Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 459 "Civil War"

"Competing with the people for profit? Haha..."

In the Fengtian Huangji Hall, Zhu Changluo sneered and threw a question book onto the imperial desk.

"People are talking about this, Your Majesty. We must be on guard against this." Wang Yingjiao, the chief censor, said solemnly, "What the right censors of the provinces have reported is by no means the whole story. Even with the constant propaganda of the silver bank and the executive government, the most difficult thing to calm down now is the panic of the people."

“This is all to be expected.”

Zhu Changluo looked at the eight ministers and the general manager of the Ming Silver Bank, Wang Heng, in front of him, and then looked at the mountain of petitions in front of him.

Nowadays, the official system has been greatly changed, and only one department and seven courtyards can submit memorials to the emperor in the name of the government.

If local officials had official business, in addition to submitting official documents to the central government, they could naturally still submit memorials to the emperor through the Duzhijian.

The number of memorials received from Liu Ruoyu was far greater than this.

It should be said that since Zhu Changluo ascended the throne, this was the only time that there was a wave of persuasion and remonstrance. They naturally did not dare to say that they would stop the new money law, but only presented the difficulties and asked for a grace period to implement it slowly - whether they were those who were really promoting the new money law or had other intentions.

Now is indeed a "good opportunity". Although the battle in Outer Yunnan has been won, it is not yet completely over. The war in Japan is still underway and the logistical pressure has not yet reached its peak.

For Zhu Changluo, whose prestige had reached such a high level and whose imperial power had been consolidated for nearly twenty years, this situation was truly unimaginable, at least beyond the imagination of the eight prime ministers before him.

Yuan Keli was a little worried and looked at Xiong Tingbi, who was the Minister of Rites.

The two are old partners. Now Xiong Tingbi has not entered the Privy Council, but has served as the chief minister of the Jinxian Court.

Zhu Changluo also looked at Xiong Tingbi, but then he asked Ye Xianggao: "The people will be in panic, so we ordered the local authorities to make it clear. But the current situation is not without reason, right?"

Ye Xianggao's eyes were bloodshot. He naturally had not had a good rest in recent days and could even be said to be exhausted.

Now that the arrow has been released, although he is not a decisive and capable minister like Zhang Juzheng and Wang Xijue, he also hopes to be a good "general manager" of the emperor and do a good job in the money law, which is the most important part of the new policy and the final link.

During the reigns of great men and visionaries like Taizu and Chengzu, the monetary system gradually deteriorated.

The monetary system actually concerns all aspects of the court, including the tax system.

He said in a rather hoarse voice: "It is not without reason. But Your Majesty, this difficulty is not easy to resolve. Even if the Ministry of Industry and Commerce helps with all its strength, and Zongminghao and Changminghao let go, it is still impossible. Because of concerns about the price of money, merchants of all sizes are cautious in the market, and the court cannot force them to buy or sell. Under the shock, this year's industrial and commercial taxes will be greatly affected. Now that the summer grain tax has begun..."

Zhu Changluo was somewhat dissatisfied: "I have said that you should share my ambition to strengthen the country and enrich the people. In this case, let's point out the crux of the problem."

Ye Xianggao's face was full of helplessness: "Your Majesty, even if the Jinxianyuan, the Ministry of Rites and Law, and the Inspection Institute conduct a large-scale inspection, the money law is complicated, and it is the right time to launch a campaign. How can the personnel of the central government and the localities be in turmoil?"

"So we just sit back and watch the public opinion surge, or even back down?"

"It's fine if we just grit our teeth and make up for the annual income." Ye Xianggao said bitterly, "Handling more cases in various places will only deter the wealthy merchants. But it's difficult for ordinary people to buy and sell now, so many places have started to barter, and the prices are gradually becoming unimaginable. How can we fill this gap in such a hurry?"

Zhu Changluo summoned all of them today because of the current situation.

After the new currency law began to be preached, even though the newly minted coins looked very good, the fluctuation of the currency value was an objective fact during the period of complete transition from the previously minted coins, private coins, broken silver, and silver ingots to the new coins.

On the one hand, it is driven by interests, and on the other hand, it may indeed be the last attempt at resistance. In addition, there are indeed countless people who are truly worried about the credit of the new money, so the current situation has been formed.

Of course, there are people communicating or even colluding among them, otherwise the private businesses that are almost spread throughout the Ming Dynasty would not have reduced their transaction scale.

Or it should not be called a reduction, but rather that transactions now basically only accept silver and the official coins of the past.

The new currency law had not yet been officially and fully implemented, but the public soon stopped accepting private money because they were worried that private money would become the same as the treasure notes of the past.

The people who are most affected by this situation are ordinary people.

After so many years of trading, the rich merchants had the most coins. Ordinary people didn't have much silver ingots, let alone small amounts of silver. To buy daily necessities, they would first exchange the produce from their own fields for copper coins or get them through labor, and what they got was often private money.

In the past, private money was at least recognized by everyone for its value. Even if ordinary people were exploited in the process due to their poor eyesight or other reasons, they could still use the money to buy daily necessities.

But now, due to the panic created intentionally or unintentionally, private money is suddenly no longer recognized.

If they want to sell something, they may pay with small change if the quantity is large, but what if the quantity is small? If they pay with small change, they will be weighed, divided, and exchanged for copper coins to buy other things, which will make them more exploited.

As long as there were a few cases, a wave of panic would form, so that many people were worried that after selling things, they would get something like treasure notes in exchange. They couldn't get the coins, so they were tightly held in their hands; they had to buy necessities of life, so they could only find ways to barter.

But not to mention how inconvenient this is, the extra costs and abnormal market prices alone are not something they can easily bear.

Ye Xianggao was talking about the crux of the matter this time: Even if some local officials who wanted to do something had already ordered shops to operate normally, it was unlikely to change the general trend. Some merchants thought that letting them buy goods with money was worse than robbing them directly. It would be okay to just close the shop, right? It was not against the law.

This is something that cannot be forced down the road. The key is that the imperial court needs to be able to invest enough goods and coins, and this commercial network must reach every county and even every mile.

The Zongminghao focused on border trade, grain production, storage and investment, while the Changminghao, despite having developed for so many years, was unable to respond in a timely manner to fill the circulation share of half of the commodity market in the entire Ming Dynasty.

What’s even more terrible is that winter is not far away. Even if there are enough goods, how can they be transported?

"No matter what, this matter must first be stopped from being used by those with ulterior motives!" Zhu Changluo looked at Xiong Tingbi and Wang Yingjiao. "Not to mention the Ministry of Government and Property, in the prefectures, counties, and towns everywhere, everyone who does business has a relationship with officials and clerks. What countermeasures do the Ministry of Rites and Law and the Censorate have?"

Xiong Tingbi stood up and said, "Now all provinces are holding provincial examinations, and there will be a joint examination next year. The Jinxian Academy has already discussed that next year, since there will be another special examination, there will be a special national examination. In addition, from now on, we will send a letter to all provinces, and the next two years will be the major examinations. In addition, I request Your Majesty to allow some officials to send imperial envoys to various provinces to follow the right censors of the various provinces of the Metropolitan Procuratorate to examine and select hundreds of officials and clerks. If the joint signature agrees, the fourth rank and below can temporarily sign!"

Zhu Changluo nodded and asked Wang Yingjiao, "What about the Inspection Office? Should we send an imperial envoy?"

"I think it is important." Wang Yingjiao said immediately, "Now each province has a Right Vice-Chief Censor who attends the provincial affairs meeting and is under the control of the Governor-General, and each prefecture and state also has a Right Assistant Chief Censor, with the same system as the province, and the county also has a Supervisory Censor, but since this involves a major examination, and has been given the privilege of temporary appointment, it is natural that we cannot just listen to the local censors."

Zhu Changluo was very familiar with this, so he immediately said, "Let's do this. Since it's called a major exam, we'll call it the Central Inspection Team. Not only the Jinxian Academy and the Jiancha Academy, but also the Grand Court and the Administrative Court will be included. The Imperial Study New Policy Reform Department will set up a special temporary office for communication and coordination, and the eunuchs will also join in to pass on information in a timely manner. The location will be in the East Warm Pavilion of the Huangji Palace!"

Ye Xianggao felt his forehead throbbing, and said, "Your Majesty, this is only a temporary solution. I am afraid it will only aggravate the local panic."

Of course, intimidating local officials is only a temporary solution.

The government is under tremendous pressure, and this pressure will definitely be transmitted to the people, which will only make the situation more tense.

"Suppressing this trend is more important than anything else!" Zhu Changluo's face was cold, "Not daring to trust the court is one thing, not wanting to trust the court is another! Of course, what the prime minister said is also right. To cure the root cause, the people must be at ease."

He turned to Wang An and asked, "Can the treasury raise 20 million taels of silver?" "20 million taels?" Wang An was startled and said hesitantly, "Your Majesty, we have borrowed money from a silver bank to mint silver dollars. The cash..."

He kept shaking his head.

"I'm asking about the fundraising. The royal family, the noble relatives, the Changming clan..."

"...I'll do it!" Wang An didn't ask why, he just gritted his teeth and said.

"The Bank, the Ministry of Government and the Executive Yuan will set up a temporary office for money, law and market exchange, and Prime Minister Ye will be in charge of it personally." Zhu Changluo did not allow any discussion. "First, send a notice to all prefectures, counties and towns, and from now on, post a notice to inform the villages and towns to select places outside the cities to hold autumn and winter fairs! Those merchants who are unwilling to do business will be allowed to do so by Changminghao and obedient companies! And freight..."

Zhu Changluo began to make very specific arrangements.

Although he spoke very logically and the ministers understood him, each arrangement revealed one thing: this matter required the central government to use tremendous control to integrate goods, manpower and the 20 million taels of silver temporarily raised as a "loan" by the emperor to complete.

"Private money is not recognized, and all the coins are in your hands. It's okay!" Zhu Changluo said sternly, "Then use the cash and the first batch of silver dollars to do business. The private money in the hands of the people will be collected! The goods in the hands of the people can be bartered, and several people can get together to sell them for silver and then buy necessities on the spot."

He still couldn't believe that all these years of accumulation could be stumped by such passive resistance.

Ye Xianggao and others stared in amazement as the emperor outlined the management methods for the Autumn and Winter Fair. The emperor even drew out how the fair would be arranged.

What Zhu Changluo did was not new to him, but it was unheard of to Ye Xianggao and others.

To put it simply, it is a temporary supermarket that integrates warehouse and sales.

However, this temporary supermarket will be driven by the power of the central government and will only be effective for the current situation.

Under normal circumstances, Ming Dynasty could only support this form of business in some large cities and places with strong purchasing power.

After all, today's purchasing frequency and purchasing power are limited, and under normal circumstances, the turnover efficiency and other costs of such large stores would be a nightmare.

But now is a critical time, and it is very likely that there will be real public grievances. In fact, it is already a "disaster relief". This mall also has the effect of using work as relief.

And it was a disaster relief effort covering almost the entire Ming Dynasty.

"This is fighting the imperial court and disregarding the livelihood of the people!" Zhu Changluo directly concluded, "From the central government to the local governments, whether officials at all levels have the country and the people in mind, I will see whether this matter can be handled well! If they don't accept private money, it's fine, I will give them money! If they don't do business, the imperial court will do it themselves! If they still want to compete with the people for profits, I will fight with these profiteers! Either they continue to operate as usual, or they will be defeated by the imperial court!"

He looked at Wang Dewan again: "This reminds me. Apart from those businesses that are most important to the national economy, we cannot let private merchants call the shots in the area of ​​people's livelihood. Aren't local governments also worried that local finances will be unable to cover up in the future? Give them a small slack. The Government Property Institute will take the lead in establishing a general supply and marketing bureau. In the future, in every county, the experience of the autumn and winter fairs will be retained, and a special supply and marketing cooperative will be set up for long-term operation. This will not only stabilize prices, but also provide local governments with another source of income."

Wang Dewan was stunned: "This supply and marketing cooperative..."

"Local governments can buy common necessities from supply and marketing cooperatives at a much lower price, because the government production department will coordinate bulk transportation, which will reduce costs. If the people have surplus grain to sell, they can sell it to the supply and marketing cooperatives. The local government will hold some shares and get a share of the profits. Apart from other things, the people need grain, salt and general merchandise, and the supply and marketing cooperatives will only sell the lowest quality goods, so that there will be no more opportunities for profiteers to hoard them. This matter will be based on Changming Grain Bank, which will be incorporated into the General Supply and Marketing Bureau and will only hold a small share."

No one expected that the emperor would make a decision that would inevitably affect the entire Ming Dynasty.

Now you're still talking about competing with the people for profit?

The imperial court decided to fight openly for this benefit and directly gain a share of the market.

If there really is an official cooperative association of the imperial court, how can ordinary small merchants compete with it?
Even if this supply and marketing cooperative only sells a few daily necessities for the people, it is enough to destroy many related businesses in the local area. Moreover, once this system is established, won’t it be possible to sell more varieties of commercial goods in the future?

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid we need to think about this for a long time..." Wang Dewan couldn't help but give some advice.

"Of course it won't happen right away, but let the locals see the court's determination first." Zhu Changluo said, "First of all, the court must be united and have the ability to accomplish this, so that they know the court can do this. Either they can put their minds at ease and keep everything the same, then the court can slow down. If they still rely on the first-hand opportunity and think they can continue to make profits without making any progress, then they are totally wrong. Besides, even if they want to set up this supply and marketing cooperative in the future, wouldn't the smart ones know that they can do the supply business?"

The steam engine was already being promoted and the tide of the times was already forming.

Although the existing business structure of the Ming Dynasty was sophisticated, it was not in line with the trend and was somewhat unenterprising.

In the past, due to purchasing power and local "relationships", in each place only a few people with ability and connections could continue to do some "local monopoly" type of business.

But they enjoyed the profits in the past, and have caused such a big stir in this matter intentionally or unintentionally. Zhu Changluo certainly doesn't mind giving them a thunder-like reminder.

Times have changed.

Or start doing something technically demanding and join the industrial sector that increases productivity.

Or start thinking about how to differentiate your competition and target more valuable market segments.

The era when communication between a few grain stores was enough to influence the grain prices in a small place is destined to never come again.

Ye Xianggao asked a key question with a headache: "Your Majesty, how do you recognize private money in this autumn and winter fair?"

"Are you worried that the local wealthy people will exchange their private money for goods first?" Zhu Changluo sneered, "Let them do it! Take this opportunity to collect as much private money as possible. Is it difficult to record large transactions? I remind you again, this is a civil war, some people are fighting against the court! The local officials and clerks are my soldiers! The 20 million taels of silver I have raised with gritted teeth are military pay! In a war, do I still worry about the number of lives?"

Ye Xianggao shuddered.

Fortunately, he is the emperor.

Even Zhang Juzheng could not do that.

Everyone knows that among the merchants who are currently passive in trading, only a small number can be called the vanguard of the "enemy army". The real enemy army is probably only a small number of local officials and gentry.

Most of them are just waiting and watching the situation or complaining and fearing difficulties.

But the emperor made it clear that this was a civil strife.

Yuan Keli suddenly found it very interesting: there was naturally no smoke of war in this battle, and the generals and soldiers who charged into battle were actually civil officials.

He only saw Ye Xianggao accepting the order with great reluctance and resentment: "Then I will issue this military order. This year's annual income, except for the money and grain that must be paid, will be circulated locally."

Who would have thought that he, as the prime minister, could also achieve military merit? He even led the Ming government to go to war with the merchants, and there were still many traitors inside.

I won’t talk about all these. There is also the excuse of the major examination, and there are “military law” officials such as the Jinxianyuan, the Jianchayuan, and the Zhianyuan.

However, the logistics support required to coordinate and transport the huge amount of daily necessities required for this "commercial war" to quell the panic of the poor people was enough to shorten his life by several years.

If I had known that implementing the new law to this extent would require me to bear such pressure, I would not have been a prime minister!
(End of this chapter)