Rule over Ming Dynasty

Very similar to the scene of the last national debt subscription, a long queue appeared at the entrance of Royal Bank twice, and the queue extended to the end of the blue brick street.

"With interest rates of one cent per month, only a fool would not subscribe!"

"Selling North Korean rice to the capital is obviously a profitable business!"

"Royal Rice Store is giving us money in a different way. How can we not subscribe?"

……

Faced with the 10 tael-equivalent corporate bonds issued by Royal Rice Bank through Royal Bank, everyone knew that selling North Korean rice to the capital was a good deal with a guaranteed profit and no loss, and it immediately attracted a large number of people in the capital to come to subscribe.

Due to the disparity in economic development between the two places, rice in North Korea is cheap while rice in the capital is expensive.

As long as the Royal Rice Bank opens up the rice grain channel from North Korea to the capital, this move is no less than finding a new gold mine, so this kind of rice debt has no risk at all.

What's more, the Royal Rice Store has not only demonstrated its terrifying financial resources but also revealed its love for the people from the food crisis in the capital, so it will naturally receive support from the people.

Not only the people's support, but also the wealthy class in the capital came to subscribe enthusiastically.

The success story of the Luzon Gold Mine is right in front of us. If we don’t participate in the subscription of rice bonds now, we really won’t be able to get anything out of the soup.

"I subscribe for ten rice bonds!"

"I subscribe for twenty rice bonds!"

"I subscribe for thirty rice bonds!"

……

Faced with the attractive interest rates and the strong reputation of Huangzihao, the people in the capital once again fell into madness, staged the subscription scene during the Spring Festival, and came to participate in the subscription waving silver dollars.

Although there are bold local wealthy people who want to subscribe for 100 rice bonds, the Royal Bank has set an upper limit, and a single person can only subscribe for [-] taels of new silver dollars.

"I bought three rice bonds!"

"Fortunately, I got five rice bonds!"

"I grabbed eight! I didn't listen to Sister Ying last time, how could I miss it this time!"

……

As the textile industry in the capital is booming, and now a large amount of dividends are being obtained by skilled female weavers, the female weavers group has strong purchasing power and is also one of the main forces snapping up rice bonds.

Faced with the rice bonds issued by Royal Bank, they also chose to participate in order to achieve a certain level of growth in their accumulated wealth.

"As long as we follow the court's policies, our lives will definitely get better and better!" Liu Ying said with a faint smile when asked by people around her.

She has a growing reputation among the female weavers. She not only enjoys the dividends from the rise of the Royal Cloth Company, but also insists on owning cloth tickets, which causes the money in her hands to rise instead of falling.

What makes her most proud is the purchase of treasury bonds during the Spring Festival. Now that someone knows that she owns treasury bonds, she actually offers to take over her treasury bonds at a price of one year's interest.

But she has learned that there is a clear internal statement that Luzon gold can be cashed in at the end of the year, but it is more cost-effective than getting interest now.

Judging from the current measures of the court, it is clear that silver is cheap and gold is precious, not to mention that I want to exchange gold jewelry for my son and daughter at the end of the year.

Now the Royal Bank is issuing rice bonds, which not only solves the food problem in the capital, but also shares profits with them. Naturally, this time cannot be missed.

It's just that most of the money is now staked in national bonds. Although she has the intention to subscribe for more, her strength no longer allows it.

Near noon, shopkeeper Qian came out and said with cupped hands: "Fellow folks, I'm sorry! Today's rice bonds have been sold out. I just asked about the same for other semicolons. Please leave!" "

Seeing that they were sold out just now, he contacted other royal bank branches and wanted to apply to them to transfer a batch of rice bonds.It's just that the situation in other branches is similar to this one, and even the Chengnan branch has been sold out for an hour.

Even though he wanted these simple people to use their savings to earn some interest, the amount of rice debt was still too small, and the people in the capital were too enthusiastic.

"Isn't it 10 taels? How come it was sold out so quickly?"

"Is 10 taels a lot? Now that the court is not raising taxes, more and more people have savings at home!"

"It's not just about savings, but it's well known today that we love our people. This rice debt is actually a gift of money!"

……

The people who came later were very disappointed when they learned that they had run out. However, this situation only highlighted that everyone's life has become better now, and they now have more and more trust in the court.

Although Emperor Hongzhi was dubbed a tyrant, they preferred this resolute emperor to those emperors who talked about being patriotic and loving the people every day.

If you want to know someone clearly, you can't just listen to what the other person says, but you have to look at what the other person does.

Since Zhu Youtang came to the throne, he has never shouted any slogans, and has never issued slogans threatening to create a prosperous era.

Just resettling millions of disaster victims, promoting the revitalization of Northeast China, mining Luzon gold mines, and forming a fleet to search for treasures on the other side of the ocean are undoubtedly signs of a prosperous age.

"Don't be discouraged, everyone! I just found out that the imperial court is preparing to start mining the large silver mine in Japan with a reserve of [-] million taels of silver. This time, it is also planning to issue treasury bonds to us to raise preliminary mining expenses!"

Just when everyone was feeling frustrated, someone well-informed revealed happily.

The news about the Japanese silver mines has already spread in the capital. Due to the close distance between the two places, everyone can even have first-hand information about the Japanese silver mines.

In particular, the Ming Dynasty has always had trade relations with Japan. The Japanese have always used silver and gold to trade with Ming Dynasty merchants, so it is strange that there are no silver mines on the Japanese island.

Now that the imperial court issues silver coins tied to silver ingots, and occupies the super-large silver mine in Japan, it is a certainty that the imperial court will mine Japanese silver mines and redeem the silver coins.

"I have heard about this, but I don't know whether it is true or not!"

"I'm afraid it's not groundless. After all, silver mining is inevitable!"

"Silver dollars only have a two-year life, so I guess the silver treasury bonds won't last too long!"

……

After talking about the Japanese silver mines, many people got very excited, but they were full of expectations for the next silver national debt.

They originally thought that the imperial court would be the greatest happiness if they did not increase taxes, but no one expected that the imperial court would help them increase their wealth and truly regard them as Chinese compatriots.If someone pays serious attention to the people at the bottom, they will find that the people's hearts have slowly moved closer to Hongzhi, even though Hongzhi was smeared as a tyrant by the gentry.

It’s the end of August and the weather is slowly getting cooler.

Xiyuan, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Zhu Youtang's beard finally began to take shape, and he transformed from a white-faced boy into a heroic young emperor, with piercing eyes.

As he becomes more and more comfortable in handling memorials, and his increasingly abundant finances can solve many problems, he has more and more time for fishing every day.

Although Zhu Youtang was forced to live in the Forbidden City and Xiyuan, he was not a socially fearful person, but he often called his ministers here for communication.

Because his temper was gradually being controlled by others, it was impossible for anyone to dare to be as presumptuous as Qingyun Hou Zhou Shou and Xu Pu. Everyone's every move was loyal.

In fact, this is the trouble of the emperor. If you can't see the true face of your ministers at the beginning, when you really take power, you won't be able to see clearly who is a human and who is a ghost.

"Your Majesty, if the imperial court insists on borrowing water from the canal, it will only make it impossible to cure the Yellow River, and the canal will not be able to borrow water! Now Bai'ang has stated his interests and allowed the canal to continue to be shut down for several months. Dredging the Yellow River with all efforts can guarantee 20 years. No major danger!" Jia Jun, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, faced an invisible pressure and reported the report truthfully.

The Shandong section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has been blocked for a long time. Because it is related to grain supply, the imperial court has already ordered the river control governor's office to find ways to dredge the canal as soon as possible.

However, things went awry in the process. At first, the Yellow River repeatedly changed its course, but now it has diverted again, causing great turmoil in Shandong's water system.

Now the Ministry of Industry has finally clarified the root cause. In fact, protecting the river and protecting the bad are contradictory. The best way now is to temporarily dredge the Yellow River through water transportation and solve the current diversion problem of the Yellow River.

When Zhu Youtang saw this difficult question, he said with a straight face: "Jia Qing!"

"I'm here!" Jia Jun lowered his head and held his hands as if being stared at by a lion.

Zhu Youtang saw the gentle Jia Jun in his eyes, but seriously emphasized: "I will not pursue it this time! It's just that the governor's office of river management has not been able to hand over satisfactory answers to the people of the world after a few months, so no wonder I am ruthless, not only will the governor’s office bear the responsibility for regulating the river, but you, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, will also bear the main responsibility!”

"I thank your Majesty for your magnanimity. I will definitely live up to your Majesty's expectations!" Jia Jun secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly expressed his gratitude.

Zhu Youtang knew that there were many problems here, so he gently raised his hand and said: "Go down!"

"I retire, long live my emperor, long live, long live!" Jia Jun thanked him solemnly, and then retreated in a dignified manner.

Liu Xuan, Minister of the Ministry of War, had just been summoned here, so he naturally saw everything and turned his head thoughtfully to look at Jia Jun who was leaving.

Zhu Youtang noticed Liu Xuan's reaction and asked calmly: "Liu Qing, what do you think of the water transportation being blocked for several months?"

"I don't dare to make wild guesses! It's just that the thing is too coincidental, so it can't be a coincidence, but I think your Majesty handled it very well!" Liu Xuan hesitated for a moment, and then stated his position immediately.

Zhu Youtang picked up the tea cup that had just been delivered, and immediately said with a wry smile: "Very good? Everyone knows that there is something fishy in it, but I don't want to check it out. This is clearly appeasing and fostering adultery!"

"Your Majesty is a wise king, and what you care about is the gains and losses of the people! River management is related to the destiny of the country, and canal management is urgent. If the governor's office of river management is strictly investigated, the situation will inevitably worsen. Although there are mistakes today, the Yellow River has indeed become more and more smooth in recent years. Your Majesty is Bear the sand in your eyes and open up the Yellow River for water transportation!" Ever since Liu Xuan saw millions of disaster victims settling down in the Northeast, he knew that the emperor in front of him was a true king who loved the people.

Now Zhu Youtang did not choose to investigate the reasons, but directly put pressure on the main officials. Although it was a compromise, it was a concession for the people of the world.

With such a talented and strategic monarch, such a king who advances and retreats in a measured way, is there any reason why the Ming Dynasty should not be prosperous?
Zhu Youtang knew that Liu Xuan was indeed like maggots in his stomach, so he took a sip of tea and said, "In your opinion, when can water transportation be opened?"

"I think your Majesty is not concerned about when water transportation will be opened, but is more concerned about whether the Yellow River will be free of major troubles for 20 years as Bai Ang said!" Liu Xuan met Zhu Youtang's gaze and looked very confident.

Huh?
Liu Jin, who was standing nearby, turned to look at Zhu Youtang in confusion. Although he believed that he was the person who understood the emperor's heart best, he did not think about it at all.

Zhu Youtang was indeed moved by the cake drawn by Bai Ang, otherwise he would not compromise so easily, but would investigate the river governance governor's office thoroughly.

Compared with the blockage of water transportation for several months, if the river control expert can ensure that there will be no major problems in the Yellow River for 20 years, then all this will actually be worth it.

There has always been an opposition between water management and river management. Now that he was forced to give priority to river management, he simply became a confused emperor.

Originally, he was worried that if he insisted on regulating the river, he would be counterattacked by water transport. Now that the governor's office of regulating the river is blocking the gun for him, he can fully reap the benefits.

Zhu Youtang gently put the tea cup down and said with some interest: "Liu Qing, water transportation is related to the rations of the military and civilians in the north. How can I not care about it?"

"Your Majesty's talented people have planned to develop the Northeast Prefecture. Today, the soldiers and civilians of Northeast Prefecture are reclaiming farmland. In less than three years, it will become the granary of the northern Ming Dynasty. If we can buy rice from North Korea this time, it will no longer matter whether the water transportation is prosperous or declining!" Liu Xuan knew that Zhu Youtang It's about testing yourself, it's about handing in the answer sheet with confidence.

Zhu Youtang realized that putting important officials in the capital to practice locally was indeed effective. He nodded noncommittally and said, "Is there any news from North Korea?"

"King Li Ju of North Korea has agreed to switch to Hongzhi silver coins, and will insist on distributing salary in silver coins in the future!" Liu Xuan answered seriously when he heard that it was a North Korean matter.

Since the imperial court introduced the new money, they also requested the surrounding vassal states to use the new money of the Ming Dynasty. As the nearest neighbor, North Korea was the first to be caught as a guinea pig.

In fact, there is no need for the Ming Dynasty to come forward. Now North Korean people will also use the Ming Dynasty’s currency.

North Korea is located on the Korean Peninsula. Although the small court of North Korea also issued their own copper coins, it was like some unreliable dynasties in China.

North Korea's finances are even more fragile, and copper mines are very scarce. In the end, the so-called "one for a hundred" copper coins with large denominations were introduced, causing credit to go bankrupt.

Due to the lack of copper and silver on the Korean peninsula, they had no basis for the silver standard at all, and finally chose the lighter and best-selling five-liter cloth as their private currency.

However, with the invasion of Ming cotton cloth and the court's cloth merchants cooperating with the Ming Dynasty, cloth tickets became more and more popular.Now the new silver coins issued by the Ming Dynasty are linked to cloth tickets, and they can be exchanged for silver bullion two years later, which greatly strengthens the credibility of cloth tickets and silver coins.

The most important thing is the trade deficit between the two countries. Even if North Korea gets silver coins, it cannot keep them. The biggest role is to buy high-quality and low-priced goods from the Ming Dynasty.

Because of this, the newly launched silver coins of the Ming Dynasty also dominated the North Korean market and naturally became the currency in circulation among North Korean people.

Zhu Youtang knew that the North Korean King Li Juan did not have the capital to bargain with him, so he picked up the tea cup and said with satisfaction: "He is really sensible this time!"

"Your Majesty, now that he has sent an envoy to ask for the return of the crown prince of Joseon again, I don't know how to reply?" Liu Xuan asked cautiously.

Zhu Youtang took a sip of tea and was about to relent: "In that case, then send it back! It's just..."

"Please give me your Majesty's orders!" Liu Xuan felt that Zhu Youtang's eyes were different, and he immediately lowered his head and said.

Zhu Youtang put down the tea cup and said with a murderous intent in his eyes: "Inform Yebu! Since the King of Korea claims to have smallpox, then it will be as he wishes!"

Originally, the Crown Prince of Joseon was in the capital as a hostage, but the King of Joseon, Ri Chul, had a crooked idea and actually faked his illness to trick the Ming Dynasty into releasing the Crown Prince of Joseon.

This time, when the Ming Dynasty court sent an imperial doctor to conduct an examination, the king refused because he had smallpox, which made it difficult for the Ming Dynasty imperial doctor to force the examination.

It's just that this little trick is okay if you want to deceive other people, but how can you deceive the ubiquitous Yebu, and how can you deceive the Ming court?
"I obey the order!" Liu Xuan knew that they were going to take action against the imperial court, so he immediately raised his hands in a polite manner. (End of chapter)