Chapter 172: The foundation of the world [two in one]
In April, in the prosperous area of Bolangsa Port City, a group of guards slowly walked from the distance of the street with neat steps, attracting the attention of pedestrians on the street.
"Prætorian Guards?"
Three or four local rangers who were laughing and playing in an alley seemed to have recalled bad memories after seeing the Imperial Guards. After all, a year or two ago, when a large number of Wei State rangers entered the Wei State,
Moreover, during the conflict with the local rangers of the Wei State, the Imperial Guards of Daliang, the capital of the King of Wei, frequently dispatched to suppress the ranger forces. Both the local rangers of the Wei State and the Wei State Rangers were suppressed in that suppression. I don’t know if there were any
How many people were arrested by the imperial guards and sent to the Ministry of Justice, Dali Temple, Daliang Mansion and other judicial offices. Some of them have not even been released to this day.
When they think of their companions or opponents who are still in prison, these rangers instinctively fear the Guards. After all, they are the law enforcement army that they cannot resist. Of course, there is no need to make enemies of them.
.
As a result, these people quickly sneaked back into the alley with their heads shrunk, peeping around to see what these imperial guards were doing in Bolangsa Port City, whether they were to suppress them again or something.
Compared with these rangers, pedestrians on the street are not afraid or frightened by the arrival of the Guards, even businessmen from other countries, because the arrival of the Guards will only worsen the security of Borangsha Port City.
Even better, when the Royal Guards arrived in Bolangsa Port City last time, they captured a large group of rangers and gangsters who were fighting in the downtown area and engaging in extortion and extortion. This was of course a good thing for the merchants.
However, to everyone's surprise, this time the Imperial Guards did not pay attention to the rangers and gangsters hiding in the alleys. They went straight to the bulletin board in the bustling area and posted a list of articles on it.
Immediately, the lieutenant of the Guards riding a tall horse left four Guardsmen to guard the notice board and left with the rest of the Guards soldiers.
"What? I'm just here to issue a decree."
After a false alarm, the rangers or gangsters hiding in the alleys came out again.
At this time, the notice board was already crowded with people, especially the businessmen. As soon as the guards left, they immediately gathered in front of the notice board and squinted their eyes to carefully examine the contents on the notice board.
The content of the list is very simple. It is nothing more than telling everyone that the Wei court has minted a batch of new coins and will gradually abandon the old coins this year.
"It turned out to be the introduction of a new currency."
The crowd suddenly realized.
Among them, the merchants from Korea and Chu showed uneasy expressions.
It's no wonder, after all, Korea and Chu were both very good at using new currencies to pass on the losses of the country's big aristocrats and big families to the small aristocrats and ordinary people.
Even the royal families, public families and other big nobles of Korea and Chu had many bad deeds of privately coining coins to make money. Therefore, whenever they heard about the introduction of new coins, the merchants of Korea and Chu would inevitably tremble with fear.
Immediately, a businessman from South Korea cursed in a low voice with strong resentment: "They are all the same! ... We no longer support the circulation of old coins, so what should we do with the old coins in our hands?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a local merchant from Wei State glared at him and cursed angrily: "Are you blind? Didn't it say that you should exchange new coins as soon as possible?"
The Korean businessman was stunned. He squinted his eyes and looked carefully. He actually saw something written on the list: In order to avoid unnecessary losses of wealth, the imperial court recommends that everyone exchange new currency as soon as possible. This matter is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
The subordinate Jinbu Yamen is responsible.
"I really wrote it..."
Under the unkind looks of the nearby Wei merchants, the Korean merchant smiled sarcastically and clasped his fists at the crowd around him, trying to apologize for his gaffe.
It's a pity that some Wei merchants were still indignant at his remarks and pushed him aside angrily: "Don't stand here and obstruct your eyes. I haven't seen the second half yet!"
After being reminded by this person, everyone should immediately turn their attention to the second half of the article again.
The second half of the list clearly states the exchange ratio between the old currency and the new currency, and also introduces "silver circles", "gold circles", "gold bars", "gold nuggets", "paper deeds", etc.
Several currencies in circulation.
The old coins of the Wei State were all copper coins. The exchange ratio with the copper coins in the new coins was one to one. This meant that the old Wei coins in the hands of merchants and common people would not depreciate. This fact made a large part of the
The merchant put down his worries and secretly praised Wei: Han and Chu are indeed different from each other in doing things in Wei.
In fact, when Han Wangran regained the royal power and Xiong Tuo became the king of Chu, Han and Chu did not do this kind of thing again, but it is undeniable that Han and Chu did have a history of this before.
As for the second article, it stipulates the exchange ratio of copper, silver and gold circles in the new coins. Different from the old exchange method, the Wei court rigidly stipulated that one gold circle is worth ten silver circles.
One silver circle is equivalent to ten copper circles, and the list clearly stipulates that this value ratio is fixed from generation to generation.
In the third article of the list, the Wei court clearly pointed out that copper, silver, and gold were not all made of the three precious metals of copper, silver, and gold. They were also mixed with other metals. Speculators were advised not to use them.
Take more effort.
However, in order to prevent corruption, the Wei court still clearly emphasized that anyone who destroys coins and returns them to the furnace or mints coins privately is guilty of treason and will be executed and his family property will be confiscated.
Seeing these two items, the knowledgeable people in the crowd nodded one after another and praised in their hearts: The Wei court was very rigorous in doing things and could be said to be watertight.
Then, there is the value ratio of gold bars, gold bricks and coins.
In the list, the Wei court stipulated the size and weight of gold bars and gold bricks, and repeatedly emphasized that both must be engraved with the seal of the "Jin Ministry" under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Husbandry. Any gold bar without the seal of the Ministry of Gold should be engraved.
, gold bricks, or gold bars and gold bricks that meet the specifications but are not of sufficient weight, are considered counterfeit and are prohibited from circulation. Otherwise, a fine will be imposed in accordance with the law.
“Gold and silver can no longer be circulated?”
Merchants from various countries were in an uproar.
You know, for the common people, gold and silver may be relatively distant wealth, but as businessmen, they have a lot of gold and silver in their hands. Now, the Wei court has banned the circulation of miscellaneous gold among the people.
, what should we do?
Fortunately, after the scene just now, the merchants were not in a hurry and continued to look for relevant answers in the list.
Soon, they found the answer: they only need to go to the gold department to exchange them for gold bars or gold bricks that meet the specifications.
As for the value of gold bars and gold bricks, the article clearly states that a gold bar as thick as two fingers is worth about one hundred gold circles, while a gold brick about the size of a palm is worth ten gold bars. Both sizes are available.
and rigid rules on weight.
And finally, there are supplementary provisions for "paper deeds".
In the past, "paper contracts" were negotiations between two merchants, with at most one guarantor added. However, this was not enough to become a standard for criminal judgment in the Wei State. After all, there was also a merchant who partnered with the guarantor to deliberately harm another merchant.
possibility.
Therefore, the Wei court now stipulates that when Wei currency cannot meet the needs of transactions, the two merchants on both sides of the transaction must go to the relevant government offices, which is still the Ministry of Finance under the Ministry of Revenue, in front of the officials of the Ministry of Finance.
, sign the paper deed in person, sign and stamp it, and have the official from the Ministry of Finance sign his name and stamp it.
Only such a paper deed is legal, and the Wei court will protect this paper deed.
Seeing this, the merchants in front of the bulletin board clapped their hands in celebration. After all, no one wants to carry several boxes of coins or gold and silver with them for every transaction, right? Not only does this involve the risk of being robbed, but it is also troublesome.
It's a pity that paper contracts in the past were not safe. Unless it was a very familiar transaction partner, even if there was a highly respected guarantor, they would feel guilty to some extent.
Nowadays, the Wei court has clearly stipulated the legality process of paper contracts and protected them in Wei laws, which greatly facilitated transactions between merchants.
Generally speaking, the new coins introduced by the Wei court this time had little impact on the civilian class. After all, the most commonly used coins by the common people were probably copper and silver coins, and even gold coins were used less frequently.
Smaller, unless they are those noble children who spend a lot of money.
In comparison, this decree had a far-reaching influence on merchants.
It is for this reason that the common people adapted to this decree within a few days, while the merchants discussed it a lot and gathered together to discuss the pros and cons. After all, this was directly related to their interests, especially the merchants involved in large-scale trade.
them.
A few days later, Tao Hong, a wealthy businessman from Song County, came after hearing the news and visited his friend, Uncle Anlingwen, whom he had known for more than ten years.
At that time, Wen Shaobo was on the second floor of his shop located in the bustling area of Bolangsha Port City, carefully examining several currencies promoted by the Wei court. Suddenly, he heard that his old friend Tao Hong had come to visit, and he quickly asked someone to invite the latter to the second floor.
building.
After they sat down with each other, Tao Hong glanced at a few round coins and a few gold bars and gold nuggets placed on the table next to him, and asked straight to the point: "Brother, what do you think about the new coins promoted by the imperial court this time?
What do you think?"
After hearing this, Mr. Wen bowed his hands in the direction of Daliang Palace and said with a smile: "Of course I fully support it."
Tao Hong lost his temper when he heard this. Who didn't know that the richest businessman in Wei before him was the royal merchant of Wei King Zhao Run. He could be seen in almost everything, including Wei selling food, smuggling arms, and people like him.
Business is completely different.
"I'm just worried about whether it's going to be controversial."
Tao Hong said with some concern.
"What kind of controversy can it cause?" Wen Shaobo poured tea for Tao Hong and said with a smile: "The imperial decree this time has little influence on the people, and the imperial court clearly stated that copper, silver, and gold
It is mixed with other gold and stones. Whether it is destroying the coins and re-melting them or minting them privately, there is no profit. I don't think many people will do such unprofitable things."
"I mean these two."
Tao Hong pointed to a few gold bars and a few gold bricks on the table, and said in a deep voice: "It may not be profitable to mint coins privately, but with these two kinds of gold bricks, it may not be impossible to play tricks... Since the imperial court
You can mix other gold and stones into the gold bricks, but there may not be anyone who will make a fuss about these two kinds of gold bricks, mix other gold and stones into them, and pass them off as good ones. This can be more profitable than privately minting coins."
Uncle Wen nodded, but then shook his head.
It is undeniable that he also believes that Tao Hong's remarks are reasonable. In other years, there may have been many cases of privately minting gold bricks, but in contemporary times, the possibility is smaller, because the contemporary King of Wei is Zhao Run, who speaks the truth
Since the imperial court made it clear that those who minted coins privately would be sentenced to death and their property confiscated, then once someone committed this crime, the imperial court would definitely comply with the law and there would be no chance of escape.
As if he had read through Wen Shaobo's thoughts, Tao Hong reminded him in a low voice: "People in Wei don't dare, but that doesn't necessarily mean people from other countries don't."
Uncle Wen was stunned for a moment: That's true!
On the same day, after Tao Hong left, Wen Shaobo wrote the process and results of their discussion in writing and sent it to Tiance Mansion. It was delivered to Gao Kuo, the Zuodu Lieutenant of Tiance Mansion, as the royal merchant of Wei King Zhao Run.
He has the right to report interests directly to the king.
Gao Kuo, the Zuodu Lieutenant of Tiance Mansion, saw that the letter was signed "Young Uncle An Lingwen", so he checked the mailbox and after checking the paper, he immediately sent someone to the palace and delivered it to Wei Wang Zhao Run.
In the Ganlu Hall, Zhao Run carefully read Wen Shaobo's letters and thought about the conclusions he reached through discussions with Tao Hong.
As Wen Shaobo believes, in fact, for ordinary people in Wei State, copper and silver coins are completely sufficient to meet the daily transactions of the people. Only when buying valuables, there is a small chance that gold coins will be used;
In addition, it is not impossible for those children of wealthy families to spend a few or dozens of gold coins on a single meal.
In comparison, gold bars, gold bricks, and paper contracts are purely designed for merchants.
However, Tao Hong, a wealthy merchant who made pottery, believed that gold bars and gold bricks were of little use and potentially dangerous, and suggested they be abandoned. This made Zhao Hongrun hesitate.
"Other country's gold...?"
Zhao Hongrun stood at the window with his hands behind his back, thinking deeply.
If you think about it carefully, Tao Hong is actually right. After all, gold is not only owned by the Wei State, but also by other countries. The Wei people adopted the criminal laws of their own country and did not dare to privately mint gold bars and gold bricks. This may not necessarily be the case for the nobles of other countries.
We also dare not allow nobles from other countries to imitate Wei's gold bars and bricks and mix them with other metals, which would greatly harm the interests of Wei.
More importantly, if someone from another country commits a crime, will the Wei State still deal with it according to the law? If it is dealt with according to the law, will this cause dissatisfaction in that country?
Although the current Wei State has no fear of other countries, there is no need to establish hostility in vain, right?
Therefore, Tao Hong believes that since gold bars and gold bricks have little effect but great hidden dangers, they should be abandoned and replaced by "paper deeds". He even thinks that paper deeds are more convenient than visible coins, except for having to go to the gold department several times.
yamen.
After thinking about it, Zhao Hongrun finally came to Chui Gong Hall to discuss the matter with the ministers of the inner court.
It cannot be denied that the ideas of Zhao Run and the ministers of the imperial court are good, but good ideas may not always be applicable.
As Tao Hong said, even if the imperial court promoted gold bricks, a currency specifically designed for large-scale transactions, who would be stupid enough to carry a few gold bricks to trade? After all, they have horns and horns, and they are very heavy.
of gold bricks.
If it were the words of ordinary people, the ministers of the inner dynasty might not take them too seriously, but Tao Hong is also a giant businessman in Dingtao County whose reputation is well-known in his Wei State. The advice given by this self-made businessman is certainly worthy of acceptance.
.
Is it really not suitable?
The ministers in the inner court couldn't help but hesitate.
"Let's take another look. If it's really not suitable, we'll take it down." Zhao Hongrun said firmly.
The ministers in the inner court nodded one after another.
Although Tao Hong's suggestion did make them a little suspicious, national decrees cannot be withdrawn just because of one person's objections, right? The courtiers decided to wait and see for a while. If it turns out that gold bars and gold bricks are indeed not suitable for circulation in the future,
Then take it down.
As for Tao Hong's other suggestions, the ministers in the inner court found them very reasonable.
For example, the court should slowly recycle the private gold scattered among the people to prevent it from being collected and illicitly cast into gold bars or gold bricks mixed with other gold and stones. Moreover, the inflow of foreign gold and silver should be strictly controlled mainly to check the quality, so as to avoid any
People from other countries pretended to be inferior and harmed Wei's interests.
Regarding the supplements to these decrees, Zhao Hongrun handed them over to Li Liang, the former Minister of Household Affairs, who drafted them.
As for himself, he was considering something more important than "currency", which was the enlightenment education for all Wei people, that is, making them literate.
He believes that national education can greatly promote the development of a country.
But when he made this suggestion in Chui Gong Hall, surprisingly no one responded to him.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the ministers in the inner dynasty were stunned.
"Let all Chinese people learn Chinese and read Chinese characters?"
"No distinction between high and low?"
All the ministers in the inner court, you look at me, I look at you, and they look at each other.
After all, this has never happened before.
Firstly, unimaginable money will be invested to popularize culture across the country; secondly, this will seriously affect the royal family, the public family, and the noble family.
Of course, this impact has both positive and negative effects.
The positive thing is that after the common people get the right to study and practice essays, a large number of people will inevitably join the official career and strengthen the new nobles among the gentry. The new bureaucrats will have almost no impact on the entire gentry.
However, the emergence of these new aristocrats and new bureaucrats will inevitably greatly endanger the status of the old aristocrats and old families. It is like the imperial examination. Before the imperial examination existed, the Wei State adopted a system of recommending talents, which was equivalent to the royal family.
, gentry, clans, etc. monopolized the entire bureaucratic class, leaving ordinary people with almost no chance to get ahead.
Now, if His Majesty decides to promote the national education of the entire Wei State in front of him, then in twenty years, Wei State will not only experience a blowout period of abundant talents, but it will also inevitably lead to conflicts between the old gentry and the new ones.
Contradictions between noble families.
"Interesting..."
Wen Qi, the Minister of Internal Affairs, looked at Lin Yuyang, Li Liang, Feng Yu and other colleagues with a smile.
The reason is very simple. People like Lin Yuyang, Li Liang, Feng Yu and others all came from local aristocratic families in Daliang, and belonged to the category of the deep-rooted old gentry, while people like Wen Qi, Jie Ziu, including Zhang Qigong, the right captain of Tiance Mansion, etc.
They were born from common people. Although they were also included in the gentry category, strictly speaking they belonged to the new gentry.
Therefore, the two parties will of course have different perspectives on this matter.
In the end, it was Du You, the mature and prudent chief minister of the inner dynasty, who took the lead and asked: "Your Majesty, do you have a charter in your mind?"
Zhao Hongrun nodded and said: "I hope the Ministry of Rites will write a book to teach people how to read..."
"Writing a book and establishing a statement?"
Du You couldn't help but be a little excited when he heard that. After all, in this era, not just anyone is qualified to write a book and make a statement. Even he, the Minister of Rites, actually hopes to write something to pass down to future generations, but when he thinks of it, People in the world may not accept his thoughts or words, and they will inevitably shrink from it. If you spend a lot of effort to write a book, and only a few people read it, it will be really embarrassing.
But now, the majesty in front of him actually wanted the Ministry of Rites to draft a book to teach the people how to read, which made Du You's mind suddenly become active.
"...The requirement is that it is catchy and easy to spread." Zhao Hongrun added: "It doesn't have to be something very profound. For example, the surnames of people all over the world. If collected by the Ministry of Rites, it can also be used as a teaching material to enlighten the people of the country. !”
These words stunned Du You and the ministers in the inner court: It doesn't have to be something very profound?
They can't understand.
After all, in this era, writing a book is purely about elaborating a certain idea around a certain core and carrying it forward. Of course, it requires profoundness, otherwise, you will inevitably be disliked and even humiliated by the world's literati.
But the majesty in front of me actually said that even if he collects the surnames of people in the world, he can write a book and make a statement?
"...This, this is not in line with the teachings of the saints."
Du You said with a look of embarrassment. He couldn't accept it. How could writing a book and establishing a statement be so casual?
Zhao Hongrun smiled slightly: "Just do as I say!"
"..." Du You opened his mouth, and after being stunned for a while, he nodded slightly.
He also understood that as long as it was decided by His Majesty, there would be no possibility of taking it back.
At this time, Wen Qi asked from the side: "How does Your Majesty want to implement this?... As far as I know, unless they are people who are interested in official careers, ordinary people may not have the money to buy books. Books are, for them, Too expensive.”
As he said this, he felt a little emotional. After all, he had been impoverished in order to buy books or even borrow books. This was something Jie Ziu also understood deeply.
Zhao Hongrun nodded, of course he understood that books in this era were very expensive.
But in the final analysis, the reason why books are expensive is because almost all books in this era are handwritten copies. But once books can be copied in large quantities through printing technology, the price of books suddenly drops.
The question is, will this cause panic among the old aristocracy and the old gentry?
After all, once the old aristocrats and old soldiers can no longer monopolize knowledge, then the day will not be far away when they will be replaced by new aristocrats and new gentry.
However, for the future talent spurt in the Wei State and the abundance of talents in the Wei State in the future, Zhao Hongrun believes that even if there is a little chaos, it is worth it.
With his power, he can completely withstand the opposition forces, but his descendants may not have this authority.
In other words, this is something he must do as the king of Wei for the sake of future generations!