Prince Xuan said so much, it would be inappropriate to be a subordinate and remain silent. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

"Ask the prince," Wen Xiang asked tentatively, "Is this railway extending west from the 'Shitai Line'?" ”

"Yes," said Guan Zhuofan, "from Taiyuan to Xi'an in the south, from Xi'an to the northwest to Lanzhou, through the Hexi Corridor, from Hami to Xinjiang, and finally to Urumqi -- well, let's call it the 'Beijing-Wuhan Line' for the time being." ”

It's the same thing we thought.

"Please show me the prince," Wen Xiang still said tentatively, "If you want to build the 'Beijing-Wuhan line', then, should the planning of 'two vertical and two horizontal' be ...... Hmm, make some adjustments? ”

Cao Yuying, Xu Gengshen, and Guo Songtao all pricked up their ears.

"Well," Guan Zhuofan pondered for a moment, "Let's make a slight adjustment—it's mainly the project of the 'Shitai Line', well, it needs to be accelerated." ”

Slight adjustment -- the four big military planes all understood this as the previous worry: "Prince Xuan changed his mind, and he was 'a few vertical and horizontal', but all of them put aside first, and put all their strength on this 'Beijing-Wuhan line'."

How does this work?

Several big military planes looked at each other: We can't attach to this matter, we have to advise!

The first to speak was Guo Songtao, "Lord Wang, I think I'm afraid there is something wrong with this matter." ”

That's a very straightforward one.

"Oh?" Prince Xuan's face was as usual, "What's wrong?" ”

"'Two vertical and two horizontal' funds," Guo Songtao said, "except for our own finances, most of them come from the sale of treasury bonds."

After a pause, "When we sold the treasury bonds, we promised in black and white that the money would be used for a rough area -- mainly the 'two vertical and two horizontal' railway network. ”

"If I move this money to the 'Beijing-Wuhan Line', I'm afraid—"

After hesitating for a moment, he still said, "The buyer will not be very happy!" The price of our treasury bonds will fluctuate; In addition, when the 'second phase of treasury bonds' is issued, it will also be ...... There is a hindrance. ”

The same is the railway, why the construction of "two vertical and two horizontal", buyers are happy, the repair of the "Beijing-Wuhan line", buyers are not happy?

Let's take a look at what kind of railways are "two vertical and two horizontal".

The "Beijing-Shanghai Line" and "Beijing-Han Line" of the "Two Verticals" pass through the areas with the most concentrated Chinese population and the most developed economy.

The "Shitai Line" of "two horizontal" is the key to the export of coal from Shanxi, and coal is the blood of industry.

"Jingbong Line" is the key to the development of the Northeast, everyone knows, although the Northeast is desolate, but the fertile fields are thousands of miles, rich in products, after full development, it will be a first-class prosperous place.

That is to say, "two vertical and two horizontal", in the economy, each of them is guaranteed by sufficient returns.

What about the "Jingwu Line"?

The northwest is barren, vast and sparsely populated, and economically backward, and for a long period of time, the direct economic return of the "Beijing-Wuhan Line" is basically disproportionate compared with the astronomical construction cost. During this period, the value of the "Beijing-Ukraine Line" was mainly reflected in the political and military aspects, and the value of other aspects, such as the promotion of Xinjiang's social and economic development, was indirectly reflected and may not be directly reflected in the revenue of the "Beijing-Wuhan Line".

But politics, the military, these are not the business of ordinary investors.

Therefore, if Guan Zhuofan moves the proceeds from the sale of treasury bonds from the "two vertical and two horizontal" to the "Beijing-Wuhan line," the buyers of treasury bonds, both domestic and foreign, will wonder whether the Chinese government will have sufficient ability to cash in after maturity.

"What Yun Xian said is right," Guan Zhuofan smiled slightly, "But, how could I move the 'two vertical and two horizontal' funds?" ”

Yes?

"You're mistaken!" Guan Zhuofan said, "When I say 'slight adjustment', I only speed up the progress of the 'Shitai Line' -- the 'Shitai Line' is the eastern section of the 'Beijing-Wu Line', and the 'Shi-Tai Line' is completed, so that we can talk about the westward extension and the 'Beijing-Wu Line'!" ”

After a pause, he accentuated his tone, "'Two vertical and two horizontal', no matter which line, it is a lot of silver for one or two, and the construction period is not delayed in one day!" ”

Yes?

A few large military planes, big surprises.

At the same time, I was also confused, what kind of medicine was sold in Prince Xuan's gourd?

After a few turns of thought, Wen Xiang thought he had figured it out:

"Lord Wang, the total cost of 'two vertical and two horizontal' is estimated to be between 50 million and 60 million taels of silver; 'Shitai Line' is the eastern section of the 'Jingwu Line', and the cost has been included in the 'Two Vertical and Two Horizontal', but I think that even if you don't count the 'Shitai Line', the cost of the 'Jingwu Line' is probably not much better than the total cost of 'two verticals and two horizontals'!"

"Yes," Guan Zhuofan nodded, "The difficulty of the 'Beijing-Wuhan Line' project is far above the 'two vertical and two horizontal'. ”

"That's the case—" Wen Xiang involuntarily lowered his voice slightly, "Fifty or sixty million taels of silver, such a large sum of money, this ...... I'm afraid it's not easy to borrow, right? ”

In Wen Xiang's view, the road of national debt is no longer going through.

The first phase of treasury bonds has not yet matured, and there is no reason to rush to sell the second phase of treasury bonds at this time; Even if they are sold head-on, most of them will not sell well -- how many people are willing to buy the treasury bonds of the "Beijing-Wuhan line"?

Then you can only borrow from the bank.

However, in addition to the excessively large amount of money, the more important problem is still that problem -- the difficult period for the return of the "Beijing-Wuhan line".

Which banks are willing to take this risk?

Unless, unless, we can come up with a strong guarantee, but the customs have already been delivered to the British, and I can't think of anything of real value that can be used as collateral.

Uh, or the railroad itself, that is, ...... "right-of-way"?

But—

First, using the "right of way" as a pledge is suspected of betraying sovereignty; Second, take 10,000 steps back and say, even if we are willing to sell, people may not be willing to buy it!

If it is "two vertical and two horizontal", there is naturally no problem, each one is fragrant, and foreigners must rush to ask for it; However, what is the "Beijing-Wuhan Line" going to do? As soon as I turned my head, I smashed my hand!

"Borrow?" Guan Zhuofan smiled slightly, "It won't be long before someone will naturally give us money for nothing, why do we have to borrow it?" ”

Once again, the big military planes thought they had misheard—or that Prince Xuan had made a mistake.

Of course, neither one misheard nor misheard.

But—

50 or 60,000,000 taels of silver -- maybe more, "someone gave us money for nothing"?

It's not ...... Is it a dream?

"You probably think," Guan Zhuofan said with a smile, "Guan someone's sleep hasn't woken up yet, and he talks in his dreams in broad daylight—"

"Huh? No, no......"

The big military planes who were copied by Prince Xuan couldn't help but be embarrassed.

"It's okay," Guan Zhuofan smiled and touched his head, "If I change it, I probably have to think that there is a ...... burned out somewhere here."

The big military planes are even more embarrassed.

"Actually, as soon as I say it, you will understand-"

After a pause, Guan Zhuofan changed to a solemn tone: "As long as we win the war against France, this money will naturally be offered by both hands." ”

Cao Yuying reacted the fastest: "The prince is saying...... Reparations? ”

"Not bad!"

Several big military planes are all in a heartbeat.

But—

Wen Xiang pondered for a moment and said: "Lord, in the Treaty of Nanjing, we lost 21 million silver dollars to the British, which is equivalent to our own money, about ...... Fifteen million taels of silver; The Treaty of Tientsin compensated the British with four million taels of silver and the French with two million taels of silver; Later, the "Treaty of Peking" increased the two sums of money in the "Treaty of Tientsin" to eight million taels of silver, which together amounted to sixteen million taels of silver—"

After a slight pause, "If we win the battle against the French—"

At this point, I stopped.

The implication is that several large military aircraft are clear:

Before, the two battles we lost were kicked into the house by others, and the gun was on the door of the head, and we couldn't help but sign the alliance under the city; In the next Sino-French war, if we win, it will only be from the hands of the French, snatching a "colony", at most, driving the French out of China and Asia, and running away from running to people's homes to "kick in the door", and it will be 108,000 miles!

We were beaten by others in our own homes, but we lost fifteen or six million taels of silver; People are at our doorstep, and if they lose, they will pay us 50 or 60 million taels of silver?

How can it be?

How could the French be willing?

Naturally, the balance of the 8 million taels of indemnity in the "Beijing Treaty" may be waived, but even if this money is added, it is far from the huge amount of 50 or 60 million taels of silver!

Also, this possibility cannot be ruled out: people don't pay a tael of silver at all, pat their butts and leave--you have the ability, you chase me to Paris and bite me!

For a while, we really don't have the ability to do this.

Wen Xiang's "meaning of words" is also the confusion of Cao, Xu, and Guo, and the four big military planes looked at Guan Zhuofan together.

"Your doubts," said Guan Zhuofan, "are there two other points: first, are the French willing to pay reparations? Second, would the French be willing to pay such a large sum? Right? ”

"Yes!" Wen Xiang said, "Everything is in the prince's insight. ”

Guan Zhuofan smiled, "'Everything' can't be talked about, but-"

After a pause, "First, I dare to guarantee that the French are willing to pay reparations - not reparations!" Second, I am also sure that the amount of compensation is roughly enough for us to build a 'Beijing-Wuhan line'. ”

Why is Prince Xuan so sure? What does "no compensation" mean?

"Of course - the battle must be fought!" Guan Zhuofan said, "Not only do you have to win, but you also have to win beautifully!" If the war is not good, everything is not to be discussed! ”

"Yes!"

"As for the rest......"

Speaking of this, Guan Zhuofan smiled slyly, "Some words, if you say it too early, when the time comes, maybe it won't be so bright - the princes allow me to 'press the table for the time being', and sell it a little!" ”

Yes?

Doesn't that mean nothing has been said?

"In short," Guan Zhuofan said, "the project of the 'Shitai Line' must be accelerated!" Next year is the first year of Hongxu...... Well, strive for Hongxu within two years - at the latest in the first half of the third year of Hongxu, the 'Shitai Line' will be completed in its entirety! At that time, the first indemnity of the French should also be in place, and the 'Beijing-Wuhan line' can officially start! ”

*(To be continued.) )