Northern Song Dynasty Justice

Chapter 460

Chapter 460

There is actually another important reason why Zhang Fei didn't monetize directly. He didn't tell Sima Guang, but Sima Guang must be able to understand it.

Because the reason is Sima Guang.

Zhang Fei has been walking between Sima Guang and Wang Anshi, which is also a technical job.

When Zhang Fei is doing things for Wang Anshi, he will try his best to do things well, but he will not break through Sima Guang's bottom line. Just like this matter, he still has one step left and has not directly monetized it.

vice versa.

When he was helping Sima Guang, he would not break through Wang Anshi's bottom line.

That's why, both Sima Guang and Wang Anshi still trust Zhang Fei very much.

I still remember that at the beginning, when the imperial court announced that the price of official salt would be reduced, the common people rejoiced.

But gradually..

The common people found that the salt money had nothing to do with their half a dime.

Now it has become a game for the rich, and the price of sixty Wen salt bills is not to mention the high price. The key point is that they have no channels to buy it.

The result is that in the past, the price of salt was high, and they were reluctant to buy it. Now, even if they have money, they can't buy salt. What's more terrible is that the price of salt bills is about the same as the price of salt at that time.

Salt is a necessity, how can you play like this.

Many ministers played the impeachment of Sinong Temple one after another, which made the common people unable to buy salt, and the public was already full of resentment.

Zhao Xu ignored it at first, and only after he had sold all the money in his hand did he hold an important meeting.

"How could this be?"

Zhao Xu asked solemnly.

Han Jiang immediately stood up and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this matter has nothing to do with our Sinong Temple. The imperial court issued salt bills for the benefit of the people, but some people secretly hoarded salt bills. The hoarding caused people to have no salt bills in their hands. Those salt shops still have a lot of salt that they can't sell."

Zhao Xu asked, "Really?"

Sima Guang immediately said: "Your Majesty, although it is true that Sinong Temple is not to blame for this, there is a problem with this policy, that is, the common people cannot obtain salt money."

Wang Anshi said slowly: "The fault is not in policy, but in human nature!"

Sima Guang immediately said: "Although this is due to human nature, everyone has no way of knowing how many salt bills are issued by Sinong Temple and how much salt the court has. This will cause everyone to hoard salt bills and wait for the price to be sold."

Wang Anshi retorted: "Don't forget why the imperial court issued salt notes. If they announce these, I'm afraid they will get worse."

Sima Guang said: "But this violates the law of the ancestors, because the imperial court lacks supervision on this aspect."

"You two gentlemen, please don't argue."

The guilty Zhao Xu hurriedly stopped the quarrel between the two, because this is definitely against the law of the ancestors, because the reserve funds are all passed through the finances of Sinong Temple and the emperor's internal treasury, and have not passed through Zhongshu Menxia and the Third Division. , none of their prime ministers knew about it.

It doesn't make sense!

The key point is that he also participated in it, and said: "The most urgent task is how to solve the current problem?"

Sima Guang didn't make a sound. He knew the answer, but he also wanted to see how Wang Anshi would choose.

Wang Anshi hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the reason why salt banknotes were issued at the beginning was because there was a shortage of coins in the market. At the same time, the price of salt remained high. Now there is no shortage of currency in the market. I suggest that everyone be allowed to use coins to buy salt."

Sima Guang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But what he doesn’t know is that Wang Anshi is definitely not conservative, but he also agrees with securitization more than monetization in his heart, because currency is the key to monetization, but there are many currencies in the market, and this weapon may be used by the other party , but if it is securitized and directly linked to the salt, the salt is in the hands of the court, and at the same time there is no fixed price, which can be better utilized.

Fu Bi, who had been silent all this time, suddenly asked, "Is the price of salt still set at 25 Wen?"

After hesitating for a while, Wang Anshi said: "Actually, the imperial court did not set the price of salt at 25 Wen, but only stipulated that a dime of salt bill can be exchanged for a catty of salt. It can be set at 35 Wen. After all, coins are not as expensive as before. valuable."

Fu Bi was taken aback for a moment, and looked at Wen Yanbo.

They expected that Wang Anshi would call it back to 45, but they didn't expect that it was only called back to 35. You must know that the imperial court bought the salt from those salt merchants for fifty Wen.

The price is still very powerful.

Fu Bi was worried again: "But the salt banknotes have been issued, and if coins are allowed to be purchased at the same time, does the imperial court have so much salt?"

Han Jiang replied: "Sinong Temple has enough salt. When the salt is sold out, the next batch of official salt should arrive. There will be no problem."

Wang Anshi said: "But the imperial court lowered the salt price only to benefit the people, so everyone should be limited to buying a catty of salt at most, but salt money can be exchanged at will."

Fu Bi didn't quite believe this, and thought, even if one catty per person, how do you know how many people will come to buy salt?

Sima Guang suddenly said: "Your Majesty, this matter has proved that the issuance of salt notes will cause many problems. It can only be used this time, and it cannot be used next time."

Wang Anshi immediately said: "Scholar Sima's words are wrong. Salt banknotes have solved the problem of money shortage. It is very successful. The imperial court should improve the salt banknote system."

Zhao Xu nodded and said: "Scholar Wang is right, the salt money has indeed solved the crisis of money shortage and can be used."

Sima Guang said: "Your Majesty, the reason why salt bills can solve the problem is not because of salt bills, but because Sinong Temple concealed everything, and at the same time used the government order to stipulate that salt bills can only be used to buy salt. This is also the cause of public resentment. It is absolutely impossible to violate the law of the ancestors."

Wang Anshi said: "This time it is only to deal with the crisis, so we adopted extraordinary measures, but it does not prove that the salt banknotes should not be used. The imperial court can improve the system and issue salt banknotes according to the situation."

Zhao Xu nodded again and said: "I also think that salt money is still feasible, especially when the money is insufficient, it can be used to pay the salaries of the Royal Police and the Imperial Army, which is more convenient than sending them salt before. As for how to improve this For the salt money system, let’s leave it to the Ministry of Education for the time being.”

Salt money will continue, but the system will be entrusted to Fu Bi and the others to formulate.

The enemies Wang Anshi and Sima Guang looked at each other, their eyes were a bit tangled, obviously they didn't trust each other!

However, this money is a necessary material for people's lives, but it can't be played around.

After the discussion, the imperial court immediately decided to reopen the salt shop and allow people to buy salt with coins, but one person can only buy one catty back. At the same time, salt banknotes can also be exchanged for salt. This is unlimited. A dime of salt banknote can be exchanged for a catty. Salt.

in the morning.

Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang, and Lu Gong came to Yanpu.

Although they don't know exactly how many salt banknotes are released by Sinong Temple, at least there are at least 40 coins. At the same time, coins are open for purchase. Is there really so much salt?

But there are huge crowds of people in front of the shop.

"The villain sees the four gentlemen."

The little official in charge of the salt shop hurried out to welcome the four prime ministers.

Fu Bi asked, "How many people exchanged salt money for salt?"

The little official replied: "I haven't counted the details, but there are no more than ten people, and only less than a catty of salt is exchanged."

"How is this possible?" Wen Yanbo said.

The little official said awkwardly: "Mr. Wen doesn't know something. Now all the salt banknotes are bought at high prices. They can't change them all into salt, and they can't finish them. They must still want to change money, but the 35 salt The price is too low, and everyone knows that the price of salt is bound to rise.”

"I see."

Fu Bi and the others suddenly realized.

They finally understood why Wang Anshi set such a price, just to bet that they would not exchange it.

If you change the order of sixty yuan now, you will die at a loss, and you can go back in exchange for salt. The salt is not easy to store, so you can only wait until the price is high before selling.

Xiangguo Temple.

"At that time, we really should have listened to Master Lu and stopped in time. Now we are full of salt bills, but now the price of salt is only worth 35 Wen. This is really a loss."

When Fu Chengshou said the latter, his tone was choked up.

This time, all the money my son earned with Fengyue Bao will be lost.

The rest also had tears in their eyes.

Yes!

They stopped the salt money policy, but when they looked back, their underpants were almost gone.

What is it for!

Xu Ji still seemed unwilling to give up, "I can't believe they use so much salt, or...!"

"Forget it!"

Fu Chengshou waved his hands again and again, "I don't dare to gamble anymore. I even asked about it. At present, no one knows how much salt the imperial court has. If the imperial court can really get it, will they buy the salt and keep it at home? Moreover, If the imperial court lowers the price, then we will really lose everything!"

Chen Zhidao: "That's right, this matter has come to an end, we can't go on, we don't know anything now, how can we continue to fight with them. Now we have to wait, I think the price of salt will definitely rise, when the time comes Let's take another shot to reduce some losses."

"It's hard to raise it to sixty Wen! Oops! My money!"

They have always been the only ones who cut off others, but this time they have become the veritable wronged ones, directly taking over from high positions. This feeling is really sour!

This quiet place is full of wailing.

On the other hand, the Bianjing Law Firm, which is full of copper smell, is full of laughter.

"Your boy really understands human nature. Yesterday, the major salt shops only received a total of more than [-] yuan in salt notes, but they received [-] coins. It is estimated that they will not take the salt notes to exchange for salt for a while. .” Wang Anshi smiled happily.

At present, the purchasing power of coins has declined slightly, and the price of salt is only 35 Wen. Everyone buys salt with coins.

As long as the salt money is not exchanged for salt, it will be 25 Wen, and the court will earn it with blood.

Zhang Fei reckoned that they would not be able to exchange salt on a large scale in the future, because they would soon discover the currency function of salt bills, and asked, "How much does Sinong Temple earn now?"

When Wang Anshi opened his mouth, he was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth. "If you count the profits that the officials promised us before, Sinong Temple has earned about 20 guan. Coins can reach 100 million guan. If we choose to price salt banknotes at 25 Wen, they may lose more, but it is impossible for Si Nong Temple to have so much money.”

He was so happy, the money from Sinong Temple was the start-up capital for his reform, and the next thing to be promulgated was the Young Crops Law. He bought so much grain again, this is really a perfect start!

good sign.

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "Si Nong Temple has strong financial resources now, I am no longer afraid of them, and I can retire with my career."

"Don't retire before you succeed!"

Wang Anshi's expression changed, and he said seriously: "You also said at the time that whether the salt banknotes can be implemented or not, the salt administration is very important. Now that Xue Xiang has been transferred to the Southeast Sixth Road, he can no longer continue to preside over the Northwest Salt Administration. Now many people I recommend you to go to the Northwest."

Zhang Fei hesitated and said, "Scholar Sima also told me about this issue. I still have to think about it. The key is that I still have a lot of things to deal with here."

Wang Anshi nodded, "You should think about it carefully. If you have an idea, please let me know. I will support you."

Zhang Fei cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Bachelor Wang."

Just at this time, Lu Huiqing came in suddenly, first exchanged salutes with Zhang Fei, and then said to Wang Anshi: "Master, you can go."

Zhang Fei asked curiously, "Scholar Wang, Xiaokan Lu, where are you going?"

Wang Anshi hehe said: "We plan to go to Xiangguo Temple to fulfill our vows."

"Repay the wish?"

Zhang Fei was immediately dumbfounded.

"That's right, blessed by the Buddha, let Sinong Temple earn so much money, of course I have to fulfill my wish." Wang Anshi said solemnly.

Lu Huiqing said with a chuckle: "This Buddha is about to become a money-losing boy."

You guys are going to kill people!Zhang Fei said embarrassingly: "Scholar Wang, you don't need this."

Wang Anshi said: "It is very necessary. The idea of ​​Buddhism is to save all living beings. The temple should be a quiet place, but it was made into a miasma by those bald donkeys. It is no different from the market place. It is simply lawless."

Lu Huiqing asked with a smile: "Sanlang, why don't you go together?"

"I'm not going."

Zhang Fei hurriedly said: "I can't afford to offend Xiangguo Temple."

Are you kidding me, Xiangguo Temple is his benefactor's father, and he has to keep cooperating in the future.

(End of this chapter)