PFC Chapter 458 Currency War
Chapter 458 Currency War
Chapter 458 Currency War
Alum building!
The shopkeeper standing inside the counter glanced at the high-quality silk on the table, and then looked up at the white-faced boy outside the counter, wondering: "Mr. Liu, this cloth is really hard to calculate, otherwise, Are you still paying coins?"
The white-faced boy also looked depressed and said: "If there are coins, I would not carry this batch of cloth to eat, my grandfather recently regarded the coins as more important than life, but I don't even have a copper coin on me. "
"Give me the settlement, Brother Liu."
Seeing Fan Zheng walking over, he cupped his hands to Mr. Liu again and said, "Your servant is not sensible, Brother Liu, don't want to be as knowledgeable as him."
Mr. Liu said hello, "Dalang, I don't want to either, but I really can't get any coins."
Fan Zheng smiled and nodded: "It's okay, it's okay. Brother Liu, if it's convenient, you can store the cloth in the shop first, and then it will be counted together."
Mr. Liu's eyes suddenly brightened, "That's a good idea. It saves me going out with cloth every day. Then put it here first. It's almost used up. Send someone to tell me."
"Yes."
"Farewell!"
"Brother Liu, go slowly."
After Mr. Liu left, Fan Zheng said to the shopkeeper: "From now on, try to let them store the cloth in the store. This cloth can also be exchanged for money, but the shorter it is, the less valuable it is."
"Hey! I see."
The shopkeeper nodded, and sighed again: "The court doesn't talk about Yinjiaozi, but there are people who come out with coins. Today, I haven't even seen a copper coin."
As soon as Jiaozi came out, all kinds of gossip came. Many sources believed that the reason why the imperial court wanted to issue Jiaozi was because the imperial court did not have copper coins at all, and it was just playing tricks.
Therefore, the monetary policy promulgated by the imperial court not only did not make the people take out the currency, but made the money shortage further aggravated.
Boom boom boom!
There was a sound of footsteps, but a team of royal policemen entered the door.
"Ya Nei?"
Fan Zheng walked over immediately, seeing that there were three or five people following behind Cao Dongdong, he couldn't help asking, "Would you like to treat the yamen today?"
Cao Dongdong squinted at him with contempt: "I don't have so much money for your treat."
He often treats guests, but never goes to the Alum Building.
Fan Zheng glanced at Cao Dongdong depressedly, and asked again: "I don't know why the yamen come to the shop?"
Cao Dongdong said: "We are here to check the salt."
"Check the salt?"
Fan Zheng was taken aback.
Cao Dongdong nodded. Fan Zheng was his brother, so he didn't hide it from him. He said in a low voice, "It's the duty of our royal police to investigate private salt. Last time, the tax department snatched it up. That's not okay." .”
After Fan Zheng heard this, he was dizzy, "Ya Nei, the price of salt is rising every day. If you want to check this, I'm afraid it will increase even more."
Cao Dongdong immediately said: "That is to say, you let us sneak in private salt?"
"I don't mean that."
"Then what do you mean?"
Cao Dongdong snorted and said: "Now that the price of salt keeps going up, the private salt may take advantage of it. If the tax police catch it first, then our royal police will lose face."
Fan Zheng didn't know what to say.
Because what Cao Dongdong said really makes sense, the key point is that if the royal police don't investigate, the tax police may also investigate, and the tax police are elusive, so I don't know if they are investigating, and the police department doesn't want to lose power.
The price of salt had already risen slightly because of the lawsuit, and then the dignitaries fanned the flames and fueled the flames, causing the price of salt to rise further, and now the police station has stepped in again.
This magical plot is somewhat incomprehensible to everyone.
Can't say who is at fault.
However, the price of coins has risen, and the price of salt has also risen, which is really terrible, and other goods have become bastards.
There are also complaints everywhere.
Both of these are not in the hands of the people, and of course the people suffer a lot.
They directly pointed their spearheads at the imperial court. Official salt is expensive, private salt is not allowed to be sold, and the price of coins is rising. Taking coins to buy salt is as uncomfortable as eating shit.
But don't buy it and don't do it.
Uncomfortable or not.
And this happened at the feet of the emperor, and the emperor could not just sit idly by.
Zhao Xu immediately held a key meeting in the Chui Gong Hall to discuss how to deal with it.
"Your Majesty, I thought that this matter was caused by those private salt dealers who deliberately spread rumors to drive up the price of salt, thus forcing the court to turn a blind eye to private salt. The court will never let them succeed."
When this came up, Wang Anshi immediately stood up and said aggressively.
Lu Gong said awkwardly: "But according to the investigation of our third department, the supply of official salt in Kaifeng Mansion is indeed insufficient."
Wang Anshi immediately said: "This is also caused by private salt. It is precisely because of the proliferation of private salt that legal salt dealers dare not buy more official salt. Now, under the threat of the tax department, private salt dealers are hiding. There is a shortage of supply.
If the imperial court can't hold on, the illegal salt will only become more rampant, but if the imperial court can survive this crisis, it will certainly be able to crack down on the arrogance of illegal salt trafficking. The government should also urge the police to continue to strictly investigate illegal salt dealers . "
Zhao Xu nodded and said, "Scholar Wang is right!"
Wen Yanbo asked: "How can we get through this crisis?"
Wang Anshi said: "At present, [-]% of the official salt is in the hands of the imperial court, and only [-]% is in the hands of the imperial court. Merchants seek profit. Now that the supply of salt is insufficient, they will inevitably increase the price. This is understandable. The imperial court can spend money to buy the salt in their hands. , and then sell it to the common people at a low price.”
As soon as this remark came out, Sima Guang was stunned. This is not like what Wang Anshi did. With Wang Anshi's character, at most he bought salt from merchants at the previous price, and then sold it to the common people for a few cents. Anyway Just lower than now, this is the win-win situation that Wang Anshi often advocates.
"What price do you plan to buy salt from the salt merchant?" Sima Guang asked.
Wang Anshi said: "In the beginning, the price of salt was around 45 Wen, but now it has risen to [-] Wen. The imperial court can buy the salt in the hands of salt merchants at a price of [-] Wen, and then sell it to the merchants at the original price. people."
Sima Guang was taken aback and said, "This is going to cost you a lot of money?"
Wang Anshi said calmly: "But if you can fight against the arrogance of private salt, you can still earn it back in the future."
Lu Gong suddenly asked: "Xueshi Wang, are you planning to use Jiaozi to buy salt from the salt merchant?"
Wang Anshi shook his head and said: "If Jiaozi is handed over to the salt merchants, how much can they spend? There is still no money in the shop, and Jiaozi will still be paid to the royal police with salary. I will allocate this money from Si Nong Temple come out."
No problem!
There's nothing wrong with that!
Could this be turning around?
Sima Guang immediately bowed his hands to Zhao Xu and said, "I support Wang Xueshi's suggestion."
This suggestion is very much in line with Sima Guang's governing philosophy. The court should bear some responsibility, but it has to bear some. Tax collection is enough, and we can't keep thinking about making money.
Wen Yanbo asked again: "But I heard that people in the public are very opposed to the imperial court's plan to issue Jiaozi."
Wang Anshi wrote lightly again: "That's because they misunderstood the court. The court has sufficient reserves. When they see that Jiaozi can exchange coins at any time, they will naturally let go of their prejudice against coins."
Zhao Xu glanced at Wen Yanbo and the others, seeing that they had nothing to say, so he nodded and said, "Okay, according to Wang Xueshi's words, Sinong Temple is solely responsible for this matter."
Out of the Chuigong Palace, Sima Guang looked at the backs of Wang Anshi and Han Jiang, and muttered to himself: "This is really not like his style. Could it be that this guy has changed his mind?"
Lu Gong beside him said with a smile: "Is it because you have a prejudice against Junshi? Now the Taxation Department has finally managed to deter those private salt dealers. If it continues, even if the current court has made a loss-making business, in the long run It seems that the court still has something to gain, and Jiefu's suggestion is also reasonable."
Rao Wen Yanbo, who was on the side, also nodded slightly.
Sima Guang smiled and said: "I have worked with him for so many years, I know his temperament very well, if there is nothing tricky in it, then I will apologize to him in front of you."
Lu Gong said with a smile: "You have to do what you say."
The imperial court wants to pay for the rescue of the market itself, and everyone has nothing to say about this.
I can only say that you are ruthless.
On the one hand, Zhao Xu ordered the police station to continue to strictly investigate illegal salt, and on the other hand, Wang Anshi also went to find those big salt merchants and bought all the salt in their hands at a price of [-] Wen per catty.
Although the market price has been raised to [-] Wen, there are few people who can buy the problem, and ordinary people can't afford it.
And the initial price was 45 Wen, which is already very high, and [-] Wen is also a high price, and the salt merchants can also make a lot of money from it. The key point is that Sinong Temple said that it would pay the coins, and it still refuses the court. Then you salt merchant But I can't stand it.
Basically, no one had any doubts, and all were sold to the court.
Zhang family!
"Those big private salt sellers have already been contacted."
Li Bao said to Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Are they willing to sell the salt in their hands?"
Li Bao said: "They were hesitant before, thinking that the imperial court would not last long, but now that the imperial court is purchasing official salt on the one hand, and on the other hand, the police station is strictly investigating, they can't hold on anymore. Under such circumstances, they The salt in Kaifeng is definitely not sold, because all legal salt merchants do not have salt in their hands. Except for the imperial court, anyone who sells salt in Kaifeng Mansion must be illegal salt.
They are willing to sell the private salt in their hands at the price of 30 Wen, but if we want to buy all the salt in their hands, it will cost [-] guan. "
Zhang Fei said with a smile: "This is a guaranteed business. If the government is not willing to pay the money, I can do it."
Li Bao said hehe: "The officials have already prepared the money."
Zhang Fei laughed and said: "Find more people and buy all the salt in their hands in batches."
Li Bao nodded.
Zhang Fei asked again: "What action is Xiangguo Temple taking?"
"They didn't do anything." Li Bao shook his head and said, "They mainly want to use coins to fight against the exemption tax. The salt price is only used by them to add trouble to the court. The previous increase in the salt price has nothing to do with them. relationship, but they only added fuel to the flames later on.”
Having said that, he paused for a while, "Speaking of which, few people understand the imperial court's policy."
Zhang Fei smiled coldly and said, "Even if they can see clearly, they can't do anything about it. After all, the salt is no longer under their control, unless the coin can lick the salty taste. This time I will completely beat them to the ground." Come on, shit."
Horse's house.
"Brother Lu, can you still eat so deliciously?"
Ma Tianhao was very speechless looking at Lu Bin who was feasting on his elbow.
Lu Bin wiped his mouth and said vaguely: "Recently, the monastery is under strict control. It's not easy to have a good meal. I can only come to you to eat."
Ma Tianhao said with a wry smile: "I'm not referring to this matter. The court bought salt at a high price and sold it at a low price. There must be something wrong with it."
"I know." Lu Bin nodded.
Ma Tianhao said: "Then you can still eat?"
Lu Bin raised his head and asked, "Then do you know what's the problem?"
Ma Tianhao shook his head, "I don't know about this, but I told you a long time ago that Zhang San is not easy to mess with. He was the one who fought the lawsuit back then. If you are going to focus on this matter, he will definitely not stand idly by." , I suspect that this matter is also related to him."
Lu Bin threw his elbow into the plate and said: "I didn't agree with it at the beginning, but they insisted on doing it this way. I was just following orders. Whether it succeeds or fails, it has nothing to do with me. I don’t even understand, so what can I do.”
indeed.
This series of actions by the imperial court really caught many people in a daze.
Completely beyond their expectations.
When did the imperial court ever engage in loss-making business? Looking at the new law, which one is not for the imperial court to make money?
At the same time, many truly ambitious ministers in the court gave Wang Anshi a thumbs up, such as Zhao Bian, Xu Zun, and Zeng Gong.
Sima Guang, Fu Bi, and Wen Yanbo were also very supportive.
This will not wrong those salt merchants, but also take care of the people, which is impeccable.
So much tax exemption goes up to take care of the people, so what's the matter.
Take it from the people and use it for the people!
Everyone supported it, and the money was in the hands of Sinong Temple, so the implementation went very smoothly.
After the imperial court bought the official salt, it immediately closed all the salt shops, saying that it would be sold outside after overall planning.
The people already knew that the imperial court would sell salt at the previous price, and they were very happy. The imperial court had done a great job, and everyone was waiting patiently.
But in fact, Wang Anshi is waiting for Jiaozi. Since salt is used as the reserve fund, Jiaozi can't be used if it was designed before. Go out, and at the same time increase from the initial 30 to 50. Today's issuance quota depends on how much salt there is regardless of the reserve.
At the same time, Zhang Fei is also non-stop buying private salt.
The reason why this drama was made is to provide Zhang Fei with an environment to buy private salt. The key to this plan is to control all the salt.
And the court's operation made it impossible to hide all the private salt. As long as the salt was sold, it must be private salt, and the legal salt was bought by the court.
At the same time, the police station is stepping up its investigation. Once it is found, it will be a waste of money and manpower.
Private salt dealers are also eager to sell.
This made Zhang Fei's acquisition very smooth.
Bianjing Law Firm.
"How are you over there?"
Wang Anshi asked Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Most of the private salt is in our hands, we can start now."
Wang Anshi seemed a little hesitant.
Zhang Fei said with a smile: "Scholar Wang will not plan to raise the price of salt again."
Wang Anshi hurriedly said: "It's not about lifting it up, but because you have lowered it too much. If we sell it for 25 Wen, many people will come to buy it, but you have to sell it directly for [-] Wen. This is better than private money." Salt is not that expensive."
Zhang Fei said with a chuckle: "Scholar Wang, I have calculated this account for you before. In terms of the price of salt, we may be at a loss, but at the same time the imperial court issued hundreds of thousands of Jiaozi.
Once Jiaozi worth 25 Wen can buy a catty of salt, Jiaozi will definitely be popular, and at the same time, Jiaozi will be able to buy all goods.
But if the difference is not too big, why do people not use coins? Some merchants have said before that once the court issues Jiaozi, they will only count [-]%. This is actually reasonable, after all, it is a risk. "
Wang Anshi nodded and said, "I understand that too, but..."
This price drop is too outrageous, he feels distressed!
Zhang Fei said again: "Scholar Wang, you can't have both. If you want to protect Jiaozi, you must lose a large part of the profit. If you want to protect the profit, Jiaozi will be difficult to play a role." .
If Yan and Jiaozi both make money, then who will lose the money.However, in my opinion, it is very cost-effective to exchange salt for the things of the world. "
In the whole world, only Wang Anshi can understand Zhang Fei best, he immediately understood the relationship, and said: "In this way, the imperial court must take strict care of this salt."
Merchants want to make money. Once Jiaozi is linked to salt, salt is an anchor. For the court, the price of salt must be lowered to make Jiaozi stronger. The profits are all on Jiaozi’s side, but Jiaozi is not issued by merchants, why should merchants pay for the court.
The whole system has to change.
Zhang Fei nodded.
This is actually the reason why Zhang Fei struggled before, because in this way, he must go to the northwest, the source must be controlled, and the salt administration has become the core of finance.
After everything was prepared, Wang Anshi first announced the salt purchase policy at genuine bookstores. Three days later, all salt shops will open, but salt must be purchased with salt money.
Since salt is used as the anchor, then naturally it cannot be called Jiaozi, and it is renamed Yanchao.
The unit can't be a guan, it can be changed to one point, one jiao, or one yuan.
One dime can buy a catty of salt. At the same time, it is stipulated that 25 Wen copper coins can be exchanged for a dime of salt banknotes.
Five cents is one jiao, and five jiao is one yuan.
One point is equal to five Wen, one jiao is equal to 25 Wen, and one Yuan is equal to 120 Wu Wen.
When the people heard the news, they couldn't help being both happy and anxious.
Fortunately, the price is amazing.
The selling price of official salt is almost the same as that of private salt, which is like a pie in the sky!
But what is urgent is, where do I go to exchange salt money!
Where is the salt money?
It's not mentioned above.
Three days later, all the salt shops in the capital were open.
But there were people piled up in front of the store, without exception, all of them were in uniform, either the royal police, the tax police, or inspectors.
It turned out that the first batch of salt notes were all paid as salaries to the newly recruited policemen, including many officials.
In fact, the news came out early in the morning, but it was said to be Jiaozi at the time, but the royal police and the tax police were frightened. They sent us Jiaozi, and no one outside the businessman wanted it.
But now.!
Really fragrant!
They are the only ones who can buy salt in such a huge capital city.
So they rushed to exchange all the salt money for salt.
"Don't worry! Don't worry! We have enough salt, as long as there are salt money, everyone can get salt."
The guy at the counter became hoarse after a while, and saw that these royal police officers were all exchanging more than ten catties of salt, so they couldn't help asking: "Dear policemen, you are exchanging so much salt, can you finish it?"
"What are you talking about? It's none of your business whether I can eat it or not. Change it for me quickly."
"Go, go, go!"
The guy nodded.
But seeing these royal policemen, after exchanging salt, they rushed into the small alley immediately, and three or five citizens immediately surrounded them, "This official salt is very good. If you want it, it costs thirty yuan a catty. Get the money quickly."
"Here, thirty Wen."
One of the citizens slammed the money into the hands of the police, and complained: "This is really unfair, and the salt money is only given to you police."
Another citizen said: "That's right! The imperial court is making your royal police rich!"
The royal policeman said: "We are so tired these days, we deserve a little reward."
Compared with before, 25 Wen is already very low, and the citizens are of course willing to buy it, but the problem is that the Royal Police only paid [-] Wen for these salt bills.
Really lie down and make money!
Who is not jealous!
If I can exchange salt notes, then I can only spend 25 Wen.
At this time, Cao Dongdong took a few royal policemen and sat in the tea shop opposite to drink tea.
One of the royal policemen said: "Yamei, if we do this, will the higher-ups blame us?"
Cao Dongdong yelled: "You sell it freely, if something happens, I will take care of it for you."
"Oh! Thank you so much Ya Nei!"
The royal police quickly clasped their fists in thanks.
This shit is like a festival, one word, cool!
In fact, Cao Dongdong was instructed by the superiors to allow them to do this, but they could only carry up to [-] Wen.
And standing under the big willow tree not far away, there are three or five old people, it is Sima Guang and others.
"Look! Look!"
Sima Guang said: "I told you that there must be tricks in it, but you still don't believe me."
Lu Gong said blankly: "It's true that it's tricky, but the problem is, won't Wang Jiefu pay more for doing this."
As soon as these words came out, they looked at each other in blank dismay.
Wang Anshi said in the palace that he would sell it for 45 Wen, but this time he directly broke the bone.
But you bought it at the price of 25 Wen, and you will lose [-] Wen for a catty.
They were also dumbfounded.
Sima Guang suddenly scolded: "You brat."
"Stinky boy?"
Everyone looked at Sima Guang at the same time.
Wen Yanbo said: "You mean, this is Zhang San's idea again?"
Sima Guang said: "Nine times out of ten it has something to do with him."
Lu Gong asked, "Why do you say that?"
Sima Guang snorted, "If it's Wang Jiefu's idea, it's impossible for me not to be able to figure it out, but that brat's idea is something I often can't understand."
He is very clear about Wang Anshi's character and purpose, which is to make money for the country, so as long as he grasps one point, he can think of what Wang Anshi will do.
But some of Zhang Fei's ideas, he often can't figure it out.
They shouted every day not to compete with the people for profit, but now they still feel sorry for the court. After losing so much to sell, can the finances support it?
But this is all Sinong Temple's money, and they don't care if they want to lose money.
However, there are too many people who come to exchange salt, tens of thousands of people come to exchange salt at the same time, but there are not so many shops, and many people cannot exchange salt. Salt bills are sold.
The next day, a secondary market for salt notes was formed immediately.
This made the imperial guards next door envious.
Why!
The royal police are lying down to make money.
We also want salt money.
satisfy them.
Sinong Temple allocated another 30 guan salt banknotes in exchange for 30 guan coins from Sanya's finances.
Tens of thousands of soldiers of the Imperial Army received salt notes at the same time, and they had no way to save money. There was only so much money every month, and they had to be exchanged immediately. The salt notes immediately began to be monetized again from the secondary market.
Bianjing Law Firm.
"Scholar Wang, how much money does Sinong Temple have today?"
Zhang Fei asked.
Wang Anshi said: "40 guan."
Zhang Fei laughed and said, "Now it's our turn to take revenge on them."
Wang Anshi was taken aback for a moment, and said, "You still have a back trick?"
Zhang Fei said: "I won the lawsuit, but I didn't show my prestige. They even stuffed a pile of shit in my mouth. How could I let them go."
Zhang Fei, who must take revenge, will not let them go so easily.
The key point is that if he does this, he has to go to the northwest, and he must take revenge.
Wang Anshi asked with great interest: "What are you going to do?"
Zhang Fei said: "Si Nong Temple can use the method of liquidation to purchase all their grain, raise the price of grain, and lower the price of coins. Didn't they exchange grain for currency? That's fine, let them die In hand."
Wang Anshi hesitated a little and said, "But Si Nong Temple also needs coins!"
Zhang Fei said with a smile: "Xueshi Wang went outside to see that everyone is exchanging coins for salt notes. If there are a lot of coins at this time, the purchasing power of these coins will inevitably drop, which will further make salt notes more popular. When the coins are knocked down, we can look at the situation and exchange the coins with salt notes."
Wang Anshi's eyes lit up, and he said: "I, Wang Anshi, are not convinced by others, but I will obey you, boy! This time we have to express our grievances."
Zhang Fei hehe said: "It must be."
I'm going to visit the grave tomorrow, so I'll publish two chapters together, and the chapter tomorrow morning is still pending, because I have to go to the ancestral hall for dinner at night, and I don't know when I can make it back.
(End of this chapter)