"Nowadays, the country enforces the law of holding on to copper and prohibits the casting of utensils, making the utensils useless." [The price of a flat department store]
In ancient times, there were three sources of raw materials for coining coins, namely, the output of copper mines operated by the government, private purchases, and taxes in kind. Due to the existence of official operations and taxes in kind, the imperial court did not need to purchase raw materials from the private sector to a large extent.
This will reduce the cost of minting money. As for the labor of minting money, it can be replaced by prisoners and war criminals, and the labor cost can be ignored. In short, minting money will be a cost-effective business for a long time.
Zhao Wen said from the side: "The three officials in Shanglin have very little copper reserves. If we want to issue new coins in the first year of Jian'an next year, we must collect copper and cast it at this time to prepare for emergencies. Looking at Guanzhong, only Hongnong Huayin County
, You Fufeng Wugong County, Hu County and other places produce copper. In my humble opinion, I might as well follow the example of iron officials and station copper officials in the above three places."
Copper mining franchise?
Zhou Zhong immediately thought of this and shook his head. Almost all the existing copper mines in Guanzhong were controlled by wealthy families. At that time, Dong Zhuo was handing out small coins indiscriminately and was short of copper. He even melted ten bronze men from the Qin Dynasty.
He didn't dare to take over the copper power without authorization. What did Zhao Wen think? He immediately remembered that ever since Zhao Wen was worshiped as Sikong and recorded as a minister, he had always relied on the Holy Will and had frequent political encounters with Situ Ma Rixi in the Chengming Hall.
We disagreed and had several unpleasant quarrels. Could it be that there was an instruction from the emperor?
Xun You coughed lightly: "It seems that the imperial court has never had a precedent of a bronze official. If it is to be compared with the salt and iron franchise, we have to discuss it carefully."
"It's not a franchise." Zhao Wen also knew that the water depth here was no less than that of salt and iron. Even the salt and iron franchise had a gathering of ministers, and all the wealthy people in Hedong were killed and injured before reluctantly implementing it. If the court wanted to run a copper mine franchise,
Zhao Wenke couldn't bear the backlash: "When Emperor Xiaowu collected all the copper from the world, he gathered the three officials in Shanglin, and the money from the three officials spread all over the world. This copper
If the government is set up in a place where copper is mined, it can be collected on the spot and driven out by the people to mine. The water scale will supervise the copper mining and the copper order will be directly under the jurisdiction. This can also save the cost of local transportation."
"This is convenient." The emperor said to Zhou Zhong: "Dong Zhuo's privately minted small coins are more than hundreds of millions among the people. Although there is a ratio of four small coins to five bahts each, but after calculation, the court still needs hundreds of millions of Tongbao.
Money is all that matters, let alone an ordinary small five baht. If the furnace is started from today, how much money can Shuihengjian make per month?"
"If we only take 'Tongbao' money as an example, as long as the money supply is sufficient, there are currently twelve furnaces in Shuihengjian, and each furnace can cast 400,000 coins per month, and 4.8 million coins can be produced in a month." Zhou Zhongzai
He did a simple calculation in his mind and said: "There are still more than two months left this year, and the Shuihengjian can mint more than 9 million yuan for the country. When the old money is officially exchanged next year, we can exchange the old money and recycle the old money at the same time.
By melting it down and recasting it, the court will no longer have to worry about a copper shortage."
This money sounds like a lot of money, but in fact, converted into '痼' or 'Guan', it is only more than nine thousand. Compared with the billions of old money and small money on the market, it is simply a drop in the bucket. The emperor still felt that it was not enough and said: "
Try to open more furnaces. You don’t have to worry about copper materials, craftsmen, laborers, etc. In the spring of next year, we will distribute them first in Jingzhao to see the results, and then spread them to other places."
"Your Majesty has a deep plan, which I cannot match." Zhou Zhong said flatteringly.
The emperor nodded with a smile, and told Zhou Zhong a few more words to seal the money and keep it strictly, and then signaled him to leave.
Seeing Zhou Zhong bowing and retreating, he walked out of the Xuanshi Hall as if relieved and joyful. The emperor suddenly sighed: "A good plan is not good!"
Zhou Zhong's courtesy name is Jiamou. Although he is experienced in handling matters and can be considered astute in predicting the current situation, his performance in dealing with the situation just now is still unsatisfactory. Speaking of which, if the current main task of the Water Height Supervisor is not to mint new money to exchange for old money, how can he still
It did not involve the level of currency control, and the emperor would not be so confident in handing over the water balance supervision to a layman. Fortunately, this person was very discerning. If he had listened to the emperor's words and understood "Guanzi" after he returned, he would have been
You might as well use it if you can.
Otherwise, you have to consider Wang Yi. I heard that after he confronted the emperor once in Hedong, he went back to study "Guanzi" day and night. After Hedong achieved results, he might be promoted to be the supervisor of Shuiheng. The emperor is like this
Thinking about it, he suddenly glanced at Xun You from the corner of his eye, and suddenly realized that he had overthought it. With Xun Gongda here, how could he give Wang Yi a chance?
Everyone has their own strengths, Zhou Zhong is quite talented and ambitious. After this experience, if he is smart, he will naturally pick up "Guanzi" and read it. This does not require Xun You to remind you deliberately.
Tao's attention calmed him down a bit, and just then Zhuang Ruo accidentally mentioned another matter: "In the afternoon, the Zhou family will arrive in Chang'an."
"Well, Zhou Yu, Zhou Gongjin." The emperor said, with a hint of expectation in his eyebrows: "I have read the seal submitted by Liu Ai, Tian Chou, and Guo Jia, saying that this person entered the city alone and persuaded Sun Ce and others to withdraw.
Runan, and he confessed his crime in a statement, but it was a pity that the statement could not express it clearly to China and foreign countries. In addition, Sun Ce also retreated due to unfavorable results in the battle. It was not due to Zhou Yu's words. These must be written clearly in the statement of victory."
When the emperor said this, he agreed to Guo Jia and others' plan to make the decision without authorization. This made Xun You feel relieved, and then said: "The merit of repelling the enemy cannot be obtained by others. The merit of presenting the seal is secretly attributed to the imperial court."
Don't treat him badly, lest the scholars who come to Chang'an from the east become disillusioned."
"Then what should I say?" the emperor asked casually. He knew that Xun You wanted to promote the Zhou family, and he was happy to give him a chance.
"Your Majesty." Xun You bowed and said: "It is said that the imperial seal was lost in Luoyang and found again in Luoyang. Doesn't it correspond to the four words 'the destiny of destiny'?"
Not much is known about the passing of the imperial seal. Xun You deliberately wanted to cover it up for the Sun family. Considering the overall situation, this is indeed the case. Otherwise, it cannot be explained how Zhou Yu obtained the imperial seal. Why didn't the Sun family possess the imperial seal and submit it to him?
The reasons for the imperial court and even Yuan Shu. From another level, there are not many people who know this secret, such as Zhu Jun, Liu Ai, etc. Although they are keeping silent for the sake of the overall situation and covering it up for the Sun family, they may not be the same in the future.
handle.
The emperor nodded. There are factions everywhere at any time, and they cannot be suppressed at the top of the mountain. As long as it is not internal strife and cliques, he has no need to take the initiative to overthrow them: "Zhou Shang can arrange it well, and Bingzhou Ding
Xiangjun has not had a governor for many years, so he can be allowed to take up his post this time. As for Zhou Yu, he has made so many contributions at such a young age, how should the court reward him?"
Zhao Wen understood and said nothing. He looked at Xun You, as if expecting the other party to come up with a good place to go.
Xun You shook his head: "It is up to Your Majesty to select talents and appoint talents. How can I dare to be expert?"
Zhao Wen smiled and said disapprovingly: "Mr.
Xun You still smiled, lowered his head, and made a gesture of silence.
The emperor saw the trick and then said calmly: "I originally wanted him to be admitted to the Secretary's Prison, but he is already eighteen years old. Fu Qian, Yang Xiu and others of the same age will all be appointed officials next year. At this time, he will be appointed to the Secretary's Prison."
It would be inappropriate to let him in."
The original intention of establishing the Secretary's Prison was to select boys of the same age as the emperor to study with him. Emperor Zhou Yu was five years old and already an adult. The emperor blocked his access to the Secretary's Prison because of his age, which surprised Xun You.
Zhao Wen followed the trend and suggested: "Jinnuo, since this is the case, why not let your subordinates promote him as a talented person and make him a subordinate?"
"You are taking the opportunity to invite talents!" The emperor said with a smile: "You can recruit talented people, but not the officials. I have already thought about his path, and I will worship him as Yulin Lang in front of the palace. Together with Meng Da,
Zhang Xiu and others work together in front of the imperial court."