The sudden rise and fall in the price of gold was a catastrophe for the entire Wall Street, many brokerages and banks directly declared bankruptcy on the same day, and countless brokers and speculators instantly became penniless or even in debt, but this was only the beginning.

With the collapse of gold prices and the evaporation of huge sums of money, the Wall Street stock exchange took the lead in being affected, and the stock market fell sharply one after another, which is tantamount to adding insult to injury for Wall Street, with brokerage banks, banks, insurance companies, and listed companies failing and going bankrupt one after another.

No one could have predicted that a farce-like gold speculation would lead to a six-year recession in the United States.

Yi Zhifen may be the only one who knows exactly what the serious consequences of this famous 'Black Friday' will have on the American economy, and it is undoubtedly a rare opportunity for the rising Qing Dynasty, who is wondering whether it is time to settle the debts of the United States, which in the Civil War owed Yuanqi.

After weighing it again, he still dispelled this idea, Yuan Qi undoubtedly played a role in the gold speculation in New York, and also made a small profit, which could not be hidden from the federal government, and then liquidated the debt at this time, it may be completely reversed, besides, a six-year economic depression period is enough.

Slowly opened the curtain on the wall, revealing the hanging world map, his eyes swept in the United States, cast on Europe, the Franco-Prussian War will break out next year, this war to change the pattern of Europe, will inevitably have a great impact on the European capital market, it is time to take precautions, layout in advance.

On the morning of this day, Hu Guangyong walked into the Changle Book House quickly, and when he entered the room, he saw Yi Zhizhi sitting behind the desk flipping through the account books, and he hurriedly bowed down and said, "My subordinates have seen the big shopkeeper. ”

"Snow Rock is here." Yi Zhishu closed the account book and said, "Sit, no need to be formal." After the other party sat down, he said slowly: "Xueyan has stayed in Europe for two years, would you like to go to Europe for another year?" ”

Going to Europe? Hu Guangyong's eyes couldn't help but light up, and he hurriedly asked, "Chance?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded, "In my opinion, there should be a war in Europe next year - Prussia vs. France." ”

Hu Guangyong has been paying close attention to the situation in Europe, he knows very well that finance and politics are inseparable, and he can't help but be surprised when he hears this, "In just a few years, Prussia has launched two wars in succession, and now it is about to launch a third war?" Opponent or France? ”

Yi Zhizu said slowly: "If Prussia wants to complete reunification, it is inevitable to fight with France!" ”

Since the Crimean War, France has been a veritable hegemon in western and central Europe, and Prussia, as a rising star, dares to challenge France? Although he knew that the other party had an incredibly accurate prediction ability, Hu Guangyong was still a little skeptical, in his opinion, this was simply an incredible thing!

After a slight groan, he said, "The big treasurer is sure that the war will break out next year?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded, and said in a firm tone: "If nothing happens, it should be next year." After a pause, he continued: "Yuan Qi has been actively preparing for the northwest expansion, waiting for the opportunity for a large-scale war to break out in Europe, and will not make a mistake in judgment. ”

Hearing him say this, Hu Guangyong was no longer entangled, and instead asked: "Judging by the big treasurer, who will win the war in the end, Prussia or France?" ”

"Prussia!" Yi Zhizhi said without thinking: "Prussia will complete the unification through this war, and become a European power, changing the pattern of Europe." ”

"Knowing the outcome of the war, it is purely to go to Europe to circle money." Hu Guangyong smiled: "How much money does the big shopkeeper plan to withdraw?" ”

Speaking of funds, Yi Zhizhi groaned for a while, the Civil War Yuanqi was both arms trade and cotton trade, and it really made a lot of money, but it was earned quickly, and it was spent quickly, the development of heavy industry in China, railway construction, shipbuilding, education funds, shareholder dividends, war against the Japanese, and immigration....... The silver flowed out like water.

"The day of the Franco-Prussian War was also a time of great expansion in the northwest." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Historically, the war in the northwest is about money and grain, although it has been operating in Xinjiang for many years, and the Northwest Railway has also been opened, but this time it is a large-scale expansion, advancing by sea and land, and it requires huge military spending. ”

After a pause, he continued: "With such a huge amount of military spending, Yuanqi and other shareholders will inevitably have a lot of complaints and even criticisms, and the purpose of going to Europe to make up for military expenses is mainly to supplement military spending." As for the funds, the funds that Yuanqi can draw are estimated to be about 20 million yuan. ”

How much military spending is needed for the northwest expansion? Hu Guangyong didn't have a good question, but even if it is a large-scale expansion and a sea and land advance, it will cost at least tens of millions, if the time drags on for a long time, the expenses of hundreds of millions or even hundreds of millions of yuan are not new, what can the capital of 20 million help? Even if you can double it, you will only earn 20 million,

This is not the time to be polite, and after a slight groan, he said: "Can the funds of the overseas branch be mobilized by the subordinates?" ”

Yi Zhixiang glanced at him and said with a smile: "After experiencing the cotton trade in Europe, Xueyan's appetite is getting more and more, quite like Han Xin's style, rest assured, Yuan Qi's 20 million is not enough, and my private money." ”

Hearing this, Hu Guangyong was greatly excited, he didn't know how much private money Yi Zhixiang had, but he thought that it would not be less than 100 million, he immediately smiled and said: "The funds are sufficient, and my subordinates dare to guarantee that the military expenses for the northwest expansion will be fully paid." ”

"Snow Rock, don't be careless. This time it is no better than the cotton trade of the year. Yi Zhishu said slowly: "You have not been in Europe for a short time, you should have heard of the Rothschilds?" ”

Hu Guangyong nodded and said: "There is a popular saying in Europe in recent years - there are six great powers in Europe: England, France, Tsarist Russia, Austria-Hungary, Prussia and the Rothschilds. The Rothschild family, nicknamed the 'Sixth Reich', is said to have accumulated a wealth of up to 1.5 billion pounds and controls the currency issuance of major European industrial countries such as Britain, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. ”

Whether the Rothschild family has a wealth of 1.5 billion pounds, Yi Zhishu doesn't know, but he knows that this family is indeed a financial empire, nodded slightly, and then he said: "This family is not only rich in capital, but also has a huge intelligence network in Europe, especially likes war, and is used to betting on both sides, winning or losing, it is the base camp of this family. ”

Hu Guangyong nodded and said, "My subordinates understand, try not to attract the attention of this family." ”

"Snow Rock should have been their focus when they were trading cotton." Yi Zhisuff advised: "This time you have to go to the West secretly, it is best to bring some competent people, otherwise your appearance in the West will inevitably arouse their vigilance." ”

After Hu Guangyong retired, Yi Zhizhi got up and walked to the window and lit a cigarette, no one knows how much wealth the Rothschild family has accumulated, but this is indeed a financial empire that all countries in the world must be in awe, they opened banks in various places, engaged in securities, stock trading and insurance business, invested in industry and commerce, railways and communications, and later developed into steel, coal, mining and other industries, penetrating into all corners of the local economy of Europe and the United States.

This family is especially fond of war, and whenever there is a war, they bet on both sides - military loans to governments, reparations for defeated countries, typical win-lose all-you-go, the Crimean War, the Civil War, and the Austro-Prussian War.

In fact, Yuan Qi is somewhat similar to the Rothschild family to a large extent, except that Yuan Qi does not want to be the 'Sixth Empire' in the name of the 'Sixth Empire' but wants to really control the Qing Dynasty.

He knows very well that if the Qing Dynasty wants to rise strongly, there will inevitably be a vicious fight between Yuanqi and the Rothschilds, but the current Yuanqi is not comparable to the Rothschilds at all, so it is better to be low-key and cautious.

He was thinking to himself when he heard footsteps behind him, turned around, and just saw Zhao Liewen tiptoeing back and about to retreat, and couldn't help laughing: "It's okay." ”

Zhao Liewen smiled, walked into the room and said, "I didn't disturb the big shopkeeper's thoughts." ”

"The child has seen his father." Yi Zhengxing, who followed in, smiled and bowed.

"Sit down, don't be formal." Yi Zhizhi said and threw away the cigarette butt and slowly paced over and sat down on the main seat, Zhao Liewen sat down and said: "Big treasurer, the first regular meeting of the two provinces of Nanyang and the southeast provinces has ended, and the meeting materials of other provinces have not yet been sent, and the students of Jiangsu Province have read it, and a total of 184 bills have been received, including 15 bills submitted by the governor, 98 proposals by the councilors, and 71 bills requested by the people.

These bills mainly include the following seven aspects:

First, legislative bills. The aim is to make the Consultative Council truly a full legislature and authority, rather than an advisory body controlled by the government; At the same time, parliamentarians are able to truly control the actual suffrage, not just decorations for the government. Second......... ”

Yi Zhizu waved his hand and said, "It's simpler." ”

Zhao Liewen smiled and continued: "Second, the bill to protect sovereignty. The third is the bill on the impeachment of officials, the fourth is the bill on the development of industry, the fifth is the bill on handling the constitution, the sixth is the bill on eliminating malpractice, and the seventh is the bill on education. ”

After a slight sigh, Yi Zhizhi said: "It seems that the constitutional propaganda over the years has not been without effect, and it is rare for the first Standing Committee to have this effect." ”

"The big shopkeeper." Zhao Liewen said with a smile: "These are the two provinces of Nanyang and the southeastern provinces, all of which are provinces with a good constitutional foundation, and the other provinces may not be ......." ”

Yi Zhengxing interjected: "Father, some parliamentarians strongly demand that the concession be reclaimed and foreigners be prohibited from buying land in ....... country. ”

Recovering the Concession? Yi Zhishu was stunned for a moment, and then said, "What do you think?" ”

"The child secretly thinks that there is no need to rush to recover the concession." Yi Zhengxing pondered: "Although the concession is detrimental to sovereignty, it is not without benefits. ”

"Where's Huifu?"

Zhao Liewen pondered for a while before saying: "The land of the concession, after all, was bought at the beginning, and it seems inappropriate to take back the concession, but you can negotiate and cancel some restrictions." As for the ....... prohibiting foreigners from buying land in China, this is unreasonable, and Yuanqi has not bought less land in Western countries. ”

After a slight sigh, Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "The concession is a product of specific historical conditions, some privileges are indeed detrimental to sovereignty, and it can prevent the recurrence of the concession in the future, and it is not appropriate to forcibly recover the existing concession before it expires.

As for the ban on foreigners buying land in China, is this hoping that we will return to the state of seclusion and seclusion? The Qing Dynasty wants to integrate into the world, not only to go out, but also to welcome people in with open arms, Huifu wrote an article in the newspaper to publicly refute this idea! ”

Zhao Liewen nodded with a smile and said, "It's too much, it's too much." ”

What is too much, it should be grandstanding! Yi Zhishu didn't bother to pay attention to it, looked at Yi Zhengxing and said, "What is your eldest brother busy with during this time?" ”

Yi Zhengxing was stunned for a moment before he said, "It seems that he is tinkering with the airship ......." ”

The value of the airship is not great, at least Yi Zhixin is not interested in the airship, the practicality of that thing is too low, "Let him accompany me to dinner tonight." ”

"Oh." Yi Zhengxing responded in a low voice, secretly worried about Yi Zhengde in his heart, and estimated that a reprimand was indispensable.

Seeing this situation, Zhao Liewen changed the topic and said: "Now more than ten provinces have set up advisory bureaus, and it is estimated that all provincial advisory bureaus will be established by the end of the year, and the establishment of the Information Administration Yuan has been put on the agenda, and then it is time to form a cabinet........" ”

Yi Zhixiang glanced at him and said, "Hui Fu wants to ask if the candidate for the cabinet minister has been decided?" ”

"The Great Shopkeeper Mingjian." Zhao Liewen nodded and said, "At the beginning of the year, the cabinet should be established ......." ”

Cabinet minister candidates, Yi Zhishu does have some headaches, those with qualifications are not useful, but they are useless and have no qualifications, so they can't get a few third- or fourth-grade officials to be cabinet ministers, Yi Feifei's strong protest can't be, Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang are suitable candidates, but the war in the northwest is imminent, and he doesn't want to transfer the two from the northwest back to Beijing at this time.

Seeing that he was silent, Zhao Liewen knew that he must not have decided on a candidate yet, so he immediately did not say anything, in fact, he also knew in his heart that this cabinet minister was really difficult to decide, and he couldn't throw all his civil and military henchmen to Beijing.

Yi Zhishu said very abruptly: "Does Huifu have an idea?" ”

As soon as he heard this, Zhao Liewen hurriedly waved his hand and said: "Don't kill the students, the first cabinet ministers are paying attention, and the prestige and qualifications required are enough to convince the public, and the students can't afford it, besides, the big shopkeeper also needs people around him." ”

Yi Zhixiang smiled and said, "If Huifu wants to go, I won't let it go." Saying that, he sighed lightly, "The other candidates are not too big of a problem, and this minister of the degree is really a bit troublesome." ”

Zhao Liewen said tentatively: "Can the shopkeeper Kong? ”