Guo Song said to Du You and Cao Wannian: "I decided to take three measures. First, conditionally exchange old money, allowing each household to exchange five guans per month. The exchange price is the same, and it can only be exchanged once a month. If
Repeated exchanges, once verified, will result in fifty sticks. If repeated exchanges exceed twenty sticks, the penalty will be two years of service in the mines.
Second, the government-run grain stores and salt stores also have the same purchase restrictions, five liters of salt and two buckets of rice per person per month, but we receive new money.
Third, every household in Chang'an is issued a household registration iron plate, and each household is assigned a number. In the future, they can register according to the household registration number."
After speaking, Guo Song asked the two of them: "Do you have any additional comments?"
Du You quickly said: "I would like to add that the new money problem is not only a serious problem in Chang'an, but also in other prefectures and counties in Guanzhong. Can His Highness's three methods be implemented simultaneously in all parts of Guanzhong?"
Guo Song thought for a while and said: "It will be trialled in Chang'an for a month first. If the effect is good, it will be promoted to all parts of Guanzhong in mid-to-late March."
"I understand the humble position!"
Guo Song looked at Cao Wannian again, and Cao Wannian gave a wry smile: "There are more than 200,000 households in Chang'an. Each household has five guans, which means more than 100 guans a month. If it takes five months, that's five million guans. Where can we get it?"
come out?"
Guo Song laughed, "Zhu Si only minted three million guan of new coins in total, of which more than 50% were in Luoyang and the Central Plains, about 20% were in the warehouses of Taiyuan and Chang'an, and about 10% were in Hebei, Jiangnan, Guanzhong
The private sector only has 20% of the maximum amount of 700,000 guan, and the big businessmen have already tried every means to exchange it. These 700,000 guan are in the hands of the people at the bottom and some black markets. We allow exchange for 5 guan, but in fact many people may not
You only have one or two dollars, so don’t worry too much.”
Cao Wannian said awkwardly: "I'm a little confused."
Guo Song added: "Actually, the real big problem is the black market money dealers. They have an estimated two to three hundred thousand guan in their hands. They are also eager to exchange it, but we have restrictions, so what should they do?"
Du You said: "They only have one way at the moment, which is to sell the new money to ordinary people at a low price. For example, if they exchange the new money for 900 yuan of old money, they will make a profit of 100 yuan, and then the people will come back to exchange it the next month, and they will earn 5 yuan of money.
I got five hundred coins."
Guo Song sneered: "These black market businessmen have made a fortune before. They always exchange old money for one thousand or two hundred coins. It's time for them to spit it out."
...........
On the same day, Guo Song issued an order from the King of Jin to set up ten exchange points in Chang'an, allowing people to exchange new money for old money and regular money for regular money. Each household is only allowed to exchange five guan of money per month, and only 5 guan of money is allowed to be exchanged per month.
One exchange, one violation, fifty rods, if the total violation exceeds twenty guan, the fine will be two years of hard labor in the mines.
Other states and counties in Guanzhong will start exchanging funds in early March.
When this news came out, the people of Chang'an were excited. In the past few months, every household had been worried about new money. Now, they were finally able to exchange the new money.
The next day, ten exchange points in Chang'an opened their doors. Almost every exchange point was filled with long queues. The people who exchanged money were very enthusiastic. Everyone was carrying large and small bags filled with new money.
Guo Song led officials to inspect various exchange points. The exchange point closest to the Jin Palace was in Dongshi, where the largest number of people queued up. The queue was several miles long, along Chunmingmen Street, all the way to the edge of the Taiji Palace Imperial City.
.
Guo Song was riding on his horse, looking at the exchange shop next to Gaosheng Inn from a distance. The several employees were sweating profusely from work, but they were still moving quickly. Two people were responsible for counting, one registered, and the other exchanged.
The counting is not about counting copper coins one by one, but rather weighing them. New coins weigh five kilograms and six taels, which is much lighter than old coins. Old coins weigh six kilograms and forty taels. This is mainly because the copper content of new coins is too low.
Some people also mixed in small coins minted by Hebei feudal towns. If the quantity is not large, it can also be exchanged.
At this time, Guo Song saw a pair of old people walking towards each other, supporting each other and carrying a heavy bag of money. The old lady kept complaining, her voice was very low, but Guo Song still heard it.
"We obviously don't need to exchange, why should we take advantage of this?"
"A thousand dollars! When can we save it?"
Guo Song got off his horse, stepped forward and said with a smile: "Two old people, do you need my help?"
The two old men were startled, and the old man waved his hands quickly, "No need! No need!"
But the old lady complained: "We originally saved ten guan of money, which was all old money. The old man said that someone was willing to exchange five guan of new money for four guan of old money. I asked him not to take advantage of this, but he refused to listen. Now
We still have to come here and queue up, isn’t this annoying?”
The old man's face was flushed, and he was a little at a loss. This general was obviously a member of the imperial court, and he actually admitted it to himself. Will he be punished with fifty canes?
Guo Song laughed loudly, "No problem, I also want to take advantage of this."
The old man murmured: "Would it be illegal?"
"Does the old man think that it is illegal to take advantage of him? No, as long as you only exchange five guan money once a month, it is not illegal. As for how your money came from, the government will not ask."
Guo Song's explanation made the old man breathe a long sigh of relief, "That's good! That's good!"
Guo Song summoned a soldier and said to him: "Help these two old men exchange it first."
The soldier nodded, took the money bags from the two of them and said, "Please come with me!"
The two old men followed the soldiers with great gratitude. Cao Wannian beside him said with a smile: "It seems that His Highness knew that someone would have this idea."
Guo Song smiled lightly, "This is inevitable. Since some people are willing to make concessions that benefit the people, why not do it."
Cao Wannian hesitated for a moment and said: "I'm afraid someone will arrange for many people to exchange money repeatedly at different exchange points. This is a loophole."
"As long as Zhu Si doesn't do this, it won't be a big problem. After all, the total amount won't be too much. Besides, I arranged for Wang Yue to investigate this kind of thing. They can't escape the eyes of the internal guards. If they are caught, it will be a good show.
"
In fact, Cao Wannian's worries were unnecessary. As soon as the exchange began, Wang Yue's internal guards focused on a dozen of Chang'an's famous Qiangu brokers. They were actually big players in Chang'an's black market, and Guo Song also agreed to exchange new money for them.
, the condition is that one thousand old coins should be exchanged for one thousand two hundred coins of new money, which is equivalent to depriving them of all the profits they made by exchanging new money.
Guo Song gave them three months to consider. After three months, Guanzhong will completely abolish the new money, and the new money in their hands will no longer be exchanged.
The exchange was carried out in an orderly manner, and 100,000 yuan was exchanged on the first day alone.
On the morning of the next day, Guo Song met with more than a hundred Chang'an businessmen at the Jin Palace. Businessmen gathered in the magnificent main hall of Qinzhengwu. Guo Song also met Shi Donglai, a great Sogdian businessman who had made many contributions to him.
Shi Donglai was obviously old and gray-haired. He came to the meeting supported by his eldest son Shi Huan. Guo Song sat aside and talked cordially with him.
"After Your Highness entered Guanzhong, the Sogdian caravans gained confidence again. As far as I know, there are more than two hundred caravans on their way to Chang'an. Everyone used to be afraid of horse bandits, but once they entered Suiye Town, they no longer worried
, we all sincerely hope that Chang'an will become more prosperous."
Guo Song smiled and said: "The prosperity of Chang'an is our common hope. Otherwise, I would not have summoned so many big businessmen to discuss the future of Chang'an."
At this time, Du You stepped forward and whispered: "Your Highness, the time has come."
Guo Song nodded, "Let's start!"
The cloud board in the hall rang, making a clear echoing sound, and the hall suddenly became quiet.
There are more than a hundred official chairs placed in the center of the hall, and each businessman sits on a chair.
Guo Song smiled at everyone and said: "In the past few months, our task was to stabilize the situation. As the situation gradually stabilizes, making Chang'an more prosperous is the current priority. This is the main topic I invite you to discuss today. Everyone
I also know that entering the Jin Kingdom..."
Speaking of this, Guo Song paused and laughed at himself: "It seems that you can't call it that."
There was a knowing smile in the hall, and Guo Song added: "Actually, what I want to say is that starting from January, the Tang Dynasty and the Jin Kingdom suspended commercial taxes, and all goods entering the Jin Kingdom will be tax-free. This is to transfer profits to merchants, and the second is to cancel
Curfew, no longer closing the city gates, and in the future when conditions are ripe, the city gates will be opened at night. These are all to promote business.
Of course, I know that there are still many areas that need to be improved, perhaps by removing some unnecessary restrictions, so I invite you to come over and want to hear your suggestions."
Guo Song looked at everyone and said with a smile: "How about it, who can say it first?"
There was silence in the main hall, and no one was embarrassed to take the lead. At this time, Shi Donglai coughed twice and said, "Your Highness, let's say a few words first!"
"Old proprietor, please tell me!"
Shi Donglai calmed down his emotions and said: "Your Highness has made great achievements in the past few months, and everyone has seen it. We Sogdian merchants have been in Datang for many years and regard Datang as our hometown. For various reasons, we
There are still many restrictions.
Of course, some of it is due to our own customs and habits, so I won’t go into that. I just want to say that when we go to various places to do business, we will be thoroughly searched when we encounter checkpoints. If we see valuable goods, we will inevitably be extorted. Han merchants
If the team will not be searched, can everyone be treated equally in this regard?"