Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 1831 Currency Reform, The Gold Standard

Speaking of this reform of the currency system, His Majesty Li Er was a little worried.

In fact, with the increasing development of Datang's domestic business and the rapid expansion of foreign trade, large transactions are common, and the delivery of money has become a problem.

The current currency in circulation is gold and copper. In fact, barter is still the main method in most places, and there are too few coins in circulation.For example, when the imperial court collects taxes, it directly states how many buckets of corn, how many bolts of silk, and even goods that can be exchanged in some places can be used as taxes.

If the country’s finances were difficult and the domestic economy was sluggish in the past, it might not be a big problem. However, as the economy becomes more and more developed, business booms have set off in many places across the country, especially in the Jiangnan area. I don’t know how many silk, porcelain, and tea workshops have sprung up. , often employ dozens of people, and the annual trade volume can reach 10,000+ or ​​even hundreds of thousands of guan. It is obviously inappropriate to continue bartering at this time.

Moreover, the biggest disadvantage of bartering is the uncertainty of the conversion method. Sometimes a piece of silk can be exchanged for a cow, but sometimes it can only be exchanged for a donkey. The gap is too huge, which gives officials the opportunity to profit from it. , causing a great burden on the people.

The most important thing is that the commercial tax is being implemented right now. You can't let the merchants directly use the goods they trade to lower the tax, right?
The reform of the currency system is urgently needed, otherwise it will greatly hinder the newly emerging business, and the losses caused by it are something no one wants to see.

But how?
Fang Jun simply mentioned in the report that the system of using gold as the main currency was directly established, and silver was also determined as the currency in circulation, and it was used as auxiliary currency together with copper coins, and could be exchanged with the main currency of gold. This is the so-called "gold standard". system".

Moreover, Fang Jun also mentioned a concept called "unlimited legal compensation", and even explained it in detail in a long article, but His Majesty Li Er was dizzy...

What does this mean?
His Majesty Li Er was extremely depressed, and he knew all the words, but he couldn't make any sense when they were connected together.

After thinking for a while, he said to the prince: "This is a big matter. Why don't you call several prime ministers, Ma Zhou who is proficient in practical affairs, and Tang Jian from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the chief official, into the palace to discuss in detail."

After a pause, he said again: "Go to the British government, he is the chief assistant, you should ask his opinion."

How did the prince know that the emperor did not dare to make random decisions because he didn't understand, and he thought that the emperor was cautious and listened to the opinions of all parties, and he was very happy at once.

Immediately, the father and son drove out of the palace and went straight to the British government, and at the same time sent people to the residences of the prime ministers to summon them.

Changsun Wuji and the others had just returned to the mansion worriedly, wondering how much the family would lose due to the implementation of the commercial tax, when they saw the servants in the palace come to the door, saying that His Majesty the Emperor had summoned him to the British mansion for important matters discuss.

Is there anything I couldn't say just now?
Suspicious in my heart, but I didn't dare to delay, I hurriedly washed my face, I didn't even care about taking a bite of food, and hurried to the British government.

Li Ji was sick and lying in bed, when he heard that the emperor and crown prince had arrived, he hurriedly washed his face and changed his clothes, and came out to meet him.

His Majesty Li Er said warmly: "This time, there are really important issues that cannot be resolved, so I called a few ministers here to discuss. You are the chief assistant, and your opinion is important. But don't worry too much, just take care of your illness, Keming I left early, and Xuan Ling is already old, and I still need you to assist me in deciding this important matter in the court, so I can't let the root cause of the disease fall."

Li Ji felt warm and grateful, and said: "As a subject, it is dereliction of duty if you fail to solve your majesty's worries and problems, but your majesty is so comforting, I am so grateful."

His Majesty Li Er took Li Ji's hand and sat down, the crown prince sat on the side to accompany him, asked a few words about Li Ji's condition, and all the ministers came one after another.

Moved to the main hall of the British government, and drove away all the idlers, His Majesty Li Er took out Fang Jun's memorabilia, let everyone circulate it, and emphasized the "unlimited legal compensation", so that everyone can deeply understand .

As a result, these people looked at it carefully one after another, and Ma Zhou and Tang Jian understood it, and they were immediately overwhelmed.

It's okay for these two people to understand, even Li Ji shouted "Fang Jun's talent is unparalleled in the world"...

motherfucker!

You, Li Ji, started out as a bandit riding a horse and fighting, okay? Why are you so proficient in economics?
Now His Majesty Li Er is not only depressed, but also a little sad, feeling that his IQ has been crushed...

God damn "unlimited legal compensation"!
His Majesty Li Er had a gloomy face, knocked on the table, and said: "Since everyone has already understood the meaning of Fang Jun's memorandum, why don't you tell me whether this reform of the currency system is appropriate?"

Tang Jian did his part. He is the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and is in charge of the taxation of the world. He deals with money all day long. He is well aware of the various disadvantages brought about by the imperfect financial system, so he immediately said: "Since ancient times, bartering It is the most important transaction mode, but with the gradual rise of commerce and trade, without a complete currency system, this custom of bartering may continue. People in many places are not without money, but It's because they don't believe in money, they only believe in the goods in their own hands and in the hands of others... Huating Marquis's currency system is already perfect, and its talent is enough to be praised as amazing talent. agency, with full responsibility for currency reform."

Cen Wenwen interjected: "It is not impossible to add institutions, but it is only in charge of currency reform, which will inevitably be redundant. It is better to entrust the implementation of commercial taxation to this institution."

Tang Jian was not qualified to participate in the "radish and stick meeting" in the palace just now, and he was surprised when he heard Cen Wenwen's words at this time.

Already determined to levy commercial tax?

It's so strange, these aristocratic families are so stupid that they obediently hand over the money they get to the court?
At this time, His Majesty Li Er watched the ministers talking, but he was a little lost in thought.

It’s just a reform of the currency system, and you are astonished as heaven and man, calling it "amazing talents and stunning talents"?
If I let you see the secret play that I gave to me alone, it discusses the evolution and evolution of the gold coin standard, gold bullion standard, and finally the fiat credit currency system, as well as the conversion between various currency systems in various periods The advantages and disadvantages brought about by evolution can even be used as an important weapon to destroy the enemy's country. You may look like you have seen a ghost...

But what made him unbelievable was that Fang Jun didn't do his job properly and hadn't read many books, so how could he have such insight?

Is it possible that it is really "gifted by God" and "knowledge from birth"?
Fang Jun just showed off the half-baked financial knowledge he knew in his previous life, and the heads of the entire Tang Empire were stunned and dumbfounded.

Datang's financial system is a blank slate, and you can design and paint whatever you want, and there will be no problem of acclimatization.

In fact, finance is not his main business, and he knows very little, that is, he talked about the case of countries blocking gold exports during the First World War, and then applied it to Datang, and deduced a possibility for granted.

Right now, Datang is the most powerful country in the world. No matter in terms of culture, military affairs, or economy, it surpasses its surrounding countries by more than ten grades. Therefore, its influence in leading the world economy is stronger and greater than those superpowers in later generations.As long as Datang implements the gold standard system, it will surely lead the surrounding countries to respond to this system. As long as everyone trades in gold, Datang's huge and terrifying trade will quickly gather gold from all countries in the world.

If one day in the future a powerful country rises and becomes a serious problem, the exchange of gold can be banned immediately, and gold cannot be allowed to enter or leave the country. The economy of the enemy country will collapse instantly.

Of course, this method of using currency as a weapon of war is completely useless to countries dominated by nomads. Nomads don’t care about your economy or system. If you can't grab it, kill them all...

Therefore, when Genghis Khan's scimitar ravaged Europe, and when the Jianzhou Jurchen smashed the Central Plains with iron hoofs, any civilization was like a blank sheet of paper in the face of barbaric force, which was wantonly painted and abused.

……

Regarding the reform of the currency system, even the aristocratic families have no objection.

With a unified and perfect currency system, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages for the aristocratic family. It can collect rent and taxes more accurately, and make business transactions more convenient.As for the wealth seized by tricks such as "big fights in and small fights out" in the process of using goods as rents, real aristocratic families are dismissive.

The aristocratic family is greedy, but they understand the principle of "draining the pond to fish". They eat fish and raise fish at the same time, and they will not drain the water in the pond.

Of course, when they were not an aristocratic family, they were accumulated through these methods that they now dismiss...

Seeing that the matter was confirmed, His Majesty Li Er didn't say much, just pointed to Ma Zhou, and said: "As for the reform of the currency system and the implementation of commercial taxation, we should set up an additional organization and let Ma Zhou be the chief officer. Do you have any objections?" ?”

Everyone was shocked.

King Ma Bin is really Jane in the heart of the emperor, this is going to reach the sky in one step...

(End of this chapter)