Volume 4: Hot! The whole world is a warring state Chapter 667 Spain's Advantage
"Your Majesty, I have always admired your outstanding foresight. But, isn't it too early to launch a large-scale expedition to the East now? After all, opening a new battlefield when the war in America is not completely over..."
"Haha, Raimondo, I knew you were going to ask this question."
Pulling a chair at random, Philip sat next to Raimondo: "You are one of the young people I am most optimistic about. My expectations of you are not just a division commander or army commander. So, today I am willing to spend some time to explain it to you."
"I look forward to your teachings, Your Majesty."
"It's not teaching, Raimondo, let me ask you, who is the biggest opponent of our Christian world right now?"
"Of course it's the Chinese, Your Majesty. Although the Ottoman Empire is developing well now, its population is only one-fifth of our European Union. As long as the European Union remains closely united under your leadership, the Ottoman Empire will not pose a threat to us within 50 years."
"Yes, because the population size gap is too big. As long as Europe speaks with one voice, the Ottomans will not pose a threat to us. So, dear Raimondo, do you know how many people the Alliance controls now?"
"Well, I only know that the population under our control in America, including Indians, mixed-race people, black slaves, and garrisons sent from Europe, is only 9.85 million."
"It's pretty good that we can control such a large population when rebellions were rampant in America." Philip patted Raimondo on the shoulder. "Last year, in 1637, the specific population controlled by our EU was: 120 million in Europe. 6.3 million in Africa, and 9.85 million in America, as you said just now. All together, it's just over 136 million. Do you know how many Chinese there are?"
"Your Majesty, have our intelligence officers obtained the specific population figures of the Chinese?"
"Well, because of our ethnicity, it's difficult for us to pretend to be Chinese. What's even more annoying is that they stole our Macau and the Philippines before the Suez Canal was opened... causing a heavy blow to our intelligence agencies in the Far East! However, based on our previous intelligence and the newspapers published by the Chinese themselves in recent years, we can still deduce the Chinese population more accurately."
"How many?"
"The mainland of China has at least 200 million people. If you add the various vassal states under their backward and ignorant tributary system, the number is definitely no less than 250 million."
"Hiss~ Your Majesty, that means the enemy's population is twice as large as ours."
"Yes." He nodded with a heavy face. "As you can see, with the great development of science and technology today, the increase in population is no longer a burden, but a huge wealth. Factories need people, the army needs people, the service industry needs people, the development of colonies needs people, merchants' cargo ships need people... Now in the whole of Europe, as long as you have healthy limbs and are willing to work, you will never die. This is the case for us, and it is also the case for the Chinese! Raimondo, tell me, if both sides continue to develop like this, will we still have hope in ten or twenty years?"
"Your Majesty, what you said makes a lot of sense."
"And they took over India a few years ago! India, my God, the climate there is warm, the land is fertile, and the mineral resources are rich. Except that the people there are a little lazy and the religion there is too magical, it is simply a land of godsend! Moreover, although the people there are a little lazy, how come there are hundreds of millions of people!"
"Hundreds of millions! Lord, if the Chinese completely control that place, then what about them?"
"Yes . By then, the population controlled by the Chinese will reach 350 million. If we do not intervene forcefully now and let the other side snowball comfortably with this base, at most in ten years, the Chinese will send troops to attack us!"
"…Your Majesty, I understand the necessity of launching the main force to attack India controlled by the Chinese at this time. However, this is an expedition that is more distant than the Crusades after all. What is our chance of winning?"
"Regarding this issue, I think we should look at it from the following aspects. Raimondo, do you know how much the royal government earned last year?"
"Your Majesty, I have been in America for a long time and I am really not clear about this."
"Haha, last year, the Kingdom's government's fiscal revenue was 320 million double pillars. After deducting expenditures, the surplus was 90 million double pillars. The fiscal surplus of all EU countries combined is 130 million."
"Wow, Your Majesty, the royal government's finances have improved so much all of a sudden?"
"Haha, this is mainly due to the full deployment of steam machinery. Raimondo, economic development has its own laws, one of which is the scale effect. When the number of factories using steam engines reaches a certain level and the entire industrial chain is basically complete, the country's economy and fiscal revenue will experience a violent eruption."
"Your Majesty, although I have long been accustomed to the great achievements of the country and the alliance under your leadership, I am still extremely shocked and proud to hear such data today. According to the current wartime maintenance cost of one division of our army, it is only 1 million double pillars a year. 130 million is enough for 130 divisions and 2 million troops to expedition to India for one year!"
"Hahaha, my lovely Raimondo, you can't calculate it that way. To launch a large-scale expedition, in addition to soldiers, we also need a large number of civilians and a large amount of food. Moreover, after incorporating a large number of strong men into the army and transport teams, the labor force left for factories and farms will decrease, and the country's income will also decrease. Therefore, 500,000 land forces is the limit that the alliance can afford. An army of this size can have enough strength and will not impose too much burden on the normal development of the alliance's economy."
"Yes, thank you for your teachings. Your Majesty, forgive me for saying one thing, but in the early stages of this expedition, the performance of the army is not what matters. What matters is whether the navy can firmly grasp the control of the Indian Ocean."
"You are quite right."
"Your Majesty, I must report to you... Professor Kepler is suspected of leaking our country's high-precision technology in America. After all, we have not been able to find the body of that socialite."
"I already know about this. These damn..." Philip originally wanted to say these damn Portuguese people, but he immediately controlled himself: the Raimondo in front of him was an Austrian!
"Laimondo, this socialite, is actually a spy. Because our local intelligence agency arrested her nominal father, a businessman who returned from the Far East. A Chinese dictionary was found in this guy's house. According to the inference of our intelligence officers, this dictionary is actually a code book."
"Ah? Then Your Majesty, there is a risk of our technology being leaked!"
"That's true. But Raimondo, we should look at things dialectically. We can also draw a conclusion from this spy incident. That is, the Chinese are still a long way behind us in terms of electricity. Although they will catch up after getting this intelligence, we still have some time. And this is one of the reasons that prompted me to make up my mind to launch the attack on India as soon as possible."
"one?"
"Yes , Raimondo. I am the King of Spain and the President of the European Union. But if the whole of Europe does not want to fight, it is not possible for me to fight alone. In fact, in recent years, as our factories have produced more and more things, the domestic market in Europe has gradually become saturated. And the consumption capacity of people in America and Africa is insufficient. We must open up new markets. And where are the new markets? For the time being, we still need the Ottomans to ally with us to fight against China, which has a huge advantage in numbers. Therefore, to open up new markets, we can only choose India!"
"I understand, Your Majesty. This shows that the whole of Europe is actually willing to fight this war, right?"
"Yes, that's why I can openly form an alliance with the Ottoman Empire. Because the Ottoman Empire also needs new markets."
"I see. Thank you for your detailed explanation, my doubts are mostly gone. But, Your Majesty, the navy?"
"Hahaha, you don't have to worry about the navy. The Prince of Asturias has been launched for more than a year, and actual combat has fully proved that we are on the right track. Well, you came back at the right time. In a month and a half, the three shipyards of Bilbao, Valencia, and La Coruña will each have a Prince-class battleship officially put into service. Most of their parameters are the same as the Prince of Asturias. But there is a slight increase in speed, with a maximum speed of 13.5 knots."
"Oh, Your Majesty, with the addition of these three huge ships, our control of the sea is secure."
"Not only that, Raimondo, the maturity of electrical technology has also enabled us to have more new equipment. When you return to Madrid, you will see new technologies and inventions such as telephones and telegraphs that can completely revolutionize the art of military command! Now..." Philip solemnly drew out his sword and placed it on Raimondo's shoulder: "Raimondo Montecuccoli, are you willing to accept my order to appoint you as admiral and command a corps of at least 200,000 troops to open up India for me?"
"It is my honor, Your Majesty." Kneeling on one knee, Raimondo responded calmly: "I will take India for you and dedicate all the wealth, population and land there to you!"
