A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 303 Lingzhou
The most abundant mineral in Lingzhou is actually coal, which is called coal by Tang people, and it is mainly used as a local product and paid tribute to the court.

As the imperial capital, Chang'an is not uncommon for coal.

In Chang'an, coal is distributed, and the Shangdang has a loose heart. Many dignitaries also commonly use coal. Since the Sui Dynasty, the court dignitaries in Chang'an used coal, mainly from the Tongguan mining area in Wei.

For example, Lingzhou is rich in coal resources, and the local area has long begun to use and burn them. However, in comparison, the amount of coal mined is not high.

As for copper, there are several copper mines known to the Lingzhou government. For example, Qingtongxia, where Li Jing fought against Xiashi last year, has copper mines since the Han Dynasty, and there is also a large copper mine in Zhaobi Mountain in the southwest of Lingzhou.

"Stop selling money and casting utensils, and switch to mining copper mines, smelting copper and making coins and casting utensils. I'm afraid many people will not want to." Xue Wanche still raised concerns after drinking.

After all, he just took office as the governor, and his foundation is not deep, but he is also very clear about his situation. After all, he is not the emperor Yuan Cong's confidant. Being appointed as the governor, he is naturally grateful and loyal to the new emperor, but this does not change the fact that he is not the emperor's confidant.

Furthermore, he is a newcomer, although Wu Huaiyu made a deal with Li Daozong and the others before, which made him take over a good stall as soon as he came, but these people are not familiar with them after all.

As the governor, he is not the emperor's confidant, and he has not been in Lingzhou for a long time, which means that his control is actually weak now.

Now according to the previous agreement, then everyone will make a fortune together, and everything will be harmonious, but if Wu Huaiyu wants to break the original agreement now, there may be problems.

Mining copper ore and smelting is obviously a huge investment, but the income is not as good as the original business, and there may even be some unknown risks.

How nice it is to lie down and make money now.

"During the time of Wude, the imperial court was far beyond Lingzhou's reach. As long as this important military town can be stabilized, the imperial court will let things go for the time being, but the governor also knows that this situation cannot last forever.

Now it's Zhenguan, the imperial court sent me here just to regain Shuofang. "

"Whether it is going to change after all depends on whether it is active or passive."

"I think it's better for us to take the initiative."

"But what if those people don't agree? You know better than me how deep the water is here, and everyone in Lingzhou is involved. What if, can we control the situation?"

Xue Wanche was very polite to Wu Huaiyu.

Because he is not only the governor of the governor's office, but also the governor of Yanzhou, not to mention that he is obviously the emperor's confidant, and his identity as a remnant party makes him more cautious now.

Dou Lu Huairang was cutting mutton with a knife, and the knife in his hand was also a gorgeous Damascus-patterned steel horn knife. Hearing what the two said, he smiled and said: "I think what Erlang said is very reasonable. They are a lesson from the past. After all, we are officials of the imperial court, and we have to think about the overall situation of the imperial court.
Lingzhou sells money to cast utensils and private money. It is indeed a bit serious. Now it is not that we want to change it, but that the imperial court has suspended the release of money to Shuofang and Longyou. Copper coins do not go out of Longguan and Xiaoguan.
Even if you want to maintain the old style, it will not work. How long can the money outside the customs be maintained? If you plan early, it is actually for the sake of everyone. "

Xue Wanche was in a dilemma. He managed to pick up Li Daozong's tricks and became the governor of Lingzhou, but he didn't want to be kicked out before his butt was hot.

One must understand the intention of the superior, but one must also take care of the emotions of the people below, otherwise he will not be able to sit still.

Transformation is indeed imperative.

"Captain, the imperial court's money is banned from entering Shuofang. If we don't deal with it early, then our current prosperous business and trade scene will disappear. Although Lingzhou is on the south of the Yangtze River, the most important thing for this place to prosper is With the help of the Silk Road and border market trade, "

Currency plays an important role in supporting the development of industry and commerce. If there is insufficient currency, the market will definitely suffer.

This is not only about political achievements and official titles, but also about their current private interests in it.

"We can seek more policy support from the imperial court,"

Wu Huaiyu proposed to ask the emperor for an order, such as allowing Shuofang's private mines to mine minerals freely, and even lowering the mining class, or allowing them to use the copper they mined and smelted by themselves, and sell copper castings.

Even copper coins were minted by government-private joint ventures by mining copper materials.

From the original illegal behavior, laundering is legal.

"Will the imperial court allow it?"

"I have learned that during the Sui Daye period, there were 76 copper mines in the country, and more than [-] catties of copper were mined annually, which is too small.

Afterwards, the world was in chaos, and many copper mines were shut down or abandoned due to the chaos, and the copper output was even lower.

During the Wude Dynasty of the Great Tang Dynasty, Kaiyuan Tongbao new coins were minted. Money supervisors were set up in various places. There are a total of 30 coin casting furnaces.

A consistent copper coin weighs one hundred taels, of which 80 taels of copper are used, and 30 million catties of copper are needed to cast 150 guan coins. "

The annual output is only about 20 catties of copper, but it takes 150 million catties to cast coins. There is a problem here. Although the amount of coins minted is still too small, the amount of copper consumed is five or six times the amount mined.

Therefore, although it has only been five or six years since Wude started to mint new money, the amount of coinage is actually unstable. Money melts into new money.

The imperial court had a great demand for copper, but the mining capacity was insufficient, especially the official mining capacity was not enough.

If Lingzhou can mobilize private forces to open new copper mines, the imperial court will naturally be happy to see it. After all, Kaiyuan Tongbao is good, but copper is needed to cast it, and currency is related to the stability and prosperity of industry and commerce.

As for asking the imperial court to allow the mining of copper materials, they can make copper wares, or even allow them to open a mint in a joint venture between the government and the private sector.

If the imperial court's money does not go out of the customs, then Longyou can't rely on silk grain transactions. As long as it can mint money according to the imperial court's standards, it will be a good thing for the imperial court, and it can solve the serious shortage of coins.

As for the profit of coinage, it is not the top priority.

Even from private minting to official minting, it can also combat the situation of private minting of bad coins and even chaos.

Meals have to be eaten at one bite, and the road has to be walked step by step. The current emperor Li Shimin is a talented and capable emperor.

Governing the country is like cooking fresh food, and it is progressing through constant compromises and twists and turns.

Dou Luhuairang stood clearly on Wu Huaiyu's side and expressed support for Wu Changshi's plan. Xue Wanche pondered for a while, then drank a cup of Erguotou and said with a blushing face, "Then follow Wu Changshi's order, but the specific requirements How to do it, Wuchang Shi, you have to worry about it, and I will support you no matter what you say."

Although this guy spoke loudly, Wu Huaiyu could hear something. On the surface, he supported Huaiyu with all his strength, but in fact he was ready to throw the pot away.

If something goes wrong, it was all planned by Chang Shi Wu Huaiyu, and he is naturally responsible.

Huaiyu didn't care.

Anyway, this matter is imperative, if you don’t change it, you can’t do it. If you change it, you will follow the trend. Besides, the change will be beneficial to both public and private.

"Actually, it's not just copper. In addition to coal and coal in Lingzhou, salt and coal in Yanzhou, there is also a lot of petrolatum. These are very important minerals. We can develop them together. As long as the business is good, we will Dare to say that the benefits of mining are definitely stronger than the current private casting.”

Xue Wanche waved his hands, "I'll follow Wu Changshi's orders, you can make arrangements."

Doulu Huairang said, "I'll contact Lingzhou immediately, let's discuss it behind closed doors."

Outside the Governor's Mansion, Li Sanniang chased all the way from Yanzhou to Lingzhou, and went directly to the Governor's Mansion. Wu Huaiyu's deputy Wu Huailiang knew that the clan brother was avoiding this man, so he stopped her, and hurriedly made his younger brother pregnant Go in and inform.

(End of this chapter)