In the time tunnel we traced back to history, we traveled to the ** period, and we saw the chaotic era when warlords were rampant and one party was divided.
This is a time when warlords are ruling one side and are in control of heavy armies. However, little in-depth research has been done on how high the military spending of these warlords really was, and how much money it took to feed a division. What is even more curious is why most of these warlords refuse to invest money in nation-building, instead spending most of their resources on maintaining their power.
In the era of warlords, the financial expenses of feeding a division were huge and complex. From military salaries to equipment procurement to logistical support, the coverage of funds involves many aspects, like a magnificent picture unfolding in front of us.
In order to consolidate their own strength, warlords often do not hesitate to invest huge amounts of money in the arms race to ensure the strength of their troops and equipment. This led to high military spending, which some have described as "a lot of money."
Why, then, are these warlords unwilling to spend so much money on nation-building?
It involves the political system and social environment that was unique to the warlord era.
At that time, the political pattern was chaotic, the state power was highly high, and the warlords from all walks of life were in charge, forming a pattern of separation. These warlords often keep their finances under their control, ensuring relative local independence through a strong armed force.
In this case, nation-building is clearly not a priority for them, and personal power and local interests become the primary focus of their concerns.
In addition, the society was in turmoil, the economy was slow, and the warlords lacked a long-term vision for nation-building.
They were more focused on immediate political domination and the stability of their own power, so they devoted their finances mainly to military build-up in order to keep their personal power strong.
However, such actions eventually lead to social instability and the suffering of ordinary people. The high cost of military spending has plunged the country into poverty, and the people have not been able to enjoy the tangible benefits of the country's stability and prosperity.
This is one of the reasons why most of the warlord era did not invest in construction. Although that era brought a chaotic history to China, in this chaotic picture, we can still get a glimpse of the complexity of the society and the plight of the political system at that time.
By reviewing this period of history, we may be able to better understand the delicate relationship between nation-building and arms spending.