The moon is still hanging in the sky, the Forbidden City Yangxin Palace is already brightly lit, forced to get used to going to bed early and getting up early Empress Dowager Ci'an got up early, to wash and clean up, the little emperor Qixiang also rushed over to say goodbye, after receiving the salute, she commanded, "Call up." ”

As the empress dowager of the prison country, although she does not have to go to court every day, she has to see the minister of military aircraft every day, which is a routine that cannot be shaken. The emperor and the empress dowager got up early, and the ministers of military aircraft naturally got up even earlier, and they had to rush into the palace at about three o'clock in the morning to wait for the summons.

Hearing the call, Su Shun led a group of military aircraft into the Dongnuan Pavilion, after knocking on the ceremony, according to the routine of the day's government affairs to be dealt with one by one, to discuss the daily government affairs, it has been a small half an hour passed, the few people who saw it did not say a word Ci'an before he spoke: "King Gong asked for the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, what is the opinion of the Military Aircraft Department?" ”

Gong Wang Yixun asked for the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, Ci'an stayed in the middle for a few days, Su Shun originally thought that this matter would not be resolved, but he didn't want to ask again today, and he groaned slightly, he said: "Back to the Queen Mother, the treasury is empty, the full amount of money to build the railway, and the right to operate the railway as collateral, Weichen steals it is inappropriate." ”

Before his words fell, Mu Yin, who was kneeling in the back row, said loudly: "Queen Mother, Yingyi is facing an economic crisis, and she took the initiative to borrow money to build roads, in order to pass on the crisis, and the railway is very important. ”

Du Han then said: "Xiyi is profit-seeking by nature, and he took the initiative to borrow money to build roads, but for profit, the construction of the railway costs a lot of money, but the railway operation right is afraid that it is difficult to meet Xiyi's greed, Weichen is worried that Xiyi will gain an inch, and after obtaining the railway operation right, he will ask for mining rights along the railway, missionary and other non-sub-requirements, and I implore the Queen Mother to think carefully." ”

Seeing that Su Shun and his family opposed the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, Ci'an secretly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, she was most worried about the collusion between Yixin and Su Shun, in line with the principle that more is better than less, she was not in favor of building the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, although it was not uncommon for Xiyi to build the railway in the Qing Dynasty, but in her heart she was still resistant to foreigners going deep into the mainland.

However, she was not in a hurry to express her position, after all, this matter was raised by King Gong Yixun, she wanted to hear Yixun's opinion, and besides, if the imperial court wanted to develop industry and develop the military industry, it also needed to rely on Britain and France, and she didn't want to be reckless.

At ten o'clock in the morning, Gong Wang Yixun was summoned to enter the palace, after the ceremony, Ci'an sat as always, and when he sat down, she spoke: "The matter of borrowing money from Xiyi to build the road, the court is turbulent, and the opponents are numerous, and the imperial uncle should have heard of it?" ”

"I've heard a little about it." Yixun calmly replied: "In fact, for the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, the minister also believes that it is not an urgent matter, and the reason why the excerpt is to prevent Britain and France from turning to Yuanqi to seek cooperation, and the economic crisis in England is imminent, and they are eager to seek foreign investment to stimulate the domestic economy and alleviate the losses caused by the crisis." If they failed at the imperial court, Britain and France would inevitably turn to Yuanqi, after all, the southeastern provinces had far more railroad construction projects than the northern provinces. ”

Hearing this, Ci'an was silent for a long time, if Britain and France turned to seek cooperation with Yuan Qi, what would it mean for the imperial court? The imperial court will be isolated inside and outside! After a long time, she said: "Britain and France have always been at odds with Yuanqi....... Is there a possibility of cooperation? ”

"Back to the Queen Mother." Yi Xun said slowly: "Britain and France and other Xiyi only have interests in their eyes, and Yuan Qi is also mercenary, as long as it is profitable for both parties, there must be the possibility of cooperation."

Once the English economic crisis broke out, it will inevitably affect France, the United States and other European and American countries, a large number of surplus goods need to find the market to dump at low prices, our Daqing is undoubtedly the most ideal market, and for a significant reduction in the cost of railway construction, Yuan Qi obviously will not refuse. ”

Ci'an felt a little embarrassed when she waited, and she groaned a little before she spoke: "This matter is related to the relationship with Britain and France, Uncle Huang may wish to consult carefully with the Military Aircraft Department, and then prepare a note to be submitted." ”

Yixun already knew that Su Shun was against the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, and let him discuss with Su Shun must be a prevarication, and he didn't know when he would be able to negotiate a result, so he bowed slightly and said: "The minister obeys the order." ”

After a pause, he continued: "The ministers are sparse and shallow, and they know very little about the economy, but in the humble opinion of the ministers, the economic crisis is a rare opportunity for the imperial court to develop industry.

The Qing Dynasty and the opposition, if the economic talent, no one can compare with the king of Zhennan, the minister begged the queen mother for permission, went to Shanghai to ask the king of Zhennan for advice, Su Xiangruo can go with the best. ”

After a slight sigh, Ci'an said: "Yuan Qi also seems to be opposed to borrowing money to build the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, and Uncle Huang is sure that the trip to Shanghai can be rewarded?" ”

Yi Xun said: "The minister believes that the king of Zhennan will focus on the overall situation. ”

After thinking for a while, Ci'an said softly: "Let's go to Weifu." ”

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

After reading the discussion about the Jingshi and the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, Zhao Liewen looked at Yi Zhizhi and said tentatively: "The big shopkeeper doesn't seem to strongly oppose the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway? ”

"Why strongly oppose it?" Yi Zhizu raised his head and said: "The economic crisis, although the British industry has greatly reduced production, but the backlog of commodities is serious, and prices have plummeted, this is a good opportunity for the Qing Dynasty to rapidly develop the railway, although we oppose the low-price dumping of British industrial products, but there is no need to oppose the construction of the railway." ”

"Why?" Zhao Liewen asked puzzledly: "Is there no impact on the metallurgical industry and machinery manufacturing industry of the Qing Dynasty?" ”

"Yes." Yi Zhizhi said: "The railway construction of the Qing Dynasty is a long-term and arduous task, our metallurgical industry and machinery manufacturing industry do not need to worry about the impact, because there is no need to worry about no railway engineering, on the contrary, we must try our best to take advantage of the Western economic crisis, the opportunity of the significant reduction of railway construction costs to carry out large-scale construction."

The world economic crisis in 1857 was the first upsurge of railway construction in the Qing Dynasty, and this economic crisis will be the second upsurge of railway construction in the Qing Dynasty.

The United States is currently in a state of post-war reconstruction, and because of currency problems, the economy may have a sustained recession, Russia we can't count on, the Eurasian railway is enough to make Russia unable to free up, the second railway construction climax of the Qing Dynasty, the main introduction is Britain and France, as well as the North German Confederation. ”

While the two were talking, Lin Meilian walked in quickly and reported: "The big shopkeeper, Prince Gong, Prince Yi and Su Xiangwei came to visit. ”

"There are two princes at once, one is the chief military aircraft, this lineup is big enough." Yi Zhizu chuckled, then got up and ordered, "Invite them in." As he spoke, he glanced at Zhao Liewen again and said, "Go and greet you." ”

Gong Wang Yixun, Prince Yi Zaiyuan and Su Shun and Yi Zhishu are quite familiar, a few people meet to greet each other, but also a little casual, politely into the house to sit down, Yi Zhicontent smiled and said: "You are here for the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway?" ”

"Indeed, I have come for this." Yi Xun said: "The imperial court has never borrowed money to build a railway, and some are undecided. ”

Yi Zhizu asked directly: "Ying Li offered to borrow money to build the road, what is the collateral?" ”

"The right to operate the railway." Yi Xun said: "The specific period will be discussed after the line survey, the cost is calculated, and the loan amount is calculated." ”

Yi Zhishu shook his head slowly, "The English economic crisis, the cost of railway construction has been greatly reduced, I am not against borrowing money to build a railway, but I can't ask for the right to operate the railway." ”

Yixun groaned: "With the right to operate the railway as collateral, the imperial court can be said to have no burden, why not?" ”

"King Gong underestimated the right to operate the railway." Yi Zhizhi said without hurry: "With the right to operate the railway, it is necessary to set up a railway company, hire employees, and maintain the normal operation of the railway is not a small number of employees, in order to maintain public order on the train, it is necessary to set up a railway police station, and in order to protect the safety of bridges and tunnels on the railway line, it is also necessary to set up an armed forces garrison ......." ”

Hearing this, Yi Xun stopped talking, and he didn't take the train less, but he rarely noticed these things, and after listening to this, he realized that this thing was really a little inappropriate.

"Moreover, more importantly, controlling the right to operate a railway is equivalent to controlling the economy along this railway, controlling commerce, mining, and transportation along this railway, and if the imperial court wants to transport troops, it must also rely on its nose!" Yi Zhixiang glanced at Yi Xun, who looked a little unnatural, and continued: "England also built railways in Australia and India, and some people commented that this move was, 'The death of the country does not know its death, and the division of people and land does not know its part!'" ’”

The people who die and the country do not know their death, and the people and the land do not know their part! A cold sweat poured out behind Yixun's listening, he really didn't expect that the right to operate the railway was so important, and it was so widely involved.

Su Shun was against the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, and when he heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little complacent, but Prince Yi Zaiyuan said: "In this way, it is better not to build the railway." ”

Yi smiled contentedly, "The railway is not only a national defense need, but also an indispensable foundation for the development of industry and economy, how can it not be repaired?" It's just that the right to the railway can't be handed away. ”

Yixun said with a wry smile: "The imperial court is in financial distress, and it is impossible to allocate a large amount of money to build a railway. ”

"With the position of England in the world economy and the development of industry, once the economic crisis breaks out, it will inevitably affect the whole of Europe and the Americas, and a large number of rich funds in Europe need to find a way out, and the Qing Dynasty is undoubtedly the most ideal place to invest, which is why Britain and France will take the initiative to borrow money to build roads."

Yi Zhizhi said unhurriedly: "As long as there is a stable income, enough to repay the loan, European bankers will flock to it, although it can not be mortgaged by the railway right, but can be used as collateral with the operating income of the railway, Zhangjiakou connects Shanxi and Mongolia, and the operating income of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou railway should be very considerable." ”

"There is a world of difference between using the right to operate as collateral and using the operating income as collateral!" Prince Yi Zaiyuan smiled and said: "King Zhennan is worthy of being the ....... of the economy. ”

Yixin was also convinced: "Yuanqi has been operating the railway for more than ten years, and his experience is not comparable to that of the imperial court. ”

"The imperial court built the railway, and Yuan Qi was duty-bound." Easy to be content with the simple way.

"This king has thanked me in advance." Yixun happily bowed his hand, with the assistance of Yuanqi, the imperial court can at least avoid a lot of losses, after all, there are really few officials in the imperial court who are familiar with the construction of railways.

After a pause, he continued: "This economic crisis in England, this king feels that it should be a good opportunity for the imperial court to develop industry, does the king of Zhennan think so?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded slightly, "The reason why Yuanqi can rise rapidly is largely due to the two large-scale economic crises in the West, and the imperial court must indeed seize this opportunity if it wants to develop industry."

In addition to the significant reduction in railway construction, shipbuilding has also been greatly reduced, and now European countries are competing to build ironclad ships, and it is necessary for the imperial court to introduce shipbuilding to England, even if it does not get the most advanced technology, at least it can lay a good foundation. The future naval warships will inevitably be the world of ironclad ships, and the imperial court cannot be too backward in this regard. ”

The ironclad ships in the naval battles in the American South Belarus War have appeared repeatedly, and Yi Xun agreed with this judgment, and immediately nodded, saying: "Judging from the current trend, the steam ironclad ship must be the mainstream of naval warships, but the large-scale shipyard is afraid that it will not be able to invest in the construction of ...... with the financial resources of the imperial court." After a moment's pause, he tentatively asked: "Can the factories opened by the imperial court raise funds in Guangzhou and Shanghai?" ”

Is this the idea actually hit? Yi Zhizu smiled and said: "The business can be run, the government and the official supervision and business are not, out of responsibility to the shareholders, but also for the sake of Yuanqi's own reputation, but all the company factories listed in Guangzhou and Shanghai must accept Yuanqi's supervision in all aspects." ”

"Government-run and government-supervised commercial enterprises and factories can also accept Yuanqi's supervision." Yi Xun said without thinking, as long as he can raise funds to start an industry, he doesn't care about multiple Yuanqi supervision, and he knows very well that Yuanqi's supervision is open and transparent, and it can also carry out macro control, which is beneficial to the development and growth of the industry.

Yixun's attitude really surprised Yi Zhicontent, and he groaned slightly, and then he said: "If you can fully accept Yuanqi's supervision, it's not that you can't be listed." ”

Seeing Yixun's own opinion, Prince Yi was a little anxious when he boarded the wall, and hurriedly said: "The matter is very important, and this matter is better to consider in the long run." ”

Su Shun agreed: "Whether it is an official or an official-supervised business-run industry, it is a good thing to have Yuanqi supervision, which is not only conducive to the imperial court to raise funds to accelerate the development of industry, but also conducive to the establishment of industries to maintain good operation, and the industries opened by the imperial court in Tianjin cannot be compared with those listed industries at all!" ”