Xianfeng 2nd year, spring, February. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

Jiangnan is already a grass warbler flying an early spring scenery, but the Beijing division is still wrapped in snow and ice, however, with the end of the Daoguang Emperor's mourning period, the forbidden banquet and marriage with the recovery, although it is a cold spring, the inside and outside of the Beijing division is a festive party, and the most eye-catching is naturally the draft, the selection of flag beauties from all provinces of the country gathered in Beijing, and naturally became a hot topic of discussion after the Beijing division officials and gentlemen.

The draft is a royal rule, and once the national mourning is over, the new emperor must consider enriching the harem in addition to filial piety in order to continue the royal bloodline, especially when Xianfeng is so young and has no heirs, the draft is even more urgent.

Qianqing Palace, Xinuan Pavilion, Xianfeng was depressed and threw a fold on the table, got up and paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, the fold was jointly played by Wu Qijun, the left attendant of the household department, and Wang Maoyin, a member of the household department, - "Nine Discussions on Raising Banknotes", suggesting that the imperial court control the number of banknotes issued, and establish and consolidate the credit of banknotes.

"If there is no fixed number of banknotes, it will come out endlessly, which seems to be a big profit, and I don't know how much it is, the cheaper it is. When 100,000 taels of banknotes are made every year, and the trial period is one or two years, and the calculation can be circulated, then it will be doubled per year, and it will be circulated, and the total amount of issuance will be limited to 10 million. ”

Silently recalling it, he muttered softly, "Pedanty! Then he stopped and commanded, "Come here." The eunuch who saw him came in, and he said slowly: "Xuan Yixun, Mianyu, Mu Zhang'a, Qi Liaozao, Zhuo Bingtian...... Sushun, Audience. After speaking, he sat back on the kang and picked up the fold again to look at it carefully.

"The provinces issued silver bills, and allowed them to be discharged...... The province shall make an annual appropriation, and the feudal lord shall issue it in silver and half in banknotes at his discretion, and those who receive the money shall order the exchange of money, grain, and silver in each state and county. The silver number can still be used for money and food. In this way, it is conducive to the circulation of paper money, and is conducive to maintaining the credit of paper money. ”

These two people presided over the Hubu Bank, and they still had some insight, but how to solve this matter when Yuan Qi refused to accept the paper money issued by the imperial court? Xianfeng frowned and thought hard, to cure Yuanqi's crime, the court did not lose face, but did not dare!

Listening to Xianfeng's summons, the former minister Su Shun hurried to wait outside the Qianqing Palace, wondering in his heart what was the purpose of Xianfeng's sudden summons, Prince Gong Yixun and Prince Hui Mianyu were supervising the casting of big money, and Zhuo Bingtian was in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Engineering of Wuyingdian University, obviously, this summons was to mint big money, but what does it have to do with him? Could it be that Xianfeng intends for him to participate in the casting of big money?

After waiting for a short time, Yixin and others arrived one after another, a little greeting, a few people rushed in, and after entering the Xinuan Pavilion to see the salute, without waiting for everyone to kneel, Xianfeng waved his hand and said: "No courtesy, flat body." The waiting crowd thanked him, and he said: "How is the issuance and circulation of big money and official bills?" ”

Seeing that Prince Gong was silent, Prince Hui Mianyu hurriedly said: "Back to the emperor, when the amount of five or ten coins is not large, the circulation situation in Beijing is still ......good." ”

Xianfeng said: "Since the circulation situation is good, why is the amount of hair minted not large?" ”

"Back to the emperor." Mianyu said calmly: "Copper is expensive, and when it is cast as five or ten dollars, the gains outweigh the losses, and it is very small to cast." After a pause, he continued: "Take Dangten as an example, it weighs four coins and four cents, and the total amount of ICBC and silver is fourteen wen, and each one is minted, and the loss is four wen. ”

"What about fifty dollars?"

"When fifty big money, weighing one or two or two dollars, the total amount of ICBC material silver is thirty-two wen, and there are eighteen wen's benefits." Mianyu said slowly: "When hundred, there is a benefit of fifty Wen, when fifty is a profit, when a hundred is a book of two profits, if it is issued when five hundred, there is a five-fold interest, when a thousand, there is an eight-fold benefit......" ”

"Although it is a huge profit, it is difficult to raise copper." Yixun continued: "Yunnan copper mining is not easy, especially difficult to transport, because of the war, all provinces have stopped assisting Yunnan copper transportation funds, although the copper trade has recovered greatly in recent years, but all of them are Yuan Qi monopoly, Beijing copper shipment is extremely difficult to maintain, it is difficult to implement the casting of large money. ”

"Yuanqi monopolizes the copper?" Xianfeng glanced at him, "Yuan Qi is privately minting money?" ”

"It's not." Yixin hurriedly said: "Yuanqi's monopoly on Japanese copper is for the need to cast cannons, in fact, it is not only Japanese copper, Yuanqi also buys a large amount of Yunnan copper in Guangzhou. ”

Mianyu knew that Xianfeng was reluctant to mention Yuanqi, so she immediately said tentatively: "Your Majesty, copper is in short supply, and it seems that iron can replace ......" ”

After a slight groan, Xianfeng said slowly: "First try to cast iron big money in Beijing, when five hundred, when a thousand copper big money, try to cast together." It is difficult to ship copper from Beijing, and the provinces may not be difficult, but the governors of the provinces can explore and mine copper mines and mint copper money.

When five when ten gains outweigh the losses, you can choose to cast less, the Ministry of Household and Industry to draw up a specific proportion and formula, and the provinces are cast as a whole, so as to be unified. In order to ensure the smooth circulation of the large amount of money minted, the quasi-private sector shall pay the taxable amount of money and other items in large money. As he spoke, he turned his head, "What is the situation with the official banknotes?" ”

"Back to the emperor." Mu Zhang'a spoke: "The governors of the provinces are mostly waiting and ....... ”

"Wait-and-see? Tens of thousands of soldiers of the Green Battalion of the Eight Banners in Hunan and Guangxi are waiting for the salary, how long do they plan to wait and see? Xianfeng said coldly: "The private money bank can still issue money and silver bills, and the bank cannot issue official bills?" I am the lord of the world, I make official bills and treasures, and issue them to various provinces, is my credit not as good as the silver number of the private bank? ”

"Your Majesty." Zhuo Bingtian said in a deep voice: "The money and silver bills and other banknotes issued by the silver ticket number of the private money bank are real cash, real cash, and you can withdraw it with the ticket, and the ticket is the basis for taking the silver and taking the money, not that the ticket is silver, and the ticket is money."

The imperial treasury is empty, silver and money are extremely scarce, and the official bills and banknotes issued by the household department have no silver to take and money to be taken, so the ticket is silver, and the banknote is money ....... ”

"Hua Shana's recital, have you seen it?" Xianfeng sneered, "The official bills issued by the Ministry of Household can be charged to the government, and all the private people can pay for the official bills, such as the Diding, money and grain, tariffs, salt taxes and all the co-appropriations of the Ministry of Liberation, etc., which can be paid by the official bills and treasures, which is the difference between this and the money and silver bills issued by the private money banker?" ”

It's not that Xianfeng is arguing, allowing official bills and treasure banknotes to be handed over to the official use, it is indeed no different from the money and silver bills issued by the private money bank, Zhuo Bingtian can't refute this, and besides, he also knows that the current finances of the imperial court are on the verge of collapse, even if he can refute it, he can't oppose it, even if he kneels down and says: "Weichen is stupid." ”

Seeing this situation, Qi Liaozao, who was like a stuffy gourd, couldn't help but sigh secretly, he didn't object to this matter, but it was useless to object, and don't care about anything, he has to get over the difficulties in front of him first.

Xianfeng was not too concerned, waved his hand, and said slowly: "The official bills and treasures are equal to the silver money, and the ministry treasury is evenly collected and released. As for the private use of money and private bills, it is still at their own convenience, so that the transactions of merchants will not be slightly suppressed...... It is believed that there will be no drawbacks for a long time, and even if the state is abundant, the official bills and treasures will continue to pass. ”

As he spoke, he looked at Mu Zhang'a and said, "According to this meaning, the decree will be announced to the world, so that the governors of the provinces will not continue to wait and see." ”

"The minions obey." Mu Zhang'a hurriedly knelt down and said, he originally wanted to mention Yuanqi's refusal, but considering the current situation, it was really inappropriate, so he swallowed the words that came to his mouth.

After glancing at a few people, Xianfeng said: "Kneel down and stay." ”

Su Shun's mind was quick, and he immediately realized that Xianfeng left him may have something to do with Yuan Qi and the issuance of official bills, and sure enough, when everyone retreated, Xianfeng said slowly: "The official bills issued by the imperial court, Yuan Qi refuses to accept them, which is not conducive to the smooth circulation of official bills. ”

"Thank you for your grace." Su Shun didn't know whether to be happy or worried, so he hurriedly kowtowed and thanked him, and added, "The slave obeys the order." ”

South Seas, Luzon, Manila.

A mixed fleet composed of more than 40 large and small ships slowly arrived at the port of Manila, the port wharf, the governor of Luzon Yan Yangtian looked at the slowly approaching fleet with some doubts, with intuition, he felt that something was wrong, not to mention that the size of the fleet was somewhat unexpected by him, and there were too many warships escorted, and there were twelve steam gunboats and sail warships together.

"It's the Headmaster! The headmaster is here! Hu Changyong excitedly pointed to a sail battleship in the middle, "Military gate, look, on the deck!" ”

Easy contentment is coming? Why didn't you take a third-class ship? Yan Yangtian was suspicious, and hurriedly raised the telescope to search, and soon, he found Yi Zhishu who was surrounded by several women on the deck, and quickly raised his hand excitedly, and laughed loudly: "The principal should be a good thing to come to Manila this season!" ”

"A good thing?" Hu Changyong raised his eyebrows, "There is a war?" Then he frowned again, "The current situation doesn't look like there is a war." ”

Yan Yangtian smiled and ordered: "Hurry up and inform Ma Zhongcheng that the big shopkeeper is here." ”

The fleet slowly docked, and when Yi Zhizhi got off the boat, Yan Yangtian quickly greeted him and saluted and said loudly: "Student Yan Yangtian has seen the principal!" ”

After returning the salute, Yi Zhizhi smiled and said: "Manila has changed a lot in recent years. ”

"It's all the principal's work." Yan Yangtian said with a smile: "In recent years, immigrants have been continuing, tens of thousands of immigrants have been coming in a steady stream every year, how can there be no change, today's population of Manila has exceeded 200,000, even in the south of the Yangtze River, it can be regarded as a big city." ”

While speaking, I saw one after another women getting off the boat, all of them were graceful and luxurious, and their posture was good, but they all seemed to be seasick and dizzy, and the last one was still Zaiton, Yan Yangtian took a serious look at it, and was sure that it was correct, so he said excitedly: "Congratulations to the principal!" ”

Yi Zhixiang certainly knew why Yan Yangtian was excited, smiled, and said, "This time I will stay in Nanyang for a while...... ”

"What are you doing? Hurry up and arrange a sedan chair. Yan Yangtian hurriedly turned around and instructed the adjutant, he never thought that Yi Zhishu would bring so many family members here.

"No, you don't." Yi Zhizu waved his hand and said: "They are all seasick, it's better to walk, arrange someone to escort them to Malakanan Palace, and we will go to the Governor's Palace." ”

Hearing this, Yan Yangtian even arranged for someone to escort the family members, and after it was done, he turned back to accompany Yi Zhishu into the city, and said tentatively as he walked: "How can the principal have time to come to Manila to live?" ”

"It's a clean picture." Yi Zhizhi said nonchalantly, and his words turned around, "How many troops does Luzon have now?" ”

Hearing this, Yan Yangtian perked up, and hurriedly said: "There is a brigade of troops that can be deployed. ”

"What about Java?"

"I should be able to draw a brigade as well." Yan Yangtian said with a smile, "The principal is going to use soldiers?" ”

"It's not a soldier, it's a garrison." Yi Zhizu said slowly, Yuan Qi wants to fully monopolize the money industry of the Qing Dynasty, and must have strong troops as a deterrent, this time he came to Nanyang, he did have the intention of drawing troops from Nanyang, after all, the troops stationed in the Japanese State could not be all withdrawn, and he had to prevent Citi from opening the door of the Japanese State.

Where are the troops drawn from the South Seas stationed? Yan Yangtian didn't ask much, but he knew that this meant that the situation had changed, and it was likely to be a big change, and he groaned slightly, and then he said, "Do you need to expand your troops in Nanyang?" ”

"The expansion of troops is certain." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "However, in the current situation in Nanyang, I'm afraid it will be difficult to expand the army, right?" ”

"It's absolutely no problem to expand the enrollment by 10,000." Yan Yangtian hurriedly said: "You can directly recruit from the township warriors in various prefectures and counties, and the township warriors usually train often, but they are not full-time training." ”

The formation of Xiangyong in various prefectures and counties is to maintain local law and order and suppress the local aborigines, which is still easy to be content, but he is not very clear about their training, and plans to see the situation of Xiangyong first.

Galloping to the front, Ma Yiqing jumped off the horse neatly, and said with a hearty smile: "How come Brother Guocheng has time to come to Luzon?" ”

Yi Zhizu looked at him twice, and said with a smile: "Brother Junhu, what's the matter, he is the governor of a province, and he is still planning to put pen to paper?" When did you learn to ride a horse? ”

"I'm afraid we're the most idle governor of the Qing Dynasty." Ma Yiqing said with a smile: "I'm idle, practice riding, and it's good to travel on weekdays, but everything in Luzon is good, but the road is too poor, and there is not even a decent post road." ”

"Post stations, post roads, Junhu brother can be repaired." Yi Zhizhi said: "If the road is not passable, Luzon's economy will not develop." ”

Ma Yiqing smiled bitterly and said: "The big shopkeeper doesn't stand and talk, my waist is not sore, I want to build the road, but now that the reclamation is too late, you are urging you to ask for food, and the road can only be moved backwards." As he spoke, he said with concern: "How many people have you sent over this time?" ”

"10,000 are all victims from northern Jiangsu and western Luxi." Yi Zhizhi smiled: "Are you still satisfied?" ”

"Satisfied with what." Ma Yiqing complained: "How many people in Nanyang can't tolerate it, how can the big shopkeeper transfer a few batches of immigrants to Taiwan and Ryukyu?" ”