“What if the government pays 70 percent of the cost of the militia?”
"Is it 70% of the total cost?"
"Yes."
After understanding the conditions proposed by Edel, the two admirals immediately changed their tune.
"Your Majesty, I think this idea is very good. It can allow our militia to reach a high level of training, and it can also quickly expand the army during wartime. It is a good way."
Who said Admiral Courtois wouldn't flatter him?
General Pu Lieshan was not far behind. "Your Majesty, this method is highly controllable. I will ask the staff to prepare the training and equipment plan for the militia. Your Majesty will not be disappointed."
Seeing the attitude of the two dignified military bosses, Edel couldn't laugh or cry. However, he still had to draw a line for General Puleishan, otherwise with the shamelessness of the chief of general staff, he would probably be able to form a militia heavy artillery regiment. Then.
Prime Minister Bretianu was so angry that he vomited blood, and it was difficult for him to do work for the Prime Minister.
What makes the two military bosses flatter so hard is money. In the past, the military had to bear 50% of the militia expenses, but the training expenses, ammunition consumption, weapons and equipment, etc. were all paid for by the military, and only the stipends were paid.
It is shared half-and-half with the government. Although the military is Romania's largest financial spender, it still needs to expand its troops, train troops, purchase and reserve ammunition, etc. Military expenses are also tight. So in the face of the conditions proposed by Edel, where can
The reason for not agreeing immediately.
"Chief of the General Staff, the militia plan prepared by your staff cannot exceed the equipment of six divisions, and the militia is not allowed to be equipped with heavy artillery. This will make it difficult for the government to do so."
Upon hearing the request drawn by Edel, General Pule's face stiffened for a moment, but he immediately changed his face. "Your Majesty, please rest assured that I will not give the militia too many advanced technical units, and the training cost will be too high.
The government is under too much pressure.”
After hearing Admiral Puleishan's assurance, Edel planned to let them do it first, and he still needed to 'do some work' for the Prime Minister. "Then you go and make the plan, and I will also discuss the cost with the Prime Minister.
"
When the two admirals heard Edel's words, they immediately withdrew.
After exiting the king's office, General Courtois seemed to hear General Poulie saying to himself: "What a pity, I also want to prepare two militia heavy artillery regiments."
After sending off the two generals, Edel called a guard and asked him to invite Prime Minister Bretianu. It is estimated that this will be another difficult 'negotiation', but fortunately, Edel learned from the Ministry of Finance
Yes, Romania’s current financial situation is pretty good, and it should be able to help the military solve its difficulties.
Not long after, Prime Minister Buenos Aires came to Edel's office.
"I have met His Majesty."
The Prime Minister, who is already in his forties, has been in good spirits recently. The Ministry of Finance handed Romania's financial statements for the first three quarters to him just two days ago. In the first three quarters of 1915, Romania's total fiscal revenue reached
According to the forecast of the Ministry of Finance, the total revenue this year will exceed 1.25 billion lei, and is likely to reach the level of 1.3 billion lei.
It is said that money makes a man bold, and for the Prime Minister, the head of the government, money is also where his confidence lies. But if he knew that the king was trying to undermine his confidence, I wonder if he would still be in such good spirits.
Edel looked at Prime Minister Bretianu in front of him and planned to make a side attack. "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, how is the current economic situation?"
Prime Minister Bretianu, who didn't understand why the king asked this question, said truthfully. "Very good. At present, Romania's economy is developing rapidly under the influence of neighboring wars. I estimate that Romania's economic growth will reach 25% this year."
level."
"This puts me at ease. Romania's current economic situation is so good, and a lot of the credit is due to your Excellency."
Edel first praised the Prime Minister to reassure him, and then continued to guide the surrounding situation. "I wonder what the Prime Minister thinks about the security situation around Romania?"
Prime Minister Bretianu felt strange that the king suddenly asked about the surrounding security situation. Isn't this the job of the military? However, in the face of the king's inquiry, he could only answer the question bravely.
"Your Majesty, now that all the countries around us have joined the war, as the only Balkan country that has not joined the war, the security situation is not very good. But..."
Edel raised his hand to stop the Prime Minister's unsaid words. He only needed the Prime Minister to tell the beginning of the security situation, but he didn't want to hear the rest. As for the neutrality of Greece and Albania, it was a joke. The two major camps in Greece
There has been a war on the territory, so Romania is completely neutral.
"Yes, Your Excellency, Prime Minister. The security situation around Romania is not good now. The four countries surrounding us have all joined the war."
Edel walked to a European map on the side and explained. "Our neighbor Serbia has been occupied by the Allies, and Austria-Hungary and Russia are fighting fiercely to our north. Even our neighbor to the south, Bulgaria, has summoned 400,000 troops to join us.
The battlefield and the surrounding situation are too tense, and our Romanian defense is under great pressure."
Prime Minister Bretianu now thought about it and thought that this was the king asking him to increase military expenditures for the military. "Your Majesty, Romania's various funds are now fully arranged, and there are absolutely no other funds to give to the military."
Who wouldn’t cry about poverty? Prime Minister Bretianu considers himself to be among the top three in Romania, and no one can refute it.
After hearing the Prime Minister cry about poverty, Edel waved his hand and said, "There is no need for the government to increase expenses for the military."
Hearing Edel's words, Prime Minister Bretianu was a little confused. He, the head of the government, was talking about the security situation, and he didn't want the government to increase military spending. What kind of medicine was the king selling?
Looking at the confused Prime Minister, Edel stated his purpose. "The main reason is that the Romanian militia reserve training progress is a little behind, so I want the government to help share the burden."
After hearing Edel's words, Prime Minister Bretianu became vigilant and immediately began to cry about poverty. "Our government's funding has always been arranged. Although the fiscal revenue is a bit higher this year, we need to invest in too many places. The transportation sector
The railways built before 1900 need to be renovated, and the education sector also needs to increase investment in basic education. And higher education is also very important to Romania. They also plan to build a new university and five middle schools this year. The health department also plans to transform our backward areas.
Improving medical conditions and allowing people to receive better treatment all require money. Now all departments are asking for money."
In the words of Prime Minister Bretianu, he seems to be the most miserable person in Romania, and he does not have the reputation of being a prime minister who is inferior to one person and is superior to ten thousand people.
"Okay."
Faced with Prime Minister Bretianu's cry for poverty, Edel interrupted him angrily. He directly told what he knew. "As far as I know, Mr. Prime Minister, the government still has two funds, one of 60 million lei."
There is also an emergency fund of 54 million lei newly received from customs, which has not yet been used.”
Faced with Eder's rude words, Prime Minister Bretianu defended himself. "Your Majesty, the emergency fund of 60 million lei cannot be used easily. The newly arrived customs has collected 54 million lei, and we are ready to work together on the Danube River."
A canal will be opened between Stanca, which will greatly develop transportation and agriculture."
As for the canal mentioned by Prime Minister Bretianu, Edel also knew that it was to irrigate its farmland and open river transportation to Constanta, so as to achieve greater economic development in Romania. Someone proposed this proposal as early as 1901, but
The cost was too high and it was shelved. Now that fiscal revenue has increased significantly, the Prime Minister has taken up this idea again.
But now Edel can't care about this project that is beneficial to Romania's people's livelihood. He is now preparing to expand the territory. However, in order to appease the Prime Minister's mood, he promised. "As long as you share part of the militia costs, the rest can be
Let’s start with the canal.”
Facing Edel's rare calm deliberation, Prime Minister Bretianu knew that he would not be able to defeat the king in the end, so he asked like a bullied daughter-in-law. "How much is needed?"
"Not much, you only need to bear 70% of the total cost of the militia."
PS Steamed Buns are back, two updates have started, minimum two updates starting this month.
