For Yi Zhi's words, Zai Zhao and Guo Zhongmu were a little disapproving, there is no doubt that the British Navy has a deep heritage, and the British industrial strength is not comparable to the Qing Dynasty, which is also a fact, but if a war really breaks out, the Qing Dynasty may not be able to laugh last, after all, the Qing Dynasty's artillery technology and artillery shells have a considerable advantage.

After a slight groan, Guo Zhongmu spoke: "Principal, China's artillery technology is ahead of Western countries, and the cannonballs filled with picric acid explosives are extremely powerful, and they can also cause huge damage to ironclad ships. ”

"Never despise your opponents." Yi Zhizhi said in a deep voice: "The Armstrong guns equipped with the British Navy's ironclad ships are not inferior to our naval guns, which can easily penetrate our 114 mm armor.

Again, we have a killer feature hidden, but how do you know that the British are not hidden? The British Navy has not had a major war in recent years, and it is impossible to understand the real combat power of their ironclad ships in detail. ”

Although he was not convinced, Guo Zhongmu did not dare to argue anymore, and immediately said in a muffled voice: "What the principal has taught is." ”

"Don't be blindly optimistic, and don't be blindly pessimistic." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "If the previous war was about financial strength and economic strength, then the current war must be combined with industrial strength and scientific and technological strength, and the competition is the comprehensive strength of the country."

China's current comprehensive strength and Britain still has a big gap, these years China's development of industry, the development of finance, economic science and technology, frequent external expansion, on the surface of the strength of the rapid improvement, but in fact is a virtual appearance, but also need enough time to integrate and digest, 20 years or not 20 years, our country can compete with England, this time to try to avoid the outbreak of large-scale war. ”

Zai Zhao said with a smile: "The principal is strategic, oversees the overall situation, and the students have benefited a lot......." ”

Before the words were finished, Zhao Liewen and Yi Zhengxing walked into the room quickly, "The big shopkeeper, Europe called, Germany and France signed the Frankfurt Peace Treaty, France paid an indemnity of 5 billion francs, and ceded most of Alsace-Lorraine. ”

After receiving the telegram, Yi Zhixiang quickly glanced at it, according to the "Peace of Frankfurt", France ceded Alsace and eastern Lorraine together with the fortress of Metz to Germany, and paid Germany an indemnity of 5 billion francs, which must be handled in a German commercial city, and was repaid according to the Prussian silver coin and a thaler discount of 3 francs and 75 dingsheng, and all payments were paid in 3 years. The Germans remained in France until the reparations were paid, and the military expenses were borne by France.

Listening to the compensation of 5 billion francs, Zaizhao glanced at Yi Zhengxing and asked softly: "How much silver is 5 billion francs equivalent to?" ”

Yi Zhengxing said in a low voice: "It should be more than 700 million taels of silver." ”

700 million taels of silver! Zaizhao and Guo Zhongmu couldn't help but be dumbfounded, and they demanded 700 million taels of silver in war compensation for a war! It's too fast, isn't it? How long has this war lasted before daring to demand such a high war reparation?

Seeing Zaizhao's interest, Yi Zhizu handed him the telegram and said, "A huge indemnity is still a trivial matter, and the cession of Alsace-Lorraine is fatal." ”

Hearing this, Zhao Liewen said tentatively: "Alsace-Lorraine is a strategic location? ”

"This region is not only strategic, but also rich in mineral resources and is an important industrial area in France." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The cession of this area is conducive to the rapid development of German industry, and at the same time, it also greatly curbs the industrial development of France, and forms a huge strategic advantage, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone." ”

"This Germany is also ruthless!" After reading the telegram, Zai Zhao sighed softly: "This is completely to make France never turn over." ”

"And that's a natural thing." Yi Zhengxing took over and said: "France is a European power, and once dominated Europe, once it recovers, it will inevitably be ashamed, how can Germany not guard against it?" ”

"It's too much." Yi Zhisuff knocked the ashes of the cigarette and said slowly: "Germany's move is also a huge disaster for itself...... ”

Hearing this, the four people present were surprised, "Woe? ”

"A great scourge." Yi Zhi said with certainty: "The huge war reparations of five billion gold francs are unprecedented, not to mention the cession of Alsace-Lorraine, which undoubtedly hurts France extremely seriously."

In order to guard against France's retaliation, Germany must become strong quickly on the one hand, and on the other hand, it will conclude an alliance to contain France and prevent France from rising again.

For France, this was undoubtedly unbearable, and if it wanted to make a comeback, it would have to form an alliance with Great Britain, which would inevitably prompt the European countries to readjust their relations with each other, and thus form two opposing camps, one dominated by Germany and the other dominated by Britain and France.

These two camps will inevitably actively expand their armaments, and when the time is ripe, a large-scale war will break out - a European war, and it may even develop into a world war, and Germany, as a rising star, has too little hope of winning the war. ”

As he spoke, he glanced at Zhao Liewen, "Write it down." ”

"Yes." Zhao Liewen realized that these words were very important, although he had an excellent memory, he didn't dare to be careless and hurriedly put pen to paper, but Yi Zhengxing asked: "According to my father's estimate, how long will it take for a big war to break out in Europe." ”

"It's going to take a process, it should take forty or fifty years before war breaks out." Yi Zhizhi said: "I'm afraid that my father's generation won't be able to see it." ”

So long? Yi Zhengxing was stunned for a moment, afraid that even he would not see that day, Yi Zhizhi glanced at everyone, and said: "With the rapid development of railway construction and navigation technology, the competition between China and Western countries will become more and more obvious. ”

Speaking of which. , he changed his words, "The Frankfurt Peace Treaty is very harsh, and the French national debt may continue to plummet, so call Huo Qizheng and eat slowly." To call Hu Xueyan, as long as it does not exceed fifty percent of the face value of the country, you can eat it, and you can eat it with all your might. In addition, negotiate with France and provide them with war reparations. ”

Hearing this, Zhao Liewen's pen in his hand paused, almost suspecting that he had heard it wrong, "Big shopkeeper, that's a war reparation ......... of five billion francs." ”

"It's just a gesture to France." Yi Zhi said disapprehantly: "Unless the interest rate of our loan is too low, France does not need it at all, and it is difficult for France to reach five billion francs." ”

"But it's only three years."

"The French nation is not lacking in patriotic fervor." Yi Zhizhi said unhurriedly: "The German army staying in France will undoubtedly greatly stimulate the patriotic enthusiasm of the French people, five billion francs is nothing for the former European hegemon with a vast overseas colony, not to mention, England will not tolerate Germany weakening France excessively." ”

After hesitating, Zhao Liewen said: "There is another factor that the big shopkeeper has considered, the Paris Commune ....... ”

"The Paris Commune don't worry." Yi Zhizu waved his hand, "The Germans have released more than 100,000 French prisoners, and it is only a matter of one or two months." ”

Originally, in the draft of the Treaty of Versailles, France's war reparations were only 200 million francs, but now it suddenly soared to 5 billion francs, and it was to be repaid within three years, and it was necessary to cede the Alsace-Lorraine region, which was rich in coal and iron resources and was an important industrial region.

The trading floor of the Shanghai Stock Exchange was crowded, watching the price of French government bonds fall off a cliff, everyone was anxious, originally because of the Paris Commune triggered a wave of plummeting French bonds, after the Yuanqi tray has begun to rebound, many brokers and speculators have seen this situation have followed up in the hope of following Yuanqi to make a move.

The signing of the Treaty of Frankfurt shattered what little illusion and luck people had, and with such an unheard-of huge war reparations to be paid off in three years, it was absolutely impossible for France to have the strength to honour the national debt issued, not to mention that it was issued by the collapsed Second Empire.

All those who still hold French bonds are eager to get rid of their holdings, and everyone fears that they will become worthless waste paper.

In the office, Huo Qi was walking back and forth anxiously with his hands behind his back, he was also at a loss in the face of this situation, the French national debt in his hand was already a lot, if he continued to tray at this time, it was possible to completely smash it in his hands, for Yi Zhi's previous judgment, he was now deeply skeptical, after all, this change was too surprising, I am afraid that Yi Zhixin would not have imagined that there would be such a big change!

"Shopkeeper Huo——, call back has arrived." A steward slammed open the door and said excitedly: "The big shopkeeper's callback." ”

took the telegram and glanced at it, Huo Qizheng couldn't help but be stunned, and ate slowly? What do you mean? This doesn't seem to be a pallet, is it possible that in this case, France will still cash out all the national bonds at par price? I really don't know why the big treasurer has so much confidence in France?

After a long pause, he spoke, "What price is it now?" ”

"One point eight dollars."

"Eat in, don't raise the price."

In the trading hall, the crowd that had been staring at the price changes and transaction changes suddenly found that more than 3,000 shares hanging on the lowest price of 1.8 yuan had been traded, and someone shouted excitedly when they boarded: "The deal has been completed!" It's a deal, someone is eating, a lot of it! ”

The mood of the people in the trading hall was lifted, and what they were most afraid of was that there would be no trading volume, and if someone ate it, at least they would not have to worry about the treasury bonds in their hands becoming worthless and abolished, and a glimmer of hope suddenly rose in everyone's hearts.