When Wang Xian rushed to the East Palace, he saw that besides the prince, Yang Rong was also there, and he knew what was going to happen.
The prince did not greet him politely, and directly showed the sadness on his face to Wang Xian. After he sat down, he said in a low voice: "Zhongde, Master Yang has brought a difficult task." In fact, everyone knew it well.
, it is impossible for Zhu Zhanji not to inform the prince in advance of Yang Rong's decree, but sometimes, a fig leaf is indispensable.
"Your Highness, please speak." Wang Xian nodded.
The prince looked at Yang Rong, who then told the truth about his mission. "...The emperor's will is for His Royal Highness to reorganize the banknote law in the capital as soon as possible, ban the use of gold and silver by the people, restore the currency value of the treasure banknotes, and let the treasure banknotes regain their value."
Circulate it.”
"Forgive me, how is this possible?" Wang Xian said with a speechless face: "The Ming Dynasty's banknotes are in critical condition, so we can just rectify the banknote laws and ban the people from using gold and silver... It's really..." He wanted to say, 'It's true'
It was ridiculous, but I felt it was inappropriate, so I changed my words and said, "You want to stir up a hornet's nest. Your Highness, the Crown Prince, should think twice before doing so."
"Forbidding the common people to use gold and silver is our ancestor's rule in the Ming Dynasty," Yang Rong sighed: "If the prince doesn't do this, some people will say that he disrespects the ancestors. This is something that His Highness the prince cannot afford."
"Zhongde, Master Yang is one of our own," Zhu Gaochi said with a sad look on his face: "His words are from the bottom of his heart. You can just speak freely."
"Yes." Wang Xian responded and turned to Yang Rong: "Does Scholar Yang think that the prince can fulfill this decree?"
"I don't know, so I asked His Highness the Crown Prince to invite you here," Yang Rong said with a bitter smile: "They say Wang Zhongde has the wisdom of heaven and man. I hope you can find a way."
"Bachelor is too much of a prize." Wang Xian said calmly: "Xiaguan's little cleverness is only used to deal with emergencies. There is really nothing I can do about this kind of unsolvable problem.
"Zhongde, is there really nothing we can do?" Zhu Gaochi's cheeks trembled. In fact, when he learned that he was going to do this hard work a few days ago, he secretly summoned Wang Xian for discussion to see if there were any countermeasures. As a result, he always frowned.
, Wang Zhongde, who was caught up in the scheme, frowned and frowned, almost forming wrinkles on his forehead, and he couldn't think of a way. He had to leave first and said he would go back and think about it carefully... Looking at it like this, it seems that he has not thought of a way yet.
Come.
This is an unprecedented first time.
"Yes, Your Highness." Wang Xian said: "Speaking of it, treasure banknotes are just a piece of paper. The reason why people can treat them as gold and silver, circulate them, and store them is that it is useless to rely on the imperial court to force them. It can only rely on the common people.
Confidence."
"Confidence?" The prince and Yang Rong said in unison.
"Yes, confidence." Wang Xian nodded and said: "Actually, currency is just a symbol, and it does not have to be linked to gold and silver. As long as everyone thinks it is valuable and believes that its value can be maintained for a long time, then banknotes can completely replace gold.
Silver. If you want people to regard paper money as something as valuable as gold and silver, there are three ways. Either prepare gold and silver and promise that paper money can be exchanged for gold and silver at any time; or use assets such as land and tax as collateral.
Issuing bonds, such marketable bonds, also have the same effect; or, it is to issue banknotes directly with the backing of national credit. The advantage of this is that it does not cost anything, let alone the pressure of redemption, as long as the people believe in the credit of the country.
.”
For Wang Xian, who was an acquaintance in his previous life, this kind of basic financial knowledge was just drizzle, but for the prince and Yang Rong, it was tantamount to financial literacy. Especially for Yang Rong, although the prince, Li Guan and others had no knowledge of Wang Xian before,
He admired Xian in every possible way, but he thought that this person was just very clever and quick-witted. When he really encountered problems in running the country and needed experience, insight and real wisdom, this guy was beyond his reach.
But as soon as an expert takes action, he will know if there is any. After hearing Wang Xian's words, Yang Rong couldn't help but said sincerely: "Zhongde is indeed a great talent. Please continue to break it down. I am all ears."
"Obviously, the third type was used only in the Ming Dynasty." Wang Xian was too lazy to be polite to him and continued: "To say something disrespectful to our ancestors is the worst choice.
"Didn't you say that there is no cost or payment for this method?" For the prince, Wang Xian's words were a bit harsh. Emperor Taizu has been deified, and anyone who says that Taizu is wrong is treason. The prince
I just feel it's a bit harsh, and I'm already very indulgent towards Wang Xian. "It's obviously the best way, why do you say it's the worst?"
"Because this method has the highest requirements." Wang Xian said solemnly: "First of all, there must be a complete banknote method, and of course, more importantly, strict implementation. The key is not to issue indiscriminately, and always maintain the total face value of banknotes issued.
It is consistent with the size of the country's economy. This is a red line that must not be crossed. If it is crossed, the value represented by banknotes will shrink. People who use banknotes as wealth will suffer a shrinkage in their property. If
If the people are aware of this change, they will become resentful of the court and no longer trust the court... And because there is no restriction on this method of issuing banknotes, once the country encounters financial difficulties, it will have an uncontrollable impulse to issue more money.
, thinking that they can use this method to increase national expenditure effortlessly, but they do not know that this is overdrafting a country's most fundamental and precious national credit. Once overdrafted, the national credit will go bankrupt. At that time, what will the court say?
, the common people won’t believe it either…”
"Be careful what you say." Yang Rong broke into a cold sweat after hearing this. If Wang Xian said it was true, the Ming Dynasty would not be far from being destroyed.
"If this is true, then it is even more important to rectify the banknote laws and restore the credibility of the court." After all, this was not the first time the prince heard this, so he was no longer so shocked, and instead expressed his own thoughts.
"It's difficult, it's really difficult." Wang Xian sighed.
"So, there is still a way?" Yang Rong's eyes lit up.
"There are three ways to get everyone to accept treasure banknotes again," Wang Xian said calmly: "The best strategy is to issue new banknotes with gold and silver as guarantee. You can exchange new banknotes for no reason, and you can also exchange gold and silver treasure banknotes at any time. Allowed
The people use the old banknotes in their hands to exchange them for new banknotes at a certain ratio. In this way, as long as preparations are made, I believe that within half a year, the new banknotes will be accepted by the people and the court's credibility will be restored."
"This method is unrealistic." Yang Rong shook his head and said: "It is undoubtedly promulgating a new set of banknote laws, and where can the court find so much gold and silver?"
"Actually, it doesn't take much," Wang Xian said calmly: "As long as we can overcome the early people's exchange and make everyone believe that banknotes can be exchanged for gold, people will not exchange them. After all, the convenience of banknotes is gold and silver.
Incomparable."
"No, no." Yang Rong shook his head. In fact, he knew that this method was the fundamental solution and the way to reshape the country. But he also knew what the emperor needed now, and he would never agree to this method. "Where is the middle strategy?
"
"The central strategy is to amend the current banknote law." Wang Xiandao: "First, announce a cessation of the issuance of new banknotes for several years. Secondly, it stipulates that banknotes, regardless of whether they are old or new, can be exchanged for new banknotes at any time at local banknote bureaus. Thirdly, the imperial court
All taxes and fees collected will be paid with treasure banknotes. Fourth, severely crack down on counterfeit banknotes. If these four points can be achieved, the ban on gold and silver can be legitimately implemented. In this way, in just a few years, treasure banknotes will regain their value.
.”
"Well, this is a good method." After hearing this, Zhu Gaochi felt that this method was very feasible. At least he could implement this method if he ever reaches the highest level in the future.
"No way." Yang Rong still shook his head and said: "Not to mention anything else, first of all, if you stop issuing additional treasure banknotes for a few years, it will never be approved by the emperor." He almost said directly, Emperor Yongle still has
He wants to make money by printing money. If you dare to cut off his financial path, aren't you asking for death?
"Then we have no choice but to make the next move." Wang Xian was not surprised at all by Yang Rong's reaction, "Strictly enforce the ban on gold and silver. Anyone who dares to trade gold and silver will be executed without mercy. We will also implicate the nine tribes. Let's see who dares."
violate a ban."
"Master Wang, are you kidding?" Yang Rong asked in shock.
"Xueshi Yang, are you kidding?" Wang Xian asked back: "You want to exchange the wealth of the people with indiscriminate banknotes like waste paper over and over again?"
"This..." Yang Rong said depressedly: "Of course I also know that it is not advisable, but there are ancestral family laws and the emperor's imperial edict. This matter must be done even if it is not done..."
"It can't be done." Wang Xian waved his hand and said: "What should we do if we want the horses to run fast and not eat grass? If we force it, His Highness the Crown Prince will only offend everyone in the world, but he can only force them to do it.
"Rise up," he said with a slight emotion: "Bachelor, you are in the cabinet, you should know better than me how difficult the people are now, right? In Shanxi, Hebei, Lu, Henan, Gansu and Shaanxi, the White Lotus Sect is making waves everywhere. Why is the White Lotus Sect so popular? Because?
The people can no longer survive and hate the imperial court in their hearts, so they are willing to accept their temptations. At this time, they continue to hand out money indiscriminately. Do they think that the people will not rebel? The person who came up with this idea must be a treacherous and evil person who deserves to be killed.
"
"This method came from King Zhao." Yang Rong was said to be a little embarrassed, because no matter what, he did not have the courage to defend the prince or the people's property.
"He just wants to harm the prince," Wang Xian said angrily: "Your Highness, we know it is a trap, but we are determined not to jump in."
"But it's hard to disobey the emperor's holy will," Zhu Gaochi said helplessly: "I can't hide even though I know it's a trap."
"Then let the emperor take the initiative to withdraw his decree." Wang Xiandao.
"Once a decree is announced, it becomes a golden rule. How can it be taken back casually?" Yang Rong shook his head.
"Then we will give the emperor a reason to take back his life." Wang Xian said nonchalantly: "As the saying goes, plans don't change quickly, we have to take the initiative to make some changes."
"I would like to hear the details..." Yang Rong said.
"But it doesn't matter." Seeing Wang Xian looking at him, the prince nodded and said, "Scholar Yang is trustworthy."
Since the prince said this, Wang Xian told everything about his idea, which made the two of them dumbfounded and said: "This, this...how is this possible?"
"Besides this move, I really have no other choice." Wang Xian spread his hands.