Fan Zhongyan listened very carefully, and if there were words or questions that he didn't understand, he would ask them in time.

After a full hour, Cui Wenqing explained the general meaning of the national debt and the welfare lottery clearly, and finally said solemnly: "In short, the national debt is a very important means for the imperial court to raise silver, especially when the financial distress and the need for a large amount of money, it is an effective method, the imperial court is still skeptical of the national debt, and the ban has not been lifted, which is a very foolish move." ”

After hearing this, Fan Zhongyan was secretly frightened, secretly thinking that Cui Wenqing was really bold, and even dared to speak out in front of him with such slanderous words against the imperial court.

However, soon, Fan Zhongyan felt that it was not a bad thing for Cui Wenqing to be so outspoken, there were too few young people with such talent, talent and courage, if this son could embark on the right path in the future and be used by the imperial court, he would definitely be able to help Wang Anshi and others.

Thinking of this, a trace of a smile appeared on Fan Zhong's wrinkled old face, and he said with a smile: "The imperial court issued treasury bonds to collect idle funds from the people, and then used these funds to feed back to others, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone and benefiting a lot. ”

Hearing this, Cui Wenqing was a little impressed.

At present, in the eyes of many people, they feel that the welfare lottery is more effective and clever than the method of making money from national debt, and even Showa Tongshu thinks the same.

However, Fan Zhongyan's words made Cui Wenqing find a sense of confidant, and he couldn't help laughing: "Mr. Xiwen is really a famous man in the world, indeed, in the long run, the national debt is the most effective way to stimulate the economy and develop business. ”

Fan Zhongyan said with a smile: "That's true, but don't think that the court ministers are ignorant and don't know the use of the national debt, they are now worried that once the people lose confidence in the national debt, they will flock to the exchange of silver taels, and then the imperial court treasury will not be able to fill this hole, so they will lose their trust in the world." ”

Hearing this, Cui Wenqing sneered and said casually: "The ministers think that the treasury bonds are too risky, but in fact, the most important thing is that they are worried that the collected silver taels will not be able to be lent out at 20% interest, resulting in holes that cannot be filled, in fact, in my opinion, these are not problems." ”

Although Fan Zhongyan felt that this son's words were too conceited, he still asked patiently: "Could it be that Cui Gongzi has a high opinion?" The old man would like to hear about it. ”

Cui Wenqing asked: "Dare to ask Mr. Xiwen, what is the primary productive force?" ”

"Productivity?" Fan Zhongyan was stunned, "What does this mean?" ”

Cui Wenqing thought about it, found a suitable word, and said with a smile: "You can understand productivity as creating wealth, the first productive force, that is to say, the most important and primary way to make money in the world." ”

Fan Zhongyan pondered for a long time, and then he thought of the answer, and replied: "According to the statistics of the household department more than ten years ago, the population of the dynasty was 80 million, and 75 million lived by cultivating crops, and ninety percent of the country's finances also depended on the money and grain taxes paid by the peasants, so agriculture was the primary productive force. ”

Hearing this, Cui Wenqing smiled.

In fact, the most standard answer is that science and technology are the primary productive forces, which is also the foundation of the founding of a great man for China before he crossed over.

However, in the current Daqi, people do not have much concept of science and technology at all, and when there is no budding capitalism, neither the imperial court nor the people can promote the progress of science and technology, so at this time, it is too early to say that science and technology are the primary productive forces.

Thinking of this, Cui Wenqing said his new concept of the current situation of Daqi's financial embarrassment: "Mr. Xiwen, in fact, I feel that business should become the first productive force of our Daqi Dynasty. ”

As soon as these words came out, Fan Zhongyan showed a look of astonishment, stunned for a while, angry and funny: "Ridiculous! Even if our dynasty does not despise merchants, but merchants strive for profit and have low moral character, how can the dynasty attach importance to commerce and develop it into the primary productive force? ”

Cui Wenqing knew that a Confucian like Fan Zhongyan looked down on businessmen the most.

Indeed, Confucianism advocates a humble gentleman who knows benevolence and does righteousness, while a businessman is a despicable villain who chases profits.

Cui Wenqing sighed secretly in his heart, and said patiently: "Mr. Xiwen, I also know that this proposal may be a bit ridiculous, but the profit-seeking nature is not owned by businessmen, in my opinion, even Mr. Xiwen, you can't get rid of it!" ”

"Oh? The old man also chases profits? Hmph, let's hear it. The corners of Fan Zhongyan's mouth were already overflowing with a slight sneer, obviously a little unhappy.

Cui Wenqing said solemnly: "I heard that Emperor Taizong defeated the Liang River, and the Liao iron cavalry flocked to cross the Yellow River to attack the Central Plains. ”

This matter is a feat of Fan Zhongyan's life, and he knows the negotiation process and the situation very well, so he replied without thinking about it: "The Liao people initially offered 10 million taels of silver, but it took several days of hard work for Lao Yu and his colleagues to say that the price of compensation was 300,000 taels. ”

Cui Wenqing smiled and said, "Then why didn't Mr. Xiwen agree to the Liao's request of 10 million taels at that time?" ”

Fan Zhongyan glared at him and said: "This is clearly showing that the Liao people want to ask for a price, not to mention that the imperial court did not have 10 million taels of silver at that time, and even if there were, it was impossible to agree to them." ”

"Hehe, then speaking of which, didn't Mr. Xiwen chase after the capital and bargain with the Liao?"

Fan Zhongyan was stunned, and said with some annoyance: "Even if the old man competes for profit with the Liao people, he is also fighting for the country, not for himself, and there is a big difference between him and the businessman, how can it be confused!" ”

Cui Wenqing smiled and said: "Mr. Xiwen's words are really a blind eye, you really did not fight for your own interests, but fighting for the interests of the country is also the same, in the final analysis, the country is not also concerned about the interests of the country?" How could they ever want the modesty and benevolence that Confucianism says, and see the benefits and humility? In the final analysis, countries are selfish, and they all want to take advantage of themselves and make other countries suffer! ”

Hearing this, Fan Zhongyan was deeply shocked.

Speaking of which, he had never thought about it from this perspective.

Although Cui Wenqing's remarks were unbearable for him, who was deeply influenced by Confucian academics, in all fairness, he had to admit that this remark was really a bit crooked.

Although Fan Zhongyan would not accept it, he would not criticize it as thoughtlessly as those defenders.

(End of chapter)