C2359 War is a business (2/2)
”We have to consider these issues carefully. As the governors of the empire, we have to consider not only the things that are laid out before us in reality, but also the rise and fall of the empire in the next 50 years or even 100 years!”
”How long has it been since our city has had a large-scale construction of municipal Infrastructure? How much did our subway extend over the years? How many kilometers have our railways increased? ”
”Schools, hospitals, fire stations, libraries, museums... How many of these have we built? ”
”Other nationalities have started to promote compulsory education in all its aspects, but what about us? Still keeping to the old ways … Gentlemen, look at those newspaper boys in patched clothes, and even those thieves on the streets. At their age, they should be in school, not on the streets! ”
”Every time I see a newspaper seller, a shoeshine man, a milkman... Even being a thief's child makes me heartbroken. God knows, these children must be the Empire's future scientists, literary scholars, painters, soldiers … ”
”But just because of our short-sightedness and greed, we let these children be buried forever. This is a crime, a crime, a crime!”
The banging sound increased his momentum, and everyone in the council chamber was dumbfounded. Everyone knew that Gladstone was a great eloquent person, but today, they realized that he was not only amazing, he was also crazy.
”I only know that war does not know how to diligently practice internal affairs. The future of the empire will be ruined by you one day!”
”Let's see how our colony is felled. There are all kinds of riots here and there. Our garrison is in a constant state of bitter struggle!”
”The colonists who couldn't survive were forced to attack us. The flames of war spread across the globe, and the colonial economy was severely damaged!”
”How can this trend be reversed?” In the long run, all we can do is keep on increasing our military strength and expenditure, and then what? The colony's income will continue to decline... One day, the empire will eat up all of its current limited fiscal surplus. If there is a deficit in the finance, how would you, Benjamin, be responsible? ”
”Answer me, how can you be responsible!”
”Gentlemen, do you still think I'm a weak defector? ”I was completely wrong. I, Gladstone, have never denied the Empire's colonization policy. All I am thinking of is to delay the expansion of the Empire for the time being and pay back the debt …”
”At the very least, we have to ensure that our empire will continue to lead the way in science and technology, and that our industry will rise to new heights! Our Steel plant, spinning mill, mechanical processing, shipbuilding, military industry... Isn't there a need to increase productivity? Don't we need to improve our technology? ”
”Only by ensuring that our technology and productivity is the highest in the world will our national power be the highest in the world! We must always remember the glory of history. Back then, when Napoleon swept across continental Europe, even though we were enemies with him in England, he still wanted to purchase wool and cotton cloth from us in England! ”
”What is this? This is what the Chinese call 'awesome!' This is the true foundation of the British Empire. Only with this foundation can we be able to form an even stronger army! ”
”Benjamin! You have already embarked on the evil path, don't tell me you don't have any awareness of yourself? ”