The outbreak of the British economic crisis is no less than that of the United States. The announcement of bankruptcy by Glasgow Bank was like pushing the first domino of the domino, followed by the considerable Bank of West England and South Wales. The collapse of large banks has implicated countless small and medium-sized banks.

As a large number of banks quickly went bankrupt, the stock market collapsed, countless companies suffered, and a large number of factories and mines went bankrupt and closed down. A huge number of workers almost lost their jobs overnight.

The British economy, which had already fallen into a depression due to the economic crisis of various countries, suffered this sudden and violent impact and immediately fell into a deeper depression.

The serious economic crisis in England is just a worse problem for European countries. The economies of European countries, which have been in a downturn for five years, have just improved and have encountered a second wave of shocks, which has greatly delayed the economic recovery. However, there are exceptions, and the United States and Germany have not suffered major impacts.

"The economic crisis in England has been delayed for five years, and heavy industry is still a severely affected area. Railway construction, ship manufacturing, machine manufacturing, steel smelting, mining and other industries have all suffered heavy blows. Steel production has dropped from three million tons to one million tons. Not only has the output decreased, but the price decline is also very large. Scottish pig iron has dropped from 102 shillings to 47 shillings."

Yi Zhengxing's orderly report: "There is another thing that is not used in other countries. England's textile industry has also been hit hard. Twenty percent of textile factories have closed down, and sixty percent of textile factories have less than half of the machines started......"

Yi Zhizu waved his hand and interrupted him, "Why did England have delayed this economic crisis for five years before it broke out?"

"Before the economic crisis broke out in 1873, England experienced a financial crisis, which led to its financial speculation not rampant. In addition, this time it was a heavy industrial economic crisis, and the construction of the British Railway did not reach a climax. In terms of ship manufacturing, the scale of ironclad ships was increased due to the losses in the World War I of South Africa......"

Yi Zhengxing had long expected a question and said confidently: "The textile industry has actually not suffered much impact in this economic crisis. Another thing is investment. English is keen on capital investment. In recent years, economic crises have erupted in European countries. English has invested steadily in textile, shipbuilding, steelmaking, mining and other industries.

This is actually the fundamental reason for the economic crisis in England. During the economic crisis in Europe, expansion investment will only lead to further overproduction and a larger economic crisis. If England does not invest and expand, but instead adopts shrinking investment, the outbreak of this economic crisis can be completely avoided."

Speaking of this, he looked up at the other party and said with concern: "The investment expansion in my country in recent years is much greater than that in England. Will there be an economic crisis also break out?"

"Don't worry, the situation in our country is different from that in England." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "my country is not an economic system of free competition, but an economic system that combines a planned economy with a market economy characterized by high monopoly. The scale of the industrial and economic aggregate does not develop to a certain extent, and there is little possibility of an economic crisis.

Furthermore, my country itself has an unparalleled total population and an extremely large domestic market. More importantly, the trade protection measures taken by my country over the years, the monopoly of foreign trade and the tariff mediation of import and export trade have played a good role in protecting my country's industrial development and domestic market.

Why did the outbreak of the British and Geely economic crisis not have a major impact on the United States and Germany? It is also because of trade protection. This economic crisis has prompted Western countries to transition from free competition to monopoly, and the United States and Germany are pioneers."

After hearing this, Zhao Liewen smiled and said, "The United States and Germany are also from our Yuanqi studies. We are the first to implement trade protection."

Yi Zhengxing said: "While Western countries are gradually moving towards monopoly and implementing trade protection, will it gradually weaken our country's advantages?"

"This is inevitable." Yi Zhizu nodded, "However, it is also a monopoly, and my country's monopoly is higher. Western countries are currently only industry monopoly, while my country is a state monopoly! This is more suitable for state intervention in industry and economy, and is also conducive to concentrated funds for planned, focused and step-by-step development.

Like the five-year plan, it is hard to imagine and implement in Western countries. No country can have such a wealthy finance! Even England cannot do it!"

After a pause, he continued: "This is actually the fundamental reason why our country can develop so rapidly in less than 40 years. Of course, we must also see that our country's industrial development has developed on the shoulders of England. To put it bluntly, many technologies are plagiarized from England and America. Otherwise, the development speed would not have been so fast."

Zhao Liewen glanced at him and said, "English will first carry out the industrial revolution, and it has been more than a hundred years since then. All countries around the world that have carried out the industrial revolution have basically plagiarized English's industrial technology, but only our country can achieve such great achievements in a short period of time. This is mainly due to the foresight and insight of the shopkeeper..."

"Big shopkeeper--." Li Hongzhang walked in quickly with a telegram, "Called from Constantinople, Ottoman built Constantinople-Baghdad Railway, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and other countries are actively striving to build the railway."

After reading the telegram, Yi Zhizu transferred the telegram to Yi Zhengxing and slowly lit a cigarette. Baghdad was only more than 500 kilometers away from Basra. There is no doubt that this was deliberately targeted at the Qing Dynasty. The Ottoman was not only defeated, but also faced huge war reparations after the war. How could he propose to build such a long railway at this time? It was obviously proposed by the British.

Seeing Zhao Liewen put down the telegram, he said slowly: "What do you think?"

Yi Zhengxing said carefully: "The Ottoman belongs to the sphere of influence of the English Greece. The severe economic crisis broke out in England. The steel price fell sharply and the output also dropped seriously. A large amount of funds were looking for a way out. This railway should have been proposed by the British."

"Baghdad is not far from Basra." Zhao Liewen said: "The British hope is to use this railway to curb our country's continued expansion to the Ottoman..."

After glanced at the two of them, Yi Zhizu looked at Li Hongzhang, "What does Jianfu think?"

"Students think that this is a bit strange." Li Hongzhang said straight away: "The Ottoman belongs to the sphere of influence of the British and Geely, and the Ottoman's geographical location is very important. Even if this railway is to be built, there is no chance for other countries to intervene. How could it openly bid? Return to the British, French, German and Russian countries to compete openly?"

"It's up to the point." Yi Zhizu nodded in praise, "The so-called open competition between Britain, France, Germany and Russia should be a cover. This railway may eventually be under construction by Germany."

After hearing this, Yi Zhengxing was stunned and said with confusion: "English and Germany are in opposition. Will Germany undertake this railway?"

Li Hongzhang said in a deep voice: "This is a plan to drive the wolf and swallow the tiger!"

Zhao Liewen said slowly: "Bismarre is not Yiyou. If the shopkeeper judged it well, it would be Zhou Yu who beat Huang Gai, one is willing to beat him, and the other is willing to be beaten."

The British joined hands with the Germans to curb the expansion of the Qing Dynasty into the Ottomans? Yi Zhengxing did not react slowly, and then he reacted. He looked at the three of them and hesitated: "Will Britain allow Germany to move eastward, so he is not worried about raising tigers?"

"Germany, Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia are all three emperors." Yi Zhizu analyzed slowly: "Indulging Germany to expand to the Ottoman is one that will help provoke the conflict between Germany and Russia, and then use Germany to curb our country's expansion to the Ottoman. Once our country continues to expand into the Mesopotamian Basin, it will face joint suppression from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria and Turkey!"

Speaking of this, he ordered: "Follow the progress of the situation, and in addition, the intelligence department pays close attention to South Africa!"

South Africa? Zhao Liewen was shocked, "Is the shopkeeper worried that European countries will compete for South Africa's gold mines?"

Yi contented expression was a little cold. If Britain joined forces with Germany to prevent the Qing Dynasty from expanding into the Mesopotamia, things would be far from being as simple as imagined. In addition to the Ottomans, another place suitable for conflict would be South Africa!

After pondering for a while, he said: "For England, the vast overseas colonies are the foundation for ensuring England's strength and prosperity. If the status of the maritime overlord is not guaranteed, it means that overseas colonies are not guaranteed. I think England regards our country as its biggest enemy. South Africa's amazing gold mine production will inevitably be the focus of England's attack."

Zhao Liewen said in surprise: "How dare the British people get into trouble on their heads?"

"If you are afraid of England and Germany joining forces." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Germany is now eager to develop overseas colonies. If England and Geely want to meet their preferences, it is not impossible to join forces."

After hearing this, the room was quiet. After a while, Zhao Liewen sighed softly: "The tree wants to be quiet but the wind does not stop. Our country has no intention of expanding the Ottoman, but the South African gold mine is reverse scale."

South African gold mines are the top priority for Yuanqi. The annual output of more than 100 tons of gold is not only a guarantee of implementing the gold standard, but also a guarantee of filling the huge holes brought by disaster relief. Once the South African gold mines are suspended due to war, the consequences will be unimaginable, and a large-scale run may break out in China, and the entire Yuanqi may collapse due to this!

Li Hongzhang said: "South Africa cannot be misleading. Can we increase our troops to South Africa first to dispel Britain's fantasy."

"No." Yi Zhizu said: "If you increase your troops in South Africa, if you remind England, there will be no silver here."

Li Hongzhang said: "The situation in our country cannot be hidden from England."

After pondering for a moment, Yi Jingzu waved his hand, "I'm just guessing now, I can't mess up first." After a pause, he continued: "The drought may last for another year. If England and Geely intend to raise trouble in South Africa, they will definitely not delay. Please pay close attention. In addition, send a call to King Gong, and even if the disaster continues next year, the food must be enough to protect themselves."

Shandong, Tai'an Prefecture, Feicheng County.

As a demonstration site for large farms that use agricultural machinery on a large scale, Feicheng became famous in just three years. Especially after the beginning of this year, newspapers from all provinces reported on Feicheng's demonstration site, which attracted the attention of the government and the country. The gentry with many lands showed great interest in the large farms, and many gentry came to visit every day.

In just three years, Feicheng almost changed its appearance. Although there was no railway connection, a wide and straight asphalt road directly connected Feicheng with Tai'an Prefecture, which was more than 70 miles away, whether it was riding a horse or a car, it could be reached in an hour. Most gentry chose to ride a stable and comfortable four-wheeled carriage.

Yang Shizhen, from Dengzhou Prefecture, sat in a large carriage and felt the feeling of the carriage driving quickly on the smooth asphalt road. Looking at the carriages, bicycles, and horse teams coming and going on the road, I couldn't help feeling mixed. When Yuan Qi released a message to set up a demonstration site for a large farm, their Yang family also worked hard to win it, but in the end it fell in Feicheng.

Not to mention anything else, just looking at this high-standard asphalt road, he was already bleeding in his heart. It was obvious that Yuan Qi had really invested a lot in this demonstration area!

As soon as he entered the Feicheng territory, he was shocked by the golden wheat fields that could not be seen in front of him. The drought in Shandong has been getting heavier every year, and many prefectures and counties have no harvest. Even if there is a harvest, the harvest is still severe. Unexpectedly, this demonstration site will not be affected at all.

When he was shocked, the carriage stopped, and then he heard a somewhat familiar voice, "After a few years of separation, can Brother Zhongyu be safe?"

Yang Shizhen stretched out her head and saw Song Henian riding on the horse looking at him with a smile on his face. He couldn't help but smile: "After leaving for a few years, Brother Zhixian is still in style." As he said that, he pushed the door and got out of the car.

Song Henian dismounted and came up and said, "I was going to pick up the station, but I couldn't get rid of it if I had something to do..."

"It's thirty miles away, why are you still polite?" Yang Shizhen said, pointing to the wheat field, "It's all irrigation in deep wells?"

"The demonstration site is of course given priority." Song Henian nodded and smiled: "With this deep well irrigation, there is no need to watch the sky and eat again."

"It was Brother Zhixian who had the courage at the beginning." Yang Shizhen said with emotion: "This demonstration point is not only for self-interest, but also for the entire Feicheng."

This is indeed the truth. The entire Feicheng has made profits because of this demonstration point. The construction of roads, the reconstruction of county towns, and the construction of tap water plants are far more than that of other prefectures and counties. Song Henian smiled and comforted: "There is nothing to envy about this farm. Now, investment in factories and mines is the general trend. Don't it be said in the newspaper that our country should gradually transition from an agricultural power to an industrial power."

Yang Shizhen said: "Brother Zhixian means that he is preparing to actively invest in factories and mines and start an industry?"
Chapter completed!