"Okay, I don't care about the navy. What about the army? Do you want to send support troops?"

"I don't think this is necessary. Luzon Island in the Philippines is an island. The most important thing in the attack and defense of the island is the navy. As long as the navy can win the battle, the outcome of the land war is not particularly important."

"Well, that's fine. Alas, we have barely carried out intelligence work on China. We have no idea where China's technology tree has climbed. I hope they don't have ironclads."

"Yeah, originally I was counting on opium to bring us China's internal response." After regretting for a while, Philip cheered up and said: "This time we sent two ironclad ships to try the Chinese.

Bottom line. If they don't develop an ironclad, then we will sweep across the western Pacific coast. If they develop it, we can take the opportunity to see how far they have developed."

"Yes." Nodding, Rudolf said: "Philip, except for China in the east, the west..."

"Ah, you sensed it too. I was just planning to go find you later."

"In the past half month, I have sensed that the Japanese traveler has been approaching us. I think this guy got tired of his vacation in Hawaii and started to march towards the Americas."

"So, Rudolf, I might have to trouble you to take care of this matter in person."

"...Okay, the European Union has just been established, and you have a lot to do. But because there is no war in Europe, I can spare some time."

"Well, how many people are you planning to bring there?"

"If you expect the enemy to be lenient, I will lead three divisions away. By the way, it will also shock those lawless governors in America."

"Okay, I'll ask Count Barudis to dispatch the corresponding fleet and transport ships to you."

"Okay, then I'll make some preparations and try to set off in early July."

"No problem. In fact, if possible, I think you can leave in mid-July. Because I am planning to convene the European Council in Brussels on July 1st to discuss the partition of Africa. Then you will attend with me."

“Divide Africa?”

"Yes." Philip walked to his desk and found a map of Africa: "When the Justice League was established, I already said that North and South America belong to Spain, and Africa belongs to the countries in the alliance.

Although we have now become the European Union, we have also worked hard to dismember France and bury the HRE. But we have to admit that within the alliance, Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, and Poland still have considerable power. Even within France

, the Grand Duchy of Paris also has certain strength."

"Well, I know that, but what does this have to do with the partition of Africa?"

So you are a pure soldier.

"Rudolf, do you know that our European agriculture has been experiencing bad harvests in recent years?"

"Ah? Is there such a thing?"

"Yes, because now is the Little Ice Age. Look at the time-travelers in China. They have changed from the Chinese people's habit of being reserved and tolerant in doing things. They are eating the food that comes from Southeast Asia. One of the big reasons is that the little ice age is

The glaciers are coming, and agriculture in the middle and high latitudes has been difficult for decades. Therefore, he must go to Southeast Asia to completely ensure food security. The same is true for us in Europe. I don’t know if you have noticed...

..."

"Notice anything?"

"Two aspects. First, no matter how many new factories are opened in Madrid or the entire Iberian Peninsula, they can always fill up workers quickly. Moreover, because there are too many applicants, each other will lower wages on their own, just to get what they can.

A job. If I hadn’t set a minimum wage, I guess many factories would only feed people every day and people would be willing to work in the factories. Secondly, now our treasure fleet is getting bigger and bigger, but every year

The gold and silver shipped back from America has not increased or even decreased slightly. What fills the cabins is actually mainly grain."

"Huh? Is there such a thing? Well, was the Little Ice Age really that harmful to agriculture?"

"It's huge, and we still have a problem in Europe."

"what is the problem?"

"Hahaha, Rudolf, speaking of which, this is caused by us in Spain. A large amount of gold and silver were shipped back from America, and the price revolution occurred."

"Philip." Rudolph simply found a chair and made it himself: "Tell me carefully what the price revolution is all about."

"Okay. There is an old saying in China that things are rare and valuable. Gold and silver were roughly stable for hundreds of years in medieval Europe, and prices could remain stable for hundreds of years. But in the past hundred or so years,

Since the past year, a large amount of precious metals have been shipped back to Europe from the Americas by Spain, but the materials produced in Europe have not increased much. Naturally, the value of precious metals will depreciate. Simply put, money is worthless.

In this process, the farmers whose interests suffered the most were the farmers. Their land rent was a fixed monetary rent. In the past, they charged a hundred silver coins for land rent, and they could buy a large house in the city, which was enough for the whole family to live for several years.

. But now that the land rent of 100 silver coins is collected, it is estimated that there will be nothing left after buying a house. At this time, the farmer has three options to reverse this situation. One is to transform into a factory or buy a seagoing ship to do business. The other is,

Raise rents for tenant farmers. Third, sit in poverty and wait to die.

Among these three paths, the Dutch basically choose the first path. Our Spanish farmers basically choose the second path. Many of the German guys choose the third path. But no matter which one they choose.

Roads and agriculture will become poorer and poorer. Wealth will quickly concentrate on industrial and commercial owners. Therefore, the price revolution coupled with the small glacier climate will be a double blow to our European agriculture. In fact, this process, with the promotion of steam engines

, will further intensify.”

"Well, Philip, what does any of this have to do with the partition of Africa?"

"Dear Rodolfo, because we Castilians are generally conservative, most of the nobles cling to their country estates and are unwilling to seek innovation and change and devote themselves to setting up industry. In addition, we in Spain fought for the Catholic Church in the past few years.

We fought so many wars that we brought back precious metals worth about 4 billion pesetas from the Americas, but only about 200 million remained in the country. The other money became nourishment to promote the industrial development of other European countries and regions.

Therefore, I now have to forcefully demand that large-scale factories be built in the Iberian Peninsula. In addition to putting more pressure on our domestic farmers, forcing them to transform and liberating our farmers, we must also find ways to make the whole country

European capital and technology return.

But this has caused new problems. The participating countries have a lot of difficulties, and now they have such a big blood-sucking blood vessel like ours. If these allies are not given a place to suck blood at the next level, then these allies are likely to be in trouble in a short time.

It will collapse. By then, civil strife will break out in various countries and revolutions will occur frequently. As leaders of the alliance, we will be busy suppressing it day and night. How can we still have the energy to unite all European forces to attack the Ottomans?"

"Hmm...I probably understand. Hey, Philip, it's a good thing you traveled through time with me. It's really troublesome to govern the country. So, how do you plan to divide it?"

"Haha." Philip put his finger on the map: "I'm just making a rough distinction. South Africa belongs to Western Europe, West Africa belongs to the Nordic countries, and East Africa belongs to Central Europe. As for Central Africa, whoever gets it first will own it."

"So, what about North Africa?"

"Hahaha, Rudolf, North Africa belongs to the Ottomans now. When you come back from America, we will gather the elites of the European Union to take it down."

"Philip, I still have questions."

"Um?"

"All countries in the alliance have sent troops to Africa, so who will join the European Alliance Army?"

"Rudolf, this involves politics again. All the allies sent their old-style armies to Africa, and they were still invincible. And after their old-style armies left, it was convenient for me to build a new army. We in Europe, not counting those who are still in the Ottoman Empire,

Southeast Europe and Russia under the rule should have a population of 50 to 60 million. In the past few years, I will first use the industrial revolution in Europe to promote the establishment of household registration, and truly find out how much manpower we can mobilize. And then take advantage of the old-style

A large number of troops left, and at least 500,000 new troops were formed. After three to five years, the new troops were trained, and our allies began to gain some sweetness in various colonies, effectively easing domestic conflicts. At that time, it was us

The decisive battle against the Ottomans begins."

"I understand." Rudolf stood up: "Next month, I will accompany you to the meeting in Brussels and then leave for America. Well, it will take about half a year to go back and forth on the road to find and annihilate the Japanese traveler. It will take about half a year.

Until one year, and then I will patrol the Americas for another year. I will be back in about two to two and a half years, just in time for the war against the Ottomans."

"Hahaha, that's it, Rudolf. After we capture the Ottomans, we will immediately start opening the Suez Canal. It is estimated that by that time, the technology of ironclad ships will be fully mature, and the various allies will be deeply bound to us. Then we will
Chapter completed!