I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 822: They are all leeks
When Felix just retired, he vowed to travel around the world with Yusupova, but in the end they didn't even leave the Mediterranean. They only sunbathed in the Aegean Sea for two months before returning to Russia.

The situation is so chaotic now, and there is an economic crisis abroad. The scenery here in Russia is unique. Even if Felix and Yusupova have private army protection, they are still safer in Russia.

After Guchkov knew that Felix had returned, he invited Felix again, hoping that Felix would return to politics.

Felix was fed up with the endless meetings and documents, and was very determined. He only held a nominal position as the chief of the family foundation, and when he had nothing to do, he and Yusupova did some pretentious charity and lived a free and easy life.

Russian foundations are different from American foundations. They only accept social donations and are not allowed to make any investments except purchasing government bonds.

George and Anne also have foundations under their names, which have always been the main force in purchasing government bonds.

The Yuriev family has such deep roots in Germany. Both generations of mistresses were German. George actually did not buy German government bonds this time. There must be something wrong.

Although Germany's debt ratio is high, it has not yet reached the point where it will default on its debts.

Even if they want to default, they dare not default on the debt owed to Russia.

Now Germany has stopped paying war reparations to Britain, France and the United States, and only Russia's reparations are still being paid normally.

George is not afraid that the little mustache man will not pay back the money. As long as Russia stops supplying energy to Germany, the machines in the German factories will stop running.

"So, what are you worried about?"

Felix was curious. Normally, Russia should increase its support for Germany now.

After the outbreak of the economic crisis, Britain and the United States were unable to take care of themselves. Not only did they stop their economic aid to Germany, but they also withdrew funds from the German market. At this time, Russia should have taken over the market left behind by the withdrawal of British and American funds.

"The United States has fallen victim to Germany's economic recovery, and Russia is next."

George was also a worldly man. He was afraid that his German relatives would suffer, but he also didn't want to see them driving a Land Rover.

As the German economy recovers, Germany's dependence on American and Russian goods is becoming less and less.

Old Karl is also ruthless. Under normal circumstances, we should gradually reduce imports of American and Russian goods without bias.

Old Carl directly stopped orders from the United States and gave all orders to Russia, which completely detonated the U.S. stock market.

This was clearly Karl's revenge against the United States, and the Germans' unyielding character was fully exposed.

Since the Germans refuse to admit defeat, as Germany's economy grows, Germany's dependence on Russian goods will become less and less. Even when Germany's productivity increases to a level that exceeds the demand of the German market, German goods will take the initiative to go out of Germany and compete with Russian goods in the free trade alliance.

This is what George is worried about.

"What are you going to do? Kick Germany out of the grand free trade alliance?"

Felix had a serious expression. There couldn't be two tigers in one mountain, and there could only be one person in charge of the Free Trade Alliance.

"Russia is never afraid of any form of competition!"

George made a firm statement: If the little mustache guy wants to challenge Russia's dominance, then come on.

Like George, Guchkov is not afraid of competition.

Russia's advantages are too great. Its advantage in resources alone far exceeds that of Germany. No matter how advanced the cars made by Benz are, they still have to buy gasoline from Russia.

What's more, Russian cars are now the representatives of advanced technology. German cars are not only inferior to Russian cars, but also to American cars and even French cars.

The Germans are still very resilient.

In Germany, although the reputation of Russian cars is well known, there are still many Germans who would rather buy German cars with backward technology and insufficient comfort at high prices than buy foreign cars.

The vast majority of people who drive foreign cars in Germany are Hebrews.

Even Germans working in Russia buy German cars.

These talents are the backbone of Germany.

Those who are not firm in their stance have already acquired Russian citizenship.

So in Germany, it is very easy to tell whether a person is a Hebrew or not, just by looking at the car he drives.

Although this reason is not scientific, it is completely irrational in an environment where the Hebrews have already caused public outrage.

Guchkov followed Felix's lead and continued Felix's policies to the greatest extent possible, continuing to strengthen Russia's advantages.

The two major sources of taxation in Russia during Felix's era were tobacco tax and alcohol tax, which were also the few legacies of the imperial era. Most other industries were controlled by capital, and the Russian government could only supervise dividends and did not interfere with the operations of enterprises.

Guchkov once again raised import and export taxes on the luxury goods industry, taking money directly out of George's pocket.

In Russia during the imperial era, there was no concept of luxury goods. The best goods were only for the powerful and capital, and ordinary Russians had no access to these things.

With the demise of the four great empires, many families that specialized in serving the aristocracy went bankrupt, which gave ordinary people the opportunity to get involved in this industry.

Are handmade Fabergé eggs really worth tens of thousands of rubles?
If no one really wants to buy it, a thousand rubles is not a bad price. What I’m selling is a craft.

The Yuriev family itself made its fortune by relying on the luxury goods industry. After the demise of the four empires, many skilled craftsmen were employed by the Yuriev family and continued to produce luxury goods for sale under the name of "exclusively for the royal family."

The real "royal family exclusive" is still not accessible to ordinary people.

The clothes George wears now are made of ordinary fabrics, but the complexity of the workmanship is far beyond the requirements of luxury goods. The person who knows George's figure best is not Anne, nor George's family doctor, but the tailor of Yuriev Palace.

"The import and export tax on luxury goods is already almost 100%. What else do you want?"

George resisted resolutely. Even in the Russian Empire era, there was no such a trick.

Well, in the Imperial Russia era, George did business with Nicholas. George paid whatever tax he wanted, and the tax officials never checked the accounts of Yuriev's family. George became a model taxpayer in the Imperial Russia era based on his noble personal cultivation.

"Nowadays, the annual expenditure on education, medical care, infrastructure and other aspects is increasing. The government needs to collect more taxes to ensure that the finances do not collapse."

Guchkov is unruly, who can be blamed for this!

George was the initiator of establishing the welfare system in Russia. If Witte had not been forced by George's tyranny, he would not have had the courage to take drastic measures.

George is definitely right. Compulsory education has reduced the educational burden on Russians. Improved medical standards have made Russians' health more secure. Improved infrastructure can effectively increase Russians' sense of happiness.

But these improvements are based on increasing fiscal spending.

If the Russian government did not care about the lives of ordinary people like Britain and the United States, it would not only not have to issue national debt, but it would also be able to build a hundred battleships a year.

Considering the current price, 100 battleships only cost 20 billion rubles.

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Russia spends more than 20 billion on education every year.

"You can issue bonds. As long as the debt is at an acceptable level, you can ensure the healthy operation of the finances."

George: Of course, there is no country in the world that is not in debt.

"But debt itself is unhealthy—"

Guchkov made a shocking statement. If so, the only healthy era in human history was the reign of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing.

If Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing had implemented compulsory education in the Han Dynasty, they would definitely have been in debt.

"Adequate debt is good for finances, as long as you don't screw up."

George encouraged Guchkov to work hard.

It is not a skill to develop the economy by borrowing money like Little Mustache did.

If you can lead Russia forward without borrowing money, that is real ability.

"Show it off?"

Guchkov was completely confused and did not understand the essence of tanking at all.

"Hoover and Baldwin are tanking."

George reminded Guchkov that there are plenty of people in Russia, and even if you don't want to do it, there are plenty of people who want to do it.

Guchkov was very angry and immediately raised the export price of oil and natural gas by 10%, citing the economic crisis as the reason.

What, the economic crisis has no negative impact on Russia?

If you say there is no impact, then there is no impact. Is it okay that Russia is scared?

Russia's price increase immediately aroused strong opposition from relevant countries.

Regardless of whether the economic crisis has a negative impact on Russia, it does have an impact on European countries that are heavily dependent on Russian energy.

How is this possible? European countries wish Russia could provide Europe with oil and natural gas for free.

Compared with Germany, which has completely turned to Russia, France's attitude is more resolute. President Gaston Doumergue said that if Russia raises prices, France will reduce imports from Russia.

Although the prices of Russian oil and natural gas are lower than those of the United States, France has not put all its eggs in one basket and has maintained imports from the United States to balance Russia.

Guchkov was not afraid; if he could get the same profit with less exports, that would be good.

What Gaston Doumergue did not expect was that John Jr. and Guchkov had such a tacit understanding that after Russia decided to raise the prices of oil and natural gas, American oil companies also raised their prices to match Russia.

History has fully proved that it is irrational to engage in a price war with Russia.

Therefore, it is in the best interests of the United States and Russia for them to maintain a tacit understanding and at the same time suck blood from Europe.

Joseph was very angry. Didn’t we agree to compete with Russia? Why did you, a pure American with thick eyebrows and big eyes, want to rebel?

John Jr. didn't explain. Rockefeller made money and the Dolgorukov family could get more dividends. As long as it was good for everyone, capital had no borders.

Since Rockefeller could believe that capital has no borders, so could Dolgorukov.

So Joseph planned to move some of his car factories from the United States to Mexico because Mexican workers were cheap.

During the years when Ford was rapidly rising, old Henry created a "middle class" in the United States in order to increase the enthusiasm of Ford workers.

As a result, the economy exploded and Ford was forced to cut wages and lay off employees, and countless middle-class people were instantly plunged into poverty.

(End of this chapter)