The purpose of the three times and two times was to affirm that the British Empire would not be involved in the robbery of the Transvaal gold mines, so that the Qing State would not take the lead in declaring war on Britain or send troops directly to India. After all, in the battle between Qingying and South Africa, the two countries did not declare war, so he immediately nodded hurriedly and said: "It is true, my country does not have the slightest intention of provoking your country...... ”

Seeing Zhao Liewen's eyes, Yi Zhizu waved his hand, interrupted his words, and asked directly: "It's not your country, who is fighting the idea of the Transvaal gold mine?" Deutsche? Cutting off Europe's cable telegraph to Asia and the Atlantic, a German is afraid that it will not have such great ability? ”

Wei Toma also knew that if he didn't disclose some information, he was afraid that it would be difficult to be trusted, so he said: "Judging from the information that my country has learned, it should be Germany, Austria and Italy, all of which are European military powers that have only recently completed unification, and they are all eager to open up overseas colonies, and Africa is the first choice." ”

German-Austrian? Omitting France, it seems that he is worried that France will involve England, Yi Zhixiang showed a smile on his face, "Thank you, Your Excellency, for telling me truthfully, it seems that there are still many countries that are greedy for the Transvaal gold mine, and three of them popped up at once." ”

"Our country is not involved, and the information we have learned may not be comprehensive and accurate." Wittoma left himself a way out, after all, the information he provided was indeed incomplete.

"Your Excellency." Yi Zhi's contentment attitude suddenly changed, "Please rest assured, my country has always had clear grievances, and if people don't offend me, I won't offend anyone." ”

Getting Yi Zhi's contentment statement, Wei Tuma couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief, as long as Yuan Qi did not have preconceived ideas and sent troops to India first, his goal would be achieved, in order to prevent the other party from continuing to spy on him to understand the situation, he once again stated that England would not mix and then got up and left.

Sending away Wei Tuma, Zhao Liewen said: "China's industrial strength and shipbuilding capacity are far inferior to England, if England develops a torpedo, it will inevitably be impatient to snow the shame of South Africa's defeat, and it is impossible for Germany, Austria, Italy and other countries to get involved in the Transvaal gold mine."

If England had not developed a torpedo, its naval fleet would not have been able to compete with our navy, so it would be wisest for England not to participate in this war. ”

Yi Zhizhi laughed and said: "It seems that the South African drama is getting more and more exciting." ”

Zhao Liewen said slowly: "England and Germany are afraid that they have their own wishful thinking, for England, as long as South Africa goes to war, no matter who wins this war in the end, England will reap the benefits of the fisherman."

Germany is happy to send troops, and if it wins, it can share the benefits of the Transvaal gold mines, and by the way, it can gain a foothold in South Africa and continue to expand, and if it loses, it will sell England to provoke a war between our country and England.

Both countries should hope to use the Transvaal gold mine to weaken their competitors in Europe by our hand, and of course, taking advantage of China's current financial crisis to snatch the Transvaal gold mine, making Yuanqi difficult both internally and externally, and destroying Yuanqi in one fell swoop, is also the common goal of the two countries. ”

"Huifu has seen it thoroughly." Yi Zhizu said coldly: "It's all a good calculation, and it's fearless." ”

"The main thing is that the price is small." Zhao Liewen said: "The countries sent only 20,000 troops, and Germany only 40,000, which is a typical example of small and large. ”

It is indeed small and broad, Yi Zhizu nodded slightly, perhaps it is precisely because the cost is too small, and the benefits are very huge, Germany, France, Austria and Italy and other countries will be tempted, hit it off, and jointly send troops.

After a slight groan, he said: "The Transvaal gold mine has a high yield and large reserves, which is coveted, since someone has reached out and does not teach a hard lesson, I am afraid that there will be endless troubles in the future, and I have to think of ways to induce them to increase their troops, otherwise they will not have a long memory." ”

"Difficult ——。" Zhao Liewen said in a long voice, "If the countries are clearly small and big, how can they easily increase their troops?" Moreover, when South Africa goes to war, sea control is the key, and all countries know this, and besides, the five countries themselves are not in agreement, and they all have their own thoughts, which is even more difficult. ”

While the two were talking, Li Hongzhang hurriedly greeted him and said, "The big shopkeeper, King Gong called, saying that the edict prohibiting the exchange of banknotes for silver has been issued, and he asks when it will be announced to the world?" ”

"To reply to King Gong, it will take a few more days." Yi Zhicontent said and instructed: "Immediately guide public opinion,

Zhao Liewen hurriedly said: "England, France, do you avoid mentioning it?" ”

"I don't mention the name of the country." Yi Zhizhi said: "To put it bluntly, foreign forces are trying to take advantage of the catastrophe in our country and the financial crisis to rob the Transvaal gold mine in order to completely destroy our country's financial economy and subvert our country. ”

"As soon as this news is reported, it will inevitably cause panic." Li Hongzhang said: "Although we are talking about Mozambique, everyone knows that it is a ....... that went to the Transvaal gold mine. ”

"Those who are in a hurry to exchange cash at this time are not worthy of sympathy!" Yi Zhizhi said coldly: "Let them exchange, and when the silver is almost exchanged, it will be forbidden to exchange!" ”

"The big shopkeeper is wise." Zhao Liewen casually flattered, in this case, those who are eager to exchange cash are indeed not worthy of sympathy, in this way, it will also greatly reduce the loss of Yuan Qi, after the implementation of the gold standard, Yuan Qi has no need to hoard silver, in addition, this move is bound to reduce the pressure caused by the nervous exchange of cash.

On the same day, the three major newspapers of "Beijing Daily", "Shanghai Daily", and "Guangdong Daily" published an article on the front page of the headline -- "The Footsteps of War Are Approaching", signed by Neng Jingjushi.

The article begins with a sharp drop in the stock market, pointing out that it was not the economic crisis that caused the stock market crash, but a financial war deliberately launched by foreign forces, aimed at destroying the financial sector of the Qing Dynasty, and pointed out that the sharp drop in the stock market was only the beginning, and that the foreign forces that attempted to subvert and split China were plotting to seize the Transvaal gold mine in order to further destroy the financial economy of the Qing Dynasty.

The article then pointed out that the Qing Dynasty was currently in its most difficult moment, and that the imperial court and Yuan Qi had spent countless financial, human and material resources to relieve the rare disaster in the north that had lasted for four years, and that it was now in the stage of the transition from the silver standard to the gold standard in the Qing Dynasty.

Foreign forces chose to launch a financial attack at this time when the Qing Dynasty was at its weakest, and then deliberately provoked a war in South Africa, with sinister intentions and ill intentions, aimed at splitting and destroying the Qing Dynasty!

At the end of the article, we call on all subjects of the Qing Dynasty to unite and work together to face the crisis and smash the conspiracy of foreign forces to split and subvert the Qing Dynasty, regardless of region, nationality, or identity.

Nengjing Jushi is Zhao Liewen's number, and most people don't know it, but how can a cabinet minister, a member of the Senior Minister's Yuan, a provincial governor, and a gentry and celebrity not know the name of the number one think tank around Yi Zhi.

Newspapers of all sizes in various provinces have launched extraneous retweets of this article as quickly as possible, and the government and the opposition have caused a sensation.

Over the years, the Qing Dynasty has been frequently expanding abroad, and it is a sure victory in every war, England, France, Russia, Spain, and the Netherlands are all defeated by the Qing Dynasty, and the battle in the Mozambique Channel in South Africa is even the British Royal Navy, known as the "maritime hegemon", has suffered heavy losses and has no power to fight back.

One victory after another, has long allowed the subjects of the Qing Dynasty to regain the original self-confidence and superiority of the Celestial Empire, and now there are people who come to the door to provoke and launch financial attacks that make the Qing stock market break out of an unprecedented plunge, and there is an unprecedented wave of large-scale delisting, resulting in the collapse of countless banks, factories and mining enterprises or the closure of business, not to mention, but also to rob the Transvaal gold mine!

This is really, tolerable or unbearable! Large-scale demonstrations broke out in many localities, and all kinds of articles in the newspapers calling for a tooth for a tooth and shouting for the annihilation of foreign forces were overwhelming, and some people even published articles directly analyzing which countries the foreign forces were, and quite a number of retired officers and men sent telegrams one after another urging them to return to the army.

The most excited are naturally the shareholders who have suffered serious losses in the stock market, and they have not been clear about what caused this inexplicable plunge until this time, and it is not until this time that they know that the culprit of the unprecedented plunge is actually a financial war launched by a conspiracy of foreign forces!

In this financial crisis, the bankrupt banks, factories and mining enterprises, and unemployed workers were also indignant, and some bankers, factory and mine owners who were able to survive in a desperate situation with the financial support of Yuanqi spontaneously launched a donation campaign to support the imperial court and Yuanqi to fight back.

Consulate General of England in Shanghai.

James. Northcote slammed a stack of newspapers on the desk, "Liar! Rogue! Yuan Qi is the biggest liar in the world! Rogue! I want to publish an article in the "Zilinxi Daily" to expose Yuan Qi's ugly face! ”

Seeing Northcott's hideous expression, Mai Huatuo picked up a cup of coffee and said slowly: "The German, French, Austrian, and Italian troops are almost in South Africa?" Once the war breaks out, not to mention the Qing people, even all the foreigners in Shanghai will not believe your words. ”

Northcote said angrily: "I'm just exposing the darkness of the Qing stock market!" Obviously, it was Yuanqi who manipulated the stock market and swallowed all the huge funds invested in new shares and new shares, but what kind of bullshit financial attack! ”

Mai Huatuo looked at him with sympathy, "If Yuanqi doesn't manipulate the stock market, you won't smash the market?" Who believes that Yuanqi will take the initiative to smash the stock market to the ground? Even if you publish an article telling the truth, no one will believe it, no, no, no, no newspaper in Shanghai will publish your so-called article exposing the truth. ”

Northcote was so angry that he just vomited blood, obviously they were the victims, and all the investors who invested in new shares were the victims, the victims of losing all their money! Now it has become an aggressor who launched a financial attack, and has become a street rat that everyone shouts and beats in Shanghai, "No, I will expose the truth in Shanghai, there are many people who know the truth, and those investment companies and brokerage houses know the truth!" ”

"What proof do you have to prove that Yuan Qi manipulated it?" Mai Huatuo said angrily, he was worried that this guy would cause trouble to the consulate, and he was even more worried that this guy would suddenly disappear for no apparent reason, seeing that this guy was unforgiving, he was also angry in his heart, "Don't play if you can't afford to lose, you haven't manipulated stocks?" Are the new shares rising under your manipulation? Speaking of Yuanqi, why don't you talk about yourself? ”

Northcott was speechless, and at this time, he didn't know that he was buried by Yuanqi, but he was angry that Yuanqi had pitted them, not to mention pouring a basin of dirty water.

Seeing that he was silent, Mai Huatuo comforted: "The situation in Shanghai is a bit chaotic now, let's talk about it after a while." ”

Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

Zhao Liewen walked into the room leisurely with a stack of newspapers, and saw Yi Zhizu standing in front of a large map with his hands behind his back, so he put the newspaper on the coffee table, probed the teapot and found that it was already cold, so he picked up the hot water bottle and made a pot of tea again, and poured two cups.

Yi Zhizu turned around and paced over, picked up the teacup and took a few sips, Zhao Liewen smiled and said: "The government and the opposition have had a great response, and even Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and other provinces have seen large-scale demonstrations and spontaneous fund-raising activities....... ”

Putting down the teacup, Yi Zhizhi smiled contentmently: "The response is so great, it is indeed a little unexpected to me, it seems that the propaganda of constitutional ideology in recent years has still achieved some results, and the concept of the country and the nation has begun to take root in the hearts of the people." ”

"It's not just the credit of public opinion guidance and propaganda." Zhao Liewen continued: "The rare and strange disasters in the nine northern provinces that lasted for four years, the imperial court and Yuanqi have always spared no effort to provide relief, and other provinces have also actively donated money to support disaster relief. ”

"Huifu has seen more thoroughly than I do." Yi Zhizhi said: "No matter how difficult it is to rejuvenate the country, the more great the disaster, the more it can enhance the cohesion of the nation and the country....... those donations will be directly allocated to the disaster area." ”

"Big boss, it seems that this miracle disaster is beginning to come to an end." Zhao Liewen said: "From the perspective of the entire disaster area, the drought has begun to ease, the drought in Shaanxi, Henan, Shandong, and Zhili has been alleviated, and the promotion of deep well drought resistance is getting faster and faster, and the relief pressure next year should be much smaller." ”

"Next year, if the drought is not over, it should also get better, and the most difficult time should be over." Yi Zhicontent said slowly: "However, after several years of severe drought, even if the relief is effective, the people's ability to withstand disasters has reached the limit. ”

"The big shopkeeper reminds me." Zhao Liewen hurriedly said, before he finished speaking, Hu Guangyong walked in quickly, and after seeing the salute, he reported: "The big shopkeeper, the provincial deposits are seriously insufficient, and they have ....... urgently. ”

"Sit ——。" Yi Zhizu greeted him before he said: "Yuan Qi issued an announcement in the newspaper that from next month, the exchange of silver for paper money will be completely terminated." ”

Hu Guangyong couldn't help but be stunned, "Yuanqi's inventory of silver is empty, and everyone knows it, will this be self-defeating?" ”