Being able to pass treasure banknotes to vassal countries is naturally a dream. But that depends on the situation. If the currency of Ming Dynasty's internal treasure banknotes is stable, then there will naturally be no problem, but the current situation is that the treasure banknotes have just been issued. The Ming Dynasty itself was still a mess internally, so how could it spread treasure notes to vassal states?
Seeing Han Du's silence, Lao Zhu looked calm and asked in a deep voice: "Did something happen?"
Han Du collected his thoughts, nodded and told the story of the commotion caused by the treasure banknotes among the people.
Lao Zhu looked confused when he heard this, and asked doubtfully: "Isn't it a good thing that these treasure banknotes are more valuable?" In Lao Zhu's view, the previous treasure banknotes were of low value. According to Han Du, that was Looting people's wealth. So now that the treasure banknotes are so valuable, doesn't it mean that it is just the opposite, giving wealth to the people? Isn't this a good thing? Why does Han Du look like he's about to be in trouble?
"Of course it's not a good thing," Han Du quickly explained to Lao Zhu, "The value of the emperor's treasure banknotes is too low, and he is robbing the people's wealth. But increasing the price of treasure banknotes like now is also harmful but not beneficial. ah."
The fact that the price of treasure banknotes is too high is not deflation in the economic sense. Deflation is nothing more than an economic phenomenon in which the overall price level continues to decline for a long time and the currency continues to appreciate during a period of relative economic contraction. Its essence is that total social demand continues to be less than total social supply.
But this is a slow process, not directly several times higher than the original face value like now. Strictly speaking, this kind of thing now should be called currency speculation.
Han Du took a deep breath and explained in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the current situation should be caused by the various magical features of the banknotes, which give the banknotes a great credibility. People are chasing the banknotes, thinking that Such treasures will never depreciate in value, and the price will only get higher and higher."
He raised his head, looked at Lao Zhu seriously, and said: "Now it is not the problem of the treasure notes themselves, but that some people have discovered that they can make a lot of money in this way, and they are constantly encouraging and guiding people to chase the treasure notes. Your Majesty, this is This situation cannot continue, otherwise there will be big trouble."
After hearing this, Lao Zhu was silent for a long time, and then said leisurely: "A treasure note, the credit rating is too low, but unexpectedly it is too high." He glanced at Han Du and continued: "The treasure note is not worth anything, it is a robbery. It's not okay to plunder people's wealth; if the treasure banknotes are valuable, it's just to induce people to make money, so why can't it be okay?"
"Your Majesty, the purpose of issuing treasure banknotes is to facilitate transactions and to facilitate the imperial court to control the overall management of the world, and is not for the benefit of a few people. The soaring momentum of treasure banknotes must be curbed, otherwise it will cause the common people to When the time comes, except for a few people at the top, the people at the bottom will compete to lose everything." In order to make Lao Zhu understand the seriousness of the matter, Han Du had to make the consequences more serious.
In fact, Han Du is not talking nonsense. Due to the small number of treasure notes issued, not many people can get the treasure notes, and the value of the treasure notes is not low. Therefore, treasure banknotes are mainly circulated in the hands of various wealthy businessmen, and the impact caused is actually not very big. After all, these wealthy businessmen are all wealthy owners, and losing a few hundred taels of silver is far from a traumatic experience for them. And spending some money to buy a few of their favorite things is completely worth it for them. The value of the treasure banknotes has minimal impact on these people.
Han Du was afraid. If the common people saw that it was too easy for these businessmen to make money, and they would join in and follow suit without any clues, it would be great fun.
Once the common people get involved, those at the top will quickly discover that they can make a fortune by speculating on the value of treasure notes. This is simply easier than bending down to pick up money. Those people will definitely not give up this way of making money. They will definitely unite with each other to form a force like a big banker.
How could the people at the bottom outsmart those big bankers with just a few taels of silver in their hands? At that time, once the treasure money fluctuates, countless people will lose everything. Those who commit suicide and jump into the Qinhuai River will definitely be like dumplings.
At that time, Han Du could not avoid being dragged by Lao Zhu to make dumplings by the Qinhuai River.
When Lao Zhu heard that it would cause the people to go bankrupt, his face turned bad instantly. He couldn't help but point at Han Du and said sternly: "You are the one who wants to issue the banknotes, and you are the one who wants to increase the credit of the banknotes at all costs. Now that such a mess is happening, what do you think we should do about it?"
Han Du saw Lao Zhu throwing the blame on himself, but he didn't dare to complain at all. First of all, I do have a responsibility in this matter. Secondly, now is not the time to shirk the blame, now is the time to race against time to find a way to cut off the foundation of the continuous soaring of treasure money.
Han Du took a deep breath, knelt on the ground, and said: "I implore the emperor to issue an order immediately. Firstly, it will be a prestige that the court will issue a large amount of treasure banknotes immediately, which will allow enough treasure banknotes to flow to the people. It will be very difficult to directly eliminate the treasure banknotes." This illusion is rare and precious.”
One of the reasons why the value of treasure banknotes has increased rapidly in a short period of time is that the magical properties of treasure banknotes have led people to believe that there are not too many of them and they are very rare. Therefore, based on the idea that rare things are valuable, people are chasing after them. Once treasure money is no longer rare, its value will naturally drop rapidly.
"Secondly, it is immediately announced to the world that the imperial court only recognizes the denomination of the treasure banknotes. A consistent treasure banknote is a consistent treasure banknote. Only consistent goods can be bought and sold. No one is allowed to increase the value of the treasure banknote without authorization, even by a penny. "
Regarding the first point, Lao Zhu nodded and had no opinion. But for Han Du's second point, I don't think this is feasible.
"Is this useful?"
Lao Zhu sighed and asked, "Even if the court only recognizes the denomination, it is impossible for the court to intervene in private transactions every time. Then when private transactions are conducted, shouldn't it be done as it should be?"
Even if the imperial court can control heaven and earth, it cannot control what all the people eat, drink and fart. In private transactions, one is willing to fight and the other is willing to suffer. The seller likes to receive a lot of money and sell two pieces of goods. How can the court control it?
Han Du naturally knew that it was impossible for the court to control every transaction of the people in every detail. This was impossible. The reason why he did this was just to take out the imperial court first in this commotion.
