After sending off the secret messenger of Rome, Sima Shu focused on the issuance of paper money, the most important of which was that he needed to personally convince a large number of commercial consortia in the country. These business consortia were basically developed more than ten years ago, perhaps because they were self-reliant, and now these business consortia are becoming more and more rampant.

Sometimes Sima Shu couldn't help but sigh secretly, it was not unreasonable that ancient China had always pursued the suppression of commercial development. Perhaps hundreds of years ago, the Chinese people realized that when commerce developed to a certain extent, it would threaten the stability of state power, or it may be that the rulers of various dynasties did not want to have a Lü Buwei-like figure.

In the past, Sima Shu did not have a clear understanding of the harm to businessmen, but with the recent series of contradictions caused by the issuance of paper money, Sima Shu suddenly woke up. It turned out that the businessman, who had no status before, has become a key force influencing the overall situation of the court.

These businessmen used their abundant resources to control a large number of officials to support them by funding or co-opting corruption. Recently, representatives of the merchant groups have been dispatched one after another, and some officials representing the interests of the merchant groups have gone around for their own selfish interests in an attempt to force the cabinet to abandon the plan to issue paper money, which may be the beginning of the merchants' struggle for political independence.

Within a few days, Sima Shu summoned several representatives of the big merchant groups in Chang'an, but these people all chose to oppose the imperial court openly or implicitly. Many merchants apparently did not believe that the imperial court would always guarantee the value of the paper money, fearing that if Sima Shu died in a few decades, the paper money would depreciate massively. Then their wealth will be nothing.

Rather than this, it is better to prevent the imperial court from issuing paper money now. Although Sima Shu had a premonition, he was still a little disappointed when it happened. Although a very small number of long-term businessmen have made huge concessions, they still cannot change the mainstream opinion among the businessmen.

When there was a rift in the relationship between the merchants and the emperor, it was the Saga group that was most happy. At that time, Sima Shu made his fortune with the help of big merchants, big farmers, and big factory owners, and after making a fortune, he wantonly suppressed the power of the family, resulting in heavy losses for the family and losing the most important political power at once.

During the first decade of Sima Shu's reign, the family was largely in a semi-dormant state. Although they have also embraced a lot of new ideas. But the deep contempt for businessmen is still deep-rooted. It's just that the court encourages industry and commerce. They had to force themselves to pretend to laugh and be in the same hall with the group of people they despised the most.

There is a fundamental difference between the Maison and the merchant group, the Maison only uses the merchant as a tool to accumulate money, and the merchant is never allowed to participate in politics. And after the businessmen have developed to a certain extent, they are no longer satisfied with their situation. They very much wanted to appear in the court as an independent political force.

this day. Just got out of the court. Pei Wei, Yang Xuanzhi, Xun Song, Wang Yan, Wen Xiang, Wang Dao and other representatives of the family immediately gathered together, just for one thing, that is, to unite the power of the family. Support the newly issued banknotes and stand firmly on the side of the emperor. Of course, before the official audience with the emperor, these people still had to vent their breath first, so as not to make a fool of themselves in front of the emperor.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the reason why we are where we are today has a lot to do with the wrong choice in the first place. If we had been on His Majesty's side, would we be in the predicament we are in today? And you won't be ridden on the head by some copper-smelling guys! Today, the old man called everyone over for tea, just for this one thing: that is, to stand firmly on His Majesty's side and suppress the arrogance of the merchants! ”

Pei Wei's age is not the oldest among these people, but his prestige is definitely the highest, and several other people, whether they are Yang Xuanzhi or Wang Yan, have a good relationship with Pei Wei.

"After a while, the empire will start issuing banknotes. I believe that you have already seen the relevant documents, and the old man will not say much about the specific situation. Since paper money is to be issued, someone needs to support it. Those businessmen were so blind that they didn't know the opportunities in it. ”

"We've missed a chance before, and we can't miss it again this time! Although we may not be as good as those big businessmen in terms of wealth, but when it comes to influence, it is by no means comparable to the other party! Fully assist the emperor in issuing banknotes, this is the most important choice of the current family, I don't know what you think? ”

Pei Wei's attitude was very clear, and he clearly told everyone present that the family had missed an opportunity at the beginning, and this time it was an opportunity to rebuild the old friendship with the emperor, and it depended on whether everyone could grasp it. None of the people present are stupid, although some people do not have such a thorough understanding of the situation as Pei Wei, but they still have a great positive attitude towards being able to support the emperor's issuance of banknotes.

"Master Pei, we have been colleagues for many years, since there are no outsiders here, there are some things that the old man thinks he has to say." Yang Xuanzhi spoke when everyone was silently thinking, "The issuance of paper money will be directly related to the foundation of the country, whether it is good or bad, we can't comment for the time being." It can be seen that the emperor is determined to push the banknotes out this time, and he needs the support of all walks of life. As Master Pei said, this is a rare opportunity to win His Majesty's trust, and it is also the best time to strike at the power of merchants. ”

"If we can serve the emperor, we will not hesitate to wait even if we are broken." Yang Xuanzhi said very surely, "However, for the matter of paper money, although our strength is weak, our determination to support Your Majesty is by no means weak. Those merchants thought that if the emperor wanted to promote paper money, he had to fight for their power, after all, they controlled the circulation of the market. Hum! ”

"But they don't know that ants can never see the strength of elephants, and their self-sustaining power is just paper tigers in front of His Majesty. As long as His Majesty gives an order, those big businessmen will be wiped out immediately! Just like what happened during the time of Emperor Wu! This time, in any case, the businessmen must be completely excluded from the political sphere, so that those businessmen will completely lose the opportunity to become an independent political force! ”

Pei Wei nodded, and after his gaze swept over several other people, he said, "Several, what are your opinions?" ”

"Lord Yang is very reasonable, our commercial strength is still very weak compared to those big merchant groups, and the role that big businessmen can play in this matter is the most critical. Of course, it is our duty to support the emperor, and we will definitely support paper money, and the big deal is that the factories and farms controlled by our family will use paper money in the future. ”

"Yes, we can pay our wages with paper money, but in fact we don't have any loss, and we can also accept paper money when we sell goods, and even if we lose something, we can bear it. However, what if the merchant does not accept paper money in the process of purchasing goods? Also, what if the paper money that workers get is not available in the market to buy their daily necessities? These are not problems that we can solve, and the root cause is still in those big businessmen, and only when they accept paper money can our role be played. ”

"The foundation of the country is the most important thing, and if the big businessmen go against the government, we will be in a difficult situation."

"Everyone, everyone," Pei Wei finally spoke, "Everyone's attitude is very direct, and the old man is also thinking about these questions." Although our business power is meager, it is our responsibility and obligation to support the emperor. Today, the old man came to everyone to unify our attitude. The current situation is obvious, those big businessmen have serious opposition to the issuance of paper money, and now the only one who can help the emperor is us. No matter how difficult it is, we have to stand on the emperor's side, no matter how small our strength is, we can't change our attitude! This is the perfect time for us to show our hearts to Your Majesty! ”

At this moment, everyone suddenly understood. Obviously, if the big merchants had agreed to paper money, these problems would not have existed at all. And Pei Wei's words have another meaning, and these people quickly understood. With the emperor's iron-fisted methods, anyone who disobeys him will not end well.

If the merchants were against the issuance of paper money, then there was no doubt that in the end the emperor would find a way to deal with the big merchants, and it would be a war between the interests of the state and the merchants. For those of them who represent traditional powers, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. However, none of these people had any other ideas, and standing on the emperor's side was their only choice.

The next day, Pei Wei, Yang Xuanzhi, Wang Yan and others seemed to explain to Sima Shu the attitude of the family power towards the issuance of paper money by the imperial court, and they clearly supported the emperor. This made Sima Shu a little surprised, but he didn't expect that the family that had been 'restricted' would also have an enlightened day.

However, Sima Shu soon understood the plans of the family, and these families had long been dissatisfied with the mercantile policy implemented by the imperial court, but it was only because they also benefited a lot from it, and the merchants did not show their political ambitions in the past, that these families turned a blind eye to the development of merchants.

However, the great political ambitions of the merchants were now too great for the families to sit still, and they hoped to take advantage of the opportunity of the currency issuance to join forces with the emperor Sima Shu to eradicate the merchants' attempts to contaminate politics. For the family's plans, Sima Shu knows very well and is very supportive.

After this time, Sima Shu knew that in politics the family was a little more reliable than the businessman, so the exclusion of the businessman from the political scope was also what Sima Shu wanted. In short, this time the merchant class of the Great Jin Dynasty may encounter the biggest crisis in ten years (to be continued......