After hearing what the emperor said, Zhang Yan's sitting posture became more upright.
At this time, the bastard came in quietly holding a plate of cut fresh fruit, put it on the table silently, then bowed and left. The eunuchs serving in the palace also hid outside the palace door.
Zhu Yunxi picked up a slice of tribute orange and slowly put it into his mouth, "The reason why I want to tell you about this first is because you are about to take charge of the household department, and before taking charge of the household department, you are in charge of local affairs."
People who have traveled to this province should have a broader vision than ordinary people!"
"In the past few years, Yunnan's farmers have been immigrated to develop trade. Yunnan's tea, tree medicinal materials, well salt and various other products can be sold, which shows that you are not a person who blindly emphasizes agriculture and neglects business in the narrow sense."
"I secretly believe that without farming, there will be no stability, no business, and no wealth." Zhang Gu replied, "The world despises commerce, but they don't know that the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty, Quanzhou and Guangzhou during the Song and Yuan Dynasties were all the lifeblood of the country. Farmers nourished the people, merchants enriched the country, and the world was full of turmoil.
For the sake of benefit, don’t take it lightly!”
"Well said!" Zhu Yunxi picked up the silk handkerchief and wiped his hands. "From the Song and Yuan Dynasties to this dynasty, more banknotes were issued. But the public price and the public price are completely opposite. The banknotes issued in the early years of Hongwu to this day are probably only one ingot.
You can’t exchange it for a bucket of rice.”
Zhang Yan's heart moved and he immediately said, "Does the emperor want to issue banknotes? I think it is not advisable." He said seriously, "Let's talk about the time when the Zhao and Song Dynasties were relatively peaceful. They used banknotes to pay taxes to the people, but only gold, silver, and copper silk were received. There were widespread complaints among the people.
.In the previous Dynasty of the Yuan Dynasty, printing was widespread and random. When the court was short of money, it used paper money to make money. This is not the way to govern a country."
"I have no intention of issuing banknotes." Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "I am thinking about a question. Government banknotes have a poor reputation among the people, but banknotes of commercial companies are becoming increasingly prosperous. How is it?"
"Let's take Yunnan as an example. I have heard a little bit about it. For large-scale goods transactions, storage transactions, etc., all the silver notes of commercial banks are used. In Beijing, bank notes and gold notes from various banks in the south of the Yangtze River can be redeemed on sight, which is popular among the people.
.”
Zhang Yan pondered for a moment, then stood up and said, "I have the courage to speak out!" After saying that, he paused and said, "The word credit!"
Then, looking at Zhu Yunxi's face, he continued, "The government is in the hearts of the people..."
"I understand that the common people can't always trust the government." Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "It's understandable, who makes the government only know about exploitation. Although businessmen value profits, they understand that credit is the way to build a life and keep your word. Unlike the government, who say
Whatever is done is what it is, and those who suffer have no place to reason."
As he spoke, he took a sip of tea and added, "But the bank account gave me an inspiration. I want to open a government-run bank account!"
Zhang Yan was startled, his heart beating wildly.
"It's like the military pay from every town in the world, which is transported there every year by the Ministry of Household Affairs. Not to mention the difficulty of the journey, after a long journey, 60% out of 10% is often distributed to the soldiers, which is considered a high incense."
"How about using silver notes instead." Zhu Yunxi pondered, "My idea is this. All soldiers and officials in the world should register and make a book. People will make a passbook according to the number and indicate their names and military pay. The soldiers themselves or their family members can take it.
Take your passbook to the local bank to cash it in."
"The ticket number can be redeemed immediately upon seeing the discount. If you don't want to cash it, you can store it. The ticket number will give you a certain amount of interest. Whenever there is a war and the court has a reward, it will be cashed in the same way."
"It's like the Ministry of Household Affairs directly pays soldiers and officials. It can save losses and exploitation, and it can also prevent soldiers from drinking their blood and eating empty pay. What do you think?"
Zhang Meng sat upright, frowning and thinking.
"I said something inappropriate!" Zhang Yan did not flatter him, but his expression was extremely solemn, "Your Majesty, please make this easy!"
Zhu Yunxi was not angry, with a faint smile on his face, gesturing for the other party to continue speaking.
"Although I am not an official in the central government, I know that the imperial court's annual military expenditure is sufficient. But whether it is distributed or not depends on the Ministry of Household Affairs."
"Even if there is money in the national treasury, there is never any actual payment, and the payment is always delayed. Banks are set up under the Ministry of Household Affairs to distribute military salaries. If there is another delay or the national treasury is in short supply, where will the money come from?"
"At that time, where will the credibility of the imperial court be?"
"Furthermore, the taxes levied by the imperial court every year, even the Lianghuai salt water used for military expenses, are all mixed with silver, copper, cloth, grain and other materials. If they are all converted into silver coins, how can the national treasury get so much silver?"
"Even if there is money in the national treasury, but..." After saying that, Zhang Yan bowed down, "Who can guarantee that this money will always be earmarked for special use?"
In fact, what Zhang Yan said was very implicit. The biggest obstacle to the execution of banks is precisely the court and the government.
"You get up first and listen to what I have to say!" Zhu Yunxi raised his hand and continued, "I also have the same worries as you, so what I think is that this bank can be run by the government, but it cannot be state-owned!"
Suddenly, Zhang Yan's eyes lit up.
"Processing the issuance of silver notes by banks to exchange for military pay, etc. requires a large amount of gold and silver as reserves." Zhu Yunxi said, "At present, the money can still be obtained."
"I have decided to withdraw 30% of the tax money from various customs this year. At first calculation, it is almost two hundred and fifty." After saying that, Zhu Yunxi thought for a moment, "Before the New Year, the tax money from various customs was transferred to the capital, and three million was taken out.
Integer. From now on, it will be a rule that the total amount of tax money collected by local customs will be used for military expenditure every year."
"I will take out another one million in cash from my inner treasury. Calculated this way, it is a huge sum of four million, which is enough for reserve at that time."
"There's something you don't know. Jin Yiwei has discovered several silver mines in Dongying. The famous princes in Dongying have been given to the Ming Dynasty in exchange for..."
"Anyway, it won't take long for the silver mine to be owned by the Ming Dynasty. I plan to have the mining rights for silver mines discovered overseas in the future belong to the bank, not the Ministry of Household Affairs."
"At the same time, we will sell the equity and attract wealthy businessmen from all over the world to invest in it, and the Ministry of Accounts will come up with a sum of money. This bank is owned by me, the Ministry of Accounts, and the shareholders."
"With three-party supervision, no one will misappropriate this money, and no one will misappropriate it."
Zhu Yunxi paused and continued, "If a private bank can do business, this bank can also do it. Except for the annual military salary and salary, which are injected by the court, the rest are responsible for the profits and losses."
At this point, he smiled and said, "I also came up with such an idea on a whim. Economics is not my specialty. The specific matters need to be brainstormed by you ministers."
"It can be done!" Zhang Yan suddenly said loudly.
His attitude at this time was completely opposite to that before.
"If I say something inappropriate again, the government may not have much credibility among the people. The credibility of the Emperor and the Emperor is unmatched by anyone!" Zhang Meng said with a smile, "In fact, just recruiting shareholders is enough for the bank to reserve."
As he said this, a hint of fierceness suddenly flashed in his eyes, "If there really is a silver mine, I won't lose anything in this deal!"
In Zhu Yunxu's mind, it is absolutely necessary to establish a bank, because it is a catalyst for business and an important part that cannot be avoided. Especially in the future, as the Ming Dynasty's island links continue to expand, banks will play an even greater role.
"But..." Zhang Yan paused, "I'm afraid it will be difficult..."
Zhu Yunxi knew the meaning of his words.
If this kind of thing is placed in a court meeting, it is bound to cause another storm, and the old masters will inevitably spit and speak out.
"So I just said that you still need to brainstorm on this matter." As he said that, Zhu Yunxi picked up the tea bowl and covered half of his face.
"What do you mean by your Majesty, that I should jump out as an introduction?"
Immediately, Zhang Yan understood.
"The emperor will give you a general idea, and then he and the people from the Ministry of Revenue will discuss it in a small area to formulate rules and regulations on how to make profits, etc., and then submit a letter in his own name, and then the emperor will bring it to the court for public discussion!"
After digging a hole for the other party, Zhu Yunxi blushed slightly, put down the tea bowl and said with a smile, "Zhang Aiqing, you have been here for a long time and are familiar with the economy. I can only tell you these things, and I can't mention them to others."
The matter has come to this, and there is no point in refusing.
From being a polite corporal at the beginning to pushing people into the pit now, the emperor had already planned it. How could he, Zhang Yan, refuse?
Zhang Yan was worried, "Your Majesty, if this bank is properly prepared, what name should it be called?"
Zhu Yunxi smiled and said, "How about calling it Royal Bank of Ming Dynasty?"