If you want to say who has the biggest family in Xi'an, it has to be King Qin! The twenty-four kings of Shaanxi and Gansu were headed by King Qin. His great-grandfather was the second son of Taizu. He had the greatest military exploits among the princes and attacked the most cities.
King Ning in Yinchuan City had a higher seniority, but he came from Taizu's younger brother's branch, so he was farther away.
Others include King Su, King Gan and King Liang, followed by King Jingyang, King Lintong, King Liyang, King Heyang, and then King Yichuan, King Yongxing, King Xingping, King Yongshou, etc. wait.
The King of Qin had a high status and his palace occupied a vast area. In addition, Xi'an Palace was also the Xijing of this dynasty, so when the palace was originally built, certain functions as a palace were also taken into consideration.
The entire palace city of the Qin Dynasty includes the palace city wall and the inner wall, each of which is protected by an outer hao. The palace wall is two feet and seven feet high, two feet wide at the top, and nine miles long. It is almost the size of a medium-sized county town.
It contains the Yiwei Department, the Wang Xiang Yamen Office, the Chang Shi Yamen Office, the royal palace treasury, the ancestral hall, etc. The inner wall is two feet six feet high, one foot seven feet wide at the top, and five miles in circumference. The shape of the inner wall is a bit like a knife, narrow in the west and wide in the east.
About 240 paces wide in the west is the residential area and garden of King Qin's mansion. There is a door on the wall in the middle that can connect to the east. The east side is 460 paces wide.
Starting from Duanli Gate, there are Hui'an Gate, Chengqing Palace, Chengyun Hall, Taihe Hall, and Chongqing Gate. To the left and right of Chengqing Palace are the east and west halls, which are places for receiving officials or female family members.
Behind Chongqing Gate is Wenxinfang on the left, Wanyou Pavilion on the right, and Daguanfang and Yichun Garden behind it. The first half of the East Road is where government affairs are handled and ceremonies are held, while the north of Chongqing Gate is where people study and receive education, as well as the garden.
But in fact, the King of Qin stayed in Xijing on behalf of the emperor, and the eastern part was generally not used except for weddings and funerals. Even entering and exiting were through the west gate (Zunyi Gate). The north gate is directly opposite the double road and is called Guanghe Gate. The east gate is southeast of Chongqing Gate and is called Liren. Door).
The western half is the real Qin Prince's Mansion. If you look at it from this perspective, his family is not much bigger than the Lintong Prince's Mansion.
The palace gate opens to the west, which is really new! Li Dan turned his back to Zunyi Gate, holding on to the white marble railing and admiring the Yitong Bridge in front of him.
This is a wooden bridge, painted with vermilion paint all over. The bridge deck is slightly raised at a very suitable angle, like a rainbow spanning between the two banks of the inner trench.
The water in Haonei comes from the Longshou Canal, and it should be filtered in some way to be very clear. Looking down, you can see the trout, carp, bighead carp and crucian carp swimming in the water freely, without any disturbance from the human world.
"Master Li!" A voice called from the city gate, and the echo buzzed in the door. Li Dan turned around and saw a tall man hurriedly walking out, wearing a green official robe and a moon-white collar, and bowed to him:
"I am under the command of King Qin, Chief Shi Du Xian. I have been sent by Qiansui to welcome you."
"Lord Lao Du." The official's voice was loud and his eyes were like stars, which impressed Li Dan very much.
According to Lin Yutang's report, the King of Qin's Prime Minister was the original King's Fu, and he was very good at it, but not good at handling vassal affairs, so the actual power actually rested with Du Xian. "I've heard Master Du's reputation as a virtuous man for a long time, and it's true that I saw him today."
Du Xian laughed loudly: "Master Li, I already knew that you are a practical and capable minister, so we won't be polite and don't come and go again.
Although I have a long history, I am actually an official who was transferred from the military examination to the civil service. However, I have not been able to change my temper for many years. I am still as straightforward as ever. E said, before you are in front of the king in the court, your forehead will be matched with words. How about calling the official Zi Xu? "
"Why are you embarrassed?" Li Dan humbly gave in, but changed his words and asked: "Brother Zixu, I heard that Qiantose has been in poor health, so I came here to visit today. What is the situation?"
"It's an old problem. Chitose started to suffer from rheumatism not long after he inherited the throne. I don't know why he got rheumatic pain. Normally, this kind of thing will only be uncomfortable when it's cloudy and cold, but Chitose can't get out of bed from time to time. He has been seen by many imperial doctors. Don’t use it.”
Du Xian sighed and said, "At first I could walk in the fields, but later I could only ride in a chariot sedan. Originally, when the imperial envoy arrived, he should have been greeted at the Chengyun Hall, but now I have to keep it simple. I hope you will accept it, Zedong."
Li Dan hurriedly waved his hand and said not to take it to heart. Then he said: "I came to Shaanxi under the holy order, and by the way, I would like to express my greetings to Qian Sui on behalf of Your Majesty.
They also brought King Peng, King Fu, and King Fengning of Jiangxi, King Tan, King Hengyang, and King Yiyang of Hunan.
, King Fan and King Ding of Hebei, King Zhou and King of Wei of Henan, King Xiangfan of Hubei and other kings entrusted me to bring you gifts and letters of greetings.
All the clan members are very concerned about Chitose! "
Du Xian thanked him and felt enlightened. He asked with a smile, "Why, do all these royal family members know that Ze is coming?"
"To be precise, I know that my brother is here to revitalize the economy of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia, so I am willing to contribute a small amount."
"Oh!" Du Xian did not continue the topic, and guided Li Dan through a garden after entering the house, and then to the courtyard, where there were two rows of houses facing south.
Li Dan's eyes lit up. The gentle sloping roof, the huge brackets, the black-painted pillars and the small sill windows, my God, this kind of Tang-style building with far-reaching eaves is hard to see elsewhere!
They took off their boots at the door and stepped on the thick carpet, which was soft and dense under their feet and made no sound.
The King of Qin was about forty years old and looked pretty good. He had many cushions and pillows on his back. He greeted Li Dan and apologized that he was not in good health and could not go out to meet the imperial envoy.
Li Dan showed some humility, presented Zhao Tuo's autographed letter, and conveyed the Queen Mother's greetings. King Qin expressed his gratitude and instructed Li Dan to have a meal in the side hall. Wang Xiang, the prince, and General Du Xian represented him together. Keep company.
This interview is over. Li Dan was brought out by Du Xian, but he did not go to the side hall immediately. He wanted to take a closer look at this Tang Dynasty building.
This building originally had an I-shape as a whole, that is, there was a small hall connecting the front and rear halls. The entire hall seems to be seven rooms wide, and the corridor garden covers an area of more than ten acres. The owner can move around within the hall without going out.
Li Dan looked up and down the hall for a long time, then came out to look around, and then followed the incomprehensible Du Xian to eat.
Zhao Fang, the eldest son of King Qin, is the uncle of the current emperor in terms of seniority, but he is only eleven years younger.
A pair of big round eyes looked at Li Dan for a long time, and after being reminded by Wang Xiang (who was also the Crown Prince), he returned the favor, and then said, "So you are that Li Sanlang?"
"What, have you disappointed His Highness?" Li Dan half-knelt down and asked him with a smile.
"You are very tall. I wonder if your strength is as strong as they say?" Zhao Fang said seriously.
Li Dan turned around and looked around. They were all clean. Then he pointed at the pebbles on the ground in the yard and said, "Your Highness, you can just find the one you think is the hardest."
Zhao Fang really ran out and picked one up and brought it back. Li Dan took it, put it on the ground and asked everyone to take a few steps back, smiled, took a deep breath, slapped it down with his palm, raised his hand and patted the powder on it and said: "Your Highness, now you know my strength?"
Looking at the scattered gravel on the ground, Zhao Fang opened his mouth and nodded. Li Dan laughed loudly: "Come on, let's go eat. Only when we are full can we have the strength to practice martial arts. One day, your highness may be able to surpass me!"
During the dinner, Wang Xiang suggested that Li Dan should not lead the prince to practice martial arts. Du Xian turned cold and Li Dan said with a smile: "Your Highness, practicing martial arts can strengthen your body, but how can you really let him mount a horse to fight and fight head-on?" Kill the enemy?
I hope that your highness will have both civil and military skills. This is the western border that the emperor hopes for. "As he spoke, he began to describe what Zhao Tuo hoped would be like in Shaanxi in the future.
Wang Xiang sighed and said it would be great to see this day. Li Dan looked at him carefully. The Prime Minister's name is Dou Wei. He is fifty-two years old this year, with a rosy complexion and a slightly prosperous appearance. "Don't worry, Mr. Dou, you will definitely be able to see it one day!" Li Dan said with certainty:
"The new banknote printing machine has arrived, we are looking for a location for the bank, and the three plots of land designated by the government are being evaluated. Now we are waiting for all the remaining funds to be received, and then we will start building the banknote printing plant.
But it is difficult to find a factory site. It must be a very safe and large enough plot of land, because a high wall will be built around it, and it must be downwind and close to water. "
"Is it okay to stay outside the city?" Du Xian suddenly asked.
"Of course!" Li Dan nodded.
"The Prince of Heyang once bought a piece of land outside Nanguo Gate to build a temple, but the matter was put aside due to the Jingnan crisis. Now the land is leased to others, and the profit is not great.
Sometimes King Heyang invited several princes to go on an outing and have fun, that's all. Du Xian said: "
Well, it seems that they have no interest in holding that piece of land. You may consider buying it. If you are interested, I can help you matchmaking. "
"Outside Nanguo Gate, but on Leyouyuan?"
Du Xian and Dou Wei were both stunned. They didn't expect that he would be so familiar with Xi'an just after arriving. "It's better to go to Leyouyuan, which is at the head of the pool." Dou Wei further explained.
"Oh, the north side of Qujiang Pool." Li Dan thought, wasn't that near the Xi'an Film Studio in his previous life? "Okay, I'll go check it out sometime and ask Brother Zixu to make an appointment with their manager for me."
Du Xian quickly agreed, and then asked tentatively: "Sir, do you really want to issue new banknotes? Can the old banknotes still be used?"
"It's up to people to use old ones or new ones." Li Dan smiled and took out a few Liao banknotes and handed them over:
"Look, this is the new banknote we issued in Liaoning Province. From now on, the new banknote in Shaanxi will be basically the same as this one, except that the issuing bank will be changed to the Royal Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Second Bank."
The two took it and were surprised to feel the crisp paper surface and clear printing. Li Dan showed them the watermark anti-counterfeiting technology and double-sided printing, which received continuous praise from them.
The prince took the banknote and shook it, and asked in surprise: "Why are the banknotes printed so small? I think others print banknotes in such big sheets!"
"Your Highness, this is special paper. It is prohibited by law to sell it to outsiders. Even the scraps must be burned in front of the guards on the same day. Therefore, this paper is extremely expensive. The larger the paper, the higher the production cost!
Furthermore, paper also has weight. If you hold a stack of paper, it will be thick and heavy. We made it small not only to save costs, but also the largest one can be held in one hand, making it very convenient for collecting, paying and carrying. "
"Oh, that's it." Zhao Fang nodded: "Then why does Mr. Li not want to use old banknotes?"
"Because there are too many old banknotes. How can dirty, tattered paper be used as money? It is just lighter than money, but has no other benefits, and it is also easy to be counterfeited by people with ulterior motives. How can such banknotes represent me? The Celestial Empire is rich in things and people?"
"That's right!" Zhao Fang clapped his hands: "So in the future, the whole world will use this new currency. This is what the Chinese government should have!"
"That's what I'm saying," Dou Wei was the more experienced one after all, and he immediately saw some problems: "The banknotes on the market today are not only miscellaneous, but also come from all dynasties. There are more banknotes and less money. How does Zedong plan to replace them? Is it a one-time exchange? One? You just said that it’s up to people to use new or old banknotes. Aren’t you worried that people will refuse to accept new banknotes?”
"Don't worry." Li Dan looked at Du Xian who was listening carefully: "First of all, our bank not only issues new banknotes, but also recycles old banknotes.
Everyone deposits their spare money in the bank, and the bank lends it out, and part of the proceeds is given as interest to depositors. This is different from today's banks.
Then when people see interest, they will enthusiastically put their spare money into the bank, even if it is only one tael, the bank will always accept it.
When he wants to use it, he takes his passbook to the bank to withdraw money. The bank will calculate the principal and interest for him, and then pay him with new banknotes. "
"I understand, eating old banknotes and pushing out new banknotes will make the market full of new banknotes without realizing it!" Du Xian tapped the table gently: "It's wonderful! But it still hasn't solved the problem of too much banknotes and few things. The issue of depreciation.”
Oh, a royal palace official actually understands currency devaluation? Li Dan couldn't help but look at him again, thinking to himself that no wonder the real power was not in Dou Wei's hands! "Brother Zixu is so right!" Li Dan smiled:
"So this time I brought representatives from hundreds of trading companies in Guandong, not only to let them participate in investment opportunities in Guanzhong.
Moreover, the first Northwest Business and Trade Expo will be held soon, allowing businessmen inside and outside the customs to communicate face to face and gain opportunities to get acquainted and sign contracts with each other.
This will lay the foundation for the circulation of goods after the switch, and it will definitely be an explosive growth, filling the land of Sanqin with all kinds of novel goods! Li Dan paused and said immediately:
"But this is not enough! People have no money, so what's the use of goods?" He looked at everyone: "So we need to build infrastructure, build roads, build bridges, repair city walls and dilapidated county schools and cultural temples. Use them. New money pays everyone.
The person who got the new banknotes opened
I must have been anxious at first, eager to spend the money I had never seen before, so I started shopping in large quantities... "
Li Dan spoke patiently and confidently. The more Du Xian listened, the more he understood. The more he understood, the more he realized that everything had been deduced by the young official.
As if he knew what was going to happen, he methodically arranged the next moves one after another, waiting for people to act according to their own arrangements!
"This man is really..." He praised in his heart: "No wonder the emperor sent him to Shaanxi!" He suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly:
"So, if we follow his footsteps, wouldn't it be that getting rich is just around the corner?" Thinking of this, he said, "Zedong just said that there is still some capital that has not been reached. Why? How much is left?"
"Oh, the capital that some princes promised to invest in the bank has not been delivered yet because of the long distance."
"Can the palace buy shares?" Dou Wei asked in surprise, "I thought this bank..."
"The Prime Minister thinks this bank belongs to lower-ranking officials?" Li Dan responded and told him with a smile: "Since it is a royal bank, it is naturally mainly funded by the royal family, but other people such as nobles and nobles can also do it.
The share of the lower officials is only one hundred and one. Of course, whether you want to buy shares or not is entirely voluntary, and the emperor repeatedly reminded you not to force yourself. "
Du Xian and Dou Wei looked at each other: "Qiantose, how much money does it cost to invest in this stock?"
"Any amount is fine. Chitose can subscribe for shares in units of ten taels, and the minimum subscription is ten shares, which is one hundred taels.
When we establish a new bank, we will register it with the government. From now on, Chitose can sell and transfer the stocks to others midway, or buy more stocks from others. However, these transactions need to be registered at the newly established stock trading hall of the Industrial and Commercial Association.
understand? That is to say, if the stock is very valuable, you may need to buy or sell it with a face value of 11 taels, and then you can make money. But if this trading company fails, a stock with a face value of 10 taels may only be sold for 9 taels, and you will lose money! "
Du Xian was shocked: "Can non-imperial relatives buy this stock?"
"When it is issued, it is only within the circle of royal family members, but anyone can participate in the sale..."
Listening to Li Dan's story, Dou Wei was still there, and Du Xian understood that this was a way to get the princes to spend money, to take out real gold and silver, and then use these precious metals to support banks in issuing new banknotes.
He neither cracked down on the people's tendency to use money, nor confiscated wealthy merchants, nor was he in a hurry to use troops abroad.
He is just constantly gathering and absorbing funds who are looking for ways to make money, relying on the emperor's shadow to make everyone trust him and this new bank! Du Xian began to understand the word Li Dan mentioned many times: trust.
According to him, the credit of banknotes comes from the bank, and the credit of the bank comes from His Majesty the Emperor. He raised the Liao banknote in his hand and looked at the flying dragon watermark on it again, and an idea came to him quickly.
Just when Li Dan was leaving the palace, he saluted and said goodbye to Zhao Fang: "Your Highness, there is a European and Western traveler in the shogunate. He wrote a book called "A Chronicle of Scenery along the Coast of Africa." This time I brought a set of printed copies. , will be sent to the palace along with the gifts.
If your Highness is interested, you can take it and have a look. Only then will you know what magical places there are tens of thousands of miles away from our heaven. "
"Okay!" Zhao Fang was overjoyed and took off a silver paper knife from his waist: "Here, I'll give this to you. It has my name on it. Next time you come, just show them this!"
Li Dan thanked him hurriedly. Du Xian walked out with him and saw him turning back to wave goodbye to Zhao Fang. He smiled and said, "His Highness likes you very much. He has never treated anyone like this before!"
"I have something to discuss with Brother Du and King Qin."
"What's up?"
It turned out that Li Dan looked at the Tang-style hall and felt that although it was vast and open, it was shady and cool inside, and the cold and dampness penetrated through the doors and windows and could not easily escape. He suggested that it be better to modify it.
"This..." Du Xian was a little embarrassed: "This hall was originally a relic of the Tang Palace built on Longshou Plateau. The late king loved it and couldn't bear to demolish it, so he moved it here unchanged. Zedong wants to change it... I'm afraid there is something wrong."
"I don't want to tear it down." Li Dan
He smiled and said, "I suggest covering the doors and windows with polyester to block the wind, and building a fire dragon tunnel under the main hall. We should carry out renovations based on the principle of restoring the old to make the hall more comfortable."
However, this is an environmental transformation. If Chitose is willing, I can ask the Empress Dowager for permission to send Princess Consort Wei Shaolong to diagnose and treat Chitose.
Wei's consort is a famous doctor recommended by the minister. He once consulted the empress dowager and the concubine. Maybe he can cure Chitose. "
"Of course this is the best." Du Xian handed over his hand and said, "Please ask Xiandi Zedong to talk to Chitose about becoming a shareholder!"
Two days later, news came out on the streets of Xi'an that King Qin had invested 150,000 taels in the new bank. Immediately afterwards, all the kings and nobles worked hard to follow up, and the businessmen were also excited for the upcoming expo.
There are rumors among the shops about the upcoming business stimulus measures, and every day you can hear the news that an adult or a wealthy family is hoarding a certain product.
But they didn't know that Biaoying actually left behind a detachment composed mainly of veterans from Liaodong. With the help of Lintong County Magistrate Zhu Qiyue, they quietly built a large storage base stretching for three miles in the mountains.
Large quantities of rice, flour, grain, oil, cloth, cotton, wool, and even needles, thread, and brains were shipped from Lujiang Circulation Trading Co., Ltd. and quietly stored here.
