There is never a shortage of smart people in the securities market, nor is there a lack of people who have the courage to take risks, and the price of French government bonds has begun to rebound slowly. By the time the noon break arrived, the price had firmly stood at the five-yuan mark.

The short break at noon, the trading hall is still lively, are excitedly talking about the matter of Yuanqi's large-scale pallet of French treasury bonds, the Guangzhou and Shanghai Stock Exchange has experienced twists and turns since its establishment, war, run, economic crisis, Yuanqi crisis frequent and repeated toss, Yuanqi has not been less bailout, but like this directly and generously raise the price, regardless of the cost of the pallet is the first time. Of course, the main concern is whether the French national debt is likely to appreciate.

"The fall of the Second French Empire and the establishment of the Third Republic are the same thing as the change of dynasty in China, and our Qing Dynasty will repay the debts to the former Ming? Isn't that whimsical? ”

"What is it said that the newly established Third Republic was established on the basis of the defeat of France, and will definitely face huge war reparations, and will definitely not and cannot afford to repay its previous debts?"

"In the American Civil War, didn't the victorious Northern Union directly refuse to recognize the bonds issued by the South?"

"Yuanqi's tray this time is also weird, although the price is directly raised to 4.5 yuan, and it is an unlimited amount of food, but for a slightly higher price, it is not to look at it, which is too abnormal."

"I don't understand this, after all, France's treasury bonds were underwritten by Yuanqi and then issued in Shanghai, so as to avoid us losing too much and losing all our money!"

"So, is this French national debt really hopeless?"

"It is said that the king of Zhennan has a unique vision, and this underwriting of French national bonds can be regarded as making us miserable!"

"Who would have known that the bullish French Empire was so unbeaten? Even the emperor was captured! ”

Huo Qizheng didn't rest, as soon as he took a break, he rushed directly to Zhennan Wangfu, he felt that it was necessary to ask about the situation of the French national debt, if the French Republic would repay the national debt issued by the Second Empire before, then with the current price of the French national debt, there is still a huge room for growth, why only eat at the price of 30%?

As the shopkeeper of the stock exchange, he does not need to report when he enters and exits the Zhennan Palace, and belongs to one of the small groups of people designated by Yi Zhishu to see at will, and walks into the Changle Book House quickly, Lin Meilian greeted him, and said with a smile: "The big shopkeeper is meeting guests, and the shopkeeper Huo is waiting in the living room and so on." ”

Entering the waiting room, Huo Qizheng saw Yan Yangtian sitting on the sofa in military uniform at a glance, he unconsciously raised his wrist and glanced at his watch, the lunch break was not long, if he waited after Yan Yangtian, I was afraid that it would be too late, Yan Yangtian seemed to understand his mood, and said with a smile: "My business is not in a hurry, Huo Shopkeeper is first." ”

Hearing this, Huo Qizheng hurriedly smiled and said: "The chief of staff is so compassionate, it is better to be respectful than to obey his orders." ”

"Shopkeeper Huo doesn't have to be polite." Yan Yangtian stretched out his hand to give up his seat, and said in a casual tone: "The northwest expansion has a lot of impact on the stock market, right?" ”

"Now that Yuanqi is fighting abroad, it has played a role in boosting and stimulating the stock market." Huo Qizheng smiled and sat down across from him, "However, the impact of the Franco-Prussian War is not small, especially the recently issued French national debt ....... ”

The two were chatting without a word, and Lin Meilian came in and said, "Two, the big shopkeeper is please——。 ”

Actually saw each other, the two looked at each other and smiled, got up and humbly gave in, followed Lin Meilian to the study, and the two people who saw it came in to greet him, Yi Zhishu asked directly: "But the French national debt has rebounded sharply?" ”

"Back to the big shopkeeper, the rebound is not big." Huo Qizheng hurriedly said: "Now that it has stood firmly at the price of five yuan, there are many people waiting and watching, and the transaction volume is not large." ”

"Don't bother." Yi Zhizhi said: "It will be charged at a price of 4.5 yuan." ”

"The big shopkeeper." Huo Qizheng hurriedly said: "If there is no problem with the French national debt......." ”

Yi Zhizu waved his hand and interrupted him: "There is no need to eat at a high price, the country is not the focus, just stabilize the price." ”

Hearing this, Huo Qizheng couldn't help but suddenly realize that the European financial market was the key, and he said with some concern: "Shanghai and Europe have frequent telegraph exchanges, will it have an impact?" ”

"Don't worry." Yi Zhishu said with a smile: "The cable telegraph with Europe has been cut off. ”

Hearing this, Huo Qizheng already understood that he couldn't understand anymore, and immediately got up and saluted and retreated, and Yan Yangtian then spoke: "The student is here for the interruption of the cable telegraph, and I don't know how many days it will be cut?" ”

"How many days?" Yi Zhizhi smiled: "One day is enough." After a pause, he asked, "Feng Renxuan hasn't arrived in Herat yet." ”

Yan Yangtian said: "According to the itinerary of the army, it will take three days to arrive in Herat. ”

Herat belongs to Afghanistan, is Central Asia, South Asia and West Asia regional transportation, trade hub, is also one of the important agricultural and agricultural areas in Central Asia, strategic position is important, has always been a battleground for soldiers, the most recent war, more than ten years ago, Persian invasion.

The Northwest Army will be stationed in Herat, and will continue to advance westward after a short rest, attacking the northeastern Persian town of Mashhad, and then threatening the Persian capital Tehran, which will inevitably cause panic and mediation between Britain and Russia, and what is needed is to directly adopt negotiations to force Persia to cede territory under the mediation of Britain and Russia, so as to smoothly expand to the Persian Gulf.

The eastern and southeastern parts of Persia were barren mountains and deserts, and the living conditions were extremely harsh, very desolate, uninhabited, and only a few oases suitable for habitation, not suitable for large expeditions, and Persia would not have reacted violently to the cession of this place.

In France, the newly established Third Republic formed a national defense government headed by General Louis Jules Trochu, and recruited the National Guard to defend Paris, in the face of an unprecedented crisis, the French broke out with great patriotic enthusiasm and enthusiastically joined the army, and the National Guard expanded its 194 battalions in two weeks, with a strength of up to 300,000, and in addition, there were 100,000 regular troops stationed in Paris.

Half a month later, the Prussian army arrived in Paris, and 300,000 Prussian troops surrounded Paris, and the battle of the central link of the Franco-Prussian War began.

Just when the eyes of European countries were focused on Paris, Feng Renxuan led the Northwest Army from Herat and quickly captured the northeastern Persian town of Mashhad, directly threatening Tehran, the capital of Persia.

Since the Qing Northwest Army was stationed in Herat, Persia began to gather troops in Mashhad to take strict precautions, and Mashhad, which was defended by 80,000 troops, was captured by the Qing army with only 50,000 troops after only two days, and the whole Persia was in a panic, but because it was necessary to defend Russia in the north, it was impossible to send a large army to intercept it, so it had to ask Britain for help.

Although Persia did not ask Russia for help, but Russia did not want to see the Qing invade Persia on a large scale, affecting Russia's interests in Persia, the Russian minister to China who had been staying in Shanghai immediately rushed to the Zhennan palace after receiving the telegram, as soon as they met, Buce said solemnly: "Your Highness said before that he will not invade Persia in the west, but will go directly south to ........" ”

"I received information that all the way south is full of barren mountains and deserts, and it is not suitable for a large army to conquer at all." Yi Zhi's face was calm, "Therefore, I changed my mind, either directly fighting Tehran, or occupying a large area of rich land in the northeast of Persia, and forcing Persia to cede or exchange the desert in the southeast." ”

General Butzer said suspiciously: "Can I believe what His Highness said this time?" ”

"Our country has invaded Persia on a large scale, and I am afraid that your country and England will intervene." Yi Zhizhi said unhurriedly: "What our country needs is only to expand into the Arabian Sea, and we don't want to disturb the situation in the Middle East, let alone destroy the relationship between our two countries for the sake of Persia." ”

After a slight groan, Buze said tentatively: "If this is the purpose, Your Highness may wish to retreat to Herat first, and my country is willing to do our best to help put pressure on Persia and let Persia cede that barren land." ”

"Hashhad has a good climate for a large army to rest and recuperate, and it's not far from Tehran." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "I think that the garrison of a large army in Mashhad is more conducive to negotiations with Persia. ”

Not only the Russians are anxious, but the British are also anxious, the Qing country directly extended its hand to the Middle East, and the situation in the Middle East has become more complicated, in view of the fact that the Qing and Russia are allies, Britain must try its best to support Persia, and cannot let the Qing and Russia weaken or even divide Persia excessively, without the buffer zone of Persia, Ottoman Turkey will be in danger, and then will threaten the whole of Europe.

Under the active and enthusiastic mediation of Britain and Russia, the Qing and Persia began negotiations in Tehran, although Persia was a feudal empire that was declining, but due to the long-term penetration of Britain and Russia, the telegraph industry was also quite developed, and the cable telegraph from India to Europe passed through Persia.

"Big shopkeeper, Tehran calls ——。" Zhao Liewen presented a telegram to Yi Zhicontent, "Persia has a hardline attitude and only agrees to cede a passage ........" ”

After reading the telegram, Yi Zhizhi pondered for a long time before taking out a map of West Asia, outlining a line with a red pen, and saying: "Call back, from Mashhad, Birkhet, Kerman all the way to Abbas, the territory east of this line, we will pay for it!" ”

Buy? Zhao Liewen was stunned for a moment, "The northwest expansion has been preparing for many years, but in the end, you actually have to buy it with silver?" ”

"Buying also depends on strength." Yi Zhizhi said: "If it can be bought, Russia will definitely buy this land that can extend all the way to the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea at any cost!" Neither Persia nor England will let the Russians buy it! ”

Zhao Liewen said: "Let's buy it, they have no opinion?" ”

"The British will definitely agree to buy us, the British want to stabilize the situation in the Middle East, once the war expands, the Russians may also get involved, the situation may change unexpectedly, and the British are more afraid that we will directly annex Afghanistan and threaten India.

The Russians will not object either, after all, we are allies with Russia, and we can contain the British in Persia and the Persian Gulf by inserting a kick in the way, and besides, this will not do the Russians the slightest harm.

As for Persia, it is easier for everyone to accept it by buying it with silver than by forcibly ceding it, right? Even if the Persians did not agree, the British would force them to agree, and the Russians would have agreed. ”

After a pause, he continued: "The land bought is more solid and reliable than the land conquered by force, and in this Franco-Prussian War, Hu Xueyan will not earn less in Europe, and ending the war early can also save a lot of military spending." ”

A month later, under the mediation and mediation of Britain and Russia, the Qing and Persia signed a territorial trade agreement, and the Qing bought more than 400,000 square kilometers of desert in eastern and southeastern Persia for 20 million silver dollars.

After receiving the telegram, Yi Zhizu breathed a sigh of relief, planned for several years of northwest expansion, and prepared for the Northwest War, but in the end he bought that large area of desert and easily expanded to the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea coast, plus a Qatar Peninsula, which was regarded as a foothold in the Persian Gulf.

Seeing his relaxed face, Zhao Liewen said: "This northwest expansion is so smooth, thanks to the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, England does not dare to start a war with us at this time, after the Franco-Prussian War is over, will there be any changes?" ”

"What could happen?" Yi Zhizhi said disapprovingly: "After the end of the Franco-Prussian War, a powerful Germany will come out of the sky, and the pattern of Europe will change, and if the British do not want to repeat the mistake of competing with France for hegemony, they will focus on Europe, rather than risk fighting with us in the East." ”

After a slight sigh, Zhao Liewen said: "The 300,000 Prussian army has besieged Paris for more than a month, and it still hasn't fallen, will the situation of the war take a turn for the better?" ”

For the outcome of the Franco-Prussian War, Yi Zhicontent is very clear, but the process, he knows very limited, he has the impression of the Battle of Sedang and the Paris Commune, a little muttering, he said: "If the French can work together, maybe there may be a turnaround, but the current French are three forces, the Second Empire, the Third Republic and the National Guard, the strength of up to 300,000 or more National Guard is not subordinate to the new government, the enemy is current, but can not work together, even if Jesus goes down to earth can not save France." ”

Yi Zhi's judgment was soon verified, and on October 27, the French marshal Bazeny, who was besieged in the fortress of Metz, suddenly led his troops to surrender to the Prussian army, and more than 100,000 French elites, the last well-trained field army in France, all became prisoners!

The surrender of Bazeny was a disaster for France, which was in the midst of an all-out war of resistance, and the 1st and 2nd Army Corps of the Prussian Army, which had originally besieged the fortress of Metz, freed up their hands and immediately divided their troops to block the French Northern Army and the Loire Army to prevent them from going to Paris to relieve the siege, and Paris was completely reduced to an isolated city.

There is no doubt that Bazeny's surrender not only dealt a heavy blow to France's determination to resist, but also deprived the newly established defense government of all conditions for negotiations with Germany, and became the last straw that broke the camel of France.