Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

Yi Zhengxing put down the newspaper in his hand and said with an angry face: "Yuan Qi is busy with disaster relief in the northern provinces, but the northern newspapers are overwhelmingly accusatory, and the court is pretending to be deaf and dumb, so we can't just ignore it?" ”

"Every time there is a big event, there is calm, not to mention that this is not a big event." Yi Zhizu put down the newspaper in his hand and said slowly: "In the name of disaster relief, we recruited a large number of workers in the northern states and counties, which does have the same effect as the European enclosure movement. ”

Zhao Liewen interjected: "But the purpose of recruiting a large number of workers is for disaster relief, in order to minimize the pressure of disaster relief. ”

"Even if you say this, no one will necessarily believe it." Yi Zhizhi sneered: "I'm afraid that even King Gong and the others are now a little skeptical that there will be a great drought in the northern provinces that will last for four years, after all, this matter is too unbelievable." ”

"King Gong has no reason to suspect that it is." Zhao Liewen said: "Yuan Qi imported a large amount of grain from the United States and Russia, and gave the imperial court a huge amount of low-interest loans ....... ”

Yi Zhengxing continued: "To put it arrogantly, if Yuan Qi wants to recruit a large number of workers, why should he take advantage of the opportunity of disaster relief, the minimum wage is five yuan per month, as long as the news of recruitment is released, the farmers will flock to it." ”

Yi Zhixiang glanced at the two of them, "If it is an ordinary year, such a large number of workers are recruited, how will the government and the opposition react?" This move seriously infringed on the interests of the gentry, what is the ruling class of the Qing Dynasty today? Gentry! ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhengxing and Zhao Liewen were both silent for a moment, and they reacted so fiercely when they urgently needed Yuanqi's strong relief, in normal times, the situation can be imagined.

Li Hongzhang, who had been silent, said: "Public opinion in the northern provinces is turbulent, do you continue to provide relief and continue to recruit a large number of workers?" ”

"Continue, of course." Yi Zhizhi said without thinking: "It is the gentry who are opposed, but the people are extremely welcoming to recruitment, why stop?" Besides, knowing that a catastrophe is approaching, but stopping relief and recruiting workers, how can you feel at ease? ”

Li Hongzhang said: "The local gentry have a strong appeal, and the binding force on the people is not small, and I am worried that in the current situation, going my own way will cause strong obstruction and interference from the local gentry." ”

After a slight groan, Yi Zhizhi said: "The imperial court dares to threaten to cut off the money and food for disaster relief, can't Yuan Qi threaten it?" But all states and counties that strongly obstruct and interfere with recruitment will never be helped! And included in the Yuanqi ban list! ”

Never give! And included in the Yuanqi ban list! Li Hongzhang hesitated for a moment before saying, "What does it mean to be blocked?" ”

Yi Zhizhi said in a deep voice: "Ban all the businesses of Yuanqi in the state and county, including banks, businesses, schools, transportation, communications, etc., and cancel the local stops in the states and counties that have railways. ”

This consequence is not ordinarily serious, Li Hongzhang and the three of them couldn't help but look at each other, it is obvious that the other party is really angry, otherwise they would not have made such a ruthless punishment move, hesitated, Zhao Liewen said cautiously: "If this is the case, I am afraid that it will provoke a civil uprising." ”

"Don't worry." Yi Zhizhi said disappreciably: "This article is enough to divide the gentry of the local state and county, if there is really a civil uprising, Yuan Qi will not only be able to provide .......disaster relief." ”

"The big shopkeeper." Tang Hongnian, secretary of the confidential room, reported softly at the door: "King Gong's phone." ”

With a slight groan, Yi Zhizhi said, "Take it in." After a pause, he ordered: "Huifu went to pick it up, and said that I was not there." ”

didn't even answer the phone, which was enough to show Yi Zhi's contented attitude, obviously he was very dissatisfied with the court's pretending to be deaf and dumb, but Zhao Liewen was secretly relieved, since King Gong called at this time, it means that he didn't want to continue to pretend to be deaf and dumb.

The phone rang twice, and Zhao Liewen picked up the phone and said, "Hello, in Xia Zhao Liewen, the big shopkeeper is not in the house." ”

Easy contentment is not in the house? Yi naturally didn't believe it, if he was really content not to be in the house, the phone would not be transferred to the study, obviously, the other party was dissatisfied and unwilling to answer his phone, he immediately explained: "The affairs of the past few days are complicated, and the public opinion accusing Yuanqi of attacking is both sudden and rapid, and some are caught off guard, won't the king of Zhennan blame us for pretending to be deaf and dumb?" ”

"King Gong is too worried." Zhao Liewen said with a smile: "Our prince doesn't care about the accusations and attacks of public opinion in the northern provinces, but he said that if there are states and counties that interfere with recruitment, in addition to never giving relief, they will also be included in the Yuanqi ban list ......." ”

Listening to the consequences of Yuan Qi's banning is so serious, Yi is also a little worried in his heart, obviously, Yi Zhixiang is really annoyed this time, he is secretly glad that the call was made in time, if it is delayed for another day and a half, Yuan Qi will make a public statement in the newspaper first, and the court will be a little passive.

"That's a good idea!" He immediately said loudly, "There is no need to be polite to the gentry of the prefectures and counties who cling to the defects and stubbornness, hinder the development of industry, and hinder the relief of alms. ”

Zhao Liewen smiled secretly in his heart, and said tentatively: "The imperial court has any scruples about developing industry? ”

Yi is indeed a little worried, after all, the movement of Yuanqi tossing this time is too big, Zhili, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Liaoning five provinces almost overnight appeared dozens of large factories and mines, in addition to hundreds of large and small engineering teams, the number of workers recruited is as high as 300,000 people, he dare not imagine, once the disaster continues, how many farmers will be transformed into workers, even after the disaster passes, the agriculture in the north is afraid that it will suffer a heavy blow, and it will not be able to recover in a short time.

It was precisely because of this concern that the imperial court pretended to be deaf and dumb in the past few days, and turned a blind eye to the accusations and attacks on Yuanqi for taking advantage of the opportunity of disaster relief to recruit a large number of workers, but in the end, after continuous deliberations, the ministers of state still decided to support Yuanqi, because industrialization has become the trend of the times, and compared with the enclosure movement of European countries, Yuanqi has adopted this method much more gently.

Moreover, most ministers of state believe that Yi Zhi Xiang will not falsely threaten the drought in the north for four or five years in order to recruit a large number of workers, especially Yi, Su Shun and Wu Changqing, who have been friends with Yi Zhi for decades, and they believe in Yi Zhi Contentment's extraordinary foresight and contentment character.

Although the drought that lasted for four or five years was unheard of and unthinkable, no one dared to gamble on the lives and deaths of more than 100 million people in the northern provinces.

Listening to the other party's temptation, he said bluntly: "If you say that you have no scruples, Brother Huifu will not believe it, but after deliberation, the cabinet ministers unanimously agreed that it is imperative to promote industrialization, and Yuan Qi took advantage of the catastrophe in the north to accumulate a lot of money, which is the most moderate method." ”

As he spoke, he laughed loudly: "The imperial court has expressed its attitude and fully supports Yuanqi, but the guidance of public opinion still needs to rely on Yuanqi, such as introducing the European enclosure movement, the necessity of promoting industrialization, etc., our cabinet can not write." ”

After a slight sigh, Zhao Liewen said: "It is better for the court to come forward to guide public opinion, and relevant articles can be telegraphed to the cabinet." ”

"That's fine." Yi Shuang said that it is necessary to take some risks for the imperial court to guide public opinion, but it can give the impression of an enlightened and enterprising cabinet team to the government and the opposition, and the benefits are also obvious, but in fact, the imperial court has no choice at all, so it can only stand on the side of Yuan Qi.

Putting down the phone, Zhao Liewen glanced at a few people with a smile on his face, and said: "King Gong called, and the ministers of state in the cabinet unanimously decided to fully support Yuanqi's implementation of the industrialization ........ after discussion. As he spoke, he repeated the call with Yi.

The attitude of Yi and the ministers of state in the cabinet was really a little unexpected, and Zhao Liewen, who was waiting, stopped talking, and he smiled: "It's rare for them to have a long-term vision." ”

After a pause, he continued: "That being the case, we should also repay the favor and reply to King Gong, in the future, all the large-scale factories and mining enterprises invested and built by Yuanqi, including those invested in the autumn and winter of this year, will be distributed to the imperial court thirty percent of the shares, of course, not in vain, in exchange for the shares of the imperial court's Transvaal gold mine." ”

Listening to this, several people here are stunned, the imperial court occupies 20% of the shares of the Transvaal gold mine, based on the annual output of the Transvaal gold mine, the annual income is 20 million silver, and it is possible to gradually increase, but once so many large factories and mining enterprises develop, the income of 30% of the shares will definitely not be a small amount, the exchange of the two, is it a loss or a gain? Will the court agree?

After a moment of silence, Li Hongzhang said tentatively: "The big shopkeeper wants to tie the imperial court and Yuan Qi together to promote the industrialization of the Qing Dynasty?" ”

Yi Zhizu said slowly: "This is only one of the purposes, the main thing is to monopolize and form a state monopoly." ”

Kyoshi, Prime Minister's Office.

Yi put down the phone, glanced at Su Shun and Wu Changqing, and said with a palpitating expression: "Fortunately, the call was made in a timely manner, Yi Guocheng didn't even answer the phone, and directly ordered that the states and counties that obstructed and interfered with the recruitment of workers would never be relieved, and they would be included in Yuanqi's ban list ......." ”

Su Shun glanced at Wu Changqing and said with emotion: "Yuan Qi is getting stronger and stronger now. ”

"The clay man still has three points of fire, not to mention Yuanqi." Wu Changqing said with a smile: "I really thought that Yi Guocheng had a gentle and generous temperament, and he forgot that Yuan Qi slaughtered the Wa Kingdom and slaughtered the natives of Nanyang back then." ”

"Alright, alright." Yi smiled and waved his hand, "We are fully supporting Yuan Qi now." After a pause, he continued: "Yuan Qi hopes that the imperial court will guide public opinion, and the relevant articles will be prepared and ....... by them. ”

"Sixth master, you have to think twice about this." Su Shun hurriedly said: "Whether it is to promote industrialization or enclose land, it is all a matter of offending the gentry of the world, if the imperial court guides public opinion, it is tantamount to setting yourself on fire. ”

Wu Changqing said in a sullen voice: "Since we have decided to fully support Yuan Qi, what else is there to scruple about, guided by public opinion by the imperial court, we can cut off all the unrealistic thoughts of the local gentry." ”

"This king thinks the same." Yi nodded slightly: "In fact, the imperial court has no other choice than to support Yuan Qi, since this is the case, why not clearly and firmly support Yuan Qi?" This time the public opinion in the northern provinces blamed the attack on Yuanqi, which had already provoked Yi Guocheng, to be unhappy, and he was unwilling to even answer the king's phone ........ ”

"At this juncture of disaster relief, the gentry of the northern provinces are already full of resentment about Yuanqi's large-scale immigration and recruitment, and the imperial court's clear and firm support for Yuanqi at this time is very likely to lead to unexpected consequences." Su Shun said in a deep voice: "In the current situation, stability is the most important thing. ”

"I'm too worried." Wu Changqing said unhurriedly: "It is the gentry who oppose recruitment, not the people, and now a large number of strong laborers enter factories and mining enterprises or engineering teams, even the minimum wage is enough to ensure the food of a family of six, even if there are gentry with ill intentions, they cannot incite the people." ”

"Yuting is indeed overthinking." Yi said slowly: "Today is not comparable to the past, the cable telegraph is sent and received immediately, the railway is convenient, the army is coming from morning to night, and the power of firearms is even more terrifying, and a battalion of troops can easily slaughter the rebellious people in a county, such as the long-haired rebellion, it is no longer possible." ”

This is the truth, with the current convenience of communication and transportation, and the strength of the army's combat strength, there is no possibility of large-scale chaos in the party, and it will be wiped out before the climate is completed, Su Shun laughed at himself: "It seems that I can't keep up with the changes of the times." ”

"Brother Yuting is also concerned about it, so he ...... chaotic." Before Yi finished speaking, he was interrupted by a crisp phone ringing, he frowned, and he called in directly without Zhang Jingyu's report? However, he immediately reacted that it was the phone of the Zhennan Palace, and only the phone number of the Zhennan Mansion was directly received without reporting.

He hurriedly got up and picked up the phone, "I'm Yi." ”

"Under Zhao Liewen." It was still Zhao Liewen's voice coming from the microphone, "Our prince has just returned home, and after hearing the report, he said that the imperial court is well aware of the righteousness, and Yuan Qi should also repay Li ......." ”

Putting down the phone, Yi glanced at Su Shun and the two with a strange expression, and slowly sat down and said: "Yuan Qi asked the imperial court to exchange 20% of the shares of the Transvaal Gold Mine for 30% of the shares of all large factories and mining enterprises that Yuan Qi will invest in in the future, including the ...... invested in this autumn and winter. ”

"What is the prince hesitating about?" Wu Changqing said without thinking: "Change, must change!" ”

"How much can these factories and mines pay dividends a year?" Su Shun was stunned and said, "What is the annual dividend of the imperial court in the Transvaal gold mine?" Twenty million silver! ”

"Twenty million silver will make Su Xiang blind?" Wu Changqing laughed and said: "The gold mine will be dug up, and it is difficult to say whether the gold mine in South Africa can be occupied for a long time." I dare to guarantee that after five years and ten years, the income of these factories and mining enterprises will far exceed or even several times the income of the Transvaal gold mine! ”