The sun in the east showed a touch of fish belly white, the dew on the grass on the roadside had not dried, and there were few pedestrians on the street. Surrounded by dozens of soldiers, ten large vehicles slowly drove into the gate of Bingzhou Kaiyuan, along the main street of the south gate all the way to the north. When I arrived at Zicheng, I turned west and went straight to the state office.

Listening to the sound of the squeaky cart marching, the residents of the city talked one after another, not knowing what goods were loaded in the cart.

Xia Zhu, who got up early, finished breakfast and was resting in the living room, when a public official hurriedly came in and crossed his hands: "Xianggong, the money from the Chase Prison is here!" ”

Xia Zhu opened his eyes violently: "Order them to transport them to the military treasury, and the soldiers will defend it, I'll go and watch!" ”

The official answered the promise and turned to go out.

Xia Zhu got up slowly, changed into official clothes, and brought his entourage, so he left his residence without hurrying.

The military treasury is near the west gate of the sub-city, adjacent to the state government, and is the most important treasury in the state. In fact, what is placed in the military treasury is not weapons, but what is placed in the armor warehouse. The basic policy of the founding of the Great Song Dynasty was to use the wealth of the world to support the army, and the treasury that put local wealth was called the military treasury. It gathered most of the wealth controlled by the state government, as well as the Beacon Pavilion where the edicts and holy decrees were issued, all in this library.

The military treasury is so important that non-magistrates can make their own decisions, such as the general judgment and inspection, the lock and key, and the state in charge of access.

When Xia Zhu arrived outside the warehouse, the two judges, Shang Yao and Wang Kechen, had already arrived, each with his subordinates, and stood outside the door. And the state of the big city, the two general judgment is divided into two halls in the north and south, each with an official office, and governs affairs separately. However, the management of the military arsenal is in the hands of two people.

Seeing Xia Zhu coming, Shang Yao and Wang Kechen saluted, and the treasurer of the military treasury stepped forward to sing the promise.

After saluting, Xia Zhu looked at the ten large lanes in front of the warehouse: "This is the first batch of iron money sent to the state by Datong, has it been checked clearly?" ”

Shang Yao and Wang Kechen bowed their hands together: "Back to Xianggong, the lower officials have checked that it is true, there are a total of 7,000 iron coins, a lot of money!" ”

Xia Zhu nodded: "Open the warehouse!" This money is sealed in the treasury, and the whole city is listed, and it will be used in the whole state in three days! ”

A group of officials sang their promises. Shang Yao and Wang Kechen took the lock and key, got Xia Zhu's warrant, and opened the door of the military treasury.

There are many warehouses in the military treasury, from gold and silver, silk silk, copper and iron money, to salt, tea, incense, and so on, all kinds of goods are included. The storehouse that specializes in iron money stepped forward, counted the amount of iron money on the car with a group of officials, and began to carry it to the storehouse.

After Du Zhongxiao sent the iron coin sample to the state, after repeated discussions among officials, it was decided that two new iron coins should be used as one copper coin, and the shape was slightly changed. After several tosses, it was decided ten days ago, and today it was made in large quantities for the first time and sent to Bingzhou.

Shaanxi, Hedong and other lines use iron money, and the money method is quite chaotic. I don't know how many kinds of money there are copper coins and iron coins, some of which are used by the road, and some of which pass through several states. For these local coins, the magistrate has decision-making power. After Xia Zhu reported to the imperial court, he could make his own decisions. Now Hedong Road has abolished the big iron coin, and the actual ten iron coins are used as a copper coin. The value of the new money is equivalent to five small iron coins, and the small copper coins that are folded in half are equivalent to one more kind of money.

Xia Zhu stepped forward and opened a basket, only to see that it was filled with strings of iron money. The shape is unified, the pattern is clear, the production is quite exquisite, and I can't help but rejoice: "Since the Northwest War, iron money has been used, and the money method has been very bad, and I don't know how many incidents have occurred." With this kind of iron money, it can prevent private piracy, and it is not difficult to unify the money law. It is a good thing for both the government and the people. ”

Wang Kechen said: "Yidu signed the verdict, each time the ten cars are 7,000 feet, and they will be delivered every three days, which is really a lot." ”

Xia Zhu nodded, which is equivalent to more than 30,000 yuan of steel money a month, of course, a lot, and the total amount of taxes in a year is only how much? In a few months, this iron money will be able to pass through to other states, and slowly all the old iron money will be eliminated.

On the side, Shang Yao said: "The most important thing is to know how much money is needed to mint money now." Now Datong Prison is sending 7,000 feet to the state to keep 2,000 yuan, and use these 2,000 yuan as capital. Coupled with the price of the iron itself, the use of the box army by Guye is only approximate, not definite. ”

Wang Kechen said: "This matter is just beginning, but I am afraid that it will be difficult for Du to calculate the specific cost." Now I only know one thing, with the new iron money as the copper money, I will never lose money, but I don't know how much to earn. ”

Xia Zhu nodded and did not speak. In fact, Du Zhongxiao's letter to Zizhu also mentioned another thing. With the current currency value, the new iron money will not lose money, not to mention making more and earning less. But precisely because it is not a loss to make money, what I am most afraid of is that the official makes a large number of products in disregard of market demand for profit. No matter how well the money is made, the value will decrease when there is more money in the market. Now the new money is tinned, and the people cannot recycle it, which is even more problematic. Now it is replacing the old iron money with new iron money, so there is no plan at all, how much will be made.

Make money by making coins, but you can't make too much money, otherwise it will be difficult for the official to resist the temptation and make money by making money. In Du Zhongxiao's previous life, this was printing money and releasing water, and looting private wealth. Making iron money actually has the same problem.

However, Xia Zhu has served in the state, but for a few years, it is not his turn to consider this issue. When the new iron money is flooded, I don't know how many terms it will be. As long as Du Zhongxiao proposes it, it will be their business if the future Zhizhou does not solve it.

The Confucius officer on the side took the post and wrote the list and brought it to Xia Zhu to watch.

Xia Zhu looked at it, the important thing was to start using the new iron money three days later, and this point was correct, so he handed it over to Shang Yao and Wang Kechen.

And the state is stationed in a very large number of troops, and they are given a fortune that can be used for new money. In addition, there is a large amount of military funds to be purchased, which are all channels for loose money. Of course, the most important thing is this year's spring and autumn taxes, what kind of money to collect, Xia Zhu has not yet figured out.

Now that the New Year is out, if the spring tax is made for the people to pay new iron money, it will be too hasty and easy to cause trouble. As long as the government does not enforce the collection of taxes, the implementation of the new iron money will be hindered.

The key to the new iron money is to make it beautiful, so that the people are happy to use it. It is difficult for private individuals to steal and mint, and it can stabilize the value of the coin to two to one, which is equivalent to adding a partition to the old iron coin. With the passage of new iron coins, the old value of old iron coins will quickly decrease and be withdrawn from circulation.

As soon as the sun rose, the soldiers who carried it came to report that all of them had been transported into the military arsenal and sealed. Shang Yao and Wang Kechen personally entered the warehouse to check, confirmed that it was correct, and ordered their officials to affix seals.

Xia Zhu said: "This month's money will be distributed with new iron money. The use of new money must start with officers and officials, otherwise there will be resistance among the people. Go back and tell your officials that you know what to do, and don't make any noise when the time comes. ”

A group of officials said yes. No matter how good the new money is, the people have never seen it, and they will not accept it smoothly. The army and officials are powerful departments, and taking them to buy goods is similar to buying and selling them by force, and no one dares not to accept them, and they can be carried out as quickly as possible.

Xia Zhu looked at the sun on the edge of the open and felt light in his heart. Next month, he will lead troops to patrol the border, and the most worrying thing is money and food. At this time, Du Zhongxiao made a large number of coins to enrich the military arsenal, and the problem was solved. With this lot of money in hand, you can bring more soldiers and horses. In the northwest for several years, there was no victory against Yuan Hao, and Xia Zhu also felt guilty. Now that the war is being armisted, it is also a breath of relief to bring troops to the border to play a prestige.