That morning, several cavalrymen rushed from the northwest official road like lightning, and soon arrived outside the west gate of Chengji County. The cavalrymen shouted: "Urgent military report! Urgent military report! Make way in front!"
The farmers who were about to enter the city to sell vegetables all moved out of the way, and several cavalry rushed into the city like a gust of wind...
Chen Qingzheng and several senior officials discussed the anti-counterfeiting of silver coins. They found that there were also coins made of white copper on the market. Their appearance was almost exactly the same as silver coins. Although silver coins were slightly heavier, ordinary people could not tell the difference.
Zhang Xiao said with a smile: "There are several kinds of mother coins. White copper coins are all small in size. Silver coins can be made in large-sized copper coins. They can be distinguished by their size."
Chen Qing shook his head, "It's useless for us to distinguish. The key is the market. We invest the money. Once it becomes popular, there will definitely be counterfeiters. Xihe Road is easy to control. What if the money is counterfeited in the Central Plains?"
Jiang Yan first stroked his beard and smiled slightly: "Don't worry, sir. We currently mint silver mainly for soldiers' military salaries. I don't think the vendors and farmers on the streets will accept things they don't understand, so each county should set up a store.
Silver coins can be exchanged for copper coins at any time, so the soldiers can rest assured."
Chen Qing walked a few steps with his hands behind his back: "Actually, I want to change Baoji Money Shop into an official money shop, for example, it will be called Cheng Qinzhou State Money Shop, which will be directly operated by the government, and then all kinds of payments from the government, including Jiang Chang
The money exchange and so on that Shi said are all done by the state money shop."
"This is a good idea!"
Sihu Zhang Miao's eyes lit up and he said: "Beizhi has always felt that Hucao lacks an organization similar to a money shop. It would be very convenient if the government had a money shop directly under it. Beizhi suggested that each county should set up a branch, both for external and public relations.
Internally, it is very convenient for businessmen to withdraw and remit money."
Everyone agreed. Now that they control a large area, it is very inconvenient to transport materials or escort money. It is good to have a government-run money shop. It is best to have an official courier to deliver documents and materials.
such as.
While the discussion was ongoing, a follower reported at the door, "Inform the envoy, there are intelligence scouts coming from Xixia!"
Chen Qing perked up and said quickly: "Let the scouts come in!"
Not long after, a dusty scout walked into Dutou, knelt down on one knee and saluted, "See Dutong!"
"Get up and talk!"
"Thank you Dutong!"
The scouts all stood up and said: "To inform the commander, Xiao Heda's son-in-law Xi Muna is also here. He will arrive tomorrow, and he should be here to ask for help."
"Reporting to the capital, the person who was killed was the eldest son-in-law Yelu Jinfeng. He had long been bribed by the Xixia Emperor Li Qianshun and had always been Li Qianshun's spy. He tipped off Li Qianshun and was discovered by Xiao Heda, who then launched a rebellion in advance."
"Are Xiao Heda's army and Xixia army still fighting fiercely now?" Chen Qing asked again.
"Reporting to the capital, they are now in a confrontation. Xiao Heda originally had the upper hand, but due to insufficient logistics and food, he was forced to abandon Shizhou and retreat."
"Do you know how many troops Xiao Heda has now?"
"I know that Xiao Heda's direct army has 8,000 people, the new army has 35,000 people, and there are 2,000 Khitan tribe cavalry, which adds up to about 45,000 people."
Chen Qing was really shocked, "Can Xixia not even be able to suppress the more than 40,000 rebel troops?"
"Reporting to the capital, the Xixia army only has more than 60,000 people. They have been fighting fiercely for nearly a year, and they are almost unable to fight."
Zhang Xiao asked from the side: "Do you know the situation in Xingqing Mansion?"
"You probably know a little bit, we have brothers in Xingqing Mansion."
Zhang Xiao continued to ask: "I want to know the prices of commodities in Xingqing Prefecture, such as the price of rice and salt."
The scout clasped his fists and said: "Since Xixia issued a large amount of ten cents at the beginning of the year, prices have skyrocketed and public resentment has boiled. Wheat has risen to two hundred cents per bushel, and the price of salt has doubled, to eighty cents per catty!"
There was a murmur of discussion in the lobby, and everyone was a little shocked. The price of wheat per bucket actually increased to 200 yuan. You must know that the rice in Chengji County is 30 yuan per bucket, and the wheat is 20 yuan per bucket, which is a full price compared to Chengji County.
The county is ten times more expensive.
Zhang Xiao sighed and said: "I have heard from businessmen before that Xixia issued large amounts of money. I guess the Xixia court has exhausted its financial resources. Generally speaking, no court will issue large amounts of money unless it is absolutely necessary."
Chen Qing nodded, "Sima is right. The Xixia war with us has already consumed huge amounts of money and suffered heavy losses. Now a civil war has broken out. It's no wonder that their court's financial resources are not lacking. But we must be vigilant. Although food and pig iron are banned,
The goods are not allowed to be sold to Xixia. I am afraid that some businessmen will be tempted by the huge profits and take risks to transport food to Xixia."
Jiang Yanxian said from the side: "If you want to transport grain, it must be transported on a large scale to be profitable. We have checkpoints at each crossing of the Yellow River, unless merchants purchase grain from the Hehuang Valley and then use camels to transport it to Xixia."
Chen Qing thought for a moment and said: "Chiang Changshi reminded us well, we must increase patrols in the Hehuang Valley and strictly prohibit any contraband from flowing into Xixia. Violators will be severely punished!"
.......
Everyone dispersed, and Chen Qing left Zhang Xiao behind. He said to Zhang Xiao: "Xiao Heda's son-in-law will come over tomorrow. I think it will be up to you to contact him. The key is how we can support Xiao Heda and meet their requirements.
, or according to our own ideas?”
Zhang Xiao thought for a while and said: "The key is what is the strategic decision of the capital? Do you want Xiao Heda to destroy Xixia, or just weaken Xixia? If you want to destroy Xixia, then give full support to Xiao Heda. If
If you just want to weaken Xixia, then give the minimum assistance so that Xiao Heda, the wolf, can continue to bite Xixia."
"Frankly speaking, I don't want Xiao Heda to destroy Xixia. Yelu Dashi's Xiliao is still there. If Xiao Heda destroys Xixia, Xiliao will probably come back and occupy the land of Xixia. At that time, they will not only deal with
Jin Kingdom, we are the first to bear the brunt, I am worried that Xiao Heda and Xiliao will attack us from both sides and destroy us."
Zhang Xiao smiled slightly and said: "I think Du Tong is a little too worried. Xiao Heda is not a good person. If he worked so hard to destroy Xixia, he must be the emperor, and he will never let Yelu Dashi pick the fruits.
, Secondly, Xixia is not so easy to destroy. I believe that the Jin Kingdom is also secretly supporting Xixia. If everyone is worried, then we must control the situation and not support too much."
Chen Qing nodded, "That's what I mean. I don't want to kill a tiger and help a wolf. It's best to let them fight each other and both lose. Let's pick the fruit."
"I'm afraid Jin Guo also has this idea!"
"Yes! The Kingdom of Jin must have some plans. I guess it will be another battle between dragons and tigers."
...........
The next morning, Xiao Heda's special envoy Xi Mu and his party arrived in Chengji County. Zhang Xiao personally went out of the county to greet him.
Smart and capable.
Xi Muna was Xiao Heda's son-in-law and was appointed as the governor of Xiazhou and in charge of government affairs. Xiao Heda told him more than once that if he destroyed Xixia and became emperor, he would make Xi Muna prime minister.
Xi Muna was arranged to rest in a VIP hotel, but he was very anxious. At his repeated request, Zhang Xiao held the first negotiation with him that afternoon.
"I came to Chengji County this time to ask for your support. We have been relatively passive in recent battles. We lost all three battles and lost nearly 10,000 people. The main reason is that the Jin Kingdom supported Xixia with 5,000 barrels of kerosene.
We failed to attack Shizhou City three times."
Zhang Xiao smiled slightly and said: "Is the governor coming to Chengji County this time just for the kerosene?"
Xi Muna sighed and said: "It's mainly kerosene. If possible, it would be best to support us with some gunpowder and food. In fact, I also need some salt and armor."
Perhaps he felt that his request was a bit excessive, Xi Mu said a little embarrassedly: "Of course, we can use barter."
Zhang Xiao suddenly became interested and asked with a smile: "What do you plan to exchange with us?"