Listening to Chongzhen's explanation, Huang Liji and Guo Yunhou also looked at the map unfolded in front of them and found that some places on this map were circled by cinnabar.

Beijing, Tangshan, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Xuzhou, Jinan, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wuhan, Chongqing, Changsha, Fuzhou, Foshan. Guo Yunhou counted, and a total of 18 place names were circled in red.

Huang Liji looked at this map and couldn't help but ask as if he wanted to confirm: "These 18 places are the places that His Majesty wants to build into industrial cities?" ”

Zhu Youzhen looked at the map and nodded, saying: "Although there are 18 places circled on the map, not all of them have been selected for the plan, I just think that these places are very suitable for the development of industrial cities, so I circled them first."

With the current financial resources of the Ming Dynasty, it is estimated that it is more appropriate to build about 10 industrial cities in the first batch, and it is more appropriate to consider the rest of the places after the first batch of cities are formed.

Of course, nine cities such as Beijing, Tangshan, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Shanghai, and Wuhan will definitely be selected for the first batch of industrial city construction plans, and it will be almost the same to select 3 or 4 of the remaining cities. ”

Guo Yunhou looked at it for a long time before he realized that most of the places selected by Chongzhen as industrial cities were north of the Huai River, and there were also a few in the Yangtze River basin. If these industrial cities are built according to Chongzhen's plan, then most of the benefits will come to the people in the north.

As the head of the Ming Dynasty, he is still quite optimistic about the rapid development of Beijing's industry and commerce and the drastic changes in urban construction in the past year.

As a pro-people official who has served several times, he naturally knows how difficult it is to carry out urban construction in the huge capital. In just one year, the appearance of the capital has changed greatly, although a large part of the money and grain taken out by the palace, but the income brought by the new workshop to the Shuntian Mansion is really indispensable.

If we build a few more industrial cities like the outer city of Beijing, whether we can increase fiscal revenue is two words, but it is an obvious reality that it will bring benefits to the people near the city.

After all, this year alone, the investment in the infrastructure and workshops of Shuntianfu will never be less than 6 million yuan, and if Tangshan and Tianjin are added, the investment amount will exceed 10 million yuan. Among them, the part funded by the palace is about not less than 30%.

In other cities, even if one-fifth of the investment of Shuntianfu is compared, the local government can get at least one million yuan of capital investment. This is obviously a good thing for the people in the industrial urban areas.

The only thing that can worry Guo Yunhou is how to prepare this money. Even if each city invests 1 million, it will require at least 10 million or 20 million capital.

"Your Majesty, the construction of an industrial city is certainly a good thing, but it is also a good thing for the country. But now that the imperial court is empty, are those banks really willing to bear this huge capital investment? Guo Yunhou couldn't help but ask.

Zhu Youzhen took his eyes off the map, looked at Guo Yunhou's gaze and said, "The gold bill that the imperial court is about to issue will soon allow them to earn a large amount of income. It stands to reason that they should also lend this proceeds to the imperial court for circulation, otherwise why would we cooperate with the order of the three banks to issue this gold exchange bill?

Besides, not only did they quickly make a fortune from the gold exchange. It is also necessary to earn interest on the circulation of banknotes in the market in the form of additional banknotes. Speaking of which, the three major banks lent money to the imperial court for construction, but in fact, didn't they lend the printed banknotes to the imperial court, and the imperial court paid them interest. ”

Huang Liji frowned and said, "In that case, why didn't the imperial court print the banknotes themselves, and there was also the interest paid to the bank." ”

Guo Yunhou hurriedly denied: "That's not good, the credibility of paper money comes entirely from the unlimited exchange of cash promised by the bank." If we print banknotes privately, and the bank chooses to refuse to exchange them after knowing about them, then the banknotes will become worthless, just like the Daming treasure banknotes. ”

After Huang Liji glanced at his colleagues beside him, he said: "In this way, Mo Qian, you have already approved the idea of issuing more banknotes?" ”

"If the additional banknotes are used to build industrial cities, then I think it is still feasible." Guo Yunhou replied to Huang Liji, then turned to Chongzhen and said, "I don't know how much more banknotes Your Majesty plans to promise them to issue?" ”

Zhu Youzhen spread his hands and said, "If the two gentlemen agree to the request for additional banknotes, then I still need to ask several scholars from Yenching University and the Academy of Sciences. ”

Huang Liji suddenly said with some displeasure: "Your Majesty, is it better that fewer people know about such a national event as increasing the number of banknotes?" Several scholars from Yenching University and the Academy of Sciences, do they also know how to govern the country? ”

Zhu Youzhen hurriedly pressed his hands down to calm Huang Liji's emotions, and then explained: "I don't know very well whether these scholars understand the way to govern the country, but on the question of the number of banknotes issued, it is more appropriate to ask them." ”

Guo Yunhou asked a little puzzled: "What does Your Majesty mean by this?" ”

Zhu Youzhen looked at the two and said: "I think that the number of banknotes issued is just a mathematical problem, and the most vocal on mathematical issues is not Yenching University and the Academy of Sciences?" ”

"Math problems?" Huang Liji and Guo Yunhou both looked at Chongzhen with some puzzlement.

Zhu Youzhen explained seriously: "I told the people of the three major banks before that money is just a general equivalent used to measure the value of commodities in the process of commodity exchange.

That is to say, the total value of goods in the market should be equal to the total amount of money, but the total amount of money is not equal to the total number of banknotes printed. ”

Guo Yunhou still understood a little, but Huang Liji was a little confused, and he carefully looked at the faces of his colleagues around him to guess whether there was a problem with what Chongzhen said.

Zhu Youzhen didn't care about the expressions of the two, and he continued to explain: "The reason why the total amount of money circulating in the market is not equal to the total number of banknotes printed is because the exchange of goods in the market occurs more than once.

For example, a farmer sells a stone of grain to a grain merchant, and he takes the two yuan he gets from the grain merchant to buy cloth from the cloth merchant, and then the cloth merchant takes the two yuan and goes to the grain merchant to buy grain.

In the process, the transaction took place three times, and the exchange value of all the goods added up to 6 yuan, but the paper money used was only 2 yuan. In other words, the 2 yuan note has been circulated in the market three times, which satisfies the commodity transaction that requires 6 yuan currency.

If we issue banknotes based on the total value of the goods in three transactions, we will have an extra $4 banknote out of thin air. If the 4 yuan banknote wants to enter the circulation market, it will raise the price, which is equivalent to depreciating the banknote. In this case, even if we print more banknotes, the actual value of the banknotes will be less than the face value of the banknotes, so we will not receive any profit from the additional banknotes.

In the north and south of the Ming Dynasty, the Central Plains and the border areas, the velocity of currency in this market is not comparable. Where commodities are frequently traded, one-dollar banknotes can be turned over seven or eight times a year. And in places where commodity trading is low, one-dollar banknotes are very good to turn over two or three times a year.

However, we must also see that in areas where commodity trading is low, once they get paper money and do not trade for a long time, they will inevitably exchange it for cash and preserve. And in areas where commodity trading is frequent, because paper money can always be traded in the market, it is not very popular for people to exchange paper money for cash..."

Guo Yunhou's thinking finally couldn't keep up with Chongzhen's explanation like a tongue twister, he quickly interrupted Chongzhen's words and said: "What Your Majesty said, the minister roughly understands. In other words, the number of banknotes issued, Yenching University and the Academy of Sciences can be calculated, right? ”

Zhu Youzhen thought about it, then nodded and said, "That's true." ”

Guo Yunhou let out a long breath and said, "In that case, the minister should wait for them to calculate it and then listen to the conclusion." ”

Zhu Youzhen looked at him, then at Huang Liji, who was silent, and couldn't help but smile and said, "That's fine." So what conclusion did the two gentlemen hold on the establishment of the local governor's office and the governor's district, as well as the construction of the first industrial cities, and the issuance of additional banknotes? ”

Guo Yunhou didn't take a stand before Huang Liji this time, he stood there quietly, looking at Huang Liji with the corner of his eye, wanting to see him express his attitude to the emperor.

Huang Liji was silent for a while, then arched his hand at Chongzhen and said, "The minister agrees with these bills and is willing to put them forward at the cabinet meeting. ”

Guo Yunhou also said quickly after him: "The minister seconded the proposal..."

Zhang Guoji and others were sent out of the palace by Wang Chengen, and under the guidance of a little eunuch, Zhang Guoji got into a four-wheeled carriage with a simple appearance.

He had just boarded the carriage, and when he saw the people already seated in the carriage, he quickly confessed and prepared to leave the carriage.

However, the person sitting in the carriage stopped him and said, "Come up, the miscellaneous family specially asked someone to welcome you over, and there is something on the way that wants to discuss with you." ”

Zhang Guoji hurriedly arched his hand and said: "My father-in-law has something to do, but please tell me, even if the villain goes to the soup, he will serve his father-in-law." ”

Wang Chengen didn't speak, just pouted at the open car door behind him, Zhang Guoji quickly turned around and closed the car door, and then sat down half-sideways.

Seeing that Zhang Guoji only had half of his ass resting on the seat, Wang Chengen didn't say anything, and only after the car ran up did he say to Zhang Guoji: "What did that Wang Shilang promise you, so that you can run for him so hard." ”

Zhang Guoji didn't hesitate, and honestly explained to Wang Chengen: "Lord Wang told me that if I do this well, I will find a position as a tax collector for me." ”

Wang Chengen smiled and said: "This Wang Shilang is really stingy, if you work so hard for him, you will be given the position of a small official." ”

Hearing Wang Chengen say this, Zhang Guoji's heart suddenly lifted, and he felt that there seemed to be a great opportunity in front of him to get close to him.

Sure enough, his mood had not calmed down, and Wang Chengen had already continued: "Are you willing to do something for the miscellaneous family, after the matter is completed, the miscellaneous family will find an opportunity to arrange you into the financial department of the household department..."