The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 570 Currency War, Soul Brother (Request for subscription, request for votes)
Early morning of November 1856, 11, outside Paris.

The oak door of the Rothschild Manor slowly opened in the cold wind, and Feng Yunshan's four-wheeled carriage rolled over the gravel road. Through the gap in the curtain, Wu Chongyao caught a glimpse of the gilded six-pointed star logo on the spire of the main building, and his fingers unconsciously stroked the Heavenly Kingdom silver dollar in his sleeve - the sample coin that had just been pressed out of the Paris Mint last night had a lifelike portrait of Hong Xiuquan on it.

"Your Highness Prince Nan, what the Austrians want is prophecy, while what the Rothschild family wants is finance. They want to manage money for the whole world!" Wang Libin lowered his voice and stuffed a stack of "Xuzhou Nitric Acid Factory Agreement" sealed with wax into his briefcase - this was a project that Wang Yan had just negotiated with the French. That Prince Napoleon was really an old friend of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!

"Managing money for the whole world?" Feng Yunshan snorted coldly, "These Jews are really evil-minded! Do they have the ability to do that?"

"Your Highness, King Nan, don't underestimate these Jewish bankers!" Wang Libin sighed, "They have long controlled the lifeline of Britain with gold and silver. Do you think they have the strength?"

"What?" Feng Yunshan was incredulous. "The lifeblood of Britain can be controlled by a group of profiteers who lend money at high interest rates?"

Wang Libin glanced at Wu Chongyao, who was sitting opposite him. He had just arrived in Paris a week ago. As the central bank governor of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, he came to Europe to discuss cooperation with the bankers here. Before he came to Europe, Luo Yaoguo had given him a special financial course. As the owner of Jardine Matheson, he was an expert in finance. Of course, he understood everything immediately and immediately knew how important the business of "managing money for others" was in capitalist society.

Because this “money” is capital! Managing money is managing capital! In a capitalist society, is there anything more important than managing capital?
"Your Highness, they are not just a group of profiteers who lend money at high interest rates," Wu Chongyao smiled bitterly while stroking his beard, "They are profiteers who can extend their hands and feet to all aspects and make everyone inseparable from them. Let's not talk about anything else. The 'prophecy deal' that I reached with the Russians last year was made with gold rubles through the Vienna Bank controlled by the Rothschild family! Eight million (actually ten million) gold rubles flowed from Russia to our secret account in the Vienna Bank, and then part of it was distributed to two cardinals! You say, if the bank slip was placed in front of the desks of Napoleon III and Queen Victoria."

Feng Yunshan's face suddenly turned ugly: "Why must we go through the Vienna Bank? Can't we go through our own HSBC or Zhenyue Bank?"

"No!" Wu Chongyao waved his hands. "First, HSBC and Real Bank have not entered Europe yet! Second, even if HSBC and Real Bank set up branches in Europe, they are still within their interbank settlement system. As long as they want to do it, there will still be a settlement slip for 8 million gold rubles. This amount of money is so large that it is impossible to use cash, and it can only be transferred in the banking system, which will leave traces. We can't find these traces, and the British and French governments may not be able to find them either. But if the Rothschild family wants to check, they will find it for sure!

What's more, the Rothschild family has leverage over us all. How could the leading figures in Britain, France, Prussia, and Austria not have leverage over us? Europe has been in turmoil in recent years. Those people must have deposited some money in foreign countries to leave a way out? In this case, how could the Rothschilds who manage their money not be prominent? If we must consider the actual power, the Rothschilds are probably even higher than the Habsburgs!"

Feng Yunshan frowned deeply: "Do we have to cooperate with Rothschild?"

Wu Chongyao nodded, put a hand into his sleeve pocket, and stroked an enamel tobacco box with the "European Union" pattern - although Luo Yaoguo did not have the ability to "curse" the Rothschilds, he had the "prophecy" to control them. At least for now, the two sides can still cooperate.

When the carriage stopped in front of the steps, Archbishop Doria was already waiting in the corridor wearing a red robe.

Under the bronze chandelier in the conference room of Rothschild Manor, Anselm Rothschild's fingers tapped on the teak tabletop, and every crisp sound was like nailing the coffin of the silver dollar in heaven. "Silver?" He suddenly sneered and pushed over a yellowed "London Gold and Silver Price Fluctuation Chart". "From the Napoleonic Wars to now, the price of silver has fallen by 40%. Your country is going to use this pile of molten stones to fight against the gold of the British Empire?"

The first topic of today's meeting is the silver coins of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!

Although the price of silver has been falling over the past forty years due to increasing production, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had too little gold reserves and silver had been circulated as the main currency in China for too long, making it impossible to switch to the gold standard all at once.

In the view of Luo Yaoguo, who traveled from an era when China could earn a large surplus every year and all countries were using unanchored paper money, maintaining the silver standard was actually in the interests of the "Industrialized Heavenly Kingdom" - in the process of industrialization in the Heavenly Kingdom, maintaining the silver standard allowed the Heavenly Kingdom to purchase machinery, equipment, and technology at a relatively low price. After the industrialization of the Heavenly Kingdom was achieved, the global annual production of several thousand tons of silver was only 100 million or 200 million taels. If the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom became the world's factory, would it be afraid that it would not be able to handle it?

Silver is more valuable than unanchored paper money, right? If the Kingdom of Heaven were to switch to the gold standard, how much gold would be available in the international market to pay for it?
However, Wu Chongyao, who lived in the 19th century, could not imagine Luo Yaoguo's plan.

The future governor of the Heavenly Kingdom's central bank broke out in cold sweat on his palms, but a smooth smile typical of a Guangdong comprador appeared on his face: "But the trading volume of silver futures on the London Stock Exchange increased several times last year." He pulled out a roll of silk from his suitcase, and unfolded it to reveal a "Silver Circulation Map in the Yangtze River Basin" embroidered with silver thread. "From Hankou to Songjiang, all Chinese money houses only recognize silver ingots. If Mr. Rothschild is willing to let the Heavenly Kingdom silver dollar be linked to the export of raw silk and tea from Jiangnan," the "raw silk silver" and "tea silver" appear to be intended to support the silver price, similar to the "petrodollar", but in fact it is to maintain the international competitiveness of Chinese silk and tea.

After all, silver is easy to get, but gold is precious!
In particular, the silver production of the United States and Mexico increased sharply after the 1870s, so that Chinese products paid for with silver could enter the US market more easily.
"And let our bank hedge your risk?" Anselm's glasses flashed a cold light. "What are the conditions?"

"Prophecy transaction!"

Feng Yunshan, who had just been sitting quietly listening to Wu Chaoyue's translation since the start of the talks, suddenly interrupted in English. He then gave Wu Chaoyue a look, and Wu Chaoyue continued his words in English: "You, the Rothschild family, have made a lot of money from the predictions about the war against Russia, right? If you support 'silver for raw silk' and 'silver for tea', the Rothschild family can set up an office in Tianjing, and members of your family can serve as special advisers to our Prime Minister!"

Anselm von Rothschild exchanged glances with the Austrian Foreign Minister beside him: "I want a seat on the board of directors of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Central Bank, plus the right to supervise the mint. We must ensure that every silver dollar of the Heavenly Kingdom is of high quality! In addition, we cannot guarantee the exchange rate between silver dollars and pounds. That can only be determined by the market!"

It is determined by the market. Basically, it can be seen as determined by the Rothschild family!
"Where is the market?" Feng Yunshan asked.

"Of course it's London!" Anselm von Rothschild said, "It can't be in Shanghai, right?"

"We are preparing to set up the Shanghai Stock Exchange. We hope that the Rothschild family's bank can get a few trading seats in the Shanghai Stock Exchange." Wu Chongyao held the enamel tobacco box with the "European Union" pattern. "In addition, the Heavenly Kingdom HSBC Bank and the True Covenant Bank hope to set up offices in London, Paris, Vienna, Rome, Berlin, and Amsterdam. They also want to become a member of the European interbank market!"

Anselm von Rothschild smiled slightly: "My friends," he pointed to the Austrian Foreign Minister and Archbishop Doria, "They hope to have the opportunity to study the 'Tablet of the Testament' and the Dead Sea Scrolls in your hands!"

In fact, the Rothschild family has no objection to HSBC and Real Estate Bank entering Europe, as it would be easier to make money from them if they came!

As for trading silver, gold, silk and tea in Shanghai, the Rothschild family had the support of Great Britain, so they were not afraid of anyone cheating! That was why Anselm gave the exchange terms to the Vatican and the Austrian government.

Feng Yunshan pretended to think for a while, then nodded and said, "The Covenant will be handed over to the Queen of England. Before that, the Vatican and the Austrians can study it. As for the Dead Sea Scrolls, we can consider establishing a research institute in Europe to study them."

Archbishop Doria suddenly interrupted in English: "The Holy See hopes that the research center for the Dead Sea Scrolls will be located in Rome. There are crypts of scriptures left over from the 12th century there, which are safe enough."

When Feng Yunshan's carriage drove away, Anselm took off his monocle, revealing a hint of mockery in his pupils: "The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom actually wants to play with finance." He wiped the non-existent dust on the lens, "Prince Albert will definitely be very interested in this news!"

Karl Ferdinand stroked his beautiful mustache and said, "They don't know that the financial field is also a battlefield. Although there is no smoke of gunpowder, it is more deadly and cruel!" He turned his head and glanced at Anselm. "Count, how do you think Prince Albert will deal with these increasingly ambitious Chinese?"

Anselm smiled and said, "It's hard to say. They won't fall out right away, but there will definitely be containment measures! For example, I heard that a new kingdom has appeared on the Korean Peninsula. It was founded by the Eastern King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. He is the spiritual brother of Queen Victoria!"

"Soul brother." The Austrian minister laughed. "I like this word!"

(End of this chapter)