Qin Palace, study room.
Liu Yuzhi is reporting on currency and calendar issues.
These are two very big things. Therefore, when Xiao Yuan was reading the official document, Liu Yuzhi did not bother him at all. He did not speak until he finished reading: "According to the king's instructions, the Ministry of Revenue has already made a basic plan for the new currency." , these are the styles of the two new coins, please take a look at them."
As he spoke, he put two copper coins on the desk.
With the development of commercial transactions and markets, the commonly circulated coins such as knives, cloth, and shells are no longer suitable.
At the beginning, all the countries were enfeoffed, and each country had its own laws and policies.
For example, Chuxingbei coins and Liangdao coins are extremely troublesome to convert, creating a messy scene.
Xiao Yuan unified the world, and the unification of currency was inevitable.
Gold and silver are always hard currencies, and the basic currency is copper coins.
Although the two coins are mainly made of copper, they are different in size, color and feel. The materials are red copper and brass respectively.
The smaller one is made of brass, about the same size as a coin, with a square hole in the middle, in response to the ancient saying that the sky is round and the earth is round.
The other one is made of red copper and is more precious than brass.
Xiao Yuan played with the brass money and felt pretty good: "What can it buy?"
"Two or three buns."
Liu Yuzhi said: "According to the grain and cloth balance, in most areas today, one tael of silver can buy about 100 kilograms of grain. According to the currency conversion standard established by the king, one tael of silver can be exchanged for 300 brass coins and 30 red copper coins." pieces."
Xiao Yuan understood that in terms of purchasing power, this brass coin was equivalent to one yuan, a red copper coin was equivalent to ten yuan, and one tael of silver was equivalent to 300 yuan.
Three small copper coins can buy a pound of rice.
This is the best and most accurate data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development based on the nationwide grain, oil, rice and cloth production.
In the war-torn years when various countries were competing for hegemony, commodity prices fluctuated. Food cost 10 cents today and a hundred cents tomorrow. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was naturally impossible to allow this situation to occur again.
Under a unified currency, the purchasing power of this copper coin must also be determined.
Xiao Yuan picked up the red copper coin and admired it for a while. This one was not only more exquisite in workmanship, but also made of more precious materials.
After thinking for a while, he said: "In this case, the small copper coin is set as 1 penny, the large copper coin is set as 10 penny, and one tael of silver can be exchanged for 300 penny."
"Wen Qian is very good. Wei Chen has no objection." Liu Yuzhi agreed: "However, Wei Chen suggested that the two sides of the square hole of the copper coin should be engraved with the year number on the front and the upper value on the back."
"Yes, yes." Xiao Yuan nodded, put down the copper coins, and said, "Issuing currency as soon as possible is the top priority at the moment. The chaotic markets of various countries cannot continue like this."
"I understand that I will personally supervise the implementation and strive to make all people across the country use new coins within one year next year." Liu Yuzhi said.
"Half a year." Xiao Yuan said simply and neatly: "After the first batch of copper coins were minted, local governments were ordered to determine the exact value of the copper coins. At the same time, the old copper coins could be exchanged for the same value with silver, which could be used to recast new coins. currency."
"When the new currency becomes popular quickly and the old currency is taken back by the state, it will naturally not appear again."
Liu Yuzhi thought for a moment and said, "Yes, I will do my best."
Xiao Yuan looked at him and suddenly sighed.
Liu Yuzhi was puzzled and slightly confused.
The Prime Minister is only in his forties, but he already looks obviously old, and his beard has turned gray.
He is the kind of old man who cares about the country and the people and is overworked.
There was unhideable worry in his eyes.
Xiao Yuan suddenly felt a feeling of tightness in his chest. He was worried that one day, his prime minister would become ill from overwork.
Prime Minister, he is no longer as young as when he first met Liucheng.
"Xiangguo..."
He couldn't help shouting, his eyes were a little astringent.
"Ah?" Liu Yuzhi looked up, and when he saw Xiao Yuan, his eyes suddenly turned red, "Your Majesty."
How many years have passed since the first encounter between the emperor and his ministers in Liucheng? When Xiao Yuan wanted to fight, he would handle the logistics behind the scenes; when Xiao Yuan wanted soldiers, he would recruit troops behind the scenes; when Xiao Yuan wanted people's livelihood, he would provide policies and governance; when Xiao Yuan wanted money and food, he would It can always make him have no worries...
The rise of Qin can be achieved without any ministers, but it cannot be without Liu Yuzhi.
Xiao Yuan suppressed these emotions and said in a calm voice: "Xiangguo, you and I, the monarch and my ministers, have fought all the way from the war years. Now that the world has been settled, we must not overwork ourselves. The matter of coins will be handled by the Ministry of Household Affairs. That’s fine, just sit back and watch.”
"Yes, I obey." Liu Yuzhi wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeves.
But Xiao Yuan knew in his heart that he had agreed, but with his worried look, money was a big deal, so he couldn't rest assured that he would definitely take care of it himself.
After a pause, Liu Yuzhi also recovered his emotions, and once again submitted an official document and said: "This is the year name presented by the ministers. It is not only used for the founding of the country, but also for the use of coins. It is also related to the country. Please make a decision as soon as possible."
Xiao Yuan unfolded it and looked at it. There were many in it, including: Yongping, Tianshun, Zhixing, Kaichu, Yuanchu, Huangchu, Jianxing, Ankang, Taiyuan, Taihe, Jiaping, Jianwu, etc.
These year names all have certain meanings.
Xiao Yuan picked and selected and finally decided on three: Xingwu, Wude, and Jianyuan.
The Qin State attacked and destroyed other countries in troubled times, so it was inevitably inseparable from military force.
"The first year of Xingwu..."
"The first year of Wude..."
"The first year of Jianyuan..."
Xiao Yuan recited it silently in his mouth, and then looked at Liu Yuzhi: "Xingwu, Wude, and Jianyuan, which of the three era names does the Prime Minister think is the most appropriate?"
Liu Yuzhi thought carefully for a moment and then returned: "I think it is better to use martial virtue. I, the Qin Dynasty, have conquered the world with the king's division, and also governed the world with benevolence and culture. The two words "wu" and "virtue" have a very good image."
"Well..." Xiao Yuan thought for a while and finally decided: "Then let's take martial ethics."
"Your Majesty is wise." Liu Yuzhi said: "In that case, the beginning of next year will be the first year of Wude. I also ask your Majesty to review the calendar."
Xiao Yuan took the official document, unfolded it, read it and said, "Didn't the Prime Minister already decide on the calendar?"
"Yes." Liu Yuzhi said: "The calendar is not only a symbol of imperial power, but also related to the king's enthronement. It is also the cornerstone of the people's livelihood in the world. It is not unimportant."
"I have worked with the Ministry of Rites, Taifu, etc. to revise it, making it more accurate than before."
"The people of the world have longed for peace and prosperity for a long time. The king should promulgate the calendar as soon as possible, so that the empire can record the years and the world can be more focused."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Prime Minister." Xiao Yuan said: "In that case, let's order the local governments to issue a calendar immediately. The beginning of next year will be the first year of Wude."
After saying that, he closed the official document, stood up, walked to Liu Yuzhi, patted his shoulder, and said with a gentle smile: "The state affairs have been dealt with, it's almost noon, the Prime Minister doesn't need to go back to the house, he can stay for a light meal. "
