Early Ming Dynasty: Turning Clouds and Rains into New Learning Saints

Chapter 120: Slap yourself in the face (please vote for the third update)

At first, Zhang Yifan thought he had made a mistake.

So I flipped through it again and finally confirmed that I had read it correctly.

This Zheng Jingxue actually learned how to give interest?

Thinking about it, Zhang Yifan took out one at random, handed it back to Zheng Jingxue, and said, "Since you said the bet money, there is one more card, it's eleven."

When Zheng Jingxue saw it, he didn't answer it. He said a little embarrassedly: "Consort, I originally wanted to exchange new banknotes to pay you back, but I couldn't make it in time, so I had to give you these old banknotes!"

"???" Zhang Yifan was a little confused after hearing this. He felt that his answer was a bit wrong, so he said, "It doesn't matter if it's old or new, there's an extra one!"

With enough money, you can go to the next restaurant and have a big meal.This money is nothing to Zhang Yifan, but to Zheng Jingxue and his family, it is definitely a lot of money.

"No, Prince Consort..." Zheng Jingxue came to his senses after hearing this, and said to Zhang Yifan, "The court has a new method of reversing banknotes. If the banknotes are old, the court will charge some extra money, saying that they will take them back and print the new Ming Dynasty coins." The cost of the treasure banknote. Therefore, this old banknote is worth less than the new banknote, so you have to give one more!"

When Zhang Yifan heard this, he was a little dumbfounded. This was a policy made by that fool, and he actually had to charge a production fee?
This Ming Dynasty currency note has no gold and silver reserves and is entirely issued based on the reputation of the court.

In principle, this issuance method is not a problem, as long as the credibility of the court remains.

However, according to what Zheng Jingxue said, this method of reversing banknotes actually treats the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes differently. Doesn't that clearly tell the people of the Ming Dynasty that the old banknotes are not worth their face value and have devalued?

And all new banknotes will inevitably become old banknotes, that is to say, this is tantamount to the Daming court digging holes to destroy the reputation of Daming treasure banknotes.

This classmate Zhu Yuanzhang is so smart!

Thinking in his mind, Zhang Yifan asked Zheng Jingxue: "I am not familiar with this Ming Dynasty treasure banknote. Can you tell me all the regulations about this Ming Dynasty treasure banknote?"

Daming treasure banknotes were printed and issued in the eighth year of Hongwu.Now, only one year has passed.

The experience of Zhang Yifan, the consort, has now become familiar to the people of the capital because of several major events, especially the smallpox plague.Not to mention, Zheng Jingxue went to Liujiacun to teach him.

Therefore, Zheng Jingxue knew that Zhang Yifan probably had never seen what the Ming Dynasty Baochao looked like before he met the princess.

So, after taking a look at his father, he told Zhang Yifan carefully, telling him everything he knew about the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes.Even his father added something about salt.

After listening, Zhang Yifan finally learned about the situation of the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes.

To be honest, he believed that Zhu Yuanzhang was absolutely right to create paper money as the national currency, which is much easier to use than metal currency.

I don't know how convenient it is just to carry one item.

If possible, he really didn't want the Ming Dynasty's banknotes to end up as waste paper like in history.

So, after seeing off Zheng Jingxue and his son, and making an agreement with Zheng Jingxue to be the social studies teacher of Liujiacun, he called Zhu Jingjing and went to his eldest brother's house for dinner.

It would be too troublesome to find Zhu Yuanzhang directly, and it would not be easy to see him.But finding Prince Zhu Biao was much easier.

As long as Zhu Biao is told, it will mean that Zhu Yuanzhang also knows.

When Zhang Yifan and the others arrived, Zhu Biao was still dealing with government affairs, and the Crown Princess accompanied them to talk.They were all acquaintances anyway, and Zhang Yifan even played with Zhu Xiongying for a while.I don’t know if this little guy can be an emperor in this life?
It was almost time for dinner when Zhu Biao came back. One look at his expression and he knew something was wrong.

Seeing Zhang Yifan wandering around his home and playing with his son, Zhu Biao said angrily: "You are really idle. I can tell you that my father said that after your competition, I will give it to you." Arrangements for errands!”

"Ah?" When Zhang Yifan heard this, he immediately exclaimed, "Brother, you have to tell me. I'm not idle at all. I have a lot of things to be busy with."

Zhu Biao took his son from his arms, sat down, teased his son, and replied: "What are you busy with? The competition is not all about the fourth brother. Let me tell you, It’s also because you solved the smallpox plague that my father wanted you to be idle for a while, otherwise, he would send you out after this incident.”

"What's going on?" Zhang Yifan sat next to him and asked curiously.

As for Zhu Jingjing, she didn't come over. She was holding the Crown Princess's little daughter in her arms and whispering to the Crown Princess.

When Zhu Biao heard Zhang Yifan's question, he didn't hide it from him, and immediately replied: "The floods in the Songjiang Prefecture area are serious. My father will send an imperial envoy to verify the local disaster situation and provide tax relief according to the situation."

The lower reaches of the Yangtze River suffered from floods in summer and autumn, and this happened even in later generations, so Zhang Yifan was not surprised.

From what Zhu Biao said, Zhu Yuanzhang was obviously more inclined to send his own family to see the situation in something like this.

Regarding this point, Zhang Yifan's understanding of Zhu Yuanzhang was not unexpected.

If the disaster is serious, the court must provide disaster relief and reduce taxes; if it is known that the situation is untrue and there is no disaster relief, it will cause local resentment. This is definitely what Zhu Yuanzhang, who was born in poverty, is least willing to see.

But if the local government exaggerated the disaster situation, it was also not something he could tolerate.So, he wanted to find someone he could trust to go down and have a look.Zhang Yifan reckoned that he would definitely get such an errand in the future.

Travel at public expense, imperial minister, Bao Qingtian?It seems like fun, you can go!

While he was thinking about it, he heard Zhu Biao say again: "I'm telling you, Yifan, the money thing you mentioned is really nerve-wracking. It's all your fault that things are delayed today!"

Disaster relief requires money, and Zhu Yuanzhang was cautious when it came to money.Of course he didn't want the Ming Dynasty's treasure notes to depreciate, so he discussed this matter.As a result, no one was satisfied with what they said, and everyone left the office late.

Zhang Yifan was still thinking about how to talk about this matter. Unexpectedly, Zhu Biao mentioned money himself, so he immediately took over the topic and said: "What's so difficult about this matter? Come and ask me!"

"I think so!" Zhu Biao nodded and said, "You brought it up first, maybe you have some ideas. It's just that my father thinks you are too young and have never served in the court. You have no experience in state affairs. It's probably in vain to ask. After you do more things in the future, my father will definitely ask you more often!"

"..." Zhang Yifan was speechless, it seems that it is still a matter of age!

With this thought in his mind, he said: "Actually, it just so happens that I encountered something related to this money."

With that said, he told Zhu Biao the news that Zheng Jingxue had heard.

"That's the case." Zhu Biao nodded and said, "What's wrong? Is there any problem?"

Obviously, this Xiao Zhu is not much smarter than Lao Zhu.

So Zhang Yifan asked Zhu Biao: "To put it bluntly, the Ming Dynasty treasure banknote is just a piece of paper. If you print the face value on it, you can exchange it for other people's food, clothes, etc. Why?"

"According to the law of the court!" Zhu Biao said without thinking about it.

His father had stipulated that all transactions must be done with Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes, and gold and silver transactions were prohibited.

"Wrong!" Zhang Yifan heard it, and denied it without hesitation, "The person who uses the money believes that the face value printed on this paper is true, so he can use this paper to exchange the corresponding goods!"

After Zhu Biao heard this, he couldn't help but frown slightly and began to think.

Zhang Yifan waited for a moment, and then continued: "In other words, the people actually use this piece of paper because they believe that this piece of paper is worth so much. That is to say, the court said that this piece of paper is worth so much. Are you right?"

This sentence was easy to understand. After Zhu Biao heard it, he nodded in approval.

So, Zhang Yifan added: "This is actually the credibility of the court. It is worth whatever the court says it is worth."

After hearing this, Zhu Biao nodded again.

The princess noticed that they were talking about business, so she asked Zhu Jingjing to go over and take Zhu Xiongying away.

Zhang Yifan continued: "If that's the case, why did the court come up with the bill-reversing method? Doesn't this tell the people that this paper is not worth so much money! Isn't this a slap in the face? "

"No, the Zhongshu Province will take back the old banknotes and print new ones, which will cost money!" Zhu Biao listened and explained quickly.

Zhang Yifan didn't answer, just looked at him.

After Zhu Biao looked at him for a while, he said awkwardly: "There seems to be something wrong!"

After being reminded like this, if Zhu Biao still doesn't recognize it, he would be really stupid.

After hearing this, Zhang Yifan said again: "Also, the imperial court stipulates that gold and silver can be exchanged for treasure banknotes, so why can't treasure banknotes be exchanged for gold and silver?"

"Because..." Zhu Biao started, knowing that there was a trap inside. He simply changed his words and asked directly, "Tell me, what's wrong?"

After hearing this, Zhang Yifan said patiently: "Since the imperial court stipulated that Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes are money, does that mean that money can buy any goods? In this case, why does it stipulate that treasure banknotes cannot buy gold and silver? Is this also a slap in the face of oneself? His face makes people distrust that Ming Dynasty treasure money is really money?"

After Zhu Biao heard this, he began to think deeply again.

Zhang Yifan continued to accuse: "Also, when the court collects taxes, why does it only collect new banknotes and only allow a portion of the tax to be discounted? With all this, many people slap themselves in the face. On the one hand, they tell the people that this is money, and on the other hand, they are told that this is money. On the one hand, they say this is not money. So is this money?"

Zhu Biao still didn't speak, still thinking hard.

An extremely ordinary, seemingly simple, money that everyone likes has so many claims!
After a long time, Zhu Biao suddenly sighed, and then sighed: "None of the many ministers in the court can see clearly as you!"

It can be heard that at least in this aspect, he is convinced by Zhang Yifan.

(End of this chapter)