Censor Yang Zhiqi and Liao Guolin both visited the house of their colleague Liu Meicai. As soon as they met, they took out their banknotes and asked: "Brother Liu Xian, can you take back these banknotes? We can't let them go to us in vain." Are you working?"
"That's right, Brother Liu Xian, what you gave us were all banknotes from Fanji Bank. They are nothing more than a piece of paper in our hands." Liao Guolin waited for Yang Zhiqi to finish speaking and then immediately followed, "I heard You have a good relationship with the Fan family, so you have to have an explanation for this matter, right?"
Liu Meicai's face was very ugly. He had indeed given these two banknotes from Fanji Bank many times before, but the key point was that he actually had banknotes from Fanji Bank in his hands. He didn't have much money, so I can exchange banknotes for them both!
So, he said in embarrassment: "You two, you can't say that, I am also a victim! Otherwise, I will show you my banknote. I am really worried about what to do with the banknote." !”
"Then I don't care!" When Yang Zhiqi heard this, he immediately said a little annoyed, "Who are you looking for who gave you the banknote? We have the banknote in hand, but you gave it to us, so of course we have to look for you! "
"Yes, we will find whoever gives it!" Liao Guolin's voice became louder. "Everyone from the Fan family in the capital has been arrested. Are we supposed to go so far away to Shanxi? We don't care, we can only find someone." you!"
I don’t know if I can exchange it for silver when I go to Shanxi. Even if I can exchange it for silver, if the money is less, who will pay for the cost of the trip? If you have a lot of money and the cash is brought from Shanxi, but things are not peaceful now, what if you are robbed along the way? Anyway, the risk of going to Shanxi to exchange banknotes was too high. At least the two censors didn't want to go, and they only made trouble to Liu Meicai.
Liu Meicai saw it and was too lazy to pay attention to them. She stood up and said, "Let me tell you two the truth. No matter how messed up you are, I don't have any money to change it for you. I won't give it away!"
After saying that, he stood up and wanted to leave.
As soon as Yang Zhiqi saw him, he stepped forward, grabbed his sleeve, and shouted loudly: "You still want to leave without giving me money? If you really don't want to give me money, don't blame me for being so anxious that I can do anything!"
Seeing him like this, Liu Meicai thought of the reputation of the two people in front of her who wanted money rather than their lives. She was really afraid that the two of them would make a fuss regardless of face, so she had to explain: "I only have banknotes in my hand. I really don't have any money to give." You changed it!"
After hearing this, Liao Guolin turned around and suddenly rushed forward. He didn't care about any etiquette or impoliteness. He stepped directly on the chair, then jumped on the table, reached out and took off the hanging bag. The assistant painter said at the same time: "Is this an authentic work by Yan Zhenqing? Forget it, regardless of whether it is an authentic work or not, just use this as compensation."
As he spoke, he moved very quickly, rolled up the painting, threw his banknotes on the table at his feet, and hurried out the door.
Liu Meicai became anxious when she saw it. She quickly chased after him and shouted: "This painting is authentic and one of my most valuable collections. You can't take it away. Give it back to me..."
Watching Liao Guolin fleeing and Liu Meicai chasing after him, Yang Zhi was stunned for a while, then immediately turned around and looked around, and found that there were several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the side, although they were not as valuable as the plucked authentic calligraphy by Yan Zhenqing hanging in the middle. But it was Liu Meicai's collection after all, so he didn't care. He followed suit and picked up calligraphy and paintings. Feeling that one was not enough, he picked two. After rolling them up, he slapped the banknotes on the table. Want to slip away.
However, he had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped, turned back, took a few banknotes and stuffed them into his arms, and then stuffed one of the calligraphy and painting pieces into his sleeves. He only held a pair of calligraphy and painting pieces in his arms, and then hurriedly Go out and go.
In the courtyard, Liu Meicai and Liao Guolin were playing with each other, and servants were already watching. At this time, no one dared to participate in the play-by-play of several officials.
Seeing Yang Zhiqi coming out with his calligraphy and paintings, Liu Meicai became anxious and wanted to pull him away. For a moment, he was a little concerned about one thing and not the other. So, he had no choice but to shout to the servants: "Why are you still standing there? The two of them were stopped by the master and the calligraphy and painting were taken back!"
When the servants saw it, they wanted to come forward, but Liao Guolin and Yang Zhiqi both shouted: "Who dares to touch me? You untouchables, don't you know how to pay back your debts? Your master owes money. If you don’t pay it back, is it still reasonable?”
Liu Meicai was so angry that she wanted to vomit blood, and immediately retorted: "Who owes you money? I don't run the bank!"
"Anyway, you gave me the banknote!"
"..."
The three royal censors, who usually spoke of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, started to quarrel with each other, and their words became more and more unpleasant. In the end, they started scolding each other. This scene left the servants stunned.
At this moment, a maid suddenly came over in a hurry and said to Liu Meicai a little anxiously: "My family has told me, let me just let them go and settle down in peace."
Hearing this, Liu Meicai was stunned for a moment, and then let go of her hand.
When Yang Zhiqi and Liao Guolin saw each other, they immediately walked out quickly. Perhaps it was because of the tug, but behind the two of them, several banknotes fell out and floated to the ground before Liu Meicai's eyes.
Liu Meicai picked up the banknote and looked at it, her face was extremely ugly. These two bastards, instead of keeping all the banknotes, actually hid some and took them away. I really suffered a big loss this time!
Really, I hung the last few calligraphy and paintings in the living room just to show off, but in the end I gave these two bastards an advantage!
Suddenly, the maid reminded again: "Sir, my family is waiting for you!"
When Liu Meicai heard this, she came to her senses and left quickly.
In a side room, I met a family member. Before I could speak, I heard the man say: "Master Liu, don't worry about this. Brother Fan will definitely provide you with supplies in the future, and you will never let you suffer!"
As soon as he heard this, Liu Meicai's expression immediately improved a lot. When he was about to say something, he immediately changed his words and said: "I'm not doing it for this small amount of money, but for the things you asked me to do. I'm a little ashamed that I didn't do it well!"
This family member was Wang Dengku who came from Shanxi and settled in his house after arriving in the capital.
Wang Dengku knew that Liu Meicai was referring to the fact that they originally wanted these people to make trouble for the emperor and ask for the exchange of silver notes. Unexpectedly, the situation would not evolve as they expected. The sudden violence made the emperor make a decision in public.
Now it is not just the banknotes of Fanji Bank that have problems. The emperor has made a ruling, that is, for all the banknotes, those who hold the banknotes are required to pursue the money from the owner of the banknotes. If they cannot get it out, the emperor has issued an order Will confiscate homes to pay off debts.
No one can say anything about this yet. It is only natural to pay back debts!
Regarding the matter of Fanji Bank, it was even more strict on this basis. After threatening the banknote owners, none of them went to the emperor to make trouble, but they all tried their best to recover some losses first. Otherwise, if the factory guard actually interrogated Fan Yongzheng and found out that there was something wrong with him, he would lose a penny.
Now that he understands the situation in the capital, Wang Dengku is a little confused about what to do? After all, he is just a businessman, and he has never experienced anything involving the government or the emperor.
After sitting blankly for a moment, Wang Dengku sighed and said: "It seems that there is nothing we can do about the banknote issue for the time being. It has become too fierce and is out of control. There is only one way now, to divert the attention of the court, and wait for this It’s best to think of a solution after things cool down!”
When he came, he had received instructions and was ready to activate alternative plans.
Seeing Liu Meicai looking at him a little confused, Wang Dengku explained: "Here in the capital, the issue that most affects the banknotes at the moment is the issue of filling the belly. I will let the food companies under my name The merchants stopped selling and spread the word that all the food was sold out. This matter will definitely divert attention."
Hearing this, Liu Meicai nodded and said: "Now there are many local reports saying that the two hundred thousand people have no food to eat. Once they run out of food, it will be a big deal. The court's attention will definitely be Transferred!”
"Okay, let's do it like this, I'll make arrangements right away!" Wang Dengku said, and comforted Liu Meicai, "My lord, don't worry, after this incident, I will compensate you three times!"
Hearing this, Liu Meicai was happy. He believed in Wang Dengku, and since he said it, he would definitely be able to fulfill it.
At this moment, Liu Meicai's housekeeper came over from the street and reported to Liu Meicai the news he had learned from the street.
"Sir, someone is collecting the banknotes issued by Fanji Bank at a discount."
"It is said that they are powerful and are going to collect more banknotes, and then send people to Shanxi to ask the Fan family for money!"
"Some of them had little money, so I sold them their banknotes!"
"There are people everywhere outside who are scolding Fanji Bank, which is causing them all misery!"
"..."
Wang Dengku and Liu Meicai were relatively speechless listening to the pieces of information they had learned. However, Wang Dengku also knew that Fan Yongdou had fled to his hometown, and there was a high probability that he could not find him. As for those who go to collect debts, there is no need to worry. Shanxi is the governor's territory. With the governor watching, it is impossible to let them do whatever they want.
At the same time, Emperor Chongzhen was in a very good mood. After such a fuss, the matter of Ming Royal Bank was settled.
It was just a sign before, but now it must be expanded and built according to the prototype of a later bank. At least not one window can do everything. Deposits, loans, and cash withdrawals must be divided into categories, and special windows should be used to do special things. People who have been to Daming Royal Bank will feel that it is reliable from the first impression.
After Emperor Chongzhen made the design drawings, he tried to make full use of the existing shops and just opened up and renovated several nearby shops. There is no time for something as grand as that of later generations. As for security issues, there is no problem with this. If the factory guards and the three major battalions are to send soldiers on duty inside and outside, don’t you believe that they can still steal money?
At this time, he was actually busy as a dog. There are some things that cannot be done by others. And at this time, even if it was something that could be done for him, he would not worry about letting others do it for him. He would have to personally check it, assess the ability of the person doing the work, etc. Only when he was truly familiar with it, would he be able to trust his capable men to do the work.
No, he had already moved to the military battle station in the palace to inspect the situation here. The three major battalions will be sent to Shanxi soon. Although it is unlikely to go to war, the replacement of ordnance and equipment that has been promised must be done first.
The Bingzhan Bureau was in charge of making knives, spears, swords, halberds, whips, axes, helmets, armor, bows, arrows and other military equipment, as well as iron locks, needles, scissors, and bells and drums used for rituals. He is in charge of manufacturing weapons and has a gunpowder department. It can be said that the military equipment required by the three battalions under the Yuma Supervisor can be completely solved by the War and War Bureau.
The war bureau has one eunuch to hold the seal, one eunuch to supervise the arsenal, and there are no fixed number of managers, bookkeepers, chiefs, and supervisors. At this time, he was patrolling accompanied by the eunuch of the palm print and the eunuch of the admiral's armory.
Either there were previous examples of the king's heart, or it was known that after the establishment of the three major battalions, the emperor would definitely come to the military battle. Therefore, there were not many problems in the military battle. However, weapons, The stock of armor was small, and not much gunpowder.
The eunuch Feng Delun personally held the account book and explained to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the War Bureau has not received money for a long time, nor has it received iron materials, coal, etc. for a long time. It has not started work for a long time."
Seeing the emperor's brows frowning, he immediately explained: "The Ministry of Industry said that the Jianlu were raging and the supply was cut off. There was nothing they could do!"
Emperor Chongzhen was not angry about this. He remembered that he had said before that he would not pay attention to the past. Therefore, in the explanation given by the palm print eunuch, at least from that time on, the accounts were still clear.
However, after a round of inspection, especially the mental outlook of those craftsmen, even if he, the emperor, was here, it could be seen that there were really problems with these craftsmen.
Not to mention their sallow complexions and skinny bodies, you can see that they are weak even if they just kneel down to greet the emperor.
These craftsmen are actually free laborers who perform labor service. Skilled craftsmen and those with a little money can pay to be exempted from service and let others do the work for them. This is also what Zhang Juzheng began to have after a whipping method, that is, everything should be based on money, and everything, regardless of talent, labor, etc., can be converted into silver.
Emperor Chongzhen was naturally very dissatisfied with this. With such craftsmen, what kind of sophisticated ordnance could they be expected to create? Not to mention, they need to innovate.
No matter how the war situation was before, at least from now on, it must be raised to a very important level, and the relevant systems must be reformed. Otherwise, even if Emperor Chongzhen had many ideas in his mind, he would not be able to implement the so-called sophisticated ordnance and innovation.
Of course, he just came to fully understand the situation of the war today and did not say anything immediately. After going back, he was going to think about it carefully, or at least give it a comprehensive idea.
However, what Emperor Chongzhen didn't expect was that as soon as he returned, his first assistant, Xue Guoguan, rushed to see him and was sweating. It was obvious that something major had happened.
. m.
