Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 198 Railway Prices and the Devaluation of Silver

As for the cost of land acquisition or demolition, compared with the cost of building railways, it is not worth mentioning.

Although our Tang Dynasty is developing industrialization, for the time being, it is still a feudal country with supreme imperial power.

Under the iron fist of feudal rulers, does land expropriation still require costs?

Nonsense, of course it is necessary!

Expropriating land without paying is blatant robbery. Only the Qing Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty did such shameless things as enclosing land and occupying houses, and they were all done in the early days of the country.

Once the ruling order is stabilized, such a thing will be almost impossible to happen.

Anyone who has done this in any dynasty has always been criticized.

Compared with the consequences of losing people's hearts and minds, the costs saved by land acquisition are not worth it at all.

The money for land acquisition must be paid.

Of course, it’s also true that not too many.

As for demolition, the cost must be controllable.

Although there are some things that the imperial court is not convenient to do, they can be outsourced, right?
Upon hearing this, Niu Zhenbang began to explain.

"Your Majesty, according to my calculations, if the Tang Dynasty wants to build one kilometer of railway, including the cost of rails, sleepers, land acquisition, demolition and other costs, the price quoted is about 7,600 silver dollars."

Hearing this, Li Yi couldn't help but gasp.

Damn, he knew the cost would be high, but he didn't expect it to be this high.

However, although it seems that the cost of building railways in the Tang Dynasty is very high.

But compared with the Qing Dynasty's offer of 7 million taels of silver for 200 kilometers when building the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, the Tang Dynasty's offer for the railway was really reasonable.

The reason for this is that in addition to building railways, the Qing Dynasty needed to purchase machinery, equipment and corresponding technologies from abroad.

Even the rails and steam locomotives had to be purchased from outside.

And the inevitable corruption problem leads to rising costs.

The main reason is actually the depreciation of silver!
In this era, the gold-silver exchange rate in China is about one to ten.

Historically, it was not until the 1870s.

Due to the depreciation of silver caused by the defeat in the two Opium Wars, the large amount of indemnity paid by the Qing government, the Taiping Rebellion, and the discovery of a large number of silver mines around the world, China's gold-silver price ratio reached about 1 to 16.

By the beginning of the 1th century, the gold-silver price ratio had depreciated so dramatically that it reached 33:.

In just half a century, silver depreciated more than three times.

The Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway was built in the early 1th century. At that time, the gold-silver exchange rate was almost 30 to , and the price of silver fell sharply.

That’s why the cost seems so exaggerated.

But now that the Tang Dynasty wants to build a railway, the technology and equipment are almost all self-made, so there is no need to be cheated by the foreigners. In addition, the current administration of the Tang Dynasty is relatively clean.

Let’s eliminate the impact of the depreciation of silver.

The price is actually reasonable.

If the Tang Dynasty did not currently lack a large-scale iron smelting plant to provide low-cost rails.

and a lack of experience and workers to build railways.

Otherwise, the price can actually be lowered a lot more!
Li Yi nodded and said.

"I know."

After he returned to Guangzhou this time, he planned to call a meeting to discuss the construction of the railway.

Although the Tang Dynasty still has to focus its main energy on military affairs, that is, the war to unify the country.

However, this did not prevent Li Yi from launching a railway construction project to train Datang's construction capabilities and corresponding technologies.

This laid the foundation for large-scale railway construction after the Tang Dynasty unified the country in the future.

It’s definitely a good idea to plan ahead.

……

Guangzhou, French Consulate!

At present, the Tang Dynasty has not formally established diplomatic relations with European countries.

But without exception, all European countries, including the United States, the dominant power in North America, established consulates or trading houses in Guangzhou.

Used to handle many matters concerning business and life of merchants and expatriates from various countries in the Tang Dynasty.

On this day, French Minister Bourboulon was drinking French red wine while tasting the delicious French specialty, snails baked in red wine.

The smooth snail meat, accompanied by the aroma of red wine, made Bulblom squint his eyes.

Just at this moment, there was a knock on the door.

A consul named Russell came in to report.

"Your Excellency, there is the latest news from Europe that concerns all of us."

Bulblom picked up a silk handkerchief, wiped the corners of his mouth gracefully, asked Russell to sit down, and then asked slowly.

"Well, what's the matter?"

When asking this question, Bulblom seemed very calm.

During the time he served as French ambassador to China, he took advantage of the Tang Dynasty's full opening up to the outside world in Guangzhou and took over the share left by British merchants after they were expelled from the Tang Dynasty.

France's total trade volume with China doubled or tripled within a year.

With such merits, no matter what changes happen in the local area, even if he is transferred, he will most likely be promoted.

So he was very calm!

Russell sat down in front of Bulbron and said with a serious expression.

"In reply to the Minister, there is news from the mainland that London has made a decision after receiving the news that Hong Kong was recovered by the Tang Kingdom and that the British Minister Sir Wenham was executed by the Tang Kingdom."

"We are preparing to launch an expedition against the Tang Kingdom to carry out military punishment."

Upon hearing this, Bulbulon nodded slightly and did not find it strange.

You have to know that Britain is now the world hegemon, the famous British Empire, and everyone from top to bottom is more obsessed with face than the Qing Dynasty.

It is absolutely impossible to swallow silence when faced with the murder of one's own minister.

Otherwise, where is the face of the British Empire?

Sending troops on a long expedition to impose military punishment on the Tang Dynasty was almost an inevitable choice for Britain.

However, the consul's next words made Bulblom uneasy.

"However, Britain does not intend to launch an expedition against the Tang Kingdom alone this time, but is preparing to organize a coalition to jointly expedition."

"And extend an invitation to Paris."

"His Majesty the Emperor has accepted London's invitation, considering that France needs to maintain friendly relations with Britain in the near future."

"We have decided to send a certain amount of troops to assist Britain in its expedition to Tang!"

Bulbron took a deep breath and said with a serious expression.

"Your Majesty is going to declare war on the Tang Kingdom?"

"Don't the gentlemen in Paris know how much the trade volume between France and Tang has increased in just over a year?"

"You know, these interests originally belonged to the UK."

"Once Britain makes progress in its war against the Tang Dynasty, these interests will be regained by Britain."

"Why should we help Britain and snatch our interests from our own pockets?!"

Bourboulen really doesn't understand Paris's operations.

What the hell are you doing here?!
Russell said solemnly after hearing this.

"Your Excellency, I think what Paris is considering more is to remove the threats and restrictions imposed by the Holy Alliance on France."

Why did France add fuel to the fire in Crimea and why did it follow Britain in the expedition to the East? To put it bluntly, it was all to please Britain and break up the Holy Alliance.

The Holy Alliance was actually an anti-French alliance.

In order to break up the anti-French alliance, France could make concessions to Britain in other areas.

As it turned out, Napoleon III's decision was quite effective.

Historically, after the Crimean War, the anti-French alliance existed in name only.

Since the Napoleonic era, the anti-French alliance, a yoke on France's neck, was removed by Napoleon III through political and diplomatic means. Bourboulon heard this and asked.

"Besides us, France, which other countries are involved?"

Upon hearing this, Russell began to report what he had learned.

"According to the news sent from Paris, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, the Kingdom of Sardinia, Austria, Prussia and other countries have clearly stated that they will send troops to participate in organizing the coalition."

"In addition, London has also extended an invitation to Washington, but the news from Washington has not yet been transmitted back to Europe."

Bulbrunn fell into deep thought after hearing this. Most of Europe participated in this so-called coalition expedition.

The Tang Kingdom is probably doomed now!

Russell on the side saw this and spoke up.

"Your Excellency, I think we should make preparations early."

"Otherwise, once the news comes that France and Britain are preparing to launch a joint expedition to the Tang Kingdom, according to the Tang King's style of doing things, I'm afraid that everyone in the consulate will be imprisoned or even brutally killed."

"Since the King of Tang dared to kill the British envoy, he will most likely kill us too!"

Upon hearing this, Bulbulon agreed deeply with it.

Damn, that’s right!

The Tang Dynasty really does not take officials and nobles seriously.

Not to mention these foreign officials, the Tang Dynasty could kill even its own officials and nobles at will.

Taking a deep breath, Bulblom forced himself to calm down and then spoke.

"We have to prepare early!"

"However, I still want to know when the coalition forces will be able to arrive in the Far East?"

Russell said, shaking his head.

"Your Excellency, I don't know anything about this either."

"As far as I know, European countries are now gathering troops, preparing military supplies, and sending orders to ports along the way, asking them to prepare the food and logistics needed by the coalition forces in advance."

"After all these preparations are completed, it will take at least a year for the army to arrive in the Far East, including the time required for the journey."

Bulblom said with a sigh.

"In a year..."

"It seems I have to leave Guangzhou for a while."

"Tell everyone to prepare. We are going to Shanghai to take shelter!"

"Once the coalition expedition is over, it won't be too late for us to return as victors."

Bulbulon planned to go to Shanghai to avoid the limelight.

Since he could no longer stay in the Tang Dynasty, his best option was to go to the Qing Dynasty for a while.

Anyway, Paris appointed him as the minister to China. The Tang Dynasty is China, the Qing Dynasty is China, and even the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is China. He can go anywhere.

Russell nodded immediately.

"Your Excellency is wise. I will order people to prepare it right away!"

……

As time passed, the end of the first year of Zhaowu was getting closer.

The city of Guangzhou began to be decorated with lights and the festive atmosphere became increasingly intense.

After the New Year, the atmosphere of war in the Tang Dynasty began to become intense again.

While preparing military supplies and fodder in terms of logistics and making preparations for the army's expedition, Li Yi summoned the generals of the Tang army to begin a meeting.

A huge map was hung up, on which the deployment of troops of both sides was clearly marked.

After everyone arrived, Li Yi stood in front of the map, pointed at it with his finger, and spoke.

"In the next year, the Tang Dynasty will use its troops in two main directions."

"One is Jiangxi, the other is Guangxi!"

"As for Jiangxi, our Tang Dynasty will join forces with the Taiping Army to attack from the east and west, and seize the small part of Hubei south of the Yangtze River, as well as the entire Jiangxi Province."

"As for Guangxi, our army fought independently and recovered the entire territory of Guangxi."

"Generals, who is willing to take on this important task?"

As soon as Li Yi finished speaking, all the generals of the Tang army requested to fight.

"Your Majesty, I invite you to fight!"

"I am willing to lead the army to kill the bandits. I hope Your Majesty will grant me permission."

"..."

Everyone was talking and asking for a fight, and the atmosphere was very lively.

The Tang army is now in the invincible stage in the early days of the country, and everyone in the army is happy to hear about war.

Li Yi nodded slightly, and then quickly made arrangements.

"Order to transfer our Second Infantry Division, Sixth Infantry Division, Eighth Infantry Division, First Cavalry Regiment, First and Second Artillery Regiments to form the First Army Group, with Zhao Xiang as the commander and Bai Yuanqin as the chief of staff."

"Take charge of the war in Jiangxi!"

"The army set out from Yuezhou, went down the river to the east, captured Wuchang, Hanyang and other places, and went straight to Jiujiang to attack Jiangxi."

"Order to transfer our Third Infantry Division, Seventh Infantry Division, Ninth Infantry Division, Second Cavalry Regiment, Third and Fourth Artillery Regiments to form the Second Army Group. Wang An will serve as the commander and Luo Dagang will serve as the chief of staff."

"Take charge of the war in Guangxi!"

"Strive to recover the entire Guangxi region as soon as possible!"

Including the Imperial Guard Division and the troops led by Yang Fuqing who had just surrendered, the Tang Dynasty now had a total of ten reorganized divisions.

This time, Li Yi sent out six at once.

Among the remaining four divisions, the Imperial Guard Division was Li Yi's imperial guard unit, stationed in Guangzhou to defend the royal capital.

Except for the Imperial Guard Division, one of the remaining three divisions was placed by Li Yi in Hunan to suppress the situation in Hunan.

One was sent by Li Yi to Chaozhou to be vigilant of any unusual movements of the Qing army in Fujian.

The last one was stationed in the Pearl River Delta, responsible for the security of the Pearl River Delta, the heartland of the Tang Dynasty.

They can't be easily transferred!

In other words, this time, almost all of the Tang Dynasty's mobile forces were mobilized.

This shows how much importance Li Yi attaches to the upcoming battles in Jiangxi and Guangxi.

As soon as Li Yi finished speaking, all the generals clasped their fists in acceptance of his orders, then took their leave to prepare for the war.

After finishing the military meeting, Li Yi returned to the backyard of the palace, ready to play with his son for a while.

However, Li Yi had just arrived at the backyard and had just picked up his son and played with him for a few minutes when Li Liang came hurriedly to report.

"Your Majesty, I have something important to report."

Li Yi had no choice but to hand the child back to Luo Caiyu. With Luo Caiyu's slightly resentful look in her eyes, she took Li Liang to the study to talk.

As soon as the two of them sat down, Li Yi asked.

"Tell me, what happened again?"

Li Liang took a deep breath and said with a slightly serious expression.

"In reply to your Majesty, the Military Intelligence Department has sent back news through spies in the consulates or trading houses of France, the United States, the Netherlands, Spain and other countries."

"The ministers, consuls, and business representatives of these countries seem to have received some news and are preparing to leave Guangzhou almost at the same time..."

"I think this matter is unusual, so I come to report it!"

When Li Yi heard this, the expression on his face changed slightly.

If only one or two of them are preparing to leave Guangzhou, it may be a normal job transfer and nothing surprising.

But now so many people are preparing to leave Guangzhou almost at the same time.

This is definitely not normal!

(End of this chapter)