Almost all the major industrial powers in the world are in the panic of financial and economic crises, and the financial markets of various countries are in mourning, and the stock market crashes are one after another.

If it is said that the Qing country was not affected by the economic crisis when it broke out in the past, it was because the Qing country's industrial scale was small and it did not have the qualifications to break out of the economic crisis, but now the total industrial volume of the Qing country should have leveled Germany and France, why is it still not affected? Experts and scholars from all over the world have taken a keen interest in Qing China.

At the same time, "Will the Qing Dynasty Break Out into an Economic Crisis?" The article was also quickly translated into Chinese by the embassies of various countries and telegraphed back to China, and for a time, Yuanqi, the monopoly system, and the planned economy became the focus of heated discussions among politicians, economists, and experts from Western countries.

Since the outbreak of the first economic crisis in 1788, the economic crisis has become a lingering nightmare for Western countries. The article clearly points out that monopoly cannot eliminate the economic crisis, but for Western countries, it is also a dream to delay the occurrence of the economic crisis and weaken the harm of the economic crisis to the greatest extent.

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

Zhao Liewen walked into the room briskly with a telegram in his hand, and said with a smile: "Big shopkeeper, the Transvaal is calling, four new gold mines have been added this year, and the annual output has reached 120 tons, and it is expected to exceed 150 tons next year." ”

"Good! This output is not in vain, and we do not hesitate to invest in it. Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "The annual output of 120 tons of gold is enough to make the government and the opposition full of confidence in Yuanqi's implementation of the gold standard." After a pause, he continued: "Call back, and they will start with management and improve efficiency, and make persistent efforts to break through the 200-ton mark as soon as possible." ”

Zhao Liewen said suspiciously: "Can the annual output really exceed 200 tons?" ”

"As long as you are willing to invest, it is not difficult to exceed 200 tons of annual output." "The reserves of the Transvaal gold mine are very rare, and the surface of the gold mine is generally rich in gold, and large-scale machine mining, as long as the management can keep up, the production can be greatly increased," Yi said. ”

Two hundred tons of gold, that's equivalent to more than 100 million taels of silver! If you really want to achieve this output, there is no pressure to implement the gold standard at all! Zhao Liewen secretly sighed for a while, and then said: "Big shopkeeper, the Transvaal is far away in South Africa after all, and once this annual output is made public, I am afraid that European countries will be anxious to ........" ”

"If it is not made public, how can the government and the opposition have confidence in Yuanqi's implementation of the gold standard?" Yi Zhizhi said disapprovingly: "As for the European countries, don't pay attention to it, the first war in South Africa is enough to establish my country's status as a world military power, and no one will dare to break ground on Tai Sui's head for at least three or five years." ”

Zhao Liewen also knew that Yuanqi's top priority was to implement the gold standard, and immediately smiled and said: "As soon as this data is made public, the stock market will have a wave of gains before the market is suspended." ”

Yi Zhishu said with a smile: "For the government and the opposition, this is a reassuring pill. ”

The annual output of the Transvaal gold mine reached 120 tons, which was indeed a reassuring pill for the government and the opposition, and with such a large gold mine as the backing, Yuanqi's implementation of the gold standard must be smooth sailing.

In more than a year, Yuanqi invested 400 million yuan to launch the First Five-Year Plan, and then exchanged 400 million yuan of gold with the United States, and then greatly increased wages and benefits.

Stimulated by this news, the share price of Yuanqi Bank was blocked on the price limit as soon as it opened in the afternoon, and dozens of stocks related to Yuanqi followed, and the daily limit was raised in less than a quarter of an hour, which then led the entire stock market to rise.

Shanghai Railway Station, a train from Beijing slowly drove into the platform, as soon as the car stopped, the door of a special carriage quickly opened, Yi Yi and Su Shun, who were dressed in civilian clothes, stepped on the platform one after another, and Yan Shikuan, who had been waiting for a long time, walked up with a smile on his face, and said with a smile: "The two prime ministers plan to celebrate the New Year in Shanghai this year?" ”

"You're really talking about it." Yi Yi smiled: "At least you can settle down quietly in Shanghai for the New Year." ”

"For the two prime ministers, although the Qing Dynasty is big, it is difficult to have a quiet place." Yan Shikuan joked with a smile, and then stretched out his hand and said, "The two of you, please——。 ”

Outside the train station, the square in front of the station, which seems to be incomparably wide, is crowded at this time, and there is a large area of black pressure at a glance, and there are dense crowds everywhere. ”

"The big shopkeeper said that this is called Spring Festival." Yan Shikuan explained with a smile: "In recent years, wages and benefits have increased year by year, the Spring Festival holiday has become longer and longer, and the railway transportation has become more and more convenient, so more and more people are rushing home for ......the New Year." ”

Su Shun smiled, "This is also one of the measures to stimulate the economy?" ”

"Who's to say it isn't." Yan Shikuan said with a smile: "Even if these people are very frugal on weekdays, they are willing to spend money when they go home for the New Year. The monthly income of the railway company can be worth two or three months ........ ”

Yi Yi smiled disappreciatively and said: "To stimulate the economy, after all, the court will suffer, and this idea of tax revenue is not enough to raise interest on debt." ”

"You can't count it like that." Yan Shikuan smiled and said with a more serious face: "If there is really an economic crisis, then it is not a matter of money." ”

"That's right." Yi Yi smiled: "Otherwise, the imperial court would not agree to borrow huge amounts of money to stimulate the economy." ”

The car drove into the Zhennan Wangfu and stopped outside the gate of the Changle Book House, Yi Zhicontent, who was waiting at the door, greeted him with a smile and greeted a few steps, and Yi Yi smiled as soon as he got out of the car: "We are here to fight ......the autumn breeze in the name of the early years this time." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, "This year's harvest is poor, and the landlord's family has no surplus grain." ”

Su Shun said with a smile: "The annual output of gold mines in South Africa is as high as 120 tons, and it is still called a poor harvest? ”

"The economic crisis in Western countries and the heavy losses in foreign trade are not to mention, and the prices of industrial products have also fallen very sharply. Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "I, the landlord, have also tightened my belt this year to have a shabby year. ”

Yi Yi smiled and said: "Isn't this a rich country and a poor country?" ”

Yi Zhizu waved his hand, "For us, the people are rich and the country is poor, it is still a luxury, strictly speaking, we are now in the stage of the country being rich and the people are poor....... ”

Seeing that it was a slit in the conversation, Yi Zhengxing and Zhao Liewen hurriedly came forward to greet them, and inevitably had another greeting and politeness, politely entered the room, and after sitting down to serve tea, Yi Yicai continued to let go of Cai's words, and said: "Brother Guocheng is confused, the people are rich and the country is poor, and it is still extravagant?" ”

After reaching out to ask for tea, Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "I think the development of the country should be divided into four stages, first, the country is poor and the people are poor, this is the stage of insufficient development, the country is poor, the people are even poorer, most people can only barely make ends meet, no savings, and very little debt.

Second, the country is rich and the people are poor. The country has gradually become rich through the improvement of the monetary and capital markets, but the people who have gone through the poverty stage do not consume, but save, although they have accumulated more money than they need to survive.

Third, the country is rich and the people are rich. As the country continued to get rich, so did the people, and because of the continuous increase in income, the people became rich at first, no longer satisfied with saving, but began to consume and invest in financial ....... ”

His remarks were very fresh, but they were extremely appropriate, even Yi Zhengxing and Zhao Liewen had heard of it for the first time, and seeing him stop talking, Su Shun couldn't help but say, "And then?" ”

"At present, the countries of the world, even England, are only in this third stage." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The fourth stage is that the country is poor and the people are rich, the country begins to become poor, but the people feel rich, in fact, at this stage, the country and the people are constantly increasing their debts...... After a cycle, it will return to the stage of the poor country and the poor people. ”

There was silence in the study for a while, and after a while, Zhao Liewen said: "This is like a marquee, turning round and round?" But how long does it take to go around in a circle? ”

"It's hard to say, it depends on the speed of development, maybe 100 years, maybe 200 years." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "If the economic crisis cannot be eradicated, it will always go on and on. ”

Su Shun said: "The economic crisis cannot be eradicated? ”

"Theoretically possible, but practically impossible." Yi Zhizhi took a sip of tea as he spoke, and then changed his head, "Some time ago, the newspaper criticized the monopoly system very strongly...... ”

In addition to asking for money and discussing next year's policy, it was also to clear up the matter, and the controversy between free competition and monopoly in the newspapers was very critical of the monopoly system at one stage, as if the imperial court was fueling the troubles behind, and this matter really had nothing to do with them.

"Brother Guocheng Mingjian." Su Shun hurriedly waved his hand and said: "Those are all the words of some short-sighted and self-righteous Qingliu people who sell their reputations. ”

Yi Zhixiang glanced at him and said: "The superiority of monopoly is obvious, it is not surprising that all Western countries will abandon free competition and quickly enter the monopoly stage after this economic crisis. ”

Yi Yi hesitated and said: "Brother Guocheng is to let the imperial court affirm the monopoly system?" ”

Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "Can't you let Yuan Qi affirm?" ”

Yuanqi itself is the largest monopoly organization in the Qing Dynasty, isn't it a joke to let Yuanqi affirm the monopoly? Yi Yi couldn't help laughing and said: "Brother Guocheng blames that it is indeed the negligence of the imperial court, as soon as the new year begins, I implore the emperor to issue an edict to affirm the monopoly system." ”

"It is necessary to deny free competition and affirm monopoly." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "Everything has pros and cons, and the monopoly system is the same, but we can't waste food because of choking, at least at this stage, the monopoly system is more beneficial than disadvantageous, as for its disadvantages, you can gradually explore and curb it, there has never been a perfect system, and the economic system is even more so. ”

"Brother Guocheng, this is everyone's words." Su Shun casually flattered, and at the same time showed his attitude.

Yi Zhi's words were to set a tone for Qi Xiang's edict, he was not humble, smiled, and said: "It's not good to rest on the train, the two of you came from afar, take a little rest first, and I will set up a banquet for the two of you to wash the dust in the evening." ”

Yi Yi and the two were indeed a little tired, when they got up to say goodbye, Yi Zhizhi got up and sent the two of them outside the courtyard gate, and watched the two get in the car and leave, Yi Zhengxing said tentatively: "Is there a way to curb the disadvantages of monopoly?" ”

"Yes." Yi Zhi said confidently: "In the later stage of monopoly development, it is a state monopoly. ”

State monopoly? What do you mean? Yi Zhengxing and Zhao Liewen couldn't help but look at each other, hesitated, and then Zhao Liewen said: "What does the big shopkeeper mean...... Yuan Qi .....? ”

"Yes!" Yi Zhi said with a full jaw: "Everything controlled by Yuan Qi will gradually transition into the hands of the imperial court, or Yuan Qi and the imperial court will gradually merge, of course, this requires a process." ”

As he spoke, he glanced at Yi Zhengxing, and the meaning of this glance was very clear, the realization of state monopoly should fall on Yi Zhengxing.

"If the state monopoly is implemented, will the outbreak of the economic crisis be avoided?" Zhao Liewen groaned: "Yuan Qi controls currency, foreign trade, and a large amount of industry, as well as a large area of land rich in natural resources, which is integrated with the imperial court, which not only does not have to bear debts, but also has sufficient financial resources ........ ”

"Huifu thinks too simply." Yi Zhishu turned around and slowly stepped into the courtyard as he spoke, lit a cigarette casually, and then said slowly: "With the acceleration of industrialization, the world will form a huge market that closely links all countries in the world, and once a world economic crisis breaks out, no country can stay out of the ........" ”

Before he finished speaking, Cao Gensheng hurriedly stepped forward and reported: "Big shopkeeper, Los Angeles is calling, and the silver shipping fleet has arrived safely." ”

Listening to the safe arrival of the silver fleet, Yi Zhizu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, the risk of sea navigation is not small, if the fleet loaded with 400 million taels of silver has an accident at sea, although Yuan Qi will not go out of business, but it will definitely be greatly damaged, the telegram from the country swept his eyes, he muttered and said: "Call back, exchange gold as soon as possible and return to China, in addition, we must strictly prevent leakage, exchange US dollars in batches, wait and see, don't rush to buy the bottom." ”

Cao Gensheng, who was waiting, retreated, and Yi Zhengxing said: "Hundreds of millions of silver, I'm afraid it's difficult not to leak the news." ”

"It doesn't matter." Yi Zhizu waved his hand, "The four million taels of gold to be shipped back to China, even if the news leaks, there won't be much of a problem." ”

Zhao Liewen said: "The annual output of the Transvaal gold mine is as high as 120 tons, equivalent to nearly 100 million taels of silver, even if it loses 200 million or 300 million silver, it will be filled back in three or four years. ”

Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "The government and the opposition have confidence in Yuanqi's implementation of the gold standard, and naturally they will not care too much about the outflow of silver, because it must flow out, but letting the United States carry the black pot will not damage Yuanqi's reputation." ”