In Chongzhen's Qianqing Palace, set up a big round table, everyone sat down in turn according to their status, and the attendants served the dishes in an orderly manner, and then Chongzhen greeted Sun Chengzong with a smile, Xu Guangqi, Cheng Jiming and Liu Hongxun dined, Cheng Jiming and Liu Hongxun were also used to rubbing the emperor's meal, they didn't expect that they could often have such treatment after entering the cabinet, and they would save a lot of money for meals this year! Then Chongzhen began to chat with them without saying a word, while the other four people wondered, didn't His Majesty the Emperor say that there was something to discuss with us? What do you mean by saying these nonsensical words?

Chongzhen looked at their expressions and said with a smile: "I ask you Aiqing, if you go to a restaurant outside to eat, what will you use to settle the bill after eating?" ”

The four of them looked at each other and said in their hearts, isn't this Your Majesty stupid? Of course, it's in silver! Cheng Ji ordered: "Return to Your Majesty!" It's a payment with silver! ”

Chongzhen nodded and said: "But this silver is often affected by the value of this silver because of different fineness and weight, right?" And this silver is too much to carry, just like the silver we gave to the army this time, it's too troublesome! ”

When everyone heard this, they understood what His Majesty the Emperor wanted to do, but they were embarrassed to say it, this is not the way to be a minister, and accompanying the king is like accompanying a tiger! Chongzhen also understood what they meant, and just asked: "Ladies and gentlemen, what is the value of this Ming Dynasty treasure banknote in the market?" ”

Sun Chengzong said embarrassedly: "Your Majesty! Honestly, this treasure note is now like waste paper! ”

Chongzhen nodded and said, "I understand this, so why did this treasure money become like this?" First, the quality of this treasure banknote is too poor, I have also seen it, it is difficult to be durable, and the second is because the imperial court has not established its own credit system, and the imperial court issues treasure banknotes only issued and not collected, neither demarcation nor recycling of old banknotes, and finally led to more and more treasure banknotes in the Ming Dynasty, flooded, coupled with this inflation, resulting in the final fact that this treasure banknote has become today's waste paper! ”

The other four nodded after listening, they didn't expect this Your Majesty to understand this? The longer they have been with the emperor, the more they find that this emperor understands a lot of things, Sun Chengzong and Xu Guangqi are now not surprised, Cheng Jiming and Liu Hongxun have not been in contact with Emperor Chongzhen for a long time because they have just entered the cabinet, so they feel very deep, and they often admire Chongzhen's insight. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

Seeing them nodding, Chongzhen continued to smile and said, "Yes! As you think, I want to start reforming this coin, but now if it is also printed something similar to treasure money, it is estimated that it will be difficult to issue, so we can come step by step, since Baixin likes gold and silver, and feels that this thing is safe to hold in his hand, really, then so, I will try to issue this coin first, which can be divided into gold, silver, and copper, and all three coins are made according to a certain proportion, so that their composition and weight are consistent, so that their value will not be affected. There are also three kinds of coins, which can be exchanged for 10 silver coins and 10,000 copper coins! ”

After hearing this, the four of them fell into deep thought, and Cheng Ji ordered: "Your Majesty! Is the weight of this coin equal to a tael of gold today? And the silver and copper coins? ”

Chongzhen nodded, and seeing that His Majesty the Emperor nodded, Cheng Ji said, "Your Majesty!" Now the value on our market is one tael of gold for eight taels of silver or eight thousand copper coins, if it is exchanged according to the proportion of His Majesty just now, then the imperial court will not have to put money in?! ”

Chongzhen said: "There are many types of gold, and gold coins can be mixed with some gold when they are made!" And this silver coin, the ratio can be 90% silver mixed with 10% copper! At this point, Xu Aiqing can find talents in this area! ”

After hearing this, Xu Guangqi smiled and said, "Your Majesty! Lao Chen remembered that Lao Chen's friends and countries used this coin! It's a lot more convenient than our current silver taels! Lao Chen agrees! The old minister thought that this would be handed over to Song Shilang! ”

After hearing this, Chongzhen was stunned, then nodded and agreed, and then Sun Chengzong said: "Your Majesty! If you want to issue this coin, what if it is counterfeited by the people, that is, there is still private money in this private country, and how many such coins are your Majesty going to issue? ”

Chongzhen nodded: "I know that there is a kind of coin that does a good job in this anti-counterfeiting, as long as you hold this kind of coin in your hand, knock it, it will make a sound, this sound is low and soft, like melodious and very easy to read!" The craft of coins should also be strengthened, and this depends on Aiqing! In addition, the issuance does not need to be too much for the time being, and when all the silver harvested this time is complete, I will make a decision after the inventory, I can order Song Shilang to make preparations in this regard, and the preparations for this casting must be done in advance! ”

After hearing this, Xu Guangqi said: "Your Majesty! Have you thought of a pattern for this coin? ”

Chongzhen thought for a while and said: "The front of this gold coin can be used with the head of the grandfather, and the value of the coin can be written on the back, such as one or two, and then add some other patterns or something, find a good painter to design it, and the silver coin can be used as the grandfather's head, and the rest of the copper coin, just use me!" ”

After hearing this, the four of them were taken aback, and Sun Chengzong said, "Your Majesty! This is absolutely unacceptable, the head of the emperor printed on the coin is still circulating in the hands of the people, this is not rebellious! ”

Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "The teacher is serious!" Why did I design it this way, firstly, using the pattern on the coin made by the Ming Emperor to show that I attached great importance to this coin, and the people would be better accepted by the court when they saw the court doing so; Second, Grandpa Tai, Grandpa Cheng's martial arts must be known to everyone in the world, and I want to spread their exploits to all the people of the Ming Dynasty! Third, in the end, I want to show that I want to lead the Ming Dynasty to ZTE, and all reforms are the key and opportunity to ZTE! ”

"But Your Majesty is 。。。。。。。" The crowd still didn't quite agree.

Sun Chengzong thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty! Why don't you change the emperor's portrait to plain characters! The minister thinks it's good, you see that if the coins are returned to the furnace, look at the furnace, those craftsmen dare to throw these coins with the emperor's head printed into it? And when the people use it, they have to worry about whether this coin will be charged with disrespect to the emperor if it is damaged? You must know that this crime is not small, Your Majesty! If it is designed according to His Majesty's plan, then even the current Da Ming Law will start to be modified! Now that I'm in a bright and eventful season, it's not easy to make a big move all of a sudden! ”

The other three echoed one after another, Chongzhen saw this, felt that what the teacher said was also reasonable, so he nodded in agreement, seeing that Chongzhen agreed and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Sun Chengzong continued: "Your Majesty! According to His Majesty's words, a gold or silver coin is equivalent to gold and silver today, so a large amount of gold and silver coins is just as troublesome to transport, and it is equally inconvenient to carry! Isn't this something to consider? ”

The other three nodded, and Chongzhen said: "For example, the face value of gold coins can be set to one tael, ten taels, and one hundred taels, so the size of each type of gold coin can be different, and the weight can also be different, so that's good!" Of course, ten taels, one hundred taels do not need to be completely equivalent to the current ten taels, the weight of one hundred taels, then the people can't afford it, this point requires the credit of the imperial court, so that the people can exchange ten taels, one hundred taels of gold coins for one tael of gold coins of equal value, or more silver coins and copper coins. ”

Liu Hongxun said: "Your Majesty, if according to what Your Majesty said, then how to withdraw the credit of the imperial court is to see whether the people can use and exchange it with confidence, and the basis of this use is based on the assured and stable exchange, so where can the people exchange it? That's really 。。。。。。 ”

Chongzhen smiled and nodded: "Liu Aiqing asked well, so I am ready to separate this piece and prepare to set up a new organization to manage this silver tael and coins!" I've thought of a name, it's called a bank! For the time being, this bank is only responsible for the business of exchanging and issuing coins, and the rest of the business will be discussed after the coins are stabilized! For the time being, the cabinet will be in charge! ”

After hearing this, the four of them nodded, and it was safer for the cabinet to manage a new department for the time being, so they agreed, and then Chongzhen said: "When the people gradually recognize the coins, and the credit of the imperial court is established, I will start to issue new treasure banknotes, in short, it is still convenient for treasure money, and these coins will be gradually recycled at that time, until they are finally all recovered and returned to the furnace!" ”

Liu Hongxun said: "Your Majesty! If everyone finally recognizes this coin, and this treasure money appears, will it make the people think that the court is the same as before。。。。。。 Comparing this precedent exists, the impact is not good! ”

Chongzhen said: "I believe that this coin will exist for a long time, after all, it takes a transition time, before this time, those who have the treasure banknotes of the Ming Dynasty in their hands will think that this coin should be the mainstream currency in the future, then those old treasure banknotes they will sell out, and the imperial court can be recycled and destroyed at a very low price, of course, it doesn't matter if they are still stored as treasures, the treasure banknotes issued by me are new, and the exchange ratio is the same as coins, At that time, the treasure money can not only be exchanged for silver taels, but also exchanged for coins, which are of equal value, as for the old accounts left before, I don't care, the court does not have so much spare money to recover those useless treasure notes! And whether it is coins or the issuance of treasure banknotes in the future, they are issued according to the reserve situation of the treasury, that is, the imperial court should prepare some gold, and all the silver will be used as reserves, just like the imperial court wants to issue a thousand taels of gold coins, then the treasury must have the corresponding one thousand taels of gold as a reserve, and it cannot be issued casually, otherwise it will repeat the mistakes of the past! ”

After listening to this, Cheng Ji said: "Your Majesty! If this is a coin issued, with this reserve, won't the silver that the court can use be reduced by half? And if it is to issue a new type of treasure banknote, if there is this reserve, it is better to use silver taels directly, and what to do with issuing treasure money? ”

Chongzhen said with a smile: "The reserve is because it is necessary to establish the credit system of the imperial court, to believe that the imperial court has the ability to ensure the safety of their property, and secondly, to issue coins or new-style treasure banknotes, or we call it coins, as long as the people accept it, it will not only facilitate the lives of the people, but also as long as it is widely circulated in the market, then whether it is agriculture, commerce, or industry will develop rapidly, these will develop, then the imperial court will have more taxes, and the more taxes of the imperial court, the more silver in the treasury, Then the imperial court can do more things, or destroy the Tartars, or build roads and bridges for the common people, or promote the Aiqing to the lower ranks, etc., isn't it very easy? ”

The four of them felt very reasonable after Chongzhen said this, and they were speechless for a while, because they didn't seem to be able to find a reason to object, according to His Majesty the Emperor, this is a matter of benefiting the country and the people, so they nodded in agreement, but they all said that they should pay attention to the situation of this reform at any time and make adjustments in time, and they will talk about the specific details when they go back.

"In fact, it is better to issue banknotes at once, that is, treasure banknotes, there are many benefits, but let's take it step by step first! I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry! Chongzhen smiled.

"In addition to what His Majesty said just now, there are still benefits?" Xu Guangqi was stunned.

Chongzhen nodded: "Of course!" This is another science, I can't say it clearly, to put it simply, when the reserve system is established, then it is not very convenient for the people to use this banknote, that is, the treasure banknote, and this is preserved, then everyone is happy to use it, but the court only prints such a little banknote or treasure banknote, and the people will find that this banknote is not enough, what should I do at that time? ”

After Chongzhen finished speaking, he looked at the four of them, and found that the four of them listened to him carefully, did not react, and sighed secretly, they really would not cooperate, so he continued: "In this case, the people will deposit the silver taels at home to the imperial court, and then the imperial court will give them paper money, so that the people can use more paper money!" Right? ”

Everyone nodded, and Chongzhen continued: "The common people have deposited all the silver taels in the imperial court, and the imperial court has more reserves, so the imperial court can print paper money again, and in this way, will the imperial court's reserves be enough." Theoretically speaking, no matter how much paper money there is in the market, it is also a one-to-one ratio with the reserve of the imperial court, which can cope with any scale of exchange, and at this time, the imperial court can print more paper money, for example, the reserve has one million taels, and the common people may only come to exchange 900,000 taels at most, which is equivalent to an additional reserve of 100,000 taels, and the imperial court will print a 1.1 million taels of banknotes. With this extra 100,000 taels of banknotes, you can use it! ”

Hearing this, Sun Chengzong said: "It seems that this bank will still have the same function as the outside bank, but when it comes to this, the 100,000 banknotes in the imperial court think that they can't be used casually, right?" In case the common people come to exchange, and then the court does not have silver to exchange, then all the efforts will be in vain! ”

Chongzhen nodded: "The teacher is right, so we must follow the banknotes to go out and the physical goods to come in; The principle that the physical object comes in, the banknote goes out! ”

"Then how to use this extra 100,000?" Cheng Ki Ming asked.

"For example, Li Si wants to participate in our road investment or open a shop to sell things, and he is short of 100,000 taels of silver, so the court can lend him the 100,000 yuan, and Li Si will hand over the physical objects to the court as collateral, such as real estate, land or other shops as collateral, of course, the court will also charge a certain amount of interest every month, when this Li Si returns the principal, the court not only collects the 100,000 yuan, but also earns interest, and Li Si also earns silver in business, everyone is happy! It's just that he lost it no matter how bad it was, the 100,000 yuan was gone, but the things he used as collateral were in the hands of the imperial court, so the 100,000 taels would not disappear, and the imperial court would also earn interest, no matter what, the imperial court would eventually benefit! Do you understand this? Chongzhen said with a smile!

The four of them nodded in unison, and they all wanted to refute that this violated the ancestral system, and it was clear that they were competing with the people for profit! It seems that this majesty is more powerful than Wanli Ye I don't know how many times, everyone sighed, but they were also amazed by Chongzhen's idea, I didn't expect that the issuance of treasure banknotes would have such benefits.

Liu Hongxun thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty! This kind of lending business is also common among the people, so they don't necessarily borrow from the imperial court, right? ”

Chongzhen nodded after hearing this: "Of course, the imperial court wants to compete with them, can they fight the imperial court?" Just like this time, after the fall of the eight Jin merchants, their money houses were seized by the imperial court one after another, what does this mean? And when they mature in the future, the imperial court will control all these money banks, and they cannot be allowed to operate the money houses privately, this is related to the lives of the common people, and it must be in the hands of the imperial court! ”

Sun Chengzong shook his head and said, "Your Majesty! I'm afraid it's not that simple! ”

Chongzhen dragged his chin and thought for a while: "The newly established bank can raise funds in the same way as the previous road, but only I and the cabinet, the six ministries and other officials, set a limited number of years, five or ten years!" ”

After listening to this, everyone nodded secretly, this majesty has pulled everyone into the same boat again!

"All of the above is about the issuance, which will definitely change a lot in the end, but gold and silver are limited, that is to say, the reserves are also limited, when we find that the banknote or coin begins to depreciate, we must start recycling, at this time we can issue a thing, with the tax of the imperial court in the coming year as a guarantee, to recover the previous paper money or coin, this thing can be called a bond! Issued by the imperial court, it can be called a national debt! You can set a term of service, and when the time is up, the court will recover it and pay the people the principal and interest! ”

"Then how to set this limit?" Cheng Ki Ming asked.

"The key is in the setting of this period, for example, this year, the imperial court has printed an extra 100,000 taels of banknotes and caused the depreciation of the banknotes, so the court will use bonds to recover the 100,000 taels of banknotes, print less 100,000 taels of banknotes next year, and then return the 100,000 taels of banknotes purchased by the people, so that the banknotes will not depreciate. Of course, there are some other measures to cooperate, and this will be discussed in detail at that time! In fact, this thing can be prevented at the stage of preparation! Chongzhen thought for a moment.

Everyone nodded, it turned out that this is the truth! Chongzhen continued: "There are also advantages of this issuance of paper money, for example, the people of our Ming Dynasty all over the country use paper money, so we are now in the surrounding countries North Korea, Japan, etc., if they want to do business with us, do they use paper money or silver?" Naturally, the use of our Ming banknotes is convenient and retains its value, who will use silver that is inconvenient to carry? When they all use paper money, if the Ming Dynasty and other countries do business, it is mainly based on the purchase of goods and raw materials, then the imperial court can issue less paper money. Why, it is to affect the exchange relationship between Daming banknotes and other countries' currencies. Chongzhen took a sip of water, paused and continued: "For example, with Japan, now our currency exchange is one to one, but because we issue less, then the Ming banknotes are worth money, and the Ming banknotes are worth money, so the exchange relationship will become one to two, so in Japan, the original ten taels of silver in the Ming Dynasty can buy things worth twenty taels, do you think it is very beneficial to our Ming in the end?" ”

The eyes of the crowd widened in disbelief, how could this still be played? But it makes a lot of sense, Chongzhen looked at their anti-righteousness and smiled: "And what! For example, in Japan, a good Japanese knife is ten taels of silver, another Japanese businessman also wants to buy, he out of ten taels, and our Ming businessman out of twenty taels, then naturally in the end it belongs to our Ming businessman, on the surface it seems that our Ming businessman suffers a loss, but in fact, this banknote is exchanged for our Ming silver, which is ten taels, then another Japanese businessman can not resell or use it for other purposes because he has lost this commodity, he has no silver to earn, so in order to compete with our Ming businessman, he must raise the price, And the increase in the price means that his cost increases, and the increase in the cost will inevitably lead to the loss of other businessmen, and the businessmen suffer losses but want to keep their money, and reducing expenses will definitely fire their buddies, and if the guys are fired, they will have no wages, and what if they can't get their wages and have no money to eat? In the end, they rebelled like the rogues before our Ming Dynasty, and as soon as they rebelled, Japan was in chaos! Of course, there are also merchants who suffer losses, and if they don't make money, Japan's domestic treasury income will be less, and what is the situation when the treasury revenue is low, so you don't need to say more, right? ”

The reaction of everyone was even bigger than just now, this banknote is so powerful, what do you need the army to do? Suddenly fell into a stupor, and did not react for a long time, what they heard today made them see a whole new world, and saw a war without gunpowder.