I studied in modern times

Chapter 352 The Liao purchasing group is here

After Zhao Xu returned to Qingshou Palace, he naturally discussed the matter with the two palaces.

After hearing this, both palaces were very happy.

Empress Dowager Xiang even said: "I was originally worried that Sixth Brother might be too busy with all the complicated things in Kaifeng Mansion. Now, with the help of all the banquet officials, Sixth Brother can feel much more relaxed!"

The Queen Mother also smiled and said: "I was worried about this before, but now I can rest assured!"

The officials of the banquet are all chosen by them.

Of course they can trust it.

Zhao Xu smiled and sat next to the two palaces, holding one in each hand.

But I was thinking in my heart, how should this system of banquet officials, companions, and governors develop in the future?

In the Song Dynasty, the ruling officials used to be selected from among the powerful magistrates of Kaifeng Prefecture, Hanlin scholars, three ministers (now Shangshu of the Ministry of Household Affairs), and Yushi Zhongcheng.

Because these people have the closest relationship with the emperor.

Either they were dealing with the Kaifeng Mansion for the emperor himself, they were helping the emperor look after his money bag, they were biting people for the emperor, or they were following the emperor day and night.

However, under the current situation, the pattern of ministers who have the closest relationship with Zhao Xu has changed.

Jing Yanguan and Quan knew that Kaifeng Prefecture still had official affairs in Kaifeng Prefecture, and he was promoted to a bureau dedicated to manufacturing weapons.

This is the minister who has the most contact and the closest relationship with Zhao Xu.

Naturally, as long as Zhao Xu is willing, power will be concentrated in these places.

Just like Shen Kuo, now Shen Kuo writes notes to the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ordnance Supervision, asking for people and money.

Do they dare not give it?Do you dare to neglect?
If you don't dare, then Shen Kuo is already the superior of these three departments in a sense.

This situation will last for ten or 20 years.

One of the future prime ministers must have someone assigned to lead the "Dedicated Ordnance Manufacturing Bureau".

Because at that time, if the prime minister in the capital hall does not have this mission.

Then, the power of the capital will not be complete.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu said in his heart: "Let's do this for now..."

He looked at the Empress Dowager who was still smiling.

Zhao Xu knew very well that he couldn't irritate her too much for the time being.

……

The second day, February Ding Chou (eighteenth).

Zhao Xu and the two palaces received Shen Kuo and Li Xian in the Qingshou Palace who came to present the prepared "Song and Liao Jiaozi" prints.

The three sets of prepared prints were placed in boxes and presented to the emperor.

Zhao Xu and the two palaces opened all three sets of seals and looked at them one by one.

All the prints are copper plates, and they all have different face values.

This is natural!

In the past, Jiaozi already had face value.

Generally, it ranges from five guans, ten guans, and twenty guans. Because in the past, Jiaozi used iron coins as the face value, so its face value was roughly equivalent to copper coins such as one, two, and four guans.

The Jiaozi being prepared now uses the annual coins given by the Song Dynasty to the Liao Kingdom as a deposit, and copper coins are used as the monetary unit.

As a result, its face value has naturally shrunk.

There are different denominations such as one string, five strings, ten strings, twenty strings, fifty strings, etc.

The pattern is also different for each denomination.

For example, the traditional Jiaozi copper plate is engraved with a pattern of peonies that was very popular among the nobles of the Song and Liao Dynasties. Its size is about the same as the palm of the Empress Dowager Xiang's hand.

There is also a text written by Shen Kuo in regular script according to Zhao Xu's intention: The trade of the Song Dynasty and Liao Dynasty was made by Jiaozi, which promised to facilitate the public and private transactions of merchants all over the world. Holding Jiaozi in Bianjing and paying the bills to Ziwu can be exchanged for copper coins.

Continuing to browse, the Jiaozi copper plates of other denominations also have patterns of flowers, grass and mountains and rivers.

It’s just that the face value is larger and there are more patterns.

Zhao Xu looked at it and put it down.

Then he looked at the copper plate that the two palaces were admiring in their hands.

In the hands of the Empress Dowager, she held a Jiaozi copper plate with city outlines.

What Empress Dowager Xiang is holding is a Jiaozi copper plate that looks like a man in official uniform.

Obviously, those two sets should use the size of the city and the level of official position to distinguish the face value of Jiaozi.

The two palaces were enjoying it and were very satisfied.

These copper plates are exquisitely carved and have rounded details. They are obviously superior in art and material to the Jiaozi copper plates of the past!
Zhao Xu put down the copper plate in his hand and asked, "Li Douzhi, Shen Tiju, and Jiaozi's anti-counterfeiting skills are safe?"

Shen Kuo paid his respects now and said: "Your Majesty, I have been informed that I have adopted the techniques of Jiaozi to prevent counterfeiting, and adopted the methods of Jiaozi from all generations, and added various colors..."

"For example, the main color of the pattern of Yiguanzhi Jiaozi is blue, the two strings are green, the five strings are scarlet, and if there are more than ten strings, purple is used, and the twenty strings and fifty strings are all golden and purple!"

Zhao Xu laughed when he heard this: "Is your rank determined by the color of your official uniform?"

Shen Kuo bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Only in this way can we distinguish between noble and humble...and be accepted by the world!"

This is a good way!

The Song Dynasty and the Northern Barbarians both shared similar civil and military ranks and uniform insignia colors.

Basically everyone accepted the order of cyan, green, crimson, purple and gold.

So, Zhao Xu turned around and asked the two palaces: "Mother and Queen, which set of Jiaozi seals do you think is better?"

Both palaces were somewhat stuck in the difficulty of choosing and pondered.

Zhao Xu then said: "Mother-in-law and Queen Mother, why don't you give it to your son-in-law and print one set each first to see the effect?"

The two palaces nodded.

So, the next day, Shen Kuo and Li Xian entered the palace again and sent three sets of Jiaozi with different denominations printed by them to the emperor.

This time, with physical comparison, the choice was much easier.

Three sets of Jiaozi with different styles are placed in front of you. It is clear at a glance which set looks good and which set does not look good.

Zhao Xu and the two palaces unanimously chose the one with flowers, grass and mountains and rivers as the face value.

This is not only because this set of Jiaozi copper plates prints more beautiful Jiaozi, but also because of political considerations.

Flowers, grass, mountains and rivers are always more easily accepted by the government and the public than cities and officials.

In this way, the matter was settled.

Zhao Xu ordered Shen Kuo and Li Xian to print 100 million coins and reserve them first.

As for the remaining two sets of copper plates, there is no need to melt them.It's still useful if you stay.

Maybe next year’s new friend will be able to use it!
After sending Li Xian and Shen Kuo away, the two palaces took the Jiaozi placed in front of them and started to enjoy it.

They all like these jiaozi, mainly because the colors are very rich, and some of the colors are even unprecedented.

Even if it is a consistent Jiaozi, although the main color is blue, there are still many traces of pink and red in the drawn patterns.

The color of the fifty-seventh-level coin with the highest face value is even brighter, with many never-before-seen colors appearing.

This is natural.

Zhao Xu taught Shen Kuo all the paint and pigment mixing techniques he had learned in modern times.

The coloring of these colors is naturally added artificially later.

The rich colors give people a naturally different visual impact.

Zhao Xu believed that the people of Liao would also like these Jiaozi.

Businessmen will also like them.

……

It’s pretty much what Zhao Xu thought.

On the northern border, the Liao envoy was clearing customs.

This is already the eighth wave of Liao envoys arriving since May last year.

This time the official envoy was Yeluju, the envoy of the Fengguo Army of the Liao Dynasty.

In order to win the opportunity to go on this mission, Yeluju tried his best. Finally, with the support of Yelu Dilie, Xiao Tuna and others, he defeated other competitors and got the opportunity to go on this mission.

"300 million guns..."

I just thought that I would see those 300 million Guanjiaozi in Bianjing City soon.

Yeluju's heart was filled with excitement.

Everyone in the Liao Kingdom couldn't wait to know that they would be able to get 300 million yuan of expenses from the Southern Dynasty every year.

Especially the nobles in the North Courtyard are already gearing up, waiting to get their hands on them, and then start buying and selling in the Southern Dynasties.

The concubines in the emperor's harem have even issued a purchase list, requiring him to purchase directly from Bianjing City according to the list after getting Jiaozi, and then take it back to Beijing.

From the queen to the concubine, everyone came up with similar purchasing requirements.

There are hundreds of things they want.

From exquisite porcelain to expensive Shu brocade.

Even the rouge gouache for daily use, they also want to purchase it from Bianjing - the concubines of Daliao feel that the rouge gouache in the land of Yanyou is not as nourishing as the rouge gouache in Bianjing!

The emperor, on the other hand, responds to the requests of his beloved concubines - only 10,000+ strings, so sprinkle it on!
After the concubines in the harem got the promise, the nobles of the North Courtyard were naturally not polite.

So each one took out their own shopping list.

The nobles in the North Courtyard have many hobbies and interests.

They just look down on the vulgar things of the concubines in the harem!
There are many things they like!
For example, as a noble, how can you not learn some tea?
Since you want to learn some tea, then the best teapot and the best tea leaves are essential!

In addition, it is bitterly cold in the north, and most of the food must be used for food.

Therefore, the fine wines of the Southern Dynasties, especially the world-famous lamb wine, became the favorite of the nobles of the Northern Kingdom.

What?You said a dime costs a hundred or even hundreds of dollars?

We can't afford it, or what?

buy!
The nobles from various ministries are adding layers of pressure.

The value of the goods they purchased also increased by leaps and bounds.

Even in Shangjing City, a rough estimate is that it is more than one million yuan!
But the Emperor of Daliao was generous, and with a wave of his hand, he agreed to them all!

I have plenty of money, please feel free to buy it!In the prosperous Liao Dynasty, the world is peaceful, and I should share it with you!

As a result, the dignitaries of the Fifth Academy and the Sixth Academy shouted long live.

Even those who had been separated from the royal family because of Yelu Yixin all united again in front of the Emperor of Liao.

Therefore, this time Yeluju had an additional title of 'Purchasing Envoy of the Southern Dynasties'.

This title is even the main purpose of Yeluju's trip - to buy, buy, buy!

For the emperor’s concubines, for the big shots in the Fifth and Sixth Academy, and for the kings in the various palaces... buy, buy, buy!

And, this is just the beginning.

From now on, people will go south to purchase in all seasons.

Therefore, this time the Liao envoy team was extremely large!
In addition to Yeluju, the chief envoy, there were seven deputy envoys and more than 30 nobles with "purchasing envoys".

Also, to show sincerity.

The Liao people also suffered from heavy bleeding this time.

Among the envoys, there were a total of [-] war horses given as gifts to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty as a gift for the first anniversary of his accession to the throne!
Throughout the ages, the Liao Kingdom had never sent horses to the Southern Dynasty on such a large scale.

Yeluju wouldn't know it when he entered the customs.

The merchants in Waqiao Pass were all looking at him.

Then, countless people began to ride on their fast horses and set off towards Bianjing - the God of Wealth is here!Everyone is ready!

By the time Bianjing learned the news that the Liao envoys had entered the pass, it was already Guiwei Day (24) in February.

In four days, we ran from Waqiaoguan to Bianjing.

All we can say is that the magic of money is endless.

Immediately, all the chambers of commerce in Bianjing City began to gear up.

This is the gluttonous feast that Bianjing City has been looking forward to for months.

Not to mention the merchants, even the relatives and nobles could not sit still.

300 million guan!

This is a big deal of 300 million yuan!
Besides, when Beilu spends all his money on buying things, shouldn’t he stop buying them?

joke!

In previous years, when Beilu went shopping in Gueshui, they not only spent all the coins given to them by the Song Dynasty every year, but also spent a lot of gold and silver on their own.

So, everyone began to cross the sea and show their magical powers.

If it's relevant, find a relationship; if it doesn't matter, find a way.

The people of Bianjing have always had many methods.

Soon, some smart people came up with an idea - they rented the di shops near Dutingyi, and then put up their own goods at the entrances of these di shops and put up bright signs.

(End of this chapter)