The praise and reputation of the little yellow door outside the door are like singing, with twists and turns, and there is even an aftertaste. Xu Ping has always felt that it is ridiculous to maintain this kind of etiquette on such a solemn occasion, like a burlesque.

However, when the voice of the little yellow door stopped, Xu Ping couldn't help but be stunned. Why, did you call someone from Taiwan today? What is the reasoning behind this? It cannot be said that it is unique for Taiwan to participate in the discussion of specific administrative affairs, but it is also quite rare. It makes sense for the imperial history to participate in some matters such as criminal names and laws, but what did the Imperial Court come to mix?

With the guidance of Xiaohuangmen, Prime Minister Lu Yijian and Zhang Shixun, Governor Cai Qi and Zhang Dexiang, followed by Han Yi in the Imperial History and Sun Zude of the Governor's Academy.

After paying homage to the emperor Zhao Zhen, everyone sat down, and the little yellow door came to serve tea.

Lu Yijian saw that the rabbit in his hand was no longer the rabbit cup he used to use in the past, and a lid was added to the mouth of the cup, and he was slightly surprised in his heart. He has been a prime minister for many years, and he has been rich for a long time, and he naturally has all novelties at home, and he knows that this is from Xu Ping's mansion. After taking a sip of tea, he put the teacup down, without any indication on his face, but he already knew it in his heart.

Emperor Zhao Zhen saw that everyone had arrived, and said in a calm voice: "A few years ago, Yongzhou paid tribute to new tea, which was made there with a new method, although it lacked a lot of fun of the original group tea, but it was easy to brew, and it had a different flavor, so Zhongqing tasted it." ”

Today's talk is about national affairs, how can you have the heart to taste tea. After listening to Zhao Zhen, they thanked each other, and no one paid attention to what the tea in the cup tasted like.

Xie Enbi, Zhao Zhen said again: "Kou Yang played before, the third division made a new kind of iron coin, the style is fine, and it can withstand water and sun, and will not rust. This year's new yuan is about to mint Jingyou's new money, and the secretaries will refer to it together to see if it is appropriate. ”

As soon as the words fell, Kou Ying stood up, took out a handful of iron coins, and respectfully presented them.

Zhao Zhen took two of them and watched them in his hand, and asked the small yellow door next to him to distribute them to everyone.

Lu Yijian took the money in his hand, kept playing with it, watched carefully, lowered his head but did not speak.

Zhang Shixun, who was sitting next to him, was impatient and said: "The official family mints money, and what is important is the appearance, and only when the quality is good can the people be trusted." Back then, Zhao Anyi cast big iron coins, and no matter what else, each one was bright and shiny. This newly minted iron money is black and inconspicuous, how can the people believe it? ”

Wang Zeng, who had been sitting on the side without speaking, said slowly: "The so-called spring coins in the world, in ancient times, there were shell coins, cloth coins, knife coins, and so on. What is the quality of these? It is enough to be able to win the trust of the people. ”

Among the ministers in the palace, Wang Zeng is the most valuable and famous, Zhang Shixun saw him with kind eyebrows and kind eyes, and spoke softly, but what he said was-for-tat with himself, and he was anxious, and he didn't dare to say anything.

Lu Yijian raised his head and said calmly: "The coins come from the government and are distributed among the people, but they still need to be convenient to circulate, easy to carry, and resistant to storage, I don't know how this new iron money is?" ”

Kou Ying said respectfully: "Needless to say, the new iron coin is the same as the copper coin, there is nothing inconvenient. As for storage, we have already tried this iron coin, soaked it in rainwater, buried it in wet soil, and after a few months there was no rust, no worse than the copper coins that are now used. It is precisely because of this that this method of casting new iron money is offered. ”

"Can you prevent private piracy?" Lu Yijian's face did not change, and he looked at Kou Ying and asked.

Kou Yang smiled: "After the new iron coin was minted, it was boiled with the secret medicine of Xu Ping, the deputy envoy of salt and iron, so that this black layer was covered on the outside. It is precisely because of this black color that it can resist rust and corrosion. Iron money can naturally be minted, and there is no way to make this black layer outside, and it can naturally be minted against theft. ”

Lu Yijian looked at Xu Ping and said, "Xu Ping, let's talk about it, can it really be anti-theft?" ”

Xu Ping stood up and bowed his hand: "Those secret medicines are very troublesome to make, and it is difficult to make them even if you know the recipes." However, whether it can be anti-theft casting or not depends on whether the price set by the iron coin is suitable, if the price is too high, there will always be people who will come up with various ways to take risks. ”

"Is the money and the price right? Vice Envoy Xu's words are confusing—"

Lu Yijian smiled and shook his head, and the people around him laughed together.

Xu Pingping didn't have any expression on the plane, and replied calmly: "How can there be no price?" Even copper coins have the same price. During the Dazhong auspicious year, one tael of silver was exchanged for eight hundred copper coins, and now it is more than doubled. Could it be that the price of silver has risen? Correspondingly, the price of grain has also doubled, and the price of most goods on the market has risen, so naturally copper money is cheaper. It is also a reason that iron coins are minted, five iron coins for one copper coin is one thing, and five copper coins for one iron coin is the same thing. ”

Lu Yijian shook his head and did not speak again.

Wang Zeng took over the conversation and asked Xu Ping: "Then Deputy Envoy Xu thinks that how to exchange iron money and copper money." ”

"Two methods, according to the price of iron on the market, counting the labor of minting money, there is always a price for the secret medicine, plus the cost of transportation and distribution, etc., and then a false head, a ratio. However, if you don't want to be so troublesome, then roughly estimate a ratio, use it for a period of time, and the people will naturally have the price comparison, and then adjust it. ”

Hearing Xu Ping say this, Sun Zude, who had been silent after entering the hall, said: "Money is related to people's livelihood and is a major plan of the country, how can it be so hasty?" Deputy Envoy Xu is in charge of the Salt and Iron Division, if he is so sloppy in doing things, it will cause a big mess sooner or later! Although this new money is minted, if you don't have an idea of how to use the people, then it's naturally better not to mint it first! ”

"Yes, Sun Zude's words make sense! If you are vague about how to use it, then you must not see the benefits and disadvantages of casting new money! Let's put this matter aside for now! ”

Zhang Shixun, who couldn't interject for a long time, finally found a breakthrough and made a conclusion loudly.

Xu Ping looked at Zhang Shixun and said in a deep voice: "Just now, Prime Minister Wang asked me how to set the price of copper coins and iron coins, and I naturally answered the pricing method. As for how to determine the price of the new iron money and the current copper coin, it is nothing more than the use of these two methods. Since the new iron money has arrived at the palace, the salt and iron division has naturally set a price. ”

At this time, Xu Ping didn't care that Kou Ying and Li Hong were not satisfied with their pricing, if they really responded to what Sun Zude said, he didn't think about how to issue the new iron money, it would leave people with a young and frivolous impression.

Zhao Zhen, who was watching quietly from the upper position, interjected at this time: "Xu Ping, then how much do you say the price is appropriate?" ”

Xu Ping bowed and said: "Back to Your Majesty, Weichen calculates that it is more reasonable to exchange five iron coins for one copper coin." ”

Zhao Zhen bowed his head slightly: "Oh, what's the reason?" ”

Xu Ping took out a book from his arms and said: "This matter is extremely complicated to talk about, and there are some data that should be used to estimate that the collection is not complete, so I have to use other methods to estimate it. Wechen has here a codex detailing the reasons for this ratio, which His Majesty and the Ruling Minister are invited to refer to. If there is anything inappropriate, I will correct it after pointing it out. ”

"Show me."

Xiao Huangmen got the order, went down the steps to take the notebook in Xu Ping's hand, and put it in front of the imperial case in front of Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen opened the notebook, looked at it roughly, and nodded.

In the entire Great Song Dynasty, such a codex can only be written by Xu Ping alone, the language is simple and simple, there are a large number of data references in the middle, and each conclusion has a detailed derivation process, and it is never quoted from the words of the sages to pretend to be mysterious.

Since Shi Quanbin went to the South China Sea to buy pearls, Zhao Zhen has seen a lot of information about the cane sugar business brought back, and he is extremely familiar with this style. As long as you have a normal brain and read it with your heart, you will have a clear understanding of the ins and outs of things. You don't have to look at a piece of music to see it in the clouds, and you can only understand the meaning by thinking about it repeatedly, and it is even more difficult to draw conclusions.

After reading the codex, Zhao Zhen closed it and handed it to the little yellow door beside him: "There are three copies of the transcription, one for the political affairs hall, one for the Privy Council, and one for the academy, which originally stayed in the palace." ”

Xiao Huangmen received the order, took the codex and put it on the desk under the steps, and hurriedly walked out of the palace gate.

The codex is related to the political affairs of the imperial court, and it must be in the palace if the small yellow door is taken out of the palace to find someone to copy, there is a suspicion of cheating, which is like a secret performance, which will inevitably arouse the suspicion of the ruling ministers present. Xu Ping himself was suspected of making a relative by the ministers of the DPRK and China because of his relationship with Li Yonghe and his family. However, the two of them made friends before Li Yonghe was recognized, and Li Yonghe himself was also low-key, so no one publicly proposed it. But in contrast to the emperor, some details still need to be paid attention to, so as not to give people a handle.

After a while, Xiao Huangmen led a higher-status chamberlain in, presumably engaged in writing work in the palace, saluted Zhao Zhen, and sat on the desk to concentrate on copying Xu Ping's codex.

Zhao Zhen said: "Zhongqing can drink tea for a while, wait for Xu Ping's codex to be copied properly, and bring them back to the yamen to discuss, and wait until a later date to discuss the matter of the new iron money." The money law is related to the plan of the imperial court, and it should not be sloppy. ”

Everyone saluted the order.

Zhang Shixun was a little angry, he originally wanted to use words to squeeze Xu Ping back, but he didn't expect to lead to such a play, which seemed to be even more troublesome. And looking at Zhao Zhen's appearance, he still appreciates the content of this codex, otherwise he wouldn't be in such a hurry to copy it in the palace, and he can wait for the Yintai Division to send it down according to the procedure.

Xu Ping was a young upstart, he rose to a high position, he had no connections, and he didn't have much contact with the ministers in the court, and these old ministers had long looked at him unpleasantly. I was cautious before, but recently I want to mint new money, and I am involved in the reform of the tea law, and I am talking about things everywhere and disagreeing with the old ministers, which is becoming more and more annoying.

Now among the ministers of the DPRK and the Central People's Republic of China, the only one who is willing to stand with Xu Ping is his top boss Kou Xuan, but he is also the mourning dog of Ding Weiyu's party, how do others think of the current three divisions How is it unpleasant. (To be continued.) )