Chapter 9 The Currency of the Ming Dynasty
Perhaps this matter is difficult to understand.
In fact, this is an old account of the chaotic monetary system of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang had actually been imitating the monetary policy of the Yuan Dynasty before the 14th year of Hongwu. That is to issue treasure banknotes. But many policies have hysteresis, and the issuance of treasure banknotes is the same. Zhu Yuanzhang did not know the result of issuing treasure banknotes at the time. There is a gap between the depreciation of treasure notes that he knows and the actual depreciation of treasure notes.
Fourteen years after Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang conducted a serious investigation. Venting treasure money in different places has different depreciation rates. But even the top ones are discounted by half. In other words, a regular treasure note can be worth half a tael at most. Many places in the body have been discounted by one-tenth. That is, a consistent treasure note, worth at most one hundred cash.
Of course, this situation is different from that of the Xuande Zhengtong period, where the depreciation rate was a thousand times different from the face value. There is a big difference.
Zhu Yuanzhang finally made amends. The issuance of new banknotes is suspended.
Up to one-to-one exchange of old and new banknotes.
After all, even modern banknotes have a certain rate of damage every year. The quality of Ming Dynasty banknotes is far inferior to that of later generations. There is wear and tear every year. If not replaced. The treasure banknotes on the market are simply unusable.
This was Zhu Yuanzhang's decision.
For things you don't understand clearly, pause and maintain the status quo.
But Zhu Yuanzhang also relaxed some policies.
Before Hongwu, when the Ming Dynasty Baochao system was established, the trading of copper coins was strictly prohibited. Even the Ming Dynasty copper coins stopped minting for a time. As for gold and silver trading, it is also prohibited. However, court bans are one thing, and market rules are another.
And the execution ability of the Ming court. It’s also quite annoying. It is simply impossible to go deep into various places in the Ming Dynasty.
As a result, two sets of financial rules were formed, using treasure banknotes on the surface and gold and silver in private.
Previously, Zhu Yuanzhang had vigorously cracked down on private financial regulations, and even ordered that merchants use gold and silver traders to be punished. Only fourteen years after Hongwu. Although Zhu Yuanzhang did not relax the ban, he did not put any more pressure on the officials below. Reaffirm the ban.
Zhu Yuanzhang knew the officials of this era very well.
If he doesn't supervise or suppress some things, the people below will treat them as if they don't exist.
Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang's pine was formed after the 14th year of Hongwu. A situation where treasure banknotes, silver and copper coins are used together. In fact, it’s not just these three miscellaneous uses. Food and cloth were also among them.
In fact, grain and cloth have served as currency for a long time in ancient times. Just because cotton is mass produced. Let silk and silk withdraw from the stage of history. But there is also a transition to this exit. It’s not just a click and done.
Of course, this chaotic situation manifests itself differently in different places. Each has its own emphasis. As far as the sea and Southeast Asia are concerned, silver is mostly used because precious metals are natural currencies. And there is too little gold. Silver is the currency. Moreover, silver was widely used in various places in Southeast Asia.
Only with money can we seamlessly integrate with Southeast Asian countries. Of course, there are also a large number of copper coins in Southeast Asian countries, which are all products of trade in the Tang and Song Dynasties. In short, there is no Ming Dynasty treasure money.
Zhu Yuanzhang's policy of acquiescence was actually conducive to opening up the sea.
But it is different in Liaodong.
First of all, Liaodong is under military control and food itself is scarce. Moreover, no matter how stupid Zhu Yuanzhang is, it is impossible for him to issue treasure banknotes to the army. With the speed at which the treasure banknotes depreciate, it will cause a mutiny in the army. Therefore, the military's treatment is based on food.
The same goes for the treatment of officials. The most valuable money is considered a reward.
And to alleviate the food crisis. He Xi took the initiative to propose that Liaodong Damu settle the matter in grain. It also gives food more monetary attributes.
Therefore, people in Liaodong cannot say that they don’t use money, but they prefer to use food more often.
This situation changed somewhat after the Goryeo War. Because after Goryeo's wealth entered Liaodong, it also brought a large amount of copper coins. Although the Yuan Dynasty banned copper coins. However, Goryeo, Japan and other places have a large number of Chinese copper coins.
Generally speaking, the trend of replacing money with food cannot be changed.
Food is naturally not as convenient as money. But the problem is that there are few people in Liaodong, and the frequency of transactions is not too high. In many cases, the guard station is the main body and is self-sufficient. There is enough food. At least it won't depreciate.
If we only count food, the food shortage in Liaodong is not serious.
First of all, Liaodong farming has a foundation.
Liaodong already had counties in the Han Dynasty. Although the development of Liaodong has been inconsistent. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Red Turban Army was in great danger. But it’s not entirely without legacy.
Secondly, all the military and political affairs of the Ming Dynasty focused on grain production, and Zhu Yuanzhang’s policy of accumulating grain was inherited. The same is true in Liaodong. Since the Ming army came to Liaodong, the matter of farming has been very tight.
On the original basis, Liaodong's grain production had recovered to a certain extent, and in the late Hongwu years, it was almost self-sufficient. This is why Daning and other guard stations were later abolished. There are also reasons for the increase in the number of health posts in Liaodong.
Daning and other health centers consume a lot of food every year. In the end, the court was overwhelmed. Liaodong even continued to open up this wasteland until the Ming army could not guarantee the people of Liaodong to cultivate it and Li Chengliang gave up the Kuandian area.
Plus the food shipped by sea. Grain purchased for the timber trade.
Plus the consumption in Liaodong itself. Calculated as three stones per person per year. The original population of Liaodong only consumed more than two million shi per year.
Don't think this amount is small. Three shi per person is now four to five hundred kilograms. It is half of the modern per capita grain consumption. But it is already very high. Because in this era, few people can eat all grains. Many times, especially in summer, they eat wild vegetables to satisfy their hunger.
This is normal consumption.
Even if there is food, he is reluctant to eat it.
Three stones per person. It has been extremely overestimated.
In the past few years, more than one million stones were transported to Liaodong every year. Moreover, Liaodong's local grain output has not been exhausted even though there are supporting troops. And how did He Xi come to do so many big projects?
You can't just go up to the top and say something, and the people below will bring their own dry food to the construction site.
Totally impossible.
He Xi actually used the remaining food as a reward to reward deeds and punish demerits, which stimulated the enthusiasm of the people below. Only what Xi has accomplished in the past few years. But He Xi also wiped out the previous balance, and transferred the two million shi of grain every year to the military rations.
He Xi suddenly felt extremely troubled.
If we say, He Xi is just maintaining the current situation. It's probably possible. But it was absolutely impossible to complete his original plan. At least a few million stones of food will be spent. He Xi felt that she might be able to get some more money and food from Nanjing, but no more would be enough.
Because there is a storm brewing in Nanjing.
The aftermath of the Qingzhang case will not change because of the relaxation between the prince and Zhu Yuanzhang. Even Zhu Yuanzhang's alliance with the prince would only make this incident more intense. It is true that Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding monarch, had unparalleled authority in the world. But it takes the lives of a group of people. Rabbits will bite when they are anxious. Not to mention these people.
So there are a lot of things going on in the south.
Qingzhang was even involved in matters of money and food, as well as other internal conflicts. Don't say anything else. This time alone, the chaos in Jiangnan and the mobilization of armies cost a lot. We must also preserve the strength of all parties to deter all parties. There is absolutely no shortage of money and food.
There is another reason.
No matter what the Goryeo strategy was, He Xi wanted it or not. Objectively speaking, the war in Goryeo was promoted by He Xi, which ruined Feng Sheng's idea of taking advantage of the victory to destroy Beiyuan. Although He Xi had cooperated with Feng Sheng before. Now there is no breakup.
But in this matter, Feng Sheng did not support it, and it would be a lot of trouble to transfer grain from Peiping.
After much deliberation, why should I solve this problem myself?
However, He Xi already had some ideas about this issue.
Naturally, it is just about tapping potential internally and pulling resources from outside. Although it is a bit difficult to get money from the court. But it’s not like you can’t get money in other ways. However, this is something that comes later. Solve the immediate matter first.
There are still many uncertainties.
He must first solve the problems he can solve. That is, internal problems. Do the certain things first, and then deal with the uncertain things.
