Chapter 676 Overtime Pay
At the same time as the Russian Civil War ended, the situation on the Western Front gradually became clear.
After crossing the Marne River, the exhausted German army was finally unable to sustain itself. Although the Eiffel Tower was within easy reach, the German army was forced to stop.
What forced the German army into a defensive state was the entry of the US military into the war and the counterattack of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
After April, as many as 250,000 U.S. troops arrived in Europe every month. By the end of July, the number of U.S. troops under Pershing's command increased to 1.25 million.
Under the command of General Moschner, the ANZAC performed well in the Battle of Amiens, not only repelling the German attack but also capturing 26,000 German soldiers.
What is particularly inspiring is that half of the 26,000 German troops voluntarily laid down their weapons and became Allied prisoners of war.
While the Western Front was counterattacking, the Russian army was not idle either.
After the signing of the "Brest-Litovsk Treaty", the Russian army on the northern front experienced chaos that almost caused the Russian army to collapse.
With the efforts of Ruzsky and Andrei, the Russian army on the northern front regained its position and controlled the front within Belarus.
In order to cope with the Russian army on the northern front, Brusinov mobilized the Bulgarian army and the Romanian army to cooperate with the Russian army in the Balkans to launch an attack on Austria.
At this time, the Austrian commander was replaced by Conrad.
After the death of the old emperor, the young emperor Karl tried to negotiate peace with the Allies, but the leakage of the news caused a rift in the relationship between Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After that, Ludendorff never asked the Austrians again. The Hungarian Empire sent reinforcements.
Without the help of the German army, the Austro-Hungarian Empire would not be able to resist the Russian attack.
Brushinov used 800 armored fighting vehicles and 1,800 artillery pieces, including 600 rocket launchers.
Realizing that this was the final battle against Austria-Hungary, Polis and Ferdinand sent all but the capital's garrison to the front, leaving Brusinov with a force of 1.6 million people.
The total number of troops that Conrad could command was only 850,000.
The soldiers recruited in 1918 were all over 40 years old.
This situation is not unique to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Britain has expanded the age of mobilization to 50 years old.
The French army also has infantry divisions composed entirely of soldiers over 40 years old.
At the same time as Brusinov attacked, the Kingdom of Italy also regrouped and cooperated with the Russian army to launch an attack on the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Something that leaves people speechless happened.
Throughout August, Allied forces were winning on almost all fronts.
Only the Italians were defeated again, not only losing 110,000 people, but also occupying two cities by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Although these two cities are small border towns and insignificant, such a piece of news appears in the newspaper, which makes people feel that the Austrians seem to be more capable than the German army.
The new Emperor Karl of the Austro-Hungarian Empire probably thought so too, so the order he gave Conrad was to launch a counterattack against the Italian and Balkan coalition forces at the same time.
After receiving the order, Conrad was about to burst into tears. He felt as if he had received the order from a nine-headed insect to get rid of Bao Ba, the master and disciple of Tang Monk.
Tang Monk is easy to catch.
The Monkey King who is making trouble in the Heavenly Palace is really not easy to mess with.
George also imagined that Sun Monkey would beat to death some Duma members who opposed the empire's heavy liquor tax on the grounds of "not competing with the people".
The cancellation of the liquor monopoly is another evidence of Alex's interference in politics. This woman actually used the excuse of wasting food by brewing liquor, not only canceled the liquor monopoly, but even hoped that Nicholas would issue a "prohibition order".
Nicholas was still reasonable and did not completely follow Alex's advice.
But Nicholas did not have much sense left. After the abolition of the liquor monopoly, Russia’s liquor tax dropped by 90%.
As early as 1894, Russia’s annual tax revenue from alcohol was as high as 700 million rubles.
In the last year of Stolypin’s administration, Russia’s tax revenue from vodka reached 1.9 billion rubles.
The pension plan that the Duma has been arguing about for two months is only 1 billion rubles.
With such a huge income, Nikolai actually said he didn’t want it. Nikolai was still the same Nikolai whose gold watch was worth 15 rubles and had no concept of money at all.
George not only wants to impose heavy taxes on wine, but also imposes heavy taxes on all goods that are beyond the consumption capacity of ordinary people, such as French champagne.
In other respects, George may not have a say.
The first pot of gold in George's career came from champagne. Until Nicholas abdicated, the champagne used in the entire palace was provided by George. George knew the profits of champagne too well.
George's champagne business has Nicola's shares. It is for this reason that the tax rate on champagne has always been the same as vodka, with no difference.
The difference in price is huge.
In Russia in 1918, prices also rose dramatically. In Constantinople, which is known for its stable prices, before the war broke out, a piece of bread sold for only 15 kopecks, but now it sold for 1 ruble and 20 kopecks.
1 ruble equals 100 kopecks.
Most vodka is produced in Russia and does not incur import taxes.
George wants to increase the tax rate on champagne imported from France to 100%.
It means that if you import a bottle of champagne worth 15 rubles from France, you will have to pay an import tax of 15 rubles.
George originally thought that this knife was aimed at George himself, so no one would object.
Unexpectedly, this also aroused opposition from some Duma members.
The reason for Duma's opposition is that increasing import taxes will affect sales prices, which will in turn affect people's enthusiasm for consumption and reduce people's quality of life.
people?
Oh, ordinary Russians cannot afford champagne. After a busy day, drinking vodka is a paradise and they can forget all the troubles in life. The high-ranking Duma deputies must drink champagne.
“According to the normal process, it may take us one month to decide whether to impose an additional import tax - and then it will take another month or two to determine the increase proportion - and then return the tax. It will take about two or three months to determine the scope of the import tax - and finally -"
Igor really didn't delay on purpose, that's the Duma's process and efficiency.
Since the Duma Duma was convened, the fastest resolution passed in just one day was about the salaries and benefits of Duma members.
St. Petersburg workers have to work more than 12 hours a day, while Duma members only work 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, and can enjoy 3 months of paid vacation every year.
The salary of Duma deputies is 100 times that of St. Petersburg workers.
"The Duma plenary session will be held tomorrow."
George couldn't bear it anymore. He gave you a chance, but you didn't use it.
The deputies probably thought that George could be fooled just like Nicholas, so the Duma of Castel was only established for less than two months, and like the St. Petersburg Duma, it was completely ruined.
"Tomorrow is the weekend——"
Igor was in a dilemma, but the Duma members were firm in safeguarding their rights.
"Then give them overtime pay."
George fights magic with magic.
Igor grinned widely, and his black front teeth were particularly eye-catching.
George dislikes it, but it’s not like he has no money. Why not install two dentures, the gold ones? George will pay for them if he doesn’t have money.
Igor doesn’t care, he is toothless and doesn’t delay drinking.
The seat of the Constantinople Duma is called the "Palace of Peace", which embodies the people of Constantinople's good expectations for peace.
What happens every day in the Peace Palace is not peaceful. The members of the House of Representatives spend every penny and can argue for a week for a kopeck.
The guards of the Peace Palace are elite troops drawn from the Balkan Army.
The congressmen who were forced to go to work on Sunday cursed and came to the Peace Palace, only to find that in addition to the Balkan Legion soldiers wearing white combat uniforms, there were also guards on duty outside the palace wearing sea soul shirts. sailor.
Since becoming Secretary of the Navy, George's guards have changed to sea soul shirts, a habit that is still retained today.
The main venue where members meet is an oval hall. The members sit in a semi-circle on the first floor of the hall around the rostrum. There is also a decorative railing on the second floor, which has not been used before.
When the congressmen entered the venue, they found that George and King Ferdinand of Romania were sitting on the second floor, overlooking the entire venue.
George's prestige in Constantinople was still high, and some members of Congress immediately cheered for George. The enthusiastic "Ula" was mixed with "His Majesty the Tsar", and some people actually paid homage to George.
George was expressionless, he wanted to see how capable the congressmen were.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Igor banged the gavel and announced the beginning of the meeting.
Little Felix, who presided over the meeting, announced the first item on the agenda, whether pensions should be paid to soldiers who died in battle in accordance with imperial regulations.
Igor and Little Felix wanted to finish their work in one battle and solve all the problems accumulated in the past two months on today.
The congressmen who were so enthusiastic just now have a bucket of cold water in their pockets.
It was only then that the members noticed that the door to the venue had been closed.
"Don't look at it. If we don't get results on all the issues today, we will have to work overtime."
Igor smiled.
The congressmen looked at each other, what do you mean, do we lack your overtime pay?
No one has too much money.
But working overtime for overtime pay is undoubtedly not cost-effective for MPs.
Members’ time is much more valuable than overtime pay.
“What are you doing? Do we have to work overtime with them?”
Ferdinand was horrified, and the Kingdom of Romania also had a parliament.
“Let’s see and then—”
George is not in a hurry, today’s meeting is very important to George and the congressmen.
Little did the deputies know that today's meeting would decide their fate, and that of the State Duma.
If George is present and the members still don’t understand, then don’t blame George for dissolving the Duma.
Stolypin also did such a thing as disbanding the Duma.
The two years after Stolypin dissolved the Duma were probably the most politically harmonious and harmonious years in Russia’s history.
"Why bother? As long as you become the Tsar, who dares to disobey your orders."
Ferdinand didn't understand that with this kind of thinking, he usually died quickly and lived well. Just three episodes.
When Ferdinand was alive, the Kingdom of Romania was relatively stable.
After Ferdinand's death, Carol's son Mikhail succeeded him.
Carroll launched a coup and forced his son Mikhail to pass the throne to him.
During World War II, Carol abdicated and the Kingdom of Romania was destroyed.
(End of this chapter)