The payment bill held high in the hand seemed to be as valuable as ten thousand gold and held high above the head, but now it is as fragile and frivolous as catkins blowing in the wind.
In one day, it can be said to be a world of difference.
Seeing the old man with white hair and the way he bowed to everyone, everyone in Duyanyuan felt very sad.
Cai Jing watched this scene and returned to Cai Xiang's house. Although he felt that the old man was very pitiful, his evaluation of Zhang Yuezhi did not decrease at all. In his heart, he was a truly wise and courageous man.
It happened that his younger brother Cai Bian also returned home from studying at Wang Anshi's home.
The two brothers met each other, and Cai Bian asked: "Brother, have you gone to the Capital Salt Institute again?"
Cai Jing said with a tired face: "Yes."
Seeing that his brother was tired, Cai Bian immediately undressed Cai Jing. Seeing Cai Bian's expression, Cai Jing immediately guessed and asked: "If you have anything to say, you might as well say it!"
Cai Bian smiled and said: "It's nothing. I've learned a lot from the teacher recently. I heard the teacher mentioned Shaanxi's transfer envoy Xue Caoshuai, and he spoke particularly highly of it. What do you think of Xue Caoshuai, brother?"
Cai Jing knew that Xue Xiang was the one who was saved by Wang Anshi.
In the fifth year of Jiayou's reign, Ouyang Xiu concurrently served as a herdsman when he became a Hanlin scholar.
Ouyang Xiu intended to reform Ma Zheng and return power to the central government. This opinion was in conflict with Xue Xiang, the deputy envoy of Shaanxi Province at the time.
So Wang Anshi united with several officials from Xiangdu Horse Herding Station and jointly wrote a letter "Lifting Xue to Zhazi".
In this essay, Wang Anshi openly opposed Ouyang Xiu and clearly supported Xue Xiang. He greatly appreciated Xue Xiang's move of exchanging salt banknotes for horses in Shaanxi, and believed that Ouyang Xiu should not interfere with Xue Xiang's actions in the northwest. He also advocated that not only Shaanxi, Even the horse administration in Hebei will be managed by Xue Xiang.
It was precisely because of Wang Anshi's support that Xue Xiang took the position of Shaanxi transit envoy.
Cai Jingdao: "Xue Caoshuai is certainly a great person, but after he took charge of the salt banknotes, he wasted money in vain, so that the salt banknotes of the imperial court were devalued again and again. This is really regrettable."
Cai Bian said: "But hasn't it increased to more than 20 yuan now?"
Cai Jingdao: "That's right. These more than twenty salts are the result of previous rewards. In addition, the merchants in Beijing and central China have been attracted by speculation, so that the price of salt in Beijing has soared and got out of control, so that the common people I suffered a lot. But thanks to Master Zhang’s efforts, today it has been reduced to the thirteenth level."
"It's been reduced to thirteen points, just today?" Cai Bian said in disbelief.
Cai Jing nodded and said: "That's it. Therefore, in my opinion, Zhang Xueshi is a real talent. Being with him for a few days is better than ten years of studying with him. There are really many vain things in this life." dare."
Cai Bian was quite critical of Zhang Yue, because what he heard when he paid homage to Wang Anshi was not the same. Wang Anshi did not understand Zhang Yue's establishment of this reference office, and he did not understand Zhang Yue. It doesn't have a high rating either.
However, Cai Bian knew that his brother admired Zhang Yue very much, so he did not express his views on Zhang Yue.
He took the initiative to ask to see what it was about Zhang Yue that made his brother admire him so much.
Cai Jing immediately told Cai Bian about the operation of the exchange, and he also talked about the theory of surplus value and the mysterious candle chart.
After hearing this, Cai Bian already wrote seven points and asked: "It seems that this chapter is really so good. The theory of surplus value is indeed something I have never heard of from my teacher, so this candle chart is too false."
"However, this quote is exactly what the teacher said. It will be a great benefit to the country to bring all the power of opening up, closing, dispersing and collecting the world's wealth to the central government, and letting the court compete with traitors like the widow Qing of Bashu to return home."
Cai Jing nodded and said: "That's right. In fact, in my opinion, Marshal Xue Cao is indeed a good talent, but he is far less talented than Bachelor Zhang."
At this time, a servant came in and said to Cai Jing: "Master, please go there quickly."
Cai Jing knew that Cai Xiang must have learned about the sharp drop in salt banknotes today, so he asked him to ask, so he responded and left. Cai Bian chewed what Cai Jing just said in his stomach, and he decided to do it the second time.
When I went to see Wang Anshi that day, I made some inquiries.
The exchange opened again the next day.
If it was a lively scene here yesterday, it is now in a state of depression.
However, the people outside the venue looked dull, while the people inside the venue were as if they had been beaten by frost. And among the empty seats in the two compartments, those seats with more than 50 seats for large households were already half empty compared to yesterday.
Cai Jing walked outside the door and took a look and suddenly thought, what his brother Cai Bian said yesterday is that Wang Anshi's ambition is to "take all the power of opening up, closing, dispersing and collecting the wealth of the world to the central government, and let the court and the traitors like the widow Qing of Bashu return to their homes."
Strive for profit'.
So why are these big business owners leaving first at the Exchange, while ordinary people are left to suffer?
After Cai Jing left, he saw Shen Chen, Shen Yan's uncle and nephew slowly coming to the high chair and sitting down.
As soon as the two sat down, the waiter on the side came forward and said: "Except for the two of you, only buyers with more than fifty seats can sit here. If you two want to sit here, please go to the side and pay the deposit!"
Ana Shen smiled slightly, and Shen Chen stood up and said: "Go and ask the entire Bianjing city if anyone knows about the Shen family's gold, silver, color, and silk shop? I have made it so clear, do you still need to pay a deposit?
?”
The waiter immediately stood in awe upon hearing this, and immediately stepped aside. After a while, he served tea to the two of them.
The uncle and nephew were drinking tea leisurely, in sharp contrast to the anxious people on the side. They looked at the water sign in front of them, which had the words "Thirteen Guan" written on it, which was yesterday's closing price.
Shen Chen said: "As expected by my uncle, the salt banknotes have fallen, and they have fallen so much in one day. Fortunately, I listened to my uncle and threw away all the salt banknotes on the first day. My uncle really
You are worthy of having been in the battlefield for a long time, and you can see through the mystery at a glance."
Ana Shen smiled faintly and said: "I told you that there are experts in this court. Just look at this exchange and this kind of management method. What a genius."
Shen Chen said: "What my uncle said is true, but we sold it too early. It would be great if we could wait until twenty-five coins before selling. But I think we can buy some bargains today."
"Hey, I can't make enough money. I came here today because I want to get to know a friend I've never met before, but I've been with him for a long time."
Shen Chen asked: "Making friends? Uncle, how can we make friends? How can such a dignified court official like us merchants?"
Ana Shen smiled and said: "How to pay? You don't believe it?"
Shen Chen asked: "What can uncle do?"
Shen Yan said: "You have to remember our Shen family's way of doing business. We need to understand not only the twists and turns in the market, but also the rules of the court. The price of this salt banknote is true and false, and it changes. It's unpredictable. You have to be on guard against those big bankers who eat people without spitting out their bones, and you also have to guard against the yamen's rules that turn their backs on people and don't recognize people. If you understand these two points, you can move around freely and retreat calmly. "
Shen Chen was confused when he heard this.
But when Ana Shen saw his nephew like this, he smiled and said, "You will understand when you become the master of this family."
Cai Jing once walked to the back of the house and said that Zhang Yue's ambition was to bring all the power of opening up, closing, dispersing and collecting the wealth of the world to the central government, but why couldn't he achieve this?
Cai Jing thought of this and silently walked to the large room where Zhang Yue was.
But seeing Zhang Yue still looking at the candle chart with his hands behind his hands, Cai Jing stood aside silently.
Cai Jing hesitated for a moment and asked, "Bachelor, what are your plans for today?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Yuan Chang, what would you do if you were in my position?"
Cai Jing thought of Cai Xiang's words last night and whispered: "Bachelor, I heard the news. If the salt currency drops again, I'm afraid you will be in big trouble."
Zhang Yue said: "I understand, but Mr. Han asked me to reduce the price of salt banknotes to less than ten coins today. I promised it in person, but now you want me to say that I can't do it."
"But those people outside...I am deeply afraid that the maester will offend the public."
Zhang Yue smiled calmly and said: "Yuan Zhang, do you remember what I said to you yesterday? It doesn't matter whether I resign or not. It doesn't matter even if the reference point is gone. The most important thing that can be saved is the salt banknote. This is where the credibility of the imperial court lies, this is the fundamental basis."
Having said that, the market is open.
In the first quarter, countless people continued to sell salt banknotes.
The price was reduced to ten dollars without any suspense!
Many people outside the hall covered their faces with their hands and cried loudly.
Zhang Yue looked indifferent, and both Luo Supervisor and Cai Jing looked worried. Luo Supervisor asked: "Is it now..."
Zhang Yue shook his head and said: "We don't have enough money, let's hold back our anger first."
In the second quarter, when the price dropped to eight dollars, Zhang Yue said to Luo Supervisor: "Buy!"
Luo Jianyuan was shocked and asked: "How much do you want to buy?"
Zhang Yue said: "Buy as many as you have!"
There was a cry outside the venue. When someone suddenly saw someone buying money in a big way, everyone's spirits were shaken, and they felt like they had survived a desperate situation.
On the side, Shen Chen said to Shen Yan: "Uncle, now that it has fallen to the bottom, someone is buying money. Should we also buy some?"
Ana Shen smiled and said: "You didn't understand what I said. You only remembered the first half of the sentence, but you didn't remember what I said in the second half?"
"What do you mean, uncle?"
Shen Chen said: "I am not here to sit in the sedan chair today, but to help others carry the sedan chair."
At this time, the price of salt banknotes had stopped falling, rising from seven guan 500 fen to eight guan 500 fen.
…
Zhang Yue heard Cai Jing report the sales figures of salt banknotes.
Just now, the Jiaoyin Office collected a large amount of salt notes between Qiguan 500 Wen and Eight Guan 500 Wen. It was not until all the money in hand was bought that the decline was finally stopped.
On the side, Luo Supervisor came to report: "Bachelor, the price of banknotes outside has risen. It has been raised from eight 500 coins to ten 500 coins in one go. Someone bought 30,000 seats here!"
Zhang Yue knew in his heart that he couldn't get rid of all the money in his hands. Who raised the price of banknotes? Is this for good deeds?
Zhang Yue said to Luo Supervisor: "Have you found out who it is?"
Luo Supervisor said with a happy face: "I found the bill for the Shen family's gold, silver, color, and silk shop. They are helping us raise the price! Now the banknote price has been maintained at 11 or 2 guan."
Zhang Yue heard that the scene outside was completely different.
When the price dropped to seven points, it was a lifeless scene, but when the salt currency rose to eleven points, most people cheered.
Compared to just now, it’s really a completely different world.
