Xiangguo Temple.
"Master Lu, what's the situation?"
Seeing Lu Bin coming in, the dignitaries in the hall immediately looked at him nervously.
"Amitabha."
Lu Bin put his hands together and performed a Buddhist ceremony, then said, "I have inquired outside and learned that some time ago, a group of merchants bought all the salt from the private salt dealers at the price of 17 or 18 wen per catty. Now the whereabouts of the salt are unknown. If nothing unexpected happens..."
"This must have been done by Wang Jiefu."
Pang Minsun gritted his teeth and said, "I never thought that a prime minister would secretly purchase private salt in the name of the court."
This really does an injustice to Wang Anshi. It was the emperor who bought it, not Wang Anshi.
Xu Ji frowned and said, "This is really bad. Now all the salt in Kaifeng Prefecture is in the hands of the court. Even if we buy those salt notes and exchange them for salt, it may be useless."
These people were as shrewd as monkeys. After the salt notes came out, their first reaction was to run afoul of the imperial court, because they knew that there was a shortage of official salt and it was not enough to meet the needs of the entire Kaifeng Prefecture.
...
...
Moreover, the current price of salt notes is not very high. The price in the secondary market is less than 40 wen. Even if they buy all of them and then exchange them for salt, they will not lose money.
The key lies in private salt.
If they buy the private salt, then while they are squeezing the imperial court, all the salt will flow into their hands.
So they hurried to look for the illegal salt.
"That's right."
Lu Bin nodded and sighed, "Now all the salt is in the hands of the court, and the decree was issued by the court. At the same time, the court has enough money and grain. This situation is not optimistic."
They had food and currency, but no salt. If they could not influence the court's decision-making, they would not be able to control the situation at all.
Fu Chengshou sighed, "Now they are hurting others with their own money, selling salt notes at such a low price. Even if we want to object, we... have no reason to do so!"
If the imperial court raised the price of salt, they could oppose it, but they were completely powerless to do the opposite.
Lu Bin said: "Now everyone is using coins to exchange for salt notes. A large amount of coins have appeared in the market. Our plan has failed. Fortunately, we haven't lost much. Why not stop here?"
"no!"
Xu Ji frowned and said, "If we give in, the court will definitely impose higher taxes on us."
Pang Minsun immediately asked, "Does Judge Xu have any countermeasures?"
Xu Ji said: "We can pay to buy the salt notes."
Fu Chengshou frowned and said, "The court has enough salt, so there is no point in purchasing salt notes."
Xu Ji said: "But the court stipulates that only salt notes can be used to buy salt. As long as the salt notes are in our hands, the people will have no salt notes to buy salt. This will inevitably cause public resentment."
Lu Bin said: "But if we do this, the market will be flooded with a lot of currency, which will inevitably cause the price of currency to fall further, which will cause us to lose more, and the court can sell salt notes again."
Xu Ji smiled and said, "If too much salt money is sold, there won't be enough salt to exchange. Besides, we don't need to spend much money, don't you realize that?
Recently, fewer and fewer people go to the salt shop to exchange salt. This is the reason. The court stipulates that only salt notes can be used to buy salt, but salt notes cannot be distributed to every citizen. The price of salt notes will inevitably rise. Everyone is hoarding them and acting according to the situation. We only need to buy a part of the salt notes, and then not a single salt note can be seen in the market."
Everyone looked at each other.
Fu Chengshou said, "We have come to this point, so we can only continue and try Judge Xu's idea. Anyway, the current price of salt notes is still lower than the previous price of salt. If it doesn't work, we can still exchange salt notes for salt."
At this point, what the two sides are fighting for is not the immediate petty gains, but power.
What power?
It's about whether you can tax us.
The weapons of both sides are actually the people. On the one hand, they want to arouse public resentment, and on the other hand, they want to appease the people.
Xu Ji also saw it very clearly. There was a big problem with this regulation of the imperial court. The salt notes were not directly linked to the copper coins, and the units of the salt notes were all brand new, not in the form of guan or qian.
Most of them were directly linked to salt. One dime of salt note could be exchanged for one pound of salt, but the court paid the royal police and imperial guards with a salary of 25 cents.
This doesn’t mean that you can exchange it directly with coins.
As a result, when it was sold, it immediately turned into thirty cents, which shows that it is not pegged to currency.
The people had to exchange salt notes before they could buy salt. They could not control the price of salt, but they could control the price of salt notes.
As long as the price of salt notes is raised and people cannot exchange them for salt, this policy will fail.
Anyway, they now had a large amount of money in their hands, so they began to use the money to buy up salt notes in the market.
It just so happened that the Sinong Temple was also quietly implementing the liquidation method and began to purchase low-priced grain and some goods on a large scale.
At present, the price of currency is still high, and the price of goods is relatively cheap.
Both parties took action at the same time, and the coins poured into the market like a torrent.
In fact, there is a shortage of currency in the market, but the problem is that there are too many of them at once, and it is a double attack. Looking around, it seems that there are only coins.
This directly led to the price of currency starting to fall and the price of goods starting to rise. In fact, it cannot be said to be an increase, it just returned to the previous level, and there was no sharp increase.
The reason is that the money was put into the salt notes.
Then the price of salt notes became extremely high, rising directly to sixty coins.
This made the Royal Police mad. If they had to wait before taking action, wouldn’t they have made a lot of money?
They used 25 cents of their wages to offset the loss and sold it at 30 cents. If they had waited until now to sell it, they would have made 35 cents from one salt note.
I regret it so much.
A small boat sailed downstream along the Bianhe Street from west to east.
A young man was standing on the boat. It was Zhang Fei. Looking at the prosperous scene on Bianhe Street, he smiled slightly and turned his head to look at Li Bao beside him. "What is the price of salt notes now?"
Li Bao said: "It has stabilized at 60 coins."
Zhang Fei laughed and said, "Then we will sell the salt notes in the hands of the government for fifty-eight coins."
Li Bao asked curiously, "Why not sell it for sixty coins?"
Zhang Fei said: "We don't have much time left, so we have to sell it quickly. We can only make 40 coins per pound of salt. What else do you want?"
The money of the Ministry of Agriculture was used to purchase official salt, while private salt was purchased by the government itself because the three ministries could not afford it. At that time, the emperor purchased private salt at the price of 18 cents. The Neiku was the Neiku, and the central government was the central treasury.
The government sold the private salt to the court and turned it into official salt, but the Sino-Agricultural Bureau paid with salt notes, and the Sino-Agricultural Bureau simply could not afford to buy the private salt.
This part of the salt money was still in the hands of the emperor.
At that time, Zhang Fei said with a smile, if the emperor is unwilling to pay the money, I can pay it. Playing financial warfare and allowing this kind of shady operation is a sure way to make money and it is impossible to lose money.
The emperor began to secretly sell off his salt notes in various counties.
Anyway, there are idiots to take over.
......
Xiangguo Temple.
"Abbot, we have to stop now."
Lu Bin anxiously advised the abbot Huiming: "There are a lot of new salt notes on the market now, this may be a bottomless pit."
Huiming asked, "How can there be so much salt when the court issues so many salt notes?"
Lu Bin sighed, "The problem now is that we don't know how much salt the court has, nor do we know how much salt notes the court has issued. It's like a blind man fighting against a master, how can he win?"
Huiming frowned and said, "But they..."
Lu Bin immediately said, "They are them, we are us. This must be a trap. We must stop it quickly. Besides, the price of the salt notes is already high enough."
"Amitabha."
Huiming sighed and said, "Okay, you can do whatever you want."
"yes."
......
Zhang family!
"Hey, young man! This house is really nice!"
Sima Guang, who was visiting the new house for the first time, looked around and nodded frequently. He then tilted his head to look at Zhang Fei and said with a smile, "Many officials have been in office for decades and cannot afford this house. But you have only been in the capital for two or three years and you have bought such a large property. Everyone only sees your ability to fight lawsuits, but ignores your ability to make money. No wonder they are in such trouble!"
Zhang Fei smiled slightly and said, "Master Sima seems to have some hidden meaning in his words!"
As they were talking, the two came to the pavilion in the garden and sat down.
Qingmei immediately served them tea and snacks.
Sima Guang nodded slightly to show his gratitude. This old man, like Fu Bi, was polite to his servants. Wen Yanbo was far behind them in this respect.
After Qingmei left, Sima Guang glanced at Zhang Fei and said with a half-smile, "The idea of the salt bill was most likely yours."
Zhang Fei asked in surprise: "Why is Scholar Sima so sure?"
manage
Ma Guang said: "Because if it is Wang Jiefu's idea, I must understand clearly what his purpose is."
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "I'm afraid this can't even be used as evidence in court!"
Sima Guang looked around and asked, "Is this the court?"
"That's not the case."
Zhang Fei shook his head, then nodded and admitted: "Yes, this is my idea."
Sima Guang asked: "Do you also agree that the court should issue paper money?"
Zhang Fei said: "I absolutely disagree."
Sima Guang was stunned for a moment and asked, "Really?"
"How dare Zhang San deceive Scholar Sima?"
Zhang Fei nodded. "Issuing paper money is like drinking poison to quench thirst. There is no doubt that the court will issue it excessively. This is tantamount to plundering the wealth of the people. At that time, the people will definitely suffer."
Sima Guang was dumbfounded.
This...isn't this my line?
He originally wanted to use these words to teach Zhang Fei a lesson.
result....
"If that's the case, then why did you come up with this idea?" Sima Guang asked curiously again.
Zhang Fei smiled bitterly and said, "It's all because of them. If we let them succeed, the exemption tax will be gone. Moreover, they have plenty of money and food. If we go head-to-head with them on these two points, even if we win, it will be a pyrrhic victory. Then the court will have to find a way to collect the money to fill the treasury, which will definitely increase the burden on the people."
Sima Guang stroked his beard, nodded and said, "That makes sense!"
He also understood this, so when Wang Anshi said he wanted to increase the currency, he could not object. He smiled and said, "Since you understand the righteousness of the cause, you will certainly not use these salt notes to plunder the people's wealth."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "In fact, salt notes are not paper money, they are just pure salt."
Sima Guang was surprised and asked, "Really?"
Zhang Fei asked with a smile, "How many copper coins does Sima Xueshi think this one-cent salt note is worth?"
Sima Guang said: "It is currently worth sixty coins outside."
Zhang Fei said: "But in fact, the salt note was only worth 25 coins at first. It can be seen that there is no fixed price between the salt note and the copper coin, but one dime of the salt note can be exchanged for one kilogram of salt. The salt note is like a house, it can be used to store wealth."
Sima Guang listened thoughtfully, and his reaction in this regard was far inferior to that of Wang Anshi.
After a while, Zhang Fei saw Sima Guang nodded slightly, as if he had figured it out, so he said, "But it's only one step away from coins."
"What do you mean?" Sima Guang asked hurriedly.
Zhang Fei said: "At present, no one uses salt notes to exchange for salt. Soon, the people will find that they can't buy even a grain of salt, which will inevitably cause public resentment.
At that time, the imperial court had two choices. First, raise the price of salt a little, and then directly set the price of salt notes at twenty-five coins, because the imperial court issued them at this number at the time. If you want to speculate on them, you can't blame anyone. In this way, salt notes will become paper money.
Second, continue to maintain the ten-cent salt note equal to one pound of salt, while raising the price of salt, allowing coins to be used to buy salt, and stipulate that at any time, the salt note can be exchanged for an equal amount of salt. The salt note will become a jar for storing wealth. "
In fact, he was much more worried about paper money than Sima Guang. After all, he knew what the consequences of issuing paper money would be, and they would definitely occur, without any doubt.
However, currency was indeed in short supply, and the opposition was pressing forward step by step. The only card the court had in its hand was salt.
He finally chose a compromise, which was to securitize salt notes, while keeping a certain distance from currency. However, since the price he set was very low, it was also very easy to cross this hurdle and directly monetize it.
Although the court did not set a clear price, it was sold for twenty-five cents. If you want to raise the price to sixty cents, then who can you blame? Now that no one can buy salt, you should either allow the purchase of salt with currency again, or monetize the salt notes.
Sima Guang asked, "What did you say to Wang Jiefu?"
Zhang Fei said: "I also told the truth. We will decide based on the situation. If they still want to fight to the end, we will directly set the price at 25 coins and sell it to everyone. In that case, it means that they are buying 25 coins worth of paper money at the price of 60 coins."
Sima Guang took a deep breath. This move was really cruel.
Zhang Fei added: "But I would rather suggest that Mr. Wang choose the second option. If he does this, although they will lose less money, we can use the salt notes to check and balance them. If they dare to create a money shortage crisis to threaten the court again, the court can use the salt notes to counter them."
Sima Guang asked, "Did Wang Jiefu agree?"
Zhang Fei said: "Master Wang does want to issue paper money, but even if he chooses the second option, the salt notes still have the function of paper money and can be used for exchange, but the price needs to be negotiated by both parties.
If the price of salt notes is fixed, it will be difficult to use it to check and balance them. Salt notes are equal to money. If there is a food crisis, salt notes will definitely be inferior to money. At the same time, the court cannot control private salt for the time being. Once private salt does not recognize salt notes, this will also cause big problems. "
Sima Guang nodded and said, "But based on my understanding of Wang Jiefu, even if he chooses the second option, he will still continue to issue salt notes."
Zhang Fei said: "I think so too. Therefore, Sima Xueshi must find a way to control the production of salt notes. The two government regulations office can only propose it, but it must be reviewed by Sima Xueshi."
Sima Guang said: "I'm afraid this is difficult."
Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "Does Scholar Sima know how many salt notes have been issued so far?"
Sima Guang was stunned, shook his head and said, "I don't know."
Zhang Fei said: "Now those people have suffered this loss. They don't know how much salt notes the court has issued. When Sima Xueshi mentions this, the ministers will definitely support Sima Xueshi."
Sima Guang was surprised and asked, "Did you leave this for me?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "This is actually a rogue method. The court uses its absolute control over salt to secretly operate and make profits. There are no rules at all. It can only be used to deal with some rogues."
This kind of tactic is actually robbery. No one can beat the imperial court. It is all done behind closed doors. Currently, the imperial court has no system to regulate these behaviors, nor can it supervise them. It needs to be improved.
At present, it is difficult to simplify the system. For the time being, we can only rely on the relationship between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang to supervise the salt and money.
Sima Guang just smiled and said, "These words were specially left for me."
Zhang Fei laughed dryly a few times and said, "In addition, we have to manage the salt administration well. If there is a problem with the salt administration, there will also be a problem with the salt notes, which will then lead to a series of problems. To make good use of the salt notes, we must first improve the salt administration."
Since salt notes are directly linked to salt, there will definitely be problems if the salt administration is not improved.
Sima Guang sighed: "The salt policy has been changed again and again, but it has always been a temporary solution and not a fundamental solution. The main reason is the corruption of officials. Why is the price of official salt always high, and private salt is rampant everywhere? The reason is that the loss in the process is huge."
At this point, he looked at Zhang Fei and said, "That's why I suggested that you go to the northwest to build the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. If you don't rectify the administration of officials, it will be impossible to improve the salt administration."
In fact, it can be seen from the salt administration that the problems of the Song Dynasty were never policy problems, but administrative problems. No matter how you change it, you will return to the starting point.
We still have to start from the root. Wang Anshi, Fan Xiang and Xue Xiang are all financial geniuses. Why couldn't they improve the finances? The reason lies in the administration of officials.
Zhang Fei showed hesitation and said, "It's not that I don't want to go, but I have no background and no authority. What can I do if I go? And I also heard that when Fan Xiang, the Shaanxi Transport Envoy, went to the local salt administration, his adjutant was killed by bandits."
Sima Guang nodded and said, "That's true. In the end, it was Minister Bao who went to the local area to implement Fan Xiang's policy. But if you are willing to go, I will find a way to protect you and help you establish your authority. I will not let you go empty-handed."
Zhang Fei said: "If you can protect me, I can give it a try."
Sima Guang asked excitedly: "Really?"
Zhang Fei nodded.
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