Looking at the Ming Dynasty round coins on the table, the gentry and businessmen immediately understood what the premise Cao Huachun was talking about.
Currency reform!
In short, let them take out the silver and exchange it for silver coins!
They had a lot of silver in their hands.
Only when all the silver in their hands was exchanged for silver coins would the currency reform piloted in Shaanxi be considered successful.
There are two ways to introduce a new currency.
One is tough, the other is gentle.
A tough approach is efficient, but it can easily backfire.
After all, currency reform harms the interests of the gentry class. Results may be seen in a short period of time, but once the storm has died down, the gentry will use all means to oppress the people to make up for their losses.
The ultimate victims are still the people.
If only one or two gentry did this, the local government could find them and arrest them one by one.
But if all gentry did this, local officials would be powerless to stop them.
Firstly, we cannot catch them all, and secondly, we have other things to do and it is impossible to put all our energy into the case.
Furthermore...
When the gentry oppressed the people, they would shift the blame onto the imperial court and make the court take the blame.
People who are ignorant of the situation can easily be misled and take extreme actions.
So Chongzhen chose a gentle approach.
He first ordered Cao Huachun to go to great lengths to devalue silver and appreciate copper coins.
Gentry and merchants had two choices.
1. Hold on to your money.
Second, stockpile supplies and hedge risks.
Whether they choose one or two, Chongzhen has a corresponding strategy.
Shaanxi gentry and merchants inevitably chose the second option.
Immediately afterwards, Cao Huachun followed Chongzhen’s instructions and gradually lowered the price of grain, causing heavy losses to the gentry and merchants who hoarded grain.
Now the gentry and merchants can no longer bear it and plan to bribe Lu Daqi and Cao Huachun to raise the price of government grain.
Cao Huachun did not reject their request, but took the opportunity to re-propose currency reform.
All problems arise from currency reform and ultimately return to it.
Just like the circle in the Daming Yuanbao, the starting point is also the end point.
......
The gentry and merchants lowered their heads, not knowing how to respond.
They are thinking.
Consider whether the benefits gained from raising food prices can offset the losses caused by currency reform.
Everyone will instinctively seek benefits and avoid harm.
If raising grain prices could make up for the losses caused by currency reform, they would agree to Cao Huachun's conditions.
If not, you can only keep fighting!
Looking at the people who were lost in thought, Cao Huachun smiled and reminded them: "As long as you cooperate with the court to exchange silver for silver coins, I can increase the price of official grain and let you earn more money."
A merchant whispered, "May I ask how much can Lord Cao raise the price of grain?"
"One two nine!"
After hearing this number, everyone became even more hesitant.
If the government grain price was 1.9 liang, they could only sell the grain at 1.8 liang, the same as the price before the grain was stored.
In other words...they worked in vain!
"Lord Cao, please drink!" A gentleman raised his glass and toasted Cao Huachun, trying to skip this topic.
Cao Huachun rolled his eyes at him and said, "Don't interrupt me. The imperial court has been trying out currency reform in Shaanxi for four months. As a result, the people are actively cooperating, but you are trying every way to hinder it!"
Everyone said nothing but began to sneer in their hearts.
If you don't interfere, are you still supporting him?
Only a fool would exchange one tael of silver for a silver coin worth only nine cents of silver!
The reason why the people changed was because they were weak and ignorant, and the court could scare them with just a few words.
Gentry and merchants are different from common people. Not only do they have the capital to fight against the imperial court, they can also obtain information through various channels.
Seeing that no one was talking, Cao Huachun said in a self-deprecating way: "Since you are expressing your opposition with silence, I will not waste my words."
Lu Daqi laughed and tried to smooth things over, "Lord Cao, you are too polite. The gentry and merchants in Guanzhong are supporting you and me, so how could they sabotage us?"
"That's right!" Cao Huachun walked down the steps provided by Lu Daqi, "Let's drink!"
Although the banquet was still going on, the atmosphere became somewhat heavy.
As they drank and chatted, from time to time someone would lie on the table or lean back in a chair with their eyes closed.
Are they drunk?
No, they were all pretending to be drunk.
If you don't agree with each other, even a single word is too much, and this is even more true when it comes to drinking!
Lu Daqi took in everyone's performance. He first showed a barely perceptible smile, then raised his glass and asked Cao Huachun, "Master Cao, can you drink more?"
"Of course, wine is the essence of grain. The more you drink, the younger you become!" Cao Huachun also raised his glass.
"Cheers!" The two drank the wine in their glasses.
While the servants were pouring wine, Lu Daqi deliberately asked Cao Huachun: "Master Cao, if nothing unexpected happens, the currency reform in Shaanxi will be like this. Will you continue to stay in Shaanxi or return to Beijing to report?"
"Ah..." Cao Huachun sighed, "If I don't do my job well, how can I have the face to stay in Shaanxi? Of course I have to go back to Beijing to apologize!"
"Alas," Lu Daqi said with regret, "Lord Cao is already in his sixties. Even if he has no merits, he has worked hard. The court and His Majesty should not punish him."
"I hope so!" Cao Huachun drank a sip of wine alone.
"I'll accompany you!" While Lu Daqi was speaking, he was always collecting the reactions of the gentry and businessmen from the corner of his eyes.
Seeing that everyone was still pretending to be drunk, he paused for a moment and asked a key question, "I want to ask, after Lord Cao leaves Shaanxi, who will take over Lord Cao's position?"
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