Chang'an City, in Weiyang Palace.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Che, ordered the three princes and nine kings to enter the court, because of the drought in the northwest to discuss solutions.

Drought situation!

To put it bluntly, there is a shortage of water, and the crop yield of arid land is reduced, or even the grain is not harvested.

Faced with this situation.

Generally speaking.

In ancient times, the rulers would do two things, one was to pray for rain, and the other was to allocate money to collect food for disaster relief.

If this matter had happened during the reign of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, it would have been easy to solve.

But the current ruler is Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

In the past two years, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty worked hard to build salt and iron official camps, improve the economy, collect grain, etc., just to fight to the death with the Xiongnu in Mobei in the coming year!

Now do you want him to use the hard-earned state treasury to deal with the drought?

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was a hundred unwilling in his heart.

And at this time.

The great farmer Ling Yan Yi wrote a book and said, "Your Majesty, on the official road in the northwest, there has been an incident of thieves robbing and killing the officials of the grain convoy. The impact of this matter is huge, and if it is not handled well, more displaced people will be the first to follow suit."

"Oh? Did the homeless people riot and rob the grain carts?"

Above the high position, Emperor Wu of Han looked at Yan Yi, with a slightly impatient look in his eyes.

But Yan Yi didn't notice it, and only looked at the report: "Your Majesty, it's not a riot of displaced people, it's a gang of bandits who robbed the grain convoy!"

"Bandits? Oh, such a small thing, and it bothers you to care about it?" Emperor Wu of Han snorted slightly, and then said dissatisfiedly, "Could it be that a lot of grain has been lost?"

However.

Yan Yi replied, "It's not grain, it's the grain convoy that transports soil!"

"Soil, what is soil?"

Time.

Emperor Wu of Han was stunned, he didn't understand what Yan Yi said.

If it is written in words for Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, then he must understand. It's just that he said the above, and combined with the grain convoy, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty would never have thought that it was the soil that he usually stepped on!

Looked at.

Yan Yi immediately replied, "It's the land, the soil for growing vegetables and plants."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty didn't react for a while, and then asked, "Are you talking about this soil? Why is the grain convoy carrying the soil and grain?"

Yan Yi hurriedly explained at this time: "Back to Your Majesty, this is the plan proposed by Huo Yilang last time, a plan to transport back the soil of the Western Regions and mold and plant."

Only then did Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty recall that there was such an incident.

But.

That was a few months ago.

"I know, I lost some soil, why should the big farmer order care? Pass it on, and the local governor will supervise this matter, so be sure to catch that gang of bandits and send them to prison!" Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty lightly exposed the matter in a single sentence.

And Yan Yi retreated.

Side.

Zhang Tang, the imperial historian who was ranked in the third duke, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the minister believes that the drought in the northwest is more important."

"To solve the problem of drought, one is to pray for rain, and the other is to allocate money for disaster relief."

"Although the treasury is abundant after the reform of salt and iron, it is Your Majesty's salary for the war with the Xiongnu next year, and it cannot be moved."

"So!"

"The minister suggests that Your Majesty can issue an order to issue platinum coins to borrow the wealth of the people and eliminate disasters among the people."

A white gold coin is a type of currency minted from a silver tin alloy.

It is equivalent to issuing a large denomination currency on the basis of the existing currency. For example, a white gold coin with a round shape and a dragon-shaped pattern is worth three thousand coins; A white gold coin with a square and light weight, with a horse motif, valued at five hundred; Finally, the oval white gold coin, which weighs the least and has a turtle pattern, is worth three hundred.

These!

It is the legendary platinum three products.

The three currencies are distinguished by the upper, middle and lower ones.

In fact!

Zhang Tang said

It was a suggestion, but in fact, it was just saying this sentence on behalf of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

After all.

The platinum coin was originally wanted by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, but the ministers have always opposed it, so they have repeatedly shelved it.

When it comes to the art of controlling people, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty is no worse than anyone else.

Seeing Zhang Tang's strategy of mentioning the platinum coin at this time, Emperor Wu of Han swept his gaze over all the courtiers standing in the Weiyang Palace, and then said lightly: "What Zhang Yushi said..."

But here, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty just opened his mouth.

Yan Yi stood up and objected: "Your Majesty is cautious, the platinum coin that Zhang Yushi said is good to say that it is called borrowing the talents of the people and eliminating disasters from the people. To put it mildly, it is another disguised plundering of the money of the people of our Han Dynasty."

"Your Majesty's martial arts have been fighting and sweeping away the Huns for more than ten years."

"Although it is an expansion of territory, the results are remarkable. But the price was that the financial accumulation of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing was exhausted, and the people in some parts of the Han Dynasty were not clothed and the economy was in recession."

"If you mint this platinum coin again, you will plunder the wealth of the people."

"In the end, it will definitely make the heavens angry and resentful, and at that time, my Han Dynasty will be in danger!"

As soon as this remark came out.

The killing intent in Emperor Wu of Han's eyes was great.

His greatest achievement was to deal with the Xiongnu in the north and disperse them to the depths of Mobei. However, this Yan Yi dared to devalue his merits as worthless.

Who can bear this?

What's more, it's Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty!

How can a merciless lord who kills without mercy bear to let his courtiers say this about him.

And when Yan Yi put forward this opinion, Zhang Tang stood up and pointed at Yan Yi's nose and scolded: "Yan Danong Ling, you pedantic minister, don't be alarmist here!" In the final analysis, platinum coins are just a currency with a higher value, so why should they endanger the country?"

Zhang Tangzheng said.

Prime Minister Li Cai on the side made a rare speech and said, "The minister agrees with Yan Yi's words."

The prime minister is the head of the hundred officials.

The power is as great as the two emperors of the Han Dynasty.

He spoke.

The ministers stepped forward one after another and chimed in, "We also agree with Yan Yi's words."

This time.

Zhang Tang had to face not only his opponent, but also Prime Minister Li Cai and all the ministers in the court.

No way.

The duties performed by the imperial historian were already easy to offend the officials in the court, and with Prime Minister Li Cai taking the lead, for a while, the ministers even launched a verbal attack on this imperial historian.

But fortunately, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty protected him.

So.

Zhang Tang was not worried about everyone's verbal attacks, and only said lightly: "You all say that platinum coins are not good, have you ever thought about how to solve the drought in the northwest without recasting money?"

Time.

The ministers are silent.

Only Yan Yi continued: "Your Majesty's salt and iron reform has caused a huge amount of national fiscal revenue. It would be better to suspend next year's recruitment plan and use the money for the drought."

Mobilize the military salary money for the coming year?

Emperor Wu of Han was even more displeased, but he didn't plan to solve Yan Yi immediately at this moment, but just said lightly: "The money for the salt and iron reform is used to pave the way for the army that will fight against the Xiongnu in the coming year, and I can't move it. As for the platinum coins, since you say so, let's put them aside for now."

"Today's court meeting, if there is nothing else, let's disperse!"

"Zhang Tang stays."

After the conclusion of the Outer Dynasty Conference, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty convened another Inner Dynasty Conference non-stop.

The so-called Inner Korean Conference.

It was the people close to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty who got together for a meeting.

And this meeting of the Inner Korea, the people who came were Huo Guang, Han Shuo, Sang Hongyang in Shizhong, Dongfang Shuo in Langzhong, etc... They gathered together, like a walking think tank of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

And the Inner Dynasty will mainly talk about it.

It is the implementation of platinum coins.

At the foreign court meeting, although Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said that he would temporarily stop the implementation, it was practical

, but not so.

What he has to do, no one can stop him.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked at Sang Hongyang, who was good at words and calculations, and asked, "Sang Shizhong, tell me how to implement the platinum coin?"

Sang Hongyang knew that this question was a hot potato, and he couldn't answer it randomly, so he hurriedly said: "The minister is stupid, Zhang Gong proposed the platinum coin behavior, and the minister really doesn't know what to say."

"It's just that the previous five-baht coin has just been introduced."

"I'm afraid that the introduction of platinum coins will have a huge impact on the five-baht coin."

Sang Hongyang is just a servant and does not have any power at hand.

Though.

He knows that platinum coins are useless, but the problem is that His Majesty wants to implement it, and he can only know it with emotion and reason.

If Your Majesty still doesn't listen.

I just thought I was talking nonsense, and I didn't care.

When Emperor Wu of Han heard this, he immediately frowned and scolded, "Hmph, that's all? Sang Shizhong, I really think highly of you."

"Dongfang Shuo, what about you?"

"Usually you don't talk the most, is there anything you want to say?"

However.

Dongfang Shuo shook his head.

What His Majesty wants to do, he will not dare to disobey.

Helpless.

The ministers didn't dare to say it bluntly, now, apart from Zhang Tang, who else could support Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to implement such a thing as platinum coins?

In the end, Emperor Wu of Han could only look at Huo Guang and asked, "Does Huo Yilang have anything to say?"

"Yes!"

Huo Guang nodded lightly.

Hear the words.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Che's eyes suddenly lit up, thinking that young people are different, and they dare to say anything.

So Emperor Wu of Han praised and said, "Very good, then please ask Huo Yilang to talk about the platinum coins!"

Huo Guang said at this time, "Although I don't know much about the minting process of platinum coins, there is one thing that the minister knows very well, that is, this thing, the price set by His Majesty is very valuable."

"The top-grade platinum coin is worth three thousand dollars, the medium-grade is worth five hundred dollars, and even the worst one is worth three hundred dollars."

"Has Your Majesty ever thought about it?"

"At the beginning, even something as cheap as a three-baht coin was minted privately, and even used a false method of turning one into two copper coins."

"This platinum coin is so valuable, if Your Majesty promotes it, will it cause those people to mint it privately? In this way, it is extremely easy to destroy the existing currency of the Han Dynasty, the five-baht coin."

After hearing this.

Emperor Wu of Han suddenly frowned and said, "I feel that you are also trying to stop me from promoting platinum coins, right?" Hmph, private casting, if anyone dares to do this, I will be strict and cut off his head, no matter who it is!"

Huo Guang reminded at this time: "Your Majesty, the so-called people die for money, I'm afraid that cutting off their heads is not enough to scare those opportunistic guys."

"Death for money? Hmph, then the three clans, I don't believe anyone dares to mint platinum coins without permission." Emperor Wu of Han glanced at everyone coldly, and then said, "Huo Guang, I am asking you to make suggestions on the implementation of platinum coins, not for you to obstruct them."

Proposal to promote platinum coins?

Huo Guang suddenly frowned slightly, and said, "Your Majesty, can you ask first, what is this platinum coin for?" Now that the five-baht coin has just been issued, the monetary system is performing quite well, and if you are inserting a white gold coin, it will be difficult to ensure that the five-baht coin works."

Emperor Wu of Han replied, "Isn't it for the drought in the northwest? I carried out the salt and iron reform, changed the agricultural tools to improve the economy, in order to cross the entire grassland and escape to the desert north of the Xiongnu decisive battle to pave the way!"

"In the drought situation in the northwest, the three princes and nine ministers suggested that they should first pray for rain, and then ask the treasury to allocate money for disaster relief."

"If the money from the treasury is spent here, the war against the Xiongnu in the coming year will not be launched. When the time comes, it will give the Huns who fled to Mobei a chance to breathe."

For money?

It turned out that the issuance of platinum coins was made by His Majesty in order to collect money.

Initially.

He thought it was just

Simply issuing a large amount of money, it seems that things are still simple.

After a moment of contemplation.

Huo Guang said lightly: "Since Your Majesty said that it is a drought in the northwest, then the minister has a way, which is better than platinum coins, I wonder if Your Majesty is willing to hear it?"

"Let's see?" Emperor Wu of Han squinted at Huo Guang and said.

Huo Guang replied at this time: "Let's talk about sacrificing and praying for rain first, the minister thinks that in this world, there is no one more suitable than Dong Gong. When Dong Gong was the prime minister of Jiangdu Wangna, the drought in Jiangdu was Dong Gong's prayer for rain, and rain would come when he asked for it, which can be said to be extremely effective!"

When Emperor Wu of Han heard this, he said, "There is such a thing?"

"Yes, Your Majesty can send someone to Jiangdu to investigate." After a pause, Huo Guang continued: "As for allocating money for disaster relief, since Your Majesty said that the money in the treasury cannot be moved, then the money of the rich businessmen and magnates will be moved. Most of the wealth of the world is concentrated in the hands of this small number of people, and it is impossible to say that they are not moved!"

However.

What Huo Guang thought about, as Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Che hadn't thought about it?

He'd been trying to sharpen his knives against those merchants for a long time!

There's just no reason to do it!

Thereupon!

After a sigh, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Che, said, "I have thought about the money of a rich merchant a long time ago, but what is the reason? I can't let the hussar general send me to lead the troops to rob it!"

It turned out that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had already had this idea, but what he wanted was to grab it!

Rob?

How unreasonable that is.

Huo Guang immediately shook his head and said bluntly, "Your Majesty, why do you need to send my brother to rob it, just send me to it?"

When Emperor Wu of Han heard this, he was stunned and asked, "You? What can you do?"

What can be done?

Boy.

I was looked down upon by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty!

So, Huo Guang said directly: "The rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of the husband. Now that there is a drought in the northwest, the party is in trouble and supports from all sides, and those rich businessmen usually make a lot of money, now it's time for them to vomit blood, and let them donate money, materials and food!"

When Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty heard what Huo Guang said, it turned out to be to let the merchants donate money independently.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes suddenly!

I only heard Emperor Wu of Han say, "Do you still expect those rich merchants to donate themselves? Hmph, do you think it's possible?"

"Possibly!" Huo Guang shrugged his shoulders and said, "Your Majesty, I have a reason for donating this."

Emperor Wu of Han asked, "What do you say?"

Huo Guang pretended to clear his throat, and then said solemnly: "First let the hundred officials donate money, among them, those three princes and nine secretaries in the court should be used as an example, and then order those wealthy businessmen to follow and donate."

"A rich merchant must have an official!"

"Without an official background, it can't get rich."

"Your Majesty, you see, the officials who are the background have all donated money, and the rich businessman still doesn't donate money, is it reasonable?"

"Afterwards."

"We will return the officials' money in full, and the rich merchants' money will be divided into three or seven accounts..."

"Oh, no, for disaster relief!"