Yes, Prime Minister of Japan

Vance was also helpless; he couldn't very well ask his sponsors for more of this kind of sponsorship, could he?

He emphasized:

"I demand that you find a way to solve the financial problems immediately."

Treasury officials could only tell Vance:

"At present, there is only one solution: to proactively devalue the US dollar and lower its price, which may create about $10 trillion in fiscal space. At the same time, we should expand the issuance of US dollar stablecoins and cryptocurrencies to increase the fiscal surplus pool. This would provide a larger fiscal buffer."

Americans have exhausted every possible innovation in finance: stablecoins, cryptocurrencies, overnight repurchase agreements, fiscal instruments… you could say they've explored every possible avenue. But even with such extensive exploration, they still can't fill the flood of dollars.

But what's the cost?

The price was the accelerated formation of a bubble even more terrifying than Japan's bubble crisis.

"Devalue it! Let the Federal Reserve print another ten trillion dollars and free up fiscal space for us."

Vance couldn't care less. He was determined to sprint towards the magnificent position of the first emperor of the United States. He failed to notice, however, that the officials standing nearby were already showing signs of distress and their minds were wandering.

The tsunami has begun.

Chapter 870: Vance's debt of gratitude is never repaid, the Shinano is launched (5000 words)

"Real smart people know that a product's price is always increased before it's discounted."

Although the top officials of the Federal Reserve have resigned en masse, due to the interference of Wall Street and other financial institutions, the White House still retains a last group of financial bureaucrats with sound minds.

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessant was brought back to oversee the devaluation of the dollar.

Upon his return, Bessant immediately embarked on a sweeping and ambitious undertaking.

"To ensure a smooth landing for the US dollar, we need to make the US stock market rise, to make it soar to the sky!"

With Vance's personal instruction, Bessant gained the dual privilege of simultaneously overseeing both the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury. Their aim was to further devalue the dollar, thereby expanding government revenue through the financial devaluation of the entire nation.

But Bessant, as one of the few normal people squeezed out of Wall Street, didn't think that way simply.

Bessant said at the working meeting:

"If only the dollar depreciates, it will only cause a huge collapse. Last time, our depreciation target was 5%, but it depreciated to 20%, almost causing the dollar to collapse. This time, our target is 20%, but it may depreciate to 50%, or even 100%. So we need to first boost the dollar's stock and bond markets, and get global speculators and various financial companies involved. With their help, we can spread the huge losses."

So what to do?

They drive up US stocks, invest some funds in the stock market to attract global speculative capital to make short-term profits, and then create a trap to kill the investors.

To put it more vividly, it's like 'luring pigs in to be slaughtered together' or 'the whole world sharing the burden'.

Bessant's stated purpose was to get everyone involved to cover the losses, but everyone in the Treasury Department knew that he clearly wanted to use the funds created by the devaluation of the federal funds to bail out the Wall Street bigwigs in the US stock market.

But this is a devaluation plan worth trillions, so what's wrong with the financial tycoons making a little money? Mei, are you sure you don't have any money? Think about it... Lin, are you sure you don't have any money?

The plan cannot succeed without giving them a share of the money.

Therefore, the people in the Ministry of Finance tacitly approved Bessenter's plan to slaughter the pig.

The following day, the Federal Reserve exceeded the debt ceiling and began massive money printing. This huge amount of money was poured into the US stock market, quickly causing the stock prices of the "Seven Sisters" (a group of seven major US stock exchanges) to surge, driving the entire US stock market skyrocket.

Bessant's plan also received tacit approval on Wall Street, so all the financial departments joined forces to contribute to this booming money-sharing movement.

"This is the Vance First Effect! As long as he becomes emperor and changes the past foolish infighting, we will definitely be able to rise against the tide!"

Wall Street investment analysts say.

"Without a doubt, we have witnessed the social stability brought about by Vance's coronation as emperor. A wise monarch is better than ten incompetent politicians."

George Soros, Bessant's former employer, was also there, blatantly lying through his teeth by issuing press releases.

Suddenly, everything changed.

The money printed out of thin air by the Federal Reserve has also begun to spread to the media sector.

American public intellectuals suddenly began to change their tune.

They've stopped boasting about the separation of powers and started talking about the massive internal friction caused by the conflict between different powers.

They stopped boasting about the separation of federal and state powers and started talking about the enormous waste caused by the lack of a unified administrative system, with hundreds of billions of dollars being wasted every year on supporting all sorts of messy people and things.

Not to mention the four-year elections, two consecutive terms, and the start of boasting about the Russian model and the Chinese model, and talking about the policy stability brought about by a long-term stable ruling group.

They just praised it to the skies, claiming the people were all stupid and illiterate and didn't understand what a wise monarchy was.

Fox News claims:

"As long as Vance becomes emperor and completes the reform of the unified leadership system in the United States, the United States can be reborn like a phoenix rising from the ashes."

Pastor Paula, in a Baptist television sermon, promoted the following:

"Although the United States has now returned to the stage of a developing country, as long as we sincerely support the coronation of the First Apostle Vance, with God's blessing, we will return to the city upon a hill!"

The White House official website directly begins to study virtual winning strategies:

"A powerful America is back!"

Suddenly, America seemed to be injected with adrenaline, money was flowing like hotcakes, the stock prices of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two major real estate companies, began to soar, housing prices in major cities continued to rise, and fast food restaurants and snack shops were selling all kinds of 'affordable luxury' food.

Ordinary people, faced with rampant inflation, found themselves suddenly silenced and unable to speak out on various social media platforms.

With such a beautiful view, global financial investors flocked to the area.

And surprisingly, quite a few people were actually fooled into believing Vance's coronation and the nonsense that everything would be alright. Some Americans even started taking out loans to buy homes, further fueling the bubble.

In short, His Majesty Vance's kindness can never be fully repaid.

While they excel at financial maneuvering, the U.S. Caucus of the Crown still faltered when it came to practical matters.

How was the Emperor's New Clothes made?

They can't really do what the king in the story did, preparing a sheer white gown for Vance and then lying to him, saying, 'Only those who support the imperial system can see this magnificent robe, can they?'

Not to mention the general public, even Vance himself doesn't believe it.

"How about... we ask Li Xinghe to help us customize it? We can just say... it's made in Hawaii," someone suggested.

……

The 21st century is the century of biology, the century of technology, and the century of AI, but overall, it is the century of redefining 'winning'.

Tokyo, Cabinet meeting room.

Li Xinghe, Ayako Aso, Kaname Shikamika, Queen Charlotte, Duchess Olympia, and many other cabinet members sat together, all staring in astonishment at the wildly soaring US stock market. Driven by the US stock market, economic activity across the United States began an abnormally frenzied expansion.

Aso Ayako bit her finger:

"Something's not right. Weren't they saying the dollar was going to collapse? How come the US stock market is still soaring, attracting global financial speculators to invest?"

This looks very strange.

They even deceived many financial speculators who had already made money in Japan, who then brought their money back to the United States, hoping to make another fortune by taking advantage of the frenzy of disconnected investments, licking blood off a knife's edge to make money.

Li Xinghe was pondering and analyzing:

This leads to the question: What is the US dollar?

Everyone looked at him.

Li Xinghe continued:

"The modern US dollar of the 21st century is the sum of three international clearing systems: SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), Chips (New York Clearing House), and FedWire (Federal Reserve's Large Value Transfer System). However, the dollar also has two safeguards: first, it is linked to the global shipping insurance industry, with all global shipping insurance coverage guaranteeing the safety of the global trade system; second, the dollar serves as the basic collateral for major global banks, meaning that although different currencies are used in transactions, all are based on the US dollar as collateral."

The US dollar is no longer a petrodollar. The United States began competing for the title of the world's largest oil exporter long ago. The modern dollar's markings are complex and difficult to interpret, much like China's position in the industrial sector. It's not just about labor costs; it also involves industrial support, supply chains, transportation, and power supply systems. For all these reasons, the US dollar has maintained its global status.

"These three clearing systems and two insurance businesses are the underlying logic that has sustained the dollar-based trading system until 2030. So, where does the stock market fit in among these five fundamental logics?"

The stock market is not a barometer of the economy.

Conversely, the stock market's intervention in the economy can, to some extent, even have negative effects.

Li Xinghe concluded:

"The stock market is merely a bellwether for money laundering. What we really need to consider is where this sudden surge of massive amounts of US dollars came from. How will the world bear the burden when it dilutes and undermines the trading capacity of the three settlement systems?"

Lu Yuchi Hua Yingmei suddenly opened her eyes and began to devise a response strategy:

“We have already established the CPTPP Clearing Bank, which is responsible for international trade settlements within the CPTPP. We now need to establish a domestic trade settlement system based on the RMB and the Japanese Yen, namely the Bank of Tokyo Clearing System.”

“We also need an international clearing system for large-scale payments, especially for Australia’s mineral trade,” Duchess Olympia added.

Kokubun Makabe is not here, but Takajo Satsuki points out:

"Japan's marine insurance industry is already very developed."

"The basic margin requirement requires reform of all banks."

Only in this way can the breakwater be considered fully constructed, systematically excluding the US dollar.

"Okay, everyone get back to work and try to get these businesses up and running in November."

Li Xinghe clapped his hands and assigned tasks.

But once he stepped out of the office, he knew there was another, most basic guarantee.

"army."

The coalition forces must have the combat capability to support this international reckoning.

At this moment, finally some good news arrived.

The Shinano has been launched.

Zhang Xiaoqian, who had just returned from the military parade, told Li Xinghe:

"The Shinano has finally been launched and is now preparing to go to the shipyard in Yokohama for further outfitting."

Li Xinghe directly complained:

"Good heavens, we've finally gotten it into the water. If we hadn't gotten it in the water, I would have seriously considered tearing this lousy Mitsubishi company down."

"To become MacArthur?"

He Yang smiled.

This refers to the story of MacArthur breaking up the Japanese zaibatsu.

Li Xinghe shrugged, taking it as everyone joking around.

The group traveled in military jeeps to the Mitsubishi repair shop in Yokohama.

A sudden downpour started on the road, and the group watched the ships from the pier in the rain.

"The coalition forces have completed a major expansion this year, increasing from 5 to over 10. The South Korean military has deployed 20 troops to South Vietnam, the islands of Southeast Asia, and Singapore. However, although the coalition forces have increased their numbers, it still seems insufficient. More reinforcements are needed. Not to mention, many defensive forces need to be deployed in Australia alone, in response to Indonesia."

"We should increase our defenses against India. Recently, India has been trying to claim sovereignty over our Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean."

Generals and staff officers, holding umbrellas and chatting idly, watched the aircraft carrier's docking ceremony in the heavy rain.

"It's raining so hard..."

Watching a medium-sized conventionally powered aircraft carrier, 270 meters long, 65 meters wide, with a draft of 10 meters and a standard displacement of 42000 tons, slowly sail in Tokyo Bay in the rain is indeed a beautiful sight.

Its hull is entirely white, and with the assistance of the Shanghai 704 Institute, two steam catapults have been added, giving its flat flight deck a straight and elegant appearance. Because it initially adopted the main design blueprints of the Izumo-class light aircraft carrier, the bridge section shows obvious signs of dismantling and redesign. With the assistance of the 704 Institute, an integrated bridge and multi-faceted phased-array radar have been added. Due to the extensive use of civilian technology and its relatively weak defensive capabilities, the aircraft compartment is quite large, capable of carrying approximately 35 various types of fighter jets, early warning aircraft, and helicopters.

This medium-sized aircraft carrier was proposed in 2027, but by the time it was actually manufactured and rolled off the production line, it was already somewhat outdated and severely lacked high-intensity combat capabilities. A single hypersonic missile could cripple it, replicating the case of the Shinano armored aircraft carrier sinking in 17 hours.

Fortunately, it was entirely self-built, and the construction period was only one year, so it was barely acceptable as a strike and maintenance force for second-line aircraft carriers.

Maritime Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Koji Yagi explains:

"Its cost was 4800 billion yen, which is now about 160 billion yuan. However, this includes the expensive cost of the steam catapult, and it was dismantled and reassembled several times, wasting a lot of time and manpower, so it is still acceptable. The Yamato and Musashi, which have already started construction, are built based on the Nimitz-class templates."

Compared to the 6.5-ton Shandong, which cost approximately 300 billion yuan, the Shinano appears weak and flimsy. Clearly, it's only slightly better than the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.

Then we come to the command team, which is of most concern to people.

The Self-Defense Forces have executed hundreds of officers involved in assassination cases in order to prove their loyalty with blood.

Therefore, the first commander was selected from the Self-Defense Forces:

"As per your request, the first commander of the Shinano is the former deputy commander of the First Escort Division, Misao Tashiro, Iran."

Li Xinghe and the generals all turned around:

"Ok?"

Is there a problem?

The Self-Defense Forces staff were rather puzzled; they were quite nervous. The reason they chose Misao Tashiro, an Iranian, was because he had long worked in communications, spoke fluent Chinese, was familiar with the coalition forces, and was considered a trustworthy candidate. Was this a bad choice?