Hu Zongxian looked at Su Ze, and Xu Wei also looked at Su Ze.
What Su Ze did in Jiangbei had not yet spread to Zhejiang. Xu Wei was thinking of Su Ze's lectures at Quzhou Academy.
Nowadays, under the propaganda of Hu Zongxian, Yi Di Hua Xia theory is very popular among young scholars in Zhejiang. Restoring the spirit of Zhu Xia has become a slogan for many scholars.
Su Ze's influence on Zhejiang is other than newspapers.
Hu Zongxian personally funded the publication of the newspaper in Hangzhou with Xu Wei as editor-in-chief.
This newspaper is called "Preparing for Japanese Illustrated News", which mainly publishes the latest news about Zhejiang's anti-Japanese war. It is considered a semi-official newspaper. Its sales have been good since its release. Xu Wei also wrote several articles in the newspaper calling for the anti-Japanese war. Japanese.
Everyone looked at Su Ze, who said calmly:
"Governor Hu, the imperial court appointed Fang Shibo as the envoy of Chaoguan, in charge of the affairs of Chaoguan in South Zhili and Zhejiang. This Chaoguan cannot be left to you to build."
Su Ze made it clear at the outset that he first pointed out the ownership of the power of Chao Guan. Hu Zongxian could not interfere in the preparation of Zhejiang Chao Guan.
Fang Wanghai straightened his back. This was obviously something he couldn't give in to.
To put it bluntly, this is a question of responsibility.
Hu Zongxian wanted to build his own Chaoguan in Zhejiang and raise funds to fight against the Japanese. If it caused civil unrest, it would be Fang Wanghai, the Chaoguan envoy, who would be held accountable by the court.
Clear responsibilities and powers are something that every scholar who has just entered the officialdom understands, and it is impossible for Fang Wanghai to take the blame for Hu Zongxian.
Hearing what Su Ze said, Hu Zongxian and Xu Wei both felt a little lower.
I heard Su Ze say again: "However, Governor Hu cannot build Chaoguan Pass. There is a workaround."
"What?"
Su Ze said: "Distribute money."
What?
Hu Zongxian and Xu Wei both looked at Su Ze in surprise, handing out money? What kind of solution is this?
Banknotes are precious banknotes. This thing's credit was completely bankrupt in the middle of the dynasty, and it was basically no different from waste paper.
Su Ze actually said that he would issue banknotes to raise funds to fight against the Japanese? Then it would be better to just let Hu Zongxian rob Zhejiang's big companies!
Su Ze said: "Why did the imperial treasure banknotes fail?"
Xu Wei said: "It's too much."
Anyone who knows a little bit about finance can tell this answer. Everyone present knows finance and nodded along with him.
Su Ze said: "This is the result of the excessive issuance of treasure banknotes. The reason is that the imperial court does not have a banknote book."
"The so-called banknotes are the deposit for issuing treasure banknotes. Since there is no banknote book and the court does not allow the use of banknotes to exchange for copper coins and silver, every time a banknote is issued, it only needs to be printed. Naturally, the banknotes will be indiscriminate. Too much."
"Businessmen and ordinary people are not fools. They know that the treasure banknotes are an unfunded transaction by the court, so naturally they are unwilling to use them, and the value of the treasure banknotes has plummeted."
Su Ze added: "Issuing treasure banknotes is a matter for the imperial court, and Governor Hu is not qualified to do it. What I mean is to issue a kind of paper coupon called 'Anti-Japanese Bonds' similar to treasure banknotes to raise funds for the anti-Japanese war. "
Xu Wei said rudely: "Since the issuance of treasure banknotes has failed, can the anti-Japanese coupons issued by the Governor's Office of Southern Zhejiang be used? Brother Rulin means to directly issue anti-Japanese coupons to large households and force them to share the anti-Japanese expenses. ?Isn’t that the same as pledging a donation?”
In fact, Hu Zongxian had already made pledges in Zhejiang, but unfortunately the big households in Zhejiang did not buy it, and forced pledges were too loud. Officials from Zhejiang had considerable influence in the court. Zhu Wan and Zhang Jing learned from their mistakes, and Hu Zongxian Naturally, I don’t dare to push too hard.
Su Ze said: "I just said that the reason for the depreciation of the treasure banknotes is that there is no banknote book. If the anti-Japanese coupons have a banknote book, wouldn't they be able to be sold?"
"If we have banknotes, why bother to issue anti-Japanese coupons?" Xu Wei only felt that there was something wrong with Su Ze's words. If we had the capital, we could just use silver. Why should we print anti-Japanese coupons?
Through the failure of Jiaozi in the Song Dynasty and Baochao in the early Ming Dynasty, scholars in the Ming Dynasty actually had a lot of understanding of credit currency. In order to save Baochao, the Ming Dynasty carried out banknote rescue campaigns in three dynasties, but they all failed in the end.
Su Ze smiled and said: "Who said banknotes must be made in silver?"
Su Ze said: "You can use banknote tariffs as banknotes, and merchants can use anti-Japanese coupons to offset banknote tariffs."
Hu Zongxian and Xu Wei looked at each other, and Su Ze said:
"The anti-Japanese bonds are linked to the revenue from banknote tariffs. For a one-year period, the issuance amount is the estimated banknote tariff in Zhejiang for one year."
"Businessmen can use anti-Japanese coupons to offset banknote tariffs. At the end of the year, the Bank of China will take the anti-Japanese coupons received from Zhejiang and go to the Zhejiang governor's office to exchange the anti-Japanese coupons into silver and hand them over to the court."
"After one year, if there are no anti-Japanese coupons used to offset taxes, the governor's office will redeem them."
Hu Zongxian and Xu Wei were both extremely smart people, and they immediately began to think about Su Ze's method.
Hu Zongxian thought for a while, then directly touched his palms and said: "Wonderful! It's really wonderful!"
Su Ze's plan can be said to have taken into account the interests of both Fang Wanghai and Hu Zongxian.
The Customs Department was Fang Wanghai's authority. If there was a problem with the Customs Department, the court would definitely accuse Fang Wanghai.
However, by issuing "anti-Japanese coupons", the Bank of China Customs was still in the hands of Fang Wanghai, but Hu Zongxian could also achieve his goal and borrow money from the Bank of China to fight against Japan.
For Fang Wanghai, his duty is to collect customs taxes and send them to the capital every year.
The banknotes, customs duties, and silver collected on weekdays are all piled up in the warehouse. If we use the "anti-Japanese coupons" method, we only need to exchange the anti-Japanese coupons into silver from the Zhejiang Governor's Yamen next year, and Fang Wanghai will be able to do so. I can make a report to the court.
But Xu Wei thought of going one step further.
He said: "If we wait until next year and issue new anti-Japanese coupons, the Zhejiang governor's office will be able to collect money?"
Su Ze showed a teachable expression.
Fang Wanghai also nodded immediately. As long as there are no problems with the issuance of anti-Japanese bonds in the first year, they can also be issued in the second year.
In other words, this method can ensure that the Bank of China Customs Department can get money every year.
This method is wonderful!
Fang Wanghai also nodded. He was naturally willing to help Hu Zongxian fight against the Japanese within his ability, otherwise he would not even meet this meeting.
If Su Ze's plan can be implemented, it can be said to be a win-win situation for Hu Zongxian and Fang Wanghai.
Xu Wei was the one who understood finance best among the people present. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Su Ze's method was really wonderful!
The governor's yamen issued anti-Japanese coupons, which were used to deduct taxes from the banknotes and customs offices, and were converted into silver by the banknotes and customs offices the next year.
The governor's yamen can issue anti-Japanese coupons for the new year. As long as this cycle can continue, this is equivalent to having an extra year of banknotes and customs duties at the governor's yamen's disposal.
For businessmen, as long as they can be used to deduct taxes, the resistance to purchasing anti-Japanese coupons is not that great.
Since you have to pay taxes anyway, you might as well buy anti-Japanese coupons first, so as to gain a good reputation for supporting the anti-Japanese war.
And Xu Wei thought of a deeper level.
In this way, the Chaoguan Department was actually tied to the Zhejiang Governor's Yamen. Hu Zongxian would definitely support Fang Wanghai in promoting the Chaoguan Department in Zhejiang, because whether the Chaoguan Department could collect taxes would naturally determine the fight against Japanese aggression. The total amount of bonds that can be issued.
Su Ze's move was tantamount to asking Hu Zongxian to fully support Fang Wanghai's banknote business.
It's so subtle.
Su Ze continued to smile and said: "Actually, there is another way to play this set."
Hu Zongxian and Xu Wei were both sitting upright, listening to Su Ze say:
“In addition to one-year terms, anti-Japanese coupons with two-year and three-year terms can also be issued in the future.”
Xu Wei frowned and said, "How can the businessman be willing to buy it?"
Su Ze said with a smile: "As long as the government pays interest, people will naturally be willing to buy it."
Hu Zongxian frowned and said, "Give interest?"
Su Ze said: "The value of money today and money two years from now are different."
"Governor Hu should know how high the interest rates on private loans are now. Because there are tax credits on banknotes and government credit guarantees, the government interest rates can be lower. But as long as there is money to be made, big buyers will naturally come to buy them."
Hu Zongxian looked at Xu Wei, who exclaimed: "It's really wonderful!"
Xu Wei stood up and bowed to Su Ze: "Brother Rulin is one of the most talented in the country!"
Su Ze received a full courtesy from Xu Wei, and he gave Hu Zongxian advice, naturally for the purpose of fighting against the Japanese.
Rebellion is rebellion, but Su Ze will never disrupt the anti-Japanese war because of rebellion.
It is difficult to comment on Hu Zongxian's history, but after getting in touch with him today, Su Ze only felt that he was really dedicated to resisting the Japanese.
Some people would say that the Japanese pirates in the southeast are mainly Ming pirates, but they deny the national character of resisting Japanese pirates.
But in Su Ze's view, Hu Zongxian, Qi Jiguang, and Yu Dayou, who protected the people against the Japanese pirates when they harassed the people, were national heroes!
From Hu Zongxian, Xu Wei, and Yu Dayou, Su Ze did see the brilliance of their humanity and their determination to resist the Japanese.
Of course Su Ze is willing to support them.
As for the anti-Japanese bond and banknote tariff laws, will they enhance the financial capabilities of the Ming Dynasty and create obstacles for future rebellions?
Su Ze sneered in his heart. Now that the banknote tariff law and anti-Japanese bonds are in the hands of people like Fang Wanghai and Hu Zongxian, it is naturally beneficial to the country.
But as long as they take office, this good method of arbitraging the country and benefiting the people will inevitably degenerate into an evil method that accelerates the collapse of the Ming Dynasty.
There is no shortage of good methods in history. What is really lacking is people who can implement good methods.
Wang Anshi's reforms can be regarded as good methods that benefit the country and the people. However, when Wang Anshi fell, some of the reforms were abolished and some of them became evil laws that exploited the people of the Song Dynasty.
At least now Su Ze believes that under the auspices of Hu Zongxian and Xu Wei, the anti-Japanese coupons will become a good strategy to help Zhejiang fight against the Japanese.
As for the future, just believe in the wisdom of future generations and that will be all.
Immediately afterwards, Xu Wei asked Su Ze about the details of issuing "anti-Japanese coupons" at the table.
Including details on how to prevent counterfeiting and how to call on large consumers to buy.
Hu Zongxian and Fang Wanghai began to exchange drinks. The two seemed to hit it off, and the more they talked, the more speculative they became.
Su Ze was also quietly observing Hu Zongxian, and he quickly came to the conclusion that the evaluation of Hu Zongxian in the history books was very accurate.
He is a person who understands "contingency" very well. The so-called contingency, to put it nicely, means that his methods are flexible and he is not pedantic in doing things.
To put it bluntly, he is good at using intrigues and tricks, and has many tricks to do things.
As long as he can lead the fight against Japan, he can work with Zhao Wenhua to frame Zhang Jing.
If he can get support for the anti-Japanese war, he can cling to Yan Song.
Today, in order to fund the anti-Japanese war, he could visit Fang Wanghai at all costs.
But on the other hand, in order to fight against the Japanese, he could promote powerful generals like Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang.
In order to fight against Japan, he could recruit talented people like Xu Wei and Wen Zhengming.
In order to fight against the Japanese, he could risk everything. It is also said in the history of the Ming Dynasty that when Hu Zongxian's family property was raided, his family had no money left, so he was indeed an upright official.
It was his character that could put an end to the Japanese rebellion in the Jiajing Dynasty, and it was his character that prevented him from ending well in the end.
But in other words, if it weren’t for Hu Zongxian, could the Japanese rebellion still be solved?
There are no ifs in this world. Su Ze naturally does not want to be someone like Hu Zongxian, but this does not prevent him from helping Hu Zongxian fight against the Japanese.
The conversation between two high-ranking officials is naturally indispensable for the court.
The biggest thing happening in the court today is that the former Minister of Civil Affairs, Li Mo, was dismissed from office and imprisoned. The latest news is that a high-ranking official like Li Mo died in prison.
There was a lot of discussion in the court, and everyone began to attack Yan Song for persecuting Li Mo to death.
Immediately afterwards, according to Yan Song's recommendation, Li Ben, a bachelor, was put in charge of the official affairs and began to conduct an official inspection of the officials in the capital, which was the so-called "capital inspection".
During this Beijing inspection, a large number of officials in the Six Ministries and Jiuqing Yamen were demoted, and many officials were dismissed from office, ordered to serve in official positions, transferred to external appointments, and thirty-eight imperial censors were dismissed at once.
This time the "Beijing Inspection" can be said to be a complete victory for the Yan Party. The ministers and officials who criticized Yan Song in the past were all cleared out, and the Qingliu faction headed by Xu Jie was dealt a heavy blow.
Fang Wanghai knew that Hu Zongxian was Yan Song's disciple, but he was still a little aggrieved when talking about the court.
Hu Zongxian did not defend Yan Song, but sighed and said: "Such a drastic act does not seem to be the work of Enxiang."
Fang Wanghai understood what Hu Zongxian meant. Yan Song was old, and with his scheming character, he shouldn't be so overbearing in his methods.
Li Mo is already politically dead, there is no need to kill him.
The commotion in Jingcha was so great that although a group of people were expelled, it also made Qingliu more united.
The situation in the imperial court has never been a matter of one-night disputes. This time, everyone is in danger because of such a move. Even the emperor will be wary because of the strong power of the strict party.
This does not seem to be done by the wily Yan Song. The only one who can do this is Yan Song's son Yan Shifan.
Hu Zongxian said: "Mr. Xiaoge is too tough in his actions."
Fang Wanghai sighed. Fortunately, he, the Minister of Household Affairs, was the Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing. If he were at this level in the capital, he might not be able to serve for a whole day.
During this banquet, the two officials reached an agreement.
Hu Zongxian fully supported Fang Wanghai's preparations to build Chaoguan in Zhejiang, and Fang Wanghai also supported Hu Zongxian's issuance of anti-Japanese coupons.
After bidding farewell to Hu Zongxian, Fang Wanghai went south again, but this time he had to take a detour to visit an old friend.
I finally finished writing this paragraph. It was so difficult to write.
I don’t know what you think of this kind of financial plot, because I haven’t read much about it in other books.
(End of chapter)
