"Instead of using food stamps, why don't your majesty use treasure notes?"
Lu Daqi said bluntly.
"Can the treasure money still be used?"
Yan Chongxin on the side couldn't help but said, his tone full of regret.
Lu Daqi's face suddenly turned red, his lips moved, but he didn't say anything.
Zhu Yixi shook his head and asked: "According to common sense, the Jin people and the Southern Song Dynasty issued a large number of banknotes. Only when the dynasty was on the verge of collapse did the banknotes fall below the limit and no one dared to use them."
"Since our country issued it during the Hongwu period, the treasure banknotes have become worse and worse day by day. What is the reason for this?"
In the Yuan, Song and other dynasties, the reason for the collapse of banknotes is very simple, it is because of excessive issuance.
The Ming Dynasty was different. Because of Emperor Hongwu, he always had a prudent attitude towards the issuance of banknotes, so there was no indiscriminate issuance of banknotes.
On the contrary, during the Xuande Zhengtong period, the Ming court continued to recycle treasure banknotes and stopped printing banknotes to stabilize the treasure banknotes.
During Renzong's reign, merchants were even allowed to use treasure notes to buy salt.
Commercial taxes are also paid with treasure banknotes, and it is even stipulated that only treasure banknotes can be used.
As a result, some businessmen even had to exchange gold and silver for treasure banknotes to pay taxes due to tax reasons.
It can be said that in order to make good use of the Baochao card, the Ming Dynasty tried its best.
Without him, treasure banknotes are so nice, one piece of silver can be worth ten pieces of flowers.
"The treasure banknotes of our dynasty follow the rules of the former Yuan Dynasty and the Southern Song Dynasty. In order to prevent private printing, we have worked hard to produce the treasure banknotes."
Zhang Shenyan sighed: "There is no spam or misuse, but Hongwu keeps rising and falling. To use a folk saying, even wiping his butt is too hard."
"What's the problem?"
The emperor was also puzzled.
It can pay taxes, prevent counterfeiting, and is free from indiscriminate issuance. How can people accept such good banknotes?
"The veteran has also been thinking about it for a long time. In recent times, he has compared the Sui and Shun Dynasties in the past, and finally found some traces."
At that time, Lu Xiaoqi's face was full of seriousness, and he couldn't help but reveal a hint of pride.
"Oh?" Then, the emperor became interested and asked, "Why is that?"
"Your Majesty, I have made a careless comparison and finally discovered the shortcomings of your Xiao Ming Hongwu issue."
Lu Xiaoqi first held up his hands, and then said in a deep voice: "The only difference is that the Jin people and the Song people both had gold and silver treasury and allowed the people to exchange it freely, while your dynasty did."
"During the Yongle period, Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Household Affairs, suggested printing the new Hongwu of the Yongle Dynasty to replace the Sui Shun banknotes, and provide sufficient silver reserves for the people to exchange, but it was ignored."
"So, because Hongwu exchanged gold and silver, the rivers were rising and the people were happy to use it."
Those words explained the reason in a complicated and clear way.
In the Northern Song Dynasty's banknote Jiaozi, a copper coin reserve was set up once the issuance was completed for the people to exchange banknotes at any time. In the Southern Song Dynasty's banknote Huizi, the government provided copper coins, and even gold and silver, for the people to exchange.
When the Jin Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty issued banknotes, the government set up banknote leveling warehouses in various places (each road) to reserve gold and silver for the people to exchange.
Only then did Yan Chongxin suddenly realize.
It turns out that Sui Shunhe messed up.
During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the anchor points of banknotes were copper coins and gold and silver. Even during the Seventh War, the currencies of a small number of countries were actually just exchange coupons, with the anchor point being gold.
In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yixi insisted on playing with credit currency to test the people's attitude towards the court.
Needless to say, how could a dynasty in the feudal period have no credibility at all?
Changing orders in the morning and evening is a joke.
Zhu Yixi has a stubborn temper, and if he uses it, I have to force him to use it.
I would rather die than change.
During the Yongle period, Zhu Di gained the throne through rebellion, so he naturally supported Sui Shunhe's policies. In the early stages, it became an ancestral system, and some people dared to disturb it.
He said, is it okay to follow the rules of Xiao and Cao? You have to be new and innovative, and you will be a white wolf with empty gloves.
"What do you mean, do you mean to follow the example of later dynasties and set up gold and silver treasury in each province to allow people to exchange for Hongwu?"
The emperor became interested.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Lu Xiaoqi said excitedly: "Now is more appropriate to issue a new Hongwu."
"The food stamps have been on trial for two years, and the people have already accepted banknotes. Now if they are issued and allowed to be exchanged for gold and silver, the people will definitely be happy to accept them."
"How can the imperial court not have so little silver?"
At that time, Sui Shunhe stood up and said happily: "Your dynasty has been rich in gold and silver since ancient times. The gold and silver obtained by the people rarely comes from the sea. The handle is in our hands, which is a disaster."
"Nowadays, whether it is among the people or the imperial court, there is very little gold and silver. How can anyone be the source of trouble?" Lu Xiaoqi retorted.
That statement is false.
Since the end of the Undersea Silk Road in the Song Dynasty, gold and silver from the sea have been pouring into China continuously. Especially with the beginning of the Small Navigation Age, and the Longqing Switch, a small amount of silver has poured in, so that the value of silver in the Jiangnan region has depreciated.
"Your Majesty, the reason why food stamps travel smoothly in the capital is because people can exchange them for food at any time. If Hongwu can exchange them at any time, they will definitely be able to circulate."
At that time, everyone in the cabinet realized that Zhang Shenyan was indeed treacherous, and his first purpose was to issue banknotes.
And the emperor was moved.
"What a pity, the imperial court has gold and silver mines, so why is it worried about lack of money?"
Yan Chongxin sighed.
If you hold a mine in your hand, does this mean you want to print more or less?
"Your Majesty, there is a shortage of gold and silver in the country, but there may not be a shortage in Korea and Japan. I heard that Japan has a lot of silver mountains, so maritime merchants are willing to go there..."
"his meaning?"
The emperor looked at Zhao Shu with low interest.
Does the chief assistant want to fight?
"We can discuss with the King of Japan and exchange certain things for gold and silver every year. In this way, the court will be without gold and silver every year?"
Zhao Shu said: "That's far more cost-effective than digging mountains."
"That's wrong." Sui Shunhe echoed: "You have little tomorrow, everything is nothing, and everything is a package. Japan is a country with a large population and a lack of people. I guess I don't ask for anything from you. If I exchange some things for gold and silver, I think it will agree.
"
"You can go and try."
Yan Chongxin thought for a while, I originally wanted to use war to solve the problem.
However, he realized that Japan's silver mountains were mined during the Warring States Period and the difference was too small. Even if he took them away, he would only be eating scraps.
How do I know about the unknown mines?
"By the way, North Korea is a mountainous country. Although there is little arable land, as the old saying goes, nothing is gained, nothing is lost. There must be many mines, maybe some gold and silver mines."
Sui Shunhe suddenly realized that North Korea was also a treasure land, and if he heard about Shaojin Mountain in his previous life, it must be a lie.
"What your Majesty said is true."
Everyone has broken down the guesswork and can only deal with it.
"Xiaojia is also concerned about the release of Hongwu, but it can be delayed."
Lu Xiaoqi couldn't help but said.
“Let’s try it out!”
The emperor nodded, looked back at Lu Xiaoqi, and said, "Let's try it in the capital first."