Let's drag the picture back to Tianfu and the Forbidden City.
In Jingren Hall of the East Palace, Zhu Yunxi was receiving Lian Zining, who had just been promoted to Minister of Works.
Lian Zining was in his early forties, and he had the elegance of a scholar and the ability of a capable minister. At this time, the people chosen by the Ming Dynasty were not those nerds who could only read, let alone those later scholars with evil intentions. Although now in the local officialdom
, there are some flaws in the administration. But most of the officials like Shu are still upright people.
"My lord, please see His Highness Taisun!"
"No need to be polite!" Zhu Yunxi always thought highly of these loyal ministers and righteous men in history, and said with a gentle smile, "Give me a seat!"
"Thank you very much for your recommendation, Your Highness!" Lian Zining said after sitting down, "I am so stupid that I can only bow down and die exhausted!"
"I've said that, now I'm just a minister and I'm going to die! Do I still expect to be a bigger official for you in the future?" Zhu Yunxi smiled and said, "You are in the Ministry of Works, in charge of coinage, right?
?”
"It is a matter of officialdom!" Lian Zining replied, "Your Highness, are you interested in minting coins?" He said, his face paused, and he said seriously, "Your Highness, there is no money shortage in the Ming Dynasty. The matter of coining involves local mining.
, levy and distribute households..."
This is the kind of ministers Zhu Yunxi likes. Good ministers are not always wise men. A good minister must first let the monarch see the harm of what he does, and cannot report good things but not bad things.
"It's not a copper coin!" Zhu Yunxi interrupted and said with a smile, "Come forward and see what this is?"
Lian Zining stepped forward and saw a fifty-tael silver ingot placed on Zhu Yunxi's imperial desk.
The initial website address is https://m.
"This is the treasury silver from the Ministry of Household Affairs. I borrowed a piece of it!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile.
"Your Highness, do you want to make silver coins?" Lian Zining suddenly had a realization and said, "However, although silver is good, it is still scarce among the people. People still pay taxes mainly with copper coins for food and cloth!"
This is not yet the era when the great voyage is coming and silver is pouring in from all over the world. But silver has been used as currency since ancient times.
"Farmers and common people don't have it, but I heard that merchants in various places in the south of the Yangtze River have begun to use silver to convert money." Zhu Yunxi said, "Silver is easy to carry and will not depreciate. Those maritime merchants who came to the Ming Dynasty to buy things also used silver.
.”
"I have heard a little bit about it, but the silver among the people is of various colors..."
"This is the reason why Gu wants to make coins!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "The silver in the household department is collected from scattered silver coins and then re-smelted and cast. The fineness is the best after it is made, but the loss is also great. It is often very
For two taels of silver, you can only get nine taels of pure silver in the end. Doesn’t the country suffer from this?”
"And among the people, due to the mixed quality of silver, it has been difficult to have a clear conversion standard, which is not conducive to circulation and exchange. It is okay for merchants and local wealthy people, but if they are from a small family and have silver of poor quality in their hands, they often cannot exchange it for copper coins.
to the official price.”
"They can't exchange it, but the local government can take advantage of it and charge it according to the official price, and then use the deducted money to enrich their own pockets. Then they turn over the low-quality silver to the national treasury. Isn't this an endless cycle?"
"It is not very beneficial to the country or the people, so I just thought that the country could simply make coins and unify the measurement, style, and weight. It would not only facilitate exchange, but also facilitate circulation. Why not?"
Making silver coins is actually not difficult at all. The ancients could think of using copper to make money, but how could they not think of using silver to make money? It is convenient and eliminates some hidden loopholes.
It's not that I didn't think of it but didn't do it. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, silver was used as the national currency. If the specifications and exchange rate of silver were unified, wouldn't the officialdom lose a large amount of income? If it is not settled now, it will be a waste of silver in the future.
When things are added to the people's heads, even the gods can't touch the cake.
(The consumption of money by fire began in the Ming Dynasty. Most of the officials in the Ming Dynasty were really incapable of fighting and running the country, but the name of collecting money was first-rate.)
As the saying goes, reform must be carried out as early as possible. Problems cannot be left to become unsolvable problems later.
Lian Zining pondered for a moment, "But if the imperial court produces silver coins, I'm afraid the price of silver will rise sharply."
"Mind less and mint more, and mint secretly. The only thing that will increase in price is silver coins!" Zhu Yunxi had long expected this. Now the ratio of the official price of silver to copper coins in the Ming Dynasty is one to one thousand. In fact, in some places among the people, it is
One to one thousand and two. If the price of silver increases, the exchange rate will definitely change.
However, Zhu Yunxi believed that when the exquisite silver coins flowed into the market, the exchange rate would soon stabilize. Even if the price increased, the imperial court's silver coins would also increase.
Besides, farmers don't have silver at this time, so they don't need to exchange it for silver to pay taxes. Even if the price increases, they won't be hurt. But once the silver coins start circulating, they will benefit instead.
(The Ming Dynasty started with Zhang Juzheng's whip method, and people paid taxes with money. This whip temporarily eased the Ming Dynasty's finances, but in fact, the oppression of the lower class people became even more severe.)
"Your Highness, coinage is not a trivial matter. I think we should summon the Minister of Household Affairs, the Minister of Industry and others to discuss the matter together!" Lian Zining thought about it and said cautiously.
"This is natural. I told you that I am not going to let you do it in a big way right away, but I will let you make a look first, a real thing!" After saying that, Zhu Yunxi drew a circle on the paper with a pen, "You
Look, copper coins have square holes, but we don’t have to do that with silver coins. It’s better to just make them round.”
"Yin Gui, that's how it should be!" Lian Zining said.
"A silver coin weighs one tael. It doesn't have to be all silver. It can be the remaining 70% of the silver mixed with copper, etc.!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "I'm just giving you an idea. After all, if it is decided, what proportion should be used?
Have to brainstorm ideas.”
"If there is adulteration, then the imperial court can benefit from it!" Lian Zining thought about it, "I am afraid that this item can produce millions of pure silver every year! However, if there is less silver, it will definitely affect the imperial court.
Prestige. According to my opinion, it should be at least half silver and one and a half copper!"
This minister of the Ministry of Industry made the right choice!
Zhu Yunxi admired in his heart and said, "Today you and I will decide on the appearance first. There is nothing on the round silver coin and it doesn't look good. What should we engrave on it?"
As he spoke, he pondered slightly, "What about the back, with Hongwu Tongbao written on the top, bottom, left and right, and pictures of the sun, moon and stars in between. How about the front, just use portraits?"
"Human portrait?" Lian Zining thought for a moment, "But what about engraving the portrait of His Highness on the silver coin?"
"I do! But the old man is still here. If I carve my face on it, the old man won't slap me!"
I cursed twice in my heart and said with a serious face, "Do you think it's appropriate to be alone?"
Lian Zining thought about it and exclaimed, "Your Majesty?" As he said this, he suddenly became excited, "If I use His Majesty's Royal Prime Minister, I'm afraid the price of silver coins will rise again and again! At the beginning, the stamps were sold out just because of His Majesty's Royal Pen.
!" He said, and became frightened again, "It's just Your Highness, does Your Majesty know about this?"
Engraving the emperor's portrait privately is a capital offense!
"You can go ahead and do it boldly if you have Gu's support!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "Grandpa Huang, I have Gu come to tell you, and when the sample is made, it will be a surprise for him!"
With Zhu Yunxi's words, Lian Zi Ning Xin felt relieved. The ministers all knew how much the emperor doted on the emperor's grandson, let alone making silver coins and carving statues. The emperor's grandson set the Forbidden City on fire with only a few shoe soles.
son's affairs.
"However, according to your highness's method of making, how much labor does it cost to touch the tool?" Lian Zining wondered, "The Ministry of Revenue may not be willing to pay this money!"
"Use Gu's private room!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile. When he was the king of Wu, the old man's reward included a hundred catties of gold. Now the East Palace's large treasury is full of gold and silver.
With that said, Zhu Yunxi waved his hand, "Wang Shai, bring the portrait!"
Among all the portraits of the old man, Zhu Yunxi chose the most majestic one.
"Carve it according to this picture, do you understand?" Zhu Yunxi continued, "Look back, calculate how much money you need, and ask Wang Sha to send it to you!"
Minting actually has two meanings. The first one is indeed for economic circulation, but the second one is to divert the old man's attention. With new things, the old man's attention is on people's livelihood. Maybe Lan Yu and others,
It doesn't look so dead.
"Hey, that's not right!" After Lian Zining went down, Zhu Yunxi suddenly looked a little weird, "This silver coin is an imitation of the silver dollar of later generations. The silver dollar is called Yuan Datou. After the Ming Dynasty silver dollar is minted, will it be called Zhu Datou?"
Well, Zhu Datou may be the old man. When his profile picture is hung in the future, he may be called Zhu Xiaotou!
After Lian Zining retreated, Zhu Yunxi's originally smiling face looked a little tired.
tired!
I get up early in the morning to study, then I have to meet with ministers and review memorials. At the end of the day, I fall on the bed and fall asleep in a short time.
Obviously I didn't do any heavy work, but I was exhausted physically and mentally and couldn't do anything else.
"The old man wants a little grandchild!" Zhu Yunxi sat and sighed in his heart, "If this continues, his eldest grandson will be exhausted, and he will have no energy to have a little grandchild!"
Just as he was thinking about it, there were slight footsteps behind him, and a pair of gentle hands gently rubbed Zhu Yunxi's temples.
Zhu Yunxi glanced at the skirt of the visitor and said with a smile, "You're here!"
"Has your highness had your meal?" Zhao Ning'er said with a smile.
"Not yet, I'll eat it later!" Zhu Yunxi leaned his head back, closed his eyes and enjoyed the massage, and said, "You are the mistress of the East Palace, and you are dressed too plainly! There are so many good clothes, so you have to wear them.
Wear ordinary cloth."
After Zhao Ning'er entered the palace, she did not change due to her noble status. She still wore simple clothes and did not wear any jewelry.
"It was Concubine Hui who told me that Your Majesty likes simple and unassuming women!" Zhao Ning'er said with a smile.
"What did she say?" Zhu Yunxi opened his eyes, "What else did she say?"
"Concubine Hui told me your majesty and your preferences. She said that your majesty respected the late empress the most in her life and was the most proud of all her daughters-in-law. She said that these two are role models for women in the world. They are simple people, even if they are the mother of the country,
He also takes care of the housework with his own hands. Not only that, he is also considerate and kind to his servants!"
Zhu Yunxi smiled, grabbed his wife's hand, "No wonder you made the old man look at you with admiration as soon as you entered the palace. The feelings are behind the scenes, someone will give you advice!" He said meaningfully, "Empress Hui, you also have good intentions!
"
"But I always feel uneasy," Zhao Ning'er whispered.
"What's so unreliable? You were appointed by Grandpa Huang. Besides, your nature is like this and you didn't do it on purpose?"
"What I said is unreliable, that's not what I mean!" Zhao Ning'er whispered, "Why does Concubine Hui say this to me? And she always points to me in her words to make me remember her.
Okay! She is already a noble concubine. Even in the future, she will also be the elder of the concubine, and she must treat each other with courtesy. Why is she like this? As the saying goes, people must have their expectations when being polite. Although the concubine is from a small family,
Although I have a good background, I still understand the ways of the world."
"I'm very happy that you can think of this!" Zhu Yunxi clapped her hand and said.
In fact, he didn't understand. Concubine Hui had always been very kind to him, but there was no need to fawn over Zhao Ning'er so much. She was already a noble concubine, so what was she afraid of? What did she want to ask for? What did she want?
There is only one possibility. Empress Hui Fei is buying double insurance. She bought herself and the future queen. If one day she encounters a difficulty, both of them will help her!
As for what the hurdle is, Zhu Yunxi has actually already guessed it!
"Hui Fei has no bad intentions, but you can't listen to her when there are things. How you live and what you do depends on your own heart. You don't have to deliberately behave in front of the old man or Gu. The old man chooses you.
Being a granddaughter-in-law is not just for those petty things." Zhu Yunxi continued, "Just talk to me about these things, don't talk to others!"
"Husband and wife are of the same mind, I can only talk to you!" Zhao Ning'er said softly, "I won't talk to others!"
Husband and wife are of the same mind!
Zhu Yunxi smiled, turned to face Zhao Ning'er, raised his head and said with a smile, "I have been too busy these days and I have neglected you!"
Zhao Ning'er was slightly shy, lowered her head and said, "Your Highness, these are state affairs..."
"While we have time now, let's study the matter of our little grandson!" Zhu Yunxi laughed twice, "Shame on you!"
"The slave is here!"
"Get out!"
"yes!"
~~~A colleague said that if he wants to sit on my passenger seat, will he give me a seat?
This chapter has been completed!