Cotton prices are falling day by day, but Xie Xiuyuan can't sit still, and will soon enter the cotton planting season, cotton prices are so falling, is there any need to continue to expand the planting scale this year? As the Minister of Commerce in charge of cotton trade, how could he not be in a hurry?

On this day, he received a telegram from Hu Xueyan from London, seeing that the price of cotton had fallen below forty cents, and the price of cotton futures had fallen sharply.

Yi Zhi, who was drinking tea with a teacup, saw the urgency on his face, and said nonchalantly: "The price of cotton has fallen again?" ”

"It's fallen below forty cents, and it's currently thirty-eight." Xie Xiuyuan replied before he continued: "The war situation in the Northern Federation is unfavorable, and it has a great impact on the price of cotton. ”

Yi Zhixiang asked slowly, "What is Hu Xueyan's opinion?" ”

"He only reported on the price of cotton in Europe and did not make any suggestions."

"And what do you think?"

Xie Xiuyuan pondered before saying: "According to the news from all over the world, since the price of cotton continued to rise last year, India, Egypt and Italy, Greece, Spain and other countries in Europe have greatly expanded the cotton planting area, and the current cotton price is still at a high level, but if the north cannot turn the tide of the war, the price of cotton will continue to fall, and may even fall below 20 cents ......." Even if it is less than 20 cents, it is still considered a high price, which will not affect the enthusiasm of countries to promote cotton planting. ”

Speaking of this, he hesitated, and then said: "In the opinion of his subordinates, if the Northern Federation wants to reverse its occupation and turn defense into attack, it may have to wait until next year, so his subordinates suggest that the current planting scale should be maintained and the cotton planting scale should not be expanded." ”

"There's something wrong with your judgment." Yi Zhicontent said unceremoniously: "The north has turned the tide of the war and turned the defense into an offensive this year, because of the war, the cotton planting in the south will inevitably be greatly damaged, and there will be a greater shortage of cotton than last year!" The planting area will continue to expand this year and next, and will be significantly reduced in the year after. ”

Seeing Yi Zhi's contentment is so sure, Xie Xiuyuan doesn't have much to say, Yi Zhixiang's amazing foresight and judgment ability has been proven countless times, and Yuan Qi really doesn't dare to question his judgment now, "Then the subordinates will continue to expand the cotton planting area according to the original plan........" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded and said, "The price of cotton has fallen sharply, and the price of gold in New York should have risen sharply, right?" "He was busy during this time, and he didn't pay much attention to the price of cotton and gold.

"Yes, the gold price in New York is on a good trajectory, and now it has exceeded $180, and the rally is still strong." Speaking of gold, Xie Xiuyuan was quite excited, "According to the estimates of brokers on the New York Gold Exchange, it should be able to break through two hundred dollars. ”

"Throw it, take advantage of the good momentum and throw it slowly." Yi Zhizhi said: "Once the war situation is reversed in the north, the price of gold will inevitably fall, we are big investors, we can't pursue the highest price, let them have a plan to throw, even if we sell all at this price, we have already made a lot of gains." ”

"It's really a big win." Xie Xiuyuan smiled: "According to a rough estimate, it should be around fifteen million dollars in profit." ”

Compared with the profits of cotton, more than 10 million US dollars can only be regarded as small money, Yi Zhishu did not care, and groaned slightly, before he ordered: "The purpose of the band operation remains the same, this is a rare opportunity to practice mobile skills, tell them that Yuanqi must take this opportunity to cultivate a group of their own professional financial brokers, set up an international financial think tank team, and there will be many opportunities for Yuanqi to stir up trouble in the international financial market in the future." ”

Speaking of this, he smiled and said slowly: "Besides, we are a little ruthless this time, it is estimated that European bankers and financial forces have regarded us as a thorn in the flesh, and the financial markets in Guangzhou and Shanghai have now formed a scale, so we must be prepared for danger in times of peace and beware of them our nest." ”

Listening to the words, Xie Xiuyuan said: "This time the cotton hegemony, the European financial forces should suffer heavy losses, should they not have enough strength to come to Guangzhou and Shanghai to stir up trouble?" ”

There is no doubt that the European financial forces that supported the Southern Union will suffer heavy losses in the American Civil War, because after the victory of the war won by the North, they will inevitably not recognize the bonds issued by the South, and Yuanqi will make a windfall in the European financial market and the cotton market, which is tantamount to making matters worse for the financial forces and is likely to trigger a reshuffle of the European financial forces.

However, judging that the financial forces of Europe do not have the strength to stir up the financial markets of Guangzhou and Shanghai, it is inevitable that they underestimate the financial strength of Europe, Yi Zhizhi glanced at him and said: "Don't underestimate the financial forces of Europe after making some money, the financial strength of England alone is stronger than ours, and we must not be careless." ”

"Subordinates are taught." Xie Xiuyuan said convincingly, in the past year, Yuan Qi earned nearly 200 million taels of silver from cotton alone, and the arms and drugs trade with the United States was also as high as more than 60 million taels of silver, plus the bulk trade of tea and raw silk, Yuan Qi made an astonishing profit of 300 million taels of silver in foreign trade alone last year, and he was indeed a little carried away and did not take the European financial forces in his eyes.

Xie Xiuyuan retired, Yi Zhixin slowly lit a cigarette, the American Civil War lasted for a total of five years, and it will end in 1865, so far, the war has been fought for nearly two years, so this year, the North will definitely completely turn the tide of the war, and turn defense into offense, there is no doubt about it.

In addition, history has given the "Emancipation Proclamation" a very high evaluation, and one of the most important points is that it completely turned the tide of the war, and it was on the basis of these two points that he dared to assert that the Northern Federation would definitely turn the tide of the war this year.

However, he still has a little bit of a gain and loss in his heart, but the current situation of the north is a little bad, not to mention the successive defeats on the battlefield, France's invasion of Mexico with 40,000 troops has also posed a huge pressure on the northern federation, although England withdrew from Mexico in time, but secretly has been vigorously supporting the south - like Yuan Qi, he has done a lot of arms trade, selling a large number of guns, ammunition and warships to the south.

While he was thinking to himself, Cao Gensheng hurriedly came in and reported: "The big treasurer, a call from Europe, a large-scale uprising broke out in Warsaw, Russian Poland. ”

Polish uprising? Yi Zhizu took the telegram and looked at it, frowning slightly, will the Polish uprising have a big impact on the situation in Europe? Will it have an impact on the American Civil War? He has a limited understanding of Poland, only that Poland and Tsarist Russia are a feud, a feud of hundreds of years, and the depth of the national hatred between the two countries is even greater than the hatred between China and Japan in his time.

Since it is Russian Poland, it means that this is Russia's internal affair, but Poland's geographical location in Europe is quite important, will Britain, France and other countries take the opportunity to interfere? It can be said that Russia is at its weakest, and it is the best time for Britain and France to weaken Russia, but in his impression, there seems to be no major war in Europe during this time, and the nearest Franco-Prussian War will not be until 1870.

Just as he was pondering, Lin Meilian poked her head at the door and said, "Big treasurer, the American minister to China is here." ”

Bo is coming? Yi Zhishu was sure that Bo Jia must have come for the Polish uprising, but he didn't quite understand what the Northern Union could have to do with the Polish uprising, "Please let him in." So saying, he stood up and went out, and as he went, he commanded: "They are concerned about the Polish uprising, and I need to know the history of Poland." ”

As soon as he greeted his uncle, Yi Zhixiang smiled and arched his hand: "Mr. Ambassador is here today because of the Polish uprising?" ”

"The prince would actually care about the Polish uprising?" Bo Jia was a little surprised, and then nodded and said, "The Polish uprising is a good thing for the United States. ”

Did the Polish uprising really have anything to do with the United States? Yi Zhishu reacted as soon as he thought about it, and said, "Do Britain and France have the intention of interfering in the Polish uprising? ”

"Britain and France have been trying to contain Russian power in Europe, how could such a rare opportunity be missed?" "For the United States, it is expected to get a very strong ally in Europe. ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "Hasn't Russia always been quite friendly to your civil war? ”

"Friendliness is not enough." "We want Russia, like Yuanqi, to be a staunch ally of the United States, not just friendly," he said. ”

The two talked all the way into the room, and Yi Zhishu also clarified his thoughts, the United States planned to use Britain and France to intervene in the Polish uprising and form a strategic alliance with Russia, so as to contain Britain and France and avoid Britain and France, especially France, from interfering in the American Civil War, however, he was a little puzzled, what does it have to do with this matter?

The two of them sat down, and Bo Jia said with a smile: "Mr. Lincoln has sent me a letter, asking me, on behalf of the American Federation, to express my sincere thanks to Your Excellency and Yuan Qi, and thank Your Excellency and Yuan Qi for their greatest threats to the territorial integrity and sovereign unity of the American Federation in the most difficult days of the United States, when the European countries either applauded or ignored them.

When England called us a secession, and when France became our enemy, Your Excellency and Yuan Qi extended a helping hand to us with warm sympathy and kindness, and gave us unimaginable support and assistance. ”

Is Lincoln's thanks a little late? Yi Zhixiang looked at him silently, Yuan Qi didn't just support the Northern Federation, he was courteous and courteous, he was either a traitor or a thief, and he couldn't help but raise his vigilance.

Bo Jia continued: "Mr. President warmly praised Yuanqi's cotton trade in Europe, saying that Your Excellency is very far-sighted, and Yuanqi's cotton has made up for the shortage of cotton in Europe in a timely manner, breaking the dream of southern cotton diplomacy, which is a great support for the United States to maintain its territorial integrity and sovereignty from the side." ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhifu couldn't help but hook the corners of his mouth, "When did you get caught the bad problem that our Qing officials like to talk nonsense and go around in circles?" ”

"It's not nonsense, it's not going around in circles, it's normal diplomatic style." Uncle said solemnly.

"I'm busy, there's a lot of people waiting for me to meet, a lot of questions waiting for me to solve." Yi Zhizhi said: "If Your Excellency is only here to convey the sincere thanks and warm praise of your country's President and the people of your country, I have received it, and there is nothing to do, Your Excellency, please go back." ”

"Yi, you're not funny at all." Bo Jia rolled his eyes and said, "Okay, Russia hopes that Yuan Qi can provide them with a low-interest loan of 100 million pounds." ”

A low-interest loan of 100 million pounds? Yi Zhi's contented eyes widened, "This is the price of Russia becoming a staunch ally of the United States?" Having said that, what does it have to do with Yuanqi? ”

Bo Jia coughed lightly with some embarrassment, "It's not what Your Excellency thinks, we're just pulling a line in the middle." ”

The Qing Dynasty was buying a vast territory east of the Altai Mountains with Russia, and entered into a purchase contract for one billion silver dollars, and at this time Russia offered to borrow 100 million pounds from Yuanqi at low interest, which was 400 million taels of silver!

Yi Zhizu dared to be 100% sure that this silver loan to Russia was definitely a meat bun and a dog, and he refused without thinking: "Yuan Qi doesn't lend so much silver, and he doesn't lend money to foreign countries. The government lends money, and China is in need of a huge amount of money for infrastructure and industrial construction, and it is impossible for there to be rich funds to lend to foreign countries. ”

Seeing his refusal, Bo Jia hesitated before saying: "Actually, our three countries can form an alliance to confront European powers such as Britain and France, and the reform of serfdom is being implemented in Russia, which is not going well, coupled with the large-scale uprising in Poland, it requires a large amount of military ....... to send troops to suppress it. ”

An alliance between the Qing and the United States and Russia to counter Britain and France? Yi Zhishu is really a little moved, with the alliance with the United States and Russia, Yuanqi can not only consolidate Southeast Asia, but also expand to the Persian Gulf, and even open up from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf, moreover, the imperial court has a close relationship with Britain and France, with this relationship, once it breaks with the imperial court, Britain and France will not dare to interfere easily.

However, if this alliance requires Yuan Qi to pay a low-interest loan of 100 million pounds, this is undoubtedly unacceptable to Yuan Qi, and after a slight mutter, he said: "The alliance of the three countries to counter the European powers, I am not opposed, but I am not eager to have such an alliance, it is good, no, it does not matter, my country is located in the Far East, and there is not much conflict of interest with European countries." ”

As soon as he heard this, he understood that it was okay to form an alliance, but it was not necessary to let Yuanqi provide a large low-interest loan to Russia! After a little muttering, he said: "If Russia does not send troops into Poland to quell the uprising, once the scale of the Polish uprising continues to expand, Britain and France will have an excuse to carry out armed intervention and directly send troops to Poland."

In addition, it must be stated that Russia's proposal to borrow money is not a condition for the alliance of the three countries, and even if Yuanqi does not borrow, China and Russia are very eager to form an alliance with Yuanqi to compete with Europe. ”

"It's not an alliance with Yuanqi, it's an alliance with my Qing Empire." Yi Zhishu corrected him and said: "Yuanqi is not the south of your country, and he has no intention of independence, and he is still one with my country's court." ”

Hearing his loose tone, Uncle Jia was happy in his heart, and hurriedly said: "This is just a private discussion, of course, it is an alliance with your country, my country is deeply suffering from division, it is impossible to split your country, and I have never meant this." ”