"According to the latest information, the British troops were divided into two groups, landing from Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, but the targets were all Kimberley." Yi Zhizu pointed to the map and said slowly: "The British fleet did not enter the Durban Port nearest to Maputo. He should still fantasize about us taking the initiative to evacuate from Transvaal, or giving us a decent opportunity to evacuate."

Xiao Mingliang thought carefully: "The principal means that the British will gather heavy troops to attack the Transvaal capital Pretoria from Kimberley? What are the specific forces?"

"I don't know." Yi Zhizu slowly shook his head, "The British have fought with us twice. They should be very clear about our army's combat power. There is no possibility of underestimating the enemy. It is expected that the troops will be at least 40,000. Judging from the intelligence, the British have also mobilized a large number of troops from Australia and India to reinforce South Africa. This number may be higher."

At least 40,000! Xiao Mingliang was shocked and said with a worried look: "The Marine Corps has less than 15,000 troops in Transvaal. Facing a three-fold enemy, it is unlikely that it will be difficult to stick to it for a long time..."

Yi Zhizu said slowly: "If you can defend, you should defend, and if you cannot defend, you should retreat. This battle aims to eliminate the vital forces of the British army. There is no need to care about the gains and losses of a city and a place, nor does it care about the temporary victory or defeat."

After hesitating, Xiao Mingliang said: "If the gold mine falls into the hands of the British..."

"What are you afraid of if you can't move the gold mine?" Yi Zhizu smiled and said, "There is no need to be a burden. If you lose it, you will take it back later."

In this way, this battle will be much easier to fight, with a strategic depth of hundreds of kilometers. It is absolutely fine to deal with it for several months. Xiao Mingliang felt relieved and said, "The principal is wise."

"We must achieve three goals in this war." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "First, we must use this war to merge and unify the two republics established by the Boers, and secondly, we must mobilize the Boers. Although there is no standing army in Transvaal, every adult Boers is born a warrior. Let them fight guerrillas and harass the British's logistics supply line. It must intensify the Boers' hatred for the British and weaken the Boers' strength.

Finally, we must use this war to arm the local black indigenous regime and prepare for the subsequent war between the Boers and the blacks."

"Students understand." Xiao Mingliang said aloud.

After a pause, Yi Zhizu continued: "This battle is of great significance to our country. We must establish our position as a world military power through this battle, so that people dare not provoke it easily. In addition, I also hope that through this battle, the British will completely withdraw from the Persian Gulf.

Therefore, this battle must hurt the British! Whether it is naval or land battle, it must severely damage the British army! Germany has risen strongly by defeating France, and our country can also rise strongly by defeating England and Geely! This is a battle of national destiny, only victory is allowed, not defeat!"

After hearing this, Xiao Mingliang quickly stood up and said aloud: "Students will not let down the principal's high expectations!"

"You are rare to come to Shanghai. You can rest for a few days before going to Qingdao." Yi Zhizu stood up and said, "In addition, some details need to be considered."

The official announcement of the constitution of the Xujun was made, and the capital was also celebrating. However, the atmosphere in the Forbidden City was very depressing and dull. All the eunuchs and palace maids were careful, walking on thin ice, for fear that they would accidentally cause unrestrained disasters and hand over all the power. It would be strange if the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were in a good mood.

On the east side of the Imperial Road in Tiananmen Square, Taimiao and Xiang Hall.

Empress Dowager Ci'an knelt in front of the throne of the ancestors who were carved with golden lacquer, dragons and phoenixes, whispering in a low voice. Xu Jun Lixian handed over the imperial power and made the emperor a puppet. She was full of sadness, but the situation was stronger than that of others. Wu Jun Lixian Yuanqi would raise troops to rebel and destroy the Qing Dynasty. Weigh the pros and cons, and declared the constitution can at least temporarily extend the Qing Dynasty's destiny and ensure that the Qing Dynasty's royal family is safe.

Having reached this point, she did not regret her decision. The establishment of a constitutional king was not only the most helpless choice but also the most correct and best choice. To put it in a small way, it could protect the Qing royal family, Manchu and Mongolian nobles and millions of Manchus. To put it in a big way, she could avoid the suffering of war in the world. She had nothing to regret. Now she just hopes that the ancestors and ancestors can bless the Qing Dynasty and the reign of the Qing Dynasty can continue as long as England.

The young emperor Qixiang, who was about 16 years old, quietly knelt behind Empress Dowager Ci'an. As the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, he had not had time to take power and had not really tasted the taste of power. He became a puppet. Facing his ancestors, he did not feel much guilt, but only regrets.

When he used seals on the decree of the constitutional decree, the princes and civil and military officials burst into tears. At that moment, he vaguely realized what he had lost, but all this could not be saved.

After coming out of the Taimiao and boarding the chariot, Ci'an ordered: "Move to the Old Summer Palace." She didn't want to stay in this celebratory capital, and she was in vain!

After arriving, an eunuch trotted up and knelt down in front of the carriage, saying, "Report to the Empress Dowager, the Minister of Military Affairs Shen Guifen handed over a sign to ask for a visit."

Although Shen Guifen was a minister of the Han Dynasty, he was a royalist sect who had always been loyal. Ci'an has been very dependent on him in recent years. At this time, he came to ask for a meeting. It was obvious that there was something important. He pondered her for a moment and said, "Let him go to Yangxin Palace to wait." After that, she ordered again: "Go to Yangxin Palace first."

Returning to the Hall of Peace, Ci'an changed his dress and then announced that Shen Guifen would meet him. When he entered the East Warehouse, Shen Guifen kowtowed to the Holy An and then got up and knelt down in front of the pearl curtain and said, "Report to the Empress Dowager, Yi Jingzuo calls you--." As he said that, he submitted a telegram.

What he heard was Yi Zhizu's call. Ci'an couldn't help but frowned. He had already announced the constitutional establishment. What else did he do when he called? After receiving the telegram, her brows stretched out. Yi Zhizu praised her in the telegram for her understanding of justice and promoting the peaceful constitutional establishment of the Qing Dynasty. She made great contributions and gave her 10,000 shares of Rand Gold Mine to supplement the royal expenses.

Ten thousand shares? It was a little stingy. Ci'an didn't take this share in his heart and transferred the telegram to Qixiang. Then she asked casually: "Is it the Transvaal Gold Mine?"

Before Shen Guifen came, he specifically inquired about the detailed situation with Wu Changqing, and immediately said respectfully: "The Empress Dowager is a joint-stock company that mines all Transvaal gold mines established by Yuanqi. Yuanqi also gave 200,000 shares to the Du branch. It is said that the total share capital is only one million shares."

The Du Branch is the Ministry of Revenue, which is equivalent to giving 20% ​​of the shares of the Ministry of Revenue, and 1% of the shares given to the royal family. After all, this is for free. Even if Ci'an didn't take it seriously, he felt a little comforted. This is not a matter of money, but it is rare to be easy to satisfy.

"How much silver can this 10,000 shares of the Rand Gold Mine be worth?" Qi Xiang, who had not spoken, suddenly asked. He felt that Yi was so content and stingy. He actually gave only one percent of the royal family. This is to send a beggar.

How could Chen Guifen know how much silver this share can be worth? But the emperor had to answer the question and had to say vaguely: "I haven't officially mined gold mine yet, so I don't know how much it can be worth. However, based on my guess, it is easy to be content and wealthy to rival a country, and my hands should not be small."

Ci'an pondered and said, "Yuan Qi intends to start a war with England in South Africa?"

"Go back to the Empress Dowager." Chen Guifen said quickly: "I heard that Yuan Qi wants to implement the gold standard, and he is bound to win the gold mine in South Africa."

"Kneel down and have a good time." Ci'an whispered.

Chen Guifen bowed and withdrew, and Qixiang whispered in a low voice, "It's too cheap to support Yuanqi and Yingji in the war."

Ci'an glanced at him and said softly: "The emperor is wrong. Yuan Qi doesn't need the support of the court at all. This is just a generous gift to the royal family and the court."

"Good gift?" Qi Xiang whispered: "How thick can it be?"

I don’t know if it was because of Yi Zhizu’s generous gift or because I was sure that Yuan Qi would go to war with English in South Africa. Ci’an felt much more comfortable and said, “Didn’t you install a phone number? Is it OK if the emperor personally went to ask Yi Zhizu?”

The Forbidden City had already installed a phone number, and Qixiang had used it a lot, but he was a little timid when he wanted to call Yi Zhizu. In his heart, Yi Zhizu was the treacherous minister who stole the Qing Dynasty by Wu Sangui and others! After hesitating, he said: "My son doesn't want to hear his voice."

"Die Lingling" the crisp phone ringing rang. A maid answered the phone and asked, quickly put down the phone, ran to Yi Zhizu, who was playing mahjong and reported softly: "Prince, Prince Gong's phone number..."

"You can't rest for a day." Yi Zhizu complained and said to Lin Meilian, who was standing beside him and watching the battle, "Go for me." He said that, and got up and walked over, picked up the microphone and said, "On this day, Master Liu still has time to call me?"

Yi's cheerful voice came from the microphone, "There is nothing to be busy with, but it is more leisurely than usual." After a pause, he asked directly: "How much profit can Rand Gold Mine 2000 shares have in a year?"

Yi Zhizu smiled and said, "Baba's is just for this? Twenty or thirty tons."

Twenty or thirty tons? Yi on the other end of the phone was obviously stunned for a moment before saying in disbelief: "Gold?"

Yi Zhizu said angrily: "Can the gold mine be silver still be mined?"

Twenty or thirty tons of gold, Yi? He was completely uneasy. It was the first time he used to calculate gold in tons. He immediately converted it quickly in his mind. Soon, he had an incredible number, "Eighty or nine hundred thousand taels of gold? More than twenty million taels of silver?"

Yi Zhizu joked: "If Master Liu thought it was too much, I could give it less. What about 10%?"

"Don't let it go." Yi? said quickly: "How can you think of money? No, you think of gold." After a pause, he said with some concern: "Brother Guocheng is lying to me?"

Yi Zhizu smiled and said, "Mr. Liu gave me a reason to deceive you." After a pause, he continued, "My goal is to produce an annual output of 100 tons within one or two years, and then steadily increase the output. Is Mr. Liu still satisfied with this gift?"

"Such a generous gift, I'll personally go to Shanghai to thank you!" Yi? was so excited that he even raised his voice a few times. "My brother Guocheng has any requirements, just ask!"

"It's very simple." Yi Zhizu said in a faint tone: "The battle in South Africa is to fight to the whole country!"

"Brother Guocheng, don't worry!" Yi said loudly: "In the war in South Africa, the government and the people are all in support!"

After putting down the phone, Yi Zhizu lit a cigarette casually. There was no war of tying up the country in the South Africa. If he really wanted to fight to the point of fighting to the country, he would decisively withdraw from South Africa. The reason why he distributed shares in the Transvaal Gold Mine to the court was that it was out of need, such as huge wealth, Yuan Qi could not swallow it alone, and he also wanted to spread the news by this time.

Once the British learned that the Transvaal gold mine reserves were so large, and they also learned that Yuan Qi gave the court free shares to win the support of the court to fight to the country, they would inevitably increase their troops in South Africa and would be full of confidence in the war in South Africa.

Of course, it doesn't matter if Yi and the cabinet ministers strictly keep their words out of their own interests. At worst, they can only find another way. However, in his opinion, even if Yi and Yi want to keep their words strictly, it would probably be difficult to do so.

The capital was like the Forbidden City, like a huge sieve, with no secret at all. In order to celebrate the opportunity of the imperial court to announce the constitution, the news that Yuan Qi gave the Du branch 20% of the Transvaal Gold Mine shares quickly spread among the officials, and the news that one cent of the shares were given to the royal family also spread, causing considerable discussion. For a time, the news that Yuan Qi was preparing to send troops to South Africa quickly spread.

British Minister Witoma has been paying close attention to the movements in the capital and soon learned about this situation. What was the purpose of Yuanqi's voluntary gift of 20% of the Transvaal Gold Mine to the court? It was nothing more than to win the strong support of the court. The previous judgment was indeed correct. Yuanqi was indeed unwilling to give up South Africa! He immediately reported the news to the country.

The news that the court officially announced the constitution was originally the focus of reports from newspapers of all sizes in the Qing Dynasty, but soon, this hot topic was replaced by Yuan Qi's gift of Transvaal Gold Mine shares to the court. The pro-war faction, who had already stopped, made a comeback immediately, and wrote an article in the newspaper to vigorously promote the war in South Africa!

The stock market, which had fallen because of the sudden increase in lending interest rates in Yuanqi Bank, fell sharply again due to this news, and the wind of bank runs rose again. For a time, the government and the country once again triggered heated discussions in the war in South Africa.

"The shopkeeper is really a matter of turning his hands into clouds and turning his hands into rain." Zhao Liewen walked into the study with several newspapers and said, "It's only the first month of the Western Paradise, isn't it a little too early?"

Yi Zhengxing, who followed behind, said: "It is too expensive to give the court 20% of its shares for nothing.

Yi Zhizu put down the newspaper in his hand and said, "I hope the British will start fighting earlier in South Africa." As he said that, he reached out to give up his seat, "The earlier the fight, the greater the casualties. Once the unavoidable ironclad ship arrives in South Africa, it will be not far from the end of the war."
Chapter completed!