Chapter 476: Implementing New Currency
"But what if Yelu Yixin..."
Zhao Xing originally wanted to say that Yelu Yixin directly launched troops against Hehuang during the pursuit, but Dong Xiang couldn't resist it at all.
But he quickly realized what Dong Fei could rely on.
Hehuang is in a special position. If Yelu Yixin really wanted to attack Hehuang, neither Xixia nor Song Dynasty would just sit idly by.
Because no one wants Yelu Yixin to occupy Hehuang.
This gave Dong Fei the confidence to accept Empress Dowager Xiao.
As long as Yelu Yixin withdraws his troops, Yelu Yixin will then focus on controlling the interior of the Liao Kingdom, and will not be able to send troops for the time being.
"This is all speculation. It's hard to say whether Queen Mother Xiao can escape." Zhao Xing said.
"We can only leave it to fate. Unless your Majesty is willing to go to war with the Liao Kingdom completely at this time, there is no other way to intervene in this matter."
"However, Your Majesty can ask the British Duke to make an offensive gesture. Yelu Yixin is somewhat wary and will divide his troops. In this way, Empress Dowager Xiao will have a greater chance of escaping." Han Zhang said.
"For the time being, we can only take one step at a time."
Zhao Xing had no better way, so he could only do as Han Zhang said and immediately asked someone to draft an edict.
"Let's do this."
Zhao Xing said: "I have called you here for one more thing. Sanshui, show me the silver coins to all your dear friends."
"Yes!"
Sanshui responded and distributed the silver coins sent by the Ministry of Industry yesterday to Han Zhang and others.
After everyone got the silver coins, they were a little confused and didn't know what Zhao Xing was going to do.
As for the portrait of Taizu on the silver coin, they really didn't recognize it.
After all, it was already the fifth generation of the Song Dynasty to reach Zhao Xing. The portrait of Taizu was enshrined in the Taimiao, and officials were not eligible to enter.
However, the avatar above was wearing a crown of emperor, so they still knew each other.
Zhao Xing did not hide it, and said calmly: "Folks mostly use copper coins for transactions. Because silver has different qualities and values, it has to be weighed when trading. However, the Song Dynasty's trade with foreign countries led to the outflow of copper coins, and the folk There was not enough copper money, and some people even had to barter, which was very inconvenient.
This silver coin was specially made by my order. The silver used has also been refined and is of high quality.
I am going to promote this throughout the world and prohibit the use of loose silver among the people.
In this way, no one will be fooled because of the different qualities of silver.
At the same time, it can also solve the problem of lack of currency among the people. ”
"Your Majesty, this is inappropriate!"
An official quickly came out and said: "There is a large amount of gold and silver among the people. If your Majesty prohibits it, what will happen to the gold and silver?"
"Your Majesty, I noticed that there are two words printed on the silver coins, but I feel it. There should be no one or two silver coins. If silver coins are implemented, I am afraid that many people will make fakes!"
Suddenly a large number of officials came out to object.
Zhao Xing sneered in his heart. Maybe some of these people are really worried about some shortcomings, but most of them are definitely doing it for their own interests.
He had people investigate and found that the outflow of copper coins in the Song Dynasty was indeed serious. However, since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the number of copper coins minted by the imperial court was not large.
It is said that when the Song Dynasty's business was so prosperous and a large amount of money was concentrated in the hands of a few people, there should be a shortage of currency among the people.
However, according to surveys, although this phenomenon exists among the people, it is actually not serious.
The reason for this is because someone makes money.
The technical content of casting copper coins is not high. Even if there is some difference between it and those cast by the imperial court, as long as the difference is not big, the common people cannot tell the difference at all. Zhao Xing asked people to collect some folk copper coins, carefully identify them, and divide out a part of the 'price'.
After weighing, it was found that the fake copper coins weighed only 100 coins as much as the 80 coins minted by the imperial court, and the dispersion into each coin was not obvious.
Casting copper into money is itself profitable, not to mention that counterfeit money uses less copper.
The benefits of this can be imagined.
The counterfeit money is not only slightly lighter in weight, but also much different in workmanship.
I wouldn’t say it’s fake at first glance, but you can tell the difference with a little discernment.
But Zhao Xing asked people to collect fake money and found that it was already included in the money minted during Taizong's time.
But for such a long time, there was no news at all.
It's impossible for private shops not to see it, but they still take it as real money.
This shows how deep the water behind this is.
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What's even more terrifying is that among the copper coins that Zhao Xing asked people to collect at will, almost half of them were true and false.
This means that half of the Song Dynasty copper coins today are fake.
How many copper coins were there in the entire Song Dynasty? Counting those exposed, it is simply an astronomical figure.
"My dear friends, you are over-concerned. I have naturally considered the matter of counterfeiting and have my own way of identifying it. How to identify it, I will not tell you for the time being. As for my dear friends, what should I do with the gold and silver among the people? This problem is better solved.
I will order people to open banks in various state capitals of the Song Dynasty. You can take the silver to the bank and exchange it for silver coins. You only need to deduct the fire consumption and fineness.
Business in the Song Dynasty was developed, but merchants carried a large amount of money, which made it inconvenient to travel and might encounter robbers.
By building a bank, merchants could deposit money and withdraw it elsewhere.
For example, if I want to take one hundred thousand taels of silver to Luoyang, I can directly deposit it into a bank in Bianjing and go to Luoyang to pick it up with the receipt. This method has been used in Shu for a long time, and it is very convenient. ”
"No, Your Majesty. The reason why this method has not been implemented in the world is because the bills are easy to be forged. Once someone makes a forgery, who will bear the money at any time?" Han Zhang said.
Because of road problems in central Sichuan, those merchants jointly established banks.
It is only used among merchants who jointly set up banks.
But it's different when it comes to promoting the whole country. In ancient times, there was no network like in later generations. You can check it here and there. Once someone makes a fake, it's impossible to prevent it.
"Since I want to set up banks in various places, I have naturally made preparations for it. Merchants need to save large amounts of money and withdraw it from other places. They must deposit it in advance and explain where to withdraw it.
At that time, the bank that receives the deposit will check the information in detail, and then notify the bank that needs to withdraw money through the station to avoid the possibility of fraud. ”
"Your Majesty, there is still a gap in the hundred secrets, so there are still loopholes to exploit. Once something goes wrong, it will cause chaos." Han Zhang said.
"Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. I will establish a strict review system and a strict punishment system to prevent this kind of thing from happening. Setting up a bank will not only earn a lot of money for the court, but it will also be a good thing for the people of the world. Don't stop eating because of choking. ." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
When Han Zhang heard this, he stopped trying to persuade him. Instead, the other officials asked how to calculate the heat consumption and fineness of the silver coins exchanged.
Silver coins are almost useless to ordinary people, and the mainstream is still copper coins.
Therefore, some officials involved in counterfeiting copper coins have little resistance.
Zhao Xing sneered in his heart. The reason why he did not propose to recast the copper coins was because he had expected this.
When the Imperial City Division investigates the matter of casting fake copper coins and gets rid of these people, and then proposes to mint new copper coins, the resistance will naturally disappear.
(End of chapter)