Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 275 Rainy Season in Chang’an

Blah blah blah blah...

There were big raindrops outside the window, the sound of falling on the green bricks and tiles. On a night that should have been silent, there were such simple and chaotic sounds all around.

In a bedroom in the Huaxianhui Building, Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty was already sleeping peacefully, and his personal servant Gao Lishi was standing by the bed, seemingly taking a nap, but his mind was not at all calm.

Gao Lishi's mind was filled with the new idea proposed by Fang Chongyong. After thinking about it for several days, Gao Lishi still didn't dare to report to Brother Ji rashly. He was just slowly figuring out the pros and cons in his mind.

The role played by Gao Lishi is actually Brother Ji's butler. The courtiers sent money and gifts to Gao Lishi, and in the end most of those things ended up in Ji Ge's hands.

The reason is simple: as the personal eunuch beside the emperor, Gao Lishi eats what the emperor eats and uses what the emperor uses. He cannot manage his own time, so what's the point of being greedy for a little money?

Gao Lishi did not have the time or energy to use this wealth.

Although Ji Ge did not take the initiative to ask Gao Lishi for the gifts given by the courtiers, Gao Lishi consciously put them in the house that Ji Ge gave him every time, and regularly asked the Taifu Order to count them and store them in the treasury.

Any trivial matter will be "filtered" by Gao Lishi. Brother Ji only grasps the big picture, and now he even starts to be lazy and doesn't want to take care of things!

It can be said that Gao Lishi is Ji Ge's "existential brain". He can handle small things and has a long running time, but he is unable to handle big things.

For example, Gao Lishi handled the low-end game of gift-giving very casually. But what Fang Chongyong came up with was a "high-end game", and it was difficult for Gao Lishi's limited brain capacity to cope with it.

Fang Chongyong said in the letter: The past method of extracting profits from smuggling on trade routes is definitely unsustainable and unsustainable now. The reason is simple. The other end of the Western Region trade route is controlled by Hu merchants. The more than twenty countries to the west of Congling are not within the Tang Dynasty's sphere of influence. It is normal for these people to sit on the ground and raise prices.

It is impossible to guarantee low prices for goods at the source. When it reaches Chang'an, it is impossible to reduce the final cost of goods, and it is easy for those countries to block trade routes.

After arriving in Chang'an, powerful people continued to participate in the company, and the liquidity became smaller and smaller.

Therefore, if you want to make money for the saints, you have to change your mind and issue the so-called "Jiaozi" to make money invisible.

Let "paper" that can be printed at will replace silk and circulate in the Western Regions, with credit as the core in exchange for goods. In this way, the wealth was taken away invisibly, and no one noticed it.

To achieve such an effect, the Tang army must penetrate the Western Region, at least pacify Xiaobolu west of Congling, as well as some wealthy and undefeable small countries further west. Most of these countries have only one city in each country, and their wealth is very concentrated.

Force people in these places to use Jiaozi, and keep Jiaozi freely convertible.

Some of the things "exchanged" with Jiaozi can naturally be taken out and become part of the saint's small treasury.

This method sounds magical, but Gao Lishi is still a little undecided. He just vaguely felt that this thing was difficult to control, and there might be trouble in the future if it was not operated properly.

However, the well-informed Gao Lishi not only heard about the method of exchanging "paper" for things, he even saw it with his own eyes many years ago!

When the Tang Dynasty conquered the Gaochang Kingdom in the Western Region, they found many "cotton cloths" that were square in shape and about the size of a palm, with patterns printed on them and local characters written on them. After asking around, I found out that these "cotton cloths" played the role of currency and were circulated locally.

But it is mostly used as an IOU.

Fang Chongyong's "bearer" Jiaozi is actually an anonymous IOU issued by the bank that issued the Jiaozi to the customer after receiving the customer's goods. When someone else exchanges a piece of money for something, they are just transferring the creditor's rights from one person to another.

No matter who holds the hand, it means that the bank owes him a sum of money.

Gao Lishi remembered that Brother Ji had to go to great lengths to find ways to force the courtiers to submit in order to sell war debts. He couldn't help but sigh that Fang Chongyong's method was the real way to make money invisibly.

That realm is more than one level higher!

Just when he was thinking wildly, a scream suddenly came from the bed!

"Don't kill me! Don't kill me! It's not my fault!"

Li Longji got up from the bed, pulled out a small knife placed under the pillow and stood up. Under the candlelight, he looked around blankly with the knife. It wasn't until he saw the frightened Gao Lishi and the familiar furnishings around him that he sat down on the bed, breathed a long sigh of relief, and dropped the knife in his hand to the ground.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a look of shock.

"I dreamed that the prince was plotting rebellion..."

Brother Ji said with lingering fear.

Gao Lishi originally wanted to ask "Which prince", but the words stuck in his mouth, and finally he swallowed it and did not say it.

The only person who can scare Brother Ji is Li Chen.

"What is the prince doing in the East Palace now?"

Brother Ji asked in a deep voice.

Sure enough, he is the King of Longevity!

Gao Lishi said softly: "The prince has become decadent. He spends all day cultivating flowers and grass in the East Palace and doesn't even read books. He doesn't even meet with the staff of the East Palace. It seems..."

Gao Lishi hesitated for a long time, and finally choked out a sentence: "It's like dawdling."

"Hmph! What a scoundrel!"

Brother Ji snorted and said nothing more.

From the looks of it, Li Chen was completely lying flat on his back. He knew that he was just a target, so he simply did nothing, not even a target to attract firepower!

"After dawn, an edict will be issued to appoint Li Xuan as the Yin of Jingzhao, Yong Wang Li Lin as the Chang'an County Magistrate, and Ying Wang Li Xuan as the Wannian County Magistrate. Let them all come out to share some work for me.

Make it clear to Ge Nu that this is what I mean. "

Brother Ji waved his hands calmly and said.

"Light the lamp, I won't sleep anymore."

Brother Ji sighed. The content of the dream just now was so terrible that he couldn't sleep at all and only felt upset.

In the dream, Li Xuan succeeded in the mutiny in Chang'an and cut the flesh of himself, the emperor, with a knife. The pain felt real!

Many people have dreams because they have done something wrong and dream about ghosts asking for their lives.

But Ji Ge has never seemed to have similar problems. He has never been afraid of the dead.

On the contrary, threatening living people often appeared in his dreams, making him restless.

The eunuchs in Gaolishi's Maliming Palace lit lamps on the four walls of the bedroom, and suddenly the warm and dim light filled the small bedroom.

"Sage, Fang Guozhong has something to report, and he has written it all in the memorial.

I have read it and probably understand the meaning. The twists and turns can only be determined by the saints. "

Gao Lishi took out the memorial from his arms with a low eyebrow and gave it to Brother Ji to read.

"If I open a bank and issue Jiaozi, I will receive the dividends..."

Brother Ji said to himself after reading the memorial sent by Fang Chongyong, wondering what benefits this matter would have for himself and the country.

Brother Ji still doesn't understand the benefits of using paper instead of silk for circulation. But he understood the words "low-interest loans".

Isn't this just a disguised form of loan sharking? There are so many bells and whistles at the front, but that’s all it means!

Brother Ji suddenly realized where his "dividends" came from. It came from the interest on the loan!

Of course, Fang Chongyong’s original words were: Nowadays, private loan interest rates are extremely high, and unscrupulous businessmen often rely on usury under the cover of the powerful to destroy countless families and families. It is better for a saint to open a bank to lend money, benefit the people at low interest rates, and punish the loan sharks to death. Doesn't this show the kindness of the saint?

If someone wants to destroy Jiaozi Bank’s lending.

They used land as collateral, borrowed money at low interest rates, and then lent money to the people at high interest rates in an attempt to drag down the cash flow of Jiaozi Bank. In that case... Fang Chongyong would simply be happy to see the results.

No matter how deep the foundation of those trusts is, and how much "collateral" they can provide, the bank can turn on the nuclear-powered money printing machine and fill up the account. As long as Jiaozi's anti-counterfeiting technology is not cracked, then this game is a sure win! "The talent of a loyal prime minister is inferior to that of Ge Nu."

After reading the memorial, Brother Ji sighed and said.

In the letter, Fang Chongyong put forward the concept of "establishing prestige with trust and ensuring trust with prestige". The promotion of Jiaozi requires the protection of the army and laws.

Following the Tang army's march in the Western Regions, Jiaozi was spread out, and "one country, one shop" was implemented based on the geographical characteristics of the Western Regions.

When the Tang army went to a place, they would pay the original hard currency income to the bank, and transport part of it back to Chang'an, where it would be exchanged for the local people and forced to circulate. After it is spread out, Jiaozi will be able to circulate freely in the states in the Western Regions with Liangzhou as the core.

After Jiaozi's credibility is established, nationwide circulation can be put on the agenda, allowing Jiaozi banks to spread in Chang'an, Luoyang, Chengdu, Yangzhou and other places.

Then we will start lending business.

All in all, the Tang army sent troops to the Western Regions to conquer Xiaobolu. This was something that must be done, and it was also a necessary condition for Hu merchants in the Western Regions to accept Jiaozi.

Hu merchants began to use Jiaozi, so wherever there were Hu merchants in the Tang Dynasty, there would definitely be Jiaozi. When the time comes, it will be a matter of course to open Jiaozipu.

With the opening of Jiaozi Bank, the business of lending and collecting loans can continue.

These are all linked together.

No one would just hand over real money and exchange it for a piece of paper. Before a habit is formed, such things must be enforced by law and the military. Once credit is established and users develop inertia, things will not be difficult.

The real trouble lies in the first step.

In fact, Fang Chongyong also referred to Dayuan’s experience.

Dayuan made full preparations for the issuance of banknotes and also proposed the concept of "standard gold". Due to adequate preparations and armed escort, Dayuan's banknotes managed to hold on for thirty years before collapsing.

In the Ming Dynasty, which did not adopt the "standard gold" system, the treasure banknotes quickly depreciated in value and became nothing more than waste paper in the later period.

Ji Ge repeatedly speculated on Fang Chongyong's plan, which was a series of plans from military to finance to economy.

The so-called Jiaozi Bank is actually a bank opened by the state. This is no longer a small matter, but has risen to the level of a national policy.

It seems that this area can be slowed down first and allowed to be tried in Hexi, but there is no rush to roll it out in Chang'an first.

But he felt that sending troops to attack Xiaobolu was very interesting! Not only can this be done, it should even be done quickly!

Now that Brother Ji is older, he knows that his life is short. So now he prefers watching gorgeous fireworks rather than running the world.

"Feng Fang Guozhong was appointed as the Western Region Economic and Strategic Ambassador. In addition to Hexi, the troops and horses of the four towns in Anxi were also under his control to assist him in conquering Big and Small Bolu and the twenty countries in the Western Regions.

As for what he said about Jiaozi Bank. A few days ago, I raised some military expenses by issuing bonds. I shipped one million silk to Liangzhou, which was regarded as my capital for buying shares.

Give him the money, spend it on wars, reward the armed forces, issue money, let him decide what to do. "

Brother Ji waved his hands a little tiredly and said. He was a little low on energy, so when he tried to use his brain, his body felt heavy and he felt dizzy.

"Sage, do you need to discuss this matter with your ministers?"

Gao Lishi asked softly.

"No, those silks are just war bonds issued. They are my guarantee of credibility. Why do you need the Prime Minister's consent? Am I the emperor, or are Genu and the others the emperor?"

Brother Ji asked with a worried expression.

Gao Lishi quickly knelt down to apologize.

"But you should tell Ge Nu that it is my intention to fight Xiao Bolu. There are many elite soldiers in the four towns of Anxi. Fang Guozhong is known as the Western Region Economic and Strategic Ambassador, but the real war is not fought by him."

Brother Ji patiently explained.

It is indeed a bit of a joke to appoint an official as young as Fang Chongyong as the Western Region Economic and Strategy Ambassador. But it was no joke at all for the emperor to appoint a close confidant to this official position. What Ji Ge is worried about is that the Tang army general in the Western Regions will merge with the local country and establish himself as king.

The responsibilities of the Western Region Economic Ambassador are actually somewhat similar to the governor-general system of the Qing Dynasty. He is the highest official directly under the central government of the imperial court and does not interfere in ordinary affairs. For example, the Ambassador of the Western Region Economic Strategy will not interfere with how the armies of the four towns of Anxi recruit soldiers, how to train them, etc.

"So-and-so Economic Ambassador" usually comes with a specific mission. It is inherited from the Xingtai system of the Northern Qi Dynasty. It is very aggressive and is usually set up to conquer a certain place.

The Jiedushi is obviously the military leader of the border defense side, and he has a strong sense of sticking to one place.

Such appointments as ambassadors were already rare in the late Kaiyuan and Tianbao periods.

"I will go and deliver the order now."

Gao Lishi took the order and left, but Brother Ji grabbed his cuff.

"Don't worry about it for a while."

He motioned for Gao Lishi to sit across from him, and then asked in a lowered voice: "I heard that Crown Princess Du is cultivating her appearance and behaving wantonly. Is this possible?"

Hearing this, Gao Lishi was stunned, then nodded with an embarrassed look, pretending to be confused and said: "The prince is not close to women now, what does Du mean by playing like this, I don't understand it either."

"Hmph, they just want to get off the ship. They see that I want to punish Li Han and want to keep a distance from the prince.

The Du family has no shortage of women, so the death of a whore is nothing. "

Brother Ji couldn't help but snorted coldly, Du's people were very clear about their calculations. When news of what happened in the Prince's East Palace comes out, Du's reputation will certainly be tarnished and she might be sentenced to death.

But their family has also completely drawn a clear line with Li Long and will not be liquidated in the future.

Brother Ji deliberately suppressed this matter. At present, not many people in Chang'an City know about it.

"Tell Ge Nu to find a reason to exile the Du family to Lingnan. Then promote Du herself from a noble concubine to a principal concubine. Li Long doesn't want to see her, I want him to see this woman every day.

As for the facial hair... After he was cleansed, he was sent to Luoyang Palace to sweep the floor until he was old. "

Brother Ji said nonchalantly, and his words decided the fate of a group of people.

The one who raised Mian Shou was not guilty, the family members who controlled him were guilty, the Mian Shou was castrated and left alone in the palace... Gao Lishi was speechless after hearing this series of operations by Brother Ji.

The thoughts of this Chang'an saint are becoming increasingly difficult to fathom. He seems to really don't want to see other people's plans succeed. He refuses to give some people what they want.

"Understood, I will go and deliver the order at dawn."

Gao Lishi crossed his hands and saluted, and said softly.

　It’s the last day of this month, it’s the last day of this year, let’s vote

　　

　

(End of this chapter)