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Chapter 1479 Another generation is about to take its final bow.
The uses are immense. As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated." This data can be used not only for pre-war estimations but also for post-war reparations.

Unfortunately, today's first target was rather poor, so poor that even the Minister of Rites was embarrassed to ask for money. Compared to the fiscal revenue of the Ming Empire, Tsarist Russia was not even as wealthy as a beggar, and it was hard to bear asking a beggar for money.

"Minister Yang, could you consider ceding territory?"

The officials present, accustomed to hearing sums of millions or tens of millions, found even a few hundred thousand unappealing. So some began to have ulterior motives: "You don't have Xi'er and her mother? Then we'll take your land!"
"Premier Li, absolutely not! The border area between Tsarist Russia and the Ming Dynasty is desolate and uninhabited. In summer, it is swarming with mosquitoes and covered in mud. In winter, the ground is frozen solid. Forget about farming, it can't even support a dirt road. What use is it then!"

The one who was viciously demanding territorial concessions and reparations was Li Tianjing, the Customs Minister. Most of the countries he could contact were in the south, and since the Ming Dynasty had no formal commercial relations with Tsarist Russia, he knew very little about them.

The one who answered Li Tianjing's question was Chen Jiashu, the Minister of Construction. He had never been to Tsarist Russia's territory, but Xiong Sanba, the Left Vice Minister, had been and returned complaining bitterly. If Tsarist Russia were to cede territory and pay reparations, the Ministry of Construction would first have to clear the roads, a task they simply couldn't undertake!
“Indeed, the students also thought that ceding territory was inappropriate!” Deputy Chief of the General Staff Tan Buming shared the same thought as Chen Jiashu. From the military’s perspective, they were also unwilling to continue expanding the northern territory.

The Northern Military Command is now a huge burden. They spend year after year guarding the desolate swamps and forests, never having fought a single battle, yet their casualty rate is the highest in the entire army. Tigers, bears, wolf packs, mosquitoes, floods, and freezing snow can kill at any time.

Furthermore, the supply costs are staggering. Transporting 100 kilograms of supplies during peacetime would require at least 300 kilograms of provisions. If we were to acquire a large tract of land like this, the annual military budget would increase by another 20%.

In fact, the military is not so concerned about spending money; what they fear is that the money will be spent on things that are not of any use and will not be returned, making it even worse than a chicken rib.

"Why not detain the tens of thousands of captured soldiers? They are all able-bodied men who can be sent to Southeast Asia, South Africa, or North America to reclaim wasteland. That would be putting them to good use." It must be said that Yuan Chonghuan, the Governor-General of Southeast Asia, was quick-witted. When he heard that there was no money or land to be had, he simply decided to target the prisoners.

This mindset stems from his experiences governing Luzon and Annam over the years, where the concept of "foreigners" has become extremely diluted. As long as someone is human and can work, they are a valuable resource in his eyes. Differences in religion, culture, language, and customs, or even violent and rebellious personalities, are all acceptable under his repressive policies.

"I have heard that Russians are not worth much in Europe. How can a mere tens of thousands of prisoners of war be compared to the losses suffered by our army!"

When it comes to calculating accounts, one has to look to the Minister of Revenue; every victory in battle brings a huge harvest to Taicang. Sun Yuanhua was pondering how much wealth he could obtain from Tsarist Russia when he immediately objected upon hearing that prisoners of war would be used as payment.

If everyone were this generous, then the Ming Empire would be the ultimate loser in this war. In his eyes, the ministers who had spoken before him were all spendthrift spendthrifts who talked without understanding the consequences, and he had to remind the emperor not to be fooled.

"Yes, Minister Sun's words are exactly what I think. We really can't let them off too easily!" Hong Tao was overjoyed to see a group of sanctimonious imperial officials discussing how to plunder the property of other countries with more eagerness than the bandit leaders in the Hall of Righteousness.

That's how it should be. Officials should be lenient domestically but ruthless internationally. Those who spend all their time plotting against their own people while pretending to be civilized in front of outsiders are nothing short of traitors.

"But the distance is too great, and excessive exploitation could easily backfire. Could we divide the war reparations into several parts, with each part paid out annually? That might be more acceptable to the Tsar."

Seeing that the Emperor had affirmed Sun Yuanhua's firm stance, Grand Secretary Silva had no choice but to stand up and offer his advice. He believed there was no need to push Tsarist Russia too far; a phased payment would be more beneficial to both sides. "Grand Secretary Silva's method is similar to the loans offered by the Sun and Moon Bank! Has Oya's condition improved recently?"

Upon seeing the fat man speak, Hong Tao couldn't help but tease him. This guy was getting greasier with age, his fat was increasing instead of decreasing, and his two thin legs could no longer support his huge body. He needed a wheelchair to get to and from court. At this rate, he probably didn't have many years left to live.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the Sun Moon Bank, Oya, was terminally ill, and both the Taoist temple's physician and the imperial physician said she wouldn't live past summer. Some of the senior officials present were also very old, and the thought that another group of ministers with whom they had worked for more than twenty years would fall ill was still heartbreaking, even though they had been mentally prepared.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. Oya is doing well." Silva's voice was somewhat low when he spoke of his wife's illness, but his expression remained unchanged.

"Your Majesty, my godmother is not well at all. She is sometimes lucid and sometimes confused, and often does not eat or drink all day. She asked me to ask Your Majesty a question..." But a clear voice suddenly rang out. Gulandam, the then deputy prime minister of the Sun and Moon Bank, stood up and ruthlessly exposed his godfather's crime of deceiving the emperor.

"Gulandam, this is a royal meeting, do not speak recklessly!" But before he could finish speaking, Silva stopped him.

"I'd like to hear what Oya Ni has to say, Gulandam. Speak the truth, for I never speak lightly before the Emperor!"

However, Hong Tao didn't intend to stop there. It wasn't that he was giving Aoyani any special treatment, but rather that a dying man's words are often kind. He had too many things to do and might forget about this matter after the meeting. As a veteran minister who had made great contributions to the empire, he felt he should show her more care and concern.

"My godmother wants to return to Florence after she dies and be buried in the family cemetery."

Grandam is no longer the beautiful young alien girl she once was; she's now a mother of two and holds a high position. However, the wildness in her personality hasn't been completely worn away, and she didn't heed Silva's advice, speaking the truth instead.

"..." Upon hearing this, the Hall of Mental Cultivation fell silent. Even Li Ruzhang, who had some asthma, stopped breathing heavily. For a moment, it was as if the air pressure had dropped and a storm was brewing.

"...No need to wait until after his death. I grant your permission. Immediately dispatch the navy to take him to Hormuz Island, where he will be transferred to a Danish merchant ship to Florence."

"Grand Secretary Xi, your health is not good enough for the turbulent seas. I fear you'll perish before reaching the Persian Gulf. Let Julie accompany you on the ship; after all, it's her mother's hometown, and it's only natural for her to go back and visit."

Hong Tao was indeed quite surprised. Over the years, ever since he brought their daughter Julie back from Spain, the two of them had never expressed any intention of coming home to visit.

(End of this chapter)