The Eagle of Eastern Europe

"Your Majesty has arrived!!!"

Following the opening of the ceremonial officer, Peter entered the chamber of the Senate. Listerine and Baptiste took the other members to salute the emperor.

"I have met your Majesty!"

"Okay, let's get started."

The Minister of Finance began to explain the financial situation to the emperor, "Your Majesty, our country's current annual income is about 5 million lei, of which head tax and land tax account for more than half, as well as commercial taxes, customs duties, overseas income, etc.

In terms of expenditure, military expenditure ranks first, accounting for a quarter. Then came the salaries of officials, the construction of frontiers and the exploration of the East. There is approximately 4.9 million yuan in expenditure every year, which can usually be maintained in balance. "

Baptiste changed the subject and continued: "But if there is a large-scale war, the monthly expenses will skyrocket. The war five years ago cost a total of 2.4 million lei. Thanks to the income from the East, we can get out of the crisis. . But we also need to nip it in the bud.”

Pa…pa…pa…

Peter applauded, "I didn't expect the empire's revenue to increase so much, but I didn't expect that the expenditure would be the same amount. Any investment will be rewarded, but I still said that it is stupid to directly increase taxes. , How to maintain a balance between increasing revenue and preventing people from objecting is smart.”

The emperor, as always, required the government to maintain balance, and Baptiste was well prepared. "Your Majesty, I have already thought of a plan. The policy of combining taxes and levies into one in the past few years has been implemented nationwide, and the burden on the subjects has been reduced. But they cannot be too relaxed, otherwise they will develop a lazy character, and the people in the city The beggars and bankrupt farmers also need new places to work. Chen believes that the government can fund the construction of vocational training centers so that all unemployed poor people can learn a skill, so that they can also have a skill. Regarding this, I want to do business. The minister will provide a detailed explanation to His Majesty.”

Secretary of Commerce Edmund proposed a detailed plan at this time, "Your Majesty, we can set up two vocational training institutes in Athens and Constantinople. It is expected to help 1,000 people acquire skills every year, and then we will set up one in Anatolia within three years." Training centers have been set up in Asia and Wallachia. For those who have become beggars due to serious illness or other reasons, the training centers will also set up poverty homes to help them. Usually they will make some furniture and food to make up for their expenses, but they still need government funding. "

Peter nodded and then asked: "This plan is good, but we can't train all the poor. Their learning level must be good or bad. I think if it really doesn't work, we can guide them to Ruthenia and East."

"Your Majesty is so kind and has given these people a new path."

Some people directly praised the emperor's kindness, and Peter was not surprised. Then he looked at the Minister of Indian Affairs and the Minister of Eastern Affairs next to him, "I want to hear about things in the East."

The Secretary of State for Indian Affairs was independent from the India Office of the Ministry of Oriental Affairs and was specifically responsible for affairs in the Indian region. The first minister Kovali began to report.

"Your Majesty, we have already surrendered 10 princes in India. Although they are all local petty bosses, they are progress for the empire's Indian cause.

In addition, the annual production of spices, gold and local taxes in India are the main sources of revenue for the department. It can fully support our actions in India. "

Roman expansion in India has accelerated over the past five years, with each of the three stewards responsible for his or her own portion of the empire. Every year, he is responsible for handing over the goods and taxes produced in India to the empire after retaining enough for himself. The empire's goods also enter the Indian market. At this time, compulsory purchases have already occurred, but they are not serious yet.

In addition to India, the Oriental Department is responsible for trade in Champa, Formosa and East Asia. Temasek had become a center for goods and money, and the empire also conducted extensive trade with Majapahit and came to the Spice Islands, the South Maluku Islands. Rome, which had no worries about spices before, was even less worried now. They also began to transport these goods to the world.

In addition to trade, intelligence on the exploration of the East and operations to protect Roman interests were also the responsibility of this department. In addition to the Ming Dynasty in the East, Japan, North Korea, Ryukyu and countries in Southeast Asia are all among their targets.

In Japan, the Kagoshima area benefited from the expansion of trade and construction and became wealthy, and the local Satsuma lords began to seek to unify Kyushu. Through two battles, the Uesugi Zenhide Rebellion and the rebellion of supporters of the Southern Dynasties, Satsuma Kingdom successfully merged with Ohsumi Kingdom and Hyuga Kingdom to become the largest country in Kyushu. The Shimazu family began to be active on the political stage, and became a subject of Kyushu, officially commanding the Kyushu side.

In order to continue to obtain funds, the head of the Shimazu family increased trade with Rome, and also converted one of his sons to Orthodox Christianity and changed his name. Japan also obtained a lot of goods from abroad, especially the Ming Dynasty, through the intermediary of Rome, and they all made money in this trade.

"The empire has set up nearly 70 trading stations in the east. Each station has people responsible for local affairs and sending back intelligence. If there is any trouble, the news will be delivered as quickly as possible."

This route from Kagoshima in Japan to Guangzhou in the Ming Dynasty, then through Temasek and India, and through the canal to Constantinople is called the Golden Road or the Spice Road. It is 100% controlled by the empire, and the annual profit is Enough for them to dispatch fleet protection to prevent pirates from sneak attacks.

"Well, these places require a lot of money to maintain. It's not easy for you, but the rewards you get are worth it."

Peter praised them. At present, apart from India, the largest colony of the Empire in the East is Champa. After the Empire conquered here, it established an administrative chief to take charge of local affairs. At the same time, the King of Cambodia also came to seek protection. Suddenly, there were several excellent ports and fertile land in the Red River Delta. Although the food produced was rice, they could export it and exchange it for other goods.

The local population was as many as one million. The colonial government monopolized the sales of food, wine, and salt, and made profits by raising prices. It also collected taxes on local industry and commerce. These constituted the basic income of the local area. In order to prevent the Ming Dynasty from sending troops, the local area paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty in the name of the King of Cambodia and helped the Ming Dynasty stabilize its rule in North Vietnam. At the same time, it also secretly funded the local resistance forces so that the other party would not shift their attention to them.

"This is all achieved by your Majesty's vision. Everything the empire has is inseparable from your vision. We are ready to continue exploring, around, until the end of the world."