My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 196 The Theory of Monetary Value

No matter where Xu Hongji inquired from, Wang Tigan, a dog-killing talent, would be killed in one bite, and Southern Zhili could not mint silver coins.

In addition, he also made it clear that the more than 300 Jin Yiwei he brought with him were to strictly investigate the money minting in Southern Zhili.

At the same time, the emperor's new policy on minting coins was also announced.

The main ones are that no coins are allowed to be minted privately, and there are rewards for reporting.

With deep disappointment, Xu Hongji returned to his Duke's mansion in Wei.

"How about it? Can it be done?"

Just after entering the mansion, Anyuan Hou Liu Zuochang couldn't wait to greet him and asked.

"Ugh."

Hearing this, Xu Hongji sighed and said.

"No, that eunuch who works with Wang Ti is very reliable. I talked all morning and even though I've said it, he still won't let go."

After leading Liu Zuochang to the study, Xu Hongji ordered people to serve tea, and the two started talking.

"Besides, I don't know where the little emperor found this eunuch. He is not greedy for money and does not accept any money from him."

"You don't even accept money?"

Hearing this, Liu Zuochang was very surprised.

"There are still eunuchs who are not greedy for money these days? It's really a strange thing."

With that said, Liu Zuochang sat down on the chair, picked up the teacup and asked.

"The question now is what to do next."

"What should we do? Of course we will follow the plan."

Hearing this, Xu Hongji sneered.

"Those people are making money without us. In the past 50 years, silver prices have fallen in Nanzhili, prices have skyrocketed, and the people have become miserable."

"When today is interested in minting coins and stabilizing prices, of course we will support it."

"support."

Hearing this, Liu Zuochang showed a look of embarrassment on his face.

"But this 10% of the original force, plus the 30% of the additional levy from South Zhili, and the 40% of the fire consumption are really painful."

"No matter how much pain you feel, can those other people hurt you?"

Hearing this, Xu Hongji waved his fingers and said.

"Do you know why my Xu family can have two families?"

"Why?"

Hearing this, Liu Zuochang raised his eyebrows.

Why can the Xu family have two families? It's not like you know how to let go.

The eldest Duke of Wei, Xu Huizu, took Xu Da's position as Duke of Wei and helped Jianwen.

The second son, Xu Zengshou, secretly played a secret game to give Zhu Di some trouble.

Zhu Di's three sons who were in Yingtian back then, Zhu Gaoxu and his fat brother Zhu Gaochi were able to run all the way back to Shuntian. I dare to say that the horse was not stolen or given by the Xu family.

"Because we are loyal."

Seeing the look in Liu Zuochang's eyes, Xu Hongji knew what this playmate who had been playing with bare butt since childhood was thinking about.

After reaching out and giving the opponent a hammer, Xu Hongji continued.

"The ancestral precept left by our ancestors is that no matter what happens, we must be loyal to the emperor, so as to keep the family's fortune."

"No matter what the emperor wants to do, just support him."

"But, this is all free money."

After hearing Xu Hongji's words, Liu Zuochang couldn't help but said.

"Forty percent of the fire cost, one hundred thousand taels of silver can only be exchanged for 60,000 silver coins."

"But if you get it on the market, it can be sold as a silver flower of 120,000 taels."

Hearing what this guy said, Xu Hongji couldn't help but roll his eyes and said.

"Furthermore, do you still remember what was said when the edict was announced that day that after June, gold and silver trading in Yingtian Mansion will be prohibited?"

"Of course I remember."

Hearing this, Liu Zuochang nodded and said suddenly.

"You're thinking?"

"Yes, I plan to light a fire for the emperor to promote silver coins in Yingtian Mansion."

Xu Hongji continued with his eyes narrowed like a chicken that had stolen a fox.

"Thirty percent of the family's wealth does not trade with silver coins."

"But aren't you afraid of those people impeaching you in court?"

"What are you afraid of? I will take 30%, and the remaining 70% belongs to the emperor."

Hearing this, Xu Hongji waved his hands and said.

"I can send money to the emperor, but what about them? Besides memorials, what else can they send to the emperor?"

"Makes sense."

Hearing this, Liu Zuochang nodded, his eyes flickering, not knowing what he was thinking.

"And, do you know why I contacted so many officials to support the emperor's implementation of silver coins?"

"Why?"

"One is naturally what we said when we were discussing matters with the magistrates that day. It shows our submissiveness in Nanzhili."

Putting the tea cup on the table, Xu Hongji stood up and said.

"Southern Zhili has been owed taxes for many years. The emperor just ascended the throne and there was so much missing. He directly said that we, South Zhili, were disrespectful. That's why those individuals were sent to South Zhili to inspect taxes."

"Although those people have been eating, drinking and having fun in the past few months, we have to take precautions to prevent these people from making noises in the emperor's ears after returning to Beijing. Then we will all be in trouble. This supports the emperor. The new silver coin policy shows our submission.”

"We all know this."

Hearing Xu Hongji's words, Liu Zuochang nodded.

"Where are the two?"

"Well, we both make a fortune together."

Showing a sly smile to Liu Zuochang, Xu Hongji continued.

"Not only do we dislike those people, but the officials are also very upset with them."

"The imperial court now gives a limited number of silver coins to Nanzhili every month. If we Nanjing dignitaries and local officials work together to eat up all these silver coins, we will wait until we have to trade them with silver coins..."

"If they disobey His Majesty's decree, then we can divide their property with the Emperor Sanqi."

"If they want to comply with His Majesty's imperial edict but cannot exchange enough silver coins, they will have no choice but to come to us."

"By then, the fire consumption we have collected will not be 30%."

"High! It's really high!"

After listening to Xu Hongji's words, Liu Zuochang couldn't help but extend his thumb.

After boasting, Liu Zuochang made another inference.

"Besides, as long as their homes are confiscated, we can get involved in the business with the Xiyi people."

"Yes, that's the truth!"

"Here, let's have tea instead of wine!"

With the sound of two tea cups clinking, a PY transaction came to an end.

Of course, Zhu Youxiao didn't know about the PY transaction in Nanzhili.

All he knew was that Nanzhili was haunted.

“Is Nanzhili so short of money?”

After everyone in the hall had finished reading the joint memorial, Zhu Youxiao raised his head and looked at Yuan Shizhen, the minister of household affairs, and asked.

"Yuan Aiqing, you have been in Lianghuai for a long time, and you must have heard about the affairs of Yingtian Mansion. Tell me about the situation of Lianghuai and Yingtian and all the lands."

"Back to the emperor, the local people in the Huaihe River and Huaihe River mostly rely on fiber pulling through the canal, salt production by salt households, and fishing. Most of their food production relies on grain from Jiangxi traveling north along the canal."

Hearing the emperor ask himself, Yuan Shizhen immediately puffed up his chest.

You're right. You need to pay attention to your manners.

"In the autumn of last year, Yang Sichang, the envoy of Yang Zhuan, wrote a letter saying that the grain shortage in the Huaihe River was due to the canal grain going north and the rivers being occupied. It was difficult for Jiangxi grain to go north. The local grain merchants wanted to hoard it and sent people to spread rumors, causing the people to rush to buy grain. This That’s why there was a food shortage in the Huaihe River.”

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's eyelids twitched and he didn't say much.

Yuan Shizhen took the time to put in good words for the officials in Huaihe and Lianghuai.

"According to what I saw in Lianghuai, there is a lot of silver there, and the people's income is higher than in the capital. However, local prices are high, but the people's lives are not rich."

"inflation."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao tapped his fingers on the table and thought to himself. Not knowing what the emperor was thinking, Yuan Shizhen continued.

"The local people like to use copper coins, but they don't like to use silver. Therefore, in the territory of Nanzhili, copper coins are expensive, but silver is cheap. One tael of silver can be exchanged for one copper coin, which is 770 Wen."

"I understand."

Just when Yuan Shizhen said this, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand to interrupt his next words.

"Previously, I taught you the role of currency. Today, I will teach you another sentence."

As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao lowered his head and turned over the table.

Seeing the emperor's actions, everyone present looked at each other, wondering what the emperor was going to do.

"Have you read this book "The Supplement to the Explanations of the University" written by Qiu Jun, a great scholar of our dynasty?"

After flipping through the pages for a while, Zhu Youxiao held a book in his hand, showed it to everyone in the hall, and asked.

"I have read it."

"I have not read it."

When they saw the book that the emperor took out, some people in the hall said they had read it, and some said they had not.

Seeing this, Zhu Youxiao was not surprised.

Many of the contents of this thing are very profound, and not many people in Man Daming can understand it.

The last person who probably understood it was probably Wanli, because Wanli personally wrote the preface to the book.

The content of this book mainly summarizes the meaning of punishment, the system of laws and orders, the tools of punishment and prison, the meaning of Mingliu redemption, the method of careful listening and judgment, the establishment of original principles, the order of heaven and earth, and the sincerity of justice. Detailed discussions, redress of grievances, careful forgiveness of disasters, clear meaning of revenge, simplicity of jail officials, compassion, and avoidance of abuse.

The main theme is that Heaven seeks justice, the scriptures should be in harmony with justice, human beings and laws should be respected, and punishment should be treated with caution and prison should be tolerated.

Zhu Youxiao does not attach much importance to these. He has only one governing idea: putting the people first and taking the law as the basis.

What he values ​​​​is a few sentences in the article.

"Xueshi Qiu once said that although things in the world are born in heaven and earth, they must be equipped with human power, and then they can be used. Their bodies have different sizes and fines, their skills have depths, and their prices are as high as a thousand coins. It’s not big but it’s fine, and it can’t be accomplished in a day.”

"Xueshi Qiu is a man who has read a lot of poetry and books. This sentence he wrote is also difficult to understand."

"The meaning of this sentence is that although everything in the world is born from heaven and earth, it must be labored before it can be used by people."

After reading a passage from Qiu Jun while holding the book, Zhu Youxiao put the book down and looked at the people in the hall.

"Although this sentence makes sense, it is not essential enough."

"I have summarized this sentence."

"It's called labor, creating value."

“Labor creates value?”

After hearing the emperor's words, everyone in the hall looked at each other.

There seems to be a lot of philosophy in this statement.

Looking at the people in the hall who didn't know what to say, Zhu Youxiao spoke up.

"Shilang Yuan, let me ask you, how much food can one acre of land produce each year?"

"Two stones go up to the fields, one stone goes down to the fields."

After hearing the emperor's question, Yuan Shizhen answered honestly.

“If the farmer doesn’t cultivate it, will this acre of land produce food?”

"will not."

Hearing this, Yuan Shizhen quickly shook his head.

“Without cultivation, the fields will not produce food.”

"Then the food produced by this acre of land is the result of the farmer's labor, and he also produces value."

Nodding, Zhu Youxiao continued.

"Similarly, farmers farm, fishermen catch fish, young men move things, and officials work, all of which generate value."

"Then how is this value measured?"

Having said this, Zhu Youxiao picked up the book again, and then read out a sentence from Qiu Jun.

"The middle of the day is the market, allowing people to trade, to exchange what is available and what is not, and to exchange for things. Not all things are available, so there is the creation of coins; the things must be of equal value to the coins, and there is no difference in importance, and then you can It will last for a long time without any harm.”

"What Bachelor Qiu said is that the markets in the world are to facilitate people's transactions. If you barter, things will not necessarily exist. So there is currency. When the value of currency and items are equal, there is no importance. When the deviation is correct, it can be implemented for a long time without any disadvantages.”

"I also made a summary of this sentence."

"It's called currency. It's just the embodiment of labor value, and it's an item used to measure the value of labor."

After listening to the emperor's words, everyone looked at each other again.

The emperor spoke in one phrase after another, but the philosophy behind these words seemed to be deeper.

"Let me give you an example."

After seeing that everyone was enlightened, Zhu Youxiao planned to give an example to explain the "inflation" problem that Ming Dynasty is facing now.

"How much value does this village generate each year?"

"It's a thousand stone grain."

After hearing the emperor's question, Bi Ziyan answered honestly.

"Today, there is a village and a market."

"One hundred taels of silver in the market."

"There is a man in the village. He has fifty acres of land. Each acres of land can produce two stones of grain."

"How much value can he create every year?"

"It's a hundred stones of grain."

Bi Ziyan thought thoughtfully after hearing the emperor's example.

"If all the one hundred taels of silver in the market are used to buy his grain, then he has created a value of one hundred taels."

"good."

Nodding, Zhu Youxiao looked at Bi Ziyan and asked.

"What if I invest another hundred taels of silver in the market?"

"Then the value he created becomes two hundred taels."

Hearing this, Bi Ziyan's eyes widened instantly and he said loudly.

"I understand, I understand."

Saying that, Bi Ziyan said excitedly.

“As an item that measures the value of labor, money cannot be more or less.”

"I've realized it too."

At this time, Yuan Shizhen also sighed.

"I finally understand why prices in South Zhili are so high."

With that said, Yuan Shizhen couldn't help but communicate with Bi Ziyan.

"It turns out there are too many currencies on the market."

Looking at the few people who were discussing regardless of the occasion, Zhu Youxiao nodded with satisfaction.

Confucianism is not corrupt at all.

The labor theory of value, in a broad sense, was first proposed by the British economist Petty.

But in fact, Pedi was not born yet.

Qiu Jun, a university student in the Ming Dynasty, proposed the labor theory of value more than a hundred years ago.

Here, I have to lament that after absorbing the theories of hundreds of schools of thought, Confucianism has indeed become more vital.

The Ming Dynasty proposed the theory of value and the practice-oriented philosophy of mind.

If these two things alone were promoted, it would be enough to guide this country through another two hundred years.

When did Confucianism last shine in history?

Well, it was the late Qing Dynasty.

However, it was in the Japanese country.

During the Zhengde period, Wang Yangming, who was awarded the title of Xin Xin Bo for his martial arts, inherited Lu Jiuzhang and Zhan Ruoshui, and carried forward the Xinxue.

Decades after his death, a copy of "The Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine" written by him was introduced to Japan.

Four hundred years after his death, Wang Yangming's disciples and grandsons in the Japanese country did a great thing and recruited many disciples, such as Ito Hirobumi, Kido Takayun, Takasugi Shinsaku and others, and continued to promote Shinsaku.

He emphasized the idea of ​​practice and also guided a small thing called the Curtain Rewind Movement.

What happened next is called the Meiji Restoration.

(End of this chapter)