"Hong'er, you are finally willing to come back..."
As soon as she returned to Qianqing Palace, Queen Zhou began to complain.
In the past few months, her son has been away, and everything has been weighing on her. Although there are fast horses traveling to and from Datong, the capital, every day, she still lives on thin ice, cautious, for fear of making any mistakes.
"Mother, you have worked really hard for me these past few months. I originally wanted to return to Beijing as soon as possible, but the Tumut troops had just returned and I was really worried, so I stayed for an extra month."
Zhu Cixi explained helplessly, with a hint of apology on his face.
"Oh, it's really hard for you. Fortunately, Na Duo'er is well-behaved and sensible. From now on, we can live in harmony and avoid fighting again."
Thinking that her son not only completely solved the border town problem that had troubled the Ming Dynasty for more than a hundred years, but also subdued the Tumote tribe, Queen Zhou also had a hint of pride on her face.
"Haha, there won't be any big problems in the two places in a few years." Zhu Cixiang smiled and waved his hand, also very satisfied with this trip to Datong.
Not only did they rectify the guard system and obtain a large amount of money and food, they also solved the problem of the urgent shortage of war horses.
Then he asked with concern: "Mother, how are the disasters in various places? How much food is left?"
"The disaster situation in various places has basically been stabilized. However, the capital has only reserved one million shi of grain. The rest, including those from Jiangnan, have been shipped to various places. The money has not been distributed much, and there are still nearly 20 million taels. , By the way, this is what Aunt Qi and Ying'er just sent yesterday, take a look for yourself..."
Queen Zhou picked up the memorial on the table as she spoke, her voice trembling.
"What?"
"There are eighty million taels of silver alone..." Zhu Cixiang took it with some curiosity, and then his eyes widened.
"Yes! I never thought that the nobles in the south of the Yangtze River were so rich. Compared with the nobles in the capital..." Empress Zhou had a look of emotion on her face. When she received the memorial yesterday, she almost fainted with fright. .
"I thought I copied a lot of money in Datong, Xuanfu this time, but compared with my mother-in-law and the others, they are nothing. These damn nobles are really hateful and stupid. They are so stupid. Going to Qiongzhou is really an advantage for them."
Looking at the dazzling array of mansions, estates, and various jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings above, Zhu Cixiang was both excited and angry.
Historically, even if these guys gave one-tenth of their family property to support Chongzhen, the Ming Dynasty would probably not be destroyed.
It's so shameful that he was so rich that he couldn't bear to spend any of it. In the end, not only was he free to become a slave, but he couldn't even save his own life, and his wife and daughter were reduced to other people's playthings.
I have absolutely no idea what it means to live in peace with the country, and I don’t know who I got all this wealth from, and I thought I could compete with those gentry and landlords.
Without Daming, they are not the same person.
Then Liu Xinlan introduced the situation of Huangdian in various places. Hearing that Huangdian has been spread throughout the north, Zhu Cixiang was very excited.
"Hong'er, this disaster relief is thanks to the imperial stores in various places. Xinlan, the general manager, is much more qualified than the queen mother."
"Your Majesty, I'm so ashamed of you. I'm just following the instructions of Your Majesty and Your Majesty." Liu Xinlan waved her hand quickly.
"There is no need to be modest. The disaster relief effect this time is good. In the future, money and food matters will no longer have to go through the hands of corrupt officials."
Zhu Cixiang waved his hand. In fact, only three departments were used for this disaster relief. The imperial stores in various places were responsible for specific matters, the Jinyiwei provided intelligence, the east factory supervised, and the general soldiers and auxiliary soldiers of the fifth army were responsible for assisting in escorting food supplies. They were completely useless.
Each yamen.
"By the way, Xinlan, the Imperial Store's supplies can't always be escorted by the army. Next, we have to set up our own fleet. Forget it, let's set up a postal supervisor."
Thinking about the future delivery of official documents and the operation of imperial stores and banks, Zhu Cixiang felt that it was necessary to build a fast and large transportation network.
It's a shame that the post station of the Ming Dynasty was slaughtered by his father. I don't know what he thought at the beginning. It only takes one sentence to abolish this thing. If you want to re-establish it, it will be really troublesome and laborious.
If the inn system still exists, then it only needs to be reformed and improved on the original basis, and it will be much easier.
"Your Majesty, please also tell me the specific functions of the Postal Supervisor." Liu Xinlan quickly asked for instructions.
Nowadays, Zhu Cixiang tries his best to let others do these trivial matters, so he explained the express operation mode in his previous life to her in detail.
In the future, in addition to delivering official documents from various places, postal inspectors will also be responsible for transporting goods to and from various places, mainly by ship and truck. For the time being, they will only transport internal goods, and in the future they will also transport goods to other merchants.
As for the business travel and accommodation of passing officials, it was completely contracted to local businessmen to build and operate the inns themselves, and the court would not interfere.
After seeing off Queen Zhou and Liu Xinlan, Zhu Cixiang was just about to take Lan Duoer around the palace when Princess Kunxing came rushing over again.
"Brother Emperor, when will the bank be established? My sister, I have been waiting for a long time. You see, these are the new banknotes printed by the Banknote Department according to your instructions, and the ingots cast by the Bank..."
After Princess Kunxing finished speaking, she took the tray from the maid's hand and showed it to Zhu Cihong.
Obviously, in the past few months, in addition to learning Arabic numerals and new accounting methods, I have also been very focused on setting up a bank.
I have to go to the Baochao Department and the Banking Bureau to supervise it almost every day. If not for Empress Zhou's pressure, I would have written to Zhu Cixiang for instructions, or directly established it.
"Oh! Brother Huang, take a look first..."
Zhu Cixiang was naturally interested in the establishment of a bank. He had planned to go take a look at it tomorrow, so he immediately took the banknotes and ingots to look at them.
"Brother Imperial, is the denomination of this treasure banknote too small? The largest denomination is only half a tael of silver, and the paper and ink used are all of the highest quality. I am worried that I will not make any money. It is carelessly made.
And I'm afraid that others will imitate it." Princess Kunxing tried to say.
"Haha, it seems that the emperor's sister has really worked hard in the past few months. In fact, the emperor's brother has no intention of making money in this bank, at least not in the short term. It is mainly used to develop business and facilitate the people.
"
Zhu Cixi smiled and waved his hands.
There are six denominations of treasure banknotes, namely one cent, two cents, five cents, one cent, two cents, five cents, one cent, two cents and five cents. They are mainly used to replace copper coins.
Ten coins is one cent, ten coins is one coin, ten coins is one tael, the largest five coins is only the size of a palm, and the smallest five coins is only the size of a child's palm.
The pattern on it is not complicated either. In addition to uppercase numbers and Arabic numerals, patterns, gold ingots and copper coins are printed on the front, and the year and date are printed on the back, as well as the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes privately printed with the words to punish the Nine Tribes.
Of course, considering that most people in this era were illiterate, the six types of money were divided into three colors.
One penny and one penny are colored red, two pennies and two cents are colored green, and five pennies and five cents are colored yellow. In addition, they are of different sizes. As long as you are not blind, you can tell how much money they are after being familiar with them.
The paper and ink were manufactured according to the banknote standards of this era.
Yuanbao is the same as those of this era, and is made of five ounces of pure silver. As for silver coins, they have not been made yet. With the current technology, it is very difficult to make silver coins on a large scale. He plans to slowly do it in the future.
"Brother Imperial, if the denomination is printed in a larger size, you can still make money."
"It's not necessary. Now the emperor is not short of money. What is missing is a complete financial system and a unified and standardized currency. From now on, as long as the bank does not lose money, it will be acceptable even if it loses a little."
Zhu Cihong waved his hand. If he wanted to make money, he had to work hard on silver coins, especially those that could be blown, so that others could not imitate them. But he didn't know the ratio of silver to copper and lead.
"Okay, let's do whatever the emperor says. The emperor, my sister, and the hundred palace maids have all mastered the numbers and accounting methods. Can we set up a bank immediately?"
