Yan's foreign relatives, give Da Yan a little Xuanwu Gate shock

So she put down her carving knife:

"I am too sleepy tonight, let's talk tomorrow. I will sleep on this wall tonight, and you can come find me tomorrow morning."

Xi certainly wouldn't say she couldn't draw copperplate engravings.

"If Mr. Xi has never been exposed to copperplate engraving, when dealing with this kind of metal, perhaps you can ask Mr. Xi's sister to help you." Yuan Congqian suggested.

"I'd rather die than do that." Xi shook his head frantically.

Copperplate engraving is not drawn with a pen, but carved. It might be faster to let Nian cooperate. Unfortunately, Miss Xi would rather die and jump from the core city than let Nian participate in her artistic creation. It's quite annoying.

"Let's take a rest then, this matter is not urgent."

"You reminded me that you also know that guy Liannian."

Xi narrowed her eyes and changed the subject: "Actually, I'm curious, how did you know so many of my sisters? Can you explain this to me?"

Chapter 208 Xigua’s Personal Drawing, Great Yan Treasure Notes

Why do I know so many Sui Beast Agents?

"Guess for yourself." Yuan Congqian waved his hand.

I have played "Arknights" and I have to tell you?

"If you don't want to tell me, then don't tell me. Why are you asking me to guess?"

Xi hugged her chest and turned her chair to face Yuan Congqian. I don't know if it was his illusion, but Xi Gua just made a "tsk" sound. Compared with her sisters, Gua Wa Zi was really too rude.

She fiddled with the engraving for a while, but couldn't help but be curious: "Which sisters of mine do you know? I heard that you even instigated the stinky embroiderer to help you kill a woman named Fu. How do you know them?"

For so long, the Sui Beast agents have been alone.

The little brother Ji, who was a stinky embroidery, went back to the Great Wasteland City every fifty years. For them, this period of time was just a short time. But every time he went back to the Great Wasteland City, he saw different generations of people. Even if there were some people who left a deep impression on him, he had long forgotten them.

Yuan Congqian is the first one who not only gets to know a Sui Beast agent, but also has a good relationship with all of them.

"Except for the second sister who is inconvenient to meet because her power is too special."

"So, you know all the others? How do you know Shang Shu's thing?"

What is that thing called Shang Shu? What did Sister Nian do to you?

"I haven't met him yet, but I've been fascinated by him for a long time."

"...That's really no problem. You get along well with those three sisters. When they see you, they will definitely take you to eat hotpot." Xi was speechless. She always felt that Yuan Congqian was more like an agent of the Sui Beast than she was, and had already infiltrated their family.

Looking at him and Shu standing together, if you don’t know, you would think they are brother and sister, but she is the one who is coming.

Xi seemed to be lamenting that she was no longer the youngest sister that Shu and Jie loved the most, and she buried her head in carving the landscape. After a few strokes, she carved out a crooked mountain range, and was so angry that she wanted to tear up the painting directly.

"Then you better think it through. How will Simuitai treat you if you come into contact with the Sui Beast Agent?"

"I am Si Sui Tai Qing."

"..." Even Xi realized that the information gathered was not right. Her brothers and sisters usually liked to talk about not getting involved in worldly affairs, but now they seemed to be crazy about it.

"You really want me to paint the landscape on the currency?"

Xi crossed her legs. "To be honest, this is indeed what I have wanted to do for a long time, but I advise you to think more about yourself. If you want to show your kindness to your brothers and sisters, there are other ways. Choosing us will only cause people to talk about it."

"Master Xi drew the plate, Master Jie wrote the characters, and the real dragon took shape. Who wants to comment?"

"You also looked for Sister Jie?" Xigua put down the carving knife, her eyes as red as the sun widened.

"Sister Jie will write for you, I will draw for you, and then all of them will be gathered on the banknotes that Yan Country will use in the next few decades... The agent has not been involved in these things for a long time. Do you really know what you are doing?"

"Of course I know."

Yuan Congqian couldn't think of who else could participate in the design of banknotes if these two agents were excluded.

If there is someone who is good at telling jokes, he will give a new name to this official legal paper currency of Yan State, whose main creators are agents of the Sui Beast, and call it - Sui Bi.

He always thought he had a talent for telling jokes.

Xi looked at Yuan Congqian and snorted:

"Then go and have a rest. I'll carve a version for you tonight. Otherwise, if I keep dragging my feet, it won't be worthy of your kindness. How should the banknotes be divided into versions? What are the sizes? How much space should the landscape occupy?"

"Ten taels, one hundred taels, five hundred taels, and one thousand taels. Let's decide on these four first."

Yuan Congqian took out four banknote sketches whose designs were inspired by the Dutch guilder.

If we consider it from the perspective of a country's currency, we should also set up 50, 100, and 500 coins. However, considering the actual situation, the first batch of users of the Great Wilderness paper currency were merchants in the northern part of Dayan, so Yuan Congqian chose to focus on facilitating large-scale transactions.

"Among them, the lines are required to be as thin as possible, to the point where moiré patterns will appear when photographed with a camera. Also, I wonder if you can draw a painting that can be printed on a gravure press and cannot be imitated by humans?"

“…Painting is ultimately just my hobby. I am not a giant beast in charge of painting.”

Xi waved her hand, indicating that Yuan Congqian should leave and have a rest.

If I continue to stay here, do I want to watch her work on engraving the copperplate all night?

Yuan Congqian saluted her and quietly left the office, but he did not leave immediately. Instead, he lowered the outer curtains and went to the production workshop to check the safety situation one by one. He was busy all the time.

Xi turned the carving knife in his hand, his heart moving slightly.

"Sure enough, just as Nian said, Sister Shu's complexion has become much rosier, and her complexion is getting better and better..."

She knew that Yuan Congqian had helped Sister Shu. Moreover, the agent was invited to participate in the important work of banknote design. It was impossible for Xigua to not be happy. She was secretly happy.

So even though Xi looked extremely unwilling, her body was still very honest and followed Yuan Congqian everywhere.

The agents of the Year Beast say that humans are annoying, but if they are asked to do something unfair to humans, it is not so easy for them to do it.

……

When Yuan Congqian woke up in the room, the engraved copper plate was already placed at the door.

All of them are landscapes carved on copper plates using Western brushstroke techniques, but at a glance, you can be sure that these are the scenery on the mobile city of Yan Country. It's not about the shape, but the meaning.

"Xigua is indeed reliable."

Yuan Congqian sighed, and when he saw the last copperplate, he found that it was a tiger-headed film. He looked up at the exaggerated starry sky, reached out and took a fallen cross star, thinking.

Is this me? Yuan Congqian sighed in his heart and put away all the copper plates. It would be a good thing to use them as commemorative banknotes issued in limited quantities in Dahuang City. Doesn't the Jiedushi deserve to appear on the commemorative banknotes?

The copper plate, color-changing ink and gravure printing machine are ready, and the next step is promotion.

The Yan State officials had no credibility, and the people had seen the currency chaos in recent years. If they wanted the people to accept the Great Yan Treasure Notes printed by Yuan Congqian in the Great Wasteland City, they had to bind the goods of the Great Wasteland City as a stepping stone.

Yuan Congqian called the soldiers of the Shenwu Army:

"Wasn't Wang Fu originally the president of the Langyi City Merchants Guild? Where are they?"

"The Wang family's treason case has long been concluded, but there are still officials from the Dali Temple in Langyi City checking the files. The merchants of the Chamber of Commerce have stayed at home these days, or have gone to the Dali Temple to surrender themselves, for fear of causing trouble."

"Okay. I'm going to send a telegram to the signal base station, asking them to come to Dahuang City to discuss the Great Yan Treasure Notes. Don't remember how many people came, but check which merchants didn't come, and let the Dali Temple focus on the investigation."

Chapter 209: The Price of Low Government Reputation

Dahuang City, the core urban area.

All the wealthy and famous businessmen in Langyi City gathered in this slightly narrow meeting room. Langyi City has a developed business, and many businessmen are involved in both the black and white worlds. They all look like officials, with a majestic temperament without anger.

But today, no matter how powerful a merchant is, he has to come to Dahuang City.

Their original leader was Wang Fu, the head of the Wang family of Langyi, who later died.

Before Yuan Congqian came, the merchants had no mood to greet each other and they split into small groups, whispering to each other.

"Yesterday, Wang executed another group of people. It was bloody. The people were chopped into two halves. The two legs of the lower body were twitching on the ground, but the upper body could still crawl for a while. The blood on the ground in the West Market has not been washed away for several days."

"You called us here today, are you trying to blackmail us?"

"So what? Just give him whatever he wants. Not only that, you have to give him double the amount. He's a relative by marriage, it's a blessing for you to ask him for money. Many people want to offer him their fortunes, but they don't have the means to do so..."

"Who didn't come today? Why didn't I see Mr. Huang Liu?"

"Oh, Master Huang Liu is so confused! He could have just said his surname was Huang or Wang, why didn't he come? Send someone to invite him over quickly. This Yuan guy is the King of Hell. If he doesn't come, the King of Hell will definitely go find him! "

Just as the merchants were about to send someone to tie up Huang Liu, they heard footsteps.

Following the sound, I saw a brown-haired, white-browed man named Feilin who looked weak and alone. He was armed with a sword and a saber. The golden seal of the governor was hung on his waist with a purple ribbon, flashing and very eye-catching.

When he saw merchants, he treated them as if they were old acquaintances and friends, with a broad and gentle smile.

"Do you recognize me?"

A businessman bowed and said, "I have heard of Mr. Yuan's name for a long time. The way the Western Pharmacy uses business is amazing to us all."

"We are all acquaintances, so it's easy. Come, everyone, take a look at this batch of banknotes."

He sat directly at the main seat and pushed over a tray of colorful banknotes.

"Langyun, Danyan, and Dahuang. Duke Wei is a man of great talent and strategy. He decided to let these three cities start circulating this version of the Great Yan Treasure Note. I am not familiar with business, so I would like to hear your opinions. I hope you can give me some advice."

These words were quite polite considering the status between him and the merchants.

"Well, since the government is going to issue Da Yan's paper money, this is naturally a great thing..."

The merchant was surprised and doubtful, but did not dare to answer.

They were a little confused as to whether Yuan Congqian wanted to force them to use the banknotes, so that they would praise the design of the banknotes, or whether he really wanted to ask them what they thought of the banknotes. What was there to ask? They had actually been using banknotes for a long time.

Merchants live for so long, but they are not walking wallets.

In Shangshu there were flying money, in Jiangnan there were silver notes, and different cities adopted different substitutes for paper money. The principle of silver notes is self-evident, but with paper notes, money can be withdrawn without transportation, and money flies without wings, so it is called "flying money".

"Don't want to answer? Then let me ask you the questions."

Yuan Congqian didn't seem to have arranged any executioners, and he asked gently, "How many of you usually use foreign currency? In the city, what is the demand for large-denomination currency among merchants, officials, and ordinary people?"

"Almost all of it. Silver is too light and copper coins are too heavy. You may need it to buy some wine and food on weekdays, but if you are buying goods, pawning, or lending, you often need hundreds of silver coins. No one would carry a box of silver to do these things."

The merchant answered timidly, speaking very tactfully, fearing that some part of his words would offend Yuan Congqian and make him think that this was a humiliation. "Langyun City, the extra money spent is naturally Columbia gold notes."

"Look at this set of money."

Yuan Congqian pushed a plate of unstamped banknote samples to him.

There are six colors of banknotes: purple, red, green, and blue are slightly larger, and silver and copper are slightly smaller. The first four colors are the colors of the rank of the Da Yan official robes, and the slightly smaller silver and copper banknotes are newly added by Yuan Congqian, with a face value of one tael and one hundred coins.

The paper used to make banknotes is stronger and more resilient than ordinary paper. It has bumps inside and the ink changes color at different viewing angles. There are also extremely exquisite landscape images painted on it using extremely fine Western copperplate painting techniques.

Da Yan did not like to put human portraits on banknotes. On the one hand, traditional painting did not like to draw people too realistically, and on the other hand, the desecration of human portraits was more serious than in other countries. You are touching the big head of a real dragon. What do you want to do?

What attracted merchants most were the two words "Bo Liang" written on it. The characters looked like flying phoenixes and soaring phoenixes, and the brushwork was smooth. Even the famous works of masters that he had collected were slightly inferior to these two words in terms of shape and meaning. He wondered who wrote these two words.

As for the words "Da Yan Bao Yin·Made in Year and Month" at the top, they are much uglier and you can tell at first glance that they are the words of a real dragon.

The merchant commented: "It looks better than the Colombian gold note, feels better, and has excellent calligraphy and painting. But the face value is too high. The daily expenses for food, clothing, housing and transportation will not cost more than 100, 200 taels. I think it was prepared for us."

"That's a good point. Will you use it?" Yuan Congqian asked.

“……” The merchants looked embarrassed.

If you want money, just ask them directly. Why bother? Why trust the money of an uncertain government when they already have paper money to replace it?

The denomination is written as 1,000 taels, and 100,000 will be printed tomorrow, and then they will be forced to pay money to exchange. This has been done by Dai Zhenlong before. The silver notes in their city are not recognized by the notes, but by the people. It is better than the Great Yan Treasure Notes.

"It's not like I'm letting you use it now."

Yuan Congqian took the banknotes from the plate and said, "Duke Wei and the Ministry of Revenue will also open a Great Yan Royal Bank in every city. The foreign exchange business must use Great Yan treasure notes, and the tax payment can be deducted by using treasure notes. No one trusts the court, and I don't trust the Ministry of Revenue either, so the current reserve ratio is set to at least 40%."

"Once all of you merchants start using treasure notes, we will also begin issuing lower denomination treasure notes. Recently, Dongguo and Rem Billiton will also open up trade. For the choice of transaction agent bank, I would recommend the Great Yan Royal Bank."

"In addition, Duke Wei will gradually ban the circulation of foreign currencies in Da Yan. All kinds of government taxes and Western pharmacies will no longer accept foreign currencies. They can be exchanged for treasure notes at the Royal Bank."

This is the price of the court's low credit. A reserve ratio of 40% is scary even if you tell it to others. But for Da Yan, who can use the Royal Bank as his own money bag at any time, a reserve ratio of 40% still seems low.

"Then... we are willing to use it." The merchants all bowed. In their hearts, they complained that Duke Wei was doing something unnecessary, but they had to put on a smile on their faces and promote the convenience of the Great Yan Treasure Note.

Yuan Congqian used a stick in one hand and a carrot in the other, and said everything that needed to be said.

Now that things have come to this, it would be impolite for merchants not to accept the treasure notes.

Chapter 210 Unearthed in Rhode Island

On the 10th day of the 10th month of the 12th year of the Emperor's reign, the envoy of Rembituo came to the emperor and presented a letter to the emperor to make a statement.

The real dragon asked the envoy of Rembito, "There is an imperial edict. You have come from afar and have been working hard. Now that you have entered the border, you are allowed to stay at the embassy. I have ordered you to stay here and show your kindness. The signing of the treaty between the two countries is a glory for the country, not just a celebration for the women. The exchanges are the same, but the rivers and roads are very obstructed, and there is a risk of wind and fog. I have shown my great grace and issued a famous medicine."

What excited the merchants in the capital was the words "the exchanges will remain the same, special favors will be shown, and famous medals will be awarded". This meant that the Yan State government had officially opened up trade between the two countries, allowed the movement of private personnel, and issued famous medals for merchants.

The wealthy businessman from Jiangnan who was living in the capital immediately became interested.

It was only in the morning that the imperial court announced Zhenlong's "Proclamation from the Envoy of Furembitu", and in the afternoon the registered ships bound for Remmbitu were ready. Merchants flocked to the ship and tickets were hard to come by.