Xianfeng seven years, the first month of spring.

A cold wave swept through the northeastern part of the United States, with blizzards and ultra-low temperatures enveloping numerous cities on the East Coast, killing at least dozens of people, but what is more desperate than the cold weather is that the stock market is the economy.

Since last winter, the New York stock market has been in a panic, and despite the best efforts of the New York bankers, the stock market has not been able to stop falling and stabilize, and it has fallen sharply all the way and never looked back.

In just one winter, stocks whose stock prices have been cut in half abound, stocks that have fallen by as much as seventy or eighty percent have also emerged one after another, and many companies have begun to collapse and go bankrupt, and the bankruptcy of the Ohio Life Insurance Trust Company, a large financial company, sounded the clarion call for the economic crisis of 1857.

Sensing the crisis, the sense of smell is not very sensitive, but the British capital, which has invested the most and extensively in the United States, began to withdraw rapidly, and the American banks, railroads, and commercial companies that were financed by British capital went bankrupt one after another, which aggravated the outbreak of the economic crisis.

Almost every day, a large number of dozens or even hundreds of banks, enterprises or companies go bankrupt and close, unemployment occurs in large numbers, and all kinds of land development, commerce, engineering construction projects, factories, and so on almost come to a standstill.

The economic crisis spread rapidly not only in the United States, but also began to spread to Europe, and the first to suffer from the American crisis was Britain, which not only had a large amount of investment in the United States, but also exported a large number of railroad tracks, pig iron, locomotives, cotton cloth and other manufactured goods to the United States.

As the most developed in the world, with the strongest industrial production capacity, the most extensive colonies, and the world's financial, commercial and industrial center, once an economic crisis breaks out, it will inevitably spread and affect neighboring countries.

The economic crisis spread rapidly to Germany, Russia, Austria, Italy and the Nordic countries, international trade was drastically reduced, prices plummeted, especially for primary products.

This economic crisis, triggered by the United States, has swept almost the entire world in just a few months!

Shanghai, Zhenhai Mansion, Changle Book House.

Zhao Wenlie looked at Yi Zhizhi with admiration, "Big shopkeeper, what impact will this economic crisis that swept the whole world have on us?" ”

"The impact is naturally there, but it won't be too big." Yi Zhixiang said slowly: "Britain and France declared war on our Qing Dynasty, and the trade between the East and the West has been cut off, and the losses caused by this economic crisis to us are quite limited, and can even be said to be negligible, in other words, it can even be said that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages..... ”

"The pros outweigh the cons?" Wei Yuan glanced at him and said, "How can you say that Citigroup is also one of the most important foreign trading countries in our Qing Dynasty, how can it be beneficial?" ”

"There must be advantages and disadvantages in everything, and there must be advantages to disadvantages." Yi Zhizhi said without hurry: "The outbreak of the world economic crisis, the prices of various commodities have fallen sharply, such as the prices of grain, copper and manganese and other mineral products that we need, which is conducive to our low-price procurement.

The outbreak of the economic crisis may reduce the scale of the British and French countries or shorten the duration of the war, in addition, every economic crisis is an opportunity for our development, we can tap a large number of scientific and technological talents and excellent technical personnel ....... various countries. ”

Wei Yuan said: "The war is about to break out, and it is too late to dodge, who dares to come to Guangzhou and Shanghai?" ”

"Who said you have to come to Guangzhou and Shanghai?" Yi Zhizhi said: "Yuanqi has a factory and a company in the United States, and it can also recruit talents. ”

Zhao Wenlie said with concern: "The stock market in Guangzhou and Shanghai has finally stabilized, will this economic crisis have another impact on the stock market?" ”

"There will definitely be a shock, but it won't be big, don't bother with it, the stock market will adjust itself." Easy to be content with a look of confidence.

With the convening of the first National Money Industry Conference in Shanghai, the National Financial Association was established and the first "Rules of Practice for Banking" was adopted. Yuanqi Bank not only unified and standardized the money industry of the Qing Dynasty, but also consolidated the position of the bull's ear of the Qing Dynasty's money industry, but also united more than 10 strong financial strength of the ticket number, silver number, money village to jointly issue paper money, in the vigorous promotion and popularization of paper money at the same time, it is also equivalent to the local business gang and gentry behind these ticket numbers, silver numbers, money banks to form a community of interests - a prosperity, a loss.

Yuanqi's move is tantamount to a shot in the arm for the stock market, and it is also equivalent to using the entire Qing Dynasty's money industry to guarantee the stock market, and those with a little bit of vision know that Yuanqi is not only a financial giant in the Qing Dynasty, but also the leader of the industrial revolution in the Qing Dynasty, the founder of the Guangzhou and Shanghai Stock Exchange, and the auditor of listed companies.

All the companies that can be listed on the Guangzhou and Shanghai Stock Exchange to issue shares have the strong support of Yuanqi behind them, and even many companies themselves are under the name of Yuanqi, as long as Yuanqi does not cross, these companies will not go bankrupt and go bankrupt, and the stocks of these companies can bring them stable income, after all, Yuanqi has proved this with iron facts over the years!

As soon as the newspapers of all sizes publicized it, Yuanqi and its stocks immediately became sought-after goods, taking the lead in starting a strong rebound, which in turn led to a strong rebound in the entire stock market.

How much impact can this worldwide economic crisis have on the stock market in the Qing Dynasty? Easy to know contentment, to be sure, very little! One is that the gentry and businessmen of the Qing Dynasty have not experienced the economic crisis, nor have they seen the harm of the economic crisis, and the reaction will not be too big, and the second is that they have just experienced a strong rebound after the stock market crash, and the regret in their hearts at this time is afraid that it has not eased up, who will be stupid again?

The three of them were chatting with each other, and Cao Gensheng walked in quickly and said, "Big shopkeeper, Temasek is calling." ”

Listening to Temasek's call, Yi Zhizhi was content, and it was summer now, and most of the British troops had arrived, "read it——。 ”

"The British plenipotentiary Ergin led a fleet to the port of Colombo, with more than 150 warships, large and small, including one second-class ship and twenty third-class ships...... The total number of troops is about 40,000 or more. ”

One second-class ship, twenty third-class ships, and 40,000 troops! Yi Zhizu raised his eyebrows, and laughed loudly: "Hitting Calcutta can be regarded as stabbing a hornet's nest, and Britain is really moving this time!" ”

Zhao Wenlie frowned and said, "Does it include the warships of France, Spain, and the Netherlands?" ”

"Not included." Yi Zhi said confidently: "This is sent by the British to India to quell the rebellion, and the troops of the three French countries should not come until the second half of the year or the beginning of next year, depending on the situation of the British in India to quell the rebellion." With that, he turned to asking, "Is there any news from Mumbai?" ”

"Nope." Cao Gensheng replied.

No news from Mumbai? Yi Zhifu frowned, Mumbai is closer to Delhi, and if the British army wants to quell the chaos, they should gather troops in Mumbai, is it planning to recover Calcutta first? Or was Bombay cut off its telegraphs?

Zhao Wenlie obviously thought of this as well, and asked, "Can 40,000 British troops recover Calcutta?" How many Taiping troops are there in Kolkata today? Eighty thousand? ”

"The Taiping army is not equipped with many Mini guns, only about 20,000, from the perspective of comprehensive combat power, the British army occupies an absolute advantage, and the British navy is far stronger than the army." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "However, there are still 20,000 Tibetan soldiers in Sikkim, and the British should know ...... very well." ”

Wei Yuan said: "Could it be that Yingyi wants to destroy the Nanyang Navy fleet first?" ”

"Probably not." Yi Zhifu shook his head slowly, "The size of the Nanyang Navy Fleet The British know very well that without occupying an overwhelming advantage, it is impossible for them to find the main force of the Nanyang Navy Fleet for a decisive battle, but will wait for the arrival of the fleets of the three French countries. ”

Wei Yuan continued: "Is it possible that Yingyi thinks that the Tibetan soldiers will not help the Taiping army? ”

Yi Zhizhi was silent and lit a cigarette, in his opinion, this possibility is not great, the British army cannot be so risky, 40,000 British troops, this is not a small number, no one is the commander, he will not dare to be so careless, all uncertainties will be taken into account.

"The student thinks it's not very likely." Zhao Wenlie groaned: "The Taiping Army's Mini guns and ammunition supply can't be hidden from the British army, and the British army should know that the Taiping Army has Yuan Qi behind it." After a pause, he continued: "The student pondered whether the British army should have a follow-up force, or whether it should first suppress the Indian uprising and then concentrate on recovering Calcutta. ”

Yi Zhizu still didn't express his opinion, glanced at Cao Gensheng, and said, "Call back, inquire in detail, and report back at any time." With that, he got up and paced to the front of the map, looking at the port of Colombo with a cigarette holder in his mouth.

There was a "snap", but it was Wei Yuan who patted the armrest of the chair, "Wouldn't the lord forget the tens of thousands of British troops in Madras?" ”

Zhao Wenlie said: "Madras's British army has all entered the northeastern states of India to quell the rebellion. ”

"Isn't Kolkata just right next to the northeastern states of India?"

"Sir reminds me." Yi Zhi said with a head of his head: "With the troops in the northeastern states of India to quell the rebellion, the British army is fully confident that it can easily recover Calcutta. ”

Hearing this, Wei Yuan hurriedly said, "The big shopkeeper doesn't really plan to help the Taiping Army, right?" ”

"Don't help the Taiping Army ......." Zhao Wenlie hesitated and said, "Will the Taiping Army fall to the British army?" ”

"If the Taiping army is willing to give up Calcutta, there is a possibility." Yi Zhizhi laughed and said: "However, they should be reluctant, as for whether to help or not, let's see how the situation develops." ”

Port of Colombo, Ceylon.

The harbor was filled with warships flying the flag and numerous merchant ships, the largest fleet ever seen by the residents of Colombo, and never before had a fleet of this size anchored in the port of Colombo.

Such a large fleet brought not only shock to Colombo, but also huge business opportunities, and the whole of Colombo was full of hordes of British troops, and all the taverns and brothels were full.

In a beautiful building by the sea, Ergin, the plenipotentiary of the Far East, stood on the balcony and squinted slightly at the fleet in the harbor, gently shaking a glass of cold wine in his hand, and slowly took a sip of wine, before he turned around and glanced at the Commander-in-Chief in India, Inspector Les Canning, "I hope to quell the turmoil in India in the second half of the year, because the French fleet will arrive in the second half of the year, and I don't want it to drag on too long and affect the war in the Far East." ”

Charles Canning took out the pipe in his mouth, "For Great Britain, India is more important than the Qing Kingdom. ”

"India is important, and Qing is equally important." Ergin said: "All countries that dare to provoke the Royal Navy of the British Empire, we must eagerly give the most serious lesson!" ”

Charles Canning glanced at him, "I think the most urgent thing at the moment should be the recovery of Calcutta, and I think I would like to remind Your Excellency that the Taiping army in Calcutta is not easy to deal with." ”

Ergin said in a contemptuous tone: "Are those yellow-skinned monkeys more difficult to deal with than Russian bears?" ”

"I hope that Your Excellency will understand and respect your opponent in detail." Charles Canning said in a deep voice: "The Taiping army is equipped with a large number of mini guns, at least 120,000 guns, and there are also a lot of artillery, which have caused us huge casualties in Burma. ”

Armed with a large number of Minnie guns? Ergin frowned, "Behind the Taiping Army is the Yankees?" Or Yuanqi? ”

"It's Yuanqi!" Charles Canning said slowly: "Therefore, we must also guard against the reinforcement of Calcutta by more than 20,000 Qing troops stationed in Gorkha, Sikkim, and Bhutan. ”

Ergin's expression became solemn, "The Qing army is equipped with Mini guns? ”

"Yes." Charles Canning nodded, "The equipment of the Qing army is even better than that of the Taiping army. ”

That is, it is possible to face forty or fifty thousand troops armed with mini guns? Erjinden was a little speechless, he didn't want huge casualties in India!

Kolkata, Heavenly King's House.

Hong Xiuquan forwarded the telegram to Feng Yunshan with a gloomy expression, the telegram was from Shanghai, and Yi Zhizu informed the British army in the telegram that the main fleet of the British army had arrived in Colombo, and Yuan Qi would not be able to supply from the sea, and reminded the Taiping army that if necessary, abandon Calcutta, and the main force of the British army could not be stationed for a long time.

After reading the telegram, Feng Yunshan groaned slightly before he spoke: "Yi Guocheng's analysis is not unreasonable, the main fleet of the British army is coming, mainly to start a war with the Qing Demon, it is impossible to stay in Calcutta for a long time, and it is indeed the wisest choice to give up for the time being." ”

"Humph!" Hong Xiuquan snorted angrily, "Yi Zhi's contentment is nothing more than hoping that we will contain the main force of the British army here, but I don't have any good intentions!" ”

Feng Yunshan hesitated for a moment before saying, "But after all, this is also good for us...... ”

"Give up New Tianjing, and the British army will withdraw?" Hong Xiuquan said coldly: "Even if we take the initiative to evacuate, the British army will continue to pursue." ”

Feng Yunshan said: "What if we retreat to Tibet? ”

"Impossible, how can the Qing demons stationed in Sikkim allow us to withdraw into Tibet?" Hong Xiuquan said in a deep voice: "Send someone to contact Yingyi to see if you can negotiate peace?" ”