My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 139 The Brass Plan!

"what is this?"

The coin Su Ze took out was also yellow, but it wasn't as bright as a gold coin, nor as bronze as a copper coin; it was somewhere in between.

Su Ze said:

"Your Excellency, this is made by mixing copper and Japanese lead, then refining it with coke. It is a bit yellower than copper, hence the name brass."

"Japanese lead? Brass?"

Zhang Juzheng knew about Japanese lead, a product of Japan, which was actually zinc.

However, this substance was of little use, so it was often used as ballast by merchant ships traveling to and from Japan. Because it was similar to lead, it was called "Japanese lead" by the Ming Dynasty.

Copper-zinc alloy is brass.

Brass is a good material for minting coins. Japanese lead is very cheap, and the resulting alloy is brighter than copper, making it more expensive.

Compared to bronze, brass is less prone to rusting.

The early 50-cent denomination of Renminbi was made of brass.

The only challenge in making brass alloys is building a blast furnace, as copper and zinc only form an alloy at high temperatures.

However, the required temperature was not high. In his letter, Su Ze instructed Tu Zemin to use a coke blast furnace, which successfully produced a brass alloy and cast it into a five-qian copper coin.

Su Ze explained the preparation method of brass and calculated the cost for Zhang Juzheng, whose eyes lit up even more.

"So, you can get these copper coins by mixing them with Japanese lead and casting them together?"

Su Ze said:

"There are many impurities in the copper coins on the market, but they are still usable."

"Eight parts copper and two parts lead, plus the costs of coke, blast furnaces, and stamping."

Zhang Juzheng quickly began to calculate, but his brow furrowed. Such brass coins would cost much more than ordinary copper coins.

Su Ze said:

"Your Excellency, since this material is used to mint coins, it should not be valued at the same rate as copper coins. I believe it should be valued at one jiao (0.1 yuan) of silver dollars, with ten coins exchanging for one silver dollar."

Looking at the exquisite brass coin, Zhang Juzheng immediately understood Su Ze's meaning.

When the imperial court minted copper coins, it often minted coins worth ten or thirty coins, meaning that one coin worth ten could be considered as ten copper coins.

However, this type of coin used less than ten times the amount of copper as ordinary copper coins.

Issuing such large-denomination copper coins would actually lead to even more rampant private minting.

If a ten-cash coin weighs only three times that of a regular copper coin, then those who privately mint coins will use three copper coins to privately mint ten-cash coins, which will only exacerbate the problem of rampant private minting.

Therefore, when the Jiajing Emperor was minting coins, Zhang Juzheng opposed the minting of "large coins".

However, Yan Song, who was in power at that time, rejected Zhang Juzheng's opinion in order to solve the fiscal problem by issuing currency. As expected, the new currency issued by the court collapsed quickly, and the monetary system was out of control again.

But what if it's a brass coin in your hand?
The printing of brass coins is just as exquisite as that of silver dollars, with serrated edges and embossed printing. Moreover, the colors are much brighter than those of copper coins, and at first glance, they even look somewhat like gold coins.

Even if the government stipulated that such money was worth one-tenth of a silver dollar, the common people should still be able to accept it.

If it can be implemented, the government will not lose money when minting coins, and may even make a profit.

Of course, minting coins was not for profit, but if the government-run mint did not make a profit and relied on subsidies from the Ministry of Revenue, it would soon go out of business.

If there is a surplus, the mint can achieve a positive cycle and even expand the scale of minting.

Zhang Juzheng was tempted.

Su Ze offered not three coins, but a complete monetary solution!
Zhang Juzheng had always wanted to reform the fiscal and taxation system, so how could he not be tempted by such a plan!

Zhang Juzheng's breathing became rapid.

Seeing that Zhang Juzheng had taken the bait, Su Ze immediately cast out the next bait.

Su Ze said with a sullen face, "But Your Excellency, there is a difficulty in minting brass coins."

Zhang Juzheng calmed down. The matter involved Su Ze, and indeed, things were not so simple.

Su Ze said:

"As Your Excellency knows, minting coins requires a lot of fire, and refining brass is even more so."

“Coke is needed to refine brass, and coal is needed to obtain coke.”

Zhang Juzheng seemed to understand, but not quite.

Su Ze explained:

"Coke is made from the dry distillation of coal. Coal dry distillation requires the selection of high-quality coal, which is then dry-burned in a sealed kiln."

"Both of these processes, namely coal selection and dry burning for coking, require a large amount of coal."

“Denglai is located by the sea, so we need to transfer coal from other places.”

Zhang Juzheng understood Su Ze's meaning and said:
"After the New Year, I will discuss a plan with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to ensure a stable supply of coal to Dengzhou and Laizhou."

Su Ze quickly followed up with flattery, saying, "Grand Secretary Zhang, with you mediating, we can definitely solve the financial problems of our dynasty!"

Zhang Juzheng stroked his handsome beard, already pondering how to promote the new currency.

If the predicament of the monetary system can be resolved and local governments have sufficient currency, then the tax reform of replacing grain with cash, which I have long wanted to carry out, can be carried out.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Su Ze, thinking to himself, "This guy really gave me a great New Year's gift!"
Zhang Juzheng even had an impulse to transfer Su Ze to the Ministry of Revenue and put him in charge of minting coins.

But after careful consideration, Zhang Juzheng gave up.

He was Gao Gong's student; how could Gao Gong be willing to let him go?

Moreover, minting coins is a difficult and tiring task, and even the emperor probably wouldn't have let Su Ze do it.

Ah, such talent is rare.

Compared to Su Ze, Zhang Juzheng felt that even his most prized students were somewhat lacking.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Su Ze with regret. Su Ze had given him such a big gift, and Zhang Juzheng wanted to return the favor.

So Zhang Juzheng said:
"Once the sample coins are sent to the capital after the New Year, you can submit a memorial to the throne, and Governor Tu and I will commend you for your achievements."

Upon further reflection, the minting of these coins was Su Ze's achievement, and his previous statement was merely to indicate that he would not embezzle Su Ze's credit.

Zhang Juzheng added:

"In that case, minting coins is a major event, and it needs to be overseen by capable individuals selected by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. If you have any suitable candidates, you can tell me directly."

Zhang Juzheng was essentially handing over the position of the Dengzhou-Laizhou Mint to Su Ze through recommendation.

If the emperor can truly accept the entire plan, then the level of the Dengzhou-Laizhou Mint will be further elevated, and the head of the mint will at least be a senior official in the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of Works.

The position of Langzhong in the Six Ministries was a powerful fifth-rank official position, especially one that involved overseeing such an important matter as minting coins!

Whether considering its prestige or the power it wields, this position is one that people would fight tooth and nail for.

Zhang Juzheng's words were not merely a reward for Su Ze, but a sign of his complete trust in Su Ze.

Rather than assigning his own people and then listening to Su Ze's advice, it would be better to directly appoint someone recommended by Su Ze. Su Ze hadn't expected Zhang Juzheng to be so generous as to entrust such a position to his recommendation!

With the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, Tu Zemin, being one of their own, and the head of the mint, Su Ze could completely control the minting affairs of Dengzhou and Laizhou.

This is exactly the result Su Ze wanted.

Su Ze didn't stand on ceremony and spoke directly to Zhang Juzheng:
"Thank you very much, Grand Secretary Zhang!"
-
As Su Ze emerged from Zhang Juzheng's study, everyone in the reception room cast surprised glances at him.

Xu Wei stepped forward and said to Su Ze:
"The old man and Grand Secretary Zhang have been talking for almost an hour."

Su Ze then understood why everyone was looking at him with surprise. The Minister of Justice Mao and Zhang Juzheng had only talked for less than a quarter of an hour.

The fact that Su Ze could talk with Zhang Juzheng for an hour shows how much Zhang Juzheng valued him.

Su Ze didn't think much of it, after all, he had also spent a long time in Li Chunfang and Gao Gong's study.

Su Ze and Xu Wei left, and this trip to Zhang Juzheng's residence can be said to have fulfilled Su Ze's plan.

Even for Su Ze, minting coins wasn't the most important thing!
Zhang Juzheng agreed to coordinate coal transportation, which was exactly what Su Ze wanted to do!
The Industrial Revolution was a revolution in how humankind utilizes energy.

There's a saying that the history of science and technology is the history of "burning boilers," and Su Ze's view is similar.

But China is a major coal producer, so why didn't it experience a steam engine revolution like Britain?

According to a viewpoint that Su Ze read in his previous life, there is a lack of driving force to trigger an energy revolution.

To put it bluntly, the labor costs in the Ming Dynasty were still too low.

Before Su Ze's journey, many countries had already encountered similar problems.

When labor costs are already lower than machine costs, what reason is there to use machines?
Coal mining for heating began in Bianjing (Kaifeng) during the Song Dynasty, but the steam engine was not invented during that period.

Shen Shixing's wife's family had a textile workshop in Suzhou with a thousand employees, but their main asset was still their people, so it could only be a workshop rather than a factory.

These workshop owners have neither the incentive to improve efficiency nor the need to improve their energy use.

The Industrial Revolution in Britain was less an inevitable outcome of historical development than a result of a series of historical coincidences.

The Black Death caused a sharp decline in population, the great market created by geographical discoveries, and the soaring labor costs in Britain all exacerbated the need for capitalists to reform the tools of production.

Since labor costs exceed machine costs, replacing humans with machines in pursuit of efficiency and profits becomes an inevitable choice.

This led to British capitalists offering rewards for improving the steam engine, and ultimately resulted in a surge of new technologies.

Sometimes, there is such a turning point in technological development.

Once this stage is passed, it will be an explosive development.

If this juncture cannot be overcome, technology will be locked down, and breakthroughs will be impossible.

Su Ze cannot change inherent needs, but he can create them.

Is labor cheap in your Ming Dynasty? But if you want to mint coins, you still need to refine and mine coal, right?
As the demand for coal increases, coal mines need to use tools to increase efficiency.

The earliest steam engines were used for pumping water in coal mines.

The earliest railways were also laid in coal mines to transport coal from the mine shafts.

This is Su Ze's deepest and biggest plan.

Once the productive forces change, the new relations of production will inevitably change as well, and then the Ming Dynasty can enter a truly transformative era!

Su Ze believed that with Zhang Juzheng's execution, he would definitely reap the benefits from minting coins!

Having tasted success, Zhang Juzheng would inevitably lead an even larger-scale minting of coins!

Larger-scale minting requires more raw materials, which in turn requires more stable sources of raw materials, large ships capable of conducting trade, and fleets capable of maintaining the security of the production areas.

The fleet needs more advanced weapons and a more professional army.

More advanced weapons naturally require more advanced production tools.

And all of this started with the minting of brass coins.

Suze named all of this "Project Brass," and now the first step has been completed.

"Master, the Zhao family has already sent holiday gifts."

Su Ze nodded. His wedding date with Zhao's wife had been set for April next year, after the capital inspection.

Su Ze and Zhao's wife were legally engaged, so according to the customs of the time, it was inconvenient for him to visit them.

So Su Ze prepared a gift and sent it to Grand Secretary Zhao's residence before the Lunar New Year.

Su Ze then went to a few other places, including his superior, Yin Shidan, the Junior Chamberlain of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. However, Yin Shidan did not give Su Ze a friendly look, so he left a visiting card and left.

Zuo Yude Zhu Dashou was Su Ze's direct superior. Because of Shen Yiguan's relationship with him, Zhu Dashou still opened the door to welcome Su Ze. After exchanging pleasantries, he accepted a rare book from the Song Dynasty as a gift.

At the Hanlin Academy, the position of Grand Academician was concurrently held by Zhang Juzheng, so Su Ze had no one to visit.

And so, this year's door-to-door ceremony has come to an end.

By the time they returned, it was almost dark. Su Ze said to Xu Wei:

"Wen Chang, this door-to-door visit is too tiring."

Xu Wei looked at Su Ze with annoyance.

When an ordinary person visits someone's door, even if it's their direct superior, they'll at most only go in and exchange a few words.

Let alone a Grand Secretary, even a high-ranking official in a government office, ordinary people couldn't get through the door.

If you're just an ordinary clerk in the Ministry of Justice, and you want to pay a visit to the Minister of Justice's home, do you think the gatekeeper will let you in?

For ordinary officials, visiting someone's door is just a routine greeting; it's the kind of visit where the superior won't remember, but not visiting would seem impolite.

Who else, like Su Ze, had half an hour with the three Grand Secretaries' families?

When Su Ze returned home, he found several people standing at his door.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Shen Yiguan and two other young officials.

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong—Su Ze remembered their names. They were his classmates from the same year, but their rankings in the imperial examinations were not high, so they had previously observed politics in the capital.

After the observation of the government affairs concluded, Su Ze listened to Shen Yiguan's advice and recommended two people to Zhang Siwei, the Wenxuanlang (a minor official in charge of selecting officials).

The two were thus able to remain in the Censorate in the capital, serving as Acting Censors of Shandong Circuit.

Why did Shen Yiguan bring two people with him?

It's normal for Shen Yiguan to come and visit a friend today, but these two, Su Ze and Su Yiguan, who are the same age, don't have much of a relationship.

"Brother Jian, Brother Shen, Brother Wang."

Shen Zao and Wang Renzhong were visibly excited to see that Su Ze still remembered their surname. Shen Yiguan said to Su Ze:

“Brother Zilin, these two classmates have come to me for help, so I have no choice but to bring them here to beg you.”

"what?"

Shen Yiguan smiled bitterly and said:
"It's all because of Brother Zilin's performance evaluation system; they're driving the Six Subjects crazy!"

(End of this chapter)