The outbreak of the English economic crisis was in no way inferior to that of the United States, and the bankruptcy of the Bank of Glasgow was like the first domino of the dominoes, followed by the Bank of West England and the Bank of South Wales, and the collapse of the big banks involved countless small and medium-sized banks.

As a large number of banks quickly went bankrupt, the stock market collapsed, countless companies suffered, a large number of factories and mines went bankrupt and closed down, and a huge number of workers lost their jobs almost overnight.

The British economy, which had already fallen into depression due to the economic crises of various countries, experienced this sudden and fierce shock, and suddenly fell into a deeper depression.

The severe economic crisis in England is tantamount to making matters worse for European countries, which have just improved after five years of economic slump, and have suffered a second wave of shocks, which has greatly delayed the time of economic recovery, although there are exceptions, the United States and Germany have not suffered major impacts.

"The economic crisis in England has been delayed for five years, heavy industry is still the hardest hit area, railway construction, shipbuilding, machine building, steel smelting, mining and other industries have been hit hard, steel production has fallen from three million tons to one million tons, not only the output has fallen, but the price has also fallen very much, Scottish pig iron has dropped from 102 shillings to 47 shillings."

Yi Zhengxing methodically reported: "Another point that is not used in other countries is that the textile industry in England has also been hit hard, with 20 percent of textile mills closing down, and 60 percent of textile mills operating less than half of the machines ......... ”

Yi Zhizu waved his hand to interrupt him, "Why did England delay the outbreak of this economic crisis for five years?" ”

"England experienced a financial crisis before the economic crisis of 1873, which led to the fact that financial speculation was not rampant. In addition, this time it was an economic crisis in heavy industry, the construction of the English railway did not reach a climax, and the shipbuilding side increased the scale of the construction of ironclad ships due to the losses of South Africa in World War I, ....... ”

Yi Zhengxing had long expected that there would be a question, and said confidently: "The textile industry has not suffered much impact in this economic crisis, and then there is investment, England is keen on capital investment, in recent years, the economic crisis broke out in European countries, and the investment in the textile, shipbuilding, steelmaking, mining and other industries has grown steadily.

This is in fact the root cause of the current economic crisis in England, during which the expansion of investment will only lead to further overproduction, leading to a much larger economic crisis. If Britain had not expanded its investment and instead contracted it, it would have avoided the outbreak of this economic crisis. ”

Speaking of this, he glanced up at the other party and said worriedly: "The expansion of investment in my country in recent years is far greater than that of England, will there also be an economic crisis?" ”

"Don't worry, the situation in our country is different from England." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "China is not an economic system of free competition, but an economic system characterized by a high degree of monopoly that combines the planned economy and the market economy.

Moreover, China itself has an unparalleled total population and an extremely large domestic market, and more importantly, the trade protection measures adopted by China over the years, the monopoly of foreign trade, and the tariff mediation of import and export trade have played a very good role in protecting China's industrial development and domestic market.

Why didn't the outbreak of the English economic crisis have a big impact on the United States and Germany? Also because of trade protection, this economic crisis has prompted Western countries to transition from free competition to monopoly, and the United States and Germany are the pioneers. ”

Hearing this, Zhao Liewen said with a smile: "The United States and Germany also learned from our Yuanqi, and we were the first to implement trade protection." ”

Yi Zhengxing said: "Will Western countries gradually weaken China's advantages by gradually moving towards monopoly and implementing trade protection? ”

"It's inevitable." Yi Zhishu nodded, "However, it is also a monopoly, my country's degree of monopoly is higher, Western countries are currently only industry monopolies, and my country is a national monopoly!" This is more suitable for state intervention in industry and the economy, and is also conducive to pooling funds for planned, focused and step-by-step development.

Like the Five-Year Plan, this is unimaginable and difficult to implement in Western countries, and no country can have such a rich finance! Not even England can do it! ”

After a pause, he continued: "This is actually the fundamental reason why our country has been able to develop so rapidly in less than forty years. Of course, we must also see that China's industrial development is developed on the shoulders of England, to put it mildly, many technologies, we are plagiarized from England, the United States, otherwise, the speed of development could not be so fast. ”

Zhao Liewen glanced at him and said: "Britain was the first to carry out the industrial revolution, it has been more than 100 years, and the countries in the world that followed the industrial revolution have basically plagiarized the industrial technology of England, but only China can achieve such great achievements in a short period of time, which is mainly due to the foresight ....... the big treasurer." ”

"The ——。 of the Big Shopkeeper" Li Hongzhang walked in briskly with a telegram, "Constantinople is calling, the Ottomans are building the Constantinople-Baghdad railway, and Britain, France, Germany, Russia and other countries are actively striving to build the railway. ”

After reading the telegram, Yi Zhizu casually transferred the telegram to Yi Zhengxing, and slowly lit a cigarette, Baghdad is only more than 500 kilometers away from Basra, there is no doubt that this is deliberately aimed at the Qing Dynasty, the Ottomans are not only defeated, but also face huge war reparations after the war, how can they propose to build such a long railway at this time? Apparently the British came up with it.

Zhao Liewen, who saw it, put down the telegram, and he said slowly: "What do you think?" ”

Yi Zhengxing pondered and said: "The Ottomans belong to the British sphere of influence, and a serious economic crisis broke out in England, steel prices have plummeted, production has also dropped seriously, and a lot of money is looking for a way out, this railway should be proposed by the British." ”

"Baghdad is not far from Basra." Zhao Liewen said: "The British hope to use this railway to curb our country's continued expansion to the Ottomans....... ”

Glancing at the two of them, Yi Zhizhi looked at Li Hongzhang, "What do you think of Gradually?" ”

"The student thought there was something strange about this." Li Hongzhang said straightforwardly: "The Ottomans belong to the British sphere of influence, and the geographical location of the Ottomans is very important, even if this railway is to be built, there is no chance for other countries to intervene, how can it be openly tendered?" Or open competition between Britain, France, Germany, and Russia? ”

"To the point." Yi Zhishu nodded approvingly, "The so-called open competition between Britain, France, Germany, and Russia should be a cover, and this railway may eventually be built by Germany." ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhengxing couldn't help but be stunned, and said with a puzzled face: "England and Germany are in a state of opposition, will Germany be allowed to build this railway?" ”

Li Hongzhang said in a deep voice: "This is a plan to drive away the wolf and devour the tiger!" ”

Zhao Liewen said slowly: "Bismarck is not easy to match, if the big shopkeeper judges well, then Zhou Yu beats Huang Gai, one is willing to fight, and the other is willing to suffer." ”

The British, together with the Germans, contained the Qing Dynasty's expansion into the Ottomans? Yi Zhengxing's reaction was not slow, he reacted after a while, he looked at the three of them, and said hesitantly: "Britain let Germany go east, so it doesn't worry about raising tigers?" ”

"Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia are the Three Emperors' Alliance." Yi Zhishu analyzed slowly: "Conniving at Germany's expansion to the Ottomans is conducive to provoking the contradictions between Germany and Russia, and using Germany to curb China's expansion to the Ottomans. Once China continues to expand into the two river basins, it will face the joint suppression of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria and Turkey! ”

Speaking of which, he instructed: "Keep an eye on the progress of the situation, and in addition, keep an eye on South Africa with the intelligence services!" ”

South Africa? Zhao Liewen was shocked, "The big shopkeeper is worried about European countries competing for gold mines in South Africa? ”

Yi Zhizhi's expression was a little cold, if Britain joined forces with Germany to prevent the Qing Dynasty from expanding to the two river valleys, things would be far from being as simple as imagined, in addition to the Ottomans, another suitable place for conflict was South Africa!

After pondering for a while, he said: "For England, the vast overseas colonies are the foundation to ensure the strength and wealth of England, if the position of the maritime hegemon is not guaranteed, it means that the overseas colonies are not guaranteed, thinking about it, England regards our country as the biggest enemy, South Africa's gold production is amazing, and it must be the focus of England's attack." ”

Zhao Liewen was stunned and said: "The British still dare to break ground on Tai Sui's head? ”

"I'm afraid I'm afraid of Britain and Germany joining forces." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Germany is now in a hurry to open up overseas colonies, and if England does what it likes, it is not impossible to join forces." ”

Hearing this, the room was quiet, and after a while, Zhao Liewen sighed lightly: "The trees want to be quiet and the wind does not stop, my country has no intention of expanding the Ottomans, but the South African gold mine is a reverse scale." ”

South African gold mine for the current Yuanqi can be said to be the top priority, a year of more than 100 tons of gold output, not only the implementation of the gold standard of the guarantee, but also to fill the disaster relief fell into the huge hole of the guarantee, once the South African gold mine because of the war shutdown, the consequences are unimaginable, the country may break out a large-scale run, the entire Yuanqi may collapse!

Li Hongzhang said: "South Africa cannot afford to lose, can we first increase the number of troops in South Africa to dispel Britain's illusions." ”

"No." Yi Zhizhi said: "Increase the troops in South Africa, and if you remind England, there are no three hundred taels of silver here." ”

Li Hongzhang said: "The situation in our country cannot be concealed from England. ”

With a slight groan, Yi Zhizhi waved his hand, "It's just speculation at the moment, you can't mess around first." After a pause, he continued: "The drought may continue for another year, and if England intends to stir up trouble in South Africa, it will not be delayed, so keep an eye on it for the time being." In addition, call King Gong that the northern provinces, even if the disaster continues next year, the food must be enough to protect themselves. ”

Shandong, Tai'an Province, Feicheng County.

As a demonstration site of large-scale use of agricultural machinery, Feicheng has become famous in just three years, especially after the beginning of spring this year, the newspapers of various provinces have reported on the demonstration sites of Feicheng's large farms, which has attracted the attention of the government and the opposition, and the gentry with many lands have shown great interest in the farms, and many gentry have come to visit every day.

In just three years, Feicheng has almost changed, although there is no railway, but a wide and straight asphalt road directly connects Feicheng with Tai'an Mansion, more than 70 miles of road, whether it is riding a horse or a car, an hour can be reached, most of the gentry choose to take a stable and comfortable four-wheeled carriage.

Yang Shizhen from Dengzhou Mansion sat in the wide carriage and felt the comfort of the carriage driving fast on the smooth asphalt road, looking at the carriages, bicycles, and horse teams coming and going on the road, and couldn't help but have mixed feelings.

Not to mention anything else, just looking at this high-standard asphalt road, his heart is already dripping blood, it is obvious that Yuan Qi has really made a bloody investment for this demonstration area!

As soon as he entered the boundary of Feicheng, he was speechless by the golden wheat fields that could not be seen in front of him, the drought in Shandong has become heavier and heavier year by year in recent years, and many prefectures and counties have no harvest, even if there is a harvest, it is also a serious failure, and it is not expected that this demonstration site will not be affected at all.

was shocked, but the carriage stopped, and then a somewhat familiar voice was heard, "After a few years, Brother Zhongyu is okay?" ”

Yang Shizhen stretched out his head, and saw Song Henian on the horse looking at him with a smile on his face, and couldn't help laughing: "After a few years, Brother Zhixian's demeanor is still the same." With that, he pushed the door open and got out of the car.

Song Henian got off the horse and greeted him and said: "I was going to the station to pick up the station, and I couldn't get out of my ....... if I had something temporary." ”

"It's thirty miles away, what's polite?" Yang Shizhen said, pointing to the wheat field, "It's all deep well irrigation?" ”

"Naturally, the demonstration site is a priority." Song Henian nodded and said with a smile: "With this deep well irrigation, there is no need to look at the sky to eat from now on." ”

"It's still Brother Zhixian who had the courage at the beginning." Yang Shizhen said with emotion: "This demonstration site is not only self-interested, but also benefits the entire Feicheng a lot. ”

This is indeed the truth, the entire Feicheng is benefiting from this demonstration site, building roads, rebuilding the county, building waterworks, that is, the number of machine drilling wells is far more than other states and counties, Song Henian smiled, relieved: "This farm has nothing to envy, now invest in the construction of factories and mines, is the trend of the times, the newspaper does not say, China will gradually transition from an agricultural country to an industrial power." ”

Yang Shizhen said: "What does Brother Zhixian mean, ready to actively invest in factories and mines and set up industries? ”

Song Henian nodded, "Look at Yuanqi's posture, industrial power, it's not just a slogan. ”