The entire British Cabinet wore grim expressions. After all, they had heard such words far too many times, yet the results only kept getting worse.
"But Prime Minister, can we really win? The chaos at home and abroad is plain for all to see. You don't even need to read the newspapers—just look out the window.
"Conflicts break out every day, and people die every day. The money we can borrow is dwindling, while our debts are about to come due again."
The moment he heard the word "debt," Earl of Derby's head began to ache. He truly could not understand when such an enormous mountain of debt would ever come to an end.
"Didn't we pay this year's debts? Why are they coming due again?"
Gladstone could only answer with a bitter smile.
"It is already December. Next year's debts are about to come due as well."
"Then can't we pay a little less? You all know the situation at the front. If we retreat now, everything we have achieved will be for nothing."
Earl of Derby asked tentatively.
Gladstone shook his head.
"Prime Minister, what we are paying now is only interest. We have not repaid a single debt. Even so, this year's deficit has reached 30 million Pound Sterling. Borrowing more money is no longer very likely."
Gladstone had revealed Britain's financial condition in advance precisely to stop Earl of Derby's mouth. After all, bankers were not philanthropists; they had no obligation to keep lending money to the British Government.
In truth, the leading figures of London's financial world had been deeply dissatisfied with the British Government's conduct over recent years. At first, the war had been launched to resolve the economic crisis and protect Britain's commercial interests overseas.
Yet at some point, the nature of the