"We are actually mortal enemies of Japan. Just last year, we fought bloody battles with the Japanese navy and army. This year, this war continues, but it only turns to the economy. If we lose this first battle, we will lose this position and we will find it difficult to retake it back in the future. More importantly, once the Japanese gain the upper hand, any of our products may be subject to the same price reduction attack in the future, which will form a pattern."

"In order to successfully sell products in the future, I think we must carry out this price war to the end, take the opportunity to get the market share in Japan, and of course we must also exclude European and American products."

Liang Caishen naturally refused. He was a businessman. He had seen many guys who were full of words and talked about the scattered things like Zhao Gang. If he listened to one person, he would still be called the God of Wealth, and he would be called the pauper. Zhao Gang seemed to make sense, but those things could not be proved. There were wins and losses in business, and it would be ridiculous to have it related to the rise and fall of the country.

Liang Caishen voted against it, and according to the regulations, the topic ended here. If you want to deny the minister's idea, you have to wait until the end of the year to the ministerial level joint meeting. Before that, even Zhao Gang could not influence Minister Liang's decision.

Zhao Gang was anxious and came up with another trick:

"So, I will set up a textile industry subsidy fund myself. Will that work?"

Liang Caishen smiled and nodded: "No problem, but I think President Zhao knows that funds also have to pay taxes."

Zhao Gang looked at the fat pig with a smell of money on his body, and there was anger in his eyes. Perhaps, roasted suckling pig is a good choice!

"President Zhao, are you okay?"

The moving suckling pig flashed in front of Zhao Gang with a smile.

In late February 1895, the Northeast Republic resolutely reduced the product price to 40% of the original price. Japan announced its surrender after a month of price reduction, and the product was forced to be adjusted to 60% of the price. The Northeast products immediately became in short supply and had to be produced in three shifts. Even so, they could only meet 30% of all demand. The latest production task was scheduled to be in mid-1996. Zhang Qian planned to import another batch of equipment. After Zhao Gang found out, he was responsible for designing and manufacturing new textile equipment, and must complete the production task of 2 million spindles by the end of the year. In order to achieve this goal, other goals can be postponed.

Since then, Zhang Qian's Dasheng Group has successively acquired several major yarn mills such as Jardine Mart, Yufeng Mart, Hongyuan Mart, and Husband Mao Mart. It has already owned 860,000 spindles, covering most of China, Japan, Europe, America, and India products have been greatly impacted, especially Indian products, which are basically squeezed out due to their high prices. This situation has caused strong dissatisfaction from the Empire of Sun and Never Setting. The powerful Britain began to underground its noble head and began to seriously focus on this small republic in the Far East for the first time.

Gladstone, the actual controller of the British Empire, was talking to his deputy Rosbury about the Far East. Although he was 85 years old, there was no trace of time left on the old man's face. His silver hair elegantly set off the count's noble temperament.

Although he was already the deputy prime minister of the British Empire, in Rosbury's heart, this old man was a god. He served as the prime minister for four times. He was in charge of the British Empire for 15 years and led the British Empire to gain countless territories. These are just formalities, and what really convinced Rosbury was the wisdom of the old man.

"At present, the Northeast Republic has shown certain hostility towards our country, and has certain advantages in our products, and has begun to exclude the import of our light industrial products. According to statistics, the Qing Dynasty goods imported into my country in February decreased by 5% compared with January, while in early March, and 35% lowered, most of the shares were replaced by similar products in the Northeast Republic."

"Also, the Northeast Republic was still on the sea near Lushun before, and the Japanese fleet escorted by our Far East Fleet was terrified. The commander of our Far East Fleet did not resist bravely. I was going to transfer it from the Asian fleet and serve as commander in the African fleet."

After hearing Rosbury's words, Gladstone quietly closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. Rosbury knew the old man's habits and waited silently.

Nearly a quarter of an hour later, the old man opened his eyes and said softly to Rosbury:

"Rosbury, my child, I want to know what you think of the commander of the Far East Fleet?"

Rosbury thought about it, sorted out his thoughts and answered carefully:

"I think that although the Far East Fleet was at a disadvantage at that time, as long as he dared to fire, the warships of the Northeast Republic would inevitably retreat. They lacked the determination to fight to the end and the courage to sacrifice. However, he did not do so, and while preserving the Far East Fleet, it seriously damaged our country's reputation. I think that the navy established by the state spent huge taxes on taxpayers was to promote the majesty of the country, and could not shame the country to avoid bleeding! In order to cleanse this shame, I have ordered that two majestic, four monarch-class battleships and eight Warrior-class first-class protective cruisers be sent to the Far East, giving the Northeast a memorable lesson!"

"Rosbury, you make sense. I fully agree with your handling of this matter. But why do you think the Northeast Republic, which is in an advantageous situation, dare not fire? As far as I know, when Russia attacked Hailanpao, the Northeast Republic quickly sent 20,000 soldiers to defeat the Russians within two days. Could it be that the same thing would not happen to us?"

Rosbury opened his eyes wide in surprise when he heard the Prime Minister's words:

"Do you think that the Far Eastern Republic dares to challenge our authority? In these three hundred years, every challenge to the authority of the empire was dozens of times greater than that of the Northeast, but it was still defeated. Does a small country like him have such courage?"

"My child, regarding the situation in the Far East, you want to keep it a delicate balance. Whether it is the emerging Japan or the Northeast Republic, they are just chess pieces in a small corner. And their master is us. For the naughty little guys who try to challenge our authority, we should give them a profound lesson. Lushun Fortress is known as the number one fortress in the Far East. If they cannot shock the Northeast Republic with absolute superiority and let them know that there is no possibility of victory, then the battle will continue, which is something we try our best to avoid. The Qing Dynasty is now like a huge cake, and our main energy should be spent on trade with the Qing Dynasty and determining our exclusive area. When they realize that they are still children, they will release enough kindness to us."

Rosbury heard this and asked:

"Then I will transfer four more unyielding ships from the Indian Ocean Fleet, and twelve second-class cruisers will go there. In this way, all fleets will arrive in Hong Kong in the middle of next month, and Yokosuka in the late month, and launch a military blockade against the Northeast Republic."

The Prime Minister nodded slightly after hearing this.

"My country has been a world empire for more than 300 years. Looking around, no country has half of its strength. Although those European powers, Germany, France, Russia and Austria, are extremely powerful in foreign countries, but they are just kittens and dogs in front of our country, let alone others."

"As long as our country is transcendent and does not interfere in mainland affairs, and carefully maintains the balance of the bridge land affairs, the empire will continue smoothly. As for what will happen in the future, that is not our business. But if the empire wants to oppress and seek greater advantages that the European and American powers lack, or overturn their own moral code*, the empire will soon be exposed to open and hidden guns and arrows from various countries and will sink extremely quickly. So your task is to pour a basin of cold water in time when the people are in fanaticism. The most important thing is to never let Britain be involved in mainland affairs."

The old man said so many things in one breath, his face turned a little flushed. When Rosbury saw him, he wanted to give the old man some rest. But the old man refused, opened his eyes wide and said to Rosbury:

"Even if one day the British Empire is no longer an empire, then don't cry, you have to remember."

"There is no absolutely bad thing in the world, only people with absolutely bad mentality. At that time, we will retain our own noble traditions and be a second-rate powerhouse that is steady and obeys oneself."

The old man seemed really tired, slowly closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. Rosbury also fell into deep thought because of the old man's shocking words.

For a quarter of an hour, two quarters of an hour, the old man still did not move. Rosbury felt strange. The old man's contemplation was usually for a quarter of an hour, and never more than two quarters of an hour. Today... Rosbury had a little ominous warning in his heart and shouted: "Prime Minister!"

The Prime Minister remained motionless, as if he was still thinking about state affairs. His wise eyes seemed to open at any time, radiating the wisdom inside. Rosbury stretched out his hand, trembling his hands violently, and he reluctantly approached the old man's nose...

On March 14, 1895, British Prime Minister Gladstone died during his term. Deputy Prime Minister Rosbury was appointed British Prime Minister and took charge of the direction of the British Empire for the remaining year of his term.
Chapter completed!