1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 318 Fillmore's Policy

"Although Sir Fillmore is eloquent, he still avoided the most fundamental tariff issue. The tariff rate for Britain is the key point." Lincoln commented on Fillmore's speech.

Lincoln acknowledged that it was reasonable to impose different tariff rates on different countries.

It is true that the Far East market is a huge market with great potential. However, the largest trading partner of the United States is the United Kingdom, the main exporter of cotton in the south is the United Kingdom, and the largest importer of industrial products in the north and south is still the United Kingdom.The trade volume of all the other countries put together is not as good as that of Great Britain.

The tariff issue is not so much a tariff issue as it is a tariff issue for the UK.This is also the malady of the American economy: the American economy is too dependent on the United Kingdom.

"As a lawyer, your scope of practice is quite extensive." Liang Yao said.

"This is a very obvious problem. I think you should also know that Britain and France have suffered setbacks in trade in China. Although I don't know much about the situation in China and Japan, these two neighboring eastern countries must have their similarities. In my opinion It seems that Britain and France have suffered a setback in their relationship with China, and the prospects for the United States' trade with Japan will not be much better." Lincoln said.

"Your insights and views are very unique. It is true that Britain and France have suffered setbacks in China's trade, but that is because they do not understand what goods China needs and does not need at this stage, and they sell British goods to China without specific investigation and evaluation. China, and China's openness is not enough.

As long as we figure out what commodities Japan needs, I think our trade with Japan will be smoother than that of the UK, and Japan is now more open to my country than China is to the UK. "Liang Yao said.

Obviously, Fillmore also knows that his answer can only prevaricate ordinary people who don't have much thinking ability and don't understand the American economy.

Just as Fish was about to continue asking questions on this issue, Fillmore spoke first, bringing the focus of the debate to the next topic, avoiding excessive entanglement on this sensitive topic and being unable to escape.

"As for the issue of national security, Mr. Pierce, you have service experience, but I don't. You have served as a brigadier general in the American Army, but I don't. You often call yourself a national hero of the United States in public. I think in terms of national defense and security, You have more say than I do."

Fillmore retaliated in the same way, this time he wanted Pierce to answer this question first, and Fillmore still teased.

"Or, in the face of this problem, do you want to fall into a coma like you did on the Mexican battlefield and choose to escape? Our national hero?"

"The military of the United States does not match its current national strength. As the world's first major country spanning one continent, it should have a strong military that matches its national strength and status.

The national defense pressure of the United States mainly comes from two aspects, one is the British colonies in the north, and the other comes from Mexico in the south.

And our standing regular army is less than [-] people. Such a small standing army cannot protect our territorial security, especially the new territory that has just been acquired during the war. "

After finishing speaking, Pierce did not forget to point the finger at Fillmore's most controversial personnel appointment and dismissal recently.

"If I were president, I would approve more military spending to build a stronger military force, instead of appointing a 23-year-old Chinese to be a brigadier general, today a yellow-skinned person can command a brigadier general Our white soldiers. Will a black man be the general of the United States to command our soldiers tomorrow?"

Liang Yao, who was eating melons and watching, was speechless towards Pierston. He didn't expect to involve him in the discussion of national security.

Speechless, Liang Yao believed that with Fillmore's eloquence, he could easily resolve Pierce's problem.

The rank of colonel was bought by him with money, but the rank of brigadier general was earned by him through military merits, which could stand scrutiny.

"First, let me answer your question about national defense security.

The situation in continental Europe has been tense recently, and Britain has bigger problems to solve in Europe. Therefore, our northern border, including the Oregon area, which has a territorial dispute with the British, will not be resolved for a long time in the future, especially during my tenure. There will be too much pressure.

As for Mexico, the U.S.-Mexico War has shown that the Mexican army is vulnerable. We only need to maintain a limited elite force on the California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas borders to ensure the security of the U.S.-Mexico border and defend our existing The fruits of victory.

Mr. Pierce, I need to remind you that the western section of the US-Mexico border is in charge of the yellow-skinned general you despise, that is, General Liang.

While he was in charge of the US-Mexico border, the American army not only maintained a strong position on the border, but also launched a successful expedition against Japan.

You can question my appointment and removal of personnel, this is your right, but I believe my vision and the perspective of the army generals, the promotion of General Liang was finalized after our discussion and research, based on General Liang's credit and ability , worthy of the post of brigadier general.

I have no doubt that once the war between the United States and Mexico resumes, General Liang will have the ability to march to Mexico City, instead of being frightened into a coma on the battlefield like a brigadier general. "

Fillmore said calmly.

"It is inappropriate for you to compare a freeman with a slave. As a free country, any legal citizen has the obligation to defend the national interests and the right to enjoy promotion. Although you have performed very well during your short military career Amateur, but you have been a soldier for at least a while, I think you should know the importance of distinguishing rewards and punishments to an army better than a layman like me.

This is the American army, there are no Chinese generals, English generals, Scottish generals, French generals, Dutch generals, only American generals! "

When Fillmore mentioned Pierce's embarrassment in the war, Pierce couldn't help but blush. Pierce was about to refute, when Fish's forceful voice came from his ear.

"Your Excellency Fillmore, please summarize your views on the future of national defense and security. The focus is on military spending, which is the issue that everyone is most concerned about."

"The current primary issue in the United States is not security, but economics. In the future, I will discuss with Congress how to increase military spending for the army and navy.

Let the army officers and soldiers equip more rifled guns to replace the old smoothbore guns. The UK is also replacing the rifled guns on a large scale. Rifled guns are the future trend.

Maintaining a well-equipped and well-trained standing army is more in line with the national defense needs of the United States than maintaining a large army.

On the Navy side, I just approved funding last month for the Brooklyn Navy Yard to build two thousand-ton steam-powered cruisers.After being re-elected, I will continue my approach to increase the steam rate of the US Navy and allow more US Navy officers and soldiers to drive advanced steam warships. ’ said Fillmore.

"In terms of economy, I will continue to support the development of the railway industry and build our railway lines to the vast western region, even the west coast, where there is great economic potential and development space. The west is the future of America!"

(End of this chapter)