Chapter 146
Gao Ju knew that he was going to "fight in the ring" with the Australians to set conditions. He secretly cursed that it was easier for you to talk to each other. He also has the worries of businessmen - no one is born with a high level of consciousness. Those who are willing to spend their free money to exchange for banknotes.
However, Gao Ji knew very well that the Senate was extremely determined to reform the currency this time. From several conversations with Liu Xiang and Zheng Shangjie, he knew that there was no room for change in this matter. The Qian Guild wants to implement it in a discounted way, but Australians simply won't accept it.
Gao Ji didn't know why the Senate wanted to carry out the new currency reform. In the past, Australians used currency notes in Hainan Island. He guessed it was because Australians were short of silver, and Guangdong was short of copper coins, so they had to use this method to make up for it. But now their situation is not what it used to be. If nothing else, the Senate defeated Zheng Zhilong, forced Liu Xiang to surrender, and wiped out and conquered all the sea masters in Fujian and Guangdong. Most of the business in the East and the West is now in their hands. Businessmen in Guangzhou estimate that this alone generates an annual income of three to four million taels of silver. Logically speaking, they should not be short of money at all.
Asking Australians to pay for their own expenses is outrageous frugality. Even the most vehemently anti-Kundian people have to admit that Australians have a humble diet. Apart from being good at women, their enjoyment of life is impeccable.
After much deliberation, Gao Ji couldn't think of anything on which Australians would spend a lot of money, so he came up with the idea of silver dollar circulation coupons.
Using silver dollars is naturally good, but using treasure banknotes is not good. Gao Ju is a businessman, and he knows that every time the imperial court takes economic measures, it will inevitably attract speculators who will make a fortune. caused by
He knows Guangzhou very well. Although the businessmen sitting here for the meeting are all the leading businessmen in the business world, the wealth they can mobilize is probably not one-tenth of the money in this city. In the dark houses of thousands of citizens, in the caves of the rockeries, in the stone rooms of the houses, under the stone slabs in the yards, and in the boxes in the bedrooms and studies, there is a large amount of wealth sleeping - if this money is used by others, it will be available in an instant. Destructive power. Even though the Australians had strong ships and guns and were defeated economically, they were still untenable in Guangzhou.
Thinking of this, Gao Ji felt vaguely worried about the Australians, m.≥.o↘m.
Worry is worry, the work arranged by Zheng Shangjie still has to be done. Once a new currency is issued, it must circulate unimpeded in the market.
He thought carefully and said: "Gao already knows what everyone means. However, the issuance of new coins is taken very seriously by the Senate. At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry that day, all the cheering people present were there, but there is room for emotional intelligence. ? I don’t think there’s much room for change.”
"Isn't it up to Mr. Gao to come forward? You are an old acquaintance of the Australians." Boss Zhu, "Even if there are some expenses, everyone is willing to repay, and we will never let Mr. Gao suffer."
His words were full of yin and yang, and he had excellent self-restraint skills. He just smiled and said: "The Senate's actions are different from those of hypocrisy. They have always been upright. Such methods are not useful."
Because this matter had a lot to do with Qian Ye, Liang Chenlong saw that Gao Ju was unwilling to come forward, so he asked again: "Is there no room for this matter?"
Gao Ju said: "Although Gao is a stranger, Wuyang City has been settled in Guangzhou Prefecture for more than 30 years. The whole family is here. The safety of Guangzhou and the quality of the market are all closely related to Gao. "
He first expressed his position, stating that he would never do anything to "sell out everyone's interests to please the Australians." Of course, this statement could not be made explicit. Naturally, everyone may not believe it, but that doesn't matter. If you have an attitude, you will be more convincing if you come out on your own.
"...It's just that this matter is regarded as a top priority by the Senate. I heard that a household minister has been sent to Guangzhou to supervise this matter. Even the two chief ministers Wen and Liu may not be able to intervene in this matter."
As soon as they said this, they looked at each other. The merchants present all looked disappointed. Everyone knows that the biggest backer for Gao Li is "Wen Xiang". If Minister Wen doesn't speak up, wouldn't everyone be in trouble? Regardless of whether this is true or not, Gao Zhou's refusal to speak out is enough to show the Australians' determination on this matter.
"I don't know how many of these currency notes will be issued? Those who are willing to exchange the currency notes for silver are the same as silver dollars." If there are too many notes and insufficient cash, then..." Liang Chenlong shook his head and stopped going.
This worry was shared by everyone, and now that he had clearly revealed it, the worries and dissatisfaction of each family suddenly poured out like water from a bursting dam, and the store in Jufeng suddenly became noisy.
Boss Zhu said angrily: "I think these circulation coupons will definitely be worthless in the future."
Gao Ju felt that his words were too arbitrary. Credit must be maintained by everyone. If the silver dollar circulation notes are not issued indiscriminately, the regulations are well-established, and there is no inconvenience when used in the market. With the support of all walks of life, the circulation notes should be able to maintain a stable value. Otherwise, the fraud will be unimaginable. . The market is in chaos. Even if some people can make a fortune out of the fire, the majority will suffer losses.
If it were the Ming Dynasty that was issuing circulation notes today instead of the Australians, then he would definitely avoid it and even use all resources to destroy it, because the Ming Dynasty gave merchants enough lessons on many things on the treasure banknotes. : I can’t believe what the government says. But Australians are different. Negotiable coupons have been used in Hainan for many years, and there is nothing wrong with them. Australians have always had a good reputation for keeping promises and keeping their word. Gao Zhi still trusts them.
He was silent at the moment. He only waited for the fierce discussion to slow down and everyone expressed their opinions but there was no conclusion before he spoke:
"Gao Mou has an opinion, and I'd like to ask you to consider it," he said. "This new Australian circulation voucher has just been issued. Although we don't know whether it is good or bad, we still have to think about the good and not the bad. Think about it. Although everyone needs to use banknotes when they are issued, our merchants are the ones who have the closest stakes. If the credit of circulating coupons is not good, our merchants will be the first to suffer, so we must help the credit of circulating coupons. Circulation coupon station Only when we are stable can our business be easy to do. Otherwise, the market is chaotic and the market changes every day, how can everyone still do business?"
Compared with the remarks about "seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages" that were all in the room just now, these words immediately gave people a refreshing feeling, and everyone suddenly became quiet.
"Hey!" Boss Mi said, "I can't believe that Mr. Gao still has such a big idea!"
Gao Zhou ignored his vague sarcasm and said: "Please think about it, everyone, this circulation voucher has been used in Qiongzhou Prefecture for four or five years, and I have never heard of anything wrong; Australians have always been the most talkative. Credibility. I will definitely not be so short-sighted as to kill the goose that lays the goose that lays the egg."
This statement is reasonable and well-founded, and no one can refute it - there are many people here who have been to Hainan and even Lingao. Facts speak louder than words.
Gao Ji then added: "How can you be smart in doing business? Thirteen levels of abacus, in and out, without missing a beat. This is smart. What matters is vision. The bigger the business, the farther the vision must be, everyone. We are all doing big business, and we must look at the overall situation.”
He lit a cigar for himself and slowly blew out the smoke ring: "Now the Ming Dynasty is troubled by internal and external troubles and is in turmoil. Qin has lost its deer, and the heroes of the world are chasing it. Please think about it, who is the strongest among the heroes of the world?" Who has the greatest ability?"
The Ming Dynasty is about to fall, and the Senate wants to fight for the world. This is something everyone knows. But no one has understood it so clearly yet. Everyone was stunned when they heard this, and felt a little enlightened.
"...The purpose of our business is to help the Senate win the war!"
"Master Gao," a businessman frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "I don't quite understand what you are saying."
"Then I will understand better." Gao Ju replied, "As long as the Senate can win the war, I will do it, even if it is a loss, this is not a loss, but a return of capital. The Senate has won the war, and the world is peaceful. , What kind of business is not easy to do? By that time, you have done your best, and the Senate will repay you, and doing business will be convenient. Think about it, is there any business more profitable than this? "
"That's true," it was shopkeeper Ding of the grain store who spoke. "Even if it doesn't give us any benefits, as long as the roads are calm and the people are peaceful, this business can be done."
When Gao Ju saw someone agreeing with him, he struck the iron rails while it was hot, "What is not in the future is what is in front of us: Since the Senate has eliminated pirates in the Fujian and Yue seas, now sugar, tea, porcelain and various mountain products from Fujian do not need to take the detour to Xiawuling in Jiangxi. If you go directly to Guangdong by sea, the price will be reduced by more than half - think about it, is this true?"
Although these words did not completely convince the merchants, at least there was no such strong resistance as before. After taking both hard and soft measures, the heads of various guilds finally agreed to cooperate with the issuance of new coins and fully use silver dollars and banknotes.
Liang Chenlong returned home in a sedan chair. Even though he said those words, he was still uneasy. Liang Chenlong's Maokang Bank was just a peer in the money industry and was not large in scale. However, he was a member of the same clan of the Liang family. With this relationship, he often made shady money transactions for the Jin gentry. Therefore, he had deep connections among the Jin gentry and became the leader of the Bankers' Guild.
When the Australians entered Guangzhou, Maokang's business suffered the biggest blow. Because his family has close business contacts with the banking industry in Beijing and South Beijing. Guangzhou changed its banner. Some of the gentry in the city fled and some lived in seclusion. North-south communication was also cut off. The exchange and lending business between Maokang and the two capitals was almost completely interrupted. Right now I'm just doing some local business maintenance.
He came to the outer study room where he worked and lived, and hurriedly wiped his face. He didn't even have time to drink the tea offered by the maid, so he spread out paper, grinded ink, and started writing a letter. (.)
