Chapter 71 Iron Coins and Copper Coins
He Xi also knows many things and cannot be touched easily. For example, if we use corvee labor, we will destroy the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. I can only change my mind immediately and think of other ways to make money.
He Xi thought about it and thought to herself: "It's a pity. We can't print treasure banknotes randomly. In fact, printing treasure banknotes is the most profitable."
Print treasure banknotes? He Xi suddenly thought of something. Said: "Your Majesty, I have thought of a way to make Taiping Iron Works make money."
He Xi said: "Ma'anshan Iron Mine is a mixed copper-iron mine."
"Copper mine?" Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Make copper coins. How much copper can be found there?"
He Xi said: "Copper ore is incidental. Iron ore is the main thing." He Xi took out a one-yuan steel coin from his purse. Said: "In fact, iron money is also acceptable."
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said: "What is the difference between cast iron money and printed treasure banknotes?"
He Xi said: "If the price of iron money is above the price of iron, then it is big money, but if the value of iron money is below the price of iron, then it is not."
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned and said, "What do you mean?"
He Xi said: "The iron money we create is actually steel money. Steel itself has a price. Far higher than the price of iron. At today's steel price, a hundred steel coins are about a pound. Today's one or two Silver probably can’t be sold for ten pounds of steel.”
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned and said: "One penny for ten iron coins?"
He Xi said: "This price can be further negotiated."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Can this be done?"
He Xi was silent for a while and said, "It's probably possible."
Before He Xi reformed the Arms Bureau, this was impossible. Because making money doesn't just depend on the price of iron. It still depends on the casting cost. But now iron armor can be forged. Why not a mere coin. As a result, costs are drastically reduced.
This can support He Xi's iron money plan.
And for many people, small denomination iron coins are also needed. Because people in many places cannot earn much money a year. Many people in remote rural areas barter. However, with the same problem, the profits of the iron money plan are also limited.
It can only be regarded as a stopgap measure.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "This matter is done. There is no need to do everything. The court can also squeeze out some expenses. After all, steel is still needed everywhere."
He Xi actually knew that his method was essentially taking advantage of the common people. After all, the price of steel will depreciate rapidly in the next ten years. I hope that the credit of the Ming Dynasty will be strong enough to support the iron currency system.
He Xi said: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "However, there is one more thing I want to discuss with you."
He Xi said: "Your Majesty, please speak."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Which yamen should be in charge of your stall in Taiping Mansion?"
He Xi was stunned and understood. Although these foundations were passed down and laid the foundation by his own hands and feet. However, he cannot always be under his command. They must be part of the Ming court and a formal institution of the Ming court.
The reason is simple, this is the most important weapon of the country.
Zhu Yuanzhang also did not allow him to monopolize it.
Yes, Zhu Yuanzhang allowed him to have influence on this. After all, there are many factions in the court. Not many He Xi. Zhu Yuanzhang even intended to cultivate He Xi's faction. But each faction must be within the framework of the imperial court. The people under He Xi must know that they are officials of the Ming Dynasty, and then they belong to He Xi's party. Rather than the other way around.
Therefore, the things here in Taiping Mansion must be the imperial yamen.
In fact, there is no need to ask. Naturally from the Ministry of Industry.
It's just that Zhu Yuanzhang emphasized this point to He Xi.
He Xi said: "Of course it belongs to the Ministry of Industry."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Which department is that of the Ministry of Industry?"
He Xi frowned slightly and said: "This ------, the four departments of the Ministry of Industry: Yingxi, Yuheng, Dushui, and Tuntian. It seems that none of them are suitable."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Then set up another department. Let's call it the Coal and Iron Department, which will be in charge of the world's mineral resources. Do you have a suitable candidate?"
For Zhu Yuanzhang, this matter was not a whim. But he paid more and more attention to the coal and iron industry. Therefore, the court must take control. Therefore, it is inevitable to establish a new yamen to take charge of this matter.
This also adheres to the principle of doing things quietly. Don’t compete for the limelight. This is called the Coal and Iron Division. In fact, it can be called the Department of Mining or the Department of Industry.
He Xi smiled bitterly and said, "Father, let's arrange it ourselves. I really don't have a suitable candidate."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I'll come to see you, sir. However, you can't let it go. You have to do two things."
He Xi said: "Father, please speak."
This is He Xi’s painstaking effort. It was impossible for He Xi to let it go. He even wanted to serve as a doctor in the Coal and Iron Division himself. It's just that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't let him take charge, presumably for his own purpose. He Xi could only obey.
He Xi was very satisfied with doing something for the newly built Coal and Iron Company.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "First, you have to draft the charter of the Coal and Iron Company."
He Xi said: "No problem. But, does Your Majesty want to rectify the world's mineral resources?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "What do you mean?"
He Xi said: "Establish a license system. Those who want to mine must report to the court, and the court will issue a license. A fixed amount of tax will be paid every year. As for how to pay a fixed amount, I still need to investigate. But no matter what, we cannot ignore the mining industry. We can’t impose a total ban on mining because of its drawbacks. They always have to be managed.”
"This may become an important pillar of Ming Dynasty's taxation in the future."
Mining policies in the Ming and Qing Dynasties were always between prohibition and prohibition.
During Zhu Yuanzhang's time, the people were allowed to mine on their own, but large-scale mines were also secretly suppressed. After the orthodoxy, it was banned for a time and then loosened again. Anyway, in a word, mining cannot be operated by non-powerful people.
This point, even if placed six hundred years later, cannot be regarded as wrong.
Are there too many cases of fires and killings in the north for the purpose of mining?
But He Xi still feels that there is a clear policy. It can promote the development of mining industry and reduce the cost of mining. There is a large amount of black mines, and it seems that there is no need to pay taxes, but in fact, the cost of maintaining them privately is much higher than it is on the surface.
After all, as industry develops, mining will also develop.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Okay. Do it as you wish. Write a charter."
He Xi said: "Yes."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Another thing is to ask you to preside over the special examination of the Coal and Iron Department."
He Xi was stunned and said: "Special examination for the Coal and Iron Department?"
He Xi understood every word of this sentence, but when put together, he didn't understand it.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I don't know how you did the civil service examination in future generations. Just follow that?"
He Xi was stunned and said, "Your Majesty, is this bad?"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled softly and said: "Don't you mean that you despise the enemy strategically and attach importance to the enemy tactically? The scholar-officials of the Ming Dynasty have not yet matured. Less than twenty years have passed since the world was in chaos. It can be said that the scholar-officials of the Ming Dynasty and the Yuan court have... There are thousands of connections, this is one of the reasons why I look down on them, and this is the reason why they have a knot with me."
"There are only a handful of people in the world who dare to offend Yan Zhi and remonstrate with his ministers. As soon as Song Ne left, Liu Sanwu and others went their separate ways. Now whatever happens, they will wait and see."
Speaking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang's tone was somewhat melancholy.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang has now parted ways with these people, he has to admit that Song Ne and others can be regarded as loyal ministers and filial sons. It's just that Lanzhi is in charge and has to be eliminated.
Zhu Yuanzhang kept talking: "In the Yuan Dynasty, nine beggars and ten Confucians broke the integrity of countless people. Now the Ming Dynasty has only been raising scholars for fifteen years, and there are not many people with integrity. Most of them just want to be officials. , what they care about is the channels for becoming an official, not what they take the exam for.”
"If you are not going to do this now? When will you do it?"
"However, this exam is only for Imperial College students. Try to finalize this as a custom-made one. From now on, if there is a shortage of court officials, special recruitment will be conducted. Therefore, you have a heavy responsibility this time, because in the future, Ming Dynasty will conduct special recruitment. What should you do? ? This time is all based on your example."
"So, do it well."
He Xi took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will do my best to do this well."
