Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 61 Silver Monetization



Zhu Gaoxu's eyes were so stupid that he looked innocent.

But there is no doubt that he was filled with enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge.

Especially this kind of knowledge can help him gain points in front of Zhu Di and help him handle government affairs when he is sitting in the position of supervisor or emperor.

"Chinese Monetary History" sounds like the knowledge Zhu Gaoxu desires.

Zhu Gaoxu originally thought that he had become smarter recently, but what Li Jinglong said casually just now made him feel that he was still very dull and somewhat dwarfed by comparison.

Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu believes that he still needs to study harder with Mr. Jiang.

Moreover, Zhu Gaoxu felt that since his father already knew Jiang Xinghuo's talent and importance, he no longer needed to use the unsavory method of escaping for death to help Jiang Xinghuo escape.

Zhu Gaoxu secretly made up his mind. When today's lecture is over, he will send a message to his father through his third brother, asking his father to pardon Jiang Xinghuo.

He originally had unparalleled prestige among the Jingnan martial arts, but now with the help of a talented person like Jiang Xinghuo, wouldn't it be like Liu Bei having to meet Wolong after being trapped for half his life? It's just like the Yuan drama "Two Military Divisions Fighting across the River" sang "The jade cage is broken and the colorful wind flies, and the golden lock is opened and the dragon is driven away".

The day I, Zhu Gaoxu, is released from prison will be the day when the king returns!

Not to mention that in Zhu Gaoxu's mind, he was almost rehearsing how to hold the ceremony when he ascended the throne.

As for Jiang Xinghuo, he briefly explained to Li Jinglong: "Actually, there is nothing weird. The historical development process of Chinese civilization, including economic development, all started from the foundation of currency. And I think currency is such a thing. , which more truly reflects the social conditions at that time than some records in historical books of the same period."

"Is that so?" Li Jinglong was dubious, but he didn't argue.

As for whether Jiang Xinghuo really has a way to solve the problem of food being embezzled by corrupt officials during taxation, Li Jinglong thinks it is basically impossible to have a way.

From a practical point of view, the corruption of taxation of food has never been rooted in since ancient times.

So what if he killed so many people like Zhu Yuanzhang?

As soon as Emperor Jianwen came to the throne, the officials below him started acting recklessly again.

Even at the end of the Hongwu Dynasty, those cruel methods could no longer suppress the greed of officials.

I don’t feel bad if the things owned by the public are spoiled or corrupted.

This ancient bad habit of officialdom has not had a good solution for thousands of years. Just Jiang Xinghuo can solve it?

Li Jinglong didn't believe it anyway, but since he couldn't help but become Zhu Di's spy in the prison, Li Jinglong couldn't question it too much. Jiang Xinghuo would just take whatever he said.

As for whether Jiang Xinghuo could really pull off such a shocking plan as "sharing the slave labor with his mother", Li Jinglong had not imagined this possibility in his mind.

But having such a magical strategy is already amazing enough. How can we create another one?

Li Jinglong shook his head and threw away his fleeting thoughts.

The secret room next door.

"Is "Chinese Monetary History" written in the form of currency to describe the Chinese civilization since the Yan and Huang Dynasties?" Zhu Di asked doubtfully.

"Reporting to my father, I think this should be the case." Zhu Gaochi nodded and smiled, "Although I have not personally seen the currency before the Northern Wei Dynasty, as far as I know, shells were used as currency in ancient times, and in the Han and Tang Dynasties Copper coins were used. Jiaozi and banknotes were popular in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Nowadays, treasure banknotes and copper coins are used in parallel in the Ming Dynasty. Copper coins are generally similar to those in ancient times, but there is always a explanation for the others."

"The angle Jiang Xinghuo chose is quite strange."

"Wealth and goods together." Zhu Di said thoughtfully: "I think you seem to know a lot."

Zhu Gaochi hurriedly shook his head and said: "My son is not a professional, but he is a little familiar with history and folk customs. If my father wants to understand the secrets in detail, he still has to summon Xia Shangshu from the Ministry of Household Affairs to explain it to you."

"Oh..." After Zhu Di pondered for a moment, he raised his head and asked with a hint of a test: "Then do you think the "Chinese Monetary History" mentioned by Jiang Xinghuo is related to solving the 'grain' problem in the field tax system? , what’s the connection?”

Zhu Gaochi thought for a while and replied: "Father, the current taxation mainly collects grain and various physical objects. Perhaps Mr. Jiang's countermeasure is to collect copper coins?"

"It's possible, keep listening." Zhu Di said noncommittally, "It can't be the 'purchase' tax system of the two Song dynasties, right?"

The so-called "Pumai", also known as "Pumai", refers to the system in which the state outsources a certain tax to private individuals or groups for collection according to a certain amount, which is also the "tax package system".

Pumai first originated from the Later Tang Dynasty in the Five Dynasties. In the later Tang Dynasty, Pumai appeared in the wine monopoly. In the Song Dynasty, when commerce was developed, Pumai was once popular. From the official wine, salt, tea, vinegar, Kengye, Hedu In industries, from government procurement to government land management, the phenomenon of private contracting is widespread.

Zhu Gaochi shook his head and replied sincerely: "Based on my understanding of Mr. Jiang, Mr. Jiang will never mention that what Pu buys is different from hiring corvees. There are some things that the more the government outsources them, the more harm it will bring to the people. The system saves the government money, but it only benefits the rich and puts a heavier burden on the common people."

In fact, the option of a tax package system was not even within the scope of Jiang Xinghuo's consideration next door.

joke!

If the government outsources tax collection to private individuals, how will the people be ruined?

If the government wants to charge a thousand cash, a private person will definitely charge twice as much, otherwise how can he make money?

Could it be that the contract was signed in vain and the family used the money to help the government collect taxes?

"The solution to the problem of grain being embezzled by corrupt officials during the taxation process is actually very simple."

Jiang Xinghuo said, "It's okay if we don't collect food."

Zhu Gaoxu was startled and blurted out: "If you don't collect taxes and don't collect grain, what will you collect?"

Li Jinglong remembered the "Chinese Monetary History" mentioned by Jiang Xinghuo just now and asked uncertainly.

"Collecting copper coins? Wouldn't that be more troublesome?"

"What's the trouble?" Zhu Gaoxu asked curiously.

"Let's not talk about the discrepancy in copper prices." Li Jinglong tried his best to explain, "it's just that the people sold the grain for copper coins, and they must have sold it at a low price during the autumn harvest. In the end, they paid taxes with copper coins, and the remaining money was spent in the winter. But when you go there, or if something unexpected happens at home, you can buy back the food you have worked so hard to grow, but the price will be higher. It hurts the people every time, so it is better to collect the food directly. It is not advisable to use copper coins to collect taxes."

Jiang Xinghuo shook his head and said directly: "Use silver, silver monetization!"

"I know what you are going to say. For example, first of all, the local silver production in the Ming Dynasty is very small; secondly, the Ming Dynasty has only been founded for a few decades, and the private silver stock is extremely insufficient and mostly concentrated in the hands of the powerful, and there is not much in the hands of the common people; finally, the exchange of grain for silver is faced. The same price difference as the copper coins mentioned just now is too harmful to farmers. I know all these issues. It is not too late to make a conclusion after listening to my explanation."

"Let the bullets fly for a while."


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