Why did Chongzhen increase the salaries of all officials?
The answer is simple...
The currency trialled in Shaanxi was very successful and will be rolled out across the country next.
Officials are the first responsible persons for implementing currency reform.
Only if they are well fed will they work diligently.
Especially the grassroots officials at the lower levels, who do the most work and are the most tired, but receive the least salary.
After the new policy was issued, their enthusiasm can be imagined.
Chongzhen increased everyone's salary by half a tael of silver.
Half a tael of silver means nothing to high-ranking officials, but it has a huge impact on grassroots officials!
With the "bribe" of these silvers, the grassroots officials' favorable impression of Chongzhen will further increase.
By then, we should also do our best to promote currency reform!
After obtaining Chongzhen's authorization, the Ministry of Personnel recalculated the salaries of all officials and handed them over to the Ministry of Revenue for review.
After the Ministry of Revenue confirms it, it will be submitted to the Cabinet.
This seemingly big thing did not attract much attention from the cabinet because they were planning another big event: implementing currency reform across the country!
While the cabinet was planning currency reform, the people of the capital also got the news.
The person who leaked the news was none other than the Ming Emperor Chongzhen.
Under his arrangement, the official gazette of the 17th year of Chongzhen immediately published the news of Shaanxi's currency reform, and hinted that the court would then implement it throughout the country.
After reading the contents of the newspaper, the people immediately started discussing it.
"Hey, have you read today's court bulletin? It says that the currency reform piloted by the court in Shaanxi was a great success!" asked a commoner.
"I read it in the court bulletin, saying that copper coins are allowed to be used to pay taxes. Is that true?"
"It shouldn't be fake... After all, the palace bulletin is printed in the palace."
"If it's true as the court report says, the price of copper coins will definitely go up. If we hoard copper coins now, we will definitely get rich!"
"It's too late," a small vendor joined the discussion, "Before we saw the court bulletin, the various banks in the capital adjusted the silver-copper exchange rate. Before, one tael of silver could be exchanged for 1,350 wen, but now it can only be exchanged for 1,200 wen, and the copper coin is still rising!"
"It's not too late. After the currency reform in Shaanxi, one tael of silver can only be exchanged for one thousand coins. The copper coins in the capital can still increase in value!"
"What are you hesitating about? Let's go and change money!" The people formed a group and exchanged the silver in their hands for copper coins.
The actions of the people in the capital soon alarmed the nobles, officials, gentry and businessmen.
In fact, they had received the news long before the people, but they did not dare to act rashly.
Because they are afraid of being cheated.
Chongzhen had previously conducted several silver-copper swaps, and they followed suit several times, but ended up losing more than they gained.
Now they are doing this again, and they are afraid of being ripped off.
"Master, the price of copper coins outside has increased sharply. Should we exchange more copper coins?" In the Duke of England's mansion, the Duke of England's wife asked Zhang Shize.
Zhang Shize frowned and thought for a while.
He had previously hoarded copper coins worth 20,000 taels of silver, and now he had two choices.
1. Sell copper coins and make a profit from the difference.
Second, continue to hoard and wait for the copper coins to appreciate in value.
According to previous lessons, it is wise to choose one.
After all, it can actually recover costs and make a profit.
but...
It is well known to everyone that when Shaanxi tried to reform its currency system, copper prices rose and silver prices fell.
The price of copper coins in the capital still has room to increase. If he continues to hoard them and waits for the price to rise, he can make a fortune.
After thinking for a while, Zhang Shize suddenly asked: "How did Earl Jiading do it?"
“Not sure…”
"Send someone to check immediately!"
Half a day later, news came back: Jiading Earl Zhou Kui was exchanging silver for copper on a large scale.
Zhang Shize made the decision: "Follow suit immediately!"
Zhou Kui was Chongzhen's father-in-law, and he must have received unknown information from Chongzhen to do this.
Under the leadership of Zhou Kui and Zhang Shize, nobles began to hoard copper coins.
Officials, gentry and merchants followed closely behind.
The value of copper coins in the capital has soared!
After Chongzhen received the news, he calmly took out the copper coins he had hoarded last time and exchanged them for silver.
He cut the leeks again.
However, this was also the last time he would use this method to reap profits, because the currency reform would soon be implemented nationwide, and the silver-copper swap ratio would then stabilize.
"I have to think of a new way to reap the benefits..." On the bed in Kunning Palace, Chongzhen hugged his beauty and fell into deep thought.
While Chongzhen was thinking, the border troops in Shanxi and Shaanxi were busy.
The Shanxi border troops set out from Datong, Taiyuan and Shuozhou in Shanxi and marched towards Pianguan Town to assemble.
The Shaanxi border troops gathered in Yansui Town and Guyuan Town respectively and waited for orders.
On the sixth day of May in the twenty-second year of Chongzhen, all the troops were finally assembled.
Lu Daqi, the governor of the three borders of Shaanxi, was appointed as the supreme commander of this expedition.
After settling the government affairs in Shaanxi, he personally went to Yansui Town to command the expedition.
"Report!" A messenger ran up to him and knelt on one knee: "Liu Zhaoji's 25,000 cavalry have assembled in Pianguan Town. Please give the order, sir."
"Doesn't he have nearly 50,000 cavalry? Why did he only send out 25,000?" Lu Daqi was a little confused.
The cavalry of Li Xingzhong and Liu Zhaoji belonged to the Yongwei Camp. Lu Daqi could command them in battle, but he did not have the right to mobilize troops.
The movement of this army was under the command of Chongzhen alone.
"In reply to your Excellency, Liu Zhaoji said in the official document that Xuanfu Datong is an important border town of the imperial court, and a part of the troops must be left behind to defend it. So he and Li Xingzhong divided the troops into two, he led 25,000 cavalry to go to war, and Li Xingzhong led 25,000 cavalry to stay in Xuanfu Datong for defense."
"Okay," Lu Daqi smiled bitterly and looked around.
Standing beside him was a group of Dashun surrendered generals.
Liu Fangliang, He Jin, Liu Xiyao, Ma Shiyao, Liu Tichun, Gao Yigong, Li Guo, Li Laiheng...
This is not the end yet.
There was also a surrendered general named Yuan Zongde in Guyuan Town, Shaanxi.
Looking at the faces of the surrendered generals, Lu Daqi secretly complained: "I have poked the surrendered generals in the nest."
Under the gaze of everyone, he walked for a while with his hands behind his back.
Just when everyone thought that Lü Daqi was going to issue an order, Lü Daqi said, "Do you have any good ideas for this expedition against the Western Tumed tribe?"
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