The news that Zhenwu ordered the capital and the local foundry bureau to assist the "Four Dahengs" in casting Qing silver coins soon spread to the Changchun Garden Upper Study Room, and the three upper study ministers Zhang Penghhe, Xiao Yongzao, and Song Zhu who were on duty heard about it. After that, it was all in a daze. How many innovations could this master make? Such endless tinkering, and yet still allowing others to live, this is
I really can¡¯t get over it.
The victory of the Navy in Europe has slightly cooled down the heated debate about the New Deal in the Beijing News and Ning News. Before they could take a few breaths, the master threw out another new money issuance, and did not keep up. After deliberation in the study room, the minting rights of new money were directly handed over to a private bank like "Si Daheng" without consulting the Ministry of Household Affairs. So what did the imperial court do with the minting bureau?
After being silent for a long time, Song Zhu glanced at Zhang Penghhe and said: "When the new emperor ascends the throne, issuing new coins is a timeless and understandable act. However, copper coins have always been issued. Now the Qing Dynasty consists of silver and copper coins. There is nothing wrong with the monetary system, so why issue silver coins for no reason?¡±
Xiao Yongzao also muttered: "I don't know the quality, weight, and value of the silver coins issued? Our study has become a deaf ear - a decoration."
Zhang Pengye smiled bitterly and then said: "Although I have been in charge of the household department, I really don't know anything about the issuance of silver coins. You also know the emperor's temperament."
"Yun Qing, the money law is related to the national economy and people's livelihood. It is not a trivial matter, and it cannot be left to the emperor's temperament." Song Zhu said with a solemn expression: "You have to ask clearly about this matter. Since the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court has not minted silver coins. There is no precedent for this, and there is no precedent for letting banks mint coins. Isn¡¯t this Tai Ah¡¯s backlash?¡±
Use me as a gunman? Zhang Penghie still said with a bitter look on his face: "Although the emperor obeys his advice, it is extremely difficult to reverse what has been decided. Now that the Minister of Revenue, Ga Mintu, is not in the capital, this matter can only be solved by my own efforts. Not sure at all.¡±
"The law of money is the foundation of the country. Let's go to see him together." Xiao Yongzao said, and then ordered: "Go and hand over the sign immediately."
"Hey, I'll go right away." The little eunuch waiting at the door bowed in response and ran out quickly.
Seeing this, Zhang Penghie couldn't help but smile bitterly. He was well aware of the disadvantages of silver. European silver coins were quite popular on the southeastern coast. He had also heard that the Qing Dynasty issued its own silver coins, which was conducive to the circulation of silver. This in itself was not a bad thing. , the problem is that the power of minting should not be handed over to the "Four Dahengs", nor should there be any information in advance. Xiao Yongzao and his wife reacted so much to this matter. They were more dissatisfied with Zhenwu's arbitrary actions and decided to mint the coins as soon as they wanted. The power is given to the 'Four Constants' to find fault with this point.
Dan Ning was in the front hall, and Zhenwu, who was reviewing the memorial, heard that three ministers in the study were outside asking for an audience. He couldn't help but smile. These ring players came very quickly, so he immediately ordered: "Let them come in."
After Zhang Penghe came in to greet him, Zhenwu put down his ink pen, closed the memorial, and said with a smile: "I'm sorry, but I'll sit down." After Sanru thanked him and sat down, he continued: "You, Sanru, are here for Did you come up with the issue of silver coins?"
Seeing Zhenwu being so direct, Zhang Pengye offered some advice and said: "Back to the emperor, it is indeed true. I wonder what the color, weight and value of the silver coins to be issued are?"
"The silver coin of the Qing Dynasty is worth seven cents and two cents, which is 90% silver and can be used with silver taels." Zhenwu said slowly: "The currency value is divided into four types: one yuan, medium yuan, two jiao and one jiao. One yuan is equal to ten jiao."
Hearing that the currency value was yuan or jiao, Zhang Penghie was also stunned. How could he completely imitate the European silver dollar? It's perfect but only 90%? Generally, the quality of official silver is 95%. Are you planning to make a profit from it? Just as he was thinking to himself, Xiao Yongzao said: "Your Majesty, since silver coins are interchangeable with silver, why are they different in color from official silver?"
Zhenwu glanced at Sanru, picked up the tea cup, took two sips of tea, and then said: "First of all, let's talk about the pros and cons of issuing silver coins."
Seeing that Zhenwu was mainly a guest, Zhang Penghie pondered for a moment and said: "Silver coins are of the same color, weight, standard, and suitable size. They are not only easy to carry, but also save the pain of exchange in different places and the loss of circulation. It will greatly promote the use of silver in the Qing Dynasty. Circulated everywhere, just.¡±
After a slight pause, he continued: "The Qing Dynasty has always used two counts. The silver dollar was changed to yuan and jiao. I am afraid that it will be difficult for merchants and people to accept it. Moreover, if the quality is not enough, it may also attract criticism."
Zhenwu smiled slightly and said: "If the silver dollar is changed to Kuping one or two, and the color is ninety-five, what are the disadvantages?"
Hearing these words, Sanrui couldn't help but be stunned. If the silver dollar was changed to Kuping one liang and the color was ninety-five, it could be said that there were only advantages and no disadvantages. It was not like they had never seen European silver coins before. The advantages were obvious. But why did Zhenwu change the two to yuan and set the color as only 90%?
Is it for the sake of fire? The thought flashed through Sanrui's mind. To convert official silver into silver dollars, losses are unavoidable. In addition to losses, there is also work. Hundreds of millions of taels of silver in the Qing Dynasty were all converted into silver dollars. This expense is indeed not expensive. Small, but I don¡¯t dare to say this.
After pondering for a while, Zhang Pengye bowed and said: "We are all stupid, please give us some advice from your Majesty."
Zhenwu glanced at him and said: "The purpose of recasting the Qing silver dollar is to unify the silver currency of the Qing Dynasty. It is to reduce the loss of circulation in different places and save the tedious exchanges in other places, facilitate better circulation of silver, and promote the Qing Dynasty. This is one of the commerce and trade, and the other is to resist the circulation of foreign vassal silver coins in the Qing Dynasty. I set the quality of the Qing dynasty silver coins to 90% out of consideration of expelling the foreign vassal silver coins, because the quality of the foreign vassal silver coins is Usually it¡¯s ninety-three or ninety-four.¡±
Hearing this, Song Zhu was confused. Seeing that the words were inseparable, he hurriedly bowed and said: "I am stupid. Since we want to expel the silver coins of foreign vassals, the quality of the silver coins of the Qing Dynasty should be higher than that of the foreign vassals' silver coins." , Otherwise, how can it be expelled?¡±
Zhenwu glanced at Zhang Pengye and said: "Yun Qingjiu is in charge of the household department. He should be familiar with the money method. You can tell me."
Zhang Penghie couldn't help but be stunned. This silver dollar is different from copper coins. Copper coins are of high quality. Unscrupulous merchants collect copper coins and cast them privately to resell them for profit. This leads to insufficient circulation of copper coins, causing silver to be cheap and money to be expensive, harming the interests of the common people. Thinking of this , his heart brightened, wouldn¡¯t the silver dollar still be in the collection?
"I obey the order." He hurriedly bowed slightly and said: "The copper coins circulating in the market are not about the survival of the fittest, but about the survival of the fittest. People have always had the habit of accumulating money. Since they are accumulating, they naturally save good coins and use bad coins. coin, hour
i For a long time, all the good coins were hidden, and all the bad coins were circulating in the market. The humble minister secretly believed that silver coins and copper coins were the same. "
"That's thorough." Zhenwu praised it without hesitation.
Zhang Pengye bowed again and said: "Your Majesty, the common people mainly pay taxes with copper coins. The quality of silver coins has declined, which invisibly encourages the trend of cheap silver and high value of silver. This is also a major disadvantage. However, small silver coins The large amount of issuance is enough to give ordinary people more opportunities to use silver coins. We sincerely pray that the emperor will increase the issuance of one dime and twenty dime silver coins."
"Okay! One example can lead to inferences. This is actually a wise saying in planning a country." Zhenwu glanced at him appreciatively and said with a smile: "The imperial court's money law has many drawbacks. In order to rectify the administration of officials, it is necessary to reform the money law, and copper coins will become a color. It is too high, so that silver is cheap and money is expensive. The official price has not changed all the time. It is one tael of silver to one thousand copper coins. In fact, the ratio among the people has always been between 700 and 800 yuan per tael. Local officials have always levied taxes. It is levied at the official price. In addition to paying taxes, the people will also be exploited once they pay taxes in copper coins.
Zhang Penghe did not expect that Zhenwu Jingran thought further than him. According to the actual exchange price in the market, he adjusted the official price of silver exchange ratio in a timely manner. This method could not only effectively solve the shortcomings, but also be simple and practical. He hurriedly bowed and said: " The Emperor¡¯s sage wisdom is so clear that he is truly a blessing to the hundreds of millions of people in the Qing Dynasty.¡±
Xiao Yongzao and Song Zhu knew little about the money law, but they also heard it clearly. They hurriedly followed the praise, but they felt aggrieved. They came with us to praise the saint?
After the three words of praise were finished, Zhenwu continued: "Why didn't the Qing Dynasty silver dollar use Kuping one liang, but kept in line with the Spanish silver dollar, using Kuping seven qian and two cents per dollar, abolishing the two coins and changing the name to silver dollar? One It is I who want to comprehensively promote the silver dollar and completely abolish the two silver systems. The situation of parallel circulation of silver and two silver dollars is only temporary because it is not conducive to the unification of currency.
Secondly, the love of Spanish silver dollars on the southeast coast shows that the size and specifications of silver dollars are very suitable. Thirdly, the Qing Dynasty¡¯s foreign trade mainly focused on trade with Europe.
i tends to expand and unify the currency specifications with Europe, which is conducive to promoting overseas trade.
Finally, due to the consideration of expelling the European silver dollar, the Dutch Damajian Ku was flat at eight cents and six cents, with a 94-cent color, and the Spanish silver dollar was 7 cents and 3 cents, with a 93-cent color. However, the European silver dollars circulating in the market are Mainly Spanish silver dollars. In view of this, the Qing silver dollar adopted Kuping's seven cents and two cents. "
Song Zhu had long since lost his mind to find fault with this. When it came to economics, money, law, and long-term vision, he knew that he could not match Zhenwu in flattering him. After thinking for a while, he said: "The emperor's holy concerns are far-reaching, which really puts the servants to shame." , However, the slave is stupid, and there is still one thing unclear. The right to mint coins is the foundation of the court's money law, how can it be granted to the 'Four Constants'?"
Seeing that Song Zhu raised this issue so directly, Zhang Penghie and Xiao Yongzao couldn't help but secretly curse in their hearts. Would it be better to be more tactful? ???Didn¡¯t you know that Zhenwu holds more than half of the shares of ¡®Si Daheng¡¯? Neither of them dared to peek at Zhenwu's face, they both lowered their heads with their hearts in mind, waiting for Zhenwu's reaction.