Northern Song Dynasty Justice

Chapter 457 Currency War

Chapter 457 Currency War

This time, the situation is very different from the situation where the Service Recruitment Law was promulgated. No matter if it is the big landlords or the dignitaries in the court, they are really united and must fight to the end.

This is because the previous exemption tax really hurt them.

This time they came with revenge.

The key point is that this timing is very favorable for them to operate the currency. At this time, the rural households are in a desperate situation and need food. They produce food on a large scale, and the price of food drops a little, which benefits the people greatly.

They clearly knew that they were doing something, but no one dared to accuse them openly.

Interestingly, however, Wang Anshi is also very happy to see them do it, because it gives his monetary policy a boost.

If there is no such thing, he said that it would take at least a long period of discussion to issue Jiaozi in Tokyo. When Song Renzong issued Jiaozi in Yizhou, it was also after repeated discussions, let alone in the capital.

Wang Anshi also has great hopes for this.

Today, he rushed to the imperial city early in the morning to see the progress of Jiaozi's production. This time, Jiaozi was going to be released, but he personally wrote all the characters.

"Wang Jiefu."

As soon as he arrived at the door, Wang Anshi suddenly heard a familiar voice, turned his head, and saw Sima Guang walking over with a smile, he couldn't help thinking, it's really bad luck to meet this little old man so early in the morning!He cupped his hands and said, "Morning Jun."

"morning!"

Sima Guang bowed his hands back and said, "I just want to ask you something today, and I never thought I would meet you here."

You clearly hid aside to catch me.Wang Anshi didn't show his expression and asked, "What's the matter?"

Sima Guang said: "Actually, Sinong Temple has collected a lot of coins recently, why not send these coins directly to the royal police, and when these coins are used up, new coins will probably come out. Is it unnecessary to issue Jiaozi? "

Wang Anshi said with a smile: "The money of Sinong Temple is not only paid for this month's wages. This year, the royal police, tax police, inspectors' wages, as well as the freight required by Kaifeng Mansion all have to rely on this sum of money. How can I If you dare to spend all of it, the money is still insufficient at present, so you can only distribute Jiaozi mixed with coins."

"I see."

Sima Guang nodded, and asked again: "So it's only for this year, won't it be published again in the future?"

Why don't I try to find out what he means.Wang Anshi pretended to be hesitant and said: "Depending on the situation, if it's good, it's actually more convenient to use Jiaozi to buy and sell, and you don't want to go out with a carload of money all day."

I knew this guy was making up his mind.Sima Guang's expression changed, and he said seriously: "Wang Jiefu, I have no objection to your release of Jiaozi this time, but in the future, I will definitely stop it, no matter whether the result is good or bad."

Wang Anshi said angrily: "I said Junshi, why do you always fight against me? It is also tax exemption. If I do it, it will increase the burden on the people. If Zhang San does it, you not only keep silent, but also praise him. What am I doing?" Hired you, you tell me, why don't I apologize to you?"

Sima Guang said: "I'm not targeting you, I'm just discussing the facts. I believe you, Wang Jiefu, can issue according to the number, but what about after a hundred years? Can you guarantee that in the future, no one will be like the former Yizhou, who will send indiscriminately. "

In fact, he didn't believe that Wang Anshi would issue them according to the number.

Wang Anshi snorted, "I promise you, will you believe it? You have to try it first if you don't try it. How will you know if you don't try it? Besides, there is only so much copper, but there are more and more frequent transactions in the market, and there are still not enough coins. Yes, we have to find a way, Jiaozi is also a way, besides, it has been used in Yizhou for decades, although there are problems, it can be improved."

"Oh! I knew you had no good intentions."

Sima Guang pointed to Wang Anshi and said: "The fox's tail is exposed. There is not enough copper. You just want to replace coins with Jiaozi. If the court is short of money, you can print Jiaozi directly. This is what you call civil servants." The state uses the country without paying taxes? You are no longer competing with the people for profit, but plundering the wealth of the people."

Wang Anshi was sprayed all over his face, his face was full of anger, he pointed at Sima Guang and said, "Okay, okay, come on, you think of a way to deal with the current money shortage crisis."

Sima Guang immediately said: "It's not that the money shortage crisis has never happened before. Even if it is completely left alone, the people will find a way to deal with it. What the court has to do is not to add fuel to the fire, and allow the people to pay taxes with goods. At that time, they can't help themselves, and they will still take out the coins. Besides, I'm not saying that you made a mistake in your response this time, but I'm saying that this Jiaozi can only be used in times of crisis, not often."

Having said that, he looked around and said in a low voice: "Can you guarantee that the officials will not spam?"

In fact, neither of them is wrong, just like their governing philosophy, one is to reduce expenditure, and the other is to increase revenue.

Wang Anshi is in financial management. What he sees is the importance of currency to the economy, while Sima Guang studies human nature. He knows that whenever Jiaozi is used, it will definitely be spammed. This is very scary.

The two were arguing, when Lu Huiqing suddenly walked up quickly, "Men..." Seeing that Sima Guang was also there, he quickly bowed his hands, "I have seen Bachelor Sima."

Sima Guang nodded slightly.

Lu Huiqing quietly handed Wang Anshi another newspaper. Wang Anshi took a look and thought, he knew that meeting this old man would definitely be a bad thing.Turning his head to Sima Guang, he said: "Junshi, I have something urgent to deal with, so I will take my leave first, and we will discuss it another day."

After saying that, he left in a hurry.

Sima Guang asked curiously, "What happened?"

Suddenly someone behind him laughed and said: "You came early today, and you didn't see the newspaper that just came out."

Sima Guang looked back and saw Lu Gong's writing. He first bowed his hands and asked, "What newspaper?"

Lu Gongzhu directly handed the newspaper in his hand to Sima Guang.

Sima Guang took a look at it, and couldn't help but said, "I'm really self-righteous."

Lu Gong wrote and asked: "How do you say this?"

Sima Guang smiled and said: "I was always worried that Wang Jiefu would use Jiaozi instead of coins and harm the people all over the world. In fact...hehe...the people will not be confused and know the harm of Jiaozi."

Lu Gong said: "It's not that the people are not confused, but that the appearance of this newspaper has changed many things!"

Sima Guang nodded.

This article is actually an introduction to the origin and development process of Jiaozi. In the middle, it pointed out that the Jiaozi shop issued spam, and during the Renzong period, in order to raise military rations, a full 60 guan were issued without any reserve funds.

This article does not say a word about Jiaozi is bad, it just introduces the history of Jiaozi.

But the people are not stupid. Listening to everyone's discussion, they quickly concluded that the imperial court has a reserve fund, which is benevolent and righteous. If you don't keep it, you have no choice. all will do.

As far as the impression of the imperial court is in the minds of the people, one can imagine.

The point is that this newspaper has spread too widely. In just one morning, this Jiaozi has been thrown into the stinky ditch by the people.

Bianjing Law Firm.

"The imperial court is really whimsical. They want to exchange a piece of paper for our money. They really treat us as fools."

Fan Li, who just came back from outside, smiled and shook his head.

Zhang Fei frowned and asked, "What's the situation outside?"

Fan Lidao: "Some people say they don't want to accept this Jiaozi, and some people say they are willing to accept [-]% of it. But if this is the case, it is impossible for anyone to want it. The people of Yizhou have no choice. They can't bring in any coins. We in Bianjing But with the largest coinage workshop in the country, we can wait for the coins to be minted, and at worst, we will barter first, and the coins can still be minted for a few years."

Zhang Fei sighed: "We can afford to wait, but the exemption tax can't afford it. If it wasn't for emergency, the imperial court wouldn't do this."

Fan Li said: "Then you think the court is too kind. If we recognize this Jiaozi, see if the court will print more."

"...!"

This sentence made Zhang Fei have nothing to say, thinking, yes!Once this article is published, can the people in the capital still trust Jiaozi?In fact, Jiaozi is the most beneficial to the merchants. If the merchants do not accept it, it is basically impossible to succeed. It seems that I have to use my method, but in the era of issuing banknotes, will there be endless disasters, but if it is not issued? , This economy is indeed difficult to develop.

Just at this moment, Wang Anshi walked in angrily, and walked into the box regardless of the two of them.

"Don't let people in."

"understood."

Zhang Fei gave Fan Li a word of advice and followed him in.

"It's all a good thing you did."

Wang Anshi pointed to the newspaper on the table and said.

Zhang Fei hurriedly said: "This has nothing to do with me, it was not distributed by my genuine bookstore."

Wang Anshi said: "Didn't you make this newspaper?"

"Huh? Is this what Xueshi Wang is referring to?"

"What do you think it is?" Wang Anshi said: "Those people borrowed newspapers to wantonly distort the court's thinking. After this incident, I must punish those newspaper sellers."

He was really furious. As soon as this article was published, Jiaozi immediately became a joke.

Zhang Fei said: "If I remember correctly, this newspaper also benefited Xueshi Wang a lot at that time."

Wang Anshi's expression changed, and he asked, "Then can you benefit me again?"

Even if you want to punish the newspaper, you have to talk about it after the incident. After all, the other party is only explaining the history of Jiaozi, and there is no slander. This is a propaganda battle.

Zhang Fei sat down and said: "The other party didn't use any tricks, but just told the facts. The reason why it became like this is because the people don't believe the court's Jiaozi in their hearts. No matter what I say, the people won't believe it."

Wang Anshi said: "What is your ability to call a deer a horse?"

Zhang Fei said awkwardly: "That's a lawsuit, it's different."

Wang Anshi sighed: "But we have to find a way to deal with it. They do this to avenge their exemption tax. Now we have finally made them pay the tax, but we can't refund it."

Zhang Fei frowned and struggled for a while, "I did this, and I will find a way to solve this problem."

Wang Anshi hurriedly asked, "Do you have a solution?"

Zhang Fei nodded.

Wang Anshi said: "What method?"

Zhang Fei said, "Change a piece of paper."

"Change a piece of paper?"

"good."

Zhang Fei said: "Replace Jiaozi with salt money."

Wang Anshi was stunned for a moment, and said immediately: "It's not that I haven't thought about it. In many areas in the northwest, salt bills are used as coins, but whether it's salt bills or Jiaozi, they are all the same, there is no difference."

Zhang Fei said: "There is still a difference."

Wang Anshi asked, "What's the difference?"

Zhang Fei said: "The difference is that people can live without money for a long time, but they cannot live without salt for a long time."

(End of this chapter)