The function of money is firstly to assume the function of circulation, and secondly, it is to serve as socially recognized wealth. In terms of circulation, thanks to China's thousands of years of coinage, the officially issued renminbi is easily accepted by the Chinese people. But in terms of wealth, the renminbi is insufficient.

At the end of the 19th century, the gold standard was popular worldwide, and the currency was directly linked to gold. At this stage, whether the Chinese or the British, they can go to the British bank to exchange gold with the pound, and the pound, as a well-known currency in the world, depends on the British Grand Fleet, but it is not entirely dependent on the British Grand Fleet.

Compared with the pound sterling, the renminbi relies on China's productive forces. Whether you are a Chinese or a foreigner, you can buy goods in China with RMB. The circulation function is sufficient, but the function as wealth is obviously insufficient. This is also the fundamental reason why the expansion of the renminbi in Europe has been resisted by Europe. It is impossible for ordinary Europeans to travel thousands of miles from Europe to China in order to buy that kind of commodity. If China is not on the gold standard, it will have a natural disadvantage if it wants to expand financially in Europe and around the world.

However, the secretary's report seemed to solve the dilemma, and China has finally made significant progress in the exploration of the Rand gold mine in southern Africa. The Transvaal Republic, formed by the local Boers, signed an agreement with China, and China was granted permission to mine gold in the region. This is where the famous Rand Gold Mine is located in later generations, and in the face of China's East African Administrative Region, which is now the hegemon of East Africa, the upper echelons of the Transvaal Republic are of course uneasy in their hearts, but an agreement is an agreement, and business is a business. In addition to the mining permits, the Chinese side has also signed an agreement with the Transvaal Republic to finance the construction of the railway. The Portuguese colonial authorities in East Africa were very interested in agreeing to China to build a railway from the seaport to the Transvaal Republic.

Although Weeser is a staunch supporter of fiat currency, any firmness must face the test of reality. If it weren't for the fact that China's demand for currency was too high, the gold standard currency was really not suitable for China, and Wei Ze was afraid that he would also give in to the gold standard. Now seeing that there is a glimmer of possibility to implement the gold standard, the shock in Wei Ze's heart is self-evident. There was a strange look on his face, and it was because Wei Ze had been able to calm down. If he was younger, he would not be able to sit firmly on the rostrum and continue to participate in the meeting.

Even so, when the meeting was adjourned at noon, Wei Ze still summoned Wang Mingshan, Lei Hu, Shen Xin and other members of the Politburo. After a brief introduction to the situation, Wang Mingshan, the governor of the central bank, was already excited, "How big is that gold mine?" ”

"It's said to be very big." Wei Ze replied as lightly as possible. However, everyone has been getting along for decades, and Wei Ze's performance can't hide from these old brothers. His tone and look have already shown everyone that things are very, very weighty.

"Do you want our navy to send it?" Navy Commander Ding Ruchang immediately asked excitedly.

"Then it depends on how the British react?" Weeser answered the question with a smile.

"Bring me the map." Lei Hu has never had much interest in Africa, and he has never heard of the Transvaal Republic, where he has never heard of it.

When the map hung on the blackboard, many people couldn't help but laugh when they looked at the location of the Transvaal. Opposite Madagascar, China's western gateway to the sea, was the Portuguese colony, and further west was the Transvaal Republic. The ore that China buys from the Transvaal is transported to the port via the upcoming railway, from where it is transported to Madagascar for smelting, and the gold is shipped back to China for refining. As long as there is no one to stop it, the route doesn't even need to be maintained with more effort.

"Dudu, you can pinch it." Lei Hu took his eyes off the map, turned his head and smiled, "I thought Madagascar was a sea fortress, but I didn't expect to make money from that kind of place." ”

Indeed, the Politburo's initial discussion of the construction of Madagascar was entirely a military consideration, and Madagascar itself was a naval base capable of defending China's western gates and protecting the economic interests of the East African administrative region. The island itself has little to offer. But after the advent of gold mines, Madagascar became of great significance. Once the smelting center appeared, the value of the island naturally skyrocketed.

"If the production of gold is very large, can we use the gold standard?" As the governor of the central bank, Wang Mingshan also raised the issue of his bank.

Weese ordered the purchase of vast tracts of land with large sums of gold, which was not just a sum of money, but a huge transfer of wealth. Britain's gold wealth has increased dramatically, which is also an important reason why the British are willing to sell land. Although China has acquired the means of production, there has been a significant increase in productivity, but this is not the same as an increase in wealth from a global perspective. The abundance of food and clothing for the Chinese people is China's private affair, and the sale of Chinese goods to the world is to absorb wealth from the whole world, and the gold and silver that reflect wealth are taken away by China in large quantities, which is undoubtedly a major threat to countries that exceed trade.

If China adopts the gold standard, it means that the renminbi is also endowed with wealth, which is of great significance for the expansion of the renminbi around the world. Wang Mingshan is very concerned about this.

"The production of gold is limited, even if it is 20,000 tons of gold, how are you going to implement the gold standard?" Weeser still insisted on his opinion. In the end, the Yankees failed to adhere to the gold standard, from the beginning of the Bretton Woods system to the decoupling of the dollar from gold, and the United States, which was in full swing, only lasted 29 years. The gold reserves and industrial power that the United States possessed back then, and the alliance that the United States had established, were simply not comparable to the current Republic of China. This fact is also the reason why Wei Ze can insist, a lesson from the past and a teacher for the future.

Before the crossing, Weser knew that the United States had pushed the capitalist system to a new level by engaging in QE. A large amount of currency has been overissued, and the status of the dollar can be maintained while the volume is maintained. Even if there are other factors that play a big role in this, the event itself is a great success. If it is still on the gold standard at this time, I am afraid that the United States will not be able to escape the fate of the Great Depression of 29 years.

Wang Mingshan also wanted to continue to talk to Wei Ze about this issue, as the governor of the central bank, the temptation to adopt the gold standard is too great. However, this advanced economic problem was not of interest to the Politburo members, and gold and silver represented wealth to the poor brothers, but their experience led them to believe that copper coins were the currency in circulation. Now that copper coins have turned into paper money, it doesn't make them feel that anything is wrong.

The currency issue may be profound for these Politburo members, but these time-tested veterans can see the clues in Weeser's attitude, and with a little brainstorming, everyone can think of a great possibility. If China reaps huge benefits from this big gold mine, other countries will not be happy to see such a situation.

"Are you going to war with the British?" Lei Hu raises the obvious question.

In order to seize the Rand gold mine, Britain finally launched the Boer War. The Boer War was waged against a disparity of strength, and the outcome was not worth discussing. If the British were willing to commit genocide, it would not be difficult to kill all the Boers.

In the history that Weeser saw, the Boer War not only consumed Britain's financial resources, but also put Britain's corrupt army into account for the European powers. In the face of the guerrilla warfare of the Boers, the British repaired artillery towers, pulled barbed wire, built railways to mobilize troops, and in the end they fought very badly.

Weeser was only very interested in the course of the war. At his current age, after such an experience, Wei Ze focused on another thing. Britain seized the Rand gold mine anyway and became the hegemon of the world gold market. On the one hand, European countries saw the weakening of the British Army, and on the other hand, they feared that Britain had gained a greater say through its control over the world's gold. At a time when contempt and fear coexisted, the idea of challenging Britain's position and removing Britain from the throne of world hegemony became logical.

The Boer War heralded the total decline of Britain, and this decline itself was very layered. Now that China has intervened in the Rand gold mines, Britain's fate will be completely different. And what kind of existence will China be in the eyes of the world? Wei Ze was very bottomless in his heart.

"It's not necessarily the UK, there must be a lot of countries that want to make a profit here. Nor is it possible for the Transvaal Republic to give China a monopoly on all its gold resources. Even if it is for self-preservation, they have to bring in many countries to balance each other and compete with each other. Wei Ze made a judgment according to reason.

Just as everyone digested what Weizer said about domestic politics, Weese smiled, and it was a confident smile. "But now the only people in the world who can sing on this big cake are China and the United Kingdom. Other countries will want to show their faces, but they are not strong enough to support any chance of performance here. ”

"Who the hell are you fighting against?" Lei Hu asked bluntly. International politics is far more complex than these old brothers imagined, and they are not interested in caring so much. Governor Wei Zedu always told the truth to everyone, and the analysis was also very reasonable. Because of this, people don't have much interest in these complex things. As long as Governor Wei Zedu says a word, everyone will do what they are told.

At this moment, Ruan Xihao followed, "Dudu, how do you divide this gold?" ”

"Huh?" Lei Hu was stunned, he didn't expect Ruan Xihao to ask such a question.

"Governor, won't all this gold fall into the hands of the ministry? Since we can get this gold, although it cannot be said that the big scale divides the silver, and the small scale divides the gold. But all provinces have to have a share! Ruan Xihao clearly expressed his views.