In the former Han Dynasty, there were 36 kingdoms in the Western Regions. By the time of the present Han Dynasty, it had become fifty-five kingdoms.

The reason for this is the big man.

For example, Cheshi Country. The original name of the driver was "Gushi". It is located at the throat of the traffic along the middle section of the Silk Road to enter the Western Regions, and it is a battleground for soldiers. It was also the gateway for the Xiongnu to enter the Western Regions. Therefore, from Emperor Wu to Emperor Xuan, the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu have repeatedly fought for this place, and the history is known as the "Five Battles for the Carriage Division".

In the third year of Yuanfeng (108 BC), Emperor Wu sent the eagle attack general Zhao Ponu and Zhonglang to lead Wang Hui to lead his troops to defeat Gushi, change the name of his country to Cheshi, and divide the kingdom before and after Cheshi and the six kingdoms (ten countries) of Shanbei.

In other words. Those historically powerful powers in the Western Regions were all dismembered by the Han Dynasty.

Another example is Wusun, who is known as controlling 100,000 strings. It was also split by the Han Dynasty at its peak. From the first year of Ganlu (53 BC), Wusun was divided into large and small Kunmi, and ruled by the territory. The two kings were infighting and conflicting. At the end of the Han Dynasty, the Han court was trying to solve problems for Wusun. Therefore, the history books contain that after Wusun was separated from the two Kunmi, "the Han used to work hard, and there was no peace".

If you knew today, why bother in the first place?

The reason is simple.

On a strategic level. After the dismemberment, the Western Regions is more in line with the interests of the Han Dynasty. It can't be integrated, and it's even more difficult to unify. A plate of loose sand, not only will it not pose a threat to the big man, but it also needs the protection of the big man.

At the turn of the two Han Dynasty, the Western Regions were in turmoil. It is not uncommon for large countries to annex small countries. However, when the Han Dynasty vacated his hand, Ban Dingyuan served the Western Regions again. The first thing is to help a small country that has been annexed by a large country to regain its country. As a result, the Western Regions split from the 36 kingdoms of the former Han Dynasty to the 55 kingdoms today.

In addition to the five countries of Kushan, Kangju, and Anxi, they are not part of the capital because they are "far away" from the Central Plains. The remaining 50 countries were all forbidden by the Han court.

However, this way. But it also produced drawbacks that Liu Bei couldn't tolerate.

The currency system is chaotic.

Nowadays. In the Western Regions, in addition to the five baht coins of the Han Dynasty. There are also Kushan coins, Roman coins, and two-body coins privately minted by the king of Khotan. There is also bartering. Silk and horses are hard currency.

The currencies are gold, silver, and copper.

It's too confusing.

The harm of indiscriminate issuance of currency is too severe. The former Han is a lesson from the past.

From the perspective of future generations, Liu Bei would never allow the vassal to have an independent monetary system.

This is the main reason why the king of Khotan, Anguo, came.

Wait for the king of Khotan, Anguo, to enter the Changshi Mansion to meet him. On the low table in front of Liu Bei, there was a small bag of Khotanese coins.

There are two kinds of Han Yan two-body money. Six baht 'small money', and twenty-four baht 'big money'. The exchange ratio between large and small coins is also four to one (4:1). Comparable to weight. In other words, large and small coins are made of the same material.

The coin is an imitation of Kushan coins. The manufacturing process is divided into two steps: first, make a blank of the specified size; Then, while the iron is hot, the mold is used to print different inscriptions and patterns on the front and back. There are different versions of the mold, and the position of the manual forging is also different. Theoretically, there will never be an identical coin. This kind of coin is called a suppression coin.

The Han Dynasty five-baht coin was minted coin.

Obviously, the five-baht coin cast in one mold is more exquisite and more uniform.

"See Long History." Although he is a king, it can be seen that when the Son of Heaven exercised the long history of the Western Regions, the king of Khotan, Anguo, also paid homage first.

"I've seen the king." Liu Bei returned the salute solemnly: "Please be seated." ”

"Thank you."

The host and guest are seated. Liu Bei greeted him with two words, and then went straight to the point: "Please invite the king to come here for this matter." ”

Shun Changshi fingers. When the king of Khotan, Anguo, looked at the dwarf, he realized: "This season's annual tribute (the princes or vassal states give gifts to the court every year), when I came, I had ordered someone to load the car, and I must have been on the way at this time." ”

Liu Bei shook his head: "It's not for the New Year's tribute, but for the money." ”

The king of Khotan was stunned: "This money? ”

"It's too crude." Liu Bei smiled: "And it weighs six baht." With my five baht money, it's not easy to exchange. ”

"What does Changshi think?" Then the king of Khotan asked.

"Xiaguan means. Why didn't the king send all the coinsmiths? Forge armor for the lower officers. As for the existing 'Khotanese money', I exchanged six five-baht coins for five 'small coins', and twenty-four five-baht coins for five 'big coins', all of which were exchanged. ”

The king of Khotan then woke up: "Changshi wants to use five baht coins and equal weight in exchange for my country's coins." ”

"Yes, yes." Liu Bei smiled: "Not only that. Kushan coins, Daqin (Rome) coins, and coins of various countries were exchanged for the equivalent of five baht, or horseshoe gold cakes. From then on, only five baht coins were used in the Western Regions, and horseshoe gold was used for large transactions. (Emperor Wu also minted the 'platinum three products' silver coin, but after the issuance, it was stolen on a large scale, and it was abolished in the second year of the Yuan Ding Dynasty (115 BC), which lasted a total of 5 years.) ）”

The king of Khotan then arched his hand and said: "It is precisely because of the lack of money that the country mints coins privately. It would be great if it could be converted into five baht. However, if the exchanged coins run out, dare to ask the long history, what should I do? ”

Liu Bei smiled, revealing eight white teeth: "Does the king know the treasury?" ”

"I don't know."

Liu Bei will explain the function of the township treasury in detail. Then he said: "The king can rest assured that the treasury will be built in this city first." After that, the national capitals of the fifty countries in the Western Regions will build another sub-library. The necessary coins will be transported from Kannai and stored in the treasury. When needed, you can go to the treasury to withdraw and exchange. There will never be a shortage of money. ”

The powerful ability of modern banking to absorb gold (blood) is not known to the king of a vassal state two thousand years ago.

Thinking about the five baht coins that are flowing from Kannai. The king of Khotan nodded happily: "In this case, obey the order of Changshi." ”

Without bloodshed, Liu Bei relieved Khotan of the right to mint coins.

Sent away to the king of Khotan, Anguo, Liu Bei saw the king of detention and Dingxing.

Dingxing and Anguo have a grudge against their father.

And after the once-tyrannical state of detention was broken by Khotan, most of the people fled. The strength of the country is weakened and it is no longer what it used to be.

If there was no mediation by the Han Dynasty, it would have been annexed by Khotan.

Liu Bei recruited him, in addition to good words to calm his heart. The issue of the currency system was also discussed. The country could not afford to mint coins, let alone exchange a sufficient amount of five baht coins. Liu Bei came to him, and what he wanted to talk about was actually another thing.

"National debt?" King Dingxing was confused. This word has never been heard before.

"Yes." Liu Bei smiled kindly: "The lower officials heard about it." Since the first king, the country has suffered many hardships and collapsed. The so-called 'far water does not quench the thirst of the near'. Therefore, he wanted to provide a sum of money to the king to help him tide over the difficulties. Because it is a 'national debt', it is called a national debt. ”

King Kumi understood: "Changshi wants to borrow money and despise the country? ”

"Yes, yes." Liu Bei nodded happily.

"I don't know how much Changshi wants to borrow? What is the interest rate? "King Kumi is quite cautious.

"Borrow a million first. No interest is charged. Liu Bei generously exported.

"Is this true?" King Kumi's expression said it all.

"How dare the lower officials deceive the king?" Liu Bei replied with a smile.

King Kumi got up here and bowed solemnly: "Xie Changshi has mercy." ”

Liu Bei hurriedly got up to help him: "The king's words are serious." ”

Wiping away his tears, King Kumi asked urgently: "How should I return it?" ”

"For a period of ten years, 100,000 yuan will be repaid every year. If you don't have cash, you can also use your country's goods to offset it. Liu Bei replied quickly.

"Oh......" King Kumi's gratitude was overflowing, but he was afraid that there would be an invisible clause: "I don't know if there are any unfinished words in the long history?" ”

"Nothing else." Liu Bei suddenly thought of something: "In order to facilitate borrowing and repayment, Xia Guan wants to build a branch warehouse in your king's city to store coins." I don't know ......."

"What's so hard about that!" King Kumi saluted and said: "With a lot of effort, why do you need to open your mouth for a long time!" ”

Liu Bei smiled and nodded: "That's very good." ”

There are four countries in Qiuzi, Shule, Kumi, and Khotan. Liu Bei's unification of the currency system and the requirement to establish a treasury system were fully accepted by the countries of the Western Regions.

Predictable. With the continuous development of the treasury business. The countries of the Western Regions will be firmly bound to Liu Bei's chariot.

Don't you know that there is a trap in the world, called the debt trap?

Want to get out of the car?

Pay back the money first.

Don't pay it back?

Hmph, hum, hum.