Zhang Xueyan continued: "There is a second article, in today's nationwide panic, 50 million taels is just a drop in the bucket, unless there is a big discovery of gold and silver mines, it is difficult to curb the impulse of the people to abandon money and save silver." As for the third article, it is even more outrageous, as soon as the holy decree is issued, the emperor and the court will become acceptors. In the long run, this may not be a bad thing, but what do we give to the people? When the time comes, it will not be the Royal Bank that will go bankrupt, but the royal family and the imperial court! ”

Wanli nodded frequently when he heard this, looked at Wang Jiaping and said, "Wang Ge is always from Shanxi, what do you think?" ”

"Weichen is first and foremost the emperor's minister." Wang Jiaping said: "I completely agree with Zhang Gelao's opinion. Moreover, Wei Chen has always believed that institutions like the Royal Bank, which are closely related to the national economy and people's livelihood, should still be owned by the imperial court, rather than entrusting him with the relationship between him and the Jin merchants, which laid the foundation for the later Chang Yuyan: "The top priority is that the exchange relationship between cash and silver bills cannot be broken, otherwise the world will be in chaos immediately!" ”

To put it bluntly, it's a matter of faith. In addition to the fact that real money brings confidence the most. After a pause, Wang Jiaping said in a deep voice: "As long as the people believe that his silver ticket will not become waste paper, then even if the silver cannot be exchanged for a while, they will not panic, and the silver ticket will continue to circulate in the world." ”

"Elder Wang Ge said it well." Wanli nodded and said: "The imperial court cannot bear unlimited obligations, everything should be limited to what the imperial court can afford."

"One more point." Zhang Xueyan deserved to have led the soldiers, and said murderously: "To curb the run of large households, the imperial court stipulates that silver bills of more than 5,000 taels are not allowed to be withdrawn, and transactions of more than 5,000 taels must be completed through bank bills or bank transfers!" Violators will be severely punished! ”

"It's not realistic." Wang Jiaping is notoriously straightforward, he can't care about the face of Zhang's predecessors, he shook his head and said: "First, the imperial court can't supervise it, and second, the trend of cheap silver is a foregone conclusion." In the end, both sides will definitely abandon the silver ticket, regardless of the risk of breaking the law, and ride the gold and silver. After a pause, he looked at Zhang Xueyan and said: "Your example of treasure banknotes, you should remember that at that time, in order to protect the legal tender, the imperial court banned gold and silver from trading, but it had no effect. ”

Wanli could detect that "in terms of economy, Wang Jiaping is obviously much stronger than Zhang Xueyan, so he only asked the former: "So in the opinion of Wang Ge Lao, how should the imperial court do it?" ”

"Wechen thinks that other means are just auxiliary, and the pass still boosts the people's confidence in the ability to redeem silver bills." Wang Jiaping said: "In this regard, Weichen has three strategies, first, announce the nationalization of the Royal Bank. Second, it was announced that the gold mines of Luzon would be nationalized, and the common people knew that there was an endless supply of gold there. Third, the ability to pay the silver bills was announced as guaranteed by the imperial court's taxes. These three strategies have only one purpose, which is to boost confidence! As long as the people have faith, the Royal Bank can survive! ”

Wanli nodded again and again when he heard this, and said excitedly: "That's right" I added one more point.

To find out who is behind this run, and see who wants to make the people of Daming fall into fire and water. ”

"The emperor said very much, but" Wang Jiaping frowned and said: "This kind of thing, even if you find the source, it is useless, people have silver tickets in their hands, and they ask the bank to cash it, which is justified." ”

"If you add sin, there is no excuse." Wanli sneered and said, "You don't have to worry about this," let the professionals do it. Saying that, he looked at Wang Jiaping and said: "You go back and talk to a few people in the cabinet to give a briefing, who will be the governor of Luzon?" ”

Jia Ping bowed.

"What you said, I will think about it first" Wanli served tea again: "Please go back." ”

After the two adults stepped back, Wanli leaned back on the easy chair tiredly, lit a Fushou cigarette and spit out the fog.

While serving the guests, after experiencing today's several talks, a thought had already sprung up in my heart, and I finally couldn't help it...... Sobbing.

"To me" Wanli heard the movement, opened his eyes and saw that the guest was skimming horse urine, and couldn't help laughing and scolding: "What are you crying about?" Curse me? ”

"The slave and maid don't dare" The guest shook his head and sobbed: "The slave and maid just looked at the emperor and felt distressed. I can't help the emperor, it's uncomfortable. ”

"Hehe" Wanli said with a smile: "With this filial piety, it is stronger than anything else." ”

"Filial piety is naturally ten out of ten, not to mention slaves and maids, there are eight thousand in this palace who are sincerely filial to the emperor, not ten thousand." The guest wiped his tears and said: "It's a pity that filial piety can't fix real money, and it can't solve the sorrow of the emperor." ”

"Nonsense" Wanli picked up the teacup, took a sip, raised his head and said: "You have something to say, when will you also learn from those corrupt literati Pili Yangqiu?" ”

"I can't hide anything from the emperor" The guest didn't blush when he was exposed, but cheekily invited credit: "The slave just remembered what the emperor said in the past, and pondered in her heart, as if it was facing the current trouble in the Ming Dynasty." ”

"Oh, let's hear it." Wanli changed his comfortable posture and said, "I'll see what bad ideas you can come up with as a dog-headed military advisor." ”

"The emperor used to say," the guest observed the words and said cautiously: "When the time is ripe, I will send mine supervisors and tax envoys to various places." The slave maid thought about it, this coincided with two of the three strategies that Wang Ge Lao said, but the foreign ministers would only talk about it, and when it came to sharing worries for the emperor, it was up to us slaves and maids. ”

"Good slave and maid, she really has filial piety." Wanli teased him: "I sent you the fattest one to let you go to Luzon, okay?" ”

"Ah" the guest said with a bitter face: "The slave just looked at the master and was sad, so she came up with an idea, but she didn't plan to leave the emperor at three o'clock." ”

"Even if you have a conscience," Wanli scolded with a smile: "I am reluctant to send you to Luzon." It is said that Wanli has long coveted the golden land of Luzon, and has sent more than a dozen eunuchs to supervise the mines in the past five years. However, these eunuchs either drowned in the shipwreck halfway, or were killed by miasma in Luzon, and none of them sat on their buttocks, and they whined one after another. There is no gold to be seen.

After laughing at the guest with a few words, Wanli asked the shì woman to massage the soles of her feet, and said: "I have actually been thinking about the dispatch of mine supervisors and tax envoys, but this is a step related to the overall situation, and Lian has to weigh it carefully. ”

"What's the big picture?" Seeing that the emperor was very talkative, he asked cooperatively.

"The overall situation is my country, and I am in charge!" Wanli showed a rare gathering of qi and said: "Not only myself, but I want my future generations to be able to stand as the sun like Taizu, Chengzu, and Shizong.

Raise your hands to cover the sky, monopolize power, and make arbitrary decisions! Saying that, he pinched the beauty in front of him, and the palace maid was in pain, but she couldn't hold back and didn't dare to make a sound, seeing her resentful appearance of not daring to cry, Wanli laughed loudly: "Emperor, Supreme also!" Those who follow the road prosper, those who follow the Tao die, and anyone who has a heart of disobedience, disobedience, and contempt will die without a place to be buried! ”

"The emperor is wise and martial, and he will be judged for thousands of years!" The guest listened to the blood boiling, and kowtowed again and again: "The slave is willing to serve the emperor for the work of dogs and horses!" ”

"Get up." Wanli was in a good mood and said: "Although I usually scold you fiercely, I can only trust you when it comes to things." After a pause, he said: "Sage Cloud, misfortune and blessing rely on, this is not false at all." The run on the Royal Bank is a great opportunity for me to nationalize it. As he spoke, he looked at the guest and said, "Do you think the Royal Bank will be handed over to the Ministry of Households, or the palace?" "The slave feels it." The guest sneered: "The Royal Bank, as the name suggests, is the royal bank, how can there be any reason to leave it to the outer court to take care of." ”

"That's a good thing to say." Wanli smiled and said, "Since it is called the Royal Bank, of course it is the royal property." As long as this bank is in hand, the economic lifeline of Daming will be firmly grasped in my hands, but I want to see who dares to get along with me! ”

The Royal Bank said worriedly: "But the slave is worried, what can I do with so many debts......" "You slave, go around and around, you still can't forget about the mining." Wanli scolded with a smile: "But what you said is right, isn't the Royal Bank relying on silver to save lives?" I am very rich in resources, and there is no shortage of gold and silver! What is missing is someone to dig them out of the ground! Wanli said in high spirits: "Intention! ”

"Quick, Will!" The guest greeted him, and the eunuch who was on duty outside hurriedly came in with pen and ink, knelt on the ground and listened attentively.

"The first decree says that the whole world is not the king's land, and all the things buried in the ground in the Ming Dynasty belong to me. Now I have mercy on all the people and agree to open mines everywhere, and to redeem the silver and gold of the royal bank with the gold and silver that have been taken out. ”

After Wanli finished speaking, the eunuch moistened it out in elegant language, and then copied it to Minghuang sè

After the first decree was drafted, Wanli said, "The second decree is that I will levy a commercial tax as a guarantee for the royal silver bills. Guan Zi said: "The four people of Shinong, industry and commerce, and the stone people of the country." Why is it that only farmers pay taxes, but businessmen evade their tax obligations? With one of the four people to support the three, can the quinoa not be poor, and the country will not be poor? Therefore, I decided that from now on, Daming will levy industrial and commercial taxes, and agriculture and commerce will pay taxes together! I guarantee that the industrial and commercial taxes and silver collected by the imperial court and the palace will be used as reserves of the royal bank! ”

"The emperor is really generous!" The guest was dumbfounded: "Not only to open a mine, but also to open a business and throw ......"

"I've thought it through, now is the best time to start a business tax!" Wanli smacked the kang a few times: "Everyone is self-sufficient, and this is especially true of all the people." At this time, whoever can guarantee that their silver tickets can be exchanged for cash is their ancestor. I have introduced a merchant tax in the name of saving the royal silver ticket, and I will definitely win their support, even if some merchants oppose it, there is nothing to fear! ”

"Just, can the ministers agree?" In fact, some people had already proposed the idea of levying a commercial tax, but it was only strongly opposed by the foreign ministers that it was stopped. Now the relationship between the emperor and the outer court has almost reached the freezing point, and whatever the emperor supports, the outer court will oppose it, and the emperor will also oppose everything that the outer court supports. In this context, how can we ensure that the commercial tax is passed by the court?

"It doesn't matter if it's a mine or a tax." Wanli sneered: "Du Sensei wants to pass it at the court meeting, because the hundred officials of the imperial court, either from the southeast or bought by the southeast, are all the spokesmen of the wealthy families in the southeast, so they will all oppose me!" And the opening of commercial tax is the only way to draw salaries from the bottom of the kettle and eliminate the wealthy families in the southeast! ”

"How?" The guest's mind is a little out of turn.

"The wealthy families in the southeast rely on them, and the industry and commerce are also." Wanli said in a deep voice: "Industry and commerce own eighty percent of the world's wealth, but they have always refused to pay taxes to the imperial court. Now that I am taking advantage of this banking crisis to levy a business tax, they will certainly not agree. Just because of his greed and disregard for the ugly side of righteousness, and in front of the people, I can seize the business that refuses to pay taxes in the name of resisting taxes, and then raid the homes of the big families involved in the case, and confiscate their property for the purpose of cashing silver bills! ”

"What if they obey?" Guests with the same way.

"That's better." Wanli laughed and said, "Didn't Zhang Siwei say it? Finance is the mother of business and commerce. If the commercial tax is levied smoothly, the Royal Bank will naturally be able to come to the bank.

When the time comes, I will hold this supreme weapon in my hand, and any wealthy family will have to look up to me to breathe and see which one is still against me?! ”

"Either obey or sound the death knell!" Wanli then said arrogantly: "I have made up my mind to break my wrists with those invincible southeastern wealthy clans!" Therefore, I have decided to bypass the outer court and hand over the two major matters of opening silver mines and levying commercial taxes to you with full authority, so as not to live up to my expectations! ”

"Slaves and maids are smeared with liver and brains, and they will not hesitate!" The guest hurriedly patted Xiōng and promised: "If you mess up the errand, come to see the emperor!" ”

"That's what I want!" Wanli nodded approvingly and said, "The list of mine supervisors sent to the whole country is drawn up by you." As for the candidate for the tax envoy, hand it over to Father-in-law Zhang, and report it within three days. ”

"Decree!" In fact, customers want to take taxes to make dishes, but as a recommender, they are responsible for the consequences, and the risk of collecting business tax is obviously much greater than that of mining. Thinking of this, he balanced his son, happily received the errand, and then went to the celebrant to deliver the decree himself.