C932 Hidden Layout (1/2)
”Where is the core of China's economy? ”Of course it's in the coastal areas, the Yangtze River, and the Pearl River Basin. As long as Xiao Letian is familiar with this set of tactics, then all of the most prosperous economic zones in China would be under his artillery threat …”
Bismark rubbed his temples, ”No no no, maybe using the word 'threat' is not appropriate, but it can also be used to protect! Xiao Letian provides protection for more than seventy percent of China's wealth, so how much protection fees can he get? ”
The old-fashioned Lao Maoqi frowned, ”Why do you have to use such vulgar words like protection fees to describe taxes? ”That's tax, tax, okay?”
Bismark shrugged his shoulders and made a gesture that he wanted, ”Alright, if the world does not provide protection for you in vain, these economic belts will definitely provide tax revenue to Xiao Letian in an obvious or invisible manner. This is probably his main source of income in the future.
Karl worriedly asked, ”Could it be that Qing Nation can't see it? Would they allow Xiao Letian to execute their authority so unscrupulously? After all, this was a competition with the empire's finances? ”It's too dangerous …”
”It's not that serious …” The Prime Minister shook his head. ”Your Royal Highness, you should have a consciousness from now on!” The nation has never lived alone with a small group of people, no matter whether it is the East or the West! ”
”The Qing Empire has been declining ever since the war started, and the continuous war has overwhelmed them. The British and French attacked from the sea, the Russia surrounded them from the north, and their internal wars were still ongoing. In the end, the local warlords' power was exceptionally strong …”
”The emperor is not omnipotent. Such a big empire must be governed by a huge bureaucracy. The execution ability is the only indicator to test the foundation of the empire's rule!”
”Will orders from the Forbidden City be executed by the government at the very end of the empire? Was there going to be a situation where people tried to argue back and tried to change their minds? Would the local officials, who were heavily armed, even directly refuse to execute it? As the future master of a Germany, you must carefully study this problem … ”
Karl's waist immediately straightened, this was a rare opportunity for the Prime Minister to pass on his experience in governing a country, ”Yes, you are right, execution is very important!”
Bismark pushed open the window and allowed the cool night wind from Berlin to blow in a little. He swept the smoke in the room, ”It's difficult for the Kingdom of Qing to rise again. ”Although I don't have any intelligence to support my view, I can guess that a serious problem has occurred in the tax system of the Kingdom of Qing!”
”In such a vast empire, the customs authority is actually controlled by the British He De. The local daoyin also has the authority to conduct military procurement. I don't think the Beijing can collect much tax anymore? The local arrears must be very serious, and those local officials have all sorts of names for withholding taxes … ”
”It is likely that the finance officials within the Forbidden City can only manage a large amount of book wealth!”
Lao Maoqi said worriedly, ”Yes, if it was just one or two areas where this happened, then the Qing Empire can make an example of this. They can use punishment to let those officials know what rules are! ”But now that the situation is like this, the Emperor can't just kill all of the bureaucrats, right?”
”What's even more terrifying is that the military power that the emperor can control is no longer the strongest in that country. So right now, Qing Kingdom doesn't have the guts to fall out with the local warlords. The situation will only get worse and worse …”
”Merchants and citizens will only show fear and respect to Military groups, who is the closest to them. As long as Xiao Letian wins a few beautiful battles along the coast, he will display the power of his cannon to all the merchants in the coastal area, including Yangtze River Basin. I don't think those people would mind paying another tax! ”