After visiting the printing factory, Li Chengzhi went to the copper factory, also known as the mint.
Because hydraulic machinery was used, the copper factory was also built beside the Weoshui River. When Li Chengzhi entered, the workshop was in good order and was rolling copper plates with steel shafts.
The red-hot copper ingot enters between the two steel shafts. As the steel shaft rotates, a copper plate about one minute (three millimeters) thick but irregular in size is slowly squeezed out, and the worker clamps it to an iron plate with iron tongs.
On stage.
With a loud thunk, a steel ingot fell heavily, as if it were a seal. When the workers turned the winch, the steel ingot rose, and nearly a hundred copper coins about one inch in diameter and printed with patterns were scattered in the iron platform.
Then a worker will use an iron ruler to sweep the scraps off the platform, and at the same time sweep the copper coins into the pool on one side, which will immediately stir up a burst of water mist.
Li Song ordered the chief to fish out a dozen coins and send them to Li Chengzhi.
Li Chengzhi picked up one and looked at it carefully.
The thickness of the copper coin is very uniform, and the pattern is very clear. The only flaw is that it seems to be burnt, with a light layer of black rust printed on both sides.
This is because copper is oxidized when exposed to water at high temperatures, and an oxide layer is formed on the surface, which is copper oxide.
The advantage is that it is rust-proof, acid-proof and corrosion-proof, but the disadvantage is that it affects the appearance. Because zinc is added to the copper, the color of the rolled copper plate is like real gold at first, which is extremely dazzling. But suddenly there is such a layer of smoke rust, and it is as brilliant as before.
The beauty has a layer of ringworm on her face.
But it is precisely because of this layer of smoke and rust that it proves that the copper coins are of high quality. Unlike the Han five baht, it contains at least 30% lead.
After playing with it for a while, Li Chengzhi felt a little sad: He had minted the money, but its liquidity was not satisfactory.
In March, after the first batch of copper coins was issued, he set an official guidance price. Taking into account many factors, he followed the Luoyang currency price.
For example, in the capital, one pound of copper can be exchanged for two stones of millet, and in the West Sea, one pound of copper can be exchanged for two stones of millet.
There are differences when it comes to coins specifically: because the Xihai coins are slightly thicker and larger, and have no holes in the middle, one pound is only one hundred coins, which is about fifty coins less than the five baht coins. Therefore, Li Chengzhi estimated that the Xihai coins
Purchasing power will be higher.
But I didn't expect how conservative his estimate was: from the end of March to the beginning of June, officials, soldiers, and migrant workers all received two months' wages, and there was not even a single copper coin in circulation on the market. The market has gradually opened up.
In some districts and townships, people came to sell grain, cloth, and livestock to the government in exchange for money.
At that time, he made a rough calculation and found that the actual purchasing power of copper coins even exceeded the official pricing by four to five times.
After just a little investigation, Li Chengzhi knew where the problem lay.
First, because he was prepared just in case, most places in the West China Sea still implement a semi-planned and semi-planned economic system, which is not fully market-oriented.
Second, there was a shortage of copper in the Yuan and Wei dynasties. For more than a hundred years, the currency policy of "silk" and "grain" has been implemented, which is similar to barter, so the people have always had the habit of "harvesting copper".
Furthermore, the fineness of the Xihai gold coins is very good, and the patterns are exquisite, far beyond the five-baht coins left over from the Han Dynasty, which further encourages people to use them sparingly.
But this disrupted Li Chengzhi's plan.
The policy was decided by him personally and could not be changed overnight in any case. He could only order the various government agencies to collect all the goods they were due, and also ordered the copper factory to work overtime, day and night.
Then it took another three months, and the circulation volume had already exceeded the plan by five times, before the heat slowly cooled down. Li Chengzhi expected that when the last batch of copper coins were put on the market, they would be supplemented by officials and soldiers.
A series of measures such as wage increases for workers will bring the currency price back to a relatively normal level.
Of course, it is not all bad: now the grain, grass and cloth of various government offices are piled up like mountains, and there are so many cattle and sheep that soldiers have to be dispatched to take turns to herd them. He has made a rough calculation, which can at least support Li Feng's move to Bigan.
Fight five or six small wars of this scale and last for a year.
But to prepare for a rainy day, Li Chengzhi has already begun to set up a central bank to regulate the economy and prevent currency prices from falling too quickly.
He is a true layman in this industry, but fortunately Xihai is just a small boat. It can't turn around easily, and no matter how strong the wind is, it can't make big waves.
Just like in later generations, any new policy will be piloted. As long as the experience in Xihai is summed up and implemented in the world in the future, there will be no big trouble...
Thinking secretly, Li Chengzhi threw the copper coin into the cash box with a crisp "ding" sound.
He visited several places today. Although it was just a quick glance, Li Chengzhi could at least see that the quality of the paper, printed books and copper coins exceeded his expectations.
Moreover, the workers are skilled in the operation and all links are closely linked. This is obviously due to Li Song's close attention and attentiveness on weekdays.
"Yes, as the head of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, you can be said to be dedicated and united in knowledge and practice. At least there is no discount for uploading and delivering..."
The more trusted he is, the more stingy the husband is in praising him, and it is even more difficult to get a word of praise from him in front of everyone.
So after hearing this sentence, Li Song was completely relieved.
He bowed his hands and said, "Thank you, Sir!"
"Um!"
Li Chengzhi nodded, "But you still need to keep in mind that you need to keep the precepts and refrain from boasting. If you are in doubt, you must not make your own decisions..."
Li Song agreed wholeheartedly and kept nodding.
Having made such a big mistake, how could he not learn a lesson?
Not to mention when he was still undecided, or even if he hesitated a little, he would ask Li Chengzhi for advice. Li Chengzhi naturally told everything he knew, so Li Song made rapid progress.
Li Chengzhi waved his hand again: "Well, go back!"
Li Xiaoxian responded, and then ordered his soldiers to fetch Li Chengzhi's horse.
Just as he got on the saddle, Li Cong came to report again: "Mr. Zhang, Zhang Bie has arrived!"
So fast?
Counting on the fingers, it was only twenty days before he went to Xinyu Li Feng, and Bigan City was nearly two thousand miles away, which shows how fast Zhang Jingzhi walked.
"Where?"
"We have arrived at the town government office and have been met by Dalang (Li Shiliang). He should be washing his hands at this time!"
Li Cong paused for a moment, then said with a strange expression: "In addition to Zhang Biejia, Xi Zhonglang is also here!"
Li Chengzhi was stunned.
Good guy, I really let myself guess it right. Is this Xi Kangsheng really willing to give up?
He had six children, at least half of whom were successful, but he only kept Da Xi by his side and trained him carefully for nearly ten years, which shows Xi Kangsheng's love for him.
And Xi Kangsheng also knew better that it was a good time for Da Xi to come but it would be difficult for him to leave. No matter how generous he was, he would not be able to let him leave Xihai in a short time.
Therefore, the old fox's intention is self-evident, and this bet cannot be said to be unimportant.
On the other hand, it is difficult to guarantee that Xi Kangsheng had a keen eye and could see that the Yuan and Wei Dynasties were already declining and the building was about to collapse, so he left a way out for the Xi family in advance.
This is a good thing.
Regardless of the rest, Xi Kangsheng is a famous general in the world and has a very high prestige among the Xianbei people. If he can be gathered under his command one day, he can be as powerful as a hundred thousand strong soldiers.
It is indeed a great gift, and this favor is worth thousands of dollars.
Li Chengzhi breathed out slowly and shouted loudly: "Let's go!"