Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 458: Currency War (Part 2)
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 difficult to calculate. Otherwise, you still pay coins?"
The white-faced boy also said with a depressed face: "If there are coins, I will not carry this batch of cloth to eat. My grandfather recently regarded the coins as more important than my life. I don't even have a copper coin on me." None."
"Quickly pay 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."
Then 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 small shop first, and then it will be counted together."
Mr. Liu's eyes lit up immediately, "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, walk 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!
Heard footsteps, but saw a team of royal police coming in.
"Yamei?"
Fan Zheng walked over immediately, seeing that there were three or five people following behind Cao Dongdong, he couldn't help asking: "Will the Yamen invite guests 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 comes to the shop?"
Cao Dongdong said: "We are here to check the salt."
"Check salt?"
Fan Zheng was taken aback.
Cao Dongdong nodded. Fan Zheng is 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 took it away. This is not acceptable."
Fan Zheng was stunned when he heard this, "Ya Nei, the price of salt is rising every day, you have to check it out, I'm afraid it will go up even more."
Cao Dongdong immediately said: "That is to say, you let us sneak in private salt?"
"I didn't mean that."
"Then what do you mean?"
Cao Dongdong snorted: "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 even 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. Moreover, the tax police are elusive. I don't know if they are investigating. 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 yet.
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 common people, of course the common people suffer a lot.
They directly pointed their finger 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.
It’s okay not to buy it.
Uncomfortable is not uncomfortable.
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 private salt dealers, deliberately spreading rumors and driving 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.
Mr. Lu said embarrassingly: "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 merchants did not dare to buy more official salt. If it is hidden, there will be insufficient 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 officials should also urge the police station to continue to strictly investigate Private salt seller. "
Zhao Xu nodded and said, "Scholar Wang is right!"
Wen Yanbo asked: "How can we survive this crisis?"
Wang Anshi said: "Currently, 70% of the official salt is in the hands of the imperial court, and only 30% 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 them. The salt in your hands, and then sell it to the common people at a low price."
As soon as he said this, Sima Guang was stunned. For the common people, it is enough to be lower than it is 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 60 Wen. The price is sold to the common 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. Call out from the Nongsi."
No problem!
There's nothing wrong with that!
Could it be that this is turning sexual.
Sima Guang immediately bowed his hands to Zhao Xu and said, "I support Wang Xueshi's suggestion."
This proposal is very much in line with Sima Guang's ruling 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 really doesn't look like his style, could it be that this guy has changed his mind."
Grand Lu beside him said with a smile: "Is it because you have a prejudice against him, Junshi? Now the tax department has managed to deter those private salt dealers. If it continues, even if the current court has made a loss-making business, But in the long run, the court still has something to gain, and Jiefu's suggestion is also reasonable."
Wen Yanbo, who was at the side, also nodded slightly.
Sima Guang said with a smile: "I have worked with him for so many years, and I know exactly what kind of temperament he is. If there is nothing tricky about 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.
Only you can say, 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 50 Wen per catty.
Although the market price has been raised to 60 Wen, there are few people who can buy the problem, and ordinary people can't afford it.
Besides, the initial price was forty-five coins, which is already very high, and fifty coins 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 this would have to reject the court. Then you can't be a salt merchant anymore.
Basically, no one has any doubts, and they are all sold to the court.
The 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: "Before they were a little hesitant, thinking that the imperial court would not last long, but now that the imperial court is buying official salt on the one hand, and on the other hand, the police station is making strict investigations, they can't hold on anymore. Now, their salt is definitely not sold, because all legal salt merchants have no 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 for 18 Wen, but if we want to buy all the salt in their hands, it will cost 300,000 Guan. "
Zhang Fei said with a smile: "This is a business with no loss. If the government is not willing to pay the money, I can do it."
Li Bao said: "The officials have already prepared the money."
Zhang Fei laughed and said: "Go 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 the exemption tax. It didn't matter much, it's just that they added fuel to the flames later."
Speaking of this, he paused for a while, "Speaking of which, few people understand the policy of the imperial court."
Zhang Fei sneered 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 kill them." Fuck you, shit."
Ma family.
"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, so I can only come to you to eat."
Ma Tianhao smiled wryly and said: "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. I will not stand idly by, and 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 can't even understand this matter, so what can I do."
Indeed.
The series of actions of the imperial court really made many people stunned.
Totally 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 are also very supportive.
Doing so will not wrong those salt merchants, but also take care of the common people, which is impeccable.
The exempted taxes go up so much, take care of the people, so what's the matter.
From the people, use it for the people!
Everyone supported it, and the money was in the hands of Si Nongsi, 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 a reserve fund, Jiaozi can't be used if it was designed before. At the same time, it has been increased from the initial 300,000 guan to 500,000 guan. The current 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 for this play 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 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 about you?"
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 40 Wen, many people will come to buy it, but you have to sell it for 25 Wen directly." Money, this is not much more expensive than private salt."
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 is worth twenty-five Wen, you can buy a catty of salt, Jiaozi will be very popular, and at the same time, Jiaozi will be able to buy all the goods.
But if the difference is not too big, why do people not use coins? Some merchants have said before that once the imperial court issues Jiaozi, they will only count 70% of it. 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 fish and bear's paws. If you want to protect Jiaozi, you must lose a large part of the profit. If you want to keep the profit, Jiaozi is very difficult. Difficult to function.
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. "
Under 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."
Businessmen 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. Side, but Jiaozi is not issued by merchants, why should merchants pay for the court.
The whole system is about 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. This source must be controlled, and the salt administration has become the core of finance.
After everything was ready, 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, 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 twenty-five Wen copper coins can be exchanged for a dime of salt banknotes.
Five cents are one jiao, and five jiao is one yuan.
One cent is equal to five Wen, one jiao is equal to twenty-five Wen, and one Yuan is equal to one hundred and twenty-five Wen.
When the common people heard the news, they couldn't help being both happy and anxious.
Happily, the price is amazing.
Official salt sells at almost the same price as private salt.
But what's urgent is, where can I go to exchange salt money!
Where is the salt note?
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, whether it was 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.
Actually, 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!
It smells so good!
In such a huge capital, they are the only ones who can buy salt. This can only be said that the emperor's grace is mighty!
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 is 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 saying: "Dear policemen, you exchange so much salt, can you finish it all?" ?”
"What are you talking about? It's none of your business whether I can eat it all. Change it quickly."
"OK OK!"
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, and get the money quickly. "
"Here, thirty articles."
One of the citizens slammed the money into the hands of the police and complained: "This is really unfair, the salt money is only given to you police."
Another citizen said: "Yes! The imperial court is making your royal police rich!"
The royal policeman said: "We are so tired these days, we should give a little reward."
Compared to before, 30 Wen is already very low, and the citizens are of course willing to buy it, but the problem is that the Royal Police only used 25 Wen to pay for these salt notes.
It's really lying down and making money!
Who is not jealous!
If I can exchange salt money, then I can only spend twenty-five Wen.
At this time, Cao Dongdong and a few royal policemen were sitting in the opposite tea shop drinking tea.
One of the royal policemen said: "Yanei, 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 hurriedly cupped their fists in thanks.
This **** is like a festival, one word, cool!
Actually, Cao Dongdong was instructed by his superiors to allow them to do this, but they could only carry up to 30 Wen.
The three or five old men standing under the big willow tree not far away are 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, wouldn't Wang Jiefu pay more for doing this."
As soon as the words came out, they looked at each other in blank dismay.
Wang Anshi said in the palace that he would sell it for forty-five Wen, but this time it directly broke the bone.
But you bought it at the price of fifty Wen, and you will lose twenty-five Wen for a catty.
They were also dumbfounded.
Sima Guang suddenly scolded: "This brat."
"Brat?"
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 out of ten have something to do with him."
Gong Lu asked, "Why do you say that?"
Sima Guang snorted: "If it's Wang Jiefu's idea, I can't guess it, but that brat's idea often makes me unable to 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, losing so much money to sell, can the finances support it?
But it's 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. Many people cannot exchange salt. Since salt money can indeed be exchanged for salt, then Why not just sell the salt money directly.
The next day, a secondary market for salt notes was formed immediately.
This will make the imperial guards next door envious.
Why!
He is a royal policeman lying down and making money.
We also want salt money.
Meet them.
Sinong Temple allocated another 300,000 guan salt banknotes in exchange for 300,000 guan coins from Sanya's finances.
Tens of thousands of Imperial Army soldiers received salt money 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 money 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: "400,000 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 trick?"
Zhang Fei said: "I won the lawsuit, but I didn't show my prestige. They even stuffed a pile of **** in my mouth. How could I let them go."
Zhang Fei, who will take revenge on every grievance, 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, just Let them rot in your hands."
Wang Anshi hesitated 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 banknotes. If there are a lot of coins at this time, the purchasing power of these coins will inevitably decline, which will further make salt banknotes more popular." Welcome, and 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."
Tomorrow I will go to visit the grave, so I will post 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 will be back.