Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 459: Securities OR Currency

Xiangguo Temple.

"Master Lu, how is the situation?"

Seeing Lu Bin come in, all the dignitaries in the hall immediately looked at him nervously.

"Amitabha."

Lu Bin clasped his hands together and performed the Buddha's ceremony, and then said: "The little monk made some inquiries outside, and learned that some time ago, a group of merchants bought the salt from those private salt sellers at a price of seventeen or eight yuan per catty. I bought them all, and now the whereabouts of the salt are unknown, if there is no accident..."

"Wang Jiefu must have done this."

Pang Minsun gritted his teeth and said, "I never thought that the dignified prime minister would secretly buy private salt in the name of the imperial court."

This meeting really wronged Wang Anshi. The emperor bought it, not Wang Anshi.

Xu Ji frowned and said: "This is really bad. Now all the salt in Kaifeng Prefecture is in the hands of the imperial court. Even if we buy those salt notes and exchange them for salt, it may not help."

These people are all as smart as monkeys. After the salt money came out, their first reaction was to run against the court, because they knew that there was a shortage of official salt, which was not enough to meet the needs of the entire Kaifeng government.

Furthermore, salt banknotes are not very expensive at present. The price in the secondary market is within forty cash. Even if they buy them all and exchange them for salt, they will not lose money.

The key lies in private salt.

If they buy the private salt again, all the salt will flow into their hands while they are running on the court.

So they hurried to find those private salts.

"Exactly."

Lu Bin nodded and sighed again: "Now all the salt is in the hands of the imperial court, and the decrees are promulgated by the imperial court. At the same time, there are enough coins and grains in the imperial court's hands. This situation is not optimistic."

They have food and currency in their hands, but they don't have salt. If they can't influence the court's decision-making in terms of policy, they can't control the situation at all.

Fu Chengshou sighed: "Now they are hurting people with their own base and selling salt money at such a low price. We just want to object, and... there is no reason!"

If the imperial court raises the price of salt, they can object, but they can't do anything about this reverse operation.

Lu Bin said: "Nowadays everyone is exchanging coins for salt bills. There are already a lot of coins in this market. Our strategy has failed. Fortunately, we didn't lose much. Why don't we stop here. "

"No!"

Xu Ji frowned and said, "If we make a concession on this, the imperial court will definitely impose higher taxes on us."

Pang Minsun immediately asked: "Does Judge Xu have any countermeasures?"

Xu Ji said: "We can buy salt notes with money."

Fu Chengshou frowned and said: "The imperial court has enough salt, so buying salt banknotes is meaningless."

Xu Ji said: "But the imperial court stipulates that we can only buy salt with salt bills. As long as the salt bills are in our hands, the people will have no salt bills to buy salt. In this way, this will inevitably cause public resentment."

Lu Bin said: "But if we do this, there will be a lot of money in the market, which will inevitably make the price of coins fall further, which will make us lose more, and the court can sell salt money again .”

Xu Ji smiled and said, "If there are too many salt bills for sale, there will not be enough salt to exchange them. Besides, we don't need to spend much money, don't you guys find out?

Recently, fewer and fewer people go to the salt shop to exchange salt. This is the reason. It is bound to rise. We all keep it in our hands and play it by ear. We only need to buy a part of the salt bill, so that even a single salt bill cannot be seen in the market. "

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay.

Fu Chengshou said: "We have come to this point, then we can only continue, let's try Judge Xu's idea. Anyway, the current price of salt bills is still lower than the previous price of salt. You can also exchange salt bills for salt.”

Up to now, what the two sides are fighting for is not the petty profits in front of them, but power.

What power?

It is whether you can tax us.

The weapons of both sides are actually the common people. On the one hand, they want to arouse public grievances, and on the other hand, they want to appease the hearts of the people.

Xu Ji also sees it very thoroughly. There is a big problem with this regulation of the imperial court. The salt banknotes are not directly linked to the copper coins.

Most of them are directly linked to salt. A dime of salt money can be exchanged for a catty of salt, but the imperial court pays the royal police and the forbidden army with a salary of twenty-five renminbi.

It does not mean that everyone can exchange coins directly.

As a result, as soon as it was shot at that time, it immediately became thirty pennies, which also shows that it is not linked to coins.

The common people have to exchange salt banknotes to buy salt. They cannot control the price of salt, but they can control the price of salt banknotes.

As long as the price of salt banknotes is increased, and the common people cannot exchange salt, this policy will fail.

Anyway, they now hold a lot of coins in their hands, so they started to use coins to snap up salt money in the market.

It just so happens that Sinong Temple is also implementing the liquidation method in a low-key manner, and has begun to purchase food and some goods with lower prices on a large scale.

At present, the price of coins is still high, and the price of goods is relatively cheap.

Both sides shot at the same time, and the coins poured into the market like a torrent.

In fact, there is a lack of currency in the market, but there are too many problems all of a sudden, double attack, looking around, it seems to be all coins.

This directly caused the price of coins to begin to fall, and the price of goods began to rise. In fact, it cannot be said to be an increase. It just returned to the previous level, and it did not mean that there was a substantial increase.

The reason is that the coins are put into the salt notes.

Then the price of salt bills is very scary, and it directly rose to 60 Wen.

This drove the royal police crazy, so if they had to wait before taking action, wouldn't it be crazy to make money?

They deducted the salary with twenty-five Wen, and sold it with thirty Wen. If they wait until now, they will earn thirty-five Wen for a piece of salt money.

My intestines are full of regret.

A small boat goes down the river from west to east along Bianhe Street.

There was a young man standing on the boat, it was Zhang Fei, looking at the prosperous scene of Bianhe Street, he was slightly moved, then turned his head to look at Li Bao beside him, "How much is the price of salt bills now? "

Li Bao said: "It has stabilized at sixty Wen."

Zhang Fei laughed and said: "Then let's sell the salt money in the hands of the officials at the price of fifty-eight Wen."

Li Bao asked curiously, "Why don't you sell it for sixty Wen?"

Zhang Fei said: "There is not much time left for us, so we have to sell it quickly, and we can earn forty Wen for a catty of salt. What else do you want?"

The money from Sinong Temple was used to buy official salt, and the private salt was paid by the officials themselves, because it was impossible for the Sansi to pay for the money. At that time, the emperor bought the salt at the price of 18 Wen For private salt, the internal treasury is the internal treasury, and the central government is the central finance.

The government sold the private salt to the imperial court and turned it into official salt, but the Si Nong Temple paid salt money, and the Si Nong Temple had no money to buy the private salt.

This part of the salt money is still in the hands of the emperor.

At that time, Zhang Fei was laughing and said, if the emperor is willing to pay the money, I can do it, playing financial warfare, and allowing this kind of black box operation, it is a dead profit, and it is impossible to lose money.

The emperor began to secretly sell the salt money in his hands in various counties.

Anyway, there is a stupid bi to take over.

......

Xiangguo Temple.

"Abbot, we have to stop quickly."

Lu Bin persuaded the abbot Huiming anxiously: "Nowadays, there are a lot of new salt money on the market. This may be a bottomless pit."

Huiming asked: "The imperial court issued so many salt bills, how can there be so much salt?"

Lu Bin sighed: "The problem today is that we don't know how much salt the court has in hand, and we don't know how much salt money the court has issued. It's like a blind man fighting a master. Win the fight."

Hui Ming frowned and said, "But they..."

Lu Bin immediately said: "They are them, we are us, this must be a trap, we have to stop quickly, and the price of this salt money is already high enough."

"Amitabha."

Hui Ming sighed and said, "Okay, you can figure it out yourself."

"Yes."

......

The Zhang family!

"Hey boy! This house is really nice!"

Sima Guang, who came back as a guest at the new house, looked around, nodded frequently, then turned his head to look at Zhang Fei, and said with a smile: "Many officials have been officials for decades, and they can't afford this house, but you come to the capital. It only took two or three years to buy such a large property. Everyone only sees your ability to fight lawsuits, but ignores your ability to make money, no wonder they have such a disaster!"

Zhang Fei smiled slightly: "Scholar Sima seems to have something to say!"

While speaking, the two came to the pavilion in the garden and sat down.

Qing Mei immediately offered refreshments to them.

Sima Guang nodded his head slightly to show his gratitude, this old man, like Fu Bi, was able to be polite with his servants, Wen Yanbo was far behind them in this regard.

After Qing Mei went down, Sima Guang glanced at Zhang Fei, and said with a half-smile: "The idea of ​​the salt money is probably your kid's idea."

Zhang Fei was surprised: "Why is Bachelor Sima so determined?"

Sima Guang said: "Because if it is Wang Jiefu's idea, I must understand what his purpose is."

Hey Zhang Fei said: "I'm afraid this can't be used as evidence in court!"

Sima Guang looked around, "Is this a court?"

"That's not true."

Zhang Fei shook his head, then nodded and admitted: "Yes, this is my idea."

Sima Guang asked: "Do you also agree that the imperial court issues banknotes?"

Zhang Fei said: "I absolutely disagree."

Sima Guang was stunned for a moment and said, "Really?"

"How dare Zhang San deceive Bachelor Sima."

Zhang Fei nodded, "Issuing banknotes is drinking poison to quench thirst. There is no doubt that the imperial court will issue them indiscriminately. This is tantamount to plundering the people's wealth, and it will definitely make people's lives miserable."

Sima Guang was dumbfounded.

This... isn't this my line?

He originally wanted to use these words to teach Zhang Fei a lesson.

Results....

"Since that's the case, why did you come up with this idea?" Sima Guang asked curiously again.

Zhang Fei smiled wryly: "It's not all forced by them. If they are allowed to succeed, the exemption tax will be over. Moreover, they have enough coins and food in their hands. If we go head-to-head with them on these two points, Even if it wins, it must be a tragic victory, so the imperial court must find a way to collect money in order to fill the finances, which will definitely increase the burden on the people."

Sima Guang stroked his beard, nodded and said, "That makes sense!"

He also understood this point, so Wang Anshi said that he wanted to issue more coins, and he couldn't object, so he smiled and said: "Since you understand the righteousness, you will definitely not use this salt money to plunder the wealth of the people." /

Zhang Fei laughed and said, "Actually, salt money is not banknotes, but pure salt."

Sima Guang asked in surprise, "Really?"

Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "How many copper coins does Bachelor Sima think this dime of salt money is worth?"

Sima Guang said: "At present, it is worth sixty Wen."

Zhang Fei said: "But in fact, the salt bill was only worth twenty-five Wen at the beginning. It can be seen that there is no definite price for the salt bill and the copper coin, but a dime of salt bill can be exchanged for a catty of salt. This salt bill Just like a house, it can be used to store wealth.”

Sima Guang listened thoughtfully, his reaction in this respect was far inferior to that of Wang Anshi.

After a while, Zhang Fei saw Sima Guang nodded his head lightly, as if he had figured it out, so he said again: "But it's only one step away from the coin."

"How do you say that?" Sima Guang asked hastily.

Zhang Fei said: "Currently, no one is exchanging salt bills for salt. Soon, the people will find that they can't buy even a single grain of salt. This will inevitably cause public resentment.

At that time, the imperial court has two options. One is to increase the price of salt, and then directly price the salt bills at twenty-five coins. No wonder anyone, in this way, the salt money will become paper money.

Secondly, continue to maintain that a dime of salt bill is equal to a catty of salt, while raising the price of salt, opening up coins to buy salt, and stipulating that no matter when, salt bills can be exchanged for the same amount of salt. Salt money will become a jar to store wealth. "

In fact, he is far more worried about banknotes than Sima Guang. After all, he knows the consequences of issuing banknotes, and there will definitely be consequences, so there is no need to doubt it.

However, money is indeed in short supply, and the opponent is pressing harder and harder. The only card in the court's hand is salt.

In the end, he chose a compromise method, which is to securitize salt notes, and keep a certain distance from the currency, but because the price he set is very low, it is very simple to cross this hurdle and directly monetize.

Although the imperial court didn't specify the price, what you sell is twenty-five Wen. If you want to sell it for sixty Wen, then no one is to blame. Now everyone can't buy salt, or the coins will be released again to buy salt. , or monetize salt money.

Sima Guang asked: "Then what did you and Wang Jiefu say?"

Zhang Fei said: "I'm also speaking truthfully. It will depend on the situation at that time. If they still want to fight to the end, they will directly price it at twenty-five yuan and sell it to everyone. At the price of a penny, you can buy a banknote of twenty-five pennies.”

Sima Guang sucked in a breath of air, this move was really a bit ruthless.

Zhang Fei said again: "But I'm more suggesting that Wang Xueshi choose the second option. If they do this, although they will lose a little less money, they can use salt money to check and balance them. If they dare to make money again If the crisis threatens the imperial court, the imperial court can use salt money to counter them.”

Sima Guang asked: "Did Wang Jiefu agree?"

Zhang Fei said: "Xueshi Wang really wants to issue banknotes, but even if he chooses the second option, salt banknotes still have the purpose of banknotes, which can be used for exchange, but the price has to be discussed by both parties.

If the price of salt bills is fixed, it will be difficult to use this to check and balance them. Salt bills are equal to coins, so if there is a food crisis, salt bills will definitely not be as good as coins. Private salt, once private salt does not recognize salt money, this will also cause big problems. "

Sima Guang nodded, and said again: "But based on what I know about Wang Jiefu, even if he chooses the second option, he will still continue to issue salt notes."

Zhang Fei said: "I think so too. Therefore, Bachelor Sima has to find a way to control the production of salt banknotes in his hands. The Department of Regulations of the Second Mansion can only propose, but it must be reviewed by Bachelor Sima."

Sima Guang said: "I'm afraid it will be difficult."

Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "Does Bachelor Sima know how many salt notes have been issued so far?"

Sima Guang was taken aback, shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Zhang Fei said: "Now those people have suffered from this. They don't know how much salt money the court has issued. When Bachelor Sima mentions this, the ministers will definitely support Bachelor Sima."

Sima Guang asked in surprise, "You left this for me on purpose?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "This is actually a rogue method. The imperial court uses its absolute control over the salt to operate secretly to make profits. There are no rules at all. It can only be used to deal with some rogues." /

This kind of trick is actually robbery. Whoever has played with the imperial court before is all a secret operation. At present, the imperial court does not have any system to regulate these behaviors, and there is no way to supervise them. It still needs to be perfected.

The current system is also difficult to be simple. For the time being, we can only rely on the relationship between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang to supervise the salt money.

Sima Guang just smiled slightly: "These words are also specially reserved for me."

Zhang Fei laughed a few times, and said again: "In addition, the salt administration must be managed well. If there is a problem with the salt administration, the salt money will also have problems, and a series of problems will also be caused at that time. We must make good use of the salt money , the first thing to do is to improve the salt administration.”

Since salt banknotes are directly linked to salt, if the salt administration is not improved, there will definitely be problems.

Sima Guang sighed: "This salt policy has been changed again and again, and it has been changed again and again, but it always treats the symptoms rather than the root cause, and the main reason is the corruption of officials. Illegal salt is flooding everywhere, and the reason is that there is a huge loss in the middle.”

Speaking of this, he looked at Zhang Fei, "That's why I suggested you go to the Northwest to build a public security law. If you don't rectify the administration of officials, it is impossible to improve the salt administration."

In fact, it can be seen from the salt administration that the problem of the Song Dynasty has never been a policy issue, but an official issue. No matter how you change it, you will return to the original point.

We still have to start from the root. Wang Anshi, Fan Xiang, and Xue Xiang are all geniuses in financial management. The reason why they can't improve their finances lies in the administration of officials.

Zhang Fei showed a look of hesitation, and said: "It's not that I don't want to go, but that I have no background and no authority. What can I do if I go, and I also asked about it. Fan Xiang was sent to the local government to manage the salt administration, and his adjutant was directly killed by the bandits."

Sima Guang nodded and said: "That's the case. In the end, Mr. Bao went to the local area to make Fan Xiang's policy continue. But if you are willing to go, I will find a way to protect you and find a way I will help you build your prestige, and I will not let you go there with bare hands."

Zhang Fei said: "If you can protect me well, I can give it a try."

Sima Guang said excitedly: "Really?"

Zhang Fei nodded.