Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 32
Time flies like a shuttle, and the years are like electricity.Eight years of Guangxu have passed in a blink of an eye. In the past year, the economy of the Qing Dynasty has greatly improved.After the ban on privately run factories was lifted, factories all over the world have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.In particular, there are thousands of foreign cloth factories and foreign noodle factories.

Before that, Guan Xuqing was worried that these fledgling national enterprises would not be able to withstand the competition of foreign goods. After all, the Qing Dynasty implemented zero tariffs.Even the tax department was controlled by the British because of the failure of the Opium War.

Therefore, he asked the provincial governors to implement a series of preferential measures such as tax exemption and land acquisition at cheap prices for these ethnic enterprises.It has to be said that the Chinese nation is the most intelligent nation in the world, and it is even more disadvantageous when used in business.Under the circumstance that most people in the society still reject foreign goods, the produced foreign cloth and foreign noodles are placed in those time-honored silk and satin shops and grocery stores for consignment sales.Got an unexpected effect!It is often sold out as soon as it is produced.Those foreign goods that are better than them can't be sold!

Due to the vigorous development of national industry, Guangxu's fiscal revenue in the ninth year reached a terrifying [-] million taels of silver.The gross domestic product (that is, what people call GDP) back then was only behind the United Kingdom and became the second in the world.

Under the premise of continuous development of education, armaments and industry.The national treasury actually had a surplus, Guan Xuqing was in a good mood and specially approved Li Zhen's request for permission to trade the national debt of the Bank of Great Qing.However, there are not many people in banks across the country who sell treasury bonds.But there are still many people who come to buy treasury bonds!
Everything seemed to be going well, but the court still seemed to be shrouded in smoke, because the French finally took action in Annan, and the French expeditionary force occupied Hanoi, Nanding and other places unstoppably all the way.

The imperial court's nerves suddenly tensed up, is it going to war with foreigners again?Many officials in the imperial court had experienced the second Opium War, and now it is the French who broke into the capital and made Emperor Xianfeng dare to run away in Annan.

It was another snowy New Year's Day, and this ancient capital was decorated with vicissitudes and horror.

In the British embassy in Minxiang in the western suburbs, the British ambassador to China, Smith, is slowly tasting a glass of pure Scotch whiskey.The best Scotch whiskey has smoky, fruity, dried fruit flavors, and this is the best black label whiskey in his hand.

Sitting opposite Smith was Lieutenant General Philips, commander of the British Far East Pacific Fleet. He and the ambassador have been old friends for many years and had studied in the same school when they were in the UK.This born sailor is willing to go ashore to taste pure whiskey.

"Old man, I heard that you just came back from Malacca. I had an exchange with General Toure, the commander of the French Far East Army. What do you think of the French war in Vietnam? If the Qing Dynasty joined the war, do you think the French can win? I'm very interested in that."

Philips greedily drank the whiskey in his hand, and couldn't help admiring: "Smith, only you can find such authentic Scotch whiskey here, this time, you have to ask me to bring a few more bottles."

Smith nodded helplessly.

Philips said slowly: "Toure is my old friend. We have stayed on the same boat before. The French navy in the Far East is very powerful. They have the Elegance, and Kerry, Nancy, maybe The two gunboats that Qing got from us can deal with Kerry and Nancy, but definitely not elegant opponents, unless the few gunboats China ordered in Germany can return early, but I don't think the French will let them pass the Mediterranean. As for I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about the other wooden boats of the Qing Dynasty.”

"Even if France gains control of the sea, Vietnam's land will always be occupied by the army. How do you think China's army compares with France's? You know, China just sent troops to North Korea. It took two or three efforts to leave North Korea."

"My old buddy, although the French army has not many troops, and there are more than half of Vietnamese and Algerians. But what about the army of the Qing Dynasty? Can those guys smoking opium fight? I admit that the army of the Qing Dynasty has improved in recent years. It is true that they are equipped with our advanced weapons, but their country is too big. Their little emperor, in order to save money, has abolished half of the army. They have to defend Russia in the north, the east, and even Xinjiang in their own land , and a bit of rebellion from time to time. The southeast coast has to defend against the landing of the French fleet, which has gained command of the sea. Do you think they can defend it? Also, do they have the guts to declare war on the French? Not long ago, the French just joined us broke into their capital."

Smith smiled, and Philips basically agreed with him.Although France does not invest much in the army, its powerful navy can guarantee victory in the war.Isn't the Opium War the best proof!
In the Forbidden City, snowflakes were still falling from the sky unscrupulously.It was another winter, and the announcements from various ministries were piled up on the tables of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Li Zhen was standing in front of Guan Xuqing, an upright and upright official who controlled the household department.Although it can be guaranteed that there will be no embezzlement and embezzlement, Guan Xuqing can't stand the rigidity and inflexibility of things.

"Your Majesty, the treasury of the Qing Dynasty is full now. But the people are still buying our national debts. In the long run, all the tax money from the Qing Dynasty will be given to them as interest. Please also stop the sale of national debts." Li Zhen said.

Guan Xuqing looked at Li Zhen, the minister of Gu Hong who was in charge of the money and grain of the Qing Dynasty.There was a little disappointment in his eyes, Guan Xuqing studied finance in his previous life.I still have a good understanding of the operation of the bank, facing this completely layman president of the Bank of Great Qing.Finally couldn't help cursing.

"Li Zhen, I promoted you exceptionally. Is this how you came to serve me and the country?"

Li Zhen immediately knelt on the ground, not daring to vent his breath.He hurriedly said: "The slave is guilty, the slave is guilty."

Guan Xuqing looked at Li Zhen who was trembling all over, his heart softened, and he stopped scolding.Supporting Li Zhen with one hand, he said: "The French are making trouble in the south, and now the court is not united. Some say they want to fight, and some say they don't want to fight. If they fight, our Qing Dynasty will have to spend a lot of money on military expenses." .If you don’t fight, you will still need a lot of money just to defend against the French. The economy in the southeast has just started, and the education in the west has just started. How can there be no need for money?”

"They are all incompetent slaves, unable to share the emperor's worries." Li Zhen said with a mournful face.

Guan Xuqing said to Li Zhen: "Well, what you said is also reasonable. How about this, the national debt is sold in a fixed amount, and if no one sells it, you can't buy it again. There is only so much, and if it is gone, it is gone. The court does not bully the people. No It is said that there will be no tomorrow, and the national debt must be retained, but it cannot be issued endlessly. Second, the Bank of Great Qing established four departments of savings, credit, agricultural administration, and industry and commerce. Savings are responsible for absorbing private funds, and the annual interest is fixed. At 1. 500 taels of silver are given [-] taels of interest a year. The Credit Department is mainly responsible for providing small personal loans. The Agricultural Affairs Department provides large loans to develop agriculture. Don’t let the land go uncultivated. The development of agriculture is also beneficial to the people. The Department of Industry and Commerce is responsible for large industrial and commercial loans to support some local enterprises in the Qing Dynasty. The reserve ratio of the Bank of Qing Dynasty should be set at [-]%. "

Li Zhen was stunned for a while, and didn't understand many things.He asked embarrassingly, "Your Majesty, it would be foolish to ask you to redeem a slave. What is the reserve ratio? What is the standard for various loans? If I don't return it, how should I deal with it?"

"If we say that I have 1000 million taels of deposits in various places this year, then leave 9000% or [-] million taels as a reserve. I am always ready for the people to withdraw. The remaining [-] million taels can be released as loans. All loan reviews Rigorous and complete procedures are required. Large loans such as agriculture, industry and commerce require land and enterprise mortgages. If not repaid, the land and the enterprise will be acquired. Then auction for silver. Do you understand?" Guan Xuqing explained one by one helplessly.

"Your majesty is indeed a man of gods. God blesses me. I, Li Zhen, am so capable that I hold an important position. The emperor is behind my back. Li Zhen is ashamed!" Li Zhen knelt on the ground again, Said with snot and tears.

From Guan Xuqing's point of view, this is still very primitive, but it can only go so far for the time being, although now in order to win the war between China and France, everything else is stable.But in Guan Xuqing's heart, the financial and fiscal reforms of the Qing Dynasty must be carried out.Providing low-interest agricultural and industrial and commercial loans is also a matter of benefiting the people.After all, such a big country, so much wasteland.It is a pity to live in wasteland. The Chinese have always had the habit of saving money. They use the money to cultivate wasteland, and turn half of the money to the state, and sell the other half to repay the loan.But these things have to be done by someone, and now I realize the importance of talents.Looking at Li Zhen kneeling in front of him, it really is.

"Stop crying here, go back and do some errands." Guan Xuqing waved his hands helplessly.

(End of this chapter)