Britain's most advanced battlecruiser "Hood" now costs 6.02 million pounds, the highest in the world.

During the World War, Britain spent about 12.5 billion pounds on the military, and if it was used to build ships, it could build 2,000 "Hoods".

This does not take into account inflation, you must know that before the world war, the cost of the battleship "Queen Elizabeth" was only 2.4 million, so if you calculate it, 12.5 billion can build about 5,200 ships.

After the World War, in order to suppress Japan's ambitions, the United States brazenly announced that for every warship Japan built, the United States would build four.

"That's the way it is, we're in a very difficult situation now, we've won the world war, but we've lost the dominant position we've always had, the Japanese are ambitious, the Americans are eyeing each other, and if we're going to guarantee the maritime interests of the British Empire, then we're going to have to work together—" Balfour was exhausted, the British version of the tinkerer.

"Locke, what do you want to say?" Balfour knew that Roque's position in Southern Africa, or not just in Southern Africa, but in the Commonwealth as a whole, had grown in importance as Southern Africa grew.

"Your Excellency, I unconditionally cooperate with any decision of the Empire." Roque stated that this is to say that if the Empire's decision is not good for Southern Africa, Roque will naturally have countless excuses to shirk responsibility.

"Gladstone, what about you?" Balfour is not happy or sad, Roque's attitude, Belfour has long been expected.

"I don't have much to say, Australia and New Zealand also suffered heavy losses in the world war, we need more time to recuperate, if I can, I hope London can give Australia and New Zealand some help, the Australian government has no money, no people, no strength, not even the ability to build a capital-" Viscount Gladstone shook his head and smiled bitterly, every family has a scripture that is difficult to read, and now Australia is not a country sitting on a minecart, nor a country riding on the back of a sheep, nor a country holding an ear of wheat, With a population of a few million, there is really only a limit to what can be done.

Balfort's face was expressionless, and the situation in Australia and New Zealand, Belfort was also very clear, and there was not much hope in the first place.

"We are now facing a threat from the United States, the United States needs a foreign war, to divert the economic crisis at home, and now it seems that the Americans are targeting us Canada, so we need the help of the Empire, the fleet, the troops, the planes - anything goes, as long as it can curb the ambitions of the United States-" Bowden did not wait for Balfour to be named, and the feud between the United States and Canada is also a long-standing one, and the White House was burned down by Canadian troops in the first place.

If this were to be replaced by southern Africa, it would definitely not be endless.

"India – The situation in India is complicated, we are still facing the threat of hunger and disease, countless people are dying every day, the soldiers who retired after the world war, the pension has not yet been paid, and we urgently need the help of the empire, otherwise the order in India may collapse." Sustri said that India was Britain's most important overseas colony, and if India's ruling order collapsed, Britain would lose its most important human resources.

"Gentlemen, we are not here to complain, we are here to fight for the interests of the British Empire, and at this time we must put the interests of the British Empire first, and everything else can be put on hold for the time being." Balfour was extremely disappointed, there were so many little brothers, there was no one who was reliable, and the only one who was capable was unwilling to take responsibility, for a moment, Balfour really wanted to pick on him.

Love who is it, Lao Tzu is gone!

It's a pity that you can only think about it.

"Locke, Southern Africa has just established a navy, what are your plans?" Balfour could only start with Roque, Canada, Australia, and India were all too busy to take care of themselves, and southern Africa was the only hope for the British Empire.

"It is true that we have just established a navy, but there are still many problems, lack of technology, lack of talent, lack of experience, no inheritance, and there is not even a professional military port in southern Africa now-" Roque also complained, Southern Africa lacks everything, but there is no shortage of money.

"Diego Garcia-" Secretary of the Navy John Jerico suddenly interjected, this guy is quite vindictive.

Because of Diego Garcia, there was some unpleasantness between Southern Africa and London.

Now that the problem has been solved, Southern Africa promised that the Royal Navy could use Diego Garcia in wartime.

Note that it is "wartime", and the Royal Navy cannot enter Diego Garcia without being in the middle of the war.

Roque didn't raise the bar, he spread his hands helplessly and looked innocent, look, it's really not that Southern Africa is not cooperating, but that the enemy is in the Admiralty-

Well, you can't say it's an enemy, it's not that far.

"Minister Jericho, I just said that we have to put aside those controversies for the time being, and we will work together." Balfour emphasizes discipline and lawlessness one by one.

John Jerico didn't speak, his head bowed and he played with the pen in his hand—

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Roque and Viscount Gladstone looked at each other, and there was resistance in Viscount Gladstone's eyes.

Roque insisted.

Viscount Gladstone coughed, but after all, he couldn't match Roque's gaze: "We in Australia are also preparing to establish a navy-"

Balfour was simply surprised, even if the navy was established in southern Africa, what kind of excitement did Australia make up?

Can you afford it?

"We have to face the threat of the United States, so it is also necessary to create a fleet." Bowden also came to join in the fun, and if there are dates, there will be two shots first, in case there is.

Belfort looks at Sustri.

Sastri looked innocent, India really didn't plan to set up a fleet, it couldn't afford to play, and India couldn't even afford to raise the "Dreadnought".

The fully loaded "Dreadnought" has a standard establishment of 773 people, and the ground logistics support can reach as many as 1,000 people.

The Navy's salary is generally higher than that of the Army, at least about 100 pounds per person per year, so that the salary alone is more than 100,000 yuan per year.

This is not counting the consumption of people eating horses, not counting all kinds of hidden benefits, not counting the usual training consumption, all in all, raising a warship like the "Dreadnought" will cost at least 400,000 or 500,000 a year, with the current national strength of India, it is indeed impossible to raise.

The number of "Dreadnought" was small, and the number of "Hood" was 1400 people.

"Let's solve the problems one by one, Robert, how many people do you need to curb the ambitions of the Americans?" Balfour peeled off the cocoon, and couldn't let these people talk nonsense anymore, and if they continued to rip off, they would really sell London.

After the end of the World War, when Southern Africa and the British Empire were discussing how to repay their debts, the then Treasurer, Andrew Bonner Law, joked that he would pay off the debt of London to Southern Africa.

Of course, this is a joke, they are all a family, and Southern Africa will not be so ruthless and forced to pay for this debt.

"It's not how many people are needed, you just need a strong force to warn the Americans' ambitions, and if the Americans want to start a war, they also have to consider the consequences-" Bowden has also seen through the Americans' fierce inwardness, the United States lost very much during the world war, and now it is also struggling with the economic crisis, so he wants to impress foreign wars and divert domestic contradictions.

Fighting a war is all about cost, and if the cost is greater than the benefit, no one will do this kind of loss-making business.

"Locke—" Balfour There is no doubt that the British Empire can come up with the troops that can support the scene now is southern Africa.

"Your Excellency, after the end of the world war, Southern Africa was greatly disarmed, and we now only have two divisions and less than 30,000 people left, which are not enough for defense." Roque doesn't care, it's okay to send troops to aid Canada, who will pay for the military?

"What defensive pressure is there in Southern Africa? Look at your southern African periphery, who can pose a threat to southern Africa? "Balfour endured and endured, and if Roque found another reason, it would be unjustifiable.

"It's too much, you all know, there has just been a rebellion in West Africa, the Republic of the Congo is also about to move, the two river basins also need troops to defend, the federal government only approves 65 million military spending every year, in addition to the army, the air force and navy are waiting to be fed, I also want to set up a marine, I really don't have the money." Roque put the facts to reason, 65 million is actually a lot, and they are all used to build the "Hood", which can build ten ships.

"Locke, you send troops over, and the Canadian government will bear the cost." Bowden doesn't care too much about it now, and let's talk about ensuring Canada's safety first.

Southern Africa does not need to send too many troops to Canada, even if it is only a few thousand, enough to warn the Americans about their ambitions.

During the World War, the Southern African Expeditionary Force performed extremely well, and the Americans saw it.

Although Canada's national strength is weak, it can still afford to pay a few million, and it is still worth it for Canada to spend a few million dollars a year in exchange for peace.

"Yes!" Roque's eyes lit up immediately.

In order to raise military spending, Roque also racked his brains.

The Southern African Army, because of its high salaries and benefits, actually has the same cost of raising troops as the Navy.

Compared with a warship with only a few hundred naval officers and men, an army unit is tens of thousands of people at every turn, and it really can't afford to support it without a little family background.

Now there are no African-American soldiers in the regular army in southern Africa, so military spending is also rising in a straight line, but fortunately, there is still a compulsory military service system in southern Africa, and the pressure can be reduced somewhat.

"Very well—" Seeing that Roque and Bowden had agreed, Balfour was greatly excited, and the problems had to be solved one by one, and these imperial ministers were sometimes very reliable.

"Wallingman, what do you say—" Balfour asked Sustri.

"We need doctors and food to deal with the threat of disease and hunger—" Sadri replied, his eyes fixed on Roque with anticipation.

Southern Africa is undoubtedly the world's first in terms of medical care, and with its vast territory and abundant resources, it will not be difficult for India to tide over the difficulties as long as Southern Africa is willing to help.

To Sastri's disappointment, however, Roque didn't react, as if he hadn't heard.