In April, in the prosperous area of ​​Bolangsa Port City, a group of guards slowly walked from the distance of the street with neat steps, attracting the attention of pedestrians on the street.

"Prætorian Guards?"

Three or four local rangers who were laughing and playing in an alley seemed to have recalled bad memories after seeing the Imperial Guards. After all, a year or two ago, when a large number of Wei State rangers entered the Wei State,

Moreover, during the conflict with the local rangers of the Wei State, the Imperial Guards of Daliang, the capital of the King of Wei, frequently dispatched to suppress the ranger forces. Both the local rangers of the Wei State and the Wei State Rangers were suppressed in that suppression. I don’t know if there were any

How many people were arrested by the imperial guards and sent to the Ministry of Justice, Dali Temple, Daliang Mansion and other judicial offices. Some of them have not even been released to this day.

When they think of their companions or opponents who are still in prison, these rangers instinctively fear the Guards. After all, they are the law enforcement army that they cannot resist. Of course, there is no need to make enemies of them.

.

As a result, these people quickly sneaked back into the alley with their heads shrunk, peeping around to see what these imperial guards were doing in Bolangsa Port City, whether they were to suppress them again or something.

Compared with these rangers, pedestrians on the street are not afraid or frightened by the arrival of the Guards, even businessmen from other countries, because the arrival of the Guards will only worsen the security of Borangsha Port City.

Even better, when the Royal Guards arrived in Bolangsa Port City last time, they captured a large group of rangers and gangsters who were fighting in the downtown area and engaging in extortion and extortion. This was of course a good thing for the merchants.

However, to everyone's surprise, this time the Imperial Guards did not pay attention to the rangers and gangsters hiding in the alleys. They went straight to the bulletin board in the bustling area and posted a list of articles on it.

Immediately, the lieutenant of the Guards riding a tall horse left four Guardsmen to guard the notice board and left with the rest of the Guards soldiers.

"What? I'm just here to issue a decree."

After a false alarm, the rangers or gangsters hiding in the alleys came out again.

At this time, the notice board was already crowded with people, especially the businessmen. As soon as the guards left, they immediately gathered in front of the notice board and squinted their eyes to carefully examine the contents on the notice board.

The content of the list is very simple. It is nothing more than telling everyone that the Wei court has minted a batch of new coins and will gradually abandon the old coins this year.

"It turned out to be the introduction of a new currency."

The crowd suddenly realized.

Among them, the merchants from Korea and Chu showed uneasy expressions.

It's no wonder, after all, Korea and Chu were both very good at using new currencies to pass on the losses of the country's big aristocrats and big families to the small aristocrats and ordinary people.

Even the royal families, public families and other big nobles of Korea and Chu had many bad deeds of privately coining coins to make money. Therefore, whenever they heard about the introduction of new coins, the merchants of Korea and Chu would inevitably tremble with fear.

Immediately, a businessman from South Korea cursed in a low voice with strong resentment: "They are all the same! ... We no longer support the circulation of old coins, so what should we do with the old coins in our hands?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a local merchant from Wei State glared at him and cursed angrily: "Are you blind? Didn't it say that you should exchange new coins as soon as possible?"

The Korean businessman was stunned. He squinted his eyes and looked carefully. He actually saw something written on the list: In order to avoid unnecessary losses of wealth, the imperial court recommends that everyone exchange new currency as soon as possible. This matter is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

The subordinate Jinbu Yamen is responsible.

"I really wrote it..."

Under the unkind looks of the nearby Wei merchants, the Korean merchant smiled sarcastically and clasped his fists at the crowd around him, trying to apologize for his gaffe.

It's a pity that some Wei merchants were still indignant at his remarks and pushed him aside angrily: "Don't stand here and obstruct your eyes. I haven't seen the second half yet!"

After being reminded by this person, everyone should immediately turn their attention to the second half of the article again.

The second half of the list clearly states the exchange ratio between the old currency and the new currency, and also introduces "silver circles", "gold circles", "gold bars", "gold nuggets", "paper deeds", etc.

Several currencies in circulation.

The old coins of the Wei State were all copper coins. The exchange ratio with the copper coins in the new coins was one to one. This meant that the old Wei coins in the hands of merchants and common people would not depreciate. This fact made a large part of the

The merchant put down his worries and secretly praised Wei: Han and Chu are indeed different from each other in doing things in Wei.

In fact, when Han Wangran regained the royal power and Xiong Tuo became the king of Chu, Han and Chu did not do this kind of thing again, but it is undeniable that Han and Chu did have a history of this before.

As for the second article, it stipulates the exchange ratio of copper, silver and gold circles in the new coins. Different from the old exchange method, the Wei court rigidly stipulated that one gold circle is worth ten silver circles.

One silver circle is equivalent to ten copper circles, and the list clearly stipulates that this value ratio is fixed from generation to generation.

In the third article of the list, the Wei court clearly pointed out that copper, silver, and gold were not all made of the three precious metals of copper, silver, and gold. They were also mixed with other metals. Speculators were advised not to use them.

Take more effort.

However, in order to prevent corruption, the Wei court still clearly emphasized that anyone who destroys coins and returns them to the furnace or mints coins privately is guilty of treason and will be executed and his family property will be confiscated.

Seeing these two items, the knowledgeable people in the crowd nodded one after another and praised in their hearts: The Wei court was very rigorous in doing things and could be said to be watertight.

Then, there is the value ratio of gold bars, gold bricks and coins.

In the list, the Wei court stipulated the size and weight of gold bars and gold bricks, and repeatedly emphasized that both must be engraved with the seal of the "Jin Ministry" under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Husbandry. Any gold bar without the seal of the Ministry of Gold should be engraved.

, gold bricks, or gold bars and gold bricks that meet the specifications but are not of sufficient weight, are considered counterfeit and are prohibited from circulation. Otherwise, a fine will be imposed in accordance with the law.

“Gold and silver can no longer be circulated?”

Merchants from various countries were in an uproar.

You know, for the common people, gold and silver may be relatively distant wealth, but as businessmen, they have a lot of gold and silver in their hands. Now, the Wei court has banned the circulation of miscellaneous gold among the people.

, what should we do?

Fortunately, after the scene just now, the merchants were not in a hurry and continued to look for relevant answers in the list.

Soon, they found the answer: they only need to go to the gold department to exchange them for gold bars or gold bricks that meet the specifications.

As for the value of gold bars and gold bricks, the article clearly states that a gold bar as thick as two fingers is worth about one hundred gold circles, while a gold brick about the size of a palm is worth ten gold bars. Both sizes are available.

and rigid rules on weight.

And finally, there are supplementary provisions for "paper deeds".

In the past, "paper contracts" were negotiations between two merchants, with at most one guarantor added. However, this was not enough to become a standard for criminal judgment in the Wei State. After all, there was also a merchant who partnered with the guarantor to deliberately harm another merchant.

possibility.

Therefore, the Wei court now stipulates that when Wei currency cannot meet the needs of transactions, the two merchants on both sides of the transaction must go to the relevant government offices, which is still the Ministry of Finance under the Ministry of Revenue, in front of the officials of the Ministry of Finance.

, sign the paper deed in person, sign and stamp it, and have the official from the Ministry of Finance sign his name and stamp it.

Only such a paper deed is legal, and the Wei court will protect this paper deed.

Seeing this, the merchants in front of the bulletin board clapped their hands in celebration. After all, no one wants to carry several boxes of coins or gold and silver with them for every transaction, right? Not only does this involve the risk of being robbed, but it is also troublesome.

It's a pity that paper contracts in the past were not safe. Unless it was a very familiar transaction partner, even if there was a highly respected guarantor, they would feel guilty to some extent.

Nowadays, the Wei court has clearly stipulated the legality process of paper contracts and protected them in Wei laws, which greatly facilitated transactions between merchants.

Generally speaking, the new coins introduced by the Wei court this time had little impact on the civilian class. After all, the most commonly used coins by the common people were probably copper and silver coins, and even gold coins were used less frequently.

Smaller, unless they are those noble children who spend a lot of money.

In comparison, this decree had a far-reaching influence on merchants.

It is for this reason that the common people adapted to this decree within a few days, while the merchants discussed it a lot and gathered together to discuss the pros and cons. After all, this was directly related to their interests, especially the merchants involved in large-scale trade.

them.

A few days later, Tao Hong, a wealthy businessman from Song County, came after hearing the news and visited his friend, Uncle Anlingwen, whom he had known for more than ten years.

At that time, Wen Shaobo was on the second floor of his shop located in the bustling area of ​​Bolangsha Port City, carefully examining several currencies promoted by the Wei court. Suddenly, he heard that his old friend Tao Hong had come to visit, and he quickly asked someone to invite the latter to the second floor.

building.

After they sat down with each other, Tao Hong glanced at a few round coins and a few gold bars and gold nuggets placed on the table next to him, and asked straight to the point: "Brother, what do you think about the new coins promoted by the imperial court this time?

What do you think?"

After hearing this, Mr. Wen bowed his hands in the direction of Daliang Palace and said with a smile: "Of course I fully support it."

Tao Hong lost his temper when he heard this. Who didn't know that the richest businessman in Wei before him was the royal merchant of Wei King Zhao Run. He could be seen in almost everything, including Wei selling food, smuggling arms, and people like him.

Business is completely different.

"I'm just worried about whether it's going to be controversial."

Tao Hong said with some concern.

"What kind of controversy can it cause?" Wen Shaobo poured tea for Tao Hong and said with a smile: "The imperial decree this time has little influence on the people, and the imperial court clearly stated that copper, silver, and gold

It is mixed with other gold and stones. Whether it is destroying the coins and re-melting them or minting them privately, there is no profit. I don't think many people will do such unprofitable things."

"I mean these two."

Tao Hong pointed to a few gold bars and a few gold bricks on the table, and said in a deep voice: "It may not be profitable to mint coins privately, but with these two kinds of gold bricks, it may not be impossible to play tricks... Since the imperial court

You can mix other gold and stones into the gold bricks, but there may not be anyone who will make a fuss about these two kinds of gold bricks, mix other gold and stones into them, and pass them off as good ones. This can be more profitable than privately minting coins."

Uncle Wen nodded, but then shook his head.

It is undeniable that he also believes that Tao Hong's remarks are reasonable. In other years, there may have been many cases of privately minting gold bricks, but in contemporary times, the possibility is smaller, because the contemporary King of Wei is Zhao Run, who speaks the truth

Since the imperial court made it clear that those who minted coins privately would be sentenced to death and their property confiscated, then once someone committed this crime, the imperial court would definitely comply with the law and there would be no chance of escape.

As if he had read through Wen Shaobo's thoughts, Tao Hong reminded him in a low voice: "People in Wei don't dare, but that doesn't necessarily mean people from other countries don't."

Uncle Wen was stunned for a moment: That's true!

On the same day, after Tao Hong left, Wen Shaobo wrote the process and results of their discussion in writing and sent it to Tiance Mansion. It was delivered to Gao Kuo, the Zuodu Lieutenant of Tiance Mansion, as the royal merchant of Wei King Zhao Run.

He has the right to report interests directly to the king.

Gao Kuo, the Zuodu Lieutenant of Tiance Mansion, saw that the letter was signed "Young Uncle An Lingwen", so he checked the mailbox and after checking the paper, he immediately sent someone to the palace and delivered it to Wei Wang Zhao Run.
To be continued...