Must be fast? It seems that the previous judgment was correct, because of the war, the cotton supply of the textile mills in the north was cut off and now the cotton was urgently needed, otherwise it would not have been possible to buy cotton from Yuan Qi at a price four or five times higher, and the quantity was still so huge.

Slowly lit a cigarette, and then he tentatively said: "The federal government subsidizes the price of cotton? ”

"Without subsidies, who would buy such a high price?" Bo Jia rolled his eyes and said angrily: "This is already a sky-high price, if you are insatiable, it will directly destroy the Federation's impression of Yuan Qi." ”

Yi Zhishu was already very satisfied with this price, and he didn't despise the temporary price increase, and he groaned slightly, before he said: "300,000 bales is not a small amount, if it is shipped from Liverpool at one time, it may cause trouble, and there is also a lack of such a large fleet, it must be delivered in three or even five times." ”

The transportation of the fleet is a practical problem, and the uncle is not willing to make any extraneous branches, so he immediately nodded and said: "In this regard, Yuan Qi can arrange it by himself, but the north is in urgent need of cotton now, at least 50,000 or 100,000 bales will be transported first." ”

"No problem." Yi Zhixin said happily, in this way, he could completely transport cotton from China to Europe, and the high price of forty cents a pound was enough to dispel the concerns of everyone above and below Yuanqi, and these 300,000 bales alone were enough to recover more than half of the cost of Yuanqi's domestic hoarding of cotton. Once the news spreads in London, it will inevitably cause a sensation and help drive up the price of cotton.

Bo Jia glanced at him and said: "Yuanqi is hoarding cotton in Europe and is eager to raise the price of cotton, but this matter cannot be leaked, which is also an important reason for choosing Yuanqi to do this transaction."

The South is currently actively pursuing cotton diplomacy, and the rapid rise in the price of cotton will be more conducive to their diplomatic activities. ”

And this factor? Yi Zhishu nodded and said, "Don't worry, whether it's for the sake of your country or for Yuanqi's own interests, we will focus on the overall situation." ”

Hearing that the Northern Federation had ordered 300,000 packs at a high price of forty cents a pound, Xie Xiuyuan couldn't believe his ears, and he asked cautiously, "Won't there be any additional conditions?" ”

"What conditions can be attached?" Yi Zhicontent glanced at him, "The Northern Federation is still qualified to make conditions with us now?" I hold this batch of cotton in my hands, and I can sell it at this sky-high price next year! ”

After a pause, he instructed: "Send a telegram to Hu Xueyan, ask him to arrange for the fleet to be shipped, and tell him not to leak the news." ”

Xie Xiuyuan said puzzledly: "Isn't it more conducive to raising the price of cotton when this news leaks out?" ”

"This is the condition you said the Northern Federation proposed, and it can't leak the news and raise the price of cotton." A smile appeared at the corner of Yi Zhi's mouth, "The price of cotton, even if we can pull it, the increase is limited, and it is the south that can really raise the price of cotton."

If Britain, France, and Spain invade Mexico, the Northern Federation will be able to turn the danger into a safe one, and the Southern Union will inevitably take risks, and the time when cotton prices will rise wildly is not far off, and at that time, the whole world will be crazy about cotton. ”

In January 1862, the British and French troops landed in Mexico, but the British and French troops landed in Mexico with only 700 troops and the French army reached 2,000 in January.

Latin American countries have sent special envoys to Washington to discuss with the United States how to oppose the invasion of Britain, France, and Spain.

As expected, Lincoln openly opposed the invasion of Mexico by Britain, France, and Spain together with Latin American countries, and in order to avoid conflict with Britain and France and not conducive to war with the South, the Northern Union strictly required all foreign envoys and diplomatic officials to restrain their speech.

At the same time, the Northern Confederacy actively carried out diplomacy, courted England, and showed favor to France, but it did not have a good attitude towards Spain, and the United States was not afraid of Spain for fear of war with Britain and France during the Civil War, although Spain invaded Mexico and sent the largest number of troops, but the United States still did not take Spain in the eyes of the sunset.

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

Xie Xiuyuan walked into the room quickly with a telegram, and said after saluting: "Big shopkeeper, Hu Xueyan is calling, because of the naval blockade of the Southern Alliance by the Northern Federation, it is now difficult for Yuan Qi to buy cotton in the European cotton market, unless it is at a high price, he suggests using the recovered funds to increase the purchase of cotton in India and Egypt." ”

"Yes." Yi Zhizhi said: "Before the crazy rise in cotton, every price drop was a rare opportunity. After a pause, he continued: "This is not a one-shot deal, the American Civil War may last for four or five years, let's be cautious, do cotton trade for three years, and strive to sign a three-year subscription contract with them, and the same is true at home." ”

In April, due to the active mediation of the Northern Federation, England and Spain withdrew their troops from Mexico, but France not only refused to withdraw its troops, but further increased its troops by 6,500 troops, expanded the scale of the invasion, and directly declared war on Mexico!

At this time, Yi Zhizhi understood that England's attitude towards the American Civil War was indeed very subtle, or that England's will to intervene in the American Civil War was not strong, and France was the most urgent to intervene in the American Civil War.

Presumably, France intended to take the opportunity of the American Civil War to invade Mexico and establish a colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.

England, on the other hand, may have had insight into France's attempt to establish a colony in Mexico, so it decisively withdrew, and as for Spain, it should have also received benefits or received a stern warning, otherwise it would not withdraw.

How would you react to the expansion of the French invasion of Mexico, and how would the Confederation of the North? Yi Zhifen didn't care much about this issue, and he was sure that there was almost no possibility of war between the United States and France, otherwise Lincoln's previous burden of forbearance and humiliation would be meaningless.

At the moment, he is concerned about the reaction of the Southern Union, because the reaction of the South will directly determine the price of cotton!

"Big shopkeeper!" Xie Xiuyuan almost trotted all the way into Yi Zhi's study, and raised the telegram in his hand excitedly, "There is a reaction in the south!" ”

"It seems that the reaction is not small." Yi Zhishu said with a smile, took the telegram and looked at it, he knew why Xie Xiuyuan was so excited, and the reaction of the Southern Alliance was extremely fierce, not only announcing the reduction of cotton planting area, but also burning 2.5 million bales of cotton.

As soon as this news spreads, cotton prices will inevitably skyrocket!

Moreover, the "Mirror" of Charleston of the Southern Union also published an article saying, "The initiative is in our hands!" We intend to drag on until every cotton mill in England and France goes bankrupt, and we will not give up until they recognize our independence. ”

Xie Xiuyuan's excited voice was high-pitched, but he was still unconscious, "Big shopkeeper, with the attitude of the south, cotton will definitely continue to skyrocket!" It depends on how Britain and France react? ”

"This should be for England." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "France's large-scale invasion of Mexico is second only to direct armed intervention, and France, which occupies Mexico, is definitely capable of continuously transporting cotton to the country. ”

After a pause, he continued: "The 'Taranto Incident' announced the legitimacy of the blockade of the South by the Northern Navy, and now the withdrawal of troops from Mexico with heavy thunder and rain has completely disappointed the Southern Union, which is why the South has reacted so hastily, but they still overestimate the importance of cotton.

Unless the South can achieve absolute superiority in the war and the situation is completely clear, England will not easily recognize the independence of the South, England still has vast colonies in North America, they must see the situation clearly, once the judgment is wrong, the North wins, and will directly threaten the North American colonies.

Cotton in the South is important, but not so important that England is desperate to support the South! Besides, the Southern Alliance would never have thought that we would stab them in the back, and the cotton of the Qing Dynasty, India and Egypt would be enough for England to give up the Southern Alliance. ”

Hearing these words, Xie Xiuyuan's face was happy, "In this way, the skyrocketing price of cotton is unstoppable!" ”

"Unstoppable indeed!" Yi Zhizhi said: "The war will cause great damage to cotton cultivation in the south, and if the American Civil War does not end, the rise in cotton will continue for a day, and the price of cotton will skyrocket, which is just the beginning." ”

Before the words fell, Cao Gensheng walked in quickly, glanced at Xie Xiuyuan, and said: "Big shopkeeper, Hu Xueyan called from London, and the price of cotton skyrocketed, directly rising to sixteen cents in one day. ”

"This increase is also terrifying, it has risen by four points, and it seems that the textile mills in England are starting to panic." Xie Xiuyuan smiled: "Are we starting to think about transporting cotton to England?" ”

"There's no hurry." Yi Zhizhi said: "The more out of stock in the cotton market, the greater the price increase, and now the textile mills in England have not yet reached the time of real panic, they should still have some stockpiles, and when their inventory is exhausted, when the rice is in the pot, that is when they are really panicking, and only at that time, cotton will have a price a day." ”

Xie Xiuyuan suggested that the shipment of cotton to England was due to the fact that the voyage would take more than four months, and after hearing him say so, he realized that he was still a little anxious, and it was not new for textile mills to hoard cotton, because the yield of cotton was not fixed, and there would be a bumper harvest and reduced yield due to factors such as climate and insect pests.

Generally, textile mills with strong financial strength will hoard some cotton, which Hu Xueyan also reported, English textile mills have the habit of hoarding cotton, under normal circumstances, the ratio of cotton consumption and hoarding cotton is maintained at five to one, which is also the reason why European cotton did not rise immediately after the outbreak of the American Civil War, because everyone is not in a hurry with cotton in their hands, and they all have a wait-and-see attitude.

In response to the retaliatory actions of the Southern Federation, the British official remained silent and did not make any statement, seeing this situation, a number of merchants who hoarded cotton also began to sell it, holding the cotton and waiting for the price to sell, which directly led to the price of European cotton rising.

After the summer, into the autumn, after the cotton harvest season, the supply of cotton in the south is still pitiful, and the stock of cotton in the textile mills in England is also exhausted.

This situation is not only in England, France, Prussia, Russia, Italy and other countries are similar, the whole of Europe is in the midst of a cotton crisis, cotton prices have soared, up to a rare 30 cents, cotton-related securities, futures, stocks, bonds, etc. are all rising vigorously.

All over the world, as long as there is a crazy rush to buy cotton where cotton is produced, from the West to the East, all the businessmen are talking about cotton, it is really the rise in cotton prices is crazy, as long as you can buy cotton, it means huge profits.

The Qing Dynasty was no exception, and a large number of Western merchants flocked to the treaty ports of Guangzhou, Shanghai, Tianjin, Ningbo, and Xiamen, and the main target was cotton! Cotton! Cotton! Cotton has become the most attractive commodity in 1862!

In addition to those Western merchants, there is also a group - overseas ocean-going traders are also doing everything possible to buy cotton, these years in the Yuanqi stimulated by the rapid development of the Qing Dynasty's overseas ocean-going trade, from south to north, the provinces have appeared a large scale of ocean-going trade fleets, North America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Persian Gulf and other routes are active in many ocean-going merchant fleets.

The crazy increase in cotton prices naturally stimulated these ocean-going trading fleets, but it was difficult for them to buy a large amount of cotton even if they tried their best, and almost all the cotton produced in the cotton producing areas was ordered by Yuanqi early, and it was ordered for three years.

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

"It's crazy!" Xie Xiuyuan said with emotion: "As long as you are a businessman, regardless of Chinese and foreign countries, you will inevitably talk about cotton in three sentences." As he spoke, he looked at Yi Zhicontent, "When does the big shopkeeper plan to start selling?" ”

"It's time." Yi Zhishu smiled slightly: "When the cotton is shipped to Europe, the price should exceed forty cents." After a pause, he continued: "Organize the fleet to ship, limit it to 400,000 bales at a time, and deliver it in batches and sections, so as not to suppress the price." ”

Xie Xiuyuan continued: "What about those securities? Hu Xueyan called to ask for instructions, when is the right time to make a move, although the current rally is good, but we have a large amount on hand, and secondly, we are also worried about changes in the market. ”

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