amaotonovel Chapter 847 Even the officials of vassal states need paper money
Chapter 847 Even the officials of vassal states need paper money
Li Shanchang was bewildered because he had never heard of the famous Lotus Silk Cloud-Walking Shoes.
The reason Yang Shaofeng had such a dark and sour face was because the Lotus Silk Cloud-Walking Shoes were extremely famous in Ningyang County.
As is well known, there were no cooling devices such as electric fans and air conditioners during the Ming Dynasty.
During the two years that Yang Shaofeng served as the magistrate of Ningyang County, he also did not enjoy cooling methods such as ice blocks or maids fanning him.
Left with no other choice, Yang Shaofeng could only carry a small stool and run out into the street to cool off in the evening breeze.
It is also well known that when people of other ethnic groups get together, they sing and dance, while when Han people get together, they often just brag and chat. They can talk about everything from the creation of the world by Pangu to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the Qin, Han, Tang and Song dynasties. They can talk about gods and magic, or about talented men and beautiful women. They can talk about the Book of Songs and the elegant odes. They can talk about Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng.
As a county magistrate and a time traveler, Yang Shaofeng inevitably chatted with people about things like lotus-silk cloud-walking shoes, golden chainmail, phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, and Ruyi Jingu Bang (a magical staff).
Then, those idiots in Ningyang County took it to heart.
Golden chainmail, phoenix-winged purple-gold crown, and Ruyi Jingu Bang (the magic staff) are hard to come by, because even if all the bandits in Ningyang County mobilized, they wouldn't be able to steal enough gold.
But those lotus-silk cloud-walking shoes are something we can make.
It's just lotus root slices. Ningyang County has many ponds where lotus roots are grown, but if all else fails, look at the villages in neighboring Wenshang County and Qufu County, they also grow a lot of lotus roots.
If we can't steal it, can't we just buy it with money?
So, some clever people suddenly had a bright idea and started secretly collecting lotus root threads, then using them to spin thread and weave cloth.
Then, when the clever people, led by Liu Sanshier and other leaders, presented Yang Shaofeng with the Lotus Silk Cloud-Walking Shoes, Yang Shaofeng was completely dumbfounded.
Lotus root threads, those lousy things break easily if you're not careful. You might not even be able to twist a foot-long thread from a pound of lotus root.
These idiots actually spun lotus root fibers into thread and wove them into cloth. How many lotus roots must they have ruined, and how much manpower and resources must they have spent?
Furthermore, these idiots kept quiet for three whole years without letting out a single word. Is that normal?
So the whole of Ningyang County knows, but I, this official, am kept in the dark?
The key point is that these scoundrels are quite self-righteous, saying things like, "The lord will be promoted sooner or later. In the play, it is said that an honest official leaves his boots and a corrupt official leaves his hat. So, when the lord is promoted, he should leave his boots behind. Then he can wear these lotus-silk cloud-walking shoes from Ningyang County to take office, so that he can rise step by step."
Then, Magistrate Yang held more and more official positions, but he never lost his position as Magistrate of Ningyang County. Even the Duke of Ying's mansion was built in Ningyang County.
Yang Shaofeng couldn't help but curse with a dark face: "A bunch of idiots, trying to fool this official with all sorts of fancy stuff."
Zhu Biao said with envy, "If someone got me a pair of boots like these, I would wear them every day and even sleep in them."
Is this just about a pair of boots?
No!
If one truly desires a pair of lotus-silk cloud-walking shoes, it wouldn't be difficult for Zhu Biao, the current Crown Prince, to obtain one.
What Zhu Biao admired was the human spirit behind those boots!
Take, for example, the hundred-man guard who was always by his side. If one day he were to encounter any danger, Zhu Biao had no doubt that these hundred-plus guards would be willing to die for him.
However, only a small part of the reason they were willing to die for him was because of his status as the crown prince; the majority of the reason was because he was their master's brother-in-law.
Zhu Biao suddenly turned to Yang Shaofeng and said, "Brother-in-law, when are we going back to Ningyang County again?"
Yang Shaofeng was slightly taken aback and asked, "Back to Ningyang County?"
Zhu Biao raised his voice and said, "That's right. It's been quite a while since I came to Dengzhou Prefecture from Ningyang County. I'd really like to go back to Ningyang County for a visit."
Li Shanchang immediately perked up.
Going to Ningyang County is great! Going to Ningyang County is a good opportunity to see that poor, run-down, and impoverished county.
While you're at it, you can also check on the progress of steam engine development.
Look at the extent to which his workshops in Ningyang County are short of workers.
Yang Shaofeng considered it for a moment and said, "Go back to Ningyang County? That's fine, but we need to take Prime Minister Li around Dengzhou Prefecture first to take a look."
At this point, Yang Shaofeng turned his gaze to Li Shanchang and said with a smile, "Prime Minister Li, would you be interested in giving the envoys a few words of advice?"
Li Shanchang shook his head and said, "I know better than the Prince Consort when it comes to matters of the border markets, so I won't meddle."
After a slight pause, Li Shanchang asked with considerable curiosity, "There is something I don't quite understand."
"That's great... It's said that Goryeo used to have 100,000 warhorses, which is at least 100,000 archers."
"Why has there been so little activity in the last two years?"
Yang Shaofeng laughed smugly, and Zhu Biao quickly answered, "I know what happened, because all their warhorses were sold?"
Li Shanchang was slightly taken aback and asked, "Sold?"
Zhu Biao raised his voice and said, "Yes, they were sold. The most expensive price was ten taels of silver per bolt, and the cheapest price was eight taels of silver per bolt. The Koreans sold them all."
Li Shanchang was even more confused, while Zhu Biao slowly began to explain.
“When my brother-in-law first opened the market, he set a rule that only paper money would be accepted.”
"But those bastards and monkeys only have a little bit of paper money given to them by the imperial court, which can't buy anything at all."
"So, for the sake of the precious banknotes, those bastards and monkeys will sell anything."
"The Koreans sell warhorses, and the monkeys sell ivory and seeds for three-season rice."
"Later, they even brought their own people over as laborers, half-selling and half-giving them away, so that they could earn money for them."
"And you, Minister Li, have seen the prices at the Dengzhou market."
"For more precious banknotes, the sticks and monkeys even fought and scrambled to sell them."
"Sometimes when they bring in too many warhorses, they will even try to lower the price."
After a slight pause, Zhu Biao added, "Of course, it's not just that reason, and it's not even the main reason."
Li Shanchang was stunned again. After regaining his senses, he looked at Zhu Biao and asked, "Isn't this the main reason?"
Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Yes, that's not the main reason."
"The main reason is that the officials of their respective vassal states also need paper money."
“Whether the warhorses are sold at a high price or a low price through proper channels, it all goes into the national treasury of their respective vassal states.”
"But by using certain methods to turn these warhorses into dwarf horses, the extra money can become their own income."
"Especially those princes and nobles, many of them want to send their children to study in the Ming Dynasty, and there are many places where they need to use paper money."
"They were more concerned with whether their own children had enough money to spend than with whether the vassal state's treasury was full."