Chapter 97 My family really runs a money printing factory
Beijing, Wuying Palace.
"In this way, their first action play "Wu Song Fights the Tiger" was a great success. They even adopted gangsters from Linhuai County as their younger brothers." Zhu Biao reported to Zhu Yuanzhang while suppressing a smile:
"Later, they performed "Lion Tower", "Cross Slope" and "Shijiazhuang" three times in a row, and they were a sensation every time. Now every time they perform in the county, they will attract thousands of people. It is said that even the big theaters in Zhongdu City are vying to invite them. They're going to perform."
"What a good guy, he can also make up plays, but he's just a minor figure." When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he was very relieved and said: "If I didn't force them, I wouldn't know they are so capable."
As he spoke, he muttered in a sour voice: "Why was it so difficult for me to get along back then?"
He originally thought that his sons would go begging for food after they were cut off from food, so that he could fully appreciate the hardship he had endured.
Unexpectedly, a few boys actually bucked the trend and got better and better.
"Dad, don't you look at what time it was then and what time it is now, can you compare?" Zhu Biao offered a clever flattery.
"Only people can survive in peaceful times, but in troubled times when no one can survive, no matter how good the play is, who can read it?"
"Hahaha..." Zhu Yuanzhang was really happy from ear to ear. He shook his head and said modestly: "It can only be said to be a peaceful time. The prosperous age is still very early. Thank God if it can be realized when you become emperor."
But Zhu Biao's flattery was not just for the sake of flattery, but for ulterior motives. He took the opportunity to say: "Dad, don't trouble your brothers any more. They have suffered enough. Besides, people rely on their ability to earn a living. There is no reason for anyone to let anyone go, so there is no reason to interfere anymore."
"Hmm...Okay." Boss Zhu was originally thinking about ordering Han Yike to ban them from performing for a few days, so that the princes could fully understand the dangers of government.
But I think they will not take this breath. If a fight breaks out, it will not end well.
And last time, the prince told his mother about the intense manipulations he performed on his brothers, and he was severely punished by Queen Ma. He is still frightened to this day.
Boss Zhu finally decided to be a man and said: "Sweat your own sweat and eat your own food. There is no shame in performing arts, and you can get in touch with people from all walks of life, which will help them grow even more."
"I would like to thank my father for your kindness on behalf of my brothers." Zhu Biao also breathed a long sigh of relief. Now that he had witnessed his father's increasingly difficult actions at every turn, he began to doubt whether his brothers were his biological children.
"Okay, let them go, don't forget the crops in the fields and our tasks." Zhu Yuanzhang felt that at this moment, his whole body was filled with fatherly love.
"Father, don't worry, they won't forget their identity..." Zhu Biao's voice gradually weakened, obviously still a little unsure.
Fortunately, Zhu Yuanzhang's attention had been turned elsewhere. He put on the spectacles given by Lao Liu, carefully looked at the things on the imperial case, and called to the prince: "Boss, come and see."
Zhu Biao took a closer look and saw six rectangular pieces of blue mulberry paper one foot long and six inches wide.
It is decorated with dragon patterns and sea water patterns all around, and the six characters "Da Ming Tong Xing Bao Chao" are printed on the top. Different denominations are printed on the top of the middle. They are one hundred coins, two hundred coins, three hundred coins, and four hundred coins. , five hundred articles and one consistent.
Under it are painted the corresponding amount of copper coins, obviously for illiterate people.
On both sides of the denomination are the words "Da Ming Bao Chao" and "Tian Xia Tong Xin" in seal script.
There is an annotation printed at the bottom, which reads: "Zhongshu Sheng approved the printing of Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes, which are commonly used with copper coins. Forgers will be beheaded, and those who accuse the arrest will be rewarded with two hundred and five hundred taels of silver, and the prisoner will still be given property. April 2, the eighth year of Hongwu
day.'
Finally, two official seals were stamped on the denomination and annotation, the upper one said 'the seal of the Ming Dynasty treasure banknote' and the lower one said 'the seal of the treasure banknote promotion department'.
"There's more on the back." Zhu Yuanzhang turned it over for the prince and saw that there were two seals on the back. The red official seal was 'Seal of the Bureau of Printing Treasure Banknotes', and the denomination of the coin was printed in blue ink.
Moreover, Zhu Biao could see that these seals had corresponding anti-counterfeiting marks, which were difficult for the private sector to forge.
"Bao Chao..." the prince said softly.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked fascinated as he groped the thick paper of the banknote and felt the unique texture of the mulberry paper.
"Yeah, beautiful." The prince nodded in agreement. He had seen the 'Zhi Yuan Tong Xing Bao Banknote' issued by the previous dynasty. Although the 'Da Ming Tong Xing Bao Banknote' basically came from there, from the materials used to the printing,
Anti-counterfeiting and quality have been improved in all aspects.
"With such a treasure, the imperial court can finally get rid of the plight of lack of money." Zhu Yuanzhang picked up Zhang Baochao and kissed it. He couldn't put it down and said: "We in the Ming Dynasty need it so much!"
Zhu Biao couldn't help but nod. He had practiced government affairs with his father for many years, so he naturally knew that the country was desperately short of money.
The little money raised from tax collection basically never reaches the national treasury, and is instead used to fill the hole. The Ministry of Household Affairs is trapped in a whirlpool of indebtedness and high debt, which is getting deeper and deeper, and it is impossible to extricate itself.
And not only the court was short of money, but the people were also short of money. After the chaotic times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the towns were in ruins and the countryside was full of wasteland. The court wanted to rebuild, but it was short of food, people, and supplies, but the most lacking thing was money.
The Yuan Dynasty had already raped the people to death. Before retreating to the grasslands, they looted the north again. Not a single cent of the gold, silver, and copper coins left in the warehouses of the provinces, prefectures, and counties was left and all were transported back to Mobei.
The word "poor" was evident throughout the Ming Dynasty, both inside and outside. It could be said that currency was depleted and all industries were in ruins. No matter how hard Boss Zhu tried, the economy showed no improvement.
There was no way. Without money, the economy could not function. Zhu Yuanzhang also understood this, so he wanted to cast copper coins.
But damn, coins in this era were basically made of Yunnan copper, and Yunnan, which mainly produced copper, was still in the hands of the Northern Yuan Dynasty.
The main reason why the imperial court was unable to regain Yunnan was still lack of money.
The military expenditures for Wang Baobao's Northern Expedition alone were already overwhelming the imperial court. They also had to build the central capital, develop water conservancy projects, cultivate farmland, and open post roads... There were so many places that needed to spend money that it just couldn't be sustained.
The war started on two fronts.
Knowing this, we can understand Zhu Yuanzhang's high hopes for Baobao.
~~
"Printing this is much easier than casting copper coins. We can print as many coins as we want. From now on, we men will never be short of money again!" Zhu Yuanzhang said happily, waving the treasure banknotes.
"Father, there is nothing so cheap in the world. If you print as many copies as you want, how could the 'Zhiyuanbao Banknote' be worthless in the end?" But Zhu Biao was sober in the world, and he poured water on his father on the spot.
cold water.
"We're kidding, of course we can't just print it casually! We understand the truth that if you print too much, it won't be valuable!" Zhu Yuanzhang snorted and said angrily: "Boy, your father is not two hundred and five, and your father did not print this treasure by himself.
from!"
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