I was the emperor in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 372 Capital Exchange
Huang Yan and Zhu Gaoxu were shocked, and they didn't dare to say anything, they whispered, "The younger brother (old slave) takes orders!" Then they turned and left in a hurry.

After the two left, under the main hall, Xia Yuanji said at the right time,

"Your Majesty, this year's harvests are fairly stable, and the autumn grain has just arrived in the capital, and there is a lot of grain stored in Changping.

As long as the warehouse is opened to release grain, it only takes three to five days for the price of grain to return to the past. Your Majesty really doesn't need to be so angry about this matter! "

Xia Yuanji's words were also considered pertinent, and it was not difficult to stabilize food prices. Several other cabinet ministers also reconsidered.

"Your Majesty, calm down. If Your Majesty injures the dragon's body for such a trivial matter, it will be very bad!"

Li Tian listened to their words of comfort, and couldn't help smiling wryly,

"You guys, do you really think this is so simple!"

Huang Zhun was taken aback for a moment, and said doubtfully,

"Could it be that there are other reasons for the failure? Forgive me and others for being stupid, please show me your Majesty."

Li Tian knocked on the table with his hand, and said calmly but suppressed his anger,

"If it was a year of famine, or because of an accident, the price of food would rise, there would be some reasons to say, but at this time, these grain merchants have caused the price of food to skyrocket for no reason.
They knew that as long as the court took action, the matter would be resolved immediately, and they would not get any benefits.

But they still insist on doing so at the expense of themselves, don't you think there is something wrong with it! "

Several people were ashamed at the same time, their brains were running rapidly, but they still couldn't figure out the reason for this for a while.

Seeing their voices for a long time, Li Tian was annoyed and said indisputably,

"Business tax, it's because I'm about to levy a business tax, and the increase in food prices this time is just a sign.

They are expressing their position with me, and they are fighting against the new tax law that the imperial court is about to implement.

Today it’s just food prices going up, maybe tomorrow it’s rice, oil and salt…”

Hearing Li Tian's words, several people were immediately enlightened.

Huang Zhun, who most supported the reform, said angrily,
"Damn it, these businessmen are so hateful that they dare to openly oppose the imperial court's system.

Your Majesty, we can't let them go lightly and increase the business tax so that they can't survive. "

What Huang Zhun said was really out of standard.

It's not like what a minister of the court should say.

But what he said was very pleasing to Li Tian.

Li Tian also showed a ferocious smile and said,
"Zhong Chang's words are justified. If they don't give them a little color, what kind of chaos will happen to the capital when the new tax law comes out."

The two of them sang together like this, but it shocked the old men Yang Shiqi and Xia Yuanji.

Xia Yuanji hurriedly cupped his fists and said,

"Think twice, Your Majesty. The new tax law is already affecting the nerves of many nobles. If it imposes heavy taxes, it may cause even greater backlash!"

Yang Shiqi also said,

"Your Majesty, in this way, it may cause greater resistance from the merchants.

If the imperial court continues to confront them, it will only be the innocent people who will suffer. Please think again, Your Majesty! "

Li Tian glanced at several ministers with different expressions in the palace, his anger eased a little, but he still said coldly,
"Tax reform must be implemented, and the expected chaos will inevitably come.

Just one food price has already caused chaos in the capital. If all the merchants were like this, wouldn't the capital be turned upside down. "

Hearing Li Tian's words, everyone was at a loss for words, not knowing how to answer.

Throughout history, no matter what kind of change, the beginning is difficult.

Think about Shang Yang, Wang Anshi, and Zhang Juzheng who was not yet born, and the reform and reform were smooth.

Even if there is strong support from the king behind them, those who preside over the reform will end up with no good results.

That kind of ending is the end of the great people. It can be seen that without a strong enough heart and a strong enough destiny, such a thing as reform is really not something that ordinary people dare to bang.

Li Tian also knew that the reform would attract all kinds of confrontation, but he didn't expect that the confrontation would come so soon.

It is not what Li Tian wants to see if the situation in the entire capital is disrupted or even caused major changes because of rash reforms.

But at this moment, he was basically being put on fire. If he didn't act, he would be burnt sooner or later.

After calming down, he said to them with burning eyes,

"This bunch of lawless merchants, really think that I can't deal with them!"

Seeing Li Tian's expression, Huang Zhun was overjoyed, knowing that Li Tian must have made up his mind, so he quickly said,

"Your Majesty, is there any good way!"

Li Tian stood up abruptly, slapped the table and said,

"Of course, whether it's business taxes or rising prices, isn't it the so-called capital confrontation.

If there is more money in this world, who is my opponent, since they want to play with me, then I will play with them well. "

After saying this, Li Tian kept saying to Yang Shiqi,
"Shi Qi, you come to write, and I will tell you about my method!"

Yang Shiqi didn't dare to neglect, came to the table, ground it himself, spread out the paper, and said with his face unchanged,
"Your Majesty, please tell me that the minister is ready."

Li Tian walked to the middle of the hall with his hands behind his back, and said word by word,

"I want to establish a commodity exchange in the capital, and control all commodity transactions in the entire capital."

Yang Shiqi wrote the words "exchange" on bright yellow rice paper.

Then he asked puzzledly,
"Your Majesty, what is an exchange, and how can all the transactions between merchants be controlled?"

Li Tian walked a few steps vigorously, and continued,

"Shi Qi, you asked a good question.

The so-called transaction is nothing more than the interaction between money and goods. Most of the buying and selling of ordinary people is to pay money with one hand and take things with the other.

But for bulk commodities, such as grain with hundreds of shi and thousands of shi, it is impossible to buy goods with one hand.

After signing the agreement, the condition of the goods will be inspected before the transaction can be completed.

Among them, except for the inspection step, it can be regarded as a pure paper transaction. "

"The exchange is to use the reputation of the imperial court as an endorsement to notarize and guarantee the transaction of bulk commodities. People can complete the transaction without seeing the goods in the exchange."

"As long as this can be achieved, the imperial court will have the possibility to regulate prices!"

Huang Zhun didn't quite understand, and asked suspiciously,

"But Your Majesty, how can the court guarantee that those merchants will obediently trade on the exchange?"

Li Tian sneered,
"It's impossible for them to think about it, because the exchange will cooperate with the Royal Bank to buy out all the commodities entering the capital.

All sources of goods are under the control of the imperial court, and anyone who wants to get goods must go through the exchange. "

(End of this chapter)