Hidden Dragon in Qing Dynasty

They still could not understand a lot of things. As the first telegraph line in the Great Qing Province gradually started to operate, the information from the north and south started to flow more quickly.

The telegraph line s were all laid to be used once they were built. Although the first phase of the project was to head from the north to the south of the capital to Shanghai, it was not completely finished before being used.

For example, when the line from Shanghai to Nanjing was completed, the Ministry of Communications had already begun providing telegraphic services. The information transmission from the north to the south of the empire could already use telegraph services intermittently.

It was precisely because of the latest communication network that the Beijing was able to quickly understand everything that had happened in the south. For example, the Letian Firm had just held a large silver coin parade in the Beijing, and then began issuing something called a national debt in Shanghai, Suhang, Nanjing and other places.

According to the Military Ticket's printing procedures, he produced a batch of small denomination national debt. The smallest denomination was a Dragon-striated Silver Coin, which was commonly known as a round coin, and then twenty, fifty and a hundred circles, for a total of four types of denomination.

The small sized national debt was issued to the public and they had promised to pay a high interest of 30% within three years. After three years, they would be able to exchange their bills to one hundred and thirty Dragon-striated Silver Coin s in the Letian Bank.

Not only did they receive a high interest, the Letian Bank had also promised that all merchants who held national debt or had Ryukyu s in trade with Letian Bank s, foreign banks and Ryukyu Kingdom s would be able to enjoy a 3% tax break.

The discerning people had already seen through, wasn't Letian Bank going to release the first credit currency in East Asia? Accept the national debt, then kidnap the national credit for banknote issue.

This is a game of credit, Great Qing can't help but admit to Great Qing's debt, since my Letian Firm has accepted it, then the local daoyin is equivalent to owing my Letian Firm money, I don't want you to pay me back the debt with taxes, okay? In any case, the economic trade between the Letian Firm and Jiangnan region was very close, and the tax revenue that came out every year was more than a few million silver taels.

Letian Firm had a very high credit in Jiangnan, so no one believed that she would not be able to afford to pay the six million silver. Furthermore, Great Qing had used taxes to guarantee that she would be able to pay it all back.

A 30% profit without risk, this was a transaction for every book. Not only did he not recognize anyone, but he also guaranteed the liquidity of the bonds. If he were suddenly short on money, he could easily turn these bonds into cash.

Furthermore, trading with bonds or Military Ticket would give 3% tax relief, which made even more merchants willing to accept this kind of paper. When the commoners saw that this thin paper could be used as a silver coin and that the merchants were fighting over it, the credit level of the paper slips would naturally be higher.

There was also no central bank in Great Qing, and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue did not understand Xiao Letian's scheme at all. They foolishly thought that Letian Firm was helping them, but they were just flattering him, and did not know that he had already earned a lot from this financial game.

My bank has six million in debt, but how many small bonds have I issued? Probably no one in the Great Qing knew, only and Xiao Letian knew that a total of 13 million Dragon-striated Silver Coin s worth of bonds were all digested by the people of Jiangnan. Just one Shanghai was enough to make a joke on over 5 million silver coins worth of bonds.

What? Are you afraid that Xiao Letian will not pay? This was an international joke. As long as the currency was released, no one would think of returning the credit to the outside. As long as the currency's credit did not crumble, the silver and physical items could only go in.

There were many ways to increase currency and credit, but there were only two most effective ways. One was to protect the military, and the other was to protect the tax revenue.

Powerful military force can ensure the basic security of the money issuing institutions or the country, as long as the trees do not collapse people can continue to enjoy the cool. The guarantee of tax was that the business world would not reject or even be willing to use this kind of currency. The more business world liked this kind of currency, the more acceptable it was to the public.

Of course, there were many ways to maintain one's credit, such as a safe reserve of gold and silver, the development of consumer habits, and so on. But that was only in the future, Xiao Letian wouldn't go too far because it would drag him down to the grave.

"I don't understand!" I really don't understand … What exactly is Xiao Letian up to? " Just as she was muttering to herself, the sedan chair suddenly stopped. Raising her head, she saw that the Jingshan was right in front of him.

"Your Royal Highness, please get off the palanquin … "Minister Lin from the Revenue Department is waiting for you …" The butler opened the curtain of the palanquin and invited the dazed Prince Kung out.

Under a few dark pine trees, Lin Shangshu used his back to block the wind as he waited for the prince to arrive. When he saw Yi, he quickly walked over to welcome him, then changed his direction to let the prince face the wind.

"My lord, be careful. Don't get blinded by the wind today …"

"Old Lin, what are you doing?" "The empress dowager's summons are tight. Why aren't you hurrying up the mountain and waiting here for the rain to pour?" Yi Yeyu said half-jokingly.

"Aiya, my good prince, how can I hide this from you today?" There could be no other matters aside from discussing the assassination of His Majesty … However, let me tell you the truth in advance. Our Ministry of Revenue doesn't have any money left, not even a penny.

"Zuo Zongtang entered Gan Shan at the beginning of the year and at the same time took away the final five million silver from the treasury. The empress dowager's promised ten million silver is still half the amount, and I can tell Your Highness that without any money, you can forget about giving Zuo Jigao any silver from the imperial government within the next few years …"

Yi Yu frowned and said, "Isn't this already a thing of the past?" The remaining balance allowed Zuo Jigao to help himself. I heard that Hu Xueyan had a good relationship with him, didn't they agree to help him settle it? "

"Aiya, your highness. What I'm talking about today is not this, but the fact that the treasury does not have any money! "The taxes on the various summer rations have yet to be delivered. Even if they were delivered, they would still be returned. The salaries of the officials have yet to be paid and the eight flags' salaries are still owed …"

"It just so happened that His Majesty was assassinated at this critical juncture … Of course, his majesty, Lucky, was naturally in trouble. However, there were too many voices in the imperial court calling for severe punishment of Japan … Many Han Lin has roared to send troops to punish this small country, but your highness, you have to be calm and not use troops! "

"That is a national war! If you want to cross the sea, you have to rent a battleship belonging to the foreigners. You can't come down without a million taels of silver … As for the army, no one would dare to say secretly that the army of the empire, other than the Xiang Army, can it still be used? After all, they couldn't really let the Green Camp and the Eight Flag carry the large blade abroad, right? Did he not want money for equipment exchange? "That would be another one million eight hundred thousand …"

Yi Yeyu blushed. Of course, he knew that the Chinese army was not worth much. What the Hukou clan said was true. If they really sent troops to Japan to show off their strength, it would be impossible for them to do so without 2 million silver taels.

"Old Lin, you think too much, don't you still have Xiao Letian? "That's a grandson who refuses to be taken advantage of. With him at the throne, he won't be taken advantage of …"

It was one thing to not mention Xiao Letian, but when he mentioned him, the expression on the face of the Minister of Revenue changed drastically, and he quickly pulled on his sleeve, "Your Highness, come over here …" Minister Lin led Yi to a pile of oilcloth, opened a corner of the oilcloth, and let the prince have a look.

"Look at this wood!"

He grew up in the Free Palace, and was very familiar with expensive things. At that time, he sucked in a breath of cold air. So coarse! Didn't they say that they are extinct … "

It was recorded that when Ming Chen's ancestor, Zhu Di, built the Forbidden City, he had once ordered to search the southwest mountains, cutting down all the Golden Silk Sannan Wood that could be used to build temples. This had caused the later generations of Qing Dynasty to be unable to find suitable materials even when they were trying to repair the three halls.

If the imperial family wanted to make a bed, of course it wouldn't be a problem to build a cabinet, but if they wanted to build an entire door or window, they would need to use it as a main beam and a pillar.

"My good prince, our Great Qing is indeed extinct, but there are still people on Annan's side! Fu Qing entrusted the Letian Firm to bring these over from Annan's side by sea. Each wood plus freight would at least cost one hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand gold! "

"My prince!" To be able to rebuild the Northern Sea Jingshan with this kind of wood, do you think six million silver is enough? Even 10 million isn't enough for me! "

"Hiss …" Yi Yin sucked in a breath of cold air, "So much money!" Could it be that the rumors on the street were true? Is he really the illegitimate son of the Dragon King of the East Sea? "

The Minister of Revenue smiled coldly and said, "We don't care about that anymore, but I think we can use this opportunity to make a move today …" As he spoke, he leaned close to the prince and whispered into his ear. The more he said, the brighter his eyes became.

At the same time, in the Jingshan, Fu Qing was sitting on a chair talking to the empress dowager. He had just returned from Tanggu and was busy preparing some random things for the empress dowager to spend on her private property.

"Esteemed empress dowager, these bonds will be issued in the capital the day after tomorrow. From the looks of the situation in Jiangnan, there's no need to worry about selling these bonds. The commoners have long gone to the bank's gate to inquire …"

"I'll first deliver 600,000 taels of silver to the empress dowager today. You can spend it as you like, and you don't need to go out and exchange it for silver coins. I estimate that all merchants in the capital will have to accept these kinds of bonds in less than two months …"

Ci An saw that the Qing San Ye's eyes were watering and said gently, "You always spend money randomly, the imperial government has only given you a total of 6 million taels of famine, and you guys have actually become so rich, how much money are you going to lose?"

"I don't understand engineering, but that day when I was patrolling at the construction site, I met Style Lei. From his words, I heard that this project will definitely overspend and will overcharge by a lot …"

"It's not worth so much money for me! Now you're giving me so much silver, don't you dare lose it all! "

Fu Qing raised his head and looked at Ci An. The two of them looked at each other with eyes filled with tender love, causing the eunuchs and palace girls to be so scared that they didn't even dare look straight at Ci An.

"I... Wish... "Meaning …"