Five days later, Yuan Hua stood at the foot of Handan City. Although he was a little surprised, Handan City had changed after not seeing him for a year. However, he did not stop for more. After handing the token to the soldiers guarding the city for inspection, he took a few
The soldiers entered Handan City.
"Thank you for your hard work, general." When Zhao Kuo heard that Yuan Hua was back, he immediately held a banquet in honor of Yuan Hua and poured a glass of wine for Yuan Hua himself.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. You won't have to worry about it." Yuan Hua was a little flattered and took the wine glass. He didn't know whether he should drink it or not. He hesitated for a moment and felt that it would be inappropriate not to drink it, so he raised his head and drank it all.
"How was it? How was the harvest?" Zhao Kuo asked with a smile. He had received news of Yuan Hua's return a few days ago, but there was no detailed data. He would need to ask Yuan Hua to know the specific situation.
"Your Majesty, Yingzhou is indeed as your Majesty said. It is not only rich in gold and silver, but also rich in copper. This time, the general brought back two thousand kilograms of gold, one boat of silver, and four boats of copper. They have arrived at Jindu on the Fushui River outside the city.
." Yuan Hua handed the list to Zhao Kuo.
"It seems that the general has not only found gold and silver mines, but also copper mines." Zhao Kuo said with a smile.
"Basically all of this gold was seized. No large gold mine was found, but a large silver mine was found, the scale of which is difficult to estimate. There are also two large copper mines. Because the silver refining process is a bit complicated, we will first find it.
I came back with four ships of copper." Yuan Hua said.
Compared with the complicated steps of smelting silver, smelting copper is much simpler. The Central Plains have already taken the lead in this technology, and it didn't take long for the shipwrights and soldiers to set up the furnace.
Moreover, the copper ore in Yingzhou is of very high quality. Even after preliminary smelting, the quality is equivalent to the copper refined in Zhao State.
In addition, Yingzhou's copper also has a purple color, which in Yuan Hua's opinion is a symbol of nobility and is much more beautiful than silver that is white but gray in autumn.
"Copper worth 100 million and silver worth 500 million are enough to do something." Zhao Kuo nodded.
The price of silver in various countries in the Central Plains is not fixed, but it is basically maintained at about three to one with gold, and at about one to twenty with copper, and the range of fluctuations will not be too large.
As for silver coins and copper coins, there is no need to cast them. Once they are cast, they are not worth so much money, and a lot of losses will be incurred in the process.
Unless there are impurities in it, this thing is a Pandora's box. Once it is opened, it can never be closed again.
When it is okay to mix in 10% impurities, you will think about making more money by mixing in 20% impurities. When it is okay to mix in 20% impurities, you will think about adding 30% impurities... In the end, the more you mix in, the more you will make.
, leading to the collapse of credit.
Almost all currencies in ancient times went through this process.
What Zhao Kuo wants to show everyone is a kind of confidence, rather than really needing so much currency.
Just put these silver bricks and copper bricks outside for everyone to see.
"Don't transport it here for the time being. Wait until tomorrow morning and take it to the other courtyard next to the palace through the downtown area in the south of the city. Don't cover the car with a cloth, and don't close the gate of the other courtyard, so that all passers-by can see it." Zhao Kuo thought.
After thinking for a while, he said, "Ben, you pick two personal guards to guard it personally. Although this thing is not easy to steal, you still need to take a look."
Since Handan has always said that every morning a carriage loaded with money would drive from outside the city to the palace, he would let everyone see it today.
It can be regarded as refuting a rumor.
What carriage? It’s obviously two hundred carriages!
"Nuo." Yuan Hua and Ben said with fists clasped.
"By the way, since the general has gone to Yingzhou, what do you think of that place?" Zhao Kuo asked.
"..." Yuan Hua was silent for a long time, and then he said, "Your Majesty, I think there is nothing worthwhile except a lot of gold, silver and copper..."
Then, Yuan Hua poured out what he had experienced for such a long time like water of bitterness...
"I understand." Zhao Kuo nodded slightly after listening.
According to his original plan, he wanted to enfeoff Yingzhou. After all, Yingzhou was too far away from the State of Zhao, and it was impossible for the State of Zhao to rule there. Moreover, the place was a little barren, but there was no shortage of all kinds of minerals.
It's a pity to come down.
But judging from Yuan Hua's words, it is obvious that he looks down on Yingzhou, so forget it.
From now on, we will see who can like it and grant it to them.
Of course, Yuan Hua didn't know what Zhao Kuo was thinking, otherwise he would definitely say that he liked him.
Isn't it just that it's a little barren and no crops will grow?
Is this a problem?
It's not a problem at all.
At worst, it’s okay if I don’t live in Yingzhou from now on. As long as my family has a mine, can’t I still find a place to live?
"Didn't you say you met Zou Yan at sea? Why didn't you come back with you?" Zhao Kuo asked.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Zou Yan said that he went to sea from the State of Qi. Now that he has returned, he must go to the State of Qi to see the King of Qi. However, he promised not to tell the story about Yingzhou, and to meet the King of Qi.
After passing the King of Qi, he will come to the Kingdom of Zhao." Yuan Hua said.
"In that case, I will wait for him in Handan." Zhao Kuo nodded.
The next day, at dawn, with the crow of a rooster, a huge team of vehicles slowly came from the end of the official road.
Under the rays of the morning sun, the silver bricks and copper bricks reflected a dazzling light, which was so dazzling and captivating that pedestrians on both sides couldn't help but stop and look at the endless vehicles.
Every car has the same specifications, the same brilliance, and the same protection.
Each guard wears a silver mask on his face, holds a shield in his left hand and a gun in his right hand, like a heavenly soldier or general.
The vehicles were moving very slowly, as if they were deliberately letting everyone watch enough.
But no one urged them, and the vehicles and pedestrians in front even stopped to make way for Yuan Hua and others to go ahead.
"How much does this... cost!" a voice sounded from the crowd.
"It should cost at least 100,000 yuan." A person next to him said, and then there were disdainful looks from all around.
"The total amount of silver and copper is three to five hundred million at least." A man in Chinese clothes said slowly.
"Brother Bai, do you think these are real silver and copper?" the tall man walking with the man in Chinese clothes whispered.
"Judging from the squeaking sound of the axle and the heavy breathing of the horse, it doesn't look fake. This cart is most likely made of pure copper, and it's the finest red copper." said the man in rich clothes.
"There were rumors in Handan before that King Zhao brought a cart of money from a mysterious place to the palace every day, so he had endless money to spend. I always didn't believe it, but now I know that such outrageous rumors are actually an understatement." Gao Da
The man sighed.
"Brother Duanmu, why should you belittle yourself? If the Duanmu family's wealth were converted into money, I'm afraid it wouldn't be much less than this." said the man in rich clothes.
"Brother Bai, please stop flattering me. If others don't know, how can you not know? The so-called wealth is just flattering." The tall man said with a bitter smile.
If compared to those small countries in the Spring and Autumn Period, their family could indeed be as wealthy as their rivals, but if faced with a real big country, being as wealthy as their rivals was just a joke.