The sharp increase in wages and benefits of factory and mining enterprises has stimulated the rise in prices, but it is undoubtedly a big negative for the stock market. In the short term, the increase in wages and welfare means an increase in production costs and a decrease in profits. Naturally, there will be no good news for listed factory and mining enterprises. Stock markets in Guangzhou and Shanghai fell in response.

Financial crisis broke out in Europe, and serious economic crises in the United States and Germany successively broke out. The impact on the Qing Dynasty stock market will naturally not be small. Out of panic about the economic crisis, many people rationally withdrew from the stock market. However, because of the five-year plan, many people are full of confidence in the Qing Dynasty's economy and took the opportunity to enter the market. After a sharp decline, the stock market quickly adjusted itself, and there was a long sideways trading. As soon as the measures to increase wages and benefits were announced, the stock index that had been sideways trading quickly turned downwards.

The stock index fell again, and Huo Qizheng couldn't help but feel a little worried. It is coming to an end of the year. According to previous years' experience, there will be a wave of decline before the end of the year. Many people will choose to sell their stocks before the New Year to celebrate the New Year. Two unfavorable factors will gather together and may cause a big drop.

Huo Qizheng's worries soon became a reality. After three days of sharp drop, the stock index had just stabilized and began to fall sharply. The trading hall was filled with anxious stock investors. Looking at the falling stock index, everyone was worried.

During the lunch break, a large number of investors were still stranded in the trading hall and talking; "I heard that the financial crisis in European countries is turning into an economic crisis, a global economic crisis is on the verge of an outbreak, and our Qing Dynasty is also doomed this time."

"Is it so evil? There is no economic crisis in England..."

"There hasn't been an economic crisis in England, but it has a financial crisis. Didn't America and Germany all start with a financial crisis first and then an economic crisis?"

"Even if a world economic crisis breaks out, it may not affect our Qing Dynasty. Western countries have also experienced several economic crises in recent years. When did the Qing Dynasty happen?"

"There was no economic crisis before, because the degree of industrialization of the Qing Dynasty was not high. Now the industrialization of the Qing Dynasty is second only to Britain and the United States, comparable to France and Germany. It is also... It is said that the five-year plan and a significant increase in wages and benefits are the main purpose of dealing with the upcoming economic crisis."

"No way? Our Qing Dynasty will also have an economic crisis?"

"This is really fresh. Why can't our Qing Dynasty break out of an economic crisis? Which industrial power in this world has not had an economic crisis? Why is our Qing Dynasty an exception?"

"That may not be true. Most of the economic crises are caused by financial crises. If there is Yuanqi in the Qing Dynasty, can there be a financial crisis? When did this stock market fall sharply? Didn't Yuanqi take action to save the market pallet?"

"This time and another time. Yuanqi is very rich, but the 15th Five-Year Plan I implemented cost 400 million yuan and exchanged 400 million silver dollars of gold with the United States. Now the gold in America has not arrived yet. It can be said that Yuanqi is now at the most empty time. Rescue the market? Pallet? Stop dreaming!"

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but look at each other. This analysis is indeed reasonable. The Qing Dynasty can now be said to be among the industrial powers. It is normal for an economic crisis to break out. The 15th Plan is obviously a bit hasty. This huge salary increase is also somewhat abrupt and strange. More importantly, Yuan Qi is indeed the most empty time at this time and it is impossible to save the market!

The panic spread quickly. As soon as the market opened in the afternoon, the stock market experienced a sharp decline. Huo Qizheng could no longer sit still and hurried to Zhennan Prince's Mansion as soon as the market closed.

After carefully recounting the collected rumors, Huo Qizheng said: "Big shopkeeper, if you continue to let go of this situation, it will inevitably lead to a sudden spill and out of control."

Yi Zhizu didn't say anything, lit a cigarette and took a few sips before looking at Zhao Liewen, "What does Huifu think?"

"Obviously, someone is deliberately spreading and guiding the panic in the stock market." Zhao Liewen said carefully: "There should not be a brokerage bank behind it. If the forecast is good, it should be that European capital is preparing to enter the market."

"They really have a good grasp of the opportunity." Yi Zhizu said coldly: "If Yuan Qi dares to take action to save the market pallet, they will inevitably spread rumors. Yuan Qi issuing paper money indiscriminately, which will trigger a greater crisis."

After listening to the conversation between the two, Huo Qizheng felt a chill behind his back. He really didn't expect that it would be European capital to enter the market, and he didn't expect that it would be tied up one after another. If there were rumors that Yuan Qi would issue paper money indiscriminately, it would inevitably lead to a large-scale run. Yuan Qi's current situation cannot withstand a large-scale run!

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Liewencai said: "Capital pursuit of profit is nature. Even if European capital is not ulterior motives, it will suppress the stock market to the greatest extent and then enter the market at the lowest price."

After a while of silence, Yi Zhizu said in a deep voice: "Now in Europe, America, or the Americans, are either financial or economic. European capitals are looking for a way out. Our Qing Dynasty is undoubtedly the best choice. It is certain to suppress the stock market, but it will not cause us to collapse."

"In the battle of South Africa, the Qing Dynasty showed its strength. If there is a chance, England will definitely not let it go easily." Zhao Liewen said slowly: "The shopkeeper must not be careless."

"Don't worry." Yi Zhizu said: "I never hand over my own safety to others, let alone my opponent."

After hesitating, Zhao Liewen couldn't help asking: "Now everyone in the government and the government knows that Yuan Qi's funds have been withdrawn, and even the deposit has been shipped to the United States to exchange for gold. If they take action to support the market, the other party will inevitably spread rumors that Yuan Qi will send out banknotes indiscriminately."

"Start by restricting the inflow of funds." Yi said confidently: "On the grounds that our country is about to implement the gold standard, we will limit the inflow of silver and restrict the exchange of silver for Huayuan. On the grounds of the British Geely financial crisis, the inflow of pounds will be controlled within a certain amount, but the inflow and exchange of gold will not be restricted."

"It's really impossible to defeat the shopkeeper, and this method is quite impressive." Zhao Liewen smiled and said, "With such restrictions, the funds that can be inflowed will inevitably be extremely limited, but in this way, a large amount of European capital will inevitably be blocked."

"In addition, when our funds are recovered, this restriction can be appropriately relaxed, and the initiative is completely in our hands." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "In addition, capital has always been a double-edged sword. We need to attract a large amount of foreign capital, but we must also control the inflow of foreign capital. It is because the United States has absorbed too much foreign capital, so that the home and guest are transferred, and we must learn from it."

Huo Qizheng couldn't help but say: "Restricting foreign capital inflows will not stabilize the stock market..."

"Do not absorb funds slowly in my private account, don't be too obvious." Yi Zhizu said: "In addition, I wrote an article by a commentator in the Securities Journal. Although the Qing Dynasty promoted constitutionalism and developed industry, the economic system was somewhat different from that of Western countries. It was not a free competition economic system, but an economic system dominated by monopoly. There was no disorderly competition, which was enough to avoid the occurrence of economic crises to the greatest extent.

The United States and Germany have experienced severe economic crises one after another. The heavy industry, mainly steel, railways, military industry and other fields, has little impact on our country and will not cause our country's economic crisis. With the implementation of the five-year plan, our country's heavy industry will usher in a stage of rapid development. Even if an economic crisis breaks out, it will definitely not happen now, at least ten or eight years later."

As he said that, he looked at Zhao Liewen, "Let the major newspapers argue about this comment, the focus is on the economic system, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of monopoly and free competition. In addition, let them understand the industrial development of Germany. As early as more than ten years ago, the monopoly organization - cartels, began to appear in Germany."

"Cartel?" Zhao Liewen asked afterwards. He really didn't know what kind of monopoly organization the cartel was. It was the first time he heard about it.

Yi Zhizu said: "Cartell refers to large enterprises that produce similar products sign agreements on product prices, markets, production scales, etc., so as to form a monopoly on a certain product. The bicycle factories in Guangzhou and Shanghai actually belong to the cartels."

After pondering for a while, Zhao Liewen asked again: "What is Yuanqi's monopoly?"

What is Yuanqi's monopoly? Yuanqi does not belong to cartels, nor does it belong to syndicates or trusts. Strictly speaking, Yuanqi belongs to the state monopoly, which belongs to a higher level of monopoly. Yi Zhizu glanced at him and said, "Let them judge this question."

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Liewencai said: "The big shopkeeper is related to the economic system of the Qing Dynasty. It seems a bit inappropriate for the commentator of the Securities News to write an article. Why not let Xingzhi write an article?"

"Okay." Yi Zhizu nodded with a smile, "It's time for Xingzhi to make a name for himself. Call the newspapers of the Southeast provinces and leave a place on the front page..."

"Big shopkeeper." Huo Qizheng hurriedly said: "Can you postpone the article for a few days? Once this article is published, the stock market will inevitably rise sharply, and foreign funds will inevitably hesitate whether to enter the market."

Yi Zhizu smiled and said, "Okay, give them more day."

British Consulate in Shanghai.

Consul Mai Huatuo put down the phone and looked at James Northcott and said, "There is bad news..."

Northcott said with joy: "Did Yuanqi take a pallet to rescue the market?"

"No." Mai Huatuo said: "Yuanqi prohibited the inflow and exchange of silver for Huayuan on the grounds that the gold standard is about to be implemented. At the same time, it also restricted the inflow and exchange of pounds on the grounds that the financial crisis in my country has broken out, and only allowed 2 million pounds to flow and exchange of Huayuan every day."

Northcott gasped, "What a keen insight! What a quick reaction!"

Mai Huatuo glanced at him and said, "You have been preparing for two months, so why don't you exchange Huayuan without redeeming it?"

"Not much, I exchanged 20 million yuan one after another." Northcott said: "Because I was worried that Yuanqi had never dared to exchange it in large quantities." After a pause, he asked: "Where is gold? Is there any limit to gold?"

Mai Huatuo said: "There is no limit on the inflow and exchange of gold, and there is no reason to limit it."

After pondering for a while, Northcott got up and picked up the phone, "Responding to HSBC."

After hearing his orders to exchange 2 million pounds of Huayuan immediately and exchange gold for Huayuan to the greatest extent. Mai Huatuo couldn't help but feel shocked. When he put down the phone, he said, "Please enter the market today?"

"Since the other party has noticed it, it must enter the market quickly without hesitation." Northcott said: "I plan to imitate Yuanqi's pallet rescue method to enter the market, and how to spread the news again, Yuanqi issuing banknotes indiscriminately."

"I don't agree." Mai Huatuo said quickly: "I don't want your recklessness to deteriorate relations between Britain and Qing dynasties. In Shanghai, there is nothing that Yuan Qi can't find out. No matter who you spread this rumor, Yuan Qi can track it down in the shortest time.

Whether it is for the interests of the empire in the Far East or for the security of your funds, I hope you will give up this not-so-savvy idea.”

Northcott said in disbelief: "Yuan Qi is so powerful?"

"Beyond your imagination."

After a while of silence, Northcott spoke: "I still want to try it. This is a rare opportunity after all."

Mai Huatuo said bluntly: "As long as I hear the rumors, I will take the initiative to report to Yuan Qi."

When he stared at him, Northcott smiled bitterly and said, "Okay, you won. I will enter slowly and not spread rumors."

Yishizu's private funds are already huge, and Northcott's capital scale is as high as 40 million. Both funds entered the market at the same time, mainly to absorb funds. After the stock market opened, the stock index quickly fell and began to rebound slowly. This was the case all day, and at the close, the stock index was already red.

The next morning, the major newspapers of the Southeast provinces and the Securities News published an article on the front page titled "Will the Qing Dynasty break out in economic crisis?".

It was the time for the United States, Germany had an economic crisis and the domestic stock market suffered a sharp drop again. The government and the public were already very concerned about the economic crisis. This title alone was enough to attract the attention of countless people.

This article clearly pointed out for the first time that the economic system of the Qing Dynasty belonged to a monopoly capitalist system, and adopted an economic system that combines planned economy and market economy, which was very different from the free competition capitalist system implemented by Western countries.

The article points out that the many factories and mining enterprises in the Qing Dynasty have selected locations, raw material supply, product prices, sales markets, production scale, etc., under the guidance of Yuanqi's plan, which is very different from the free competition model. There is no blind expansion of production scale, nor is there disorderly competition, which will avoid the crisis of overproduction to the greatest extent.

The article finally pointed out that with the continuous increase in the degree of industrialization, the continuous development of productivity, and the significant increase in production efficiency, it is also difficult for the Qing Dynasty to prevent economic crises. However, at this stage of rapid development of industry in the Qing Dynasty, it is impossible for the Qing Dynasty to experience an economic crisis! At least it must wait until the next economic crisis cycle, that is, ten or eight years later.
Chapter completed!