In the Ming Dynasty, the issue of banknotes was very sensitive.
Because there is a precedent for Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes. At the beginning, Ming Dynasty banknotes with consistent paper value could be exchanged for consistent commodities. However, Zhu Yuanzhang was born in a peasant and did not understand this. He issued Ming Bao banknotes when he had no money, and printed Ming Bao banknotes when he had no money. As a result, even though he was the founding emperor, he could not stop the rapid depreciation of Ming Bao banknotes!
This matter cannot be solved by administrative orders.
The benefits of using banknotes are obvious to all. Many emperors since Zhu Yuanzhang, as well as their capable ministers, have thought about saving the Ming Dynasty treasure. However, they did not understand economics and finally gave up helplessly. By the middle and late Ming Dynasty, these Ming treasure notes were basically useless.
There was such an incident in the Ming Dynasty, and the people of the Ming Dynasty were naturally very wary of paper money.
Fortunately, Emperor Chongzhen took a roundabout route, and it was just a banknote at the beginning. This banknote is currently acceptable to the people. When they spontaneously used banknotes as currency to buy and sell things, they actually already had the function of banknotes.
After so many years of credibility cultivation, at least the bank note issued by the imperial court has been recognized by the people of the Ming Dynasty.
However, as soon as Emperor Chongzhen's decree came out, it still caused a huge shock. Suddenly, everyone in the streets was talking about this matter.
"Old Wang, I'm going to exchange the banknotes back. The money is so reliable!"
"Why, money is so inconvenient! In the past, others could use one tael of silver notes to buy you something worth one tael of silver, and you were happy with it. Are you still worried that the banknotes will become worthless?"
"You don't know, my ancestors were deceived by the Ming Dynasty Baoqian. Otherwise, I would be a rich man by doing business everywhere!"
"That's true. I don't know how many people have been deceived by Ming Dynasty treasure money. But it's different now. Don't you still believe in the emperor?"
"Ah, that's not what I mean. The emperor is wise, powerful, and loves the people like a son. How can I not believe it, but...but..."
"Don't be but, you see, the emperor said in the imperial edict that these extra printed banknotes must be printed. Otherwise, the banknotes will become too valuable, which will be deflation, which will harm many people. ! Furthermore, the extra printed banknotes are pledged against the revenue from the treasury in the coming year. Are you afraid that the emperor will default on your debt?"
"No, no, no, how could the emperor default on his debt? No...that's not what I meant. The emperor will definitely not default on his debt!"
"In that case, why are you going to change the money? Otherwise, don't go to the bank to change it. I have it here. I'm worried about queuing up at the bank to change the banknote. We can change it!"
"Haha, Lao Wang, we'll talk about it later, we'll talk about it later, I'll go home first and discuss it with my wife."
"..."
Conversations like this happened among men, women, and children in the streets and alleys of the capital.
If Emperor Chongzhen had promulgated this decree before he traveled through time, no one would have understood it at all. Who would believe it?
Even after Emperor Chongzhen traveled through time, for example, in the twelfth or thirteenth year of Chongzhen, Emperor Chongzhen had already achieved some war victories, which increased his prestige. But it's still not enough to have such a conversation.
Today's Emperor Chongzhen has restored the entire Liaodong and wiped out the Jianrui who had harmed the Ming Dynasty for many years. Not to mention the domestic bandits, the prevention and relief of floods in the south and drought in the north, and the administration of the people wholeheartedly, all of which profoundly changed the people's view of the emperor.
In addition, the imperial court is getting richer year by year, and the people are not worried that the imperial treasury will not be able to pay out money. Before the imperial edict came out, it happened to be the matter of paying back the grain, which added a lot to Emperor Chongzhen's credibility.
Under such circumstances, among Emperor Chongzhen's base, that is, within the capital, even if someone was worried that if they wanted to exchange silver notes for money, they would be persuaded to change their minds.
Therefore, within the three days after the decree came out, there were some people who exchanged silver notes for silver on the first day; however, on the second day, there were even more people who exchanged silver for silver notes.
On the third day, the situation became clear. As for the banknotes, it was still the same as it was before. It was not affected at all by what the emperor said about printing an extra million taels of banknotes.
From this day on, people in the streets and alleys of the capital have begun to change the topic, and everyone is chatting about why the emperor knows so much, and even talks about the impact of expensive and cheap money on people's livelihood. I really don't know how the emperor came up with it. In the end, it can only be attributed to Tian Zongshengming, the kind that no one else can compare with!
In other places outside the capital, there is a rule that the further away from the capital, the greater the impact of Emperor Chongzhen's imperial edict. Especially the southwestern generation of the Ming Dynasty, which had little experience of the emperor's methods, had a greater impact. For example, in provinces such as Guizhou and Yunnan, banks have even run out of money. The only option was to borrow money from neighboring provinces or use taxes as collateral and wait until the money arrived before exchanging it.
Emperor Chongzhen had anticipated such a situation. It didn't matter, time would prove that those people were worried in vain.
Of course, Emperor Chongzhen at this time did not know the situation in the distance.
After the imperial decree on banknotes was promulgated, Emperor Chongzhen began to consider the issue of medical treatment for the people again. It just happened that Wang Chengen, the governor of Dongchang, sent over the memorial of Dongchang's supervision of the people. If there was a happy event, he would naturally explain it to please the emperor.
I saw Wang Chengen presenting the memorial with both hands, and then smiled and complimented the memorial: "Inspired by His Majesty, many doctors in the capital have done this now!"
Emperor Chongzhen heard this unexpectedly and was a little confused. He took the memorial and asked casually: "What are you doing?"
"Doing more good deeds is the way to maintain your health!" Wang Chengen had a smile on his face. When he said this, he even shook his head. "Nowadays, most hospitals in the capital have half-day free clinics and do not accept consultations from the general public. Gold, accumulate blessings for themselves!”
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen was naturally happy, with a smile on his face. I unfolded the memorial and read it quickly. Sure enough, this situation is recorded in some detail.
Seeing this, Emperor Chongzhen's heart suddenly moved, and he immediately had an idea on how to set up a public hospital.
After coming up with an idea, he summoned the Supervisor of Ceremonies, the Cabinet, and the Minister of Household Affairs to discuss the matter.
"What? Your Majesty means to establish Anjifang?" Xue Guoguan, the first assistant, confirmed in surprise.
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen shook his head and said: "It is not Anjifang, but a comprehensive clinic that provides medical treatment to the people at a cost acceptable to the people, so that ordinary people will not delay their illness because they cannot afford medical expenses!"
The so-called Anjifang is actually a rescue center specially set up to control the epidemic, and it is also an isolation point. This has existed in China as early as the Han Dynasty. The periods of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Emperor Ping of the Han Dynasty were clearly recorded in the "Book of Han".
Later dynasties also had similar institutions, but they focused on controlling infectious diseases, that is, epidemics. Emperor Chongzhen is actually fundamentally different from the previous ones.
I only heard Emperor Chongzhen explain to these courtiers: "You must have heard about a medical incident that I encountered during a private visit incognito. It was this incident that made me feel that I must do something for my people. Things. And now it happens that every hospital in the capital has a half-day free clinic. Therefore, I thought about setting up the Daming National General Hospital."
Seeing that they were listening carefully, Emperor Chongzhen continued: "This Ming National General Hospital is staffed by imperial doctors from the Imperial Hospital. Physicians from various hospitals in the capital who have passed the imperial medical examination can be admitted to the Ming National General Hospital." They sit in the general hospital for half a day. Their consultation fees are paid by the national treasury, and the people do not have to pay, or pay very little. The medicines used are also given to the patients at cost price. In this way, among my people, those who do not Those who are rich will have a place where they can afford medical treatment! What do you think, gentlemen?"
"This..." Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance obviously hesitated after hearing this.
When Emperor Chongzhen saw it, he smiled and said to him: "Of course, I can also pay for this, and then this will be renamed the Ming Dynasty Royal General Hospital. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue immediately said with a little embarrassment: "Your Majesty, it is better to call it Daming National General Hospital!"
Setting up this kind of hospital is a real move to benefit the people, and it can be boasted about in the future. If word gets out that he is the Minister of Household Affairs and can't bear the money, then his reputation will definitely be ruined.
Seeing his reaction, Emperor Chongzhen smiled, and everyone else in the palace also laughed, even himself. Obviously, the atmosphere in the Wenhua Hall is still okay. After all, if the treasury has money, it will have confidence. Otherwise, all ministries will be arguing over the budget for the coming year, and where will the money come from to build the Daming National General Hospital?
After the relaxed atmosphere, Xue Guoguan, the first assistant, still went out and pointed out some problems.
For example, this hospital was originally intended for those who have little money for medical treatment. But there is an imperial doctor sitting in charge, and other doctors who treat patients are also recognized by the imperial doctor, so don’t the wealthy people in the capital also crowd here to see doctors? Also, if all the people come here to see a doctor, what will happen to the hospitals in the capital? Those medical clinics will definitely be affected!
Emperor Chongzhen admitted that these things must have had an impact. Among the problems raised by Xue Guoguan, they would not be solved even in later generations. For example, public hospitals are overcrowded.
However, when doing something like this, it still depends on whether the majority of the people benefit from it. If so, it's worth doing. If it can achieve the original purpose, it is worth doing.
The purpose of the imperial court in collecting taxes was not for the enjoyment of the emperors, generals and ministers, but to take them from the people and use them for the people. This medical treatment is a big deal, and of course it is also used for the people.
At the insistence of Emperor Chongzhen, after a day of discussion, the imperial edict to establish the Ming Dynasty National General Hospital was announced to the world.
Miaoshuwu
