Wild North America 1846

Chapter 376 Acquisition of Manhattan and New York Harbor

Nov. 1862, 3

Under the auspices of an international mediation group composed of European diplomatic envoys from Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Prussia, Austria, Holland, Spain, and Norway, the victor Datang Empire in the North American War, the Confederate States of America (South) and the defeated United States of America (North) officially signed the "North American Peace Treaty", "North American Agricultural Unified Market Agreement", "North American Customs Union Agreement", "United States of America Garrison Act", "United States of America Post-war Financial Arrangements Act", "New York, Portland, Campton Lease Bill and more than a dozen international treaties, and will supervise the formal introduction and implementation of the American Peace Constitution.

The unequal treaties imposed above have completely reduced the United States of America to a semi-colonial and semi-capitalist country, a happy place for European and American powers to indulge in sensuality, and a country that has lost many independent sovereignty.

The "Peace Constitution of the United States" completely castrates the country's armed forces. The United States of America guarantees that it will not have armed forces of the military nature, and only retain the national masturbation team of a defensive nature, which will be used to maintain domestic security, coastal anti-smuggling, fish protection and other tasks.

The country's security is jointly maintained by Tang and Britain. The Tang Empire has 117 military bases in the United States of America, and leased New York (Eastern District), Portland and Compton, with a total of 43 troops stationed.

The United Kingdom has 6 military bases, stationed with more than 4700 officers and soldiers.

After the "North American Peace Treaty" was officially signed, the Confederate States of America couldn't wait to withdraw their troops. The main male labor force in their country was in the army. To resume the production of cotton plantations, a large-scale retirement of officers and soldiers was required.

The cotton planting season starts in April every year. After April, the weather will gradually warm up, which is conducive to the growth of cotton seedlings. Therefore, there is not much time left for these white cotton planters. The army will be disbanded immediately when they return to Richmond. .

If the farming season is missed, this year we really have to drink the northwest wind.

As of the end of June, the South only retained an army of no more than 6 people, which means that more than 6 people will be retired.

The Tang Empire had a total of more than 43 garrisons, mainly the Northern Corps and the Colorado Corps. The Chang'an Cavalry Corps and the Southern Corps retreated to the mainland of the empire after completing their corresponding tasks.

Beginning in July, the Tang Empire's army will also carry out large-scale decommissioning and reinstatement work, which will last two years this year and next, and reduce the total number of troops from the current 7 to no more than 80.

The number of troops stationed in the United States will also be reduced. It is impossible to maintain a huge size of 43 people. After two years, the permanent size will be reduced to between 19 and 20 people.

If you describe in detail the unequal treaties signed by the defeated country, the United States of America (North), you will find that the intentions are extremely deep, and almost all the methods that Richard can think of are used. It is really well-intentioned!
Among other things, anyone who understands the "American Peace Constitution" knows it. Throughout the ages, it has only been the only one in the Great Fusang Country, and it has indeed firmly restrained the little devil.

Applying it to the United States of America now has the same effect.

Let's look at the "North American Agricultural Unified Market Agreement", which is a special agreement aimed at canceling agricultural tariffs within North America, granting zero-tariff preferential treatment to each other's agricultural products, and intending to create a unified North American agricultural market.

So let's see, who is the strongest in agriculture?
That is naturally the Tang Empire!
in the early 19s

The agricultural development potential of the Tang Empire has just been stimulated to less than 10%, and more than 120 million square kilometers of fertile black land in the Great Plains of Central North America has been newly harvested. Being in an absolutely dominant position, it can sell to North and South America at a relatively low price, and jointly create a large North American market with a total population of 5000 million.

under these circumstances
The United States of America (North) cannot develop a decent agriculture and animal husbandry industry at all, and the same is true for the Confederate States of America (South), but the advantage of the South lies in the cotton industry, which can form a complementary situation with the Datang Empire, which is beneficial to both sides. Bigger and stronger.

The Confederate States of America (South) has almost no industry, and is a de facto large rural area. The largest city, Richmond, has a population of only 278 million.

Before the Civil War broke out, there were only about 9 workers, most of whom were in the relatively primitive stage of handicraft workshops, mainly repairing agricultural machinery and carriages, and all industrial products needed to be imported.

After being exported to the Tang Empire, raw cotton from the south was processed, dyed and woven into cotton cloth, which was more cost-effective than British cotton cloth, and it was profitable to export to the nearby South American market.

The "North American Agricultural Unified Market Agreement" will create a unified North American agricultural market for the Datang Empire. This is the private land belonging to the Datang Empire, which can well keep agricultural products from Europe and South America out.

Among other things, the cost of customs duties and long-distance trafficking alone makes the bulk agricultural products in Europe and South America have no competitive advantage.

The British also saw the huge advantages of the "North American Agricultural Unified Market Agreement", and some were greedy but hesitant.

why?

The contracting parties headed by the Datang Empire have made it clear that they welcome British Canada to join as an independent customs territory. The contracting parties are mutually exempt from tariffs on agricultural products and promote the development of trade in North America.

What confuses the British is that Canada is located in an alpine region, and there are many shortcomings in agricultural and animal husbandry products.

Once it is truly released, the massive agricultural and animal husbandry products hitting the Canadian market will inevitably destroy local farms and ranches, which would be terrible.

Due to climatic factors, Canada mainly produces wheat, barley, oats and soybeans, one crop per year, the output is not high, and the unit price is not competitive.

Compared with the fertile black land of the Great Plains in central North America, the yield per acre is only one-third of that, which is completely irresistible.

After careful consideration, the Briton had to give up his plan to join the "North American Agricultural Unified Market Agreement". He still needs to use tariffs to protect the Canadian potato, onion, beef, red wine, dairy products, dried fruit, vegetable and fruit markets, so as not to be completely overwhelmed .

Emperor Li Cha of the Tang Empire made a high-profile announcement;
British Canada is welcome to join the "North American Agricultural Unified Market Decision" at any time, and will be given unique treatment, that is, there is no need to commit to a package of preferential tariff plans, but to mature one and join one without a deadline.

That is
British Canada feels that it is competitive enough in fields such as barley, wheat, and oats, and is willing to join the North American agricultural unified market for mutual exemption from tariffs, so it can join in a single-item review, and so on.

It can only be said that such a unique preferential treatment is very sincere.

But after careful consideration, the scheming British guy still rejected the kindness of the Tang Empire, thinking that it would be better to play with himself.

The "North American Customs Union Agreement" is even more powerful. It not only involves agriculture, but also covers all aspects of industry, finance, technology, trade, services and education. Its template is the later "European Community Iron and Steel Union", but The content is more extensive and is a very exclusive customs union treaty.

Its core content is to set a preferential tax rate of no more than 5% of the total tax amount for the above-mentioned fields among the contracting states.Compared with the strict tariff barriers in today's era, the industrial product tax rate of 100% to [-]% or even more than [-]% is almost no different from mutual exemption from tariffs.

The Tang Empire, which has entered into an industrialized country, can flood its industrial products into the South, North, and South of the United States without any hindrance, since there is no decent industry anyway.

Under the impact of the industrial wave of the Tang Empire in the north, the existing industrial strength disappeared quickly like ice and snow melting.

Logically

The Datang Empire has obvious advantages in the industrial field, but it does not have an overwhelming advantage in the financial service field. Moreover, the United States of America is not weak in the financial and trade field, and is still quite competitive. Is the Datang Empire a bit overwhelmed?

actually not
The mystery lies in the "United States of America Post-War Financial Arrangement Act", which is an international bill entrusted by international creditors that completely kidnaps the economic and financial autonomy of the United States of America (Northern), giving the Datang Empire a full opportunity to act.

During the 6-year North American War, the United States of America (Northern) borrowed huge loans worth 13.75 billion Tang Yuan from international lenders, and had to bear 5 million Tang Yuan in war compensation after the war, totaling 18.75 billion Tang Yuan.

This does not include the war bonds issued to domestic investors, which totaled more than 11.5 billion Tang yuan, but this part must have lost blood.Because the depreciation of domestic bonds denominated in US dollars is worse than waste paper, as high as 170 million US dollars can be exchanged for 1 Tang yuan.

The international syndicate will pay domestic investors with high-inflation US dollars in the near future. Basically, they invested more than 10 yuan in domestic US dollar bonds, which can be exchanged for a piece of bread money, which can be spent with dozens of tons of grain.

The rest is the main event. Regarding the repayment plan for the huge loan worth 13.75 billion Tang Yuan (including loan discounts in pounds, francs, and marks), the international syndicate will further discuss debt arrangements with the government of the United States of America (Northern).

It is estimated that this is a time-consuming and laborious debt competition. The difficulty lies in the repayment period and uniform bank interest.

Judging from the current and greatly weakened capabilities of the United States of America (North), it is certainly not possible to pay such a high interest rate during the war, which can easily be more than ten percent.

But how reasonable is the interest rate?International loan sharks definitely want to maintain a relatively high level of interest, and the government of the United States of America (North) can only talk softly, pitifully, and complain about difficulties.

The other is about war reparations worth 5 million Tang Yuan, which is guaranteed by the tax revenue of the United States of America (Northern) customs. There is no problem with this. The customs has already been managed by the Datang Empire, the United Kingdom, and France.

According to the original distribution share;
The Confederate States of America (South) enjoys 75% of the war reparations share, that is, 3.75 million Tang Yuan. This part has been transferred to the allies of the Datang Empire in essence, and is used to offset part of the huge debt owed before.

In other words, the Tang Empire is the actual beneficiary of the 5 million Tang Yuan war indemnity, with an annual interest of 5.5%, which will be repaid in 25 years. Repay 9.211 million Tang yuan or equivalent value of goods.

On the basis of the full military occupation of the United States of America (North), the Tang Empire has sufficient means to squeeze out this part of the war compensation and use it to repay its own losses first.

It's not...

In order to alleviate the debt repayment pressure of the United States of America (Northern) government, the Imperial Household Office of the Datang Empire announced;

He intends to invest 5600 million Tang Yuan to purchase the entire land property of Manhattan Island in New York at one time. If the investment plan is included in New York Harbor, the one-time acquisition amount can be increased to 8200 million Tang Yuan.

This is also the largest investment project of the Imperial Household Office of the Tang Empire so far, with a total amount close to hundreds of millions, which is extremely astonishing.

Today's Manhattan Island in New York, although not full of high-rise buildings as in later generations, is generally 6-7 storey European-style buildings facing the street, and it is the most prosperous urban area in New York, with a population of more than 36 residents.

Due to the dragged down by the defeat of the war, more than 6% of the house owners on Manhattan Island went bankrupt, and more than 9% of the financial institutions and banks on Wall Street in Lower Manhattan closed down, which was the hardest hit area in need of food relief.

Due to the large-scale collapse of financial institutions and trading companies, as well as the astonishing inflation of the U.S. dollar, high-salary people who originally lived in Manhattan have been without work and income for several years, and it has become a luxury to maintain their families.

The food crisis has reached an extremely serious level. Hundreds of people die of starvation in New York every day, and more people die of chaos and shootings. The whole city seems to be sitting on a dynamite bag, ready to be blown to pieces by urban riots at any time.

In the face of survival and enjoyment, the choice is simple.

It's not an exaggeration to say that a few sacks of wheat flour can trade you for a luxury four-bathroom apartment in upper Manhattan.

At this time, the Imperial Household Office proposed a plan to acquire Manhattan. Although the price was quite impressive, it was actually suspected of taking advantage of the fire.

How much can the government of the United States of America get from the plan to buy Manhattan and New York Harbor for a total of 8200 million Tang Yuan?

First of all, it is necessary to repay the war indemnity worth 3684.4 million Tang yuan a year to the Tang Empire, and the remaining funds will be injected into the government account guaranteed by the international syndicate to purchase a large amount of grain, dairy products and various agricultural and animal husbandry products needed to alleviate the famine. To achieve a quantity that can be maintained until the middle and late July, at least 7 million to 1 million Tang yuan must be spent.

Adding the two items together, 5 million Tang Yuan has already been removed.

International loan sharks are still staring at the rest of the money, and the funds that can allow the government to resume production and urban operations are extremely limited.

But in any case, this is a life-saving medicine when the fire is imminent!

After more than 10 days of difficult decisions, the government of the United States of America (Northern) finally signed this large land sale contract, selling Manhattan, New York Harbor and all their affiliated land properties to the Imperial Household Department of the Tang Dynasty in one lump sum , in exchange for 8350 million Tang Yuan funds (note; added after negotiation) to alleviate urgent needs.

The Imperial Household Office of the Tang Empire actually paid 3350 million Tang yuan in funds, and the rest was offset by the principal and interest of one-year war compensation and agricultural and animal husbandry products worth 1400 million Tang yuan. This part of the output was allocated from the output of Huangzhuang and directly realized.

No one knows

The Imperial Household Office of the Tang Empire is the largest producer of agricultural and animal husbandry products in the world. All Chinese immigrants who immigrated to North America through loans have to work in the Huangzhuang for 4 to 5 years to compensate for the immigration costs.

The territory of California directly under the royal family of the Tang Empire is the most fully developed area in an all-round way. The directly subordinate Huangzhuang and pastures are all over the Northern Province, Oregon, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The area is hundreds of thousands of hectares, and agricultural tractors are widely used. Mechanized operations produce an astonishing amount of agricultural and animal husbandry products every year.

The price of agricultural and animal husbandry products exported to the United States of America (North) has doubled, and the profits are astonishing. Of course, this piece of fat meat is exclusive to the Imperial Household Office.

Not only that
Huangzhuang Ranch also occupies a large share of agricultural and animal husbandry products exported to the Confederate States of America (South). After all, large farms and ranches have obvious advantages, a high degree of industrialization, and the high output per unit of chemical fertilizer products. They are in the leading position in the competition. strong position.

Nov. 1862, 4

When Emperor Richard of the Tang Empire visited Boston, a sad news came from Washington. The current President of the United States of America, Andrew Johnson, committed suicide by swallowing a gun at home. Before he died, he left a 37-page suicide note, in which Suffering from the defeat and humiliation bullied by the Tang Empire, there is also an infinite desire for the people of the United States of America to be self-reliant and get rid of the semi-colonial state in the future.

However, what President Andrew Johnson did not expect was;
His residence was closely monitored by the Special Operations Department. After he committed suicide, his wife at home screamed in horror. The special agents who rushed to him immediately helped him put away the document. A suicide note of 37 pages.

Therefore, this suicide note, which brings together President Andrew Johnson's infinite unwillingness and all his literary talents, is now quietly lying in the confidential safe of the Royal Secretariat, and no more than three people have read its contents.

One of them is Zheng Yuan, the director of the secretariat, the other is Hu Baili, the director of operations, and the third is the senior secret service leader who first discovered it and immediately put the suicide note away to avoid expanding its influence.

"You did a good job. Although this Mr. Andrew Johnson committed suicide by drinking a gun, he finally fulfilled his presidential duties. He didn't hand over a series of bad things to the next president. He is very responsible."

Li Cha just came out of the bedroom in pajamas, behind him there was a heavy curtain between the bed and boudoir, and a glimpse of the white and graceful figure inside, it was obvious that he had just escaped from the great cause of conquest.

He waved his hand, indicating that Director Zheng Yuan, who was cautiously bowing his head, didn't need to say anything, and continued to order;
"I don't read the stuff, I keep it in the royal family's secret file, um... let's classify it as the top secret.

It's no good to reveal this kind of thing. The staff of the Special Operations Department will be promoted by themselves, and they will give Hu Baili a verbal commendation, and the secretariat will convey it on their behalf.

By the way, the successor is President Nick Jones-Marmont, right? "

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"How is this person's temperament?"

"Your Majesty, I have just checked the biographical files of this person in the Secretariat, and it shows that this person is an Irish-American and has come to North America for the fourth generation. He has some scheming and means, but his political power is relatively weak. , the political arena has little influence.”

"Irish-Americans are good. Basically, they can't piss in the same pot as the British. Even if there are some, they just use each other's interests. Let's talk about it when we find an opportunity to win."

"The minister obeys the order."

"That's how it is, don't disturb Lian's rest if there is nothing important, go."

"This humble official deserves death, so I will resign."

(End of this chapter)