Dominate the Country

"We don't even have the right to set the price of wheat. What a shame!" In the Runzhou Trade Center, Director Luo Degang said to his elder brother Luo Deyi, who was the director of the Deng State Strategic Materials Administration Bureau, depressedly: "The purchase price of wheat in the spring was 250 or 60 yuan per ton, and now it has risen to 320 or 330 yuan. This increase is too big.

The Americans are really not good birds.

The emperor said they were ungrateful. I don't know why he was 'ungrateful', but I saw how they took advantage of the fire to rob."

The Luo brothers are from the family of the Deng Wangmu. Although their positions seem to be low, they are definitely very important to the Deng State.

The Runzhou Trade Center can be half a customs home, and the Strategic Materials Administration Bureau can intervene in many aspects.

As for the food problem, the Deng State Strategic Materials Administration Bureau can also be involved. This food is also one of the objects of concern of the administration.

"The United States is the only country in the Americas that openly exports grain to us. In addition to grain, they also export horses to us. We must not offend them." Luo Deyi thought of the current Dengguo finances from the sharp increase in the price of reserve grain:

"Recently, the outflow of domestic gold and silver coins has been too fast, and the import volume and import prices of many materials have increased sharply. The treasury of the Ministry of Finance is almost empty. My second uncle has even contacted me to see if the Administration can come forward and find a reason to stop the transaction of certain goods. Otherwise, I am afraid that your highness's reserve funds will be used."

"You know, after the outbreak of this war, your highness will have to express his gratitude to the army. There is not much, but there must be 500,000 Mexican Eagle Dollars, right? We also need to buy a good navy and let them guard our home. Otherwise, with the few people and ships in your hands, [Coastline] will lose one thing while taking care of another.

These two sums of money together will cost one million Eagle Dollars."

"My second uncle is afraid that by then the Ministry of Finance's accounts will have bottomed out, delaying important matters." Luo Deyi has a more complete and clearer understanding of the details of the Ministry of Finance than Luo Degang. "Alas, to be honest, the reserve funds in your hand can only cope with this year at most. What if the war continues next year? Your Highness is in a bad situation now. The country's finances are in great difficulty."

American merchants rarely bring gold and silver coins home, but here in Runzhou/Dengguo, in addition to legitimate traders, there are also many smugglers. These people do not hold Huayuan. Their common currency is Mexican silver dollars and Yingyang.

Compared with legitimate merchants who come to port trade, smuggling trade seems to be Chen Han's main trade model for Spanish America.

The customs targets British, American and Portuguese ships.

"This year's foreign trade situation is definitely not as good as last year." Luo Degang said in a very affirmative tone. The war in Europe has been going on for several years. The sharp contradictions between China and the West have indeed created a certain impact. The overall trade volume in Central America is on a downward trend, but domestic demand is constantly expanding.

While Dengguo's fiscal revenue continues to decrease, military expenditures are bound to be higher year by year, and it is estimated that there will be a lot more. After all, Dengguo’s navy will add several more auxiliary ships, and two main battleships will be manufactured. The army will also add a reorganized regiment and a cavalry battalion. The military expenditure will soar.

"That's the problem!" Luo Deyi said a little irritably. He is the head of the National Strategic Materials Administration. He knows very well how much stuff is stored in Dengguo's warehouses, which takes up a lot of money. And even if it is sold to the National Defense Army at a higher price, the cabinet and the Grand Governor's Office in the mainland will also confirm the account, but it is hard to say when the funds will be in place.

But many of these things were directly ordered by the Grand Governor's Office to be collected and stored by the six vassal states in America. They can't bargain with the mainland.

After the war broke out, no matter how fast the funds from the mainland came, they would have to wait until next year to be sent to America.

And Dengguo's finances are really a bit tight. The things in the reserve warehouse occupy a considerable part of their funds, which has a significant impact on the entire Dengguo's finances.

But now is the time when the whole country is preparing for foreign wars. Anyone who jumps out to accuse the strategic material reserve of being too expensive is a murderer. The Grand Commandery can also kill people!

In order to import war and reserve strategic materials, the outflow of gold and silver coins in the country has accelerated a lot. If this "preparation stage" continues for another one or two years, Deng's finances may go bankrupt.

Li Kun thought that the six vassal states in America were not to be feared at first, which really made sense. The impact of war is everywhere. Who outsiders would have thought that a strategic material reserve would cost Deng's life?

"If you don't think of a way, I'm afraid you can't support it."

"Is your highness going to... provoke a war?" Luo Degang really dared to guess. Fortunately, he still had some self-knowledge and knew that such a big thing was not something that the Luo family leaders could think about. Even if it was a proposal, it must be said by King Deng himself.

"Your highness doesn't have such courage." Luo Deyi shook his head.

"Although that is the best way to solve the problem once and for all-start the war as soon as possible." Luo Deyi didn't even say the last sentence.

…

"Commander, Commander, the war has begun. Their army has crossed the border and invaded the State of Xu."

Luo Degang felt slightly discouraged, but he also understood that the idea that came to his mind was a little too bold. But when his elder brother rejected it without hesitation, Luo Degang was still a little frustrated.

But reality is so dramatic.

Just as Luo Degang's mood fell into a depression, Luo Deyi's secretary hurried over to report a super hot news.

Luo Degang's mood was originally low, but now he was suddenly stimulated by the news. He was like a rooster that had its neck stuck and couldn't be beaten out. His eyes were wide open and the veins on his neck were exposed.

Luo Deyi also flashed hard and grabbed his secretary's hand in disbelief: "What did you say?"

"Has Big Salted Duck taken the initiative to attack?"

"Bureau seat, Dabanya has really taken the initiative to attack." The secretary is also an insider and knows how much pressure the various reserve warehouses of his own bureau have put on Deng Guo's finances.

For Deng Guo, this is absolutely great news.

…………

The thirteenth day of the sixth lunar month. It’s that time of year when the weather gets hot in North America.

However, the heat could not stop the Spanish colonial army's offensive. The Spanish colonial troops starting from Mexico were divided into two groups in June, one heading from the north to attack Xu State, and one heading from the northeast to attack Deng State.

The National Defense Forces and the vassal troops gathered on the border between the two countries were certainly not afraid of the Spanish colonial troops on the opposite side. They had strong permanent fortifications and well-built strong positions.

Taking Xu State due north as an example, after the Spanish colonial army surrounded part of the National Defense Force and Xu Army, the violent attack only lasted three days and nights and then came to an abrupt end. Because the Spaniards found that if they insisted on eradicating these stumbling blocks on the border, their [Spanish colonial army] would pay a heavy and unbearable price.

So the Spaniards quickly adjusted their previously prepared battle plan. The Chinese guarding troops on the border changed from violent attack to encirclement and containment. Concentrate your forces to attack deeper.

To be honest, the Spanish colonial army's progress on the northern front was not slow, because Xu's immigrants did not move toward the border line at all. Xu's development strategy was based on the coastal areas and then gradually moved inland. Therefore, even though the Spaniards were tied with an anklet on their hind legs, the surrounded National Defense Forces and Xu State's border guards were always harassing the Spanish colonial troops on the opposite side, which to a certain extent slightly affected the Spanish colonial forces. Safety.

The early battle was not going well, and the Spanish offensive was affected to a certain extent, but their goal was unwavering. The fiery sun could not make the generals of the colonial army have the slightest concern. It was summer, not winter. There was no waist-deep snow, and the sunshine did not have a great impact on the Spanish colonial troops.

For this war, after the Spanish American colonial authorities determined that they could not rely on the mainland, many peninsulas and white descendants who supported Spain made generous donations, especially in Mexico. Because they know that as long as Spain loses again, their land will probably belong to the Chinese. The colonial authorities also squeezed a huge amount of local wealth, thus establishing a mobile force with a number of up to 100,000 people.

Yes, these 100,000 people are mobile troops, and Spain still has a large number of troops stationed in the vast land of Latin America. Many Spaniards also confidently said that today's army is much stronger than the previous one of "100,000 people".

At least they have faced up to the power of the Chinese.

In mid-July, Xu Wang Chen You, who was supposed to be in charge at the rear, appeared in the Salton Basin.

Standing behind Chen Zhe is Gao Pingshan, who is currently the commander of the First American Army. He also serves as the deputy commander of the American garrison.

"The outcome will be decided in the next three to five days!" Gao Pingshan pondered as he looked at the endless Gobi wilderness in the Salton Basin in front of him.

…

Although only separated by the Salton Basin, the Spaniards actually knew nothing about the actions of the National Defense Forces. They only know that China's army is mobilizing as quickly as possible, but a large part of China's army is concentrated in the western coastal areas. This is a gesture of the Chinese.

At least that's how it seems to the Spaniards.

The Chinese have no intention of fighting a defensive war. They also built some bunkers, fortresses and defenses on the border between the two sides, but they took root and did not want to set up a battle on the border. They were preparing to land from the western coast of Mexico to find the weaknesses of the Spanish colonial army. Zone - at least not that many permanent defenses, and then easily land under the cover of their superior naval warships, and then think about Mexico's unbridled attack.

This is why the Spanish took the initiative to launch a land attack after learning that the local navy had fired the first shot.

In fact, the news that the six vassals of Central America were being attacked by the Chinese and Western navies was only two days later than the Spanish.

But this is a ‘time difference’!

Now, the Spanish offensive force is on the south side of the Salton Basin. There were originally some Chinese immigrant villages there, but later the policy changed. Many settlements that had been established and established were abandoned, and a large number of immigrants returned to the Salton Basin. northwest of the Dalton Basin.

"Dear General Santiago, the Chinese warships have gone south, but there are no Chinese soldiers on those warships that worry us. You can already consider fighting China on land..."

The message sent from the rear of the colony relieved the Spanish northern front commander Santiago. He was really worried that the Chinese would play a fight with him, where you fight yours and I fight mine.

Santiago knew very well that Chinese villages and towns were not so easy to occupy. If the main force of the Chinese army accompanied the warships to go south and guerrillaed on the west coast of Mexico or Central America, then the Spaniards would probably be the ones who could not withstand the pressure in the end.

If Santiago had received a retreat order from the Governor on the front line, then the Spanish would have once again been on the road to failure in this war. And now it seems that the Chinese are reluctant to part with their foundation. Just as they estimated before the war, the great emperor of China cherishes his people very much. Santiago's self-confidence suddenly exploded.

"The total strength of the Spanish colonial army has been determined to be 37,000, and the leading troops have arrived in Area 29."

"The Spanish Colonial Army Scout Cavalry has begun trying to cross our guarded area [No. 12]."

"The Spanish colonial army began to reduce its marching speed."

"Spanish colonial army reconnaissance cavalry entered area 25."

"The Spanish colonial rear guard was identified as one brigade, 4,500 men."

The Spanish colonial army moved westward along the Salton Basin. They did not cross the entire Salton Basin sideways. Their overall strength was thirty-seven thousand men, not thirty-seven.

The scouts passed the news in one after another, and the air in the frontline headquarters seemed to become tense. On the large map, the sign marking the Spanish Colonial Army is constantly being moved to new positions. As soon as everyone looks up, they can see the latest changes in the situation.

"Commander, can we start?" Shen Shiying, chief of staff of the army, asked.

The plan before the war has changed a lot from the current specific form. Gao Pingshan once believed that front-line fortifications could block the northward momentum of the Spanish colonial army. If these fortresses are not removed, how can we confidently and boldly go north? However, the Spanish colonial army had many more troops than expected, with at least 60,000 troops on the northern front.

After two days of fighting, the Spanish divided their forces to surround and contain the frontline defenders. Then the large army entered the Salton Basin and established military depots and rear guard positions along the way. There were still only 40,000 people left. This was really beyond Gao Pingshan's expectation.

The Spanish placed all their troops on the northern front instead of the northeast, where it was easier to attack.

You know, Xu State is next to Tokyo and Hanjin, and it is the main area where American garrison troops are stationed.

In the staff deduction of the garrison, if the Spaniards took the lead in launching a land attack - it was deduced at that time that this possibility was very small. The somewhat arrogant National Defense Force believed that if China and the West were to go to war, it would be Chen Han's declaration of war on Spain, which was completely unacceptable. I think Spain still has the courage to take the initiative to provoke China's majesty.

At that time, it was felt that Spain would devote its main force to Deng State in the northeast, leaving some troops to contain Xu State. But the result is just the opposite.