Zhang Yue returned to the Sansi Yamen from Duyanyuan, but he saw an official waiting at the door. As soon as he saw Zhang Yue returning to the Yamen, he stepped forward to greet him: "Judge Zhang, the deputy has been waiting for you in the Salt and Iron Hall for half a day. "
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue knew that Fan Shidao was still the boss who implemented everything, and if he said he wanted results today, he would get results today.
Zhang Yue immediately went to the Salt and Iron Hall to meet Fan Shidao.
But seeing Fan Shidao sitting in the hall with a straight face, Zhang Yue immediately went to the vestibule and said, "I've seen Deputy Ambassador Fan!"
Fan Shidao said with a bad face: "Why isn't Judge Zhang in the Yamen today? Don't you remember that today I asked you to come up with the charter immediately?"
Fan Shidao's expression was very serious, as if he was in the harsh winter.
Zhang Yue said: "Reporting to Deputy Envoy Fan, he has just taken up his post and is unclear about everything. So today I asked Zhang Kongmu to accompany me to Duyanyuan to find out what is going on. Now I will go back to the hall and give my report."
"Oh?" Fan Shidao asked, "What did Judge Zhang say?"
Zhang Yue said: "The salt banknotes in Beijing are soaring now because there is no banknotes to give out in the Salt Courtyard, so the merchants are panicking and chasing the rise and killing the fall!"
Fan Shidao said: "Nowadays, the big merchants in Beijing are manipulating the price of salt. There is nothing they can do about it."
Zhang Yue said: "No matter how big the shop is, as long as the power of issuing banknotes lies with the court, the court will not be afraid of not being able to lower the salt banknotes. Now that the price of salt banknotes in Beijing has dropped, the Shaanxi Transportation Department needs to be transferred to the banknotes, but the Luo Supervisory Academy is only willing to give seven Qian Xi!”
Fan Shidao raised his eyebrows and asked, "What did you say?"
Zhang Yue explained the process again.
Fan Shidao's face was livid. Just when Zhang Yue thought that the other party was going to be angry, he saw Fan Shidao scolding: "Xue Xiang, this old man, is really bullying people! This person"
"Who are you trying to fool with seven thousand salt notes?"
Zhang Yue said: "This official has a low reputation. When he saw everyone in the courtyard kneeling on the ground, he... softened his heart."
Fan Shidao sneered and said: "It's just a trick. This old man has many dirty tricks. The court has also tricked him many times, let alone you."
"This time the Third Division asked him to issue salt banknotes to relieve the difficulties in the salt courtyard. What did he say? He said that the reason why salt banknotes soared was because a few merchants monopolized the salt banknotes in the market. The imperial court needed to change the large banknotes to Small banknotes not only make circulation easier for the people, but also make salt banknotes more widely circulated!"
"He said that if the court allows him to make this proposal, he is willing to print an additional 200,000 pieces of small banknotes!"
Zhang Yue was also stunned after hearing Fan Shidao's words.
This Xue Xiangzhen can be described as...I can't describe it in words for a while. I want to scold you but I can't find an adjective for a while.
What is a small note?
Generally, when merchants pick up salt, they have a fixed denomination. For example, they will be given as many seats as they pay, such as three hundred and twenty seats, one hundred and thirty-five seats, etc. There is no specific amount.
The smallest table weighs one hundred and sixteen pounds, worth six thousand dollars.
Large merchants will definitely buy hundreds of banknotes, but small merchants without strong funds and those wealthy people cannot spend so much money to buy banknotes in one go.
The so-called small notes mean that one seat is changed to sixty kilograms, and small notes worth three guan are issued. At the same time, small-denomination salt banknotes such as one, two, five, ten, twenty, and fifty salt banknotes were issued in large quantities to increase the sales of salt banknotes.
Anyway, it’s just going down layer by layer.
To put it bluntly, after we have defrauded the big investors, let’s defraud the retail investors again!
But the fact is that the output of Jieyanyanchi is only that much every year, and it will not increase because you issue large and small banknotes. What will be the final result?
…
When the streets were full of salt banknotes, the imperial court closed the capital salt courtyard and everything was clean.
Why does Wang Anshi appreciate so many people?
Zhang Yue and Fan Shidao couldn't help but share the same hatred: "Switching to small banknotes can indeed increase the profits of the northwest, but once there are more and more salt banknotes on the market for a long time, it will not be released, and it will eventually destroy the imperial court's banknote method. !”
Master Fan said: "Of course! I see the same thing as you do. The matter of small money is never feasible! However, there are many people in the government and the public who support Xue Xiang, and they also praise him as a follow-up official and an outstanding person. It is really irritating. hateful!"
Zhang Yue then immediately followed the leader to spit out a few words about Xue Xiang, and also expressed a few words of loyalty in a timely manner.
Fan Shidao originally thought that Zhang Yue was sent by Han Qi to confront him, but now his suspicion is relieved.
After Zhang Yue was released from Sansi, he found out that Shiqi Niang had prepared a table of dishes and was waiting for him at home, and was about to get on the carriage and go home. But he saw a person waiting in front of him. This person was none other than his brother-in-law Wu Anshi.
Wu Anshi immediately pulled Zhang Yue into the carriage in the name of attending a banquet. Zhang Yue wanted to refuse, but in the end he couldn't disgrace his uncle's face.
After they arrived at a house in Tianshui Lane, they passed through a long and winding alley, and the winding path led to a house next to the Bian River.
Zhang Yue and Wu Anshi walked into the house. Although it looked inconspicuous from the outside, the inside was extremely gorgeous, with pavilions and pavilions. You could also see the scene of the lanterns on the Bian River being lit up everywhere.
It was early summer, and it was really refreshing to have such a good place to enjoy the river view in Bianjing. Zhang Yue just thought about it and glanced at Wu Anshi beside him, but he couldn't help but be wary.
There was a painting boat parked near the river, and Wu Anshi immediately quoted a chapter and got on the boat.
But I saw that there were pavilions on all sides of the boat, and there were several people sitting there. When they met Zhang Yue, Wu Anshi all stood up and saluted. Zhang Yue looked at the people who came, and Superintendent Luo, whom he had met in Duyan Courtyard during the day, was among them.
There is also Xia Boqing, the son of Xia Anqi and another son-in-law of the Wu family.
However, Superintendent Luo and Xia Boqing are not the real protagonists today. Wu Anshi introduced a young man to Zhang Yue and said: "This is the son of the current Shaanxi Transportation Department Xue Caoshuai's family..."
Zhang Yue glanced at this person, who smiled and said: "Xue Shaopeng, I have long admired the name of Duke Zhuangyuan. Wu Dalangjun and I are close friends, but we have been in the northwest in recent years. Otherwise, I would have known Duke Zhuangyuan through Wu Dalangjun."
Wu Anshi introduced Zhang Yue with enthusiasm: "This Mr. Xue is a generous and generous person, and he loves making friends the most in his life."
Zhang Yue already knew that his Yue family had close contacts with the Shaanxi Transportation Department.
Meeting Xue Shaopeng, Zhang Yue nodded, and Zhang Yue met with Xia Boqing again. Xia Boqing's father, Xia Anqi, once served as the transfer envoy to Shaanxi.
Afterwards, Luo Supervisor stood up and said to Zhang Yue: "I don't know that Bachelor Zhang is the son-in-law of Wu Taishou. Please forgive me for my disrespect."
Zhang Yue said calmly: "Luo Supervisory Academy's words are serious."
His father-in-law, Wu Chong, had previously served as the magistrate of Shaanxi Province and had also been in charge of the northwest.
After everyone took their seats, there were singers and dancers on the side, who went into the boat to pour wine for everyone, and then entertained them with singing and dancing. Appreciating the beautiful scenery facing the Bianhe River, and hearing it removed in a tactful way, can be regarded as a beautiful thing. However, Zhang Yue had something in his heart, but he was always tense. Although there were singers and dancers to persuade him to drink, he always drank less.
Xue Shaopeng smiled at Zhang Yue and said, "We are all members of our own family here. Why don't Mr. Sanlang have a drink and let everyone get drunk together!"
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "If this wine is not intoxicating, everyone will get drunk. I have drunk too much now."
Xue Shaopeng and everyone laughed.
Soon Wu Anshi asked the singer and dancer to step aside, and Zhang Yue knew that the real conversation had begun.
At this time, Xue Shaopeng said: "Today I heard that the Luo Prison Court offended Mr. Sanlang. I am really uneasy. I will take advantage of today's wine to make amends."
Luo Jianyuan stood up quickly and punished himself with three large glasses of wine. He was obviously in awe in front of Xue Shaopeng. Zhang Yue couldn't help but take a high look at Xue Xiang. Luo Jianyuan was an official from the capital, but he was just a pawn in front of Xue Shaopeng.
Zhang Yue raised his glass and said, "Everyone should do his or her own business. If I offend anyone, I'm being serious!"
Xue Shaopeng smiled boldly and said: "Since we are a family, let's talk straight to the point. Previously, the Luo Supervisory Academy said that it would only give 7,000 salt notes, but I felt that it was less. He didn't know that Zhang Xuesheng was the son-in-law of Wu Taishou. Now Brother Wu and Xia Brothers are here, and we have been friends for many years, not to mention that Mr. Sanlang is under the orders of the Queen Mother, so I need to support him no matter what."
"I, the Shaanxi Transportation Department, gave 50,000 salt banknotes to the Capital Salt Institute in one go!"
Zhang Yue said: "Then what should I do?"
Xue Shaopeng said: "It's very simple, as long as Mr. Sanlang can facilitate the matter of small bills, it doesn't need to be done this year, it can be done next year."
Zhang Yue said: "Brother Xue means that from next year, the Shaanxi Transportation Department will print an additional 200,000 small notes every year. Now the Shaanxi Transportation Department prints 1.77 million seats a year, and after printing more small notes, it will increase to 100,000 small notes every year." Nine hundred and seventy thousand seats, but?"
Xue Shaopeng nodded and said: "Of course!"
Zhang Yue said: "This cannot be done. This person, Deputy Envoy Fan, has already told me that he will never print small banknotes! Besides, the provincial governor does not approve of this."
At this time, Xia Boqing said: "Don't worry, Fan Shidao has been serving as the deputy envoy of Yantie for a short time. As for Cai Junmo, he is now involved in the suspicion of being a reserve, and he cannot protect himself!"
Xia Boqing seemed very confident in what he said.
Wu Anshi also said: "Brother-in-law, look at Brother Xue, what Brother Xia said is quite reasonable. As long as you facilitate this matter, there will be an explanation from the Queen Mother and Prime Minister, and the people of the capital will be grateful for your kindness, and at the same time you will help Xue Big job, brother."
Xue Shaopeng said with a smile: "Yes, if it weren't for the sake of Brother Wu and Wu Shibo, who should not give such a big credit? Why do you have to push it to Mr. Sanlang? Mr. Sanlang might as well think about this matter carefully and don't rush to answer. , come let’s drink.”
After saying this, Xue Shaopeng raised his glass to drink.
Zhang Yue stopped drinking, but said: "Brother Xue, there is no need to think about it, I will answer it today. In my opinion, the court's banknote method is the most important, and what this banknote method relies on is trust." Two words!”
"Since the introduction of salt banknotes, wealthy families in the past have preferred to store salt banknotes rather than copper utensils. Why? It is because of the credibility of the court. If false banknotes are issued indiscriminately, there is only one consequence: the credibility of the court will be lost. Save! As the inspector of the Sansidu Salt Case, I cannot advocate this matter in any way!"
After hearing Zhang Yueyi's words, everyone looked at each other in shock. Wu Anshi looked a little ugly. He did not expect Zhang Yue to refuse so completely.
If he wanted to refuse, he would have to wait until he got home. Wouldn't such an on-the-spot objection make it impossible for everyone to step down?
At this moment, Zhang Yue said: "Brother Xue, I am bound to get these 50,000 salt notes, but I will not agree to the 200,000 small notes. But since Brother Xue regards me as a friend, I have a way to get the best of both worlds. , can you guys listen to it?"
Xue Shaopeng said seriously: "Please say something!"
