Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 782 Great Era, Great Change

After entering Beijing, Nicholas II was deeply impressed.There are no large factories in the Beijing area, only some light industrial factories.This is because Beijing is the capital of the Chinese Empire and the political core. Considering industrial pollution, there is no heavy industry in the Beijing area, but some light industrial factories for people's livelihood, which mainly provide the capital with food, clothing, housing and transportation.Because of this, the city of Beijing has been expanded three times in a row, and people all over the country like to settle at the feet of the Son of Heaven.That is their glory.At the same time, the experience of the past dynasties tells them that there is the most secure and most able to feel the emperor's grace.Therefore, after the Chinese people became rich, many wealthy people moved to Beijing one after another. As a result, Beijing's population exceeded 500 million within a decade and became the world's leading super metropolis.

In this city with an explosive population, Nicholas II deeply felt the huge population of China. With such a huge population, the industrial capacity has reached the forefront of the world, so the strength of this country is immeasurable, and the potential for war is even greater. Powerful as hell, judging from the Chinese equipment obtained by the Soviet military, Chinese weapons are also world-leading in quality.Don't underestimate China's 200 million troops. There are 200 million people supporting [-] million troops. They can undoubtedly be armed to the teeth.

Recalling what he had seen and heard along the way, Nicholas II could no longer despise this country as before, but instead felt infinite reverence.but.Having lost his dominance in the country, he is now in political asylum in China, but he feels unspeakably uncomfortable.

In the newly renovated corridor of the Summer Palace, the emperor of the Chinese Empire and the former Russian Tsar Nicholas II visited the beautiful scenery together.The promenade starts from the Yaoyue Gate in the east and ends at Shizhang Pavilion in the west, with a total of 270 rooms and a total length of 720 meters. It is the longest corridor in the imperial garden.In the middle of the promenade, there are four octagonal pavilions with double eaves, Liujia, Jilan, Qiushui and Qingyao. In one breath.

Guan Xuqing and Nicholas II had reached the westernmost Shizhang Pavilion at this time, and the 700-meter long corridor had been completed. Every beam on the corridor was painted. There were tens of thousands of pictures in total, including landscapes , flowers, birds, fish and insects, character allusions, etc.The figure paintings in the painting are all based on Chinese classics, which left a deep impression on Nicholas II.

According to Guan Xuqing, this promenade was first built in the 15th year of Qianlong, and most of it was burned down by the British and French allied forces during the Opium War. It has just been rebuilt in the past two years.From the words of the Chinese emperor, Nicholas II could hear the implication, that is, China wants to get back all the lost things and take revenge on the countries that have trampled on China's sovereignty.

Looking at the luxurious layout here, Guan Xuqing was not satisfied.Because he knew that although he had prevented many times of catastrophes that should have happened here in history, the Summer Palace today was hundreds of times more luxurious than the Summer Palace in later generations.However, Guan Xuqing still remembered the catastrophe half a century ago. The British and French allied forces looted the Summer Palace and other royal gardens. He still remembers this account to this day!

Nicholas II asked: "What are you thinking about?"

"If I sue Britain and France and ask them to apologize and compensate for their losses, would you agree?" Guan Xuqing suddenly asked a very interesting joke.However, if it is said by ordinary citizens, it is naturally a joke.But if it comes from the mouth of the emperor of China, it is no longer a joke.

Chinese emperors never joked. Nicholas II knew that the other party was not joking, so he immediately laughed and said, "Decades have passed. If Your Majesty mentions this matter to George V, I think he will be very angry." He vomits blood!"

Guan Xuqing also smiled and said, "Pay off your father's debt! I just don't know if he is willing to pay for Queen Victoria?"

Nicholas II replied with a smile: "That depends on whether he is filial to his grandmother!"

Guan Xuqing suddenly snorted strangely, and said: "There is a saying in China, a stick produces a filial son!"

Nicholas II's eyes tightened, and he immediately understood what the other party meant, and immediately sighed: "If you have prepared the big stick, then greet that bastard George for me! At this moment, I believe He will be very good!"

Knowing that Nicholas II still hated George V for refusing to accept his family's political asylum, Guan Xuqing immediately smiled and said, "I hope it's as you said!"

At this time, the two of them were looking at Kunming Lake. Empress Jingfen and Concubine Zhen accompanied Alexandra and her children to go boating on the lake.

Guan Xuqing suddenly said: "Don't you know the living habits of your family in Beijing? If you have any requests, just tell me directly!"

"Thank you for your concern! We live well!" Nicholas II was very grateful to Guan Xuqing for providing them with political asylum, but Nicholas II was not reconciled to losing his right to rule, and immediately said: " It's just that I want to go back to my country more!"

Guan Xuqing smiled and said: "If you need my help, just ask for it! After all, I am also the emperor, and I don't want more state powers without emperors!"

Nicholas II's eyes lit up, and he suddenly asked: "I really hope you can participate in supporting my restoration! If it succeeds, I will reward you generously!"

Guan Xuqing smiled secretly, he had been waiting for your words for a long time, and immediately asked Nicholas II how he wanted China to help him.

Nicholas II said, "If China is willing to send troops to help him, he will bear double the cost of sending troops, and pay a huge amount of gratitude after the matter is completed. Of course, Nicholas II will not send his troops to China. Lao Di confessed it because he didn't trust this old enemy.

Guan Xuqing knew that Nicholas II still had many die-hard supporters in China, and he brought their family to China in order to support an anti-power against the current Soviet Union.This is not a rush job, it needs to be done slowly.However, he will not let go of the remaining more than 600 tons of gold in the Russian treasury, and of course Nicholas II's private secret treasure.

After the reform of the gold standard system in the Soviet Union, although the country's income increased and the economy improved a lot, the gold reserves were still not much, only about [-] tons.But what would happen without these treasury gold reserves?

However, Nicholas II believes that as long as he can obtain China's high-tech weapons and equipment, he will not hesitate to pay the money. He will return to his land at an appropriate time and lead his supporters to launch a restoration war , to completely oust Stalin and the Bolsheviks from power, and he believes that the civil war will not last for a long time, so even if further inflation occurs in the country, it is within the range that the country can bear.After the war, the ruble can be stabilized only by redeeming the gold and supplementing the treasury reserves.

Nicholas II has made up his mind, and the goal he identified is difficult to change. His younger brothers and princes are in danger of being scolded and dismissed from office, trying to persuade Nicholas II not to agree to China's harsh demands. And pointed out that once gold flows into China, how can it be so simple to redeem it?With the shrewdness of the Chinese, is it strange not to extort money after the war?
The persuasion of the two made Nicholas II very upset.But in the end Nicholas II also compromised, only agreeing to hand over one-third of the gold reserves of the treasury to the Imperial Bank of China as a war loan mortgage in exchange for emergency military support from China's major arsenals.

Guan Xuqing gave Nicholas II a promise, and asked the Supreme Command to sign a draft agreement with him. This draft agreement mentioned that the Chinese arsenal will provide value to Nicholas II in the next six months. The military equipment of [-] million dragon coins, for him to take the lead in arming a front army.

Nicholas II was very satisfied, and immediately sent his confidant Rasputin to escort the gold with the cooperation of Chinese agents and transport it to Beijing, the capital of China, along the Siberian Railway.

In early April 1915, Rasputin secretly transported the gold from the treasury to Beijiang Airport at the border between China and Russia, where twelve medium-sized transport planes of the Royal Chinese Air Force were already waiting.Rasputin and his entourage delivered more than 4 boxes of gold bars and 100 tons of gold to the Chinese Air Force, and after being checked by the Chinese Minister of Finance Tang Shaoyi and others, they were sealed and transported back to China secretly by the Imperial Air Force.

In the Upper Study Room of the Forbidden City in Beijing, after Tang Shaoyi, Minister of Finance of the Empire, notified the Emperor of the news that the Russian gold had arrived in Beijing, Guan Xuqing, Tang Shaoyi, Feng Xianghua, Yang Rui, Sheng Xuanhuai and other civil and military ministers were all overjoyed.Gold is the basis of the national currency of the gold standard system. The more the country's gold reserves, the more banknotes circulated in the market, which directly affects the rise of the empire. China's gold reserves are not low, but mining is extremely difficult, resulting in the empire's gold reserves. lag behind countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

As of 1915, the total proven gold reserves in the world were only 2.3 million tons, and the total gold reserves of various countries as national treasuries were about 1.4 million tons, and the rest were living among the people.The vast land area of ​​the Chinese Empire can only produce 40 tons of gold per year, while the United States has an annual output of 70 tons, while South Africa, which is occupied by the British, can produce 130 million tons of gold per year. Australia alone can mine every year With 86 tons of gold produced, it is conceivable that Britain's true strength has grown.

Britain's 200-year gold standard system has allowed Britain to hold [-] tons of gold, but for the Soviets, [-] tons of gold is definitely an astronomical figure.

After so many years of painstaking development, China's current gold reserves have reached more than [-] tons. However, if they want to overthrow the British gold reserves, in addition to large-scale export trade and plundering British gold, if they can cut off the British gold supply in South Africa, It is the foundation of strategy.However, it is clear that Britain regards South Africa as a key point. If any country wants to do that, the British will desperately fight with him.

Therefore, although China is coveting South Africa, it still has no idea of ​​​​taking South Africa. The battle line is too long, which is not conducive to ocean warfare. There is still time to wait.

(End of this chapter)