Listening to the other party say that the risk is not small, Wei Sanwei couldn't help but tighten his heart, he knew very well in his heart how big the risk of Yuan Qi misappropriating hundreds of millions of silver dollars, if this matter was not handled well, it would inevitably cause a large-scale run, and what made him feel a little relieved was that the other party's attitude had not changed.

Entering the room, he said in a sincere tone: "Your Highness and Yuan Qi can help our country in time when it is in danger, and our President Mr. Grant specially asks me to pay the highest respect to His Highness." As he spoke, he bent down and bowed deeply.

Yi Zhixiang still had a faint smile on his face, "Although your two countries are not closely related, they have maintained a very close relationship in the fields of finance and trade, industrial science and technology, and education. ”

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and said, "We don't need to be rigid about those false courtesies, sit ——。 ”

After taking his seat, he continued: "With the increasing popularity ......of cable telegraphs, railways, and ocean-going ships, a world market that includes all countries in the world is gradually forming, and this economic crisis may be a world crisis in the real sense, and our country will inevitably suffer a huge impact. ”

Is this a condition? Wei Sanwei put his mind at ease, in this case, such a huge amount of capital investment, it is normal to have conditions, he said straightforwardly: "Your Highness has any requirements, just mention it, but if you can do it, our country will never shirk." ”

"Such a huge amount of silver flow is absolutely impossible to hide, and it is impossible to hide it for the sake of Yuan Qi's own safety, so we need a legitimate, high-sounding reason." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "China intends to implement the gold standard, and we hope to sign two gold-silver exchange agreements with your country, with an amount of 100 million taels of silver, in order to alleviate your country's serious shortage of funds, the price can be slightly higher than the international gold market, one to twenty-five."

Another gold and silver exchange agreement, the amount can be higher, 3500000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 With this agreement as a cover, Yuanqi's silver can be shipped to your country in a grand manner. ”

Although the exchange ratio of 1:25 is much higher than the gold and silver exchange rate in the international market, Wei Sanwei still does not dare to nod rashly, after all, gold reserves are the foundation of a country, in maintaining economic and monetary stability, in balancing the balance of payments and international trade, gold has an irreplaceable role, four million taels of gold is not a small amount.

Of course, at the cost of exchanging four million taels of gold for the input of hundreds of millions of taels of silver, how is this account cost-effective, he didn't think much about it, and asked directly: "How much silver can Yuan Qi enter?" ”

"It depends on the needs of your country." Yi Zhisuff said without thinking: "If your country needs it, we can provide 600 million taels of silver, or even more." ”

600 million or more! Although he had expected it, Wei Sanwei couldn't help but feel a little excited in his heart, once this silver was imported, the situation in the country would immediately be greatly improved, and he groaned slightly, before he said: "Your Highness should know that the outflow of gold from our country is serious, and this matter must be ....... to the country." ”

Gold has been discovered in the western part of the United States, and there have been several waves of gold rush, and gold production has increased steadily year by year, but the outflow of gold is also serious, mainly to England and the Qing Dynasty. ”

This statement is reasonable, at least it can prevent the country from misunderstanding that Yuan Qi is taking advantage of people's danger, Wei Sanwei asked instead: "Does Your Highness have any other requirements?" ”

"There are no other requirements." Yi Zhizhi said simply: "However, your country must guarantee the safety and freedom of this fund. ”

Wei Sanwei hurriedly said: "The safety and freedom of funds, Your Highness can definitely rest assured." ”

Yi Zhifen smiled and nodded, in fact, he was not worried about the safety and freedom of funds, with several waves of gold rush in the western United States and the prosperity of Pacific trade, a large number of Han people flocked to the United States, and in several cities along the western coast of the United States, the Han people have become the main population, and the two major cities in the Los Angeles Basin bought by Yuan Qi - Los Angeles and Long Beach, the Han people occupy an absolute advantage.

Of course, what is more important is the military strength, with the current military strength of the Qing Dynasty, he is not afraid of the United States swallowing this silver at all! Moreover, in addition to copying the Wall Street stock market, this silver is mainly invested in several cities on the western coast of the United States, which are dominated by Han Chinese.

After a slight hesitation, he said slowly: "Today's world is a center, England is the world's economic, financial and industrial center, with the successive development of industry in various countries, with the gradual formation and improvement of the world market, there will inevitably be a bipolar, tripolar or multipolar situation.

In my judgment, the situation of the three poles is the most likely, Europe, Asia and North America are three-legged, Europe is centered on Britain, France, Germany and Russia, North America is centered on your country, and Asia is China. ”

Is this the real reason why Yuanqi is so strongly aiding the United States? Wei Sanwei was a little surprised in his heart, he didn't expect the other party to attach so much importance to the future of the United States, the Qing Kingdom has developed very rapidly in recent years, and the economy, finance, industry, science and technology, education, military and other aspects have developed rapidly, in fact, it has become one of the two major centers in the world side by side with England, and the other party actually asserted that the United States would become the next center.

He smiled and said, "I will truthfully convey Your Highness's views on the world situation to the country." ”

After sending Wei Sanwei away, Yi Zhengxing turned back to the study, glanced at Yi Zhicontent, who was flipping through the documents, and said tentatively: "Father, the United States is in urgent need of capital injection, even according to the exchange rate of the international gold market, the United States will definitely agree, why take the initiative to increase the exchange price, 100 million silver, the loss of gold is as high as 1 million taels." ”

Putting down the documents in hand, Yi Zhizhi said: "If it is at a normal price, why would the United States agree to this huge deal?" How can it not be suspicious? Only by significantly increasing the exchange rate will the transaction appear normal. ”

Yi Zhengxing naturally understood this truth, he felt that the price was too high, even if it was a little higher, one to twenty-two was already enough, why raise it to one to twenty-five? This loss is inevitably too great, a loss of tens of millions of taels of silver.

Seeing Yi Zhicontent, he didn't care at all, and he didn't want to ask directly, so he immediately turned his head, "There is still a little child who doesn't understand very well, because of the financial crisis and economic crisis, the United States has stopped exchanging paper money for gold and silver, and with such a huge amount of silver import, the United States will definitely not allow us to exchange gold, so Yu Yuanqi and the Qing Dynasty don't seem to have any ........" ”

"You can't just look at the present, and you can't be too limited." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The implementation of the gold standard is the trend of the times, once China and European countries successively implement the gold standard, the United States will inevitably follow the gold standard, there is no doubt about this."

In addition, because of the financial crisis and economic crisis, the stock market, railways, factories, real estate, etc. in the United States are now at a low level, and they also have great investment value.

And more importantly, such a huge amount of money has taken advantage of the void, not only squeezing out European capital, but also helping us to control the finance, stock market and even the economy of the United States, and the financial and economic crisis in the United States is not only because of the sudden withdrawal of European capital? ”

Is there still such an intention? Yi Zhengxing and Zhao Liewen both looked at it in a daze, the two of them really didn't expect that there was such a deep meaning behind this huge amount of silver input, and after hesitating, Zhao Liewen said: "In this way, isn't the United States drinking to quench its thirst?" ”

"Yes, it's true that drinking water quenches your thirst, but even if the United States knows this, it can't refuse." Yi Zhixiang had a sneer on his face, "The United States clearly knows that once a large-scale economic crisis breaks out in Europe, it will inevitably suffer a second wave of shock, so they must absorb a huge amount of foreign capital as soon as possible to stabilize the situation." ”

After a slight sigh, Zhao Liewen said: "That being the case, is it necessary to guide public opinion as soon as possible?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded slightly, "The day after tomorrow will start." ”

Two days later, "On Silver Currency" signed by Changle Jushi appeared in a prominent position on the front page of the major newspapers in the southeastern provinces, and the article described that silver was widely used from the Jin Dynasty, became legal tender from the Yuan Dynasty, and became the common currency of all countries in the world in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, and flowed into China through East-West trade.

With the discovery of a large number of silver mines in North America, with the development of industry and the popularization and application of machines, the world's silver production has also increased year by year, and now it has reached an astonishing annual output of 80 million taels.

The article points out that with the gradual increase in silver production, silver is not only constantly depreciating, but also gradually losing its function as a currency, and it is the general trend for the gold standard to replace the silver standard, and eventually silver will completely withdraw from the market.

The article lists a series of detailed data on the world's silver production and silver depreciation, which is shocking to the people who see it, and has also triggered a wide range of discussions, the theory of silver depreciation is not sensational, because from the beginning of the Ming Dynasty to the present for hundreds of years, silver is indeed in a process of continuous depreciation, which is an indisputable fact, it is also a fact that large silver mines are frequently found in North America, and the rapid development of the mining industry is also obvious to all.

On the third day, the major newspapers in the southeast published an article entitled "Transvaal Gold Mine Investigation Report", also signed by Changle Jushi, which pointed out that the reserves of the Landesvaal gold mine are at least as high as 5,000 tons, and the annual output can be increased to 200 tons.

Two articles in succession, the first article is to discuss the necessity of implementing the gold standard, and the second article is to explain that Yuanqi has the strength to implement the gold standard, two hundred tons of gold is equivalent to more than 100 million taels of silver, and the existing silver can be replaced in a few years.

Combined with the previously published article "On the Gold Standard", it can be said that Yi Zhi's intention is already very clear, and the Qing Dynasty wants to follow the example of England and Germany to implement the gold standard!

Silver as a currency in China has been experienced for hundreds of years, and now to abolish silver and implement the gold standard, the government and the opposition are inevitably discussing, some are in favor and some are against, but the opposition is obviously much weaker, after all, no one wants to accumulate wealth and continue to depreciate.

In Changle Bookstore, Zhao Liewen faced Yi Zhi's two fathers and sons, and said slowly: "To sum up, the main reasons for opposing the implementation of the gold standard are nothing more than three points. In addition, gold is expensive and silver is cheap, and the gold standard is adopted, and there are many inconveniences for small expenses, so it will rely more on paper money and banks.

The last and most important point is that he is worried that Yuan Qi will take advantage of the opportunity to implement the gold standard to accumulate wealth and reduce the price of silver ....... in disguise. ”

"Hum ——。" Yi Zhizu laughed coldly: "If Yuan Qi really wants to take the opportunity to make money, he will announce the implementation of the gold standard when the run is trending!" ”

After a slight sigh, Zhao Liewen said: "It's better to write an article to explain this matter, after all, many people don't know what it is." ”

"I don't have to show up." Yi Zhizhi said: "Guide the newspaper to argue, how much money Yuan Qi spends every year on education, disaster relief, immigration, reclamation, subsidies for state use, etc., why should he use the implementation of the gold standard to accumulate wealth and destroy his reputation?"

Let Hu Guangyong release the news in the name of Yuanqi's head office, even if Yuanqi implements the gold standard, it will ensure that the domestic silver will not depreciate, and ensure that the gold-silver exchange ratio of Huayuan is 1:20. ”

Just when the newspapers were arguing about the gold standard and the silver standard, Wei Sanwei brought a reply from China, agreeing to Yuan Qi's request to exchange four million taels of gold, and ensuring the safety and freedom of the huge amount of silver imported, and at the same time, he also proposed that Yuan Qi would import four hundred million taels of silver at one time, and then discuss it if necessary.

Soon, the news that the Qing and the United States had signed a huge gold and silver exchange agreement amounting to 400 million silver dollars was disseminated, and then it was openly reported in the newspapers.

As a result of the two unexpected results of this agreement, the gold-silver exchange ratio in the international gold market has increased significantly, directly from 1:20 to 1:23, except for England and Germany, which have not been impacted, and the countries that adopt the gold-silver composite system have been greatly impacted, and the rapid depreciation of silver has further aggravated the degree of the European financial crisis.

Another result was that there was a wave of silver exchange for paper money in the Qing Dynasty, and the value of silver depreciated, but the Chinese yuan was fixed at a gold-silver exchange ratio of 1:20.