Philadelphia, United States

White House

This is the Presidential Palace rebuilt as it is in Washington, DC. It is located in a large area of ​​special administrative areas designated by the northern suburbs of Philadelphia. It is used to build Capitol Hill, federal government buildings and other federal agencies and facilities. It is the political center of the United States after the capital is moved.

The Washington, DC, can't stay anymore. Both sides are surrounded by the Republic of Virginia. The closest distance is only 60 or 70 kilometers. The cannon range can be covered by all, let alone governing the country with peace of mind?

Two years after the war ended, the Republican and Democratic parties still fought responsibly for the defeat of the war. They blamed each other for the tiring and full of newspapers and magazines, which made the American people very upset and felt bad...

This year marks the fourth year of President Wollow Wilson's term. Looking back on the past three years of presidency, it means that the enemy is in a difficult situation, unable to sleep day and night, walking on thin ice, with deep sins, and being in a bad reputation...

As a defeated country, the United States really became a phoenix that was worse than a chicken after the signing of the Guangzhou Contract, and became the target of laughter among Europeans.

This made President Wolold Wilson, who had just taken office, plummeted. Not only could he not be as good as President Lincoln who turned the tide during the Civil War, he became the worst president in history, no doubt.

The New York Times called it "the president who generously dismembered the United States."

In view of this

The Democratic Party urgently adjusted its policy strategy, and in terms of domestic policies, it did not seek merit, but did not seek any mistakes. The main focus of the contradiction was on former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt, with very obvious intentions.

The Democratic president cannot take the blame alone, and everyone will die together.

As the initiator of dragging the United States into the war, former President Theodore Roosevelt must bear an unshirkable responsibility for this. According to the current propaganda caliber, it is to "provoke an invincible enemy."

In the Oval Office of the White House

President Russia-Wilson is facing an extremely headache. Florida's federal tax revenue was not paid in the second half of last year and has been dragging it down. This move has stretched the federal finances and is about to stop the U.S. federal government.

The bad example of Florida has affected Georgia and Alabama, and the federal tax revenue was not paid in the first quarter of this year, seriously affecting the operation of the federal government.

The federal parliament, courts, government agencies and police departments have been in arrears for many months, and the railway and highways and city management departments have held many demonstrations to protest the government’s arrears of wages and put forward the slogan of “survival, bread.”

"Mr. President, as a wealthy state, Florida accounts for 1/9 of federal tax revenue and is an indispensable piece of the finance puzzle. If this problem is not solved, I am afraid of causing chain adverse reactions in southern states. Georgia is the lesson of the past." Treasury Secretary Hunter said with a worried look on his face.

His brows were frowning tightly, and the sparse hair on his head was like the bank vault of the Ministry of Finance, and it was about to fall out.

Secretary of State Davin Porter glanced at National Security Advisor Adam Smith. The two of them had the same anxiety and helplessness in their eyes. They hesitated and said first;

"The Treasury Secretary's problem is also the biggest problem in the federal government at present. We know that Florida has always been dissatisfied with the high federal taxes, and public opinion is booming.

However, after California and Texas became independent one after another, the Great Lakes Industrial Zone suffered heavy damage and was devastated. Only New York State and the Southern State, which were not traumatized by the war, could bear the burden of federal finance. This was helpless.

The problem with Florida is that independent forces are rampant and cannot be allowed to continue, so as not to cause a bad chain reaction.

A capable force must be sent to Florida to convey the uncompromising tough voice of the federal government.”

As soon as he finished speaking, National Security Adviser Adam Smith immediately agreed; "I agree with Mr. Secretary of State, and now we must make a decision, Mr. President."

President Wolson did not answer immediately, but walked to the window and opened the curtains. A green south lawn outside came into his eyes. This south lawn was not the south lawn.

A complex look appeared in his eyes and sighed;

“Taking military action should be the last resort. We must now maintain the greatest restraint and show the greatest kindness, rather than thinking about a rough solution by force to push Florida to the brink of independence.

According to the provisions of the Guangzhou Contract, the federal army can only retain no more than 100,000 troops.

Such a small amount of troops is still seriously insufficient to defend the Great Capital District of Philadelphia, so why not draw a powerful force to Florida to convey the federal government's firm attitude?

Gentlemen, it is best not to resort to force if you can solve problems with money.

We must consider the views of the Ocean Imperialists and the attitude of the British. The current industrial strength of the Great Lakes region is less than half of the time before the war, and we are also carrying huge war compensation. We urgently need time to recuperate.

Hunter, I need you to have a contact with the "Post-War Liquidation Syndicate" to discuss the issue of a financial loan."

"Mr. President, the Ministry of Finance has contacted them and proposed a loan case of 150 million Jinyang, which can maintain the operation of the federal government for half a year. However, the bank's request for the price was too high, which forced us to give up this option." Treasury Secretary Hunter spread his hands helplessly, looking extremely embarrassed.

President Wolold Whehansson asked with an unhappy tone: "The United States has enough solvency, what conditions have they put forward?"

"Well... the syndicate means 150 million Jinyang loan, with an annual interest of 13.5, a three-year period, and a tough tone that cannot be negotiated. They calculated that we had to borrow, which was deliberately blackmail."

“Wow…”

Everyone present had to take a breath of air conditioning, and the atmosphere became even more dull.

The annual interest rate for loans is 13.5%, but it is a special situation. For example, if you don’t have a mortgage, you will take a lot of risks when you lend it out, and the interest rate is often particularly high.

At the end of the 19th century, when the Qing general Zuo Zongtang sent troops to Xinjiang, he borrowed several loans from the British in order to raise huge military salaries, with the interest rate being 14% lower and the higher being 16%.

Another situation is that countries with low credibility and poor repayment ability, such as the Ottoman Empire and the Tsarist Russian Empire, launched war loans, and the interest rates are generally more than ten percent or even higher, and sometimes even reach twenty or thirty percent, because once the war fails, the lender will have to take the huge risk of not being able to recover the loan.

Normal non-war loans are not as high as that. The 450 million taels of silver in the Xinchou Treaty was compensated with an interest of 4.5%, which lasted for 40 years, with a total amount of about 900 million taels of silver. It is a standard long-term large loan based on the Qing Dynasty's customs tax revenue.

Having said that, the Qing Dynasty was destroyed in just over a decade, and this is the risk of long-term loans.

"Is there no room for negotiation?" President Wollowed Wilson asked.

Secretary Hunter shook his head with a heavy face. Now there is no choice for the US finance. France, known as the kingdom of usury, borrowed huge francs from his ally Tsarist Russia. It was basically meat buns to beat dogs, and there was no return, which seriously affected the bank's position turnover.

The British and the Ocean Empire were wearing pairs of pants, and the Germans could not reach North America, and the two countries above did not allow it. Therefore, issuing loans to the United States became the exclusive business of post-war repayment syndicates, and eight major banks joined forces to bully the US federal government.

How come this scene doesn’t make people feel great humiliation? At the same time, they feel deeply powerless.

The Guangzhou Treaty castrated the United States' ability to develop the army and navy, and the army troops can only maintain below 100,000 people. The navy does not allow the development of main battleships above battleships, and also has strict control over the tonnage of ships.

Once you cross the red line, you may cause merciless blows.

to be honest

The Americans were really scared by the Ocean Empire and left a serious shadow in their hearts. Any proposal to develop arms could not be passed in Congress, which would inevitably arouse strong opposition, because everyone was worried that the Ocean Empire would attack the United States using this as a reason.

Frankly speaking, that's really scared.

The Ocean Empire has heavy troops stationed in the Republic of Virginia, with a total of three division-level troops, totaling about 60,000. Among them are the 4th Armored Division of the Royal Guard, the 2nd Kalimantan Division and the 3rd Shangri-La Division, which is known as the "Devil Division".

According to the painful experience of the past, the 60,000 Royal Army soldiers armed to the teeth could not stop them. The so-called Philadelphia defense line was just a symbolic psychological comfort.

On the vast plains of eastern North America, which is boundless, the highly mobile Royal Army of the Ocean Empire is like a wild horse that has broken away from reins, galloping across the board and can directly attack any industrial center in New York and the Great Lakes region, and there is no way to defend itself.

The Royal Navy Atlantic Fleet also has a large naval base in the Norfolk port, with 4 battleships, two heavy patrols and more than a dozen other general cruisers, which are capable of blocking Atlantic routes at any time.

Therefore, the major banks of the Ocean Empire are not afraid of Americans owing their debts. They can do as much money as they want to borrow, but those with high interest rates are afraid of others.

Think about it for a while

President Wolson said in a dry voice, "As long as the current fiscal crisis can be solved, the interest rate can be accepted even if it is higher. Please ask Secretary Hunter to handle this matter. If you want to borrow, borrow a little more, 200 million Jinyang."

Secretary Hunter looked at the president, then at Secretary of State Davenport and Security Advisor Adam Smith. Seeing that they were silent, they understood in their hearts, he replied in a deep voice, "I understand, Mr. President, I will start to handle it immediately."

"Thank you, Mr. Hunter, we must maintain the current difficult situation and not make the situation worse."

"I understand, Mr. President."

"That's good."

According to the current depreciation of the US dollar, 200 million Jinyang is equivalent to more than 600 million US dollars (originally worth 500 million US dollars). When customs taxes are completely used to repay the principal and interest of war compensation loans, the US government can only repay the principal and interest of US dollars, and the principal and interest in three years is about 900 million US dollars.

In order to solve the current financial crisis, we can only drink poison to quench thirst.

Anyway, there is no need to worry about debts. President Wollowed Wilson has only one year left for office. These debts will naturally be troubled by later presidents. As long as the conflicts are not intensified and the independent forces in Florida are getting more and more fierce, it is worth paying some price.

The United States can no longer stand the torture now. Take a look at President Wollowod Wilson's gray hair. He no longer has the ambition to guide the country, nor can he stand the torture anymore. It's good that he can maintain the status quo.

This cannot be blamed for the US President being too cowardly. It is because the history of the federal government is too short. The war on unity between the north and the south has only been 50 years. If everything goes well in economic development and society is prosperous and prosperous, then there is a chance to integrate internal ethnic differences, build national consensus, and eliminate possible divisions and contradictions.

As a result, the hammer of the Ocean Empire fell heavily and the porcelain became full of cracks, so the situation was very different.
Chapter completed!