Yi Zhizhi obtained information before that Russia's military spending in the Crimean War was as high as 800 million rubles, and he was very skeptical about it, Russia's ruble depreciation was after the outbreak of the war, and the previous ruble was still valuable, one ruble was slightly higher than half a tael of silver, what is the idea of 800 million rubles? More than 400 million taels of silver!

Although the Crimean War took three years, and Russia invested a total of 780,000 regular troops, it did not spend as much as 400 million taels of silver in military expenditures. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

He wanted to find out whether Russia was on the verge of bankruptcy, how big the fiscal deficit was, and as for the arrears of the Ili arms trade, he really didn't care about it, to be exact, he had no intention of getting it back.

He said in a casual tone: "The Crimean War is only three years, why is the military expenditure on the war as high as hundreds of millions of rubles?" ”

Listening to the translation, Puti Yatin showed a wry smile, this guy is worthy of being the big shopkeeper of Yuanqi, he is particularly interested in the matter of money, after thinking about it, he said in a vague voice: "Hundreds of millions of rubles are not purely military spending, the outbreak of war, Britain and France cut off all trade with our country, and foreign trade is almost cut off ......." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled, "I heard that your country has also borrowed huge amounts of high-interest foreign debt on the stock exchanges in Berlin and Amsterdam. ”

Hearing this, Puti Yating was a little surprised, but thinking that Yuan Qi was one of the few big chaebols in the world, there were stock exchanges in Guangzhou and Shanghai, and the cable telegraph between Europe and the Qing Dynasty had also been opened, so it was not uncommon to know this, so he immediately nodded and said, "There is such a thing." ”

"I heard that your country has issued nearly 500 million rubles of paper money, and that the free export of gold coins has been prohibited, and the exchange of paper money with gold and silver coins has been stopped, and the value of paper money has depreciated sharply, and prices have soared ......." Yi Zhizhi weighed and said: "Your country's behavior is indeed enough to solve the crisis caused by the huge foreign debt in the short term.

But did you think that the ruble would depreciate sharply in the international market, and your country's currency, credit and system would collapse in an instant...... Your country's fiscal deficit is already 800 million rubles, and now the exchange ratio of silver rubles to paper money has risen sharply from 1:3.5 to 1:9, and you plan to continue to issue additional money? ”

Putiyatin's heart was shocked when he heard this, Russia's fiscal deficit is indeed as high as 800 million rubles, but because of the huge foreign debt, Russia's specific fiscal deficit is strictly sealed both internally and externally, how does the other party know?

He didn't dare to ramble along the topic, so he said slowly, "I'm sorry, but I don't know much about finance and currency. ”

Seeing that he avoided talking about it, Yi Zhizhi didn't care, and stretched out his hand to invite him into the house to sit down, Putiatin was worried that the other party would continue to talk along the topic of money and finance, so he said straightforwardly: "The Kamchatka Peninsula has always been our territory, and the Crimean War has nothing to do with your country, and I also ask your country to withdraw the garrison on the Kamchatka Peninsula." ”

And this can't wait to ask for the return of Kamchatka? Yi Zhizhi lit a cigarette and said slowly: "According to our country's detailed investigation, the indigenous people on the Kamchatka Peninsula migrated from the northeast of our country, and it should be said that the Kamchatka Peninsula has been an inalienable territory of our country for three thousand years. ”

Listening to him say a detailed investigation, Putiyatin's brows couldn't help jumping, Russia is in the northwest and northeast of the Qing Dynasty to investigate everywhere, proving that a large area in the northwest and northeast is a terra nullius, and then wantonly expanding, this is obviously targeted, three thousand years, this is even more clear that the history of bullying Russia is short.

He immediately said forcefully: "According to the Treaty of Nebuchu signed between you and China, the Kamchatka Peninsula is the territory of our country, and your country does not want to deny the Treaty of Nebuchu, right?" ”

"Since when did your country start respecting the treaty?" Yi Zhizhi said unhurriedly: "Why didn't your country think of the Treaty of Nebuchu when you built strongholds on Sakhalin Island, the estuary of Heilongjiang, and the coast of Heilongjiang, and when you emigrated and stationed troops?"

We have a saying in China, a tooth for a tooth! Didn't the Governor of Eastern Siberia in your country clamoring for a renegotiation of the border between the two countries? It just so happens that our country has this intention, so let's sit down and discuss the border between the two countries, and we have always been extremely dissatisfied with the Treaty of Nebuchu.

Your country is a European country, my country is an Asian country, and the Ural Mountains are the dividing line between Europe and Asia. ”

The Ural Mountains as a dividing line? Putiyatin was completely speechless, it was clear that the other party did not intend to be reasonable at all, and wanted to claim back the Kamchatka Peninsula, it seemed that it was impossible at all, he forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart, and reluctantly smiled: "Your Excellency, this joke is not funny at all. ”

"If this is a joke, then I tell you very solemnly." Yi Zhishu said with a serious face: "It is impossible to return the Kamchatka Peninsula, let alone any treaty or not, everyone knows that in front of cannons and bayonets, any treaty is a piece of waste paper!" I look forward to the arrival of your naval fleet in Kamchatka. ”

This guy actually turned his face when he said it! And is there a little bit of diplomat demeanor? Putiyatin's face was a little ugly, if the Russian fleet was to be able to expedition to Kamchatka, he would still talk about a fart! This is clearly bullying them and now they are not capable of starting a war!

He wanted to throw his hand and leave, but he felt that it was inappropriate, the affairs of the northwest had not been discussed, and the business and trade affairs of the two countries had not been discussed, which was not easy to be content, but in this atmosphere, it was obviously not suitable to continue to talk, and the atmosphere was a little tense and a little dull for a while.

Yi Zhizhi was unaware, he reached out to ask for tea with a big grin, then took a few sips of the cup, put down the teacup, and changed his words, "I heard that you have plans to sell Alaska?" ”

Alaska for sale? Putiyatin was relieved, and the governor of Eastern Siberia, Muravyov, did propose to the government to sell Alaska, because of the defeat of the Crimean War, Russia's national strength was greatly damaged, and Alaska located in North America was beyond the reach of the whip, unable to control, and worried that the British would take the opportunity to seize it, rather than so, it was better to simply sell it, after all, what Russia lacked most now was gold and silver!

However, this did not cause much reaction, and Alaska was nothing more than a huge snow-covered wasteland, sparsely populated, inhabited only by a few tens of thousands of Eskimos and Indians, who found no particular economic value, let alone strategic value, except for a pitiful fur.

Perhaps the ministers felt that no country would buy it, and they were worried that this matter would become a joke for others, so they all chose to remain silent.

He didn't expect that Yi Zhishu would take the initiative to ask about it, and he didn't know how he found out? He suddenly remembered the situation when he first came to Shanghai in 1852 to see Yi Zhizhi, and at that time, the other party mentioned to him that he wanted to buy land!

It seems that the other party is serious! Putiyatin was overjoyed in his heart, and he groaned slightly, and he tentatively said, "Yuanqi is interested in Alaska? It was a wasteland. ”

"We need a foothold in North America." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "In addition, for the long-term friendly development of relations between the two countries, the occupation of the Kamchatka Peninsula also needs to give your country a decent explanation. ”

Hearing this, Putiyating said with a smile on his face, "Thank you." ”

This thank you is indeed sincere, the Qing State forcibly occupied the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia can only stare dryly, now Russia cannot send a fleet to the Far East, besides, even if it can send a fleet to come, it may not be able to recapture the Kamchatka Peninsula from the hands of the Qing State, people have the courage to argue with Britain and France, how can they be afraid of the Russian naval fleet!

Taking a step back, even if Russia can recapture the Kamchatka Peninsula, it will not be able to hold it at all, it cannot be navigated from the Heilongjiang River, Kamchatka is an enclave, and it is difficult to supply, and now the Qing State has lifted the ban on the Northeast and is organizing large-scale immigration to the Northeast, and Russia has lost the opportunity to expand to the Northeast.

In this case, the Qing State was able to take the initiative to buy the Kamchatka Peninsula, which was indeed a great favor to Russia, and it was one thing to have more money and less money, at least it would save enough face for Russia!

Yi Zhizhi said with a smile on his face: "I have a telegraph room here, do you want to ask the price?" ”

If the deal is negotiated, it will be of great benefit to the subsequent negotiations, and the use of the contented telegraph room will at least leave a small expense, after all, such long-distance telegraphs are extremely expensive, and Putiyatin readily agreed.

From Shanghai to St. Petersburg, even some telegrams took a day to arrive, and on the third day Putiyatin received a reply - 30,000,000 taels of silver, a fixed price, in gold, silver, and pounds.

Thirty million taels of silver? Yi Zhicontent glanced at Putiyatin, "Your Excellency thinks that Alaska is worth 30 million taels of silver?" Or to put it another way, is it worth spending 30 million for a foothold in North America? ”

And this is not also Kamchatka? Putiyatin slandered in his heart, but he couldn't say it after all, so he hesitated for a moment before saying: "Alaska is 1.7 million square kilometers. ”

Yi Zhishu shook his head slowly, and said, "I'll talk about this later, you can also talk to other countries first and see if anyone is willing to ask for it." ”

30 million taels of silver is not a small amount, what country is willing to spend such a large sum of silver to buy Alaska? Maybe the British will ask for it, and they can get this silver, but the last thing Russia wants is to sell it to the British! Moreover, there is a Kamchatka Peninsula in between.

Putiyating also felt that the domestic asking price was too high, what a fixed price, it was estimated that it was just a temptation, and he groaned slightly, and then he said: "What price are you willing to pay?" ”

"Ten million, ten million taels of silver at most!"

Putiyating is not good at bargaining for business, so he said straightforwardly: "Twenty million, otherwise it is impossible for the country to agree." ”

After pondering for a long time, Yi Zhizhi said: "Okay, 10 million to buy Alaska, 10 million to buy Kamchatka, and one or two more silver are not to be discussed, I can pay directly by transfer, of course, I have to deduct the previous arrears." ”

Putiya pouted for a moment, at the moment of the war, the other party still dares to take out more than 10 million taels of silver to buy Alaska? He didn't want to ask too much, besides, Russia was in urgent need of silver now, and it was naturally best to be able to pay it in cash, he groaned slightly, and he changed his words, "Britain and France will send troops on a large scale at the beginning of next year, and you and us should sit down and discuss the border between our two countries in Central Asia?" ”

"The Anglo-French invasion did not require the mobilization of troops in Central Asia." Yi Zhishu said and stood up and pulled back the curtain on the wall to reveal the large map on the wall.

"For your country, the Far East is not ordinarily far away." Yi Zhizu pointed to the northeast and said: "His Majesty the Emperor of our country has lifted the ban on the Northeast and is organizing large-scale immigration to the Northeast, the next step is to lift the ban on Mongolia, and then organize large-scale immigration to Mongolia."

China has a large population, with a population of 400 million, and in recent years, the Yellow River has been flooded every year, and a large number of victims in Henan and Shandong need to carry out organized large-scale migration. ”

Speaking of this, he paused and said in a deep voice: "Your country has been expanding eastward, which has seriously endangered the security of our country's northwest, north, and northeast, which is intolerable to our country, and objectively ...... said. ”

He pointed to the area of the Altai Mountains and said: "To the east of the Altai Mountains, your country can't hold it at all, let alone now, even before the Crimean War, your country can't compete with our country in this area, and your country's logistics supply line is too long." ”

Listening to the translation, Putiyatin was secretly frightened, what does it mean? Could it be that the Qing Kingdom intends to use the Altai Mountains as its boundary? His face suddenly turned a little pale, and the other party was right, if a large-scale war broke out east of the Altai Mountains, Russia would have no chance of winning at all, and the logistics supply line was indeed too long!

Yi Zhishu then drew a circle in Central Asia, "If a large-scale war breaks out between your two countries in Central Asia, it should also be a war of equal strength when our two countries are strong. Speaking of this, he slowed down his tone and said: "If two tigers fight, one will be injured, and if your two countries go to war, it will only cheapen Europe, Britain and France and other powerful countries." ”

After a pause, he continued: "My two armies can stop at Samarkand all the way to the city of Samarkand, and all the way back to Lake Balkhash, and in exchange for the new border between your two countries. ”

Putiyatin was stunned, this guy is definitely a madman, a madman in every way! He actually wants to occupy such a vast territory of Russia, and the condition is to give up the great expansion of Central Asia, and Russia is really a lamb to be slaughtered?

Seeing that his face was ugly, Yi Zhizhi lit a cigarette and said slowly: "Your country's roots are in Europe, and the direction of expansion should be the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, rather than Central Siberia and Eastern Siberia, which are beyond the reach of the whip and are bitterly cold and impoverished, and are inhuman. ”