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

Chapter 95: The Genius (Second Update)

Just listen to Zhang Yifan explain to them: "It seems that the imperial court distributes the salary in Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes, right? Or other things can be used, such as silver. For example, the monthly salary of a county official is one hundred guan... "

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di immediately interrupted: "This is impossible!"

"Well, I have carefully calculated the salaries of civil and military officials. It is enough for them to eat and drink." After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang also explained it to prevent Zhang Yifan from exaggerating.

What he said is indeed true.He had indeed calculated the official salaries of the Ming Dynasty.However, in fact, he did not count everything, so the officials of the Hongwu Dynasty were all poor.

After Zhang Yifan heard this, he raised his voice and emphasized: "I mean, if a hundred guan is enough? But if you don't pay attention to this money, that is, when the money is becoming less and less valuable, a hundred guan is only enough." Being able to buy things that can only be bought with a consistent amount of money means that the county magistrate's salary is [-] guan on the surface, but in fact it is only [-] guan. If he wants to live, he can only be greedy, or starve to death. When all county officials do this, can the country still be stable?"

"What you said is too exaggerated." After hearing this, Zhu Biao shook his head and said, "This is impossible in reality!"

When Zhang Yifan heard this, he glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang, and then replied to Zhu Biao: "If you want to print money, just print money. I can tell you clearly that by then this Ming Dynasty treasure banknote will become worthless. Because there are too many, it can no longer be used. Become the equivalent of goods. No one wants it. If you want to behead, they would rather exchange it for something."

He has already explained the reason for devaluation before. At this time, he is only talking about the harm of devaluation.

After replying to Zhu Biao's words, Zhang Yifan turned to look at Zhu Yuanzhang and said: "There is also the opposite possibility. For example, when collecting taxes, it will be more troublesome to collect the physical objects directly, and there will be losses, storage and transportation, etc., so it should be There will be a trend, that is, in the future, everything may be converted into money, and the court will be able to buy what it needs after receiving the money, will this be the case?"

This situation, historically, would not come true until Zhang Juzheng's whipping method.

However, in the Hongwu Dynasty, there were actually some.For example, labor is already allowed to be discounted, that is, paid in lieu.

At this time, Zhang Yifan asked if there was such a possibility. In terms of convenience, Zhu Yuanzhang was not stupid. He nodded seriously and said: "It is possible!"

"Well, here's the problem!" Zhang Yifan heard this and said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "For example, now, one stone of grain equals the same amount of money, so it is decided that a common person should pay the same tax. For example, this is what I am saying, ten years , 20 years later, money has become more valuable, and it can only be sold for one stone and five dou, so the court still charges the same amount of tax. Doesn’t it mean that it has increased taxes in disguise, and the people may not be able to afford it, and then the people will not be able to make a living? "

"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!" King Qin heard this and said disapprovingly, "As you said before, it is possible that money is not valuable. How is it possible that money is more valuable?"

"..." Zhang Yifan was speechless. Doesn't his mind seem to know how to turn around?
So, he had to patiently say: "If there are more things and the money in circulation is not as much, the money will be more valuable. Also, our Ming Dynasty has a vast territory. There are not many things between different regions such as Jiangnan and Northwest. , whether there is a lot of money circulating, is actually different. There will always be questions about whether money can truly reflect the value of money. I was just exaggerating, in reality it is very complicated."

At this point, Zhang Yifan saw Zhu Yuanzhang thinking seriously, so he added: "Now that the father is here, he can make timely adjustments according to the actual situation; but if there are five or six emperors in the Ming Dynasty, can it still be done?" How to ensure that every emperor is wise and powerful? At that time, if there is a problem with this strategy, might it lead to the exaggerated results I just mentioned?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned as if he had been hit in the head.

why?
Because his current thinking has always been to formulate a worry-free national policy and plan in detail so that his descendants can be worry-free.

As a result, when Zhang Yifan discussed the matter of the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes with him from a developmental perspective, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately thought that his other plans would probably have serious consequences in the future!

In the past, Zhu Yuanzhang did not think about problems from the perspective of the development of things. Now that he thought about it, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had made mistakes in many places.However, if I really think about it, I can't think clearly at the moment.

So, he asked Zhang Yifan: "Yifan, what do you think of this Ming Dynasty treasure note?"

Zhang Yifan's statement was so unexpected, but it seemed to make sense. Zhu Yuanzhang didn't mind asking clearly.After all, he is his son-in-law and half-son, so there is no shame in him.

After hearing this, Zhang Yifan replied seriously: "It is undeniable that the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes are much more convenient to use than gold, silver and copper coins. But it is still the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Behind the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes is actually the imperial court and the reputation of the father. . We must pay attention to this, and we must not let the Ming Dynasty banknotes lose credibility, that is, we must not print money indiscriminately."

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was listening intently, he continued to explain: "The best printing method is to count how many valuable things the country can produce in a year, and then print how much money to circulate, that is, to buy and sell these things. It is the most ideal. However, there will be many situations that affect this result. For example, if the Daming banknotes are in the hands of some people, they like to hide money and do not buy or sell it; valuable……"

"What should we do?" Zhu Yuanzhang also had a headache after hearing this, "I can't decree that they must spend money!"

Zhu Biao simply stopped thinking about it. He really didn't expect that a money matter would become more and more complicated the more he thought about it.
Zhang Yifan glanced at them and continued to answer: "So it is best to have a special yamen that is in charge of money matters and can control how much money is circulating in the market. If there is more, it will be recycled and if there is less, it will be replenished. This is the most ideal of."

Speaking of this, he raised his tone and emphasized: "In short, the practice of printing as much money as you want will definitely cause accidents!"

"I didn't expect there to be so much knowledge here!" Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help expressing such emotion, and then asked, "Then how can we know whether the money on the market is appropriate?" The prices of representative things should be verified every few days, and it would be the best if they can be monitored all over the country.” Zhang Yifan said without thinking, “At least those things that are very important to people’s livelihood should be monitored in this way. This will ensure price stability.”

As Zhang Yifan spoke, he wanted to talk about the bank's role in squeezing out loans, and so on. Unexpectedly, Zhu Yuanzhang said with a headache: "The situation is too complicated. I have to think about it carefully. That's it for today!" "

When King Qin and others heard this, they were as happy as students when they heard the bell rang.

Then I heard Zhu Yuanzhang say to Zhang Yifan again: "You really observe carefully, and you are willing to use your brain to think of so many things from a simple transaction. No wonder Jing Jing has always believed that you are better than others! How about it..."

Having said this, he paused, seemed to think for a moment, and then said: "Besides helping Lao Si deal with the Japanese pirates, you also need to do some learning. I'm curious, what other learnings can you make? . If I encounter something later, I can discuss it with you."

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang really knew what was going on with his eldest daughter's mysterious confidence!
After talking to this Zhang Yifan a lot, I really feel that he has a lot of messy knowledge, which may also be very useful.

Zhang Yifan was distressed to hear this. Unexpectedly, after all the talking, Zhu Yuanzhang actually gave him extra work instead of farming leisurely.

But it feels good to be treated as one of Zhu Yuanzhang's family members, at least it feels safe.

With no other choice, he had no choice but to agree.

After Zhang Yifan was appointed consort, according to custom, he could not meet Zhu Jingjing, so he was not kept in the palace.

Once the etiquette for the princess and consort, led by Li Shanchang, is finalized, the wedding process will begin.

When Zhang Yifan and others left the Royal Garden, he first said to Zhu Biao: "Brother, Jing Jing and I finally got together, thanks to the help of my sister-in-law. I will go with Jing Jing later to thank her!"

When Zhu Biao heard that his brother-in-law was grateful, he was also happy and immediately said: "It's okay, we are all one family!"

"What about me?" When Zhu Di heard this, he pretended to be dissatisfied and asked.

Zhang Yifan grinned and said, "Fourth brother, didn't I give you a big gift bag?"

Zhu Di was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and said angrily: "Dealing with Japanese pirates? Is this considered a big gift?"

Although Zhu Di wanted to lead troops to fight, he wanted to go to the north to fight the Tatars, not the rat-like Japanese pirates!

The other princes actually had little friendship with Zhang Yifan, so they left quickly after being polite.

Finally, Zhu Di and Zhang Yifan walked outside the palace.

Zhang Yifan smiled and said to Zhu Di: "You first collect information about the Japanese pirates, and then you come to me. I have a way to deal with the Japanese pirates, and I will teach you later, so that you can wipe out the scourge of the Japanese pirates!"

At this time, Japanese pirates were not as serious as during the Jiajing period. Zhu Di, who was considered a powerful fighter at that time, used the tactics used by the God of War to deal with Japanese pirates. Zhang Yifan had no reason to believe that Zhu Di would not be able to solve the Japanese pirate problem that was a headache for Zhu Yuanzhang.

When Zhu Di heard this, he became very curious. So confident?
Thinking like this, he couldn't help but ask: "It seems like you know everything, where did you learn it from?"

It doesn't feel right!

"It's very simple!" After hearing this, Zhang Yifan immediately laughed and said, "I am a genius!"

"..." Zhu Di was speechless for a while after hearing this. He was quite thick-skinned.

Just like that, they walked and talked, and soon they arrived outside the Meridian Gate.So, they gathered the people here to hand over the house and land given by Zhu Yuanzhang.

(End of this chapter)