I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 77 Ye Shiyun's Three Strategies (First + Updates!)
...

As soon as Ye Shiyun opened her mouth, Zhao Ya felt a headache: "Again?!"

When Zhang Chun and Li Lin first met Zhao Ya, from Zhao Ya's perspective, their performances were more outrageous than each other, and they were simply there to make people laugh.

To be honest, if Zhao Ya hadn't tried his best to pose and cooperate with them, the two sides would never have been able to connect successfully.

Sometimes, Zhao Ya couldn't help but think, if one day in the future, the five girls knew that he was also a time traveler, would Zhang Chun and Li Lin be so embarrassed that they would find a hole to hide in when they thought of their funny behavior when they interacted with him?
Now it was Ye Shiyun's turn. Zhao Ya had originally thought that since she had been known as a genius girl since childhood, it would be a little easier for him to connect with her.

Unexpectedly, Ye Shiyun's tone was so arrogant.

It's also easy to make money.

Zhao Ya didn't know other things, but there was one thing he knew very well, that is, as long as you have money, you can solve most of the problems in history, including the decline of dynasties.

Shang Yang's Reforms in the Warring States Period, Wang Anshi's Reforms in the Song Dynasty, Zhang Juzheng's Reforms in the Ming Dynasty, and the Land-based Tax System in the Qing Dynasty, in the final analysis, all the people in charge were actually doing one thing, which was how to better help the country make money.

Making money can be said to be an eternal problem, and countless dynasties have collapsed because of this issue.

As a result, Ye Shiyun said shamelessly that it is easy to make money?

"How can these time travelers be so self-righteous?"

"Uh, wait, I think I'm a time traveler too..."

Suppressing the disgust in his heart, Zhao Ya got into position, ready to meet the connection initiated by Ye Shiyun:
"Oh? I wonder if you have any good ideas?"

I don't know if Zhang Chun led their team astray. Not only did Li Lin follow Zhang Chun to play tricks, but Ye Shiyun, who was originally logical, also refused to speak properly.

Ye Shiyun said in an enigmatic voice, "I have three plans: the best, the middle, and the worst. I wonder which one your Majesty would like to hear?"

Zhao Ya patiently cooperated and said, "What's the best strategy?"

Ye Shiyun simply and directly uttered seven words: "Salt administration financialization reform."

Ye Shiyun narrated and Zhao Ya summarized that the implementation steps can be divided into three parts:

1. Upgrade Cai Jing's historical "Salt Note Law" into a splittable salt futures contract, allowing salt merchants to buy and sell salt permits on the Bianliang City Exchange.

2. Issue a five-year "gold salt certificate" with a promise of a 6% annual salt interest.

300. Using the Jiechi Salt Field in Shaanxi as collateral, pre-sell three million jin of salt (each jin is equivalent to jin of salt) to wealthy merchants in Jiangnan.

The economic principle is that asset securitization solves the government's immediate cash flow problem, cross-period arbitrage attracts cross-regional capital flows, and collateral securitization enhances financing credit.

Ye Shiyun vowed, "If you use my strategy, we can expect to increase our annual revenue by three million strings of cash in the first year."

Zhao Ya originally thought that Ye Shiyun would also give some unreliable suggestions, but he didn't expect her to be so well-reasoned.

Furthermore, as far as Zhao Ya knew, historically, salt tax revenue reached 24 million guan during the Chongning reign, accounting for 50% of fiscal revenue. The Song Dynasty's "Collection of Statutes" records that salt and banknote trading volume exceeded 5 million guan in the second year of the Zhenghe reign, and the capital stock of Jiangnan salt merchants exceeded 20 million guan. This suggests that Ye Shiyun's strategy might be feasible.

As for whether Ye Shiyun’s trick will work?

Zhao Ya didn't have to worry at all. He just had to act as a messenger, use some tricks, and discuss Ye Shiyun's trick with his ministers.

By the way, isn’t this Cai Jing’s trick? Let Ye Shiyun and Cai Jing fight each other, and this will most likely succeed.

As for me, I just need to be a mouthpiece for both of them, that's all. So easy! 'Finally, there's someone reliable among these women.'

After hearing Ye Shiyun's thoughts, Zhao Ya immediately said, "This is a brilliant plan. Shiyun, please submit a detailed proposal to me as soon as possible. I will discuss it with the prime minister."

Unexpectedly, Ye Shiyun pouted and said in a low voice, "I am not good at writing memorials, what can I do~?"

The four girls standing by were a little displeased with Ye Shiyun's behavior. They thought to themselves, "This enchantress is so horny the moment she shows up! She's already old, yet she's flirting with a child, and she's not ashamed!"

Zhao Ya deliberately said dotingly, "I'll ask Jiaojiao to take you to Pei Sui to pick out a few maids who are proficient in literature and calligraphy. You can pick whoever you like, or as many as you like, okay?"

Hearing what Zhao Ya said, Zhang Chun said even more than Ye Shiyun: "Sir, I don't have any maids either~!"

Zhao Ya smiled and said, "All of them, all of them!"

After hearing what Zhao Ya said, the four girls except Ma Xiaojiao felt that they had finally reaped the rewards of their hard work and could now live the life that time travelers deserved.

Even if this method is feasible, it will probably take at least a year and a half.

But distant water cannot quench immediate thirst.

So Zhao Ya asked Ye Shiyun again: "Shiyun, what is your middle strategy?"

Ye Shiyun replied: "Auction of religious franchise..."

According to Ye Shiyun's idea, Zhao Ya issued an edict to divide the 28,000 temples in the country into three grades and nine levels, and auction the right to appoint abbots of temples at all levels (the term is five years). At the same time, the title of Purple Robe Master was open to the public for application (5,000 per year, 300 strings of cash each).

Its economic logic is that religious market regulation creates administrative monopoly rents, the rigid demand for faith supports the price system, and non-tax revenue circumvents resistance from scholars and officials.

Ye Shiyun said confidently, "If you use this strategy, you can expect an annual revenue increase of 1.5 million strings of cash, and it's safe and controllable."

This tactic has also been used in history. In the fourth year of the Daguan reign, the government sold 340,000 ordination certificates (each worth 130 guan), and during the Xuanhe reign, the black market price of a purple-robed monk or nun reached 2,000 guan. The Song Dynasty Criminal Code stipulated that those who privately ordained monks and nuns would be sentenced to three years in prison.

As for whether this trick would work, Zhao Ya still had to discuss it with a group of ministers.

Zhao Ya asked Ye Shiyun again: "What's the worst option?"

Ye Shiyun said: "The worst option is the overseas trade options system."

Ye Shiyun elaborated, "Establish a Maritime Trade Options Office in Guangzhou or Mingzhou to issue South China Sea trade monsoon options (divided into spring and summer seasons). Each option will be priced at 2,000 guan (approximately 2,000 guan) and can be used to subscribe to 2,000-ton merchant ship space."

Zhao Ya vaguely remembered that Cai Jing seemed to have used this trick during the Xuanhe period.

Ye Shiyun then concluded, "I will implement these three strategies simultaneously. In the first year, we can raise 6.5 million strings of cash. First, we will use salt administration reform to attract capital from Jiangnan. Second, we will use religious auctions to reap wealth from the north. Third, we will use maritime trade options to guide capital overseas. I wonder what the emperor thinks?"

Zhao Ya felt that Ye Shiyun's three strategies were all quite reliable. As to whether they would work or not, he had to discuss them with a group of ministers before making a final confirmation. After all, policies had to be adapted to the circumstances.

However, there is one thing, that is, none of Ye Shiyun's three moves are effective immediately. Zhao Ya now has to be tough on the Liao Kingdom and Western Xia. If he doesn't pay the overdue military salaries to the soldiers, how can he mobilize the army and boost morale?

So, Zhao Ya asked in a greedy manner: "Shiyun, do you have any good ideas that can immediately earn me 18 million strings of cash?"

……

(End of this chapter)