My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 35 Don’t underestimate the wisdom of the ancients

Looking at the imprinting machine in front of him, Zhu Youxiao let out his first sigh after coming to Ming Dynasty.

We really cannot underestimate the wisdom of the ancients, especially the people of the Ming Dynasty.

After only five days of being ordered, these craftsmen, under the leadership of Zhao Han, produced what Zhu Youxiao wanted.

And although it is still manual, ten people can operate an assembly line, because it uses gears, which saves a lot of effort.

It is still in the experimental stage, so only one crucible furnace has been opened to melt two hundred kilograms of silver at a time.

The first step is to cast the mixed materials into strips.

In the second step, it is passed through a rolling machine and pressed into a silver sheet of standard thickness.

The third step is to cut it into silver bars through milling and turning.

The fourth step is to punch the dough into a blank.

The fifth step is annealing.

The fifth step is to use the press to press the pattern.

Looking at the dozen or so shiny and hot silver coins in front of him, Zhu Youxiao smiled happily.

"Reward, everyone will be rewarded. Each person will be rewarded with 50 taels of silver. Zhao Han will be rewarded with 100 taels of silver."

"I would like to thank Your Majesty for the gift."

Everyone in the room heard the emperor's words and quickly thanked him.

Signing for everyone to continue working without disturbing anyone, Zhu Youxiao led Zhao Han out of the house.

"How many coins can be cast in one day?"

"Back to the Emperor, it's hard to say how much we can produce."

Having just received the reward, Zhao Han said with some anxiety when the emperor asked a question.

"The emperor's method of pressing silver coins is faster than the casting method. However, the silver blank is easy to make, but the mold, that is, the steel mold is not easy to make."

"I have tried it these days. The copper mold will deform after being pressed a few times. Steel molds must be used. However, steel molds are difficult to carve. In order to carve a set of steel molds, I used up four carving knives. "

"You mean, what limits production is mainly steel molds?"

"Exactly."

"Recruit talented people from the private sector and don't be reluctant to spend money. The most important thing now is to increase production as soon as possible."

With a wave of his hand, Zhu Youxiao approved another budget of 5 taels of silver from internal funds for Zhao Han.

"You just said that steel molds are difficult to make, but is this machine easy to make?"

"Back to the Emperor, these machines were made by me and my craftsmen these days."

Zhao Han said and explained the reason to the emperor.

It turns out that the Ming Dynasty's financial budget has been difficult to obtain in recent years, so many departments have developed a habit of raising a few craftsmen themselves, so that when they have a need, they can do it themselves.

These machines are made by Baoyuan Bureau's own craftsmen.

It can be said to be a great way to save money.

"Have a heart."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao nodded and said nothing more.

Before leaving, Zhu Youxiao still gave the order.

"Coin minting is of great importance. I trust you and that's why I entrust this matter to you. You must take it seriously."

"Your Majesty, don't worry. I will do my best to handle this matter."

After giving Zhao Han a few more instructions, Zhu Youxiao returned to his main hall with the silver coins in his hand, tossing them with a clanking sound.

Before sitting down and taking a sip of water, Liu Shimin came to announce that Bi Ziyan was here.

"You came just in time, Xuan."

Soon, Bi Ziyan entered the lobby with a memorial.

"I will sincerely greet you with sincere greetings." "Excuse me and stay calm."

Putting down the teacup in his hand, Zhu Youxiao signaled Wang Mo to show Bi Ziyan the silver coins.

"Bi Aiqing came just in time. I'll show you a treasure."

Taking a few silver coins from Wang Mo's hand, Bi Ziyan looked at them curiously.

Different from the silver coins given to ministers in the Ming Dynasty to pray for blessings and rewards, which were generally oval-shaped, these silver coins are perfectly round, just like copper coins, but there is no square hole in the middle.

"From the day I asked you to calculate the salaries of Beijing officials, I had the idea of ​​minting coins. Now that the samples have come out, it's just time for Aiqing to take a look."

As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao picked up a silver coin and blew it, and heard a pleasant buzzing sound reaching his ears.

Seeing this, Bi Ziyan also imitated the emperor's actions, picked it up and blew it, and then he was a little surprised.

"The silver coin I have asked to be minted is eight centimeters and nine centimeters of silver, six millimeters of copper, and five millimeters of platinum (tin). Only with materials of this ratio can the silver coin be blown."

"What do you think of this silver coin, Aiqing?"

"this..."

Hearing this, Bi Ziyan stroked his beard, thought for a moment and said.

"The Ming Dynasty has been short of money for a long time. As far as I know, after the Longqing switch, the ban on gold and silver was relaxed, and the money shortage was slightly alleviated."

"However, our Ming Dynasty produces very little silver. Most of the silver comes from overseas. I think it is inappropriate to use it as currency."

"Now, Your Majesty will mint coins in silver, and I agree."

After saying that, Bi Ziyan paused and continued.

"Ranchen is worried about repeating the story of the Jiajing period."

"The story of the Jiajing period?"

Hearing Bi Ziyan's words, Zhu Youxiao was puzzled.

"what story?"

"In the past, Emperor Sejong ordered thick coins to be minted to correct coin standards."

Hearing that the emperor didn't know about this, Bi Ziyan immediately gave the emperor some information.

Zhu Houcong, Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Jiajing, Jiajing in Hai Rui's mouth, every family was clean.

Jiajing, who had just been invited to Beijing, was not the Taoist priest who later ignored the court for 20 years and hid in Xiyuan to cultivate immortality.

Jiajing was the last king of the Ming Dynasty who tried to rectify the economic and monetary systems of the Ming Dynasty, which had become a pot of porridge.

In the sixth year of Jiajing, Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty ordered to rectify the casting of copper coins, improve the casting process, and increase the weight of each coin. For a time, the price of copper coins returned to its original level.

But soon, Jiajing's new monetary policy failed. The newly minted copper coins he ordered were dragged away and turned into thin coins as soon as they left the gate of Baoyuan Bureau.

And who dragged away this copper coin?
Being dominated by the gentry.

After hearing about the emperor's new policy, these right-wing "family members" of the gentry took action and immediately entangled a group of scoundrels, beggars, and bandits to coerce merchants and people. They must follow the new regulations of the Ming Emperor and follow the rules of each day. The ratio of 700 copper coins to 1 tael of silver forced people to hand over their silver taels in exchange for worthless money.

How did this matter end?
The merchants in the capital were closed, and trade was blocked. The price of food in the capital soared from four qian to seven taels per stone. People died of hunger on the roads, and the people were in dire straits.

Jiajing's new monetary policy failed, and Jiajing was furious after hearing the news.

In the eighth year of Jiajing's reign, the imperial court promulgated the "Order on the Removal and Removal of Foreign Relatives": Qi Wan and Zhou's relatives were not allowed to have any quarrels with Yu Xun, the powerful gentry. They began to dismiss their relatives on a large scale, reduce the number of favors and titles, and prepare to attack the powerful gentry.

However, Jiajing was born with shortcomings. First, he came to the throne incorrectly. Second, he could not hold the barrel of a gun. Third, he fell into the big pit of great etiquette.

Jiajing's economic reform policy was a complete failure.

"So it is."

After listening to Bi Ziyan's talk about the old events during the Jiajing period, Zhu Youxiao nodded thoughtfully.

ps: Gears have been used in China for a very long time. Gears can be found in cultural relics from the late Warring States period. In the iron gears unearthed at the end of Qin Dynasty and the beginning of Han Dynasty, ratchets that can prevent the axle from reversing were also found. gear.

　Everyone must remember to read it after the update. It is very important to follow up.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)