Hearing this, Liu Zhisheng smiled slightly, and said: "Getting back to the point, after this expedition to South Africa and conquering Cape Town, you must not only establish a firm foothold, but also quickly open up the situation, in a year, not only to control the Cape Peninsula, but also to extend inland, figure out the situation in South Africa, and report to the emperor in time, West Africa, you really don't have time to go." ”

Fu Han nodded solemnly, since Zhenwu attaches so much importance to South Africa, and it is impossible to conquer West Africa in a short period of time, the idea that he expected to go all out, fight West Africa first, and then go back to South Africa has completely failed, West Africa is indeed not suitable for him, after a little hesitation, he asked: "The second expedition to Africa, the emperor transferred 5,000 new Janissaries army, I don't know if there are horses in Africa?" ”

"Yes." Liu Zhisheng affirmed: "There are pastures in West Africa and South Africa, and horses are ironclad, but it is not clear whether there are many of them. ”

"As long as the horses are fit to survive, it's fine." Fu Han grinned and said, "There is a huge merchant fleet, and you are still worried about running out of horses?" As long as the new army of the Praetorian Guard has horses, South Africa is not enough to see at all, but let Chen Pengnian prepare a boatload of horses first to see if he can carry a large number of them. ”

Liu Zhisheng couldn't help but listen to it, and said, "Transporting horses from Karopa? If you think about it, Arabian horses are famous all over the world, and the distance is much closer, so why bother to go far? Go to South Africa and it depends on the situation. ”

Although Fuhan is a navy, he has loved horses since he was a child, and when he heard Alabama, his eyes immediately lit up, Alabama is sky-high in Beijing, and there is no market for it, and it is difficult to find a horse, and South Africa and Arabia are indeed not far apart, why didn't you think of this stubble?

With the order, the Karopa began to be busy around the navy, all kinds of supplies began to be loaded into the ship, and the navy guards and the men and horses accompanying the expedition were also busy.

Three days passed in a flash, and on the morning of September 12, the Qing Royal Navy paid homage to the commander and awarded the seal at the port of Karopa, and set out for the expedition with a flag. In the midst of the rumbling of cannons. The fleet set sail and began the colonization of Africa.

After sending the navy to the expedition, Yin Qi breathed a sigh of relief, but he couldn't leave Karopa and set off for Beijing at the moment, and he had to arrange the merchant ships that came to him properly before he could return to Beijing with confidence. After giving Zhenwu an excerpt, he took a few guards to wander around, check the people's situation, and of course, Karopa's military workshop, regimental training. Australian immigration, port construction, etc. are also among his inspections.

Jingshi, Changchun Garden, the front hall of Ningju.

After receiving the pigeon letter that the navy had set sail for the expedition, Zhenwu also relaxed, Africa is the same as Europe, the sky is high and the emperor is far away, he just wants to take care of it. It's also beyond the reach of the whip. Moreover, the situation in Europe, Africa, the Americas. His knowledge is also extremely limited, it is better to let go of his hands completely, and let them toss.

Zhenwu's knowledge of West Africa and South Africa came entirely from the European missionaries in Beijing, and these missionaries often traveled for several years in the Qing Dynasty before they could enter Beijing, and their well-informed knowledge was not as good as that of the European merchants and European missionaries in Guangzhou, which is why he did not give specific instructions on the conquest of Africa.

This expedition to Africa, although there are not many warships, but there are many merchant ships, many troops, as long as there are no accidents, there is no suspense about victory, compared to European commerce, Africa's gold and slave trade is a huge profit, with these incomes, enough for him to survive the most difficult transition period in the Qing Dynasty in recent years.

Bao Fuquan bowed in at this time and reported: "Your Majesty, Zheng Shichang is out asking to see you." ”

Zheng Shichang? What did he ask for? Zhenwu paused for a moment before asking, "Is he alone?" ”

"Back to the emperor." Bao Fuquan bowed and said: "He is the only one, holding a small box, saying that he is offering new money." ”

"Let him in." Zhenwu hurriedly instructed, after the beginning of the year, he ordered the 'Four Heng' to mint silver dollars, not to mention that he forgot, according to the new monarch to the throne, all to issue new money, Zhang Pengxi, Ka Min Tu have been on the fold, but he has not been issued, because he does not want to issue copper coins, the issuance of silver dollars is the top priority.

Although he has always had the intention of issuing banknotes, but he knows that this matter can not be too urgent, the banknotes issued by the imperial court in the past dynasties have depreciated too quickly, and the merchants have resistance in their hearts.

There is still a long way to go to reach this point, the Qing Dynasty is now on the silver standard, and it must gradually transition to the double standard of gold and silver, then to the gold standard, and finally to the introduction of paper money, all of which are inseparable from the accumulation of gold, there are not enough gold reserves, everything is extravagant, and the gold reserves of the Qing Dynasty will take at least decades of plunder.

This time, the circulation of the silver dollar is significant, now on the market, there is no silver coin in the Qing Dynasty, the circulation is silver ingots and broken silver, it is very inconvenient to use, and the European silver coin is very popular in Jiangnan, Guangdong, which is the fundamental reason for Zhenwu to decree the minting of the Qing silver coin.

Zheng Shichang came quickly, and when he came in, he knelt down neatly and said, "Weichen Zheng Shichang respectfully invites the emperor to be sainte." ”

Zhenwu glanced at him, who was already a little old, and said with a smile: "Is your body still tough now?" ”

"The emperor inquired, but Weichen really didn't dare to be." Zheng Shichang hurriedly kowtowed again, and replied: "Weichen now eats well and sleeps peacefully, and he can still serve the emperor for a few years." ”

"Okay." Zhenwu smiled slightly and nodded: "No courtesy, give me a seat." ”

"Wechen thanks the emperor for his grace." Zheng Shichang kowtowed again before he stood up, cautiously sat on half of the small pestle in front of Zhenwu, and then bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the 'Four Great Heng' has made the silver dollar in accordance with the order, and I respectfully invite the emperor to take a look." ”

Zhenwu smiled slightly and said, "Present it." ”

Bao Fu, who was waiting outside the door, hurriedly presented the tray with both hands, Zhenwu took a look, and on the tray from large to small, there were four denominations of silver coins lined up, which were one yuan, middle circle (five corners), two corners, and one corner.

He stretched out his hand to pick up a silver coin of one yuan, but saw that the color was white and soft, the obverse was Zhenwu ingots, the reverse side was a dragon pattern, the handwriting pattern was quite clear, although the side teeth were neat, but it was slightly rough, this was not machine-cast, to be able to reach this level, he was quite satisfied.

After playing with it a little, he pinched the center of the silver dollar with his fingernails and blew it lightly on his mouth, and then quickly put it to his ear, and sure enough, he heard a clear and long tail note, he couldn't help but smile, and said: "This silver dollar, can it be said that the Dutch horse money?" ”

"Back to the emperor, it's slightly inferior." Zheng Shichang hurriedly bowed and replied. (To be continued.) )