The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 53 Zhu Biao shows off his skills

Chen Jingke looked thoughtful.

This method is indeed feasible, and there is no doubt about the financial strength of the salt merchants.

Their purchase of treasure banknotes can indeed effectively reduce private holdings.

And once they start purchasing in large quantities, the price of treasure banknotes will inevitably rise, which will also reduce the losses of the people.

What the court paid was just some salt.

As the number of private banknotes decreases, no matter what method is used in the future, the pressure will be much less.

I just don’t know what Zhu Biao’s next steps will be.

Zhu Biao continued: "Second, it is crucial to allow people to pay taxes with treasure money."

"It can not only absorb the amount of private banknotes, but also prevent salt merchants from maliciously lowering prices."

“And the imperial court’s permission to pay taxes with treasure banknotes can also boost people’s confidence in treasure banknotes.”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded again and said: "We can first issue an edict to allow people to pay taxes with treasure money. Then we can buy salt with treasure money."

Zhu Biao said: "What dad said is that salt merchants cannot take advantage of loopholes."

"After these two policies are released, the number of treasure banknotes held by the private sector will be greatly reduced."

"Then we will follow the methods of Shu Han."

"Build a warehouse in Yingtian Mansion and allow people to exchange treasure notes for supplies."

"When the people of Yingtian Mansion get used to the treasure money, it will naturally spread outward..."

What is good at the top must be good at the bottom. Things that are popular in Kyoto will soon be imitated everywhere.

With the role of role model, Baochao can spread to the whole country with Yingtianfu as the center.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "If the exchange is only opened in Yingtian Mansion, will the people elsewhere complain?"

Zhu Biao explained: "After the acquisition by salt merchants, the number of private banknotes has been greatly reduced."

"And the imperial court allows paying taxes with treasure money, so people only need to wait a few months."

"In less than a year, Baochao will be able to rebuild its credibility, and some public grievances will naturally disappear."

Chen Jingke also thought about it, this method has shortcomings and will cause certain losses to the people.

But there is no foolproof strategy in the world. If you try to protect everything, you may end up unable to protect anything.

Moreover, allowing salt merchants to purchase treasure banknotes also reduced the losses of the people to a certain extent.

Therefore, this method is really very feasible.

Zhu Biao was able to come up with an effective solution in such a short period of time. This ability is really strong.

Before, he had only heard people say that Zhu Biao was very capable, that all civil and military officials admired him, and his brothers also believed in him.

But after traveling for so long, I haven't seen Zhu Biao show off his abilities, so he will inevitably have doubts in his heart.

Now he finally sees it.

As expected, he was the deputy emperor of the Ming Dynasty and Zhu Yuanzhang's favorite son.

Zhu Biao obviously had more on his mind: "This is just the first step. Once the people of Yingtian Mansion accept the treasure banknotes, we can allocate resources to continue to implement this method elsewhere."

"Beiping, Taiyuan, Luoyang, Yangzhou, Quanzhou, Chengdu, etc."

"If it goes well, it may not take more than a year for the treasure banknote to gain the trust of the people."

Zhu Yuanzhang did not express his opinion, but asked Chen Jingke: "Do you think the prince's method is feasible?"

Chen Jingke said with admiration: "The prince is wise, I think there is no better way in the world than this."

Zhu Yuanzhang finally laughed heartily: "Haha, you kid can also flatter me."

"However, we also think this method is good. It takes into account the overall situation and works step by step. It is very safe."

"At least we can't think of a better way than this."

Zhu Biao's expression was very calm: "Thank you dad for the compliment."

Zhu Yuanzhang said kindly: "Since you have a solution, let me handle this matter."

"Tomorrow we will issue an order to have the Ministry of Accounts and the Baochao Lifting Department fully cooperate with you."

Zhu Biao said: "This matter cannot be rushed. It will take a lot of time to hoard the required supplies. If the news is leaked in advance, others may take advantage of it." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "Well, you can go ahead and do it. I will not interfere in this matter. "

Even if you follow Zhu Biao's method, you still need to stock up on a large amount of supplies in advance.

Especially salt, you need to stock up in advance.

Otherwise, we won’t be able to produce enough salt by then, and everything will collapse.

As for why taxes were not allowed to be paid in treasure banknotes in advance, the reason was simple: the court could not support it.

Baobao has lost its credibility. The court collects it through taxes, so it is difficult to spend it.

If enough money and grain cannot be collected, the imperial court will directly collapse financially, which will cause even greater chaos.

Therefore, no matter which method is adopted, sufficient resources must be accumulated in advance.

With today's productivity, hoarding these supplies takes a lot of time.

salt.

Chen Jingke was moved in his heart and asked: "Your Majesty, I wonder how the salt farm produces salt now?"

Although Zhu Yuanzhang was confused as to why he asked this question, he still said:
"Coastal salt fields are boiled salt, and Sichuan's well salt is said to be made by blending two kinds of brine. We don't know the details."

Zhu Biao added: "I heard that the salt-drying method was discovered in the seaside salt field, which is to circle the sea water and dry it."

"It's just that this method is not perfect enough and has not been implemented on a large scale."

Chen Jingke thought to himself that it was a coincidence, but he would not be able to get this credit.

From boiling the sea to make salt to drying the sea to make salt, it is a qualitative progress. The sun-salting method is still used in the 21st century.

It’s just that he doesn’t know much about the history of salt production. He only knows that it was boiled salt in the beginning and later became sun salt.

But he didn't know when the sun salt method appeared or became popular, so he asked.

Unexpectedly, the sun salt method has already appeared.

But he didn't feel disappointed, it was just a salt-in-the-salt method, it didn't matter.

In fact, in the original history, the earliest record of the salt-drying method was during the Yongle period.

Boiled salt was completely abolished and replaced by the salt pan method.

According to time calculation, the salt-drying method should have appeared during the Hongwu period.

Zhu Biao asked again: "Why are you asking this? Do you know how to make salt?"

Chen Jingke shook his head and said, "I don't know how to make salt, but I accidentally learned a method of extracting refined salt from a book."

Zhu Biao's eyes lit up and he asked, "Is this method difficult?"

Chen Jingke said: "It's not difficult to dissolve coarse salt in water..."

He talked about the salt washing method, which actually used the difference in saturation of different elements. It was based on the chemistry knowledge of middle and high school in his previous life.

Of course, I definitely couldn't tell Zhu Biao about elements and saturation. I just told him that this was a method he saw in ancient books.

As for the principle, I don't know.

After hearing this method, not only Zhu Biao but also Zhu Yuanzhang also showed excitement.

Although the production of sea salt is large, it is poisonous and cannot be eaten in large quantities. Long-term consumption can also cause death.

If just washing with water can solve this problem, it can definitely benefit all people.

The key is, refined salt is expensive.

By taking advantage of the information gap, you can make a fortune from salt merchants and wealthy households.

I was still worried about how to raise supplies, but now the problem has been solved.

Zhu Biao praised: "Yes, you have made another great contribution."

Chen Jingke said modestly, rolled his eyes, and said to Zhu Yuanzhang:

"Your Majesty, I know a place rich in silver."

"If mined properly, it can contribute one million taels of silver to the imperial court every year."

"And the reserves are huge and can be exploited for hundreds of years."

(End of this chapter)