Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 283 The Secret Technique of Anti-Counterfeiting of Gold Banknotes: Gravure

More than half a month later.

The time came to the end of November in the first year of Qianxi.

According to the Ming Dynasty's canon system, "Those who have established domestic and foreign government affairs should be entrusted to the crown prince to implement them, and important events should be reported to them."

This means that in the government affairs of the imperial court, all matters that have fixed handling methods must be reported to the prince for implementation, and only important government affairs are reported to the Ming Emperor to handle in person.

This method is to cultivate the prince's ability to govern, but also to cultivate the prince's sense of cooperation with the emperor.

This system was formulated by Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Biao, the prince of the Hongwu Dynasty, assisted Zhu Yuanzhang in handling a large number of government affairs.

Although the two often quarreled over some things, and sometimes Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that he picked up his chair and wanted to hit Zhu Biao, which shows that the two had differences and conflicts, but this at least shows that Zhu Yuanzhang allowed Prince Zhu Biao to participate in handling government affairs and could express his opinions.

During the Yongle Dynasty, the then prince Zhu Gaoxu was also allowed to participate in handling government affairs, and even became a veritable executive deputy emperor of the Ming Dynasty in the middle and late Yongle period.

Now that Zhu Gaoxu has become Emperor Qianxi of the Ming Dynasty, Prince Zhu Zhanyu naturally has to shoulder the responsibility of becoming the crown prince - handling some memorials.

On this day, after the morning court, Zhu Gaoxu drove to the Wenhua Palace and began to read the memorials given by Prince Zhu Zhanyu during this period, so as to give guidance to the latter on the way to govern.

Zhu Zhanyu asked Zhu Gaoxu to sit down, and then he naturally sat next to him with a stack of memorials.

At the same time, Yu Qian, the recorder on duty, was carefully taking notes behind the screen on the right side of the hall, writing down the conversation between Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Zhanyu word for word.

After Zhu Gaoxu gave Zhu Zhanyu instructions on government affairs for a while, he suddenly saw the memorial written by Bu Wan, the commander of the Shuangcheng Guards.

He opened the memorial and took a closer look, and found out that the savage Jurchens were causing trouble again, so he asked: "Prince, does he know why the imperial court must order Nurgan from counties?"

On the second day of the tenth month of the first year of Qianxi, Bu Wan, the commander of the Shuangcheng Guards, reported that another leader of the barbarian women, Habili, led his subordinates to rebel. King Zhu Song of Han had ordered his troops to kill him. Because he was worried about his change, he specially reported Please ask the imperial court to send people to assist the King of Han to suppress the indigenous rebellion.

Zhu Zhanyu gave instructions and ordered Bu Wan to send [-] or [-] soldiers, led by selected generals, to the Kingdom of Han.

"My son believes that this move is to cut off the possibility of the grassland people replenishing Dingkou from the mountains and forests and make a comeback."

Zhu Zhanyu said respectfully.

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "Not bad."

He had known King Zhu Song of Han for a long time and knew the other person's character, so he handed the memorial to Zhu Zhanyu and ordered: "I will dictate it, and you will write it for me and reply to Bu Wan with a secret letter."

"My son has orders."

Zhu Zhanyu quickly took over the memorial.

"From now on, the king of Han sends people to give you gifts, so you should accept them carefully. Because he is a simple man, and he knows that you are holding troops on the border, and he is afraid of you. Seeing the gifts will cause suspicion, and it is better to be happy and accept the concubine to gain his affection. "

The three guards of the Korean king and Bu Wan holding heavy troops on his side ensured that the Kingdom of Korea had control over the range of activities of the Nurgan savage women, but it could not eliminate the hostility of the rebel leaders towards the Korean king.

Because King Zhu Song of Han established the Kingdom of Han and occupied the place where the local savage Nvzhi tribe had lived for generations, it was a veritable dove-occupied magpie's nest.

In order to ensure the rule of the King of Han over the local area, Zhu Gaoxu had a repulsive attitude towards the savage female tribes. He was deeply afraid that after the local leaders had cultivated themselves for a period of time, they would raise their troops and make a comeback, just like the Jianzhou Jurchens in history.

Therefore, he was determined to eradicate the savage natives who refused to change and made trouble repeatedly.

"I specifically order you to control the surrounding garrison and mobilize three thousand elite troops to help Han Wangsong sweep away the barbarians, plow their courts, sweep their holes, exterminate their descendants, cut off their races, and eliminate all local dissatisfaction in one fell swoop!"

When Zhu Zhanyu finished writing the last word, he felt his blood boiling. He wanted to lead his troops to Nurgan immediately and charge into the battle with King Zhu Song of Han and Commander Bu Wan.

Zhu Gaoxu pondered for a moment and said: "In the future, if you encounter the aboriginal mob that repeatedly jumps, you will do it like this. You must not be soft-hearted. You must understand the principle that 'barbarians fear power but not virtue'."

"Yes." Zhu Zhanyu nodded vigorously.

At this moment, Kang Ping from outside the palace came in and reported: "Your Majesty, Mo Qiaosi Ren Sizheng is asking to see you. He said he has something happy to report."

"Send him to come in and talk."

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand.

Zhu Zhanyu stood up sensibly, walked to the table, and stood beside him quietly.

After a while, Zhu Gaoxu met Ren Ziyuan, who was in his 70s.

Ren Ziyuan, who is over seventy years old, looks like an old man in his 50s. He cannot be said to have a youthful appearance, but he is also well-kept.

"My minister, Mo Qiao, Si Zhengren, has come to pay homage to His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Long live our Emperor, and may His Highness live a thousand years."

Zhu Gaoxu immediately waved his hand and said: "Ren Qing, please excuse yourself and offer me a seat."

Kang Ping had quick eyesight and quick hands, and immediately moved a stool and placed it behind Ren Ziyuan. "Your Majesty, we have successfully developed gravure printing!"

After Ren Ziyuan bowed, he did not sit down in a hurry, but reported excitedly.

"Can you bring samples?"

Zhu Gaoxu wanted to stand up and rush to Ren Ziyuan, but he still kept his temper and asked unhurriedly.

Ren Ziyuan took out a gold note from his left sleeve pocket and held it respectfully in his hands.

Kang Ping walked up, took the gold note, and handed it to Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu carefully looked at the gold banknote in his hand, nodded with satisfaction, then handed it to the prince Zhu Zhanyu sideways and said: "This is the gravure printing I mentioned to you before."

Gravure printing is a direct printing method that directly imprints the ink contained in the pits of the gravure onto the substrate. The shades of the printed image are determined by the size and depth of the pits.

If the pits are deeper, they contain more ink, and the ink layer left on the substrate after imprinting will be thicker.

On the contrary, if the pits are shallower, they contain less ink, and the ink layer left on the substrate after imprinting will be thinner.

"The problem of counterfeit banknotes cannot be eradicated. Just like corrupt officials in the officialdom, everyone knows that it is a capital crime, but some people will be corrupt. Therefore, the main anti-counterfeiting method for the gold banknotes issued when the new currency system was implemented in the late Hongwu years is Watermarks and inks.”

When making paper, patterns are pre-woven on the fishing net, and the paper produced will have inconspicuous dark patterns. This dark pattern can be seen as long as it is held up to the light, which is a watermark.

This watermark technology has already appeared in the Tang Dynasty in history.

As for ink anti-counterfeiting, the special ink is used to have a red luster when illuminated obliquely in the sun.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the exquisite gold banknote in Zhu Zhanyu's hand and said with emotion: "More than 20 years have passed since the end of Hongwu. I estimate that some experts among the people have figured out how to counterfeit gold banknotes. Now With the successful advent of gravure printing, the counterfeiting technology that those people worked so hard to explore will once again lose its use.”

Zhu Zhanyu touched the bumpy gold banknote in his hand, glanced at Ren Ziyuan, and asked: "Ren Sizheng, what are the shortcomings of this gravure printing?"

Ren Ziyuan said respectfully: "Reporting to His Highness the Crown Prince, the plate-making technology in the early stage of gravure printing is extremely complicated and time-consuming, and the plate-making cost is too high."

Zhu Zhanyu smiled and said: "Father, what Ren Sizheng said is not enough, but I think it is a good thing."

Zhu Gaoxu knew it and asked, "Why?"

"Because of this, if someone wants to forge intaglio gold banknotes, they must have a master-level engraver. And if such an engraver works for the court, the court will not only give him an official position and salary, but also other benefits. Rewards and the title of wife and son are not out of the question."

Zhu Zhanyu explained: "I remember that in the seventh year of Yongle, Gao Silang, the master craftsman of Mo Qiaosi, was granted the title of baron by the emperor for making special color-changing ink, and his son was specially allowed to enter the Imperial Academy. Since Gao has With Shiro’s example before us, who would risk killing the Nine Tribes by counterfeiting banknotes? Wouldn’t it be better to serve the imperial court?”

"This is indeed true." Zhu Gaoxu praised: "The analysis is good."

"Your Majesty, I discovered during the experiment that a special material must be added to the special ink used in gravure printing, otherwise the expected results cannot be achieved."

Ren Ziyuan added: "However, the volatiles of this material are toxic and will cause great harm to the craftsmen's health. I would like to ask your Majesty to implement a shift system for the craftsmen responsible for gravure printing. If they can be given an increase in working hours, then Even better.”

"Prince, what do you think?"

Zhu Gaoxu deliberately gave this opportunity to show favor to Prince Zhu Zhanyu.

"Father, I believe that the craftsmen who worked together to develop gravure printing have made great contributions. In addition to allowing Ren Sizheng's request, the grades of these craftsmen should also be promoted and generous rewards should be given, such as land, houses, money, etc."

Zhu Zhanyu thought for a moment and said slowly.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Ren Qing listens to the order, and this matter will be done as the prince said. You go back and draw up a list of meritorious craftsmen, and attach their contributions to the development of gravure printing and submit it to the prince for approval. "

"Wei minister leads the order!"

Ren Ziyuan bowed and said.

"In addition, in order to convey my wishes, Mo Qiaosi Si Zhengren has made great achievements in his hard work. I will give him a special reward of three thousand silver dollars as a viscount."

Zhu Gaoxu said loudly.

"The old minister thanked His Majesty Long En!"

Ren Ziyuan was so excited that he knelt down respectfully and kowtowed to Zhu Gaoxu who was sitting behind the royal table.

"Exemption."

Zhu Gaoxu first raised his hand to signal Ren Ziyuan to stand down, and then shouted to the chamberlain on duty outside the palace door: "Come here, send Ren Sizheng down."

(End of this chapter)