Speaking of this reformed currency system, His Majesty Li Er was a little worried.
In fact, as the domestic commerce of the Tang Dynasty became increasingly developed and foreign trade expanded rapidly, large transactions became common and money delivery became a problem.
The current currency in circulation is gold and copper. In fact, most places still mainly use barter, and there are too few coins in circulation. For example, when the court collects taxes, it directly states how many bushels of corn, how many bolts of silk, and even some
Any goods that can be exchanged locally can be used as taxes.
In the past, when the country's finances were in difficulty and the domestic economy was in a downturn, it might not be a big deal. However, as the economy becomes more and more developed, business fever has set off in many parts of the country, especially in the Jiangnan area, where countless silk, porcelain, and tea workshops have sprung up.
, often employing dozens of workers, and the annual trade volume can reach hundreds of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is obviously inappropriate to continue bartering at this time.
And the biggest disadvantage of bartering is the uncertainty of the conversion method. Sometimes a piece of silk can be exchanged for a cow, but sometimes it can only be exchanged for a donkey. The gap is too huge, which gives officials the opportunity to profit from it.
, causing a huge burden on the people.
The most important thing is that with the current implementation of commercial tax, merchants cannot be allowed to directly use the goods they trade to receive low taxes, right?
It is urgent to reform the currency system, otherwise the newly emerging business will be greatly hindered, and the losses caused will be undesirable to anyone.
But how to reform it?
Fang Jun simply mentioned in the report that he would directly establish a system with gold as the main currency, and identify silver as the currency in circulation, as a supplementary currency together with copper coins, which can be exchanged with the main gold currency. This is the so-called "gold standard"
system".
Moreover, Fang Jun also mentioned a concept called "unlimited legal compensation" and even explained it in detail in a lengthy document. However, His Majesty Li Er was dizzy after reading it...
What does this mean?
His Majesty Li Er was extremely depressed. He knew all the words, but when they were connected together, he couldn't make any sense.
After thinking for a while, he said to the prince: "This matter is so big that we should summon several prime ministers and assistants, as well as Ma Zhou, who is proficient in practical matters, and Tang Jian, who is in charge of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, into the palace to discuss it in detail."
After a pause, he added: "Go to the British government. He is the chief minister. You should ask his opinion."
The prince didn't know that the emperor didn't dare to make a random decision because he didn't understand. He thought that the emperor was cautious and thoughtful, and was willing to listen to advice from all sides, so he was very happy.
Immediately, the father and son drove out of the palace and went straight to the British palace. At the same time, they sent people to the residences of the prime ministers and ministers to announce the summons.
Changsun Wuji and others had just returned to the palace worriedly, and were wondering how much money the family would lose due to the implementation of the commercial tax, when they saw a servant from the palace coming to the door, saying that His Majesty the Emperor had summoned him to the British government for important matters.
Negotiate.
Is there anything you can't say just now?
He was suspicious, but he didn't dare to delay. He quickly washed his face, without even taking a bite of food, and hurried to the British government residence.
Li Ji was lying in bed with an illness. Hearing the arrival of the emperor and the prince, he quickly washed his face, changed clothes, and came out to meet him.
His Majesty Li Er said warmly: "There is really a big matter that cannot be resolved this time, so I summoned several ministers here to discuss it. You are the chief minister, and your opinions are important. But don't worry too much. Just be healthy and recuperate. Ke Ming
I left early, and Xuanling is already old. I still need you to help me decide on the important matters in the court in the future, but you can't leave the root cause of the disease."
Li Ji felt warm in his heart and was very grateful, saying: "As a minister, I have derelict in my duty by failing to solve your majesty's worries. However, your majesty is so comforting. I am so grateful that I shed tears of gratitude."
His Majesty Li Er took Li Ji's hand and sat down. The prince sat on one side to accompany him. He asked a few questions about Li Ji's condition, and the ministers came one after another.
After moving to the main hall of the British Palace and driving away all the idle people, His Majesty Li Er took out Fang Jun's memorial and asked everyone to circulate it to each other, and emphasized the saying "unlimited legal compensation" to let everyone deeply understand it.
.
As a result, these people took a closer look one after another. Ma Zhou and Tang Jian both understood and were immediately impressed.
It’s okay for these two people to understand. Even Li Ji exclaimed, “Fang Jun’s talent is unparalleled in the world”…
Mother!
You, Li Ji, started out as a bandit on horseback and fought in battles. Why are you so proficient in economics?
Now His Majesty Li Er is not only depressed, but also a little sad, feeling that his IQ has been crushed...
God’s “unlimited legal compensation”!
His Majesty Li Er had a gloomy face, knocked on the table, and said: "Since you all understand the meaning of Fang Jun's memorial, you might as well talk about whether this currency reform is appropriate?"
Tang Jian did his part. He was the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and was in charge of the world's taxes. He dealt with money all day long. He was well aware of the various disadvantages caused by the current imperfect financial system. He immediately said: "Since ancient times, bartering has been a common practice."
It is the most important mode of transaction. However, with the gradual rise of commerce, without a complete currency system, this custom of bartering will probably continue. People in many places are not without money, but
It's because they don't believe in money, they only believe in the goods in their own hands and in the hands of others... Huatinghou's monetary system is already perfect, and its talents are enough to be praised as amazing and brilliant. Wei Chen believes that the imperial court should add more
The agency is solely responsible for currency reform."
Cen Wenwen added: "It is not impossible to establish an additional agency, but if it is only responsible for currency reform, it will inevitably be overstaffed. It is better to hand over the implementation of commercial tax to this agency."
Tang Jian was not qualified to participate in the "Carrot and Stick Meeting" just held in the palace. When he heard Cen Wenwen's words, he was immediately surprised.
Have you decided to collect business tax?
It's really strange. Are these wealthy families so stupid that they just hand over the money they get to the court?
At this time, His Majesty Li Er was looking at the ministers talking about each other, but he was a little lost in thought.
Just a currency reform, you are so surprised that you call it "amazing talent and beauty"?
If you can see the secret notes given to me alone, it discusses the evolution and evolution of the gold coin standard, the gold nugget standard, and the final non-encashable credit currency system, as well as the conversion between various currency systems in various periods.
Evolution brings more pros and cons, and it can even be used as an important weapon to destroy enemy countries. You may look like you have seen a ghost...
But what made him unbelievable was that Fang Jun didn't do his job properly and hadn't read many books. How could he have such knowledge?
Is it possible that it is really a "divine gift of wisdom" and "innate knowledge"?
Fang Jun just showed off the half-baked financial knowledge he knew in his previous life, and the heads of the entire Tang Empire were stunned and dumbfounded.
The financial system of the Tang Dynasty was just a blank piece of paper. No matter how you designed it, there would be no acclimatization problem.
In fact, finance was not his main business, and he knew very little about it. He just told the case of countries blocking gold exports during World War I, and then applied it to the Tang Dynasty, and naturally deduced a possibility.
At present, the Tang Dynasty is the most powerful country in the world. In terms of culture, military, and economy, it is more than ten levels ahead of neighboring countries. Therefore, its influence in leading the world economy is stronger and greater than those superpowers in later generations. As long as
The implementation of the gold standard system in the Tang Dynasty will surely lead the surrounding countries to also respond to this system. As long as everyone trades in gold, the huge and terrifying trade dismantling of the Tang Dynasty will quickly gather the gold of all countries in the world.
If one day in the future a powerful country rises and becomes a serious problem, gold exchange can be banned immediately and gold cannot be allowed to enter or exit the country. The enemy country's economy will collapse instantly.
Of course, this method of using currency as a weapon of war is completely useless against a country where nomads are the main body. Nomads don’t care about your economy or system. They only know how to rob when they are hungry, and rob when they have no money. Women
Grab them too, kill them all if you can't grab them...
So when Genghis Khan's machete ravaged Europe, and when the Jianzhou Jurchen's iron hoof crushed the Central Plains, any civilization was like a blank sheet of paper in the face of barbaric force, being scribbled on and insulted at will.
…
Even members of the aristocratic families have no objections to the currency reform.
Having a unified and perfect currency system has more advantages than disadvantages for the family members. It can collect rents more accurately and deliver business more conveniently. For those who use goods as rents, "big buckets go in and small buckets go out"
"A real aristocratic family would disdain the wealth gained through such tricks.
The aristocratic family is greedy, but they understand the principle of "fishing from the lake". They eat fish and raise fish at the same time, and will not drain the water from the pond.
Of course, when they were not aristocratic family, they accumulated wealth through these means that they now disdain...
Seeing that the matter was confirmed, His Majesty Li Er did not say much. He just pointed at Ma Zhou and said: "As for the reform of the currency system and the implementation of commercial tax, we will set up additional institutions and let Ma Zhou be the chief official. Do you have any objections?
?”
Everyone was suddenly shocked.
King Ma Bin is really in the heart of the emperor. He is going to reach heaven in one step...