Wei Tuma did not rush over as soon as Yi Zhizhi returned home, but he sent the consul in Shanghai, Mai Huatuo, to send a message of worship, the Qing State's five-year plan was very large, and it required a huge amount of money, and he believed that England could still grab the largest market share with its strong financial strength.

However, he did not dare to take this lightly, Yuanqi itself has a very strong capital, and recently monopolized the mining rights of the Transvaal gold mine, which can be described as full of confidence, and the competition in the railway market of the Qing State is not small, the United States and France have been actively striving for a larger share, and Germany and Italy are eager to squeeze in.

If the United States was the world's largest railway market before, then now the Qing Empire will undoubtedly become the world's largest railway market, the Qing Dynasty not only has a much wider territory than the United States, but also far richer than the United States, and is also more open, at least in terms of railway construction than the United States is much more open, with the introduction of the five-year plan, the world's powerful railway companies will inevitably flock to it, how dare he take it lightly?

Hearing the news that Mai Huatuo rushed back to report that Yi Zhixiang wanted to see him by name, Wei Tuoma naturally did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly rushed to Zhennan Wangfu by carriage. ”

"The world is bustling, all for profit, the world is bustling, all for profit." Yi Zhizu shook hands with a smile and said: "This shows that all countries are optimistic about my country's railway market." ”

Wei Tuma smiled: "Your country's railway market is so big that no one can match it, I don't think anyone is not optimistic, and no one dares not to pay attention to it." ”

The two of them greeted each other and entered the house, and after sitting down to serve tea, Yi Zhizhi continued his previous words, "The bigger the market, the greater the amount of money needed, this railway construction project, I plan to conduct public bidding, the most basic condition is to advance funds, and the railway companies participating in the bidding must advance funds in full." ”

Full advance? Wittoma secretly thought that it was indeed as he expected, and he couldn't help but secretly rejoice in his heart, England is not only rich in capital, but also the most mature financial market, if the full amount of capital is advanced, the British railway company will undoubtedly occupy an absolute advantage, a little muttering, he said: "As far as I know, the operating income of some railways in your country is not optimistic....... ”

It is true that some railway lines are not profitable and are in a state of loss, Yi Zhizhi nodded and said: "For the lines with poor operating income, Yuanqi is the guarantee, so there is no need to worry about this." ”

With Yuanqi as a guarantee, there is naturally no need to worry, Wei Tuma asked instead: "What are the proposed railway lines in your country's first five-year plan?" ”

"The overall planning of China's railway trunk lines is four horizontal and five vertical. The lines proposed in the first five-year plan are mainly in central, northern and northeastern China. For the sake of fairness, I hope to transfer capable personnel from railway companies from various countries that are interested in participating in the bidding to form a group to carry out line survey and project budget."

In view of the time and preparation required for the personnel of various railway companies to arrive, it is tentatively scheduled to start a full-scale line survey ........ next spring. ”

Sending Wei Tuma away, Zhao Liewen said with some worry: "Big shopkeeper, will we start surveying the line in the spring of next year, is it too late in time?" After the line survey is completed, I am afraid that an economic crisis has already broken out. ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "Huifu is worried that the outbreak of the economic crisis will affect the inflow of funds? ”

"Isn't the big shopkeeper worried?"

"Why worry?"

"Once a large-scale economic crisis breaks out, a large number of banks fail, and the stock market plummets, it is obviously very difficult for railway companies to raise funds," Zhao said. ”

Yi Zhishu said with a smile: "The economic crisis leads to a market depression and economic collapse, but it will not reduce the total amount of capital, simply put, the total amount of gold in this world has been growing, even the economic crisis will not reduce gold, but it has been transferred from the hands of the majority to the hands of a very small number of people."

It is the nature of capital to pursue profits, once a large-scale economic crisis breaks out in Western countries, and it is impossible to invest and make profits, capital will flow to a place where it can make a profit, so don't worry about the outbreak of the economic crisis and no capital inflow, these crises will last for a long time, as long as our country can not be affected by the economic crisis, Western capital will roll in. ”

The cost of the railway is expensive, the profit is naturally not low, although the construction of the advance money, but Yuanqi promised to incorporate the interest into the cost, and Yuanqi also came forward to guarantee, the news spread, the railway companies of various countries intended to open up the Qing market have been gearing up, with the fastest speed to send capable personnel to Shanghai.

Affected by the five-year plan, the stock markets in Guangzhou and Shanghai are also soaring, with railways, steel, cement, machinery, construction and other related stocks leading the rise.

At the same time, the relevant enterprises and factories also began to recruit troops on a large scale, or to expand or open branches, a hot scene, the provincial newspapers are also vying to report this, so that the five-year plan has been heated for a long time.

In just three months, the imperial court announced the railway lines proposed in the "First Five-Year Plan", and at the same time announced the first batch of approved provincial farmland and water conservancy projects and provincial capital reconstruction projects.

Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

"The ——。 of the Big Shopkeeper" Zhao Liewen walked into the study quickly with a telegram, "New York called, except for the three railway companies that have engineering projects in our country, the stocks of other railway companies are all declining, and the largest decline has exceeded one percent. ”

After handing the telegram over, he continued: "Such a gloomy decline does not seem to be a harbinger of an economic crisis...... ”

Yi Zhizhi looked at the telegram and asked, "Will next year's World Expo be held in Vienna?" Call them to find out when the opening will be. ”

Zhao Liewen listened inexplicably, where is this? Why did you suddenly get to the World Expo in Vienna? Yuanqi has never had much interest in the World Expo in Europe, so why did he suddenly become interested in the World Expo in Vienna this time?

Just three days later, the New York branch called again, "The New York Stock Exchange is closed for one day for unknown reasons." ”

After receiving the telegram, Yi Zhishu pondered for a while before ordering: "Ask London, is there any major news?" ”

Without waiting for Zhao Liewen to send a report, Cao Gensheng hurriedly came in and reported: "Big shopkeeper, London called, the Bank of England issued a financial crisis warning and stopped exchanging credit notes from the United States. ”