Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

Zhao Liewen put down the newspaper in his hand, glanced at Yi Zhengxing, who was reading the newspaper, and said tentatively: "The big shopkeeper has long expected such a situation? ”

Closing the newspaper, Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "China is a big silver country, and the silver reserves are so large that even Mexico and the United States, which are rich in silver, are difficult to match. ”

"The United States is also a big silver country, and now it has swallowed 400 million taels of silver in our country, and the price of silver has fallen, and the loss of the United States can be described as the largest." Yi Zhengxing said with some doubts: "Didn't the United States expect such a situation before?" ”

"How could America have predicted?" Yi Zhishu laughed and said: "Compared with the inflow of hundreds of millions of taels of silver, what is the decline in the international price of silver?" What's more, the decline in the price of silver is not a disadvantage, at least it can stimulate the export trade of the United States.

Besides, the exchange ratio we give is 1:25, which is enough to make up for part of the loss of the United States, and the price of silver is falling sharply, and it will definitely rebound later, and 1:22 is the normal price. ”

Before the words fell, Hu Guangyong walked in quickly, "Big shopkeeper, in this current situation, do you want to temporarily stop the business of exchanging banknotes for silver?" ”

"Can't stop. Once the exchange is stopped, it will inevitably affect the reputation of Yuanqi. Yi Zhizhi said and pointed to the chair, "Although there is a large silver gap in Yuanqi at present, there are not many people who are willing to exchange silver in this situation, and everyone is looking forward to the implementation of the gold standard to exchange for gold." ”

Hu Guangyong bowed down and sat down before taking a seat, deliberately slowing down his tone and saying: "At present, the government and the opposition are looking forward to Yuan Qi's implementation of the gold standard as soon as possible, and the calls asking questions are non-stop all day long, how should I reply?" ”

"Drag ——。" Yi Zhizhi said simply: "To ensure that the banknotes are exchanged at a fixed gold and silver exchange ratio of one to twenty, in order to delay time, Yuan Qi does not implement the gold standard, and the banknote exchange can only be exchanged for silver, and the difference is obvious, I believe that not many people will be willing to exchange silver." ”

Hu Guangyong said with some embarrassment: "But this time has dragged on for too long, and it will inevitably arouse suspicion ......." ”

"Don't worry." Yi Zhi said confidently: "Divide the external and internal two steps, first announce that the Chinese dollar in the international market is directly linked to gold and is freely convertible, and the price will be priced at a gold and silver exchange ratio of 1:20.

After all, China's announcement of the implementation of the gold standard will have a great impact on international silver prices, which will stimulate the further decline of silver prices, and will not cause a run on the situation of hedging value. ”

First announced that Huayuan is linked to gold in the international arena and is freely convertible, which is enough to stabilize the domestic mood, and the circulation of Huayuan in the international market is not large, and there is no pressure on Yuanqi, Hu Guangyong couldn't help but smile, "The big shopkeeper is wonderful, but when will it be announced that Huayuan is linked to gold in the world?" ”

"Let's wait for a year, we need to buy enough time." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "As for the excuse, let's just say that the gold delivery in the United States takes time, and the silver exchanged is only 400 million taels, and there is still a certain gap in gold, which needs to be filled by the Transvaal gold mine." ”

Huangpu River, Yuanqi Wharf.

The dock porters were busy carrying thick and heavy metal boxes to an ocean-going freighter moored on the wharf, and in a small car on the wharf, Yi Zhisuff quietly watched this scene through the car window, which was the first batch of silver shipped to the United States.

Zhao Liewen, who was sitting in the front row, turned around and reminded softly: "Big shopkeeper, Minister Wei is here." ”

Yi Zhishu turned his head and just saw Wei Sanwei getting down from the four-wheeled carriage, "It's windy by the river, please let him get in the car." ”

Wei Sanwei got into the car with a smile on his face, "I didn't expect His Highness to come to ....... in person." ”

"This is half of Yuanqi's belongings, how can I not come." Yi Zhishu said and asked, "It seems that your country's gold has not yet been shipped?" ”

Wei San smiled and said, "I just received the telegram that the gold ship had secretly set sail in the early hours of yesterday morning. ”

I don't know if this news is true or not? Yi Zhixiang didn't ask much, nodded and didn't say anything, and was silent for a while, before Wei Sanwei said softly: "There is one thing I don't know if Your Highness knows, as early as 1869, the former Secretary of the Treasury Botwell asked the Deputy Currency Superintendent Knox to draft a revised coinage bill to prohibit the circulation of silver. The amendment bill was formally introduced by the Ohio Senate in Congress. ”

And what's going on? The United States has proposed the abolition of silver so early? Yi Zhishu was a little surprised, but it was obvious that this bill was shelved, otherwise even if it was not passed, he would have heard about it, and he groaned slightly, and then he said: "Is it because of the discovery of a super large silver mine in the west?" So shelved? ”

Wei Sanwei glanced at him and said, "It's because the outflow of gold is serious, there are not enough gold reserves, and if the circulation of silver is banned, it will lead to further deflation." ”

"Deflation is the wrong strategy." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "Moderate and benign inflation is more conducive to economic development, and in the case of an economic crisis, it should be more appropriate inflation." ”

"Why?"

Yi Zhixiang smiled and said: "Although inflation will lead to currency depreciation and a decrease in purchasing power, it will also increase the amount of money in people's pockets, giving people the illusion of wealth, which is conducive to stimulating consumption and investment, and the current Treasury Secretary of your country, Richardson, obviously recognizes this." ”

As he spoke, he pulled back the conversation and asked rhetorically, "How did Your Excellency bring up this amendment bill?" ”

"I want to warn you to be wary of the Ross family." Wei Sanwei lowered his voice.

The Rothschilds? Yi Zhizu raised his eyebrows, "The Ross family has deep roots in your country's political and financial circles, doesn't your country want Yuanqi to fight with the Ross family?" Yuanqi Bank has no intention of further development in your country. ”

"Yuanqi dominates such a large South African gold mine, how can the Ross family give up?" Wei Sanwei said unhurriedly: "Besides, Yuan Qi's frequent moves in Europe have long been regarded as a thorn in the side of the Ross family, but I am afraid that it is impossible to be good." After a pause, he continued: "The bankers of Europe are good at sheep shearing, and I hope the same thing does not happen in your country. ”

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your kind reminder." Yi Zhizhi said: "Yuanqi is not a sheep, a tiger." ”

Hearing this, Zhao Liewen couldn't help laughing, he estimated that even Wei Sanwei, who was known as a China expert, couldn't understand this meaning, so he smiled and said: "There is a proverb in my country that a tiger's butt can't be touched." ”

Kyoshi, the official residence of the Prime Minister, is called the 'Prime Minister's Office' by the people of Kyoshi.

The Prime Minister's Office is located in the Imperial City, north of the Taiye Pool, not far from the six departments in the east, covering a vast area, beautiful scenery, the main building is a two-storey western-style building, Associate Minister Wu Changqing pinched a telegram and walked into Yi Yi's office and said: "Berlin called, Germany has also broken out a serious economic crisis ....... ”

An economic crisis has also broken out in Germany? It seems that it is really a large-scale economic crisis. Yi Yi took the telegram and quickly glanced at it, and said, "Is there any news from Britain and France?" ”

"Nope." Wu Changqing said: "At present, only the United States, Germany, and Austria ...... the economic crisis has broken out. ”

Yi Yi whispered as if talking to himself, "Economic crises have always been centered in England, and it was England that first broke out economic crises, but this time it's a little strange." ”

"The United States and Germany have both developed faster industries in recent years." Wu Changqing said: "Austria seems to be because of the World Expo. ”

Yi Yi looked at him and said: "The development speed of our industry and railways in the Qing Dynasty in recent years is not inferior to that of the United States and Germany, why hasn't an economic crisis broken out?" ”

"That's because there was no financial crisis in our country." Wu Changqing said slowly: "China's domestic market is huge, and with the huge financial support of Yuanqi, the development speed has not slowed down, how can an economic crisis break out." ”

"At the beginning of the constitution, I encountered such a big economic crisis, and I don't know if it was a blessing or a curse?" Yi Yi pondered and said: "The financial crisis and economic crisis in the United States are all due to the introduction of a large amount of European capital, and my country seems to be following the old path of the United States. ”

Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

Yi Zhengxing put down the telegram in his hand and said with some doubts: "Germany only received a huge war reparation of five billion francs through the Franco-Prussian War, and the funds are sufficient, and the industrial and economic development is rapid, why did an economic crisis break out?" And it was ahead of Britain and France. ”

"The economic crisis in Germany is precisely because the speed of development is too fast!" Yi Zhizu said slowly: "In the Franco-Prussian War, Germany gained huge benefits, but also set up a strong enemy, so Germany invested a huge amount of war reparations mainly in heavy industry - the development of military industry and railways, while light industry such as textile industry is far behind Britain and France.

It is not surprising that heavy industry is developing too fast and its production capacity is expanding rapidly, but the financial crisis has led to a rapid contraction in market demand, which has naturally caused a serious surplus, and it is not surprising that it has become the hardest hit area of this economic crisis. ”

Heavy industry is moving too fast? Zhao Liewen said with some worry: "The development speed of China's heavy industry is not slow...... ”

"Compared with Germany, the development of heavy industry in our country is much slower." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "In recent years, China has been in the stage of accumulating technology and talents, and the implementation of the First Five-Year Plan, China's heavy industry will usher in a blowout period."

However, there is no need to worry, because Japan itself has a huge domestic market that is difficult for European countries to match, and as long as there are no financial problems, there will be no economic crisis.

In addition, China's heavy industry and light industry have a moderate ratio, and they all carry out planned development according to regions and in accordance with resources and transportation, and they belong to the combination of the planned economy and the market economy, and there is no abnormal development or malicious competition, and as long as the guidance is appropriate, there will be no serious surplus. ”

After a slight sigh, Yi Zhengxing said: "Serious economic crises have broken out in the United States and Germany, but there is no sign of an economic crisis in England, is it possible for England to avoid this economic crisis?" ”

"If England can avoid it, this economic crisis will not be a worldwide economic crisis." Yi Zhifen said in a relaxed tone: "This round of economic prosperity in England is mainly due to the economic prosperity of the United States, Germany and our country, and now the United States and Germany have broken out serious economic crises, and our country has also sharply reduced imports, and Britain will inevitably be unable to escape the doom of the economic crisis, but the time of the outbreak of the economic crisis is somewhat difficult to say, and it may be delayed for a few years ........" ”

How many years delay? Yi Zhengxing was stunned, how is this possible? This is unheard of, and England, which has always been at the center of economic crises, could it have erupted years after a severe economic crisis in the United States and Germany? He couldn't help but say, "Why? Isn't there a financial crisis in England? ”

"The extent of the financial crisis in England is not deep, thanks to the fact that financial speculation has not formed a climax, and then this economic crisis is different from the previous ones, the previous crises were heavy losses in light industry, such as the cotton textile industry, which has been hit hard before, and this economic crisis has hit heavy industry."

Yi Zhizhi analyzed unhurriedly, "England's light industry has a large proportion, and its competitiveness is also good, and it also has a large overseas colony, and the impact of the crisis between the United States and Germany will not be too great, so the outbreak of the crisis will be delayed."

If an economic crisis breaks out in England, there will undoubtedly be a serious impact on the United States and Germany, as well as other European countries, which is why I will say that this economic crisis is not only large-scale, wide-ranging, but also long-lasting.

It was precisely because the United States expected that the outbreak of the economic crisis in England would cause a second shock to him, so it knew that the harm was not small, and it also pinched its nose and swallowed hundreds of millions of taels of silver in our country, hoping to recover the economy as soon as possible. ”

Zhao Liewen hurriedly followed the conversation and asked: "With the injection of 400 million taels of silver in my country, can the economy of the United States recover quickly?" ”

"That's wishful thinking on American behalf." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "Yuanqi's injection of silver, the purpose is to buy the bottom of Wall Street, is to develop the Los Angeles Basin bought by Yuanqi, which will definitely stimulate the economic recovery of the United States, but if you want to get rid of the economic crisis quickly, the possibility is also very small." ”

Before the words fell, Lin Meilian reported outside: "The big shopkeeper, Wang Shengde, chairman of the Federation of Industry and Commerce, is here. ”

Wang Shengde was called by him, in order to increase wages and benefits, after the Federation of Trade Unions submitted an application, the Federation of Industry and Commerce has been pressing, but only passed a proposal to stipulate a minimum wage, this matter he felt that the time had not arrived, so he has not asked, now that the economic crisis has broken out, this matter can naturally not be delayed any longer, he immediately casually ordered: "Let him in." ”