Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 190 Two-in-one
Although Zhao Zhen was weak, he was not completely incapable of having children.

Of course, with the hard work day and night in recent times, the chances of giving birth are still very high.

only……

The bad news is that with this lady, there is really no chance of having children.

but!

Madam Zhang had an adopted daughter of humble origin. After trying various methods without success, Madam Zhang decided to let her adopted daughter try to see if the emperor was really in trouble.

result……

The official is doing it again!

Hit the target in one shot!
look!

This is life!

Although it is still unknown whether the baby is a boy or a girl.

But this was a great encouragement to Xia Song, Wang Gongchen and others.

and……

If a girl is born, they will replace her with a boy.

Isn't that the same?

Even the dead can be made alive.

Nothing is unachievable.

It was impossible for Zhao Xin to know this.

At this time, Zhao Xin was extremely busy.

First, I asked the Jiaozi Office about the production of Jiaozi and the relevant anti-counterfeiting measures.

then……

I also tentatively asked what would happen if paper money was directly issued next.

But then again, the current level of anti-counterfeiting technology for banknotes seems to be still not good enough, and the current level of supervision makes it difficult to prevent counterfeiting.

In fact...

In ancient times, many people only regarded paper money as a tool to make a fortune when the country's finances were exhausted.

So in order to boost the country's morale, they can over-issue money at will.

Few people are really willing to protect and maintain its value.

This is why paper money will never work.

The reason why he thought of Jiaozi was, in fact, because recently, he met several businessmen who went to Sichuan to trade, and they all said that it was very inconvenient to carry carts of iron coins to buy things.

Zhao Xin intended to promote a chamber of commerce that could connect all parts of the Song Dynasty. He would be the president of the largest chamber of commerce, and his father-in-law would be his spokesperson, responsible for handling daily affairs. Naturally, he briefly mentioned this immature idea of ​​his to them.

Today's Jiaozi can only be regarded as a voucher, almost equivalent to a passbook.

When you want to withdraw it, you may not be able to withdraw it after leaving Sichuan.

and so……

If you save money, you must deposit it in Sichuan first before you can use it.

It is indeed very convenient, but in Zhao Xin's opinion, it is not completely convenient enough.

Next, why don’t they apply it to the entire territory?

Moreover, small amounts of money are also issued at the same time to make it convenient for people all over the world to use.

But this step is really a bit too big.

Even these businessmen are not very optimistic.

Maybe they don't believe that Zhao Xin is a good person, and will definitely use various reasons to take advantage of them in the future.

to be frank!
Even the imperial court might not believe it.

Let's say it was the fourth or fifth year of the Qingli period. Because there was a war in the northwest, the court took 600,000 strings of Jiaozi or something and sent it to Shaanxi for use. As a result, the Jiaozi in Shaanxi went from one to one to one thousand coins, and could only be exchanged for seven hundred coins.

This is the result of the imperial court ignoring market rules and directly printing money.

In the end, many merchants suffered heavy losses. If they did not need Jiaozi, it would probably not be worth even 700 Wen.

Of course, power is more important than money, and those businessmen who suffered huge losses can only accept it in the end.

What Zhao Xin means is that paper money should become the norm.

after……

Even when buying small items, I use paper money.

In the eyes of businessmen, this is simply unimaginable.

and……

You can't make any guarantees at all!

Even if you say you have a deposit, it's hard to believe.

Your father has cheated us once, and you want to fool us again. When the time comes, you can print at will. Then won’t all our goods be given to you for nothing?
so……

It is still difficult to jump directly from metal currency to credit currency.

Because those officials are really too unruly.

In fact, if you look through ancient books, you can see that there were very few people who really wanted to forge banknotes. After all, forging such a thing would result in beheading. However, there were people in the imperial court who took the lead in repeatedly breaking the rules, and this was common everywhere.

of course!

There's no rush for things like paper money.

Just interact with each other.

What we really want to talk about next is how to better bulk cargo.

And, let’s see how to establish some rules for the Chamber of Commerce next.

Also, talk about price, etc.

After all, they are our own people, so the price for the goods must be lower.

in fact……

It would be even better if it could be used together with paper money.

Let them all deposit their money with me, and then I will give them banknotes.

It will be convenient for them to trade then.

However, when Zhao Xin made such a proposal again, everyone still did not trust him very much.

Zhao Xin also said helplessly that if you continue like this, it will be difficult to trade even if you have a cartload of iron coins.

"With my status as the future crown prince and my maritime trade business, I earn one or two million strings of cash a year. Can I still cheat you out of your money?"

"I am different from others. I value the circulation function of paper money more. I am different from those who are short-sighted and only care about immediate benefits."

At last……

With the cooperation of his father-in-law, he also smoothed things over and said, "If both parties don't trust each other, they can try to cooperate for a year or two."

Everyone felt like they were on a pirate ship.

but……

You really can't do anything about it!
After all, they only have money, while others have power.

and……

This Chamber of Commerce must be profitable. Anyone who has done business knows that such opportunities are hard to come by. If you dare to slam the door and walk out today, not only will you miss out on the windfall, but tomorrow, they might come and mess with you.

then……

Then someone smiled bitterly and said, "Then let's give it a try!?"

from now on……

His father-in-law was responsible for decision-making, how much goods to take, what goods to take, and coordinating these people and the entire Song Dynasty market, while Li Ling was specifically responsible for execution. He would purchase whatever his father-in-law needed as much as possible, and there was also an audit...

Let the math group assign some people to do it.

Zhao Xin found that he had fewer and fewer people.

There is no regular talent channel that allows talents to come in on their own.

therefore……

After the Sichuan branch Chamber of Commerce meeting, Zhao Xin went straight to his father who looked like he had kidney deficiency.

Said: "Dad, I am eleven years old this year."

Seeing him like this, Zhao Zhen knew that he was going to do something weird again, so he asked, "So what if you are eleven years old?"

Zhao Xin then said, "Can I open a government office and then build a literary museum?"

Zhao Zhen: "Why don't you just go through Xuanwu Gate directly?"

Zhao Xin seemed to see through why his father said this at a glance, and asked, "Is Madam Zhang pressing hard?"

Zhao Zhen could only say, it’s very tight!
One moment he asked her to promote her uncle, and the next he asked for this and that.

But the problem is...

There were always people watching over the previous dynasty, okay?

Zhao Zhen actually hoped that he could be like Li Yuan and live happily every day. How wonderful it would be.

But the problem is...

If you ask for something from others, then they will definitely ask for something of equal value from you.

After all!
It's all transactions!

But who can blame Madam Zhang for being so pretty!

He just couldn't help but want to satisfy her.

Just thinking of this, Zhao Zhen said, "Wang Gongchen has been in Lingnan for so long, can he come back?"

When Zhao Xin heard this, he asked, "Is this what Madam Zhang meant?"

Zhao Zhen rolled his eyes.

Even if daddy doesn't tell you, you should understand. If you understand, don't ask.

Zhao Xin said, "It's obvious that Wang Gongchen is not a good person, and he wants to stay in the harem. I won't let him come back. But to be honest, I don't want to have too much conflict with Madam Zhang. So, Daddy, what do you think I should do?"

Zhao Zhen said, "Although Wang Gongchen is seeking fame and reputation, it is his duty as an imperial censor to provide advice. It's not good that you just picked on a small mistake of the other party and beat him to death. Who in this world is perfect? ​​Who doesn't have some mistakes?"

Zhao Xin said, "But he didn't come to me directly, but to Madam Zhang. This proves that he has not changed his bad habits. So, I will not let him come back."

Zhao Zhen: "Maybe someone will plead for him next."

Zhao Xin: "Then this person must be in the same party as Wang Gongchen. From now on, this person will also be exiled to Lingnan."

Zhao Zhen: "..."

Zhao Xin: "Dad, you are too kind, that's why your subjects are riding on your head."

Zhao Zhen: "You are riding on my head now."

Zhao Xin said, "If I can become an official, then Madam Zhang will not force you, but by then, Madam Zhang may not care about you anymore. Let's not talk about this anymore. I want to build a mansion and open a literary museum."

Zhao Zhen: "Why do you open a literary museum?"

Zhao Xin: "Of course, it is to recruit talents. But the name has not been decided yet! I think the three words 'Literature Museum' cannot fully express what I want. I want to be a scholar, an farmer, an artisan, and a merchant. I want it all."

Zhao Zhen felt that he could still gain more from Madam Zhang.

But what about Zui Xinglai?

Zhao Zhen felt that he owed him something.

Especially now that spanking is no longer allowed.

really!

Everything seems cute only when we are young.

Speaking of...

Isn’t it a bit too much power that I gave to Zui Xinglai?

What if I really can't catch it by then...

Maybe I will really become Li Yuan.

the next day……

Zhao Zhen then asked Yan Shu to write a memorial, which stated that he would allow Prince Yu to build a palace and open a school for scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans.

When the ministers learned about this, they were all speechless.

All the ancestral rules and systems were broken by His Royal Highness Prince Yu.

If we were to say who is the most unruly, it would undoubtedly be His Royal Highness Prince Yu!

This was even more excessive than Madam Zhang's request for a promotion for her uncle.

and……

If His Royal Highness Prince Yu really sets up a government office and builds a school for scholars, farmers, merchants and industrialists.

From then on, all talents would definitely come from this Academy of Scholars, Farmers, Merchants and Artisans, and even when it comes to promotions, priority would definitely be given to those from here.

What about these other people?
Some people see opportunities, while others see that they may have no chance.

The essential……

The emperor is really not afraid of His Royal Highness Prince Yu's rebellion.

The original system of the Song Dynasty has been shattered to pieces today.

And Xuchang and Nanyang seem to have become the fiefdoms of His Royal Highness Prince Yu.

The officials of the imperial court had no say in this.

No one knows what kind of harm this will cause in the future.

Fu Bi then found Ouyang Xiu and the others and said, "Don't you think that His Royal Highness Prince Yu is going too far?"

Ouyang Xiu and others were the beneficiaries, so of course they would not think that there was anything wrong with doing so.

but……

Out of justice, they had to admit it and replied, "The emperor does favor His Royal Highness Prince Yu a little too much. Even Li Tai, the Prince of Wei in the Tang Dynasty, and other favored princes in ancient times, could not compare to His Royal Highness Prince Yu."

Fu Bi then said, "Then don't you think, what should we do next?"

Ouyang Xiu and the others were speechless, "This...what can we do?"

Fu Bi: "Xuchang and Nanyang are already the de facto fiefdoms of His Royal Highness Prince Yu."

Ouyang Xiu: "So..."

Fu Bi: "Don't you think it's a bit against the rules for the government to give such a large piece of land to His Royal Highness Prince Yu?"

Ouyang Xiu said, "But it seems that there is no such rule that we cannot give the land to His Royal Highness Prince Yu."

Fu Bi: "Ouyang Xiu, why do you always speak for His Royal Highness Prince Yu?"

Ouyang Xiu said, "Mr. Fu, do you really not trust His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu? You can't hate His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu just because he didn't accept your suggestion to change the course of the Yellow River last time. Besides... isn't this a good idea? Let His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu get in touch with personnel as soon as possible."

In the end, Fu Bi could only say helplessly that if things continued like this, the government would no longer be able to rule.

When Xia Song heard the news, he was also shocked.

But if you think about it carefully, there is a good saying.

The higher you stand, the harder you fall.

In the past, His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu almost never crossed the border, so it was really difficult to alienate the relationship between the emperor and His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu.

But it’s different now!

If this Institute of Scholars, Farmers, Merchants and Artisans was really established, it would inevitably shake the position of the government.

This is exactly what Xia Song wants to see.

But why are they called scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans?

This agriculture, industry and commerce is of no use.

This was something Xia Song personally could not understand.

The decree was quickly spread to all the counties and prefectures of the Song Dynasty via post horses.

Many people immediately heard the news, packed their bags and set off for Kaifeng.

However, the vast majority of them are literati and scholars.

For example, among the agriculture, industry and commerce, businessmen may be more active, but farmers and workers basically just watch and have fun. It would be better for them to go home and farm or to plane wood chips.

of course!

There are also some craftsmen who are born with different ideas from ordinary people. They will do their best to raise enough money to go to Kaifeng even if they have to sell all their belongings.

Tokyo city.

A government office with a plaque that read "Scholars, Farmers, Merchants and Artisans" was soon crowded with people. There was nothing that could be done!
Nowadays, there are too many people who want to be officials.

Ouyang Xiu also told Zhao Xin that if this happened, all kinds of people would come, making it difficult to identify talented people, and... there must be a standard for talent, right?
Zhao Xin asked them to write down their strengths, or, like craftsmen, whether they had any outstanding handicrafts.

(End of this chapter)