The method of treasure banknotes in the Yuan Dynasty was actually to manage the printing and not bury them. A large number of banknotes were printed, even in small denominations, to replace copper coin transactions. The management of Jiaozi in the Southern Song Dynasty was more scientific. First of all, there was always recycling and control.
When the price of Baochao is low, a large amount of materials will be released in the market to buy back the Baochao to maintain the price of Baochao.
However, the war budget of the Southern Song Dynasty was too large. It was enough to destroy this fragile financial system.
Jia Sidao's public land law and the forced expropriation of land in the south of the Yangtze River were essentially to fill the big hole in Jiaozi. In the end, it could not be sustained.
Although they all collapsed, the Southern Song Dynasty knew how to play with paper money, but they just couldn't finish it. The Yuan Dynasty was just nakedly amassing money.
The Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes are almost replicas of the Yuan Dynasty treasure banknotes.
What does it mean to have a self-sufficient state treasury without hurting the people? This thing hurts the people the most.
After all, most dignitaries knew about the depreciation of treasure banknotes in advance, but ordinary people were the least informed. Most of the losses caused by the depreciation of treasure banknotes would fall on these people.
It just makes me want to cry.
He Xi said: "Your Majesty, treasure money is a university subject. Generally, it requires collateral. The final collateral is gold and silver?"
Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked curiously, "I remember that you also brought a few banknotes. Do you also have collateral for your banknotes?"
He Xi didn't know how to answer for a while.
The monetary theory in the 21st century is much richer than that of this era. It is estimated that even if he explained to Zhu Yuanzhang how the United States uses printing banknotes to dominate the world, Zhu Yuanzhang would definitely not believe it.
He Xi said: "The future currency is already a national credit currency. It represents the national credit. The country has a specialized department to manage it. Any currency fluctuations will attract attention."
Zhu Yuanzhang did not pay attention to the former, but paid attention to the latter. Because there was only one printing agency for the Ming Dynasty Baochao, Baoquan Bureau. As for after printing, sorry, almost no one is in charge. Is it the Minister of Household Affairs?
The departments under the Ministry of Household Affairs also do not have specialized agencies.
Perhaps the issue of treasure banknotes could be brought to court for discussion, but there is no agency specifically responsible for it. At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang also felt that there should be such an agency.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "What will be the department in charge of money in later generations?"
He Xi said: "It is the central bank. He is responsible for how many treasure banknotes are printed and how many treasure banknotes are recycled."
Zhu Yuanzhang secretly thought: "Central Bank." He remembered this word in his heart, and then said: "Stop talking about this, let's continue talking."
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't want to hear this topic anymore.
On the one hand, Zhu Yuanzhang did not understand many things very well. He needed to make up more lessons. On the other hand, Zhu Yuanzhang just wanted to get a directional concept from He Xi today. Zhu Yuanzhang still had to figure out how to do it himself.
After all, He Xi had extensive knowledge, but after all, he had not experienced many things and did not know enough about the Ming Dynasty. Almost all of the plans he made were inappropriate for the times.
It's like a financial issue.
In Zhu Yuanzhang's view, it was not easy to move.
Zhu Yuanzhang built the current financial system and used it for many years. Now he said it was not needed and he would not use it. Zhu Yuanzhang himself was not reconciled. The lack of local financial autonomy would be a disadvantage or a benefit to the court.
This is also something that I have thought about over and over again.
In He Xi's view, this is a drawback. Although Guo Huan deserves to die, the problem Guo Huan mentioned does not exist. Financial expenditures in all aspects have been allocated according to rules. If you want to do things, you need money. Why?
Making money? It’s all a problem.
But in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, this was not the case.
This begs a question.
What is a good official?
In He Xi's view, it is about making decisions for the people and seeking benefits for the people.
But in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, no, it should be that in traditional Confucianism, if you don't cause trouble, you are a good official.
Why? Because the so-called actions and achievements of most officials are useless. People still need to pay the price for their achievements.
What Zhu Yuanzhang wanted was a sustaining government, while He Xi wanted to equalize the government's functions with those of later governments. It was an all-powerful government that could manage almost everything.
The gap between the two is simply worlds of difference.
In terms of system, Zhu Yuanzhang never thought about asking the officials below to do big things. As long as they appease the people, education is the first priority of local officials. And what do the local officials need so much money for?
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was very suspicious, said, "Do you want to rebel?"
Therefore, is it intentional or unintentional that local officials are financially restricted?
As far as He Xi is concerned, he can still complain about finances for three days and three nights.
However, since Zhu Yuanzhang refused to let him talk, He Xi naturally continued. He Xi said: "The next step is to modernize the government."
In fact, what He Xi said is logical.
First complete the military modernization and stabilize the government. Then solve the financial modernization, so that the court has more resources at its disposal. Then, come the government modernization.
"The so-called government modernization is actually a drastic reform of the current imperial court." He Xi said: "Because this system cannot adapt to future development."
"First of all, the management ability of the imperial court and the separation of officials and officials. In fact, the real people in the imperial court are the officials. However, the officials do not receive enough attention. They are even politically discriminated against. Many officials can only earn enough income by committing crimes. This is
A little bit, Your Majesty should know."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "Che Qian Dian Ji Toa, if he is not guilty, he should be killed."
The so-called tooth means Yamen. It means Yamen servant.
Officials in various places are like wolves and tigers, poisoning the people. Although these people have little power, to ordinary people, their power is boundless. There is no way to fight against it.
Zhu Yuanzhang was begging everywhere and saw and heard many evil things of this generation.
Even though he became emperor and purged officials several times, Zhu Yuanzhang did not dare to make too optimistic conjectures as to how much purification was achieved below.
"So, the first thing to do is to integrate officials and officials. Let officials be selected from among the officials. Let people who can really do things become important ministers of the Ming Dynasty."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this suggestion, he frowned and said: "It is not impossible to let officials serve as officials. But this generation is morally corrupt and does not have a straight ministerial structure."
During the Hongwu Dynasty, there was a shortage of people in all aspects. Many civil servants were promoted to officials. If a civil servant had good performance for nine consecutive years, he could become an official. Although he could not become a high official. Later, after the rise of the imperial examination, he could become an official.
No more.
The reason is very simple. The imperial examination system requires a large number of official positions. How can it be allowed to be occupied by officials with civil servant backgrounds?
Zhu Yuanzhang discriminated against the entire group of officials, which corresponds to the previous situation where Che Qian Dian and Ji Ya were innocent and deserved to be killed.
"Your Majesty," He Xi said, "What if all officials must take the exam before entering?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned and said: "Everyone must take the exam?"
"Yes." He Xi said: "The reason why officials are discriminated against is that they are generally good and bad. But it must be said. The county magistrate is an official who is close to the people, but what are the people who really come into contact with the people? It is these officials."
"Governing a country means governing officials. Properity, justice and integrity are the four dimensions of a country. If the four dimensions are not maintained, the country will perish. Now, is there any propriety, justice and integrity to speak of in the entire system of officials? Maybe there is some, but not much."
"If the problem of the entire official system is not solved, can the problem of Ming Dynasty be solved?"
"To solve the problem of officials, on the one hand, we must break down the barriers to promotion among officials. On the other hand, we must improve the overall quality of officials. And in the world, the people with the highest quality are scholars."
"Introduce them into the official system, use them for a period of time, and replace them. Wouldn't it be good to let them become the fresh blood of the Ming Dynasty?"
"A fierce general must be sent to the army, and a prime minister must start from the state. If someone can step from an official to a ministry, he must be a talented person."
After Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he couldn't help but slap his buttocks with his hands, and thought to himself: "That's right. Why didn't I think of that?"
In Zhu Yuanzhang's view, this was a good alternative to the imperial examination.
Why do you say that?
What is the greatest function of the imperial examination? It is to attract scholars and provide people with channels for advancement.
Now let scholars start from officials. Although it offends many scholar-bureaucrats, it will attract more ordinary scholars. Among the scholars in the world, are there more scholar-bureaucrats or ordinary scholars?
Naturally it is the latter. If these scholars have a way out, they will not cause trouble.
But those scholar-bureaucrats couldn't cause any trouble.
And even Zhu Yuanzhang had to admit. Who are the people with the highest quality in the Ming Dynasty? Are they scholars? When the vast majority of the people are illiterate, it is already good to be literate. And scholars can use it no matter what books they read.
Talent.
Most of the lower-class scholars are actually very practical. They don't care too much about Zhu Xi's studies, Neo-Confucianism, or even Confucianism. They don't care too much about orthodoxy either.
Zhu Yuanzhang loved and hated scholars like Song Lian who were talented and upright, but not of the same mind as him. And if scholars were selected in this way, they would definitely not be good at work, and probably not in other aspects either.
So persistent.
However, almost instantly, Zhu Yuanzhang thought of a question.
It was not the strong resistance of the officials as a whole, nor was it the resistance brought about by replacing the imperial examination. As long as Zhu Yuanzhang made up his mind, these things could be solved. The problem was an unsolvable problem.
That's money.
If the officials and officials are integrated, then money must be paid to the officials.
And how many officials did the Ming Dynasty need? This was a number that Zhu Yuanzhang did not dare to think of. In an ordinary small county, there would be at least one or two hundred people. There are more than a thousand counties, hundreds of prefectures, and 300 health centers in the country. In addition to the central
Yamen at all levels.
This number is an astronomical figure. It even exceeds that of the Guard Army.
After all, in later generations, it was normal for civil servants to exceed the number of soldiers.
This was completely unacceptable to Zhu Yuanzhang.
