. Britain, which has its foundation on colonization, will collapse sooner or later. We only need to act as a pusher, not a hammer that smashes the wall. As for Germany, this threat will be very dangerous. On the one hand, the danger of the United States is not dangerous, at least it will not threaten the development of the empire, but it is also long-term and difficult."

Chen Jin asked: "Does that mean that the empire must impose more severe curbs on Germany, or even use war?"

Song Biao was unwilling to answer this question, at least there is no need to give an accurate answer to it at this moment.

He avoided this topic and continued to talk about Britain with Chen Jin, saying: "The British now criticize us for being the same national socialism as Nazi Germany. It is undeniable that we have similarities in institutions with the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, but there is a common principle behind this similarity, that is, to ensure the strength of the country in large-scale wars. At the same time, we also guarantee more the development space of private enterprises and individual freedom. To a certain extent, we are indeed implementing a special political system between Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union and Germany, but this system is also conducive to the development of the empire."

Speaking of this, Song Biao emphasized seriously: "The special system is the advantage of ours. Looking back, during the period of the Tang Shaoyi Cabinet, we had already established such a system. It was on the basis of this system that Zhang Kangnian, as the Minister of Finance of that period, could make very outstanding contributions, and almost laid the financial foundation of today's central government. Zhang Kangnian was very glorious at that time, and everyone praised him for his greatness, but when we carefully analyze the reasons, more credit is still the advantages of the system itself. I don't think that the current system is the best and does not require reform at all. On the contrary, we should continue to work hard. First of all, we must ensure the advantages of the system. The establishment and reform of the system depend on our thoughts. Therefore, looking back on the past thirty years, we will find that there is no absolute correctness and error in this world. Every social thought and ideology has its advantages and disadvantages, and we must stand at a very high level to comprehensively measure the pros and cons."

Chen Jin is an extremely smart person. He understands in his heart the intention of Emperor Song Biao's words. There are many people who have the opportunity to run for the next prime minister now, and he is one of them. If he wants to win the election, he must first think about the problem and the future of China from the perspective of an imperial prime minister.

The system depends on ideology, while Chinese ideology is extremely complex. The fundamental reason is the idea of ​​restoration. As long as it is conducive to the strength and restoration of the nation, it is a favorable thing.

He understood the emperor's intention and was not in a hurry to answer, but just kept nodding in recognition.

To be honest, Song Biao admires Chen Jin's talent very much. If Chen Jin can give him a good foundation, the achievements Chen Jin can achieve, and the driving role he can play in the empire, the national benefits he can bring to the empire will not be lower than that of Zhang Kangnian, who was called "the success of his achievements" back then.

People always say that Zhang Kangnian's ten-year term as the Minister of Finance was "a success for thousands of years". Today, in the Sino-Soviet and Sino-Japanese War, it can be seen that without the four major trust companies and huge central government investment assets left by Zhang Kangnian back then, how could the empire have such a strong foundation today?

So, a good Chancellor of the Exchequer is very important.

In his conversation with Chen Jin, Song Biao opened two topics at the same time. One was the threat to the different characteristics of the empire by Britain, Germany and the United States; the other was the difference between the imperial political and economic dominant ideology, ideology and system and the United Kingdom, Germany and the Soviet Union.

Chen Jin was very smart. He knew that the two topics the emperor mentioned were actually the same topic.

In the perspective of the empire, the two left and right extremisms of the Soviet and Germans did pose a great threat to the empire, but they were not as nervous as Britain and the United States. The degree of threat to the empire by the Soviet, Germany, Britain and the United States was actually almost the same.

The empire does not matter whether it is left or right. As long as it is conducive to the great restoration of the empire and the Chinese nation, it is reasonable, useful and useful. Considering that the emperor is promoting new ideological integration and party integration, Chen Jin has a premonition. He feels that the mainstream political thoughts of the Chinese Empire may gradually take shape in the past few years. On the basis of constantly absorbing foreign ideas and constantly organizing traditional Chinese studies, the empire will roughly form a set of its own ideological theories.

Thoughts are very important. They guide all behaviors in human society and summarize all behaviors in human society.

For the Empire, Resurrectionism is still the most important idea, but it is not good enough to meet the Empire's need to become a world hegemon.

In principle, Emperor Song Biao, who should be outside the political party, is not suitable for discussion too much. He turned to the real issue and pointed to the financial report in Chen Jin's hand, and ordered: "After going back, I have a more in-depth joint discussion in the cabinet and the military. My opinion is very simple. Should I adjust or take a rest in the past two years and lay a solid foundation for the 7th Five-Year Plan? Now, based on various circumstances, our country should seek to transcend the restrictions of various regional disputes and ensure a better opportunity to examine the new development of the entire international world. I think, simply put, we need to look at the wall instead of implementing more radical policies to ensure that the central government and the military can have enough time to deal with more difficult challenges."

"Yes."

Chen Jin agreed, and he already understood the emperor's intentions.

At this stage, we need to negotiate with the UK to resolve the problem, just to strive for better conditions as much as possible.

The emperor's meaning is very simple. Fighting Britain is a good choice, but it is not the best choice, nor is it the best choice that is most beneficial to the Chinese nation.

In the eyes of many people, China and Britain are already at a time when a war is about to break out. Several battleships of the British Navy are passing through the Suez Canal and about to arrive in the Indian Ocean. The main fleet of the Chinese Navy has also left the Seribaga Bay Naval Base. If both sides speed up their voyage at full speed, a decisive maritime battle between China and Britain may break out in the Andaman Islands within 7 days.

This will probably be the battle of the ocean hegemony that will determine the next century, and the winner will rule the world oceans in the second half of the 20th century.

The report submitted by Chen Jin made Emperor Song Biao very clear about the financial situation of the empire. It was inappropriate to break out in full swing war between China and Britain, but it did not mean that sitting down to negotiate immediately would be more in line with the interests of the empire.

When Chen Jin left, Song Biao called the Central Military Department directly, asking Minister of Defense Chen Houfu and Chief of Staff Jiang Fangzhen to come to him overnight to discuss a more appropriate countermeasure.

Half an hour later, Chen Houfu and Jiang Fangzhen arrived one after another, and they reported the current situation to the emperor.

Before New Year's Day, the General Staff had formulated three combat plans to report to Emperor Song. First, the navy and air force were the main force to fight a fast decisive battle at the Persian Gulf outlet in the Indian Ocean; second, the army was the main force to quickly annihilate the British colonial army in Pakistan and India; third, the battlefield was to drag the battlefield back to Southeast Asia and eliminate the British colonial army and the Strait fleet in Malaya in Southeast Asia.

The situation is extremely beneficial to China. No matter which combat plan you choose, the Imperial Wehrmacht has the absolute certainty to annihilate the British army, or even attack at the same time, completely destroying the British military power in Asia, but this will take a certain amount of time and face more complex situations.

The second aspect that Song Biao approved at that time was the establishment of the 10th Army and the southward advance of the 8th Army. At present, Xue Yue's Southern Alliance has made the vast majority of preparations and can launch a general offensive against the British colonial army stationed in South Asia at any time.

Before Song Biao went to Vladivostok for vacation, he approved the first plan of the military headquarters, agreeing that the main navy forces enter the Indian Ocean at the right time and carry out a decisive battle with the British Navy in the Indian Ocean. This is actually the reason why the Central Military Department asked the Indian Ocean Asian League Navy to fight back severely against the British army.

The military headquarters must want to fight, especially the senior officials of the Navy, who were already crazy about fighting the British Navy. Fortunately, Lieutenant General Chen Yawu, the commander of the Indian Ocean Asian League Navy Command, risked the risk of going to the military court and gave a discount when implementing the orders of the Central Military Department, and adjusted the "severe counterattack" to "limited counterattack" so that China and Britain would not immediately enter the war situation.

The situation is obvious now. As long as you fight in the Asian region, whether in Southeast Asia or South Asia, the Imperial Central Defense Forces have an absolute advantage over the British army.

When Emperor Song summoned the two, Jiang Fangzhen was busy preparing for a decisive battle in the military headquarters. Preparatory combat plans in all aspects had been issued to the front-line command centers. Chen Houfu was busy communicating with members of Congress and the central cabinet, declaring the necessity of this battle, and demanding that the cabinet and Congress continue to provide absolute support.

After arriving at the General Office of the Central Palace, the two reported the current situation respectively. According to the intelligence of the Central Military Intelligence Department and the General Administration of Intelligence, the UK listed several main ships of the Mediterranean Fleet as the new Far East Fleet, with three battleships and two aircraft carriers as the main ships, and passed the Suez Canal at around 6 pm today. Since France remains neutral, the fleet cannot dock in Djibouti. It is expected to arrive at the port of Berbera in Somalia at noon tomorrow for suspension, or it may directly attack the empire's naval base in the Gulf of Aden, but the possibility is very low.

The Imperial Navy's Sixth Fleet is permanently stationed in the Gulf of Aden. Because of its low strength, it has now evacuated to the Imperial Navy's Ancinana military port in North Madagascar to avoid the British Navy.

Song Biao has been listening to Jiang Fangzhen's combat report silently. For Jiang Fangzhen and Chen Houfu, even if they were not fanatical pro-war factions, they were convinced that the empire must defeat Britain and include the entire Asia in the control of the empire, laying a stronger foundation for the future decisive battle with Germany.

After Jiang Fangzhen finished the report, Song Biao asked him and Chen Houfu: "How much winning rate do you think this battle has?"

Jiang Fangzhen thought for a while and replied simply: "We are unlikely to fail."

Chen Houfu said: "That's true. As long as we focus on this battle, Britain will lose very badly."

Song Biao just nodded slightly. He was unwilling to be the only opponent. As the emperor, he should not oppose the decision of his subordinates. Before summoning them, Song Biao was really determined to temporarily stop the war. Now he is a little hesitant, after all, the empire cannot be defeated.

After carefully weighing the pros and cons, Song Biao asked Jiang Fangzhen: "Can you take a medium-scale but extremely fast battle and continue to ask the UK to accept peace talks after the battle?"

Jiang Fangzhen thought for a moment and replied: "The British Navy can be said to be the main fleet going south this time. Once it is annihilated, Britain will basically lose all bargaining chips for negotiations. Therefore, it is best to annihilate its main force in the Far East fleet. We can generally adopt two strategies. One is to warn the main force of the British Navy to evacuate the Indian Ocean, not to provoke actively, and not to cause serious confrontation between the Chinese and British navy in the Indian Ocean, otherwise, the empire will officially declare war; the second is to warn the British colonial army in Pakistan to withdraw. Given the British international status, they are unlikely to evacuate the colonial army, but if we warn its navy, Britain may consider withdrawing the navy. On this basis, China and Britain have the possibility of peace talks, but if war has already begun, unless the main force of its navy and army is annihilated as soon as possible, it is unlikely that Britain will accept peace talks. Then, the final armistice negotiation is extremely likely to be the British defeat negotiations."

Song Biao still agrees with this judgment.

After a little thought, Song Biao and Jiang Fangzhen ordered: "Prepare the first strategy to warn the main force of the British navy to withdraw. If they withdraw, they will negotiate. If they do not withdraw, they will start a war. The situation will definitely be very beneficial to us. As long as we are willing to negotiate and resolve the problem, Britain will not be completely indifferent. So far, our attitude has been revealed very clearly. It depends on whether the UK can accept our conditions."

Jiang Fangzhen nodded in agreement and continued to ask: "If Britain does not accept our conditions, will war begin immediately?"

Song Biao replied: "Yes."

In terms of long-term interests of large countries, it is definitely the most advantageous to go to war in Britain, because the recession of Britain is a destined trend and is not worth the Empire's spending too much resources on this. If these expenses are saved, the Empire will be able to better deal with the long-term threats from Germany and the United States.

The only strategy to deal with Nazi Germany is war.

The best strategy to deal with the United States is to rely on education, science and technology and overall national policies, as well as the empire's special status in Asia and the world, and to implement long-term suppression and restraint on the United States through long-term competition in international free trade and competition in international diplomatic affairs.

No matter what form of war or competition it is, the more assets it reserves in the imperial central government will definitely be, the better.

But in a country with democratic decision-making, all choices cannot completely consider long-term national interests, and medium- and short-term national interests are more important. In today's situation, if the empire cannot force Britain to make major concessions, it will be the empire's shame, the central cabinet, and the dereliction of duty of the Central Military Department.

Faced with the same question between the Minister of Finance Chen Jin and the Chief of Staff of the Central Military Department Jiang Fangzhen, Emperor Song Biao could only give two different answers. The first answer was the best choice he thought, while the latter answer was the most realistic decision.

Since we decided to adopt the strategy of warning first, we must seize the time. That night, Emperor Song Biao, together with Jiang Fangzhen and Chen Houfu, drafted the statement to the British announcement, and carefully explained the wording to the Prime Minister of the Cabinet Gu Weijun. Then, Chen Houfu, on behalf of the Central Cabinet, officially notified the British ambassador to China at 9 a.m. the next day.

The power of the Central Military Department of the Imperial Army is to command war, not launch war, formal declaration of war and corresponding warnings should be announced by the central cabinet. In the imperial constitution, there are two different correspondences. First, the central government has the right to declare war on foreign countries during peacetime; second, during wartime, as long as the central government declares war on foreign countries, the Central Defense and Military Commission will become the highest military institution.

Now, the Sino-Soviet War and the Sino-Japanese War have not yet ended, and the Central Defense Military Commission is still the highest military authority of the empire. Therefore, Emperor Song Biao determined this matter as the chairman of the Central Defense Military Commission, which itself did not violate the Constitution.

This is very important.

This means that the central government and cabinet prime minister Gu Weijun has no right to interfere in the emperor's decision-making on this matter. Of course, one day, the imperial emperor will no longer serve as the chairman of the Central Defense Forces. This position will start with a certain cabinet prime minister and will be formally determined to be the imperial prime minister in the form of a constitution.

The Chinese Empire is still in a special stage in the constitution.

As the chairman of the Central Defense and Military Commission and the supreme military commander of the Central Defense Forces and the navy, army and air force, Emperor Song still controls all military power behind the scenes. Of course, power always surrenders to reality.

For Emperor Song, he could make the empire declare war on Britain, but it was difficult to stop the empire from declaring war on Britain unless Britain made major concessions according to the requirements of the empire to meet the needs of the empire.

This is the reality of the human world of power.
Chapter completed!