Xu Da got off the sedan chair in front of the yamen of the Baoquan Bureau, looked up at the gate, and couldn't help but stop. Early this morning, Xu Da went back to the household department, and Colquin asked him what Chen Tingjing had said, but he just prevaricated. Colcoin didn't believe it, and his words were quite unhappy. Xu Da has always been up and down in his heart these days, and he has no opinions. He was afraid to see Colkoin, and he was also afraid to see Chen Tingjing. He stood in front of the sedan chair and hesitated for a moment, couldn't help but sigh, bowed his head and entered the yamen.

Chen Tingjing was writing something in the second hall, and Xu Da stepped forward and bowed: "Lord Chen, I'm going back to the household department." ”

Chen Tingjing said, "Oh, Lord Xu, please take a seat." Didn't the University of Science and Technology come? ”

Xu Dadao: "There is something in the Ministry of Science and Technology, so I won't come today, let me tell Master Chen." ”

Chen Tingjing said straight, and ordered Dashun to serve tea. Xu Da took the teacup and casually glanced at the account book on the table. Chen Tingjing looked at it in his eyes and said, "Master Xu, there is something I want to break, in fact, you and I understand it in our hearts." ”

Xu Da said: "Please make it clear to Lord Chen." ”

Chen Tingjing smiled: "You want to know the results of the warehouse inventory? ”

Xu Da said: "If Lord Chen doesn't say it, I don't dare to ask." ”

Chen Tingjing said again: "The people of the University of Science and Technology are also very concerned? ”

Xu Da looked at Chen Tingjing, not knowing what to say.

Chen Tingjing said: "Let's mint the money now, and don't care about the warehouse inventory for the time being." When the time comes, I will play the emperor, and the white will not become black. ”

Xu Da sighed: "Lord Chen, in fact, you have suffered a lot of grievances in the past few years, just because the white has become black, and we all know it below." ”

Chen Tingjing couldn't help but sigh and said, "In the imperial court, sometimes it's unclear. However, black and white are still not confused in the end. Let's stop saying these words, let's look at the money factory. ”

In the money factory, Xiang Zhongzheng instructed the craftsmen to turn money, and the old master Uncle Wu ran over and asked, "Master Xiang, what are you doing?" ”

Xiang Zhong said: "Melt it!" ”

Uncle Wu hurriedly said, "Isn't this the new money that has just been minted?" I can't help it! ”

Xiang Zhong said with a sideways face: "The top is ruined, how can you not do it!" ”

Uncle Wu shouted: "Destroying money is a big crime!" I'm going to kill my head! ”

Xiang Zhong scolded: "Why are you so stupid old man? Turning copper into money, turning money into copper, it's all up to you! ”

Uncle Wu said: "When copper becomes money, it will be stained with the immortal spirit of the imperial court, and it will never be destroyed!" ”

Xiang Zhong laughed and said, "You old man, it's a roundabout!" ”

Xiang Zhong said it, and scolded the craftsmen for being too slow. Uncle Wu suddenly pounced, protected the copper coins on the ground, and shouted: "I can't help it, I can't help it!" Oh my God, this will cut off the dragon vein of the imperial court! ”

At this moment, Chen Tingjing and Xu Da came in. Chen Tingjing asked, "Old man, what are you doing here?" Uncle Wu looked at Chen Tingjing and asked, "My lord, you let them ruin the money, right?" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Yes, what's wrong? ”

Xu Dadao: "This is Lord Chen sent by the imperial court to be in charge of the money law. ”

Uncle Wu cried and said: "Lord Chen, I have been minting money since the Ming Dynasty, and I only know how to turn copper into money, and I have never done anything to turn money into copper!" In the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, the price of copper was higher than the price of money, and some people destroyed money to turn copper into copper, and saw that the Ming Dynasty was over! My lord, this is unlucky! ”

Chen Tingjing asked people to help Uncle Wu up and said: "Old man, that is the Ming Dynasty, it is time to destroy the country, and you can't blame anyone for ruining the money." We are now destroying the old money and making new money, that is, we will not let the profiteers make profits. Allowing profiteers to disrupt the money law is to endanger the people and the court! ”

Chen Tingjing said, shoveled a spoonful of copper coins, and sent them into the furnace with a clatter. Uncle Wu knelt on the ground, looked up to the sky and shouted: "Evil, evil!" ”

Xiang Zhong yelled impatiently: "Pull the old guy away!" ”

Liu Yuan led a few servants and walked away with Uncle Wu. The craftsmen came in with carts, some pulling pieces of copper, some pulling new coins of one and a half cents, and some pulling old bronze vessels. Chen Tingjing stepped forward and picked up an old copper tripod, looked at it carefully, and said: "The copper quality of the old bronze is uneven, so you should be very careful when acquiring it." ”

Xu Da said: "We have all instructed the warehouse to accept only good old bronze ware. ”

Chen Tingjing wiped the rust spots on the copper tripod and instructed Liu Jing and Ma Ming: "Take a few old bronze utensils, wash them carefully, and see how the copper is!" ”

In a short time, the old bronze was washed and sparkled and brought in. Chen Tingjing said: "Let's go outside and see." When he walked out, Ma Ming quietly said to Chen Tingjing: "Master, the old master just now seemed to be shouting to tell Xiang Zhong everything he had done, so he asked those people to cover their mouths and drag them away. ”

Chen Tingjing asked, "Did you really hear that?" We'll talk about that later. ”

Under the open air, a few lumps of copper, a few washed old bronzes, and a pile of coins ready to be recast, were arranged side by side on the board. Chen Tingjing went over to check carefully, but everyone didn't speak. Xiang Zhong secretly glanced at Chen Tingjing on the side, looking uneasy. Chen Tingjing's expression was solemn, and then he smiled.

Da Shun asked, "Master, why are all the colors of these pots and pots the same?" By the way, the color of the same piece of copper and money is also similar. ”

Chen Tingjing smiled: "It's all the same." Good, good! I was worried that the old bronze would be of poor quality. Now I am relieved. You see, the fineness of these bronzes is no different from that of money, and they can be used to mint money. These pieces of copper are also the same as the fineness of coins, and they can be minted directly. ”

Xiang Zhong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that these officials who can only eat ink are fools. Chen Tingjing said again: "The copper can no longer be collected, these old bronze wares, the more the merrier, you can collect more!" ”

After leaving the money factory and returning to the yamen of the Baoquan Bureau, Chen Tingjing instructed Liu Jing: "The old bronze ware, like a piece of copper, is made of copper that destroyed money." Starting tomorrow, you will be staring around the warehouse of the Baoquan Bureau to find out who is sending the old bronzes. ”

Dashun said: "It turns out that the master has already seen the problem, and I still wonder about it!" ”

Chen Tingjing said with a smile: "Dashun is still sharp-eyed, and you can see it at a glance. But you have to remember that there are some things that you might as well take to heart first. ”

Dashun nodded yes. Chen Tingjing instructed Ma Ming again: "You are secretly looking for that Uncle Wu and checking on Xiang Zhong." We need to find out two things at the moment: one is the shortage of copper in the warehouse, and the other is the profiteers who destroy money and copper! ”