South Africa in April is autumn and is also the most beautiful season of the year. However, as the British Empire, Cape Town Port, the capital of the Cape Town colony of South Africa, is now in chaos. The city is crowded with inns, taverns, teahouses, and cafes. All inns, taverns, teahouses, and cafes are filled with people with different accents and all kinds of people.

Because of the war, a large number of merchants and miners from South Africa's gold mining and diamond mining were stranded in Cape Town, and the crew and sailors of a large fleet of transport ships were also gathered in Cape Town, and there were tens of thousands of troops withdrawn from the inland South Africa and tens of thousands of navy returning to Cape Town.

Cape Town itself is not big, because the opening of the Suez Canal has been deserted for a while, but now the population of more than 100,000 suddenly appears particularly messy. Whether in the city or in the port terminal, whether it is day or night, drunken drunks can be seen everywhere, many of whom are officers and soldiers wearing army or navy uniforms.

In the west of the city, the British Army camp, the commander of the Transvaal Expeditionary Force, Lieutenant General Robert Napier, who was in his early sixties, was drinking wine alone in the military tent. This expedition to Transvaal can be said to have ruined his reputation for his lifetime, which made him feel extremely depressed.

In his opinion, it was not his responsibility. The Qing army not only had heavy artillery that could be continuously and quickly bombarded, but also had heavy machine guns with amazing lethality. In addition, semi-automatic rifles were more than their rear-loading guns. It can be said that the gap between the two sides in terms of weapons has reached an irreparable point.

Looking back on the rain of bullets that seemed to be falling from the sky, he was still in fear. The fully automatic heavy machine gun not only had a fast firing speed but also had a surprisingly high lethality. It was definitely a nightmare for infantry. At least 70% or 80% of the casualties in this battle were caused by the heavy machine gun.

Feeling the light dark, he looked up and saw George White coming in. He was lazy and lifted away and pointed to the chair opposite. White was also listless. After sitting down, he took a cup and poured half a glass of wine. After taking a few sips, he said, "I heard that London has sent people to Cape Town to negotiate with the Qing people. This war should be over here..."

"This war shouldn't have been launched." Pinel said muffled: "There is a motto in the East that we know our enemy and be victorious in every battle. The Qing people are very familiar with the situation of our country's navy and army, so they dare to come to South Africa to provoke. We have no idea about the situation of the Qing army, so we launched this war rashly. The Qing navy and army have an absolute advantage in weapons. If we don't end this war, we will only lose even worse."

It was not just a shame to lose! White sipped his wine lightly. He didn't know much about the Battle of the Mozambique Strait, but he knew very well in the battle of Pretoria that the Qing army showed mercy and did not take advantage of the victory. Moreover, during their retreat, the provocateurs also found that thousands of Qing troops were marching slowly in front of them, obviously intending to indulge them in evacuation. If they continued to fight, the Qing army would never remain the same.

After a while of silence, he spoke: "I think the Qing army seems to be intentionally asking us to consume the strength of the Boer people..."

"This is obvious." Pinell said: "I really think the Qing people will sincerely help the Boers? Transvaal, Orange will sooner or later become a colony of the Qing Dynasty. I miss those idiots, who don't know how to live or die long-distance harassment."

The frequent harassment of the Boer cavalry not only caused them a considerable casualties, but also greatly delayed their marching speed. However, the Boer people also paid a considerable price for this. Now it seems that the Qing army was intentional. White shook his head with emotion. If this were not the case, they would probably lose more thoroughly in this battle!

"Report--."

"Come in!" Pinel unconsciously sat upright, and a communications officer stepped in quickly and reported: "General, the Army Department called--." He said and submitted a telegram.

After reading the telegram, Pinell's face suddenly looked a little ugly and muttered softly: "A bunch of stupid pigs!"

George White was unable to speak for a while after reading the telegram. The telegram said that negotiations with the Qing Dynasty might not be reached, so they were prepared to continue the war.

"Can this battle continue?" George White murmured as if he was talking to himself: "What exactly does London think?" After hesitating, he said: "Do you want to report the actual situation to London?"

"It should be that the conditions proposed by the Qing Dynasty were too harsh." Pinell said slowly, "Look at what is going on first." After a pause, he continued: "Send the order to cancel the leave of all departments. All officers and soldiers who went out must return to the team before dark, and start training from tomorrow."

Soon, the army and naval officers and soldiers who were wandering around inside and outside Cape Town, drinking in taverns, having fun in brothels, and spending time in teahouses and cafes rushed back to their respective barracks. Seeing this, the atmosphere in Cape Town became tense again.

Five days later, British Foreign Minister Granville George Levesen-Gall hurried to Cape Town. Granville's personal arrival in Cape Town was enough to show England's importance to this negotiation, because this negotiation not only concerns England's interests in South Africa, but also the interests of England in the Middle East. The Gladstone Cabinet cannot ignore it.

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Bookstore.

Seeing Yi Zhizuo put down the telegram, Zhao Liewen tentatively said: "Is it inappropriate to go before leaving?"

Yi Zhizu waved his hand unconsciously, "Although Xingzhi has no official position, he is a real prince of a vassal king, which is equivalent to a vassal king. According to the rank, this is a superb and nothing is inappropriate."

Zhao Liewen smiled and said, "But the British may not be aware of the status of our Qing Dynasty. It is better to let Xingzhi take a false title in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs..."

"That's just a matter of one sentence." Yi Zhizu smiled and said, "Call Yi?."

Three days later, the imperial commissioner and ministers of the Prime Minister's affairs offices walked, and Yi Zhengxing arrived in Cape Town as a representative of the Qing-English negotiations. A Qing-English negotiation that was very concerned by both countries in the East and the West began immediately.

In the French-Prussian War, France was defeated by 5 billion francs of mines and ceded the two provinces with rich industrial resources. In the South African War, England was defeated, how much compensation would England pay? Will South African colonies be ceded?

Although South Africa's strategic geographical value has been much worse than before with the opening of the Suez Canal, with the discovery of South Africa's diamond mines and gold mines, European countries have turned their attention to Africa. After all, this continent has now become the last and very rich continent that has not been divided. The Qing countries in the east have extended their hands to Africa. How could European countries remain indifferent?

The Qing Cape Town-UK negotiations will determine the ownership of South Africa. This must be paid attention to European countries that intend to divide Africa, even the United States and Russia. If the Qing occupies South Africa, countries with close ties with the Qing dynasty will choose the other side adjacent to South Africa as colonies.

In addition, Germany, Austro-Hungary, Italy and other countries that have a faint military confrontation with Britain and Geely, as well as America and Russia, which have close ties with the Qing, all hope that the Qing Dynasty can make a comeback like Germany, and the relationship between the Qing and Britain will be completely deteriorated, which is undoubtedly excellent news for all countries.

It is precisely because countries around the world are paying close attention to the Cape Town negotiations that journalists from major newspapers from all over the country gather in Cape Town to obtain news of the negotiations between the Qing and the UK as soon as possible.

"Unknown to us, we have become a powerful country in the world, and every move can attract the attention of all countries." Zhao Liewen handed a copy of the Shanghai newspaper to Yi Zhizu and smiled: "The shopkeeper did not expect that the Cape Town negotiations would attract so much attention?"

A newspaper published a news report sent back from Cape Town, reporting on the grand occasion of journalists from all over the country gathering in Cape Town. Yi Zhizu glanced at it quickly and said with a smile: "It's really unexpected." After a pause, he continued: "It seems that because of this war, a wave of dividing Africa is about to start in advance."

Zhao Liewen glanced at him and said, "Africa is rich and has a lot of resources. With the current military strength and status of the Qing Dynasty, he is fully qualified to participate in the division of Africa. Is the shopkeeper really not intending to develop a colony in Africa?"

"I can't eat too much, and I'm not interested in the colonies." Yi Zhizu waved his hand, "At present, my country's external expansion has basically ended. The most urgent task is to digest the territory that has been expanded over the years, and strive to assimilate and integrate the newly attached land as soon as possible within 30 or 40 years. There is no need to waste energy in Africa.

Besides, the Transvaal gold mine is Africa's greatest wealth. Why do we have to make enemies on all sides? Forget war will lead to danger, and be warlike will lead to death. It has laid the foundation for the world's military power. We don't need to show our strength too much. Dedicating our heads to development is the king. We should now devote our energy to economic development."

As soon as the words were finished, Cao Gensheng quickly stepped in to report: "The big shopkeeper, call from New York..."

The telegram was sent by Yuanqi New York Branch, reporting that after they sold out a large number of shares of various railway companies they held, it caused a decline in the stock prices of various railway companies, and it was generally down.

After reading the telegram, Yi Zhizu transferred the telegram to Zhao Liewen, and then ordered: "Call back, and they reported in detail the number of shares of the railway companies sold and the proportion of the total share capital. In addition, investigate the reasons for the decline in the stock prices of the railway companies."

Zhao Liewen hesitated and said, "The number of shares of various railway companies held by the New York branch will not be too large?"

"It won't be too big." Yi Zhizuji said first: "Although the New York branch is Yuanqi's largest overseas funding branch, the funds invested in the stock market cannot be too large. Their selling may be the last straw that broke the camel's back, so I asked to investigate the stock decline. Perhaps this is a signal."

Zhao Liewen tentatively said: "The signal of the economic crisis? Will this economic crisis start from the United States?"

"It's not impossible." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "In recent years, if railway construction is mentioned first, my country will be the first to be followed by America. America has a vast territory and great potential for railway construction.

The end of the Civil War expanded the demand for industrial products in the north in the south, and the gold rush in the west prompted the United States to accelerate the pace of westward advancement, thus prompting a new wave of railway construction in the United States.

Like in our country, almost half of the railway construction funds in the United States are raised from England. Once the railway company's stocks fall, the British will inevitably be eager to withdraw funds for the safety of their funds. This will accelerate the decline of stocks, trigger market panic, lead to a stock market crash or even collapse."

After hearing this analysis, Zhao Liewen said worriedly: "Will the decline in American Railway stocks affect my country's stock market?"

"It will definitely affect." Yi Zhizu said without thinking: "my country's stock market is not isolated and has a close connection with major stock markets in the world. It can be said that it is prosperous and loss. How can it not have an impact? What's more, my country's railway construction has many similarities with the situation in the United States, which will naturally make people think of it."

Speaking of this, he smiled, "Huifu still has railway stocks in his hand?"

Zhao Liewen nodded, "The railway company stock is the best stock in recent years. Naturally, I bought some. Thinking that the rise has been good during this period, I am not willing to take action." He smiled, "It seems that I can't cover it anymore, let Manager Huo deal with it immediately."

As Yi Zhizu's most trusted aide, Zhao Liewen strictly abides by the duties and rules of his staff. He usually does not leave his house. He entrusted Huo Qizheng to buy and sell stocks. Naturally, he did not dare to find a brokerage agency for fear of leaking news.

When it comes to Zhao Liewen's investment in the stock market, Yi Zhizu has always adopted a supportive attitude. As his most trusted aide, Zhao Liewen has far less information than ordinary people can compare with. There are too many ways to make money, so he naturally would rather make money in the stock market.

However, in five days, the New York branch called again, and the stocks of railway companies in the Wall Street stock market did not improve at all and were still falling slowly. According to the survey, the reason was that the cost of railway construction was high and expected returns decreased, resulting in the growth rate of railway lines starting to slow down and the orders of locomotives and rails began to decrease.

Yi Zhizu vaguely remembers that the "episode" of the economic crisis in 1873 was America, which is also the place where this economic crisis is different from the previous economic crisis. As the birthplace of the capitalist economy, England, as the well-deserved industrial hegemony and the center of the world economy, has always been the "episode" of the outbreak of the economic crisis, but this time it was replaced by America.

The stocks of American Railways have generally declined, which may be normal to others. After all, the stocks of railways have been booming in recent years, and it is very normal to have a correction. Moreover, this period is still early to the economic crisis once every ten years, and no one will associate this situation with the economic crisis.
Chapter completed!