Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 206 Conception of Issuing National Bonds
"National debt?"

Emperor Wanli said in surprise.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Huang Laifu saluted, "Although I, Ming Dynasty, have never issued treasury bonds, it has a century-old history of using treasury bonds to solve national expenses in Western countries, and the effect is very obvious. My Chinese is the best in the world." , the law of the western barbarians may also be used by us in China."

Since modern times, most of the western banking circles have been established following the ancient Chinese banking methods, such as the issuance of banknotes and basic banking procedures, etc., are all learned from China.However, the green out of the blue is better than the blue. After years of development, Western banks have developed many unique features, and the national debt system is one of them.In the late Middle Ages, Western European countries generally adopted the tax package system and the national debt system, which effectively solved the country's financial problems.

Take the United Kingdom as an example. Since the 17th century, the United Kingdom has established a national debt system.Soon, the national debt grew faster and faster, from 5300 million pounds at the time of the War of Spanish Succession to as high as 1.22 million pounds at the time of the Seven Years War.In short, through the agricultural revolution, overseas trade, colonial plunder, national debt system and tax policy, Britain made its primitive accumulation of capital proceed smoothly at a speed faster than any other country, creating important conditions for the rise of the industrial revolution.

However, there are advantages and disadvantages to national debt, which requires a certain guarantee of repayment in the future, and it doesn't sound good.National debt, national debt, national debt, I am afraid that those officials, big and small, will have a strange feeling after hearing it.Traditional Chinese officials hope that the state treasury will be full, rather than owe a debt.

One of the reasons why Huang Laifu mentioned this method to Emperor Wanli was that Emperor Wanli was a very flexible monarch. For him, as long as the goal was achieved, the means could be considered.The second is that at this time, the spirit of tolerance in Ming Dynasty is still very broad. They don't mind importing any advanced foreign things. Take the Francophone artillery as an example. It took ten years.

The issuance procedure of national debt is not a problem for Huang Laifu, a businessman from later generations. He briefly introduced the process of issuing national debt to Emperor Wanli, how to do it, etc., and then said: "Issuing national debt can effectively solve the problem of national use. The minister still has a little consideration."

Huang Laifu said: "There is a saying in ancient times that wealth is like water. The country has reached the present, and there are tens of thousands of wealthy households in the world, but they don't know how to use this wealth. Most people hide their silver in the cellar. These silver and waste rocks What's the difference?"

"The ancient sage once said: running water does not rot, and the door hinge does not rot, it is because of the movement. The treasury of the Ming Dynasty is now empty, but the huge amount of silver among the people is stagnant in the cellars. Only by letting the silver flow like the blood of the human body, Only then can the dynasty be filled with blood."

Emperor Wanli was stunned when he heard that, he didn't expect that there was such a great truth about silver.The officials of the household department had never said these words to him, and Emperor Wanli had never imagined that he had the feeling of opening up a new world.Emperor Wanli felt more and more that Huang Laifu should be the Minister of the Household Department.

Emperor Wanli was full of energy, and said: "What Huang Aiqing said really spoke to my heart. I have been listening to Jin Yiwei saying that the country is now rich and the people are rich, but I have never thought why the treasury is getting more and more empty, and the country's daily use is scarce. It turns out that there is such a thing. Reasonable."

Huang Laifu said with a smile: "So it's not that the Ming Dynasty has no money, but that the money can't be used legally. Issuing national debt can use the wealth accumulated in the private sector for my own use, effectively solving the problem of national use. And the flow of money can increase More wealth will make the country more vibrant."

Emperor Wanli was full of smiles, paced back and forth in the pavilion, and said repeatedly: "Okay, okay, if you can solve the problem of national use, Huang Aiqing should take the lead."

He paced back and forth in the cabinet for a while, then suddenly stopped and said: "The national debt is a debt, which means that it must be paid in the future. How will the imperial court repay this debt in the future?"

Whether the word national debt is difficult to hear is not in Emperor Wanli's consideration. What he cares about is how to repay the money in the future.If the country borrows the debt but fails to repay it in the future, causing civil unrest, Daming's face will be lost. This is something that Emperor Wanli must consider.

Huang Laifu secretly praised Emperor Wanli for seeing the essence of things at a glance, and was not confused by the current benefits.He said: "Your majesty is wise, and you can see the advantages and disadvantages of this national debt at a glance. National debt is indeed a debt. In the future, in addition to repaying the principal, you will also have to pay annual interest. This annual interest should not be low, otherwise it will not be able to attract businessmen and wealthy households." Buy."

Huang Laifu said: "There are several ways to repay the national debt in the future. For example, raising various taxes and letting the people pay the national debt. The sinner of the dynasty."

"One is to transfer the repayment of national debts to foreign countries. The development outside the Great Wall that I mentioned earlier is also a method. It can be used to prevent the previous method of opening up the middle and attracting salt. The land is exchanged for national debts, and the ministers use force to protect the safety of those merchants. They There is also a certain price to be paid. If this method is used properly, the effect is quite good, and the development of the outside of the Great Wall will be very profitable, and there is a lot of land outside the Great Wall, which is enough for me to use. Even if the land outside the Great Wall is allocated in the future, won’t there be Nanyang? , and other places, this world is very big.”

Emperor Wanli was dumbfounded again, he didn't expect Huang Laifu's vision to be so broad, it was outside the Great Wall, and it was also in Nanyang, which made him see a new world outside China.

Huang Laifu continued: "Finally, there is another method, and it is also the most effective method. After the chaos in North Korea, let North Korea pay for the military expenses, and let Japan cede land and pay compensation, so as to relieve our military expenses."

Emperor Wanli breathed out a deep breath. He felt that talking to Huang Laifu had a thrilling feeling, which made him a little breathless. Every word he said was really shocking.

Emperor Wanli couldn't imagine how a general in a border town could have such an imagination and mind.

He slowly said: "It is not advisable to ask North Korea to pay for the military expenses. North Korea is my vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. It has always served them very respectfully. The Heavenly Dynasty helped them put down the chaos. How can we ask them to pay for the military expenses? Not to mention that the courtiers did not agree. Even other vassal states will be chilled."

Huang Laifu sighed secretly. In ancient China, face was always more important than face. As a later generation, he knew very well what this Koryo stick was, but now the Korean people really respect Daming very much.

On the bright side, Huang Laifu said respectfully: "The emperor is wise, but the minister is stupid."

North Korea was not allowed to pay military expenses, but Emperor Wanli was very interested in allowing Japan to cede land and pay compensation for military expenses. This is the biggest difference between him and the current Ming courtiers and previous Ming emperors.

Emperor Wanli said enthusiastically: "The Japanese should be punished for disturbing our country. However, Japan is weak and the people are poor. Do they have so much money?"

Huang Laifu smiled and said: "Your Majesty doesn't know something. The people of Ming Dynasty, especially the Jiangnan area, call Japan the "Treasure Island". Between a million taels, how much silver do they have?"

In the late 16th century, Japan was the largest silver supplier in the East. Together with Mexico in the west at that time, it accounted for 25% of the world's silver circulation, which shows that Japan has a large silver reserve.Even in the late 1684th century, from 1710 to 188, Japan's total silver exports were still between 7 tons, an average of [-] tons per year.

Emperor Wanli's pupils dilated all of a sudden, and his eyes shot out a bright light. After a long time, he said bitterly: "I didn't expect the Japanese to be so rich... Hmph, after the chaos in North Korea, we must let these The Japanese paid a price of one million taels of silver as punishment!"

Huang Laifu hesitated and said: "Is it too little to pay a million taels of silver? According to my opinion, at least they should pay 3000 million taels of silver... Well, paying ten million taels of silver is the best."

Emperor Wanli felt breathless again, he coughed lightly, and said, "Let's talk about this matter after the chaos in North Korea is settled."

He looked at Huang Laifu and said, "I've thought about it. I have to be cautious about issuing national debts. Huang Aiqing can write a note for me to take a good look at. Also, how to persuade the courtiers is also a problem."

Speaking of this, Emperor Wanli's face showed worry. He had often learned the power of Ming Dynasty civil servants. As long as they thought it was wrong, they would follow suit and would rather die than surrender.Emperor Wanli could imagine that the national debt, first of all, the name, could not pass through the civil officials in the court.

Huang Laifu naturally understood Emperor Wanli's worries. Even if he just read the history books, he also understood the power of these rotten Confucians. He whispered: "Your Majesty, if it is not feasible to go to court, I can contact those merchants in private to share the emperor's worries."

Emperor Wanli stared at Huang Laifu for a while, and sighed: "Perhaps it will really be like this by then."

Huang Laifu said impassionedly: "It is my duty to share the emperor's worries."

Emperor Wanli nodded movedly, and said, "I knew Huang Aiqing was a loyal minister."

Suddenly he remembered something and asked Huang Laifu, "By the way, Huang Aiqing, I heard that your mines in Shenchi Castle are doing well?"

Huang Laifu said: "Thanks to the great blessing of the emperor, the operation of the Shenchibao Coal Mine and the Shenchibao Iron Works has been stabilized. The income of Shenchibao's various mines has contributed greatly to the taxation of several forts."

Confusion appeared in the eyes of Emperor Wanli, and he said: "I don't understand why Huang Aiqing's various mines are operating smoothly, but I want to open mines many times, but I have been discouraged by many officials? You know, mining can collect taxes, and miners can also be converted into gold mines. Soldiers can save hunger outside and be used as spares inside, which is a good thing."

Huang Laifu wanted to say that these minerals had already been divided up by local officials and tycoons, and a powerful interest group had been formed. If you issued an order to open mines, you would cut off their source of income. Of course, they would dissuade them.Of course, I can’t say this on the face, but I just said with a hint: "Actually, when I first opened the mine, there was a lot of resistance. The local tyrants colluded with the horse thieves to harass me. It was after I wiped out the horse thieves that the mine opened smoothly."

Emperor Wanli nodded and said, "I understand."

Huang Laifu didn't know that his words strengthened Emperor Wanli's determination to order the world to open mines in the future.

When the monarchs and ministers talked about this, it was getting dark. Emperor Wanli had a good way to solve the financial crisis. He was in a happy mood, and Huang Laifu became more pleasing to the eye. He called in an eunuch and asked him to prepare a banquet in Cuihua Garden. He wanted to entertain Huang Laifu, the eunuch took a look at Huang Laifu, secretly surprised, the secret conversation was not enough, and he had to hold a banquet for him, this person surnamed Huang was too pampered by the emperor, he went there respectfully.

Emperor Wanli smiled at Huang Laifu: "Zhongming, come, I will take you to see my Concubine Zheng Ai, she also wants to see you."

(End of this chapter)