If you don't take it, you will be blamed! Xie Xiuyuan was stunned and speechless, he really didn't expect that Yi Zhixiang was preparing for this international cotton hegemony not only to make money, but also to suppress the European financial industry.

After pondering for a moment, he said with some concern: "If we hit European finance hard through cotton hegemony, will we incur their retaliation?" ”

Get you back? Yi Zhixiang was very unimpressed by this, "Capital pursues profits, there is no mercy at all, no matter whether there is a complaint or not, as long as there is an opportunity, those big bankers and financial giants in Europe will not hesitate to make a move." ”

After a pause, he said slowly: "Capital has no borders, no matter the East or the West, no matter whether it is a big or small country, as long as it is profitable, capital will come surgingly, our securities trading markets in Guangzhou and Shanghai have been very prosperous in the past two years, do you know what the reason is?"

Not only because we have encouraged the gentry and businessmen in various provinces in China to invest idle funds in the stock market, but also because of the influx of a large number of Western funds, the economic crisis of Western countries in recent years, the economic recession, and the financial recession have naturally been sluggish, and a large number of funds have looked for a way out and have come east.

This is also the reason why the imperial court and the provincial railways can easily obtain huge low-interest loans, and the securities market continues to be extremely hot for this reason, a large amount of capital inflow, and the stock price naturally climbs.

This is a good thing, but it is also a hidden danger, the inflow of funds reaches a certain scale, the stock market rises to a certain extent, and our securities market has the highest risk.

To put it simply, this is a financial war, which is inevitable, so once we seize the opportunity, we must not be soft, we must mercilessly weaken the other party to strengthen ourselves, only in this way can we better protect our domestic financial market. ”

After a pause, he continued: "The American Civil War, not only us, bankers and financial giants from European countries should be involved in the speculation of cotton, the supply of cotton in the south is stable, and there is no opportunity for speculation, and the vast majority of people will choose to quit, which is our opportunity."

Call back Hu Xueyan, don't hesitate, don't doubt, resolutely eat, in kind, securities, all eat, don't have any worries, domestic cotton should also be purchased in large quantities, the price is too high, all hoarded cotton will be transported to Changsha and Jiangning as soon as possible ........ ”

Changsha and Jiangning? Xie Xiuyuan understood as soon as he thought about it, these two places have railways to Guangzhou and Shanghai respectively, and they should not be directly transported to Guangzhou and Shanghai, which should be out of the need for secrecy, once the European market learns that the Qing Dynasty has prepared a huge amount of cotton, it will have a big impact on the price of cotton in Europe.

However, raising the purchase price of cotton, the impact on the country is not small, a little hesitation, he said: "For the ex-factory price of cotton yarn and cloth in cotton spinning mills in various provinces, whether to set a standard, the price of cloth may not cause criticism." ”

"Don't allow them to raise their prices." Yi Zhizhi said: "Woven cloth is cheaper than homespun cloth, so that the gap will be greater, to remind the provincial government, beware of weaving household trouble, Yuan Qi should also take this opportunity to build a large-scale cotton mill in the northern cotton producing area, for those who have difficulty in making a living, persuade immigrants, and make proper arrangements for immigrants." ”

Before the words fell, Lin Meilian reported at the door: "The big treasurer, the Russian envoy Putiyatin came to visit. ”

"Let him in." Yi Zhizhi commanded, without the slightest intention of getting up to greet him, not that he had made himself a prince, but to express his dissatisfaction, the matter in Siberia had dragged on for several years, and there was no response, and he was very dissatisfied with this.

Listening to the visit of the Russian envoy, Xie Xiuyuan stood up and hesitated for a moment before saying: "Russian businessmen have also purchased a large amount of cotton in the northwest in the past two years, and the bid is slightly higher than ours....... Zuo Zongtang, the governor of Xinjiang, ........ ”

Hearing him mention this, Yi Zhizhi couldn't help but smile, the imperial court implemented the frontier reform, Xinjiang abolished the general's mansion to rebuild the province, modeled on Sichuan, set up a governor without a governor, he did not recommend Feng Renxuan, but recommended Zuo Zongtang, but Zuo Zongtang was extremely disgusted with Yuanqi's monopoly of cotton in the northwest, and openly encouraged the local government to sell cotton to Russian merchants, not for the idea difference, but for taxation, Yuanqi did not pay commercial tax when purchasing cotton in Xinjiang.

"I don't need to talk about it later." Yi Zhizu waved his hand, "I have already called Zuo Jigao, starting next year, Yuanqi will not monopolize cotton in the northwest, and the cotton purchase will also pay taxes according to the regulations, and he will actively promote cotton planting in the newly annexed land in the northwest, and Russia's demand for cotton will increase year by year." ”

Seeing that he gently revealed the matter, Xie Xiuyuan was dissatisfied, and said: "The subordinates are really serving that Zuo Jigao, how much can the cotton merchant tax be in a year?" Yuanqi subsidizes Xinjiang every year, and the silver is still less? He's so embarrassed! The big shopkeeper can't get used to him, and if the governors of other provinces do the same, they can't mess around. ”

"You don't know the difficulties of being in charge." Yi Zhizhi said: "Xinjiang Xinjian Province is not only a bitter cold place, but also a large immigration province, as well as a vast new annex land, Zuo Jigao also has his difficulties, although the cotton business tax is not huge, but the tax is not taxed, the impact is not small.

Another point, it must be stated that Yuanqi has no privileges in business, and must do things according to the rules and regulations, and pay commercial taxes in accordance with the regulations. ”

These words sounded gentle, but the meaning of the reprimand was very obvious, Xie Xiuyuan felt aggrieved in his heart, and arched his hand: "Don't worry, once the cotton is taken off, all the cotton business taxes in Xinjiang in the past few years will be made up by all the subordinates." ”

"Okay." Yi Zhizhi said with his head in his jaw: "This wind can't be long, otherwise it will be out of control, and it will ruin Yuanqi's reputation and atmosphere." With that, he stood up.

Xie Xiuyuan also heard the footsteps in the courtyard, it was not good to stay, so he hurriedly gave up his hand and retreated, Yi Zhicontent slowly paced to the door, and saw Putiyating coming quickly, so he stretched out his hand with a smile on his face and said, "Welcome to Shanghai again." ”

"This time I came to Shanghai, I brought good news to Your Excellency." Putiatin said with a smile on his face.

Listening to Lin Meilian's translation, the smile on Yi Zhixiang's face was even stronger, "Your country's implementation of serfdom reform has triggered a large-scale riot, and your Excellency is sure to bring good news?" ”

The smile on Putiatin's face froze, and then he forced a forced smile to himself: "I didn't expect Your Excellency to be so concerned about the situation in our country. ”

The two of them entered the room and sat down separately, and Yi Zhizhi said: "Since your two countries are neighbors and may form strategic partners, I naturally have to pay special attention to the situation in your country. After a pause, he continued: "What good news did Your Excellency bring this time?" ”

Listening to the translation, Putiyating smiled and said: "Of course, it is Eastern Siberia that Your Excellency cares about, Your Majesty the Emperor of our country has officially agreed to sell the vast land east of the Altai Mountains for one billion silver dollars, and is willing to cooperate with Your Excellency's plan, but for such a vast land, Your Excellency must pay some silver, right?" ”

"How much?" Einko asked directly.

Putiyatin blurted out, "One hundred million taels of silver." ”

"Two hundred million silver, enough to wage a huge war in the northwest." Yi Zhishu sneered: "It seems that His Majesty the Emperor of your country does not intend to peacefully resolve the redemarcation of the border between the two countries. ”

Putiatin said slowly: "No, on the contrary, His Majesty the Emperor of our country very much wants to peacefully resolve the redemarcation of the border between your two countries, 100 million taels of silver, which is already full sincerity, after all, it is millions of square kilometers of land. ”

"The area is not small, but it is a worthless bitter cold place, worth 100 million silver?" Yi Zhizu said coldly: "There is no need to talk about this territorial deal, and my country will send troops to occupy it." ”

Putiyatin said solemnly: "Your Excellency, if this is the case, a long-term war will inevitably break out between your two countries. ”

"A long war?" Yi Zhixiang seemed to have heard a very funny joke, "Your country is now too busy to take care of itself, and it still has the ability to wage war in Eastern Siberia?" ”

Putiyatin said in a deep voice: "I'm talking about the long term. ”

"Long-term?" Yi Zhizhi laughed and said: "The Crimean War only lasted three years, and your country's finances have already gone bankrupt, and besides, your country still has many old friends in Europe, and your country dares to focus on Eastern Siberia?" ”

A large-scale war with the Qing in Eastern Siberia was completely impossible, for Russia Eastern Siberia was too far away, the climate was even worse than Crimea, and if nothing else, logistics alone was enough to make everyone despair.

Besides, what the other party said is also good, Russia is a European country, the center of gravity is in Europe, and the Qing State is fighting in Eastern Siberia, which is completely putting the cart before the horse, originally Russia's expansion to the Far East was to open up the access to the sea in the Pacific Ocean, but now the Qing State even bought the Kamchatka Peninsula, and the expansion of the Heilongjiang River Valley was recovered by the Qing Eight Banners New Army.

It can be said that Russia's eastward expansion is meaningless, as the other side said, Eastern Siberia is a worthless bitter cold land, and Russia can't find any reason to start a war with the rising Qing State for this place! It was with these considerations that Alexander II decided to sell the land.

Unable to threaten war, Putiya Dinden changed his attitude and said, "How much silver are you going to give?" ”

After a slight sigh, Yi Zhizhi said: "That place, I can easily grab it for two million taels of silver, as long as I give 10,000 new horse guns to the tribes of Mobei Mongolia, they can sweep the entire Eastern Siberia, and I don't need to worry about it at all." However, for the sake of the long-term friendship and peaceful development of the two countries, we can make appropriate concessions ....... As he spoke, he stretched out three fingers, "Thirty million silver dollars, there is no room for negotiation." ”

Thirty million, or silver dollars, Puti Yating's face was a little ugly, "This price, I'm afraid my country is very difficult to accept." ”

"Then don't talk about it." Easy to be content with the simple way.

Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Putiatin said helplessly: "I must ask for instructions from China." ”

Seeing that Putiyating was sent away, seeing that Yi Zhizhi was content to be free, Lin Meilian said while cleaning up: "Big shopkeeper, since you can spend two million silver to take East Siberia, why do you want to give Russia 30 million silver dollars?" ”

lit a cigarette, and Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "In the Crimean War, Yuanqi and Russia carried out several major trades in the northwest, and Russia owed us more than 10 million yuan of silver.

If there is a war, this silver will definitely not come back, and if this silver is deducted, we will only spend more than 10 million silver dollars to buy East Siberia, which is one of them.

Second, buying this land can reduce a lot of trouble, if it is forcibly occupied, once Russia becomes strong, the two countries will inevitably spend money to buy it because of this land, and Russia will not be able to find an excuse to claim it back in the future, unless we are willing to sell it.

Third, the peaceful settlement of this matter is conducive to promoting the maintenance of friendly and peaceful relations between the two countries, once the railway connecting Russia is built, China's trade with Europe will not be limited to maritime trade, and in this case, it will also be of great benefit to our stability in Central Asia. ”

Lin Meilian stuck out her tongue, "It's still out of so much consideration." ”

Yi Zhizu quipped in a relaxed tone: "You think I am suspicious of silver, and I take it and give it away." ”

"It's not easy to take the money of the big treasurer." With the words, Zhao Liewen appeared at the door with a telegram in his hand, and said with a smile: "Eastern Siberia has been taken?" ”

"Putiyatin still needs to ask for instructions." Yi Zhizhi said: "I opened 30 million silver dollars, and it is a little difficult for them to accept this price." ”

Zhao Liewen said with a smile: "What does the big shopkeeper mean, can you add more?" ”

"Can't add it." Yi Zhizhi said without thinking: "Once they give in, they will gain an inch, and the reform of serfdom in Russia is not going well, and the serf riots have swept the country, and they are now in urgent need of money." ”

Hearing this, Lin Meilian was puzzled and said: "Isn't the reform of serfdom the liberation of serfs?" Why did the serfs still revolt? ”

"It is true that the serfs were emancipated, but because the fiscal deficit was too large, Russia took advantage of the reform of serfdom to carry out large-scale exploitation." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "With the reform of serfdom, serfs have indeed gained personal freedom and land, but they must pay a ransom that is two or three times higher than the actual land price to obtain land.

The peasants had no money, and the imperial court allowed them to pay 20% of the entire ransom first, and the remaining ransom was paid by the imperial court, which was repaid annually by the peasants and paid interest over a period of 49 years.

To be precise, this reform of serfdom was a plunder orchestrated by the tsarist court, a great looting of the peasants' land, possessions and money! ”

Lin Meilian said angrily: "This is darker than usury, this is also shameless, no wonder so many serfs rebelled." ”

"Our newspapers have very little coverage of the situation in Russia." Zhao Liewen pondered: "Is it better to let the newspapers report on it, look at the reform of serfdom in Russia, and compare our immigration policy, this is simply a world of difference." ”

Yi Zhizhi nodded his head and said, "This is a good proposal. This is conducive to rallying the will of the people and enhancing the cohesion of the country and the nation. ”