Chapter 441: Lisbon Peace Talks

"Your Majesty, according to our statistics, a total of 16, 32 soldiers were killed in this war. Following the rules for one-time pension payments, we need to distribute 33. 64 million pesetas in pensions to these fallen soldiers."

"There are 35, 42 wounded soldiers in total, including 4, 21 disabled soldiers, 12, 68 severely wounded soldiers, and 17, 53 lightly wounded soldiers. According to the rules for one-time pension payments, we need to distribute 7. 33 million pesetas to all disabled soldiers, 15. 21 million pesetas to all severely wounded soldiers, and 7. 41 million pesetas to all lightly wounded soldiers."

"After calculation, the total amount of pensions the government needs to distribute this year is 62. 59 million pesetas."

"Additionally, regarding the annual relief payments, based on our country's current estimated per capita annual income, next year we need to distribute 4. 59 million pesetas in relief to all fallen soldiers, 1. 56 million pesetas to all disabled soldiers, 2. 54 million pesetas to all severely wounded soldiers, and 1. 28 million pesetas to all lightly wounded soldiers."

"The total amount of the above relief payments is 10. 07 million pesetas, which will basically not have too much of an impact on our country's finances."

At the cabinet meeting held by the Spanish government, Finance Minister Ol Acosta reported to Gao Da respectfully.

The Spanish government attaches great importance to the distribution of post-war pensions and relief payments. Gao Da specifically requested that the distribution of pensions must be accurate to every single wounded or fallen soldier, and no underpayment or omission is allowed.

Even if it is just a fraction of a copper coin, it must be distributed in full to every soldier or their family members.

It is precisely because of Gao Da's strict requirements that the cabinet government, state governments at all levels, and the defense department all attach great importance to the statistics of fallen and wounded soldiers, making them quite meticulous.

The relief payments distributed annually are not a heavy burden for the Spanish government. With casualties exceeding 50, 00, the Spanish government only needs to distribute 10 million pesetas in relief each year.

Compared to the tens of millions in pensions, this relief payment can only be called a fraction.

The total amount of pension payments, reaching as high as 62. 59 million pesetas, is also a relatively large expenditure for the government.

Although this war did not have much impact on the Spanish mainland, because of the outbreak of the war, Spain's military expenditures inevitably increased significantly.

According to government statistics, for the entire year of 1904, Spain's total fiscal revenue remained at around 1. billion pesetas, while total fiscal expenditure surged from less than 1. billion pesetas to nearly 1. billion pesetas, a net increase of over 200 million pesetas.

Of these increased expenditures, the vast majority were used in this war with the British, which also brought the government's fiscal deficit this year to a new high of 175. million pesetas.

This does not even count the 62. 59 million pesetas in pensions about to be distributed; adding those, the Spanish government's fiscal deficit this year will reach nearly 250 million pesetas.

The good news is that the peace talks between Spain and the British are about to begin. Because we still hold more than 100, 00 British prisoners, we can surely squeeze some money out of the British government to make up for Spain's annual fiscal deficit.

Precisely because of this, Gao Da was not the least bit stingy regarding these pensions and relief payments. After listening to the report from Finance Minister Ol Acosta, he nodded without hesitation and instructed: "Since all the pensions and relief payments have been calculated, then work hard for a while longer and try to distribute all the pensions to the soldiers and their families before Christmas."

"The annual relief payments should also be distributed at the beginning of the year, so as to ensure that the living standards of the wounded and fallen soldiers and their families are improved throughout the year."

"These soldiers all fought for Spain; they stepped forward to defend the motherland, and naturally, we cannot let these heroes feel disheartened."

"Prime Minister Olkahuo, regarding the issue of pension and relief distribution, I hope you and Acosta will oversee it together and strictly prevent any underpayment or omission."

"I will also have the Performance Appraisal Bureau of the Upper House and the anti-corruption department supervise it. The distribution of pensions and relief is related to the stability of Spain, and I will absolutely not allow any problems to occur."

Hearing Gao Da's order, Prime Minister Angelo Olkahuo and Finance Minister Ol Acosta nodded in response, indicating they understood.

"Minister William, have the British agreed to our demands?" Gao Da turned his gaze to Foreign Minister William and asked.

After the British proposed peace talks to Spain, Spain also put forward its own requirements: that the location of the peace talks be in Lisbon or Madrid, and that either France or Russia be required to join the peace negotiations as a neutral mediator.

Although the relationship between France or Russia and Spain is not that friendly, their relationship with the British is extremely poor.

Just to cause some trouble for the British, these two countries are willing to stand behind Spain in the peace negotiations. After all, the peace negotiations will not endanger the British mainland, and in this situation, they do not have to worry about the peace negotiations causing the British to fall from their pedestal.

"The British government says it still needs to consider for a while; they do not have any reply for the time being," Foreign Minister William replied.

"It seems these British are not in a hurry, so let's apply some more pressure on them," Gao Da said with a smile:

"Minister Qiaoti, how is the maintenance work of the navy going? Have those damaged battleships of ours recovered their combat effectiveness now?"

"The repair work on the battleships is basically complete and they can be put into combat at any time," Defense Minister Qiaoti replied respectfully.

"Very good," Gao Da nodded with a smile and instructed: "Since the British are not in a hurry for peace negotiations, it also means that this war is not over yet."

"In that case, we should plan for the next step of the offensive. If the British government has no reply within three days, the army and navy will move out immediately to occupy the British island of Malta first."

The strategic value of the island of Malta goes without saying. Because it is located in the center of the Mediterranean, it is the most important Mediterranean naval base for the British.

If the British think that Spain can no longer threaten them after the end of the Portuguese civil war, they are very wrong. Although attacking the British mainland is unrealistic, it is still possible to continue eastward within the Mediterranean and cause some trouble for the British on the island of Malta and in Egypt.

Unless the British are willing to completely give up their control of the Mediterranean, they are the ones who should be anxious.

What's more, the prisoners in Spain's hands are not to be trifled with. The longer the delay, the more anxious the families of these prisoners become, and the more anxious the British government naturally becomes.

After all, these prisoners will not urge the Spanish government; they will only constantly force the British government to make concessions in various ways to save their families.

Spain only needs to treat these British prisoners well with good food and drink, and then ask the British government for several or even dozens of times the funds during negotiations.

After all, Spain's food did not come from a strong wind; it is not unreasonable for Spain to ask for some compensation for the hard work of providing sufficient food to the British prisoners.

In fact, the British government did want to make an issue of the location of the peace talks. If the peace talks were really held in Lisbon or Madrid, the British would completely fall into a disadvantageous position, or rather, become fish on a chopping block, left to be slaughtered by Spain.

If the peace talks were held in London or other areas that the British could control, the British would at least have some confidence, which is completely different for peace negotiations.

But unfortunately, Spain will not back down on the location of the peace talks. Either Lisbon or Madrid; there is no other choice.

After the Spanish fleet went to the island of Malta twice, the British government finally became obedient and agreed to hold peace negotiations in Lisbon on the day before Christmas, which is Christmas Eve, and invited Germany and France as neutral countries to ensure the smooth progress of the peace negotiations.

The British government also specifically requested that during the peace negotiations, Spain should stop any hostile acts against the British mainland and colonies.

Gao Da also agreed to the British government's request. After all, with Christmas approaching, it is better to let these soldiers who participated in the war return to their respective families to celebrate and relax properly.