The Northern Confederacy, which had been suffering successive defeats, suddenly fought two turnaround battles, and the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Vicksburg were of extraordinary significance, and it can be said that through these two victories, the North turned the tide of the war in one fell swoop and completely changed the unfavorable situation that had always been unfavorable.

The New York financial market reacted violently, the gold exchange was even more squeezed, all the customers who held gold were eager to sell the gold in their hands, the exchange rate between gold and the US dollar plummeted like a cliff, in just a few days, the gold price that reached the highest touch of 206 US dollars quickly fell to 15 before stabilizing their foothold, and countless people became destitute overnight.

The gold trading brokers of the New York branch of Yuanqi were secretly glad to see this situation, fortunately they threw it early, although it was not thrown at the highest stage price, but in comparison, it was also considered a high position, and the gold in their hands was basically sold at a price of more than one hundred and eighty dollars.

The reaction of the European financial markets was similarly fierce, with cotton futures and related bonds all climbing sharply and strongly, and the physical price of the cotton market also rising all the way, soon breaking through the 40-cent high again.

Xie Xiuyuan pinched the two telegrams and walked into the Changle Book House briskly, as soon as he entered the room, he arched his hand with a smile on his face: "It's still the big shopkeeper's eyes like a torch, if it weren't for the big shopkeeper's repeated insistence, Yuan Qi is afraid that he will miss this opportunity, the gold price in New York has plummeted, and we have avoided tens of millions of dollars in losses." The price of cotton in Europe has risen sharply, has returned to the high of 40, and the rise is strong, and the impact of 50 is likely to be very ........ ”

"If you can reach forty in the bulk trade, you should be content." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "This year is not compared with last year, all countries that are suitable for planting cotton have expanded the scale of cotton planting this year, and the output will definitely increase significantly, don't expect too much, remove the cost and expenses, and have three times the benefit, it is already very optimistic." ”

Triple the profit? Xie Xiuyuan pondered before saying: "If the price is only forty cents, I am afraid that the profit of three times is a bit hanging, the international cotton price has skyrocketed, and Yuan Qi has also increased the purchase price of cotton in disguise, which is equivalent to fifteen cents per ........pound according to international standards." ”

"Twice as good as well." Yi Zhishu is not forced, after all, cotton is a bulk trade, and twice the net profit is already extremely considerable, after a pause, he changed his words, "New York's gold, if the price continues to fall, you can buy ....... on dips." ”

Dip hunting? Xie Xiuyuan frowned, and said puzzledly: "The big shopkeeper is optimistic about the Northern Federation, and judges that the north will achieve the final victory, and now that the north has turned the tide of the war, it is ....... that the gold price should continue to fall." Speaking of this, he said in disbelief: "Will the battle situation be repeated?" ”

"It's hard to judge whether the battle will be repeated." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "But don't forget our original intention of investing in gold, we are here to arbitrage American gold, not just to make money." ”

Xie Xiuyuan sneered: "The big shopkeeper didn't remind him, and his subordinates almost forgot the original intention of investing in New York gold." ”

"Woo-" a train slowly drove into the North Shanghai Railway Station, as soon as the car stopped, all kinds of people with various purposes and dreams poured onto the platform, Su Shun, who was dressed in a micro-suit, looked at the crowded platform through the window, and felt quite emotional, for a few years, this time he came to Shanghai, he actually had a feeling of homesickness, perhaps because of the change of identity, he seemed to be a little unwilling to face Yi Zhicontent.

Seeing Su Shun looking out of the car window in a daze, Du Han, the accompanying Minister of Military Aircraft, reminded softly: "Sixth Master, it's time for us to get out of the car." ”

"Oh." Su Shun came back to his senses and said, "Brother Hongju is coming to Shanghai for the first time, right?" ”

"Yes." Du Han said with a smile: "I have long heard that Shanghai is more prosperous than the West, but I have never had the opportunity to see it. ”

Su Shun said with a smile: "This opportunity is rare, Brother Hongju might as well take a good look at the prosperity of Shanghai, which is very different from the prosperity of Jingshi and Jiangning." ”

In fact, in the past few years, the imperial court has rarely sent Qin to Shanghai, and almost all the princes and nobles of Jingshi came to Shanghai in micro service, because Yi Zhishu never accepted Qin cha, and no one wanted to come to Shanghai with great fanfare to suffer from being snubbed.

The group stepped on the platform, and a Sufu housekeeper who had been sent to the front station earlier hurriedly led people to greet them, and led them to take a carriage to a garden hired on Zhenhai Road, and after washing and resting, Su Shun and Du Han went to Zhennan Wangfu.

Zhennan Palace, Lotus Garden, Lakeside Pavilion.

"Our Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, and Russian Foreign Minister Gorchakov are ready to leave for Shanghai." The American ambassador to China, Bo Jia, looked at Yi Zhizhi and said slowly: "What do you think about the alliance between the three countries?" ”

As for the alliance of the three countries, Yi Zhixiang has long considered it, and even said: "The Qing Dynasty, the United States, and Russia are separated from Asia, North America, and Europe, and they are all geographically dispersed, far away, and they are all hegemons of one side, and the significance of concluding a military alliance is not great, and the main purpose of the alliance of the three countries is to curb the colonial expansion of Britain and France and other European powers in Asia and the Americas and the barbaric interference of sovereign countries, and to support each other in the international arena." ”

"What about Russia?" "Russia has no interests in Asia or the Americas. ”

"How can Russia not have interests in Asia?" Yi Zhizhi said: "What did the Russian-Turkish war fight for two hundred years? The rapid expansion of England in West Asia was already a serious threat to Russian expansion against Turkey, and a separate non-aggression pact could be signed between the Qing and Russia. ”

Bo Jia then asked, "What about the economy and trade?" ”

"As an ally, we can carry out extensive cooperation in the political, military, economic, cultural, scientific and technological fields." Yi Zhizhi said: "In terms of economy and trade, we can be mutually beneficial and give the most favored nation treatment. ”

Hearing this, Bo Jiadeng relieved his heart, Yi Zhizhi can have this attitude, the alliance between the three countries will inevitably be very smooth, the United States attaches the most importance to the economy and trade is actually preferential, after all, the United States, which has only experienced a large-scale civil war, urgently needs to restore the economy.

Lin Meilian walked over quickly at this time, and handed over two copies of the name sticker, Yi Zhizu took a look, saw Su Shun and Du Han, nodded immediately, and said, "Lead them to the study first, and I'll go over later." ”

After speaking, he looked at Bo Jia and said: "Asia and the Americas, basically no major war will break out, but Europe is a powder keg, there is a possibility of war at any time, Russia's fundamental interests are in Europe, and the possibility of getting involved in a war is extremely high. ”

"I will." Bo Jia nodded, although Russia sent the Baltic Fleet to visit the north this time, but its main purpose was not to support the Northern Federation, but to avoid the fleet being severely damaged by Britain and France, for the Federation, this move was far less than the Qing Navy as a mercenary to assist the North in the war, not to mention Yuan Qi's huge arms and medicine trade in the Federation.

As the so-called time and time, the federation after winning two battles in succession and turning the tide of the war in one fell swoop and changing the unfavorable situation has become more relaxed towards the alliance of the three countries, and more importantly, it is the alliance with the Qing State to strive for preferential trade conditions.

Everything that should be said has been said, Yi Zhizhi is not nonsense, he knows that Uncle is actually here to test his tone, the main owner is Secretary of State Seward, and Uncle Jia also knows that the other party has important guests, so he immediately got up and said goodbye.

Sending away the uncle, Yi Zhizhi turned to the Changle Book House, he was not surprised by Su Shun's coming, the imperial court announced that it was ready to establish a constitution, as the chief military aircraft, and the authoritarian Su Shun can sit and live is called a strange thing.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, Su Shun and Du Han strode out, and Su Shun smiled when he was still more than a dozen steps away: "After a few years, Brother Guocheng's demeanor is still ......." ”

Yi Zhixiang smiled and returned the salute, jokingly: "What kind of wind blew our chief military plane of the Qing Dynasty to Shanghai?" ”

Hearing him joke about himself, Su Shun relaxed and said with a smile: "What else can there be in the wind, naturally it is the west wind." When he arrived, he looked at the other party and said, "I don't know what's going on, I thought that Brother Guocheng was only in his early thirties." ”

"Brother Yuting didn't give birth to Huafa early, why is he so emotional." Yi Zhizu said and looked at Du Han, "This must be Brother Hongju." ”

Du Han didn't dare to be casual, and hurriedly bowed down, "I've seen the prince in Xia Du Han." ”

"Brother Hongju doesn't have to be formal." Su Shun said with a smile: "Brother Guocheng's most unbearable red tape, the more free and easy, the more he looks up to you." ”

"It's still Brother Yuting who knows my temperament well." Yi Zhixiang said with a smile: "Brother Hongju doesn't need to be formal, just match the words." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and gave courtesy, "Please ——。 ”

Du Han was still the first time to see Yi Zhicontent, and secretly wondered in his heart, this master is a real king of the southeast, he doesn't want to be so easy-going, he can't help but look at him a few more times, and see that he is wearing a long shirt, short hair, no beard, his beard is cleanly shaved, and his appearance is even more handsome, he does look only in his early thirties, but he clearly knows that this master is already in his early forties.

The three of them entered the house and sat down, and said solemnly: "In the past few years, the affairs have been complicated, and I have not been able to take the time to come to Shanghai to visit ........ ”

Yi Zhizhi said nonchalantly: "Brother Yuting is now both the minister and the chief military aircraft, how can he leave Beijing easily?" Nowadays, communication is convenient, you can contact at any time, and there is no need to come in person. ”

Seeing that he didn't mean to blame, Su Shun secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, "Now that the railway traffic is fast, and it only takes two or three days from Beijing to Shanghai, some things are difficult to explain clearly by telegram and letter, so it is better to come in person to feel at ease." ”

Yi Zhishu glanced at Du Han, Su Shun Weifu came to Shanghai to take him with him, and brought him to visit, obviously he was also a cronie, when he said straightforwardly: "Is it to prepare for the constitution?" ”

Su Shun nodded and said, "Brother Guocheng really plans to establish a constitution in nine years?" ”

"Originally, the nine-year constitution was a little hasty, but the imperial court announced that it was ready to establish a constitution, and the nine-year Qing Dynasty was enough to meet the foundation and conditions for the constitution." Yi Zhishu said and asked rhetorically: "The imperial court's opposition to the constitution is very high?" ”

"Naturally, there are those who oppose it." Su Shun pondered and said: "Because it is a preparatory constitution, and there is a nine-year preparatory period, the opposition is not too strong, but if you really want to implement the constitution, I am afraid that the resistance is not small, and at that time, when the emperor becomes an adult, there will inevitably be a group of princes and ministers to instigate and stop it." ”

What do you mean? Yi Zhishu took the cigarette case and let it go, then lit a cigarette by himself, and then said: "What does Brother Yuting mean, make a constitution in advance?" ”

"Having a constitution ahead of schedule avoids a lot of resistance." Su Shun said in a deep voice: "As the imperial court announced that it was ready to establish a constitution, more and more senior officials realized that only by establishing a constitution can the Qing Dynasty survive forever, which is conducive to the constitution in advance. ”

This is really interesting, Yixin is anxious to establish a constitution, and now Su Shun is also anxious to establish a constitution, it is obvious that both of them want to be regent after the constitution, this is to win Yuan Qi or to win his support, he is happy to see this situation, after all, for him, what he needs is to implement the constitution as soon as possible, as for Yixun or Sushun regency, he doesn't care, what he cares about is whether he can achieve the real meaning of the constitution.

As for Su Shun's statement that the constitution should be established in advance, but there is not even a specific deadline, this is nothing more than an attitude issue, which is to express his attitude to him and actively promote the constitution, and only after a little muttering did he speak: "As long as the conditions permit, I am not opposed to the early constitution, but I hope that the imperial court will try to smooth the transition as smoothly as possible." ”

Su Shun's proposal to establish a constitution in advance was indeed just to show his attitude of actively promoting constitutionalism, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard this, and said: "Brother Guocheng, rest assured, if you are preparing for the constitution for several years, the idea of constitutionalism will inevitably be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and there will not be much resistance." ”

Yi Zhizhi nodded, "The reason why the preparation of the constitution is proposed is not only to promote the progress of the implementation of constitutionalism, but also to hope that the water can be harvested and the transition will be as smooth as possible. ”

As he spoke, he changed his words, "Recently, the US Secretary of State and Russian Foreign Minister Gorchakov will come to visit, and the three countries will conclude an alliance treaty, and in addition, I intend to sign a non-aggression pact with Russia, and the division of power in Central Asia will also be discussed in detail, and these treaties will eventually be signed by the imperial court. ”

Hearing this, Su Shun's heart sank, the imperial court now has a close relationship with Britain and France, if it signs an alliance treaty with the United States and Russia, it will inevitably not affect the relationship between the imperial court and Britain and France.

Du Han obviously understood the contradiction in this, and seeing that Su Shun was silent, he spoke: "The United States and Russia are not as strong as Britain and France, and now that they are both greatly damaged, there is no need for the imperial court to form an alliance with the two countries, and besides, an alliance with the United States and Russia is not very beneficial to our Qing Dynasty. ”

"Never underestimate the United States and Russia, especially Russia." Yi Zhizhi said in a deep voice: "Although we bought Siberia, it still borders Russia in the northwest, and there is a long border line. ”

Su Shun continued: "It is not uncommon for European countries to break treaties, and even if they sign a non-aggression pact with Russia, they may not be able to ensure the security of the northwest. ”