Joseph looked at Compones: "How much does New Granada pay each year in salaries for officials and soldiers?"
The latter thought for a moment and said, "About 600,000 Escudo. If you include the Church's expenditures, it comes close to one million."
Joseph continued, "Then what about military spending? Or other large expenditures."
"I can't remember the exact figures. Last year the military cost was a bit over 1.8 million Escudo. Maintaining the monopoly bureau and the salt works takes 300,000, and dredging ports, maintaining roads and such also needs around 400,000."
Joseph waved his hand: "You see, just the overt expenditures already come to 3.5 million Escudo.
"I'm sure the amount embezzled by the bureaucracy at all levels over the course of a year must also be astonishing.
"If colonial administration is handed over to a self-governing government, then the Empire can save nearly 4 million in expenditures in New Granada alone.
