I studied in modern times

Chapter 784 New Jiaozi (1)

Feng Jing was very efficient and he returned from the Ministry of Personnel in just over an hour.

"Everyone, I have already found out the sponsor of the newly appointed Palace Censor Feng Ji in the Ministry of Personnel..."

"uh-huh?"

"It's the Grand Tutor..." Feng Jing reported carefully.

Zhao Xu smiled, not surprised by this.

After Sima Guang's death, there were only a few factions of the old party left.

Now, the biggest leader, apart from Lu Gongzhu, is Wen Yanbo.

Lu Gongzhu's faction was called the "Eastern Party" because it was mainly composed of officials from the six southeastern routes or those serving in the six southeastern routes.

And Wen Yanbo was naturally the leader of the Luo Party.

Don't look at the old Grand Tutor, he seems to be indifferent to everything. No matter whether Han Jiang or Lu Gongzhu is in power, he will express his support.

But he has been quietly using his influence to fill the court with people.

To the extent that Lu Tao and others had impeached him for private transactions and playing backroom politics.

Thus, quietly, a loose small group with Wen Yanbo as its core was formed in the court.

"Everyone..." Feng Jing continued to report: "I also checked Chang Anmin's sponsor..."

"Who is it?" Zhao Xu became curious.

"Mr. Fu!" Feng Jing replied.

Zhao Xu nodded. This was not surprising.

Fu Yaoyu was a loyal minister who never showed favoritism.

When he recommended ministers, he only considered the person's ability and moral level, and nothing else.

It just so happens that Chang Anmin's character and morals are impeccable.

"Is there anything else?" Zhao Xu looked at Feng Jing, who was still hunched over and standing in front of him.

"I want to inform you that when I was leaving the palace, I met Liang Congzheng from the Qingshou Palace..." Feng Jing said cautiously, "Liang Congzheng said that the Empress Dowager was very angry after she found out about the Prince Consort!"

"The decree has been issued, ordering the princess and her husband to enter the palace..."

"The princess and her husband should have arrived by now.
Zhao Xu listened and said, "I know!"

……

Qingshou Palace.

Princess Shoukang, with her husband, knelt at the door of the Empress Dowager's bedroom in Qingshou Palace.

Princess Shoukang couldn't stop shedding tears and kept begging, "Mother... Mother..."

"Please forgive the prince consort this time!"

"The Prince Consort has realized his mistake!"

Zhang Dunli was indeed frightened and kept kowtowing: "Grand Empress Dowager, I do know I was wrong!"

"I beg the Empress Dowager to forgive me!"

In the bedroom, the voice of the Empress Dowager was finally heard: "What have you two done wrong?"

Zhang Dunli was secretly delighted, thinking that he could pass the test.

But beside him, Princess Shoukang was already crawling on the ground, her body trembling.

No one knows a mother better than her daughter!
Princess Shoukang knew that her mother was really angry.

Just like when Wang Gui offended her.

"I am the one who is wrong!" The voice of the Empress Dowager was as cold as ice.

Zhang Dunli's hope disappeared in an instant.

"It is because of my immorality that I have such a son-in-law!"

Zhang Dunli kowtowed immediately: "I am guilty of death! I am guilty of death!"

He really regrets it now.

Regret being too domineering.

The Empress Dowager turned a deaf ear to his confession.

Even with Princess Shoukang beside her, begging and pleading, she remained hard-hearted.

At this moment, the ruthlessness and cruelty of the royal family were displayed in front of Zhang Dunli.

……

It was almost noon, the sun was high in the sky, and the scorching sunlight sprinkled on the courtyard of Baoci Palace.

Empress Dowager Xiang finished her usual chanting and walked out of the Buddhist hall in Baoci Palace.

Her confidant, the palace lady Zhang, came to her and whispered a few words.

Empress Dowager Xiang frowned: "Have you been kneeling for an hour?"

"Yes……"

"Does Sixth Brother know?" asked the Empress Dowager.

Zhang shook her head: "I don't know."

She looked at Wen Xunniang, who was cleaning the temple with others, and whispered, "Maybe the Lord of Ganquan County knows."

Empress Dowager Xiang thought for a moment and called out to Wen Xunniang, "Shisan Niang..."

Upon hearing this, Wen Xunniang immediately came before Empress Dowager Xiang and bowed: "What do you want, Your Majesty?"

"Did you hear anything when you went to Sixth Brother's place this morning?" asked the Empress Dowager.

Wen Xunniang lowered her head and replied, "Your Majesty, I am in Funing Palace and heard Feng Jingyan, who is beside the emperor, say that the emperor has been unhappy since he heard that the censor had impeached the prince consort again..."

The Queen Mother sighed: "That's right!"

"The Prince Consort has really broken Sixth Brother's heart this time!"

In Empress Dowager Xiang's heart, Zhao Xu was the most filial child in the world.

Few people can compare to him in attaching importance to family affection.

However, Zhang Dunli has repeatedly betrayed his sixth brother's trust.

He even did something shameful that made Sixth Brother lose face!
Sixth brother will naturally not be happy!
After thinking for a while, Empress Dowager Xiang said to Wen Xunniang, "Shisanniang, please go to Funing Palace and invite Sixth Brother to Baoci Palace. Tell him that you have nothing to do today and invite Sixth Brother to Baoci Palace for lunch!"

"promise!"

Looking at Wen Xunniang's receding back, Empress Dowager Xiang couldn't help but shake her head.

"Your Majesty, do you intend to take care of it?" Zhang asked.

Empress Dowager Xiang sighed, "What else? We are a family after all... And, although the prince consort is unworthy, what is Princess Shoukang's fault?"

……

When Wen Xunniang arrived at Funing Palace, she happened to meet Shen Kuo entering the palace.

Wen Xunniang naturally recognized Shen Kuo. She saw Shen Kuo's figure appear in front of the east upper gate of Funing Palace from afar, and then hurried to Funing Palace through the corridor on the side.

As soon as she entered the Funing Palace, Wen Xunniang saw Feng Jing was about to leave, so she asked, "My Lord, does the Emperor have any political affairs to discuss with the ministers?"

"Yes!" Feng Jing nodded and replied, "Just now, Shen Tiju handed in a note asking to see Your Majesty to report on recent events in the Military Equipment Manufacturing Bureau..."

"Oh!" Wen Xunniang nodded. She knew that the government attached great importance to the affairs of the military equipment manufacturing bureau.

During the more than one year that she had served the emperor, every time Shen Kuo entered the palace, the emperor would put aside other matters and give priority to meeting Shen Kuo.

Sometimes, he even skipped meals and had to meet with Shen Kuo first and listen to Shen Kuo's report before coming back to eat.

The book says that Duke Zhou spit out food to feed his guests and the whole world was at peace.

That’s about it!
Feng Jing asked, "My Lord, are you here for something?"

Wen Xunniang nodded and said, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, I would like to invite the Emperor to have a meal with us at Baoci Palace."

Feng Jing thought for a moment and said to Wen Xunniang, "This is a serious matter. You should go to the emperor to ask for his approval!"

Wen Xunniang nodded and asked, "Where is the emperor now?"

Feng Jing said: "Everyone is copying calligraphy in the study right now!"

"Oh!"

Wen Xunniang said goodbye to Feng Jing and went to the study room in the east hall of Funing Palace. Zhao Xu was holding a pen and copying Wang Xizhi's calligraphy.

Hearing Wen Xunniang's footsteps, he did not look up, but just asked: "Is there anything wrong, County Lord?"

Wen Xunniang bowed and said, "Sir, I am here on the orders of the Empress Dowager to invite you to have dinner at Baoci Palace!"

Zhao Xu put down the pen in his hand and said, "Please go back to Baoci Palace first and report to my mother. Then tell her that I have some business to deal with today. Please forgive me! After I finish my business, I will go back to Baoci Palace to accompany her!"

"Yes!" Wen Xunniang bowed again and left.

Zhao Xu looked at Wen Xunniang's figure and pursed his lips slightly.

Empress Dowager Xiang has always been a person who likes to smooth things over.

In her heart, family harmony occupies a very important position.

Therefore, in the eighth year of Yuanfeng, even though she knew about the unusual movements in the palace and sensed the direction of the wind, she only used some means in private to spread some rumors and alert the ministers in the outer court.

At most, he took the opportunity to summon Cai Que's mother, Ming, and hinted some things to Cai Que through Ming's mouth.

After Zhao Xu's position as crown prince was decided, she immediately put all these backup plans on hold.

From then on, no one mentioned it again.

Since she took over as the queen, she has placed the daughter-in-law in a very correct position.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Xiang would definitely try to smooth things over in this matter.

And Zhao Xu, naturally, had already prepared for this.

……

Wen Xunniang returned to Baoci Palace and reported to Empress Dowager Xiang.

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiang said nothing, but instructed Zhang, who was beside her: "Gong Shang Zhang, ask the imperial chef to prepare some dishes and snacks that Sixth Brother likes..."

"After it's done, have Shisan Niang send it to Funing Palace!"

"Although state affairs are important, you still need to take good care of your body!"

After giving these instructions to the Empress Dowager, he said to the attendants, "Follow me to the Qingshou Palace for a walk!"

No matter what, as a daughter-in-law, she has to show up and give advice when something happens at home.

……

Funing Hall, in the quiet room of the east hall.

Zhao Xu looked at the wooden boxes that Shen Kuo brought. He gently took the key and opened the box.

Inside is a new Jiaozi engraving.

This is exactly the scientific research result of the carving department led by Shen Kuo in one year!

Brand new Xin Jiaozi.

It is also a powerful tool for Zhao Xu to make money!
Because, according to the Song-Liao Jiaozi Treaty, every time the Song Dynasty issued/repurchased Jiaozi, it had to collect a seigniorage tax.

The tax rate for this seigniorage was thirty wen per guan.

With a tax rate of less than four percent, both the Liao people and private merchants were very satisfied!
Even the scholars were satisfied - Jiaozi, an anonymous currency with large denominations, was a powerful tool for them to make money and embezzle!

To deliver a thousand strings of cash to someone, one needs to use a horse to pull it.

Even if it is replaced with gold or silver, it will still be conspicuous.

But when it was exchanged for the coins, it was just a thin stack of paper!
Therefore, not only people in the gray area love Jiaozi.

Even heroes like to exchange coins.

In Zhao Xu's opinion, Jiaozi is now showing a trend of becoming the blockchain currency of the Middle Ages!
And he, of course, made a fortune from the seigniorage.

A tax rate of less than 4 percent seems very low.

But the turnover rate of Jiaozi is high!

Whether the Liao people asked for Jiaozi or spent the Jiaozi, the merchants would take the Jiaozi to the Jiaozi office to exchange them for copper coins, silver, gold, silk and other items.

Or if there were merchants who came to the Jiaozi office with real gold and silver to exchange for Jiaozi, they would have to pay the seigniorage tax to Zhao Xu!
Last year alone, the three million strings of Jiaozi circulating in the market created hundreds of thousands of strings of seigniorage during the process of continuous exchange and circulation.

The speed at which money can be made in the financial industry is beyond imagination!
There is just one problem that has always worried Zhao Xu - counterfeit money!
After the first edition of Jiaozi was issued last year, there has been an undercurrent of counterfeiting among the people.

Kaifeng Prefecture also uncovered several cases of counterfeit Jiaozi.

This is normal!

In any era, as long as there is profit to be made, there will always be people willing to take risks.

What’s more, it is a society like the Song Dynasty?
Fortunately, Zhao Xu had made anti-counterfeiting preparations early on.

Although the first edition of Jiaozi still used old paper, updates were made in the engraving, pattern and dyeing techniques.

The printed Jiaozi has exquisite patterns, clear text and diverse colors.

This makes it difficult for private individuals to forge works.

Most counterfeit banknotes can be identified as soon as they are received by anyone who has used Jiaozi.

But this also reminded Zhao Xu.

He knew that there were many technical problems with last year's Jiaozi.

Sooner or later it will be cracked.

Therefore, the new Jiaozi printing technology, new paper and anti-counterfeiting methods were all put on the agenda of the Arsenal for the early manufacture of weapons.

Of course, the opening up and experimentation of new technologies takes time.

Therefore, the new Jiaozi has not yet been officially printed.

The Jiaozi currently in circulation on the market is still the one printed using the old technology from last year.

Fortunately, Shen Kuo did not make Zhao Xu wait too long.

Here it is, finally the finished product!

Zhao Xu was overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately said, "Thank you for your hard work, my dear!"

"I dare not!" Shen Kuo bowed and said, "It is all thanks to your Majesty's great fortune and the dedication of all the workers. I am just a coordinator..."

This is the truth!

Shen Kuo has a lot of things to do now and it is impossible for him to take care of everything.

In many things, he just discovers talents and then uses them.

"That's why you are a national hero!" Zhao Xu played with the Jiaozi carving in his hand and said, "A general is only a general, but a general is a commander!"

This is still true in modern times.

Any large-scale institution, enterprise, or project requires hard work.

But a leader who understands the relevant technology, can lead the team forward, and can provide the team with resources and funds is the soul and brain of the team.

What Zhao Xu lacks now is management-type technocrats.

If possible, he would like to clone dozens of Shen Kuo and Su Song respectively and let them lead different projects.

But I can't do it.

And cultivating new talents requires time and education.

As a result, many things are at a standstill.

After hearing Zhao Xu's praise, Shen Kuo felt as if he had drunk honey. Although he was still humble in words, the expression on his face completely betrayed him.

Zhao Xu was looking at the Jiaozi engraving in his hand while teasing him, "I heard that your wife is pregnant?"

Shen Kuo's old face suddenly turned red.

He was born in the ninth year of Tiansheng, and is fifty-six years old this year. His hair is almost white, but he doesn't want to make his wife pregnant again when he is old!
This made him extremely happy.

At the same time, it also became the talk of the town of Bianjing.

Getting pregnant at the age of fifty-six is ​​not news.

The key to this news is that Shen Kuo is now Shen Longqiu, known to everyone in Bian Jing!
Especially now that Liu Xun, the king of jokes, is in the court.

Therefore, after the news that Shen Kuo's wife was pregnant was reported some time ago, Liu Jun had been teasing Shen Kuo about this matter.

Liu Jun also modified Su Shi's "Poems to Wu Deren and Chen Jichang" to make fun of Shen Kuo's fear of his wife.

Thanks to Liu Jun, Shen Kuo's elegant nickname Shen Longqiu may become known to the world.

If things go wrong, the secondary creation will eventually kill the original one, and the real Master Longqiu will disappear into obscurity.

(End of this chapter)