The sun is shining brightly on the earth, and the midsummer in Fuzhou is coming. Xu Yuanzhi, a former Fuzhou governor and now a retiree, is in a very good mood. This Jinshi was cautious in his words and deeds, and he did not like to speak, but now he had the vitality from the heart, and the gloomy feeling in Pingsuli had greatly subsided.

Zhao Jiaren's compulsory training has ended, and Sima Kao, a member of the study committee in the class, took out Xu Yuanzhi's notes as a model. In addition to recording the content of the lecture of the teacher Zhao Jiaren, this note also raises questions based on Xu Yuanzhi's personal experience. It is precisely because he determined his position as a student that Xu Yuanzhi consulted Zhao Jiaren about these questions, and in addition to Zhao Jiaren's answers, there were also Xu Yuanzhi's own analysis and answers based on the theory of 'general equivalents'.

The notes were informative, not only did Sima Kao feel that he was stunned after reading it, but the students not only had a deep understanding of Zhao Jiaren's course after reading it, but also understood why Jinshi deserved respect.

Xu Yuanzhi was not complacent because of this, and his whole mind was focused on understanding the new theory and trying to use the new theory to explain the financial problems of the Great Song Dynasty. Money is a general equivalent, and the reason why Zhao Jiaren insists on paying with money is because Zhao Jiaren adheres to his theoretical foundation. Compared with Zhao Jiaren's insistence, Da Song's understanding of currency is plausible.

The Great Song Dynasty did have reserves when it issued banknotes a long time ago, and then it began to mess around. As far as Zhao Jiaren said, the so-called mess does not mean that there is no need for reserves. In Zhao Jiaren's view, good grain and other daily necessities could be used as reserves, but because of a lack of theoretical knowledge, not only did they lose the means of administrative regulation and control of grain prices, but also made grain prices a source of trouble.

In these aspects, Xu Yuanzhi initially felt that Zhao Jiaren was reasonable, but after studying for a while, he found that Zhao Jiaren's statement seemed to be flawed. For example, the grain price in Fuzhou is 40 yuan and one stone, and the grain price in Hunan is two yuan and one stone. How to use monetary means to solve this problem.

went to see Zhao Jiaren with this question, but the doorman told Xu Yuanzhi that Zhao Zhizhou was running errands and couldn't see him. Xu Yuanzhi understood that Zhao Jiaren was busy, but he was still unhappy in his heart. He couldn't help but wonder what was the big thing that made Zhao Jiaren care so much.

Zhao Jiaren has a big heart, and there are not many people who can be regarded as a big deal. At this time, the officer from the Haizhou trading base was being questioned. The official had already explained what he knew twice, first after the fall of Li Pu, the small warlords of Shandong who had followed Li Pu to do business with Zhao Jiaren put forward the demand for luxury trade such as glass mirrors.

In addition to luxury, northerners are no less receptive to curry than southerners. However, a new liaison arrived at the trading base in Haizhou, who indicated that he could represent the Mongol court. Coming from the capital of Mongolia means that Zhao Jiaren's business includes spices, spices, glass, and medicines. At this time, there were few commodities in the south and north that were available in the south and not in the north, and the scope of Zhao Jiaren's business happened to be in this field.

Kublai Khan had already decreed that trade in this area was classified as a monopoly. If Zhao Jiaren really wanted to make this money, he would have to open up a trade route to Dadu through Zhigu Village. In order to open up this trade route, Zhao Jiaren had to sell forty artillery pieces to Mongolia every year.

In addition to Zhao Jiaren and the people who came to report, Yuan Hongjie and Li Hongjun, who came back from the Ryukyus, also attended the meeting. Both of them knew that the reason why Zhao Jiaren beheaded the Pu family was that the Pu family colluded with the Mongols, and the proof of the collusion with the Mongols was that the Pu family sent envoys to the Mongols. If this is the standard, if Zhao Jiaren sells artillery to the Mongols, then he will probably be able to kill all of them.

Seeing Zhao Jiaren's thoughtful look, Li Hongjun was very worried that Zhao Jiaren scolded angrily for a while. He quickly ended the question, and then asked Zhao Jiaren, "Principal, let's finish asking." ”

Zhao Jiaren did not answer Li Hongjun's question, he asked the Haizhou officer, "Are those small Shandong warlords still willing to sell hawthorn, green onions, and garlic?" ”

"Those people said in private that the Mongol emperor couldn't control them so much, and it was illegal to grow something at home and sell it." The officer expressed his views very tactfully.

Zhao Jiaren nodded slightly, he could understand the views of the small warlords in Shandong, no one would have trouble with money. The green onions here in Fuzhou are as thin as chopsticks, and they are called chives, but in fact, the climate in the south can only grow such green onions. Compared with the green onions in Shandong, which are more than half a person tall and the thickness of a rolling pin, Zhao Jiaren certainly hopes to be able to sell such green onions by sea. Judging from the results, the people of Fuzhou and Quanzhou also like the taste of scallion pancakes.

Yuan Hongjie asked Zhao Jiaren with some puzzlement, "Zhizhou, why aren't those little warlords willing to buy our spices?" They can make a lot of money by taking it out and turning it over. ”

"First, they don't use much on their own. Second, it has already been said that spices in the north are a state monopoly, and pouring spices for oneself by private individuals is the same as selling smuggled salt in the Great Song Dynasty. Zhao Jiaren explained.

Yuan Hongjie nodded slightly, the Navigation Guild is very concerned about the consumption power of residents, and no one consumes the things that are transported, which is a huge waste. So it is not embarrassing to have illegal salt, but the small warlords in Shandong cannot afford to buy a large amount of spices.

Li Hongjun was silent, and he heard something from the conversation that didn't seem to be good. Zhao Jiaren was not opposed to doing business with the Mongols, and this attitude meant that Zhao Jiaren was likely to accept the Mongols' demands. When the meeting was dispersed, Zhao Jiaren left Li Hongjun behind. While waiting a little nervously, Li Hongjun heard Zhao Jiaren ask, "I want to do business with the Mongols." ”

Even if he guessed such a possibility, Li Hongjun was still nervous in his heart. Li Hongjun couldn't help but ask, "Principal, ...... others Could it be misunderstood? ”

"Do you think I'm a traitor?" Zhao Jiaren asked rhetorically. He felt that it was right to talk to Li Hongjun about this, if the other party's enthusiasm for doing business with Mongolia was higher than Zhao Jiaren's, Zhao Jiaren was afraid that he would have a headache.

Li Hongjun hurriedly denied, "This is absolutely impossible!" The principal was so brave when he fought with Mongolia, how could he collude with Mongolia. ”

Zhao Jiaren first had to make Li Hongjun feel at ease, if his subordinates first thought that Zhao Jiaren betrayed the Great Song Dynasty in order to make money, it would be more than worth the loss, "It's good that we know it ourselves." We sold Li Pu a lot of artillery, and when Li Pu was defeated, he would probably destroy the artillery according to the method we taught him, but there would always be some artillery pieces that fell into the hands of the Mongols. This time I can sell artillery to the Mongols, but there is a need for a doorway......"

Listening to Zhao Jiaren's story, Li Hongjun felt a little understood. Zhao Jiaren only sold one pound of guns, or at least the first batch of artillery was sold for one pound of guns. If the Mongols could not accept it at all, they would have to give up the deal. And Zhao Jiaren's main commodity imported from Mongolia is alkali blocks. Since the rebellion of Li Pu, the import of alkali blocks has been interrupted. The Nautical Guild immediately froze the production of glassware, leaving only the lenses polished. The existing alkaline noodles are mainly used for the production of steamed bread and soap.

"What if the Mongols had to buy larger caliber artillery?" Li Hongjun still couldn't help asking.

"We need 500 catties of copper for a five-pound cannon here. The Mongols really want to buy, and our asking price is a thousand catties of silver. Zhao Jiaren replied.

As soon as he heard this price, Li Hongjun understood what Zhao Jiaren meant. Although the price of a pound of cannon is higher than the price asked for by Li Pu, Zhao Jiaren's bottom limit is 550 catties of iron and 50 cow calves of Shandong cattle. Compared with the six-pound cannon, the price of the one-pound cannon seems to be childish.

"Why are there whole and zero?" Li Hongjun was very confused by the iron numbers.

"It's a mystery." Zhao Jiaren replied decisively.

Li Hongjun was amused by this answer, and then after thinking about it, he also decided to believe it

Seeing that Li Hongjun was persuaded, Zhao Jiaren told Li Hongjun the next steps, "I'll leave this matter to you." You don't have to go out in person, keep the news strictly, and find someone you can trust to talk to the Mongols. ”

Li Hongjun was ordered to go, and for Zhao Jiaren's greed, Li Hongjun felt that it was a bit of 'asking for money and not dying'. Regarding Zhao Jiaren's attitude, Li Hongjun also felt that it was very difficult to deal with. Back in his office, Li Hongjun sat in his seat and considered who to let go to negotiate with the Mongols. Of course, it is not possible to find an incompetent person, but Li Hongjun is not very relieved to find a particularly capable person. Those super smart guys tend to be unstable.

While he was thinking, the correspondent brought in the papers. When I opened it, it turned out to be a document from Renda Money. The content of the document is that Renda Money Bank has recently prepared to put 160,000 silver coins in internal transactions, and you are welcome to exchange copper coins. Li Hongjun first thought it was interesting, took out the money bag casually, and took out a silver coin he got in class. Compared with copper coins, silver coins are quite delicately minted, the text is a silver hook iron painting, the handwriting is clear, and the 'one tael' on it seems to be written......

Li Hongjun, who was playing with the silver coin, was stunned at first, he put the silver coin on the table, picked up the pencil himself, and calculated it in the blank space of a piece of paper that had already been written. In fact, the calculation is very easy, 160,000 silver coins, 16 taels per catty, and 1 tael of a silver coin. If the documents of Renda Qianzhuang are not wrong, it will release 10,000 catties of silver this year.

Li Hongjun began to continue to calculate, one tael of silver is about equal to two copper coins. That's 1540 texts. 160,000 silver coins are equivalent to 320,000 copper coins. The purchasing power of 320,000 copper coins is staggering, and the goods purchased can fill hundreds of ships.

Then Li Hongjun remembered another piece of data. At the time of the Mongol invasion of the south, in the main war, the officials of the Great Song Dynasty ordered to take out 1.6 million taels of silver from the inner treasury. And Renda Qianzhuang took out 160,000 taels of silver currency a year. No wonder Zhao Jiaren even dared to sell cannons to the Mongols, Zhao Jiaren's demand for silver was really huge.

Knowing this, Li Hongjun quickly circled a deputy. He felt that the matter had to be resolved quickly.