Bury the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 158
Take Daming banknotes and French francs as an example:

A Ming businessman owns a commodity, and he can get 100% profit by selling a commodity worth 20 yuan. Assuming that one yuan is exchanged for one franc, then this commodity needs to be sold for 100 francs to earn 20% , which is the profit of the 20 Yuan Daming Treasure Note.

If the exchange rate between Daming banknotes and francs drops to two to one, that is, two yuan banknotes are exchanged for one franc, then this product only needs to be sold for 50 francs, and 20% of his profit is 10 francs, which is still equal to 20 yuan Daming banknotes.

It should be noted that he sells the goods at half the price, but the final total profit is exactly the same, and the lower price can open up a larger market and make more money.

This is the benefit of a low exchange rate, and vice versa.

Of course, if only import and export issues are considered, then Daming does not need to consider the exchange rate issue at all.

For example, the above question: The Venetian bought a shipment of spices from the Egyptians, and then resold the spices to the French, English, and Austrians. How should he settle and set the price?

In fact, there was no unified currency in Europa at that time, and there was no such thing as a credit currency, so judging the value of the currency itself and settlement was the only way.

For example, for a Ducat gold coin made in Venice, the merchant will first observe the integrity of the gold coin, and secondly refer to which version the gold coin belongs to, so as to determine the value of this Ducat gold coin and complete the settlement.

Therefore, under the premise that the currencies in the current world are basically based on the silver standard, regardless of the difference in face value and unit, the same is the form of physical metal currency such as gold coins and silver coins. The exchange rate issue is actually not important. The previous exchange rate It is not an exaggeration to say that the question is a false proposition.

This point is exactly the same when it comes to Daming Treasure Banknotes.

As long as Daming can guarantee that the ten yuan Daming Treasure Banknote can be exchanged for one tael of silver, then only the merchants will be in trouble, because they need to exchange back and forth, that's all.

But Zhu Jinsong prefers to use currency to control the economies of other countries, so he cuts another wave of wool from time to time.

Ying Jiang got it, and so did I, Daming.

That's why the value of Daming Treasure Banknotes and the exchange rate are involved.

In addition, the game of wanting to use treasure notes to control the world economy and cut wool also involves the issue of the circulation of treasure notes.

If too few treasure banknotes are issued, it will not be enough to support international settlements, and may even cause the value of treasure banknotes to be too high, thereby causing deflation.

If too many banknotes are issued, it may damage its own value and cause inflation.

Also, whether those savages are willing to accept Daming banknotes as the settlement currency for international trade is also a very troublesome issue.

In short, there are a lot of problems. The statement that making a carpenter an economist will not affect the economy is purely Zhang Xiaohua's joke, and it must not be taken seriously.

Fortunately, although there are no decent economists in Daming, there are a lot of scholars like Zeng Cheng who are very thick-skinned and black-hearted in dealing with barbarians. Describing them with pus and sores on their soles is a compliment to their kindness.

As the saying goes, those who are close to Zhu are red, and those who are close to ink are black. After spending a long time with these bad guys, Zhu Jinsong, the emperor of Ming Dynasty, has obviously become much worse.

Zhu Jinsong directly threw the question to Zeng Cheng.

……

Pierre held a handful of big Ming banknotes and coins, looked them over and over for a long time, and then looked at Zeng Cheng with a confused face: "These small ones should be coins? Are these papers also currency?"

Zeng Cheng smiled and nodded, and said: "Look at the smallest and thinnest coin, the denomination is one penny, which is equivalent to one penny in the past... The banknote with a denomination of 10 yuan is roughly equivalent to a penny." Two taels of silver, the one with a face value of 100 yuan is roughly equivalent to ten taels of silver."

After roughly explaining the face value to Pierre, Zeng Cheng went on to say: "Da Ming is promoting new treasure banknotes, and merchants in the market prefer to use new treasure banknotes instead of the original silver and copper coins. "

"So, even if the money is given to you personally by me, it can be regarded as a testimony of the friendship between Daming and France, and between you and Benfu."

Hearing about the friendship between Daming and France, and between Zeng Cheng and himself, Pierre was very moved, and as soon as he was moved, he asked a confusing question.

Pierre held up a treasure note and asked, "Master Zeng, I know that the emperor of Ming Dynasty is very powerful, but there is no need to print the word "very good" on the money, right? The imperial family of Ming Dynasty is very good? Son, um, are you immodest?"

Zeng Cheng looked at the words "Daming Royal Bank" that Pierre pointed to with a confused expression, and said, "The last two words read "Bank!"

Pierre nodded, and then took the initiative to lie on the stretcher: "Okay, I misread the words, but, Mr. Zeng, I want the treasury of France to store a large amount of Ming's treasure banknotes, so that France and Ming can have I don’t know how to get the permission when the business needs to use it for settlement.”

Zeng Cheng was immediately happy—look, look, Benfu just prepared crutches for him, who would have thought that he would take the initiative to lie on the stretcher!
After complimenting Pierre a few words in his heart, Zeng Cheng shook his head under Pierre's expectant eyes, and rejected Pierre's proposal: "The Ming Dynasty's treasure banknotes have just been issued, and the Ming Dynasty has not yet fully started to circulate. , France doesn’t have to be in such a hurry to get it back as a reserve.”

"My Emperor Ming said that France recognizes that Ming is France's ally in the Far East, and Da Ming also recognizes that France is Ming's ally in Europe. Therefore, we will not consider allowing France to stockpile some banknotes until they have passed the test of the Ming market. "

"Of course, I can assure you, Pierre, as long as the Daming Banknotes pass the test of the market, France will be the first European country that can reserve Daming Banknotes."

"It's like the artillery artillery newly developed by Ming Dynasty, isn't it also sold to you France first?"

When Zeng Cheng said that it would take a while, Pierre couldn't help being disappointed, and even wanted to ask how long this market test would take. When he heard Zeng Cheng talk about muskets and cannons, Pierre Al couldn't help being happy again.

It has to be admitted that Ming Dynasty is Ming Dynasty, and the development of technology has always been stronger than that of Europa—relying on Daming's guns and artillery, Louis XVI severely suppressed a group of nations and the bourgeoisie, and the money obtained from house raids not only reversed the French The deficit of the national treasury even exempted some taxes from the common people, which stabilized the situation in France as a whole.

Zeng Cheng nodded with a smile, and changed the subject again: "By the way, have you read the latest issues of the newspaper?"

Pierre nodded, and replied: "I've read it all, I noticed that Daming launched an attack on the Portuguese barbarians in Macau - after understanding the cause and effect, I think Daming should drive away those Portuguese barbarians long ago, after all There is an old saying in the Ming Dynasty, which is called fear of power but not virtue, the former Ming allowed them to live in Macau, but they want to occupy Macau, they are simply inferior to animals!"

Listening to a blond Europa barbarian calling another group of blond Europa barbarians barbarians, and even saying that he is afraid of power but not virtuous, and that animals are inferior to animals, Zeng Cheng, the chief assistant of the Ming Dynasty, is confused. It feels like the whole world has become magical.

What is this?
After recovering, Zeng Cheng couldn't help but feel relieved, and praised: "Pierre, your Sinology has improved a lot."

Pierre was a little embarrassed by the praise, and said: "Where, where, I still need to learn. As the saying goes, I will never give up learning until I am old."

Learn to grow old, live to grow old?If you keep learning, wouldn't you be able to live forever?Then what kind of elixir did the first emperor ask for, he could just hold the book and read it every day!

After complaining secretly, Zeng Cheng said with a smile: "Then you remember to study hard, but what Bensuke wants to tell you is that the Portuguese barbarians who occupied Macau have been wiped out, and it will probably be published in tomorrow's newspapers." This news."

Pierre was taken aback for a moment, and then exclaimed: "God! This is too unbelievable—from the time when Ming declared war on Portugal to when you told me the news, it took only a dozen days? If you count the news The time passed on the road, the preparation time of the army, then, the time to actually attack those Portuguese barbarians may only be two or three days?"

Zeng Cheng shook his head and said: "No, it's not two or three days, but less than a day, from Chenshi in the morning... oh, from the start of the attack at [-] o'clock, to the complete annihilation of the Portuguese barbarians at [-] o'clock in the afternoon, the Sixth Army I had dinner with the soldiers of the South China Sea Fleet in Macau."

Pierre was sour.

Although Portugal has fallen, Portugal has [-] troops on land in Macau and a small fleet on the sea. Its own strength should not be underestimated. If the French army is allowed to solve the Portuguese army occupying Macau, It is estimated that there is no time to finish playing in ten or eight days.

It would be good to switch to Daming, and wiped out all those barbarians in just half a day.

Annihilation?

Pierre suddenly recalled, looked at Zeng Cheng foolishly and said, "To wipe out? All the Portuguese barbarians?"

Zeng Cheng nodded, and said, "Yes, Daming did not accept their surrender, and took all of it to build the Beijing Temple."

Having said this, Zeng Cheng couldn't help showing a hint of shame on his face: "However, the problem lies in the total annihilation—at that time, the Sixth Army thought that the South China Sea Fleet would capture the prisoners, and the South China Sea Fleet thought that the Sixth Army would Take prisoners, and it is not until after the battle is over that neither side has left any prisoners."

"So, Daming now needs someone who can deliver news to Portugal for Daming, and carry out war mediation at an appropriate time."

Pierre asked in a daze, "Mediate?"

Zeng Cheng nodded and said, "Yes, it's mediation. You know, Pierre, Daming has no interest in Europa."

Of course, this is only temporary, and we will talk about it later.

After silently adding this sentence in his heart, Zeng Cheng went on to say: "However, it is an indisputable fact that Portugal invaded our Ming territory. Although the Portuguese entrenched in Macau have been wiped out, the Portuguese country must also pay for it." cost."

"For example, they should compensate Daming for his military expenses."

"Otherwise, His Majesty the Emperor of Ming Dynasty would definitely not mind launching an attack on the mainland of Portugal and destroying it completely."

After Pierre nodded, Zeng Cheng then added meaningfully: "Recently, Benfu has also been studying military books, and found that there is a strategy in the military books called "to take advantage of the fire". After you go back, you can ask your friends Interpreter, what exactly is the meaning of this scheme?"

Pierre wondered if I should go back and ask the interpreter?Do you really think that the years I stayed in Guangzhou were for nothing?

However, this strategy seems to be very useful for France now?
(End of this chapter)