Cutting 1719

Chapter 407

Speaking of going to a restaurant, but for Ning Yu and other monarchs and ministers, there is nothing in the world that they want to eat, let alone in Nanjing City, so everyone did not go to any high-end restaurants , but searched for a small noodle shop, with a curtain hanging at the door, with the words 'Chen Ji' written on it.

Chen Ji Noodle House is not a big shop. There are only three small square tables and a few benches inside. A woman in her thirties is serving in front of her. She looks quite dark and looks at Ning Yu and others. His expression was full of tension, and he was a bit puzzled, as if he didn't understand why these people who were not simple at first sight would come to his small noodle shop.

The owner of the noodle maker in the back kitchen is a simple and honest man. He just glanced at the number of people eating noodles, and then a smile appeared on his face. There have not been so many guests for a long time.

There is no extra food in the noodle shop, and there are only two kinds of noodles, one is plain noodles, and the other is meat noodles with spicy peppers. The price is outrageously cheap. A bowl of plain noodles is only one copper, and meat noodles are four coppers. .

Seeing the shabby storefront, the guards at the side whispered: "Young Master, this store is too expensive, how can you bear this?"

"Hmph, why can't you bear this?"

Ning Yu snorted coldly, "You know, when I was in Yunxi, those common people couldn't even afford this."

The guards had no choice but to stay silent, but they were all focused on the noodle shop couple, watching their every move all the time.

But I don't know if it was Yunxi that Ning Yu said, but the man who made the noodles looked back, and then smiled honestly: "This guest officer, we are from Yunxi. In the past, we were really poor and couldn't eat. Come on, it's much better now."

Ning Yu couldn't help becoming interested, "That's a coincidence, I was also Yunxi who went to Yunxi a few years ago, how are the folks living now?"

"It's much better. You can't starve to death."

The owner of the noodle shop was a little clumsy when he spoke, but the proprietress at the side gave him a stare, but the proprietress took over the conversation and said with a smile: "Guest officers, my man is clumsy and tongue-tied now. The life of the folks is much better. Now that the Holy Son of Heaven is in court, everyone can eat enough. Even if they can't live in Yunxi, the government will organize people to work in the mine. This day is getting more hopeful every day. gone."

"Oh? Going to work in the mine? Can sister-in-law explain in detail?"

The woman was a little nervous at the beginning, but when she saw the young man in front of her with a friendly look, she became bolder now, "Guest officer, you have been to Yunxi to know how poor it is. There are not many fields in this field, but there are many The folks are full and hungry. Later, the Fuhan army, which is now the imperial court, opened some mines and cement factories in Yunxi, and recruited many people to work in the factories. Although Hard work is a bit hard, but the wages can open ten large copper coins a day!"

Ten big copper plates?
Ning Yu was a little confused for a moment, but Ernst next to him interjected in a strange Chinese, "It is our copper coins, which have been implemented in major government-run mines and factories before the bank issued them. Therefore, what the workers got in their hands was copper coins."

The woman was startled when she heard this mustache and bearded Westerner speak Chinese, and she said loudly: "Oh, this guest officer knows a lot, yes, I I heard from the villagers that they have been using those copper coins for a long time, and it is said that a large copper plate can be worth thirteen copper coins!"

Ning Yu's face became serious at the moment, and he said softly: "Madam, but I heard that this copper coin is only twelve coins when exchanged at the bank. Why did it become thirteen coins in private?"

From one to twelve to one to thirteen, this reflects a big problem, that is, the government's money is too heavy, which will lead to a problem, that is, the common people will exchange copper coins and put them in their hands. No, but continue to use those copper coins. This is economically bad money driving out good money.

Ernst also thought of this, and he was a little puzzled, so he stared at the woman.

The woman was immediately startled by the attitude of the two, but before she could speak, the man in the back kitchen brought six bowls of noodles on a wooden plate, with a flattering smile on his face, "Guest officer, six The bowl of noodles is here, and the rest will come right away."

When Ning Yu saw that there were six bowls of noodles on the plate, the white, tender and smooth noodles were piled up slowly, and there were a few green, oily, crispy and raw vegetable leaves on top, and his appetite suddenly came up.

"Sister-in-law said slowly, let's eat first."

Ernst also took a bowl of noodles and looked at the woman while eating, waiting for her to reveal the reason,

The woman said in a low voice: "Several guest officers, the thirteen Wen coins are all copper coins of poor quality, and some of them are not even heavy enough, so they can be exchanged for Thirteen Wen. It can be exchanged for twelve Wen."

When Ning Yu and Ernst heard this, they were relieved. This kind of situation is actually quite normal, because the current copper coins themselves are divided into many types, and there are even copper coins from the previous dynasty, and some privately minted coins , The value of those copper coins themselves is not as good as normal copper coins.

Even though he had already figured out the reason, Ning Yu felt that this matter should not be underestimated, so he ordered: "It doesn't matter if the court loses a little bit now, but after the bank collects these copper coins, they must be recast, and they must not be circulated on the market again." disrupt the monetary economy."

"Yes, master." Ernst relaxed his face and replied quickly.

Since Ning Yu had been thinking about these things, he didn't continue to talk to the woman, and the woman seemed to have noticed something, so she didn't dare to speak any more.

After everyone finished eating, a guard came forward to pay the bill. He took out a silver dollar from his pocket and handed it to the woman. However, after the woman took the silver dollar, she looked a little flustered and hurried to pay the bill. Handed it back.

"My lord, please give me another money. We really can't afford this silver dollar!"

Ning Yu hurriedly stopped the guards, stepped forward and asked, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, we are all businessmen, and we will never lose you half a penny, but this silver coin was also issued by the government, why can't you accept it? "

The woman said bitterly: "Although the fineness of this silver dollar is good, it is much better than that of silver, but for a small business like ours, how can we afford so much money? It is really hard to find!"

Hearing what the woman said, Ning Yu immediately slapped his head. After all, he still hasn't really lived a hard life. How many ordinary people can afford money?I am afraid that many people have never seen it before, and if I really want to give them silver dollars, I am afraid that their change will be taken away.

Among the dozen or so people, half of them ate plain noodles with [-] cents of copper, and the other half ate meat noodles with [-] cents of copper. Therefore, the total was only three copper yuan plus six corners of copper.

Fortunately, several people also had copper coins, and immediately settled the bill with copper coins. After receiving the four copper coins, the proprietress retrieved four more copper coins, and said with a smile on her face: "Since the guest officials gave you Copper coins, I will find copper coins for you, I can’t fool you with those square-hole copper coins.”

After returning to the palace, Ning Yu summoned several important cabinet members, as well as the minister of the Ministry of Finance and the governor of the Central Bank, and told them all about the situation.

"Right now, the common people still have a lot of trust in the currency we issue. This is extremely precious. All of you here must understand that this reputation does not come out of thin air. It is all accumulated by us little by little. Yes, it’s not always there, as long as you do things that are sorry for the common people, then this reputation will never be there again!”

Ning Yu attached great importance to the reputation of the imperial court and the royal family in the hearts of the people, and he even did not hesitate to let these ministers experience this feeling for themselves.

Cui Wancai sighed: "Your Majesty, people cannot stand without trust, businesses cannot prosper without trust, and a country will decline without trust. Although this copper plate is small, it is related to the livelihood of the people. We will never do things that harm the interests of the people." things."

The cabinet secretary expressed his position, and other people naturally said the same thing, but Ning Yu also understood that it is not enough to supervise these people, and the control below must be strengthened, at least this new currency mechanism cannot be turned into some money. A channel for people to make money.

However, as far as the situation Ning Yu has seen so far, it is still relatively good. At least the people’s support for the new currency is seen in the eyes, so Ning Yu is not going to go to war, it is nothing more than giving the minds of the ministers Take it again, at least the currency can no longer interfere at will.

Ning Yu said softly again: "About the new batch of national defense bonds, the central bank needs to lead and the major banks cooperate, and no forced trading is allowed. As for the interest policy, it can be publicized in major newspapers, and I will instruct the press to publish it. The company fully cooperates with this treasury bond sale.”

The Governor of the Central Bank, Deng Boran, said softly: "Your Majesty, some people want to pre-order part of the first batch of national debt, and all the major families want to buy it. I haven't made up my mind yet, so I ask Your Majesty to make a decision."

As soon as everyone heard Deng Boran's words, they immediately understood. This is another extremely sensitive matter. Regarding the current families of honorable ministers, the ministers are really a bit difficult to handle. After all, they are all founding heroes. I don't dare to do things too unfeelingly, so I turn a blind eye and close one eye.

But this time, it was the national debt that the emperor placed high hopes on. Deng Boran really didn't dare to take on this responsibility. Therefore, he mainly evaded the intentions of the major families. When the cabinet meeting was held, he directly threw it out and asked the emperor to decide.

Strictly speaking, Deng Boran's handling of this incident did offend the major families, but he chose the lesser of two evils. After all, he is a close friend of Ning Zhongxin, the chairman of the Banking Regulatory Commission, so he doesn't have to worry about the threats of the ministers. The emperor, however, cannot be offended in the slightest.

Ning Yu smiled slightly, "Anyone can buy this national debt. Since the major families have to reserve part of it first, it doesn't matter, just let them pay first."

Hearing Ning Yu's words, some shrewd ministers instantly understood that the emperor had introduced many policies in the past, some of which had indeed harmed the interests of some aristocratic families. Therefore, the current share of the national debt is The sweetness given to the various clans also meant to make up for it.

In fact, Ning Yu really thought so in his heart, after all, no matter how tough he was, he couldn't do without his courtiers.Although Ning Yu did not back down on key interests, he would not be reluctant to give up the benefits that could be given away. After all, he had to unite most people so that he, the emperor, could be stable.

When the two issues of currency and national debt were basically resolved, Ning Yu's mood was relatively better, so he said in a low voice: "After the new currency is fully rolled out next year, it will be good for the copper coins in the past, as well as gold and silver." That’s okay, if you can collect it first, you can recast it into a new type of currency, not only can you sort out the current chaotic currency mechanism, but you can also earn part of the seigniorage.”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Ning Yu thought for a while, then looked at Ernst who was in charge of minting coins, and said: "Ernst, the current steam engine has basically entered the practical stage, and the related steam engine coin factory will also start construction, but there are many Things, such as currency craftsmanship, raw materials, and ratios, you still need to check carefully."

Ernst hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this plan is being implemented, and I will keep an eye on this matter so that there will be no mistakes."

Speaking of this, Ning Yu felt that he had nothing to tell him, and when he was about to let the ministers go back to their homes, there was a burst of exclamation from outside.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, great victory, great victory!"

Great victory?

Soon, Ning Yu and the ministers in the hall heard this sentence, and looked at the three southwestern provinces on the map, with a smile on their faces.

At this moment, someone came in from outside the hall. It was Ning Zuyi, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, holding a notebook in his hand, but the smile on his face could no longer be concealed. Seeing Ning Yu couldn't help shouting.

"Your Majesty, the great victory in the Southwest. Under the city of Guiyang, Deputy Envoy Cheng Mingcheng wiped out all the Qing troops under Ertai, beheaded more than 4 enemies and captured nearly [-] enemies. , and dozens of other chieftains, large and small, have been wiped out, and countless military rations and weapons have been seized."

"What? You are talking about Deputy Envoy Cheng?"

Cui Wancai, the second assistant to the cabinet, had a look of disbelief on his face, but he knew that the main force was on Chang Shanwang's side, and Cheng Ming's side was just a partial division.

"That's right, it's Deputy Envoy Cheng. Now that Ertai has been captured by our army, the two provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou can hold back."

Ning Zuyi also had a bit of excitement on his face, "As for King Changshan, he has already entered Zhongzhou and is rushing to attack Chongqing Mansion to achieve a decisive battle with Yue Zhongqi."

"Hahahaha. Good! The battle in the Southwest should be fought like this!"

Ning Yu took a deep breath. What he was most worried about before the battle was not the defeat of the Fuhan army, but being dragged into the deep mountains and old forests to fight repeatedly. As long as the decisive battle can be achieved in advance, especially a large number of chieftain soldiers, There will be almost no obstacles to winning the Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in the future.

The significance of this victory is not only reflected in the military, but also in politics.

(End of this chapter)