"After the Qi Dynasty declined, Guanzi built it and established nine prefectures, both light and heavy. Then Huan Gong became the hegemon, united the nine princes, and unified the world." [Historical Records: Preface to the Biographies of Huo Shi]
"Shuihengdu Weichenzhong kowtows to Your Majesty!" Zhou Zhongji first sang the promise.
The emperor had already sat back on the couch and nodded. Huangfu Li, the attendant beside him, said on his behalf: "The emperor's edict says yes."
So Zhou Zhong walked forward on his knees, ordered the people behind him to offer a lacquer plate, and said: "Since the imperial edict was issued at the beginning of the year, I have introduced a new money method for the court to stabilize the market price. I and others have been worried and sighing all night. After thinking hard for several days, I finally realized
Shengyi, together with Zhong Guan, distinguished copper and other orders, studied and painted the money model, and now I have finally achieved something, and I dare to present it to the emperor for viewing."
Zhou Zhong spoke very tactfully and could hardly find any faults. The emperor had to take another look. Thinking of the report from Liu Ai, the prefect of Runan, he couldn't help but connect the relatives of Zhou Zhong and Zhou Yu. It wouldn't be long before that.
, Zhou Yu was about to take the jade seal to Chang'an. Compared with the jade seal passed down from the country, he wanted to see what kind of grace the "Mei Zhoulang" in history was and how it would be different compared with the old bureaucrat Zhou Zhong in front of him.
"Your Majesty." Mu Shun took the lacquer plate and placed it on the table. Seeing that the emperor was a little distracted, he reminded him softly.
The emperor came back to his senses and was somewhat in a trance. He did not look at the money sample, but called Li Jian to the visitor: "Li Jian!"
"The slave is here." Li Jian was watching the emperor's movements at any time and immediately responded: "What is the state's decree for the slave to pass on?"
The emperor waved his hand and said: "Go to Chengming Palace and tell Zhao Sikong and Xun Jun to come over."
Li Jian agreed and just stood up to leave. Zhou Zhong suddenly said with a smile: "Your Majesty, the end of the year is coming and taxes will be levied in various places. If you are discussing new money, why not call the chief minister and the Shaofu to see you again?"
The emperor then stretched out his hand and tapped the money sample on the lacquer plate. Knowing that Zhou Zhong had misunderstood his intention, he shook his head and said, "It's not for this reason, so there is no need to tell them about it for the time being."
"Jin Nuo." Zhou Zhong responded and stopped talking.
The emperor smiled calmly, stared at Zhou Zhong and said: "While Sikong and Xunjun haven't come yet, you might as well tell me, if the new money is distributed, can the long-standing disadvantages be eliminated?"
Zhou Zhong looked at a loss. He looked at the floor in front of him and did not dare to raise his head. He did not dare to reply for a while. The new money was minted and it should be put into use the next year. It would be used as the main currency for taxation and gradually replace the old money.
Money changes the past phenomenon of market chaos and barter.
This was originally a very reasonable thing. When the emperor convened ministers to discuss recasting new money, the pros and cons were already stated. Why do you still ask him this question now?
While he was in a daze, the emperor saw that he was not answering and had no intention of listening to him in detail. He was just asking casually to find something to say. Zhou Zhong was thinking all over the place and couldn't seize this opportunity. It's no wonder.
Live with others.
At this time, Sikong Zhao Wen and Attendant Xun You walked in hand in hand. Just as they were about to salute, the emperor waved his hand and said, "No need, just take a seat."
After saying that, he pointed to the money samples on the table and said to Mu Shun: "Pick some of the same ones and show them to Mr. Zhao and the others."
Then he said to Zhou Zhong: "Although you were once a great minister of agriculture, the previous system of the imperial court was that the power belonged to the middle office. It is understandable that you can't control anything in your hands and you don't understand the economy. Even if you just said something wrong,
, I don’t blame you, but you have to know that my purpose of reestablishing the Shuiheng Prison is not just to mint coins. Economy means business, and it is also about managing the world and benefiting the people."
Seeing Zhou Zhong nodded in understanding, the emperor looked at Zhao Wen who was carefully studying the money sample and Xun You who had a calm face, and continued: "Guanzi once said, 'Measure the currency, the weight', 'Coin'
If the currency is too heavy, it will benefit the people, but if the coin is light, it will not be used, so the weight should be adjusted only by the number.' Why is gold more valuable than silver, and silver is more valuable than copper? Copper coins can neither be eaten nor worn, so how can a few copper coins be exchanged for more money?
Is there any precious cargo?"
Confucian classics are very popular in this era. Those with shallow family traditions may have only heard of "Guanzi". Those with profound family traditions, such as Xun You and Zhou Zhong, will not be too concerned about it. Unless there are special circumstances or ulterior motives,
Very few people would bother to study miscellaneous books like "Guanzi", let alone draw inferences from one instance and raise various questions like the emperor.
"Your Majesty." Zhao Wen served as Jing Zhaocheng when he was young. At that time, the local government minted money on its own, so he had been exposed to currency casting for a period of time. He bowed and said: "Foolish minister, I think that money is priceless, and disease is gold.
If the money is heavy, then the gold will be light. Whether the money can circulate among the people and exchange goods all depends on the majesty of the court. If the court is powerful, the officials and the people will obey, and money can flourish. If the court is weak, the money law will be weakened, and the people will rather use things.
Bartering, money is no longer 'money'."
This statement is to demonstrate the reason why money is valuable and recognized by people from the perspective of national credit.
The emperor was a little surprised. He didn't expect Zhao Wen to be very accomplished in this area.
Zhou Zhong seemed to understand the emperor's meaning at this time. He glanced at Xun You without any trace. Seeing that Xun You had his eyes slightly closed and had no intention of speaking, he said calmly: "I also thought so. Now that the imperial court is gradually recovering, the people of Guanzhong
All of them are dedicated to the Han Dynasty. The new money issued this time can make the money valuable, revive the goods industry, and make it more convenient for the people."
"Although what you two said is good, there are still some shortcomings." The emperor said softly and paused deliberately.
Everyone understood and said together: "I am ignorant, please give me a clear explanation from your majesty."
The emperor nodded and said: "Not only does the prestige of the court affect the weight of money, but the number of coins issued by the court also affects the weight of money. For example, in the East Market, the total value of goods is 300,000 yuan, while the entire Dong City only has 200,000 yuan.
, this will make it difficult to sell goods worth 100,000 yuan, thus harming the interests of the people. What if the water balance supervisor knows about this?"
Zhou Zhong frowned and said subconsciously: "Let's mint 100,000 yuan from Shuiheng and send it to Dongshi?"
"But..." Zhou Zhong said immediately, "You can't give this hundred thousand money for free, right?"
"This is natural." Seeing that the other party could think of the key point so quickly, the emperor nodded happily and said, "The imperial court can purchase goods for these 100,000 yuan, or hire civilians to distribute them to the East Market."
Xun You, who had been silent for a long time, now spoke, his eyes deep and full of energy: "But the imperial court may not know so accurately. If the East Market is short of 100,000 yuan, the imperial court will issue 200,000 more, or 50,000 less, which means there will be more money."
If it is less, it will not be beneficial to the people."
"This is my intention in re-establishing the Pingzhun Prison." After the emperor finished speaking, he looked at Mu Shun.
Mu Shun hurriedly said: "However, since the Pingzhun Supervisor was rebuilt according to the imperial edict, there have been Pingzhun officials in the thoroughfares of counties and counties, as well as in the east and west cities, to monitor prices. Especially the city chiefs, such as Chang'an City, are directly under the Pingzhun Supervisor.
, the collected information will be sorted out and handed in every ten days, and will be summarized by the Pingzhun Supervisor and submitted to the imperial review."
This is the responsibility of market and economic statistics on the level of supervision. As for the intelligence function behind it, the ministers all know it tacitly, and it is difficult to say clearly at this time.
"As just said, this is true for Dongshi, and it is true for the whole world, and it is also true for the people. Even if the imperial court has a leveling supervisor, it is true that it cannot accurately know how much money the people need to prosper the goods industry and benefit the people. But
The figures collected by the Pingzhen Prison can serve as a reference for the Shuiheng Prison to increase the amount of money minted." If the Pingzhen Prison is a combination of the Market Statistics and Investigation Bureau and the National Development and Reform Commission, then in the emperor's mind, the Shuiheng Prison controls currency issuance for future generations.
of the central bank.
No one in this era understands the importance of monetary policy to social and economic development better than the emperor. Therefore, since there is a balance monitoring system at this time, the water balance monitoring system should not just be as simple as casting money.
The emperor looked at Zhou Zhong with a deep look and said seriously: "Does Duke Zhou know the purpose of resetting the Shuiheng Prison?"