The precipitous plunge in the price of gold on the New York Gold Exchange was just the beginning, after Sherman reversed the unfavorable situation in one fell swoop after Sherman captured Atlanta on the Western Front, on the Eastern Front, General Sheridan led 60,000 Northern troops to intercept the more than 10,000 Southern troops rushing to Washington, the Elley Department, and achieved a great victory in the battle of the Shenandoya River Valley, inflicting heavy losses on the Dowellly Department, which not only relieved Washington's danger, but also formed an internal and external attack on the Southern Army besieging Petersburg, forcing the Southern Army to take the initiative to withdraw.

At the same time, Sherman divided his forces on the Western Front into several columns and marched all the way to Savannah, a major coastal town in Georgia, in an attempt to split the eastern part of the territory of the Southern Alliance in half.

In response to the stubborn resistance of the South, the North carried out targeted devastating strikes, and completely destroyed plantations, towns, villages, factories and enterprises wherever the Northern Army passed, so as to weaken the war potential of the South to the greatest extent.

In just a few months, the Northern Army launched three major battles in succession - the Battle of the Shenandoa Valley, the Battle of Savannah, and the Battle of Nashville, and all of them won great victories.

The Northern Army won one after another, and the gold price of the New York Gold Exchange fell like an avalanche, from the highest of $320 all the way to $144 before finally stabilizing, a drop of more than half, many retail investors speculating in gold went bankrupt, and many financial institutions also suffered serious losses and were on the verge of bankruptcy.

It is not only the price of gold in New York that is affected, but also the four major financial centers in Europe, because the large-scale destruction of cotton plantations in the south has led to a serious reduction in cotton production, and the sea blockade is becoming more and more stringent, and the amount of cotton that can be smuggled into Europe is pitiful, and most of the cotton supply in Europe depends on the supply from the East, resulting in cotton and its related securities all the way up!

However, all the stocks and bonds related to the Southern Union have plummeted like the gold price in New York, and they have been out of control, and all the European financial forces that have invested in the bonds and cotton-backed bonds of the Southern Federation have suffered heavy losses, and everyone knows that the Northern Union will never recognize these bonds and cotton-backed coupons issued by the South, and those securities will only be worthless waste paper in the end.

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

Putting down the telegram in his hand, Zhao Liewen glanced at Yi Zhixin and said, "Big boss, what is the total amount of bonds and cotton support coupons issued by the Southern Alliance in the four major financial centers in Europe?" ”

This question really stopped Yi Zhicontent, and after smiling, he said: "The specific amount is estimated to be only known to the finance minister of the Southern Union." However, the Northern Federation has issued a total of $3 billion in war bonds at home and abroad, and the financial underdevelopment of the South is far inferior to that of the North, with an estimated amount of only a few hundred million. ”

"Yuan Qi has made hundreds of millions in the European securities market this time, to say the least." Zhao Liewen chuckled and said, "In this way, wouldn't the European financial forces that supported the south suffer extremely .......heavy losses this time. ”

"The amount of money that Yuanqi makes in the European financial securities market is not large, and it is estimated that it is only 30 or 40 million pounds, and the bulk is cotton trade." Yi Zhizu corrected him and said: "However, the European financial forces that support the Southern Alliance have suffered heavy losses, and financial speculation is not an easy task. ”

Zhao Liewen nodded approvingly, "Financial speculation is highly profitable and risky, and it is not something that ordinary financial forces can easily get involved in at all. ”

"Not necessarily." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "If it weren't for my strong support, they might not have so much courage, they may just have a superficial taste, at most they will only lose this opportunity to make money, and the loss will not be as heavy as the financial forces supporting the south." ”

This is also the truth, Zhao Liewen groaned, changed his words, and said: "Yuanqi has made a lot of money in this account period, but the dividends are not much, and there is some criticism in the market." ”

"The human heart is not enough, and the snake swallows the elephant." Yi Zhizhi said angrily: "The dividends of this account period are almost double that of the past, and one by one is still not enough ........" ”

"Who's afraid of silver?" Zhao Liewen said with a smile: "It is rumored that Yuanqi has earned hundreds of millions of taels of silver in the European cotton trade, so all shareholders of all sizes have high expectations for the dividends of this account period, after all, over the years, Yuanqi's account dividends are not considerable, and everyone is looking forward to this time that there may be more dividends." ”

"Ignore them." Yi Zhizhi said nonchalantly: "Love to stay, stay!" Don't love to stay, go! No one forced them to stay in Yuanqi! ”

"Go, naturally I am reluctant to go, after all, everyone knows that Yuanqi has a huge amount of provident fund." Zhao Liewen hesitated as he spoke, but finally said truthfully: "The most discussed outside world is the big shopkeeper pretending to be public and private, and arbitrarily disposing of Yuan Qi's public funds ....... ”

Speaking of this, he was a little indignant, "They don't want to think about it, without a big shopkeeper, Yuan Qi can make so much silver?" The cotton trade has been planned for several years ....... ”

Jobbery? Yi Zhishu frowned, he really didn't admit this, as for arbitrarily disposing of Yuanqi's public funds, this is true, but that is also for Yuanqi's long-term plan, although he said it, but at least he went through the motions to solicit the opinions of several major shareholders, this is simply dissatisfaction with dividends? Or is someone fanning the flames behind it?

After a slight sigh, he spoke: "It seems that I have to consciously resign from the position of the big treasurer of Yuanqi at the next account shareholders' meeting, otherwise people may be ousted from the stage." ”

Hearing this, Zhao Liewen was startled, and hurriedly said: "Big shopkeeper, the student is just reminding, how can Yuanqi be missing you?" The big shopkeeper also said that there is no need to pay attention to them, Yuanqi will stay for himself, and those who have opinions can sell Yuanqi shares. ”

Yi Zhizhi didn't say anything, even if he resigned, no one dared to take over the position of the big shopkeeper of Yuanqi, after all, he, the king of Zhennan, was not muddy, he just wanted to pinch them, and at the same time wanted to test whether someone was making trouble behind his back!

After a pause, he said: "On the grounds that there are a lot of shareholder criticisms, I will prepare a letter of resignation, and I will officially resign from the cabinet in the next accounting period, and they will ask Gao Ming." ”

Do you really want to quit? Zhao Liewen was stunned, and then said self-righteously: "The big shopkeeper is used to being the shopkeeper, and with the fact that the king of Zhennan is the king, it doesn't make much sense whether he is also the big shopkeeper of Yuanqi." ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhicontent's heart moved, he is now the only local vassal king in the Qing Dynasty, sitting in the southeast, holding heavy troops, even if he does not be the treasurer of Yuanqi, he can firmly control Yuanqi, it may not be a good thing to let go, on the contrary, he does not serve as the treasurer of Yuanqi, and can also promote the management of Yuanqi to be more standardized, it seems that it is time to consider this issue carefully.

"The ——。 of the Big Shopkeeper" Lin Meilian poked her head at the door and reported: "Xinjiang Governor Zuo Zongtang and Admiral Feng Renxuan ask to see him." ”

"Please ——。" Yi Zhishu stood up as he spoke, and said with a smile: "Let's welcome our military and political officials in Xinjiang." ”

The two paced to the gate of the courtyard, raised their eyes and saw Zuo Zongtang and Feng Renxuan in micro-clothes coming quickly, and when they arrived, Zuo Zongtang was about to pay a big salute as soon as he lifted the hem, Yi Zhixin is now a vassal king, according to the etiquette, he should indeed kneel and worship, seeing this situation, Yi Zhishu hurriedly stepped forward and stretched out his hand to support him and smiled: "Ji Gao doesn't need to make a big salute, I don't have the etiquette of the imperial court here." ”

Hearing him say this, Zuo Zongtang was not reluctant, but he didn't dare to lose his manners, so he immediately bowed down, "Xiaguan Zuo Zongtang has seen the prince." ”

Feng Renxuan took off his hat and bowed as a salute, and said, "The student has seen the principal. ”

"You don't have to be polite." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "I came from thousands of miles away, and it was smooth along the way?" ”

"With the concern of Lord Lao, the journey was very smooth." Zuo Zongtang said: "The train has been repaired to Jiuquan, which greatly facilitates the traffic between the northwest and the southeast. ”

In recent years, in order to facilitate the transportation of cotton in the northwest, Yuanqi spared no cost to speed up the construction progress of the Northwest Railway, in fact, the cotton trade is just an excuse, in Yi Zhicontent's view, the military use of the Northwest Railway is far greater than the economic use, the reason why it is so costless to speed up the construction of the railway in the northwest, there is only one purpose - the expansion of the northwest.

After Yi Zhizu introduced Zhao Liewen to the two, it was indispensable to greet the two of them, and after politely entering the study and taking a seat, Yi Zhizhi said: "This time I specially recruited the two to come to Shanghai, in order to make a detailed long-term plan for the military, economy, people's livelihood, education and so on in the northwest........ ”

"Thank you for your understanding." Zuo Zongtang bowed slightly and said: "Xiaguan and the others came by train, and they rested all the way. ”

Yi Zhishu nodded slightly, and said: "The three countries of Qing, the United States and Russia have concluded an alliance, focusing on the development of commerce and trade from the sea and land routes, the east of the Altai Mountains has now belonged to our Qing Dynasty, and the trade between Qing and Russia will mainly be carried out in the northwest, and Yuanqi will do his best to speed up the construction of railways in the northwest, which is the purpose." ”

"Lord Wang——。" Zuo Zongtang hesitated before saying: "The scale of trade with Russia is far less than that of the West, and the construction of the Northwest Railway is staggering, is it for the expansion of the Northwest?" ”

Yi Zhixiang smiled and said: "The military value of the Northwest Railway is undoubted, but the economic value should not be overlooked, after the defeat of the Crimea, Russia's position in Europe plummeted, but Russia actively promoted reforms, shame and courage, and will inevitably become a first-class European power again."

Once this large railway connecting Europe and Asia is completed, it will produce huge and incalculable economic value, and the trade between Qing and Russia will become the most important and indispensable part of the foreign trade of the Qing Dynasty. ”

Hearing this, Zuo Zongtang and Feng Renxuan were a little surprised, neither of them expected that he would give such a high evaluation of Russia, and had such great expectations for the trade between Qing and Russia, all the way by train, the two had a dispute about whether the construction of the northwest railway was cost-effective, and both agreed that this railway was mainly to consolidate the northwest and northwest expansion.

Both of them were well aware of the situation of trade between Qing and Russia, and because of a series of wars and territorial transactions, they both despised Russia, but they did not expect that Yi Zhishu would attach such importance to Russia.

The two of them were silent, and Yi Zhizhi continued: "Cotton, Yuan Qi has made a lot of money in the cotton trade in Europe in recent years, but once the American Civil War is over and cotton production resumes in the south, where will the cotton in the northwest be sold?" I can tell you with certainty that Northwest cotton will be sold mainly to Russia!

Russia, which has abolished serfdom, will inevitably strive to develop industry, and the textile industry is the first choice, and in a few years, Russia will become the largest customer of cotton in the northwest! ”

Zuo Zongtang paused for a moment before he said: "Didn't the prince say that the cotton in the northwest is difficult to meet the needs of domestic textile mills.......?" ”

"Ji Gao should look at the problem from the perspective of development." Yi Zhicontent said with a smile: "Next year, the American Civil War may end, and the cotton planting scale in all provinces of the Qing Dynasty will be reduced next year, but the cotton in the northwest will not only not be compressed, but will continue to expand the scale, and it will be expanded year by year!" Cotton should become the most important product exported from the northwest! ”

Zuo Zongtang nodded slightly, if there is no railway, he will resolutely oppose the large-scale planting of cotton, after all, grain is more important than cotton, but with the railway, there is no need to worry about the shortage of grain, the railway has a huge transportation capacity, can continue to transport grain from Huguang or Sichuan into Xinjiang.

As the governor of Xinjiang, he is naturally in favor of making Xinjiang the most important cotton-producing area in the Qing Dynasty, which is a great thing for the local people and the government in Xinjiang!

Seeing her nod, Yi Zhizhi continued: "The alliance with Russia is not only to promote commerce and trade between the two countries, nor only for the cotton of the northwest, but also to consolidate the northwest and the continuous expansion of the northwest.

I plan to take advantage of the outbreak of a large-scale war in Europe to join forces with Russia to annex Ottoman Turkey and expand the territory of the Qing Dynasty all the way to the Persian Gulf. ”

Persian Gulf, Zuo Zongtang and Feng Renxuan are no strangers to the Persian Gulf, Yuan Qi first began to pass through the northwest, and when he proposed the northwest expansion, Yi Zhicontent clearly pointed out that the target of the expansion was the Persian Gulf!

However, after many years in the northwest, both Zuo Zongtang and Feng Renxuan realized that it was simply difficult for the Qing Dynasty to expand its territory to the Persian Gulf, after all, it was too far away from the Persian Gulf, and European countries would inevitably block it, and would not let the Qing Dynasty expand so quickly!

Feng Renxuan, who had been silent, couldn't help but say after all: "Principal, the Qing Dynasty does not lack excellent ports, and the expansion to the Persian Gulf should do more harm than good to the Qing Dynasty." ”

Zuo Zongtang asked more directly, "The prince once said that the Persian Gulf is rich in black gold?" What exactly is black gold? ”

Yi Zhi's black gold naturally refers to oil, but now the importance of oil has not yet been shown, he didn't know how to explain it for a while, and he groaned slightly, before he said: "The black gold in the Persian Gulf is an extremely important strategic substance, and at present, Yuan Qi is conducting various studies on black gold, and when we expand to the Persian Gulf, the value of black gold should also be recognized by the world." ”