Zhu Yuanzhang did not expect that he was the one trying to persuade his eldest grandson, but now he was persuaded by his eldest grandson instead.

"Why do I feel like there is a sense of déjà vu?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was a little confused and thought to himself. After a long time of recollection, he finally remembered.

When it came to the initial countermeasures against Japan, he had asked the Minister of War Ru Heng to meet with his eldest grandson, in an attempt to discourage him from heading towards Japan.

However, the final result was that even Minister Ru was convinced by the eldest grandson, and he vowed that Japan has been a territory of China since ancient times, which can be checked in ancient books and history.

In order to justify their actions and for the rich silver mines in Japan, even the fact that Japan originated from the Qin Dynasty came up.

It's speechless enough.

Today, it all seems to be happening again, and I seem to be moved by what my eldest grandson said.

Zhu Yuanzhang still felt somewhat unwilling in his heart. Even though he felt that his eldest grandson's reasons were very sufficient, he still had to give him some encouragement.

Zhu Yuanzhang just opened his mouth and found that he didn't know where to start, as if nothing he said would be enough to refute his eldest grandson.

Just as he was thinking about the loopholes in his eldest grandson's words, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes suddenly lit up, he looked at Zhu Ying and said with a smile:

"My dear grandson, you have gone through so many twists and turns and brought me in. This is incredible, really incredible."

Now Zhu Yuanzhang realized that his eldest grandson had set a big trap in the previous conversation.

First, he demonstrated his financial strength by taking out more money and grain than the Ministry of Revenue of the Ming Dynasty for disaster relief, which made people look at him with admiration, and then he took the opportunity to propose the distribution of land tax according to the amount of land.

Of course, I know the benefits of equalizing the poll tax to the land. After the abolition of the poll tax, I think all the people will no longer worry about the issue of childbirth, and the population of the Ming Dynasty will usher in a rapid growth.

When he raised his objections, he also brought out high-yield crops to fill the gap in the Ming Dynasty's treasury and significantly reduce the existence of famine.

Combined with the matchlock gun developed earlier, this can be said to be a two-pronged approach.

"Even if we want to fight, based on the current output of matchlock rifles, I'm afraid we won't be able to gather a team until the beginning of next spring." Zhu Yuanzhang added. He didn't say where to fight, but Zhu Yuanzhang believed that his eldest grandson would definitely understand what he said.

Zhu Ying replied, "I have sent a number of carpenters from the Armory Bureau to disassemble and modify the matchlock guns, similar to making arrows. I already have a general idea in mind about this."

"If all goes well, the output of matchlock guns will be greatly increased, and the quality can also be controlled."

Zhu Ying's words were full of confidence. After seeing the manufacturing of the arrows, he already understood that the Ming Dynasty now had a solid foundation, and it would not be difficult to manufacture them on a simple lathe. It was just a matter of ideas.

The specific production of lathes can only be left to carpenters. Zhu Ying only has a vague idea about lathes and has never really used one.

But considering the carpenter's wisdom, it shouldn't be too difficult.

"If we can produce such muskets in large quantities, they will naturally become powerful firearms in the army."

"Everything about the matchlock gun is the most important secret right now. In this regard, Grandson should be more cautious."

"Let me issue another decree to completely ban the Gunpowder Department from now on. No one is allowed to enter or leave without the order of my grandson or me."

Zhu Yuanzhang added that from the moment he saw the matchlock gun fired, he understood that the emergence of the matchlock gun would cause changes in the entire world situation.

When used on the battlefield, omissions are inevitable. This cannot be avoided and the only thing to do is to make as many as possible.

"Grandpa is right. I want to set up a separate department in the Gunpowder Department to research and develop firearms, including the improvement of matchlock guns, the purification of gunpowder power, and a series of other related matters."

Zhu Ying said casually that upgrading the matchlock rifle to the flintlock rifle, upgrading the muzzle-loading rifle to the breech-loading rifle, and even the research and development and use of smokeless gunpowder can all be achieved in one's lifetime.

For example, the transition from the matchlock to the rifle was a huge leap in firearms.

The matchlock gun is greatly restricted on rainy days. Once it rains, it becomes almost useless and can only be used as a wooden stick.

Moreover, the tinderbox is a very uncomfortable consumable. Generally speaking, the tinderbox needs to be ignited in advance before preparing for a war, and the tinderbox must burn continuously during the entire period of the war.

This was extremely energy-consuming, so when the matchlock gun was actually used on the battlefield, the user would probably have to wrap several rounds of matchlock around his body to be able to use it.

In addition, because he was covered in tinder and gunpowder, which were all open flames, he had to keep a sufficient distance before commanding his troops with fire. If he accidentally set his teammates on fire, he would be doomed.

The flintlock is completely different. The flintlock is fired by striking it to produce sparks, which then ignite the gunpowder chamber. It can be used in light rain, but it may not be usable in heavy rain. However, compared to the matchlock, it is of a completely different level.

Moreover, by using instantaneous rifles, musketeers can gather much more densely and load and fire faster.

It seems that Zhu Ying should skip the matchlock and go straight to the firearm. However, in fact, it is currently impossible to manufacture the firearm industrially.

In other words, it cannot be said that the gun is fired in the true sense.

The muskets made by the Gunpowder Bureau now use wooden structures as the trigger device.

It can be understood as a seesaw moving away, but when the trigger is pressed, the burning fuse is sent into the gunpowder chamber for ignition.

A firing gun requires a strong spring force to ensure that the flint can strike sparks and ignite the gunpowder chamber.

Just this spring, with no industrial foundation and completely dependent on manual labor, is extremely difficult to produce, and mass production is out of the question.

Moreover, the purification of flint is also a problem. Even the lighters of later generations cannot light a fire every time, let alone the flint of today.

If you can successfully strike a spark once in five or six times, it is considered pretty good.

The flint-fired device is many times more difficult to make than carving smoothbore grooves in a gun barrel. There are not enough of them, and once you make one, you have to rely on luck to be able to fire the gun.

Compared with the simplicity, speed and mass production of the matchlock gun, its significance in the military is very different.

Although the matchlock is easily consumed, it is not difficult to make and allows for stable shooting without having to rely on luck and encountering the embarrassing situation of misfires after several shots.

For the matchlock gun, we only need to solve the problems of the barrel and smoothbore. The technology for other components is ready-made, and the manufacturing speed will definitely not be slower than the previous musket.

The manufacture of cartridge cases is not difficult. Once the mold is formed, cartridge bullets can be produced on a large scale and filled with granular gunpowder.

Just like the rockets taking off in later generations, after the gunpowder chamber gives thrust, the granular gunpowder in the shell of the gunpowder bomb can also give a second stage of acceleration, doubling the power.

After the simple lathe was built and the caliber was standardized, the day when matchlock guns were widely equipped in the army soon came.

Time is still very tight. What Zhu Ying wants most is to have at least a musket team of 3,000 people when fighting Japan in the early spring of next year.

With enough gunpowder, you can imagine how it would feel to crush the Japanese soldiers.

"You, my grandson, know more about firearms than I do. I can't help you much with matchlock guns, but I support you in whatever you want to do. Just go for it. If you need money, I'll let the silver bureau make it for you. You can make as much as you want."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said proudly that food was in short supply, but banknotes were available as much as one wanted.

I have already thought it through in my mind. When the time comes, I will just get a few 100,000-guan notes for my eldest grandson. Why would I be afraid of lacking money?

When Zhu Ying heard this, he felt warmed but also speechless. However, although the Ming treasure notes were depreciating rapidly, they still had credit.

Even if it is overdrawing potential, it will not be abolished within decades, so just use it boldly now.

Zhu Ying also had the confidence to transfer the depreciation problem of Baochao outside the Ming Dynasty. After thinking about it for a while, Zhu Ying still proposed:

"Grandpa, although we don't have enough capital at the moment, we can still find a way to increase the value of the treasure notes."

Zhu Yuanzhang heard this and asked, "Grandson, do you have any other good ideas?"

At this moment, in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, his eldest grandson was like Liu Bei's Zhuge Liang. No matter what the problem was, he seemed to be able to think of a solution.

Zhu Yuanzhang now feels a little numb even to his eldest grandson's unique talents.

"The biggest problem with treasure notes right now is recycling them. After all, they are not as durable as real gold and silver. Therefore, I think we can set up treasure note offices in various county towns to specialize in the acceptance and exchange of treasure notes."

"Even if ordinary people have damaged banknotes, they can go to the Banknote Bureau to exchange old ones for new ones. This will increase people's trust in banknotes, and the purchasing power of banknotes will naturally be strengthened."

"While exchanging old for new, we can also open the way of exchanging Baochao for silver, which can increase the credit of Baochao."

Zhu Ying said naturally that these things of later banks were very familiar to Zhu Ying. Who hasn't dealt with banks?

There are more than one or two people who have been deceived by banks. Now the same tricks are being applied to the Ming Dynasty, and basically they are being copied.

The emergence of paper money allows the government to set up an official institution similar to a bank to squeeze out all the money houses currently on the market.

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard that treasure notes could be exchanged for silver, his face suddenly turned dark.

Printing a large amount of banknotes made Zhu Yuanzhang feel very happy. However, he felt uncomfortable when he had to exchange the banknotes for silver, which meant that banknotes could not be printed casually.

"If everyone comes to exchange the treasure notes for silver, what should we do if the national treasury cannot take out so much silver?" Zhu Yuanzhang said puzzledly. This is the most obvious problem.

Hearing this, Zhu Ying laughed immediately.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. They won't and they don't dare to."

Zhu Yuanzhang argued: "How can we not dare? There will definitely be many people who will bring a large amount of treasure notes to exchange for silver."

"We once stipulated that one string of treasure notes is equivalent to one tael of silver. Although it is not stated explicitly now, what can be bought with one tael of silver requires two strings of treasure notes."

"According to this calculation, once the treasure notes can be exchanged for silver, the people are not fools and will definitely exchange them."

"At that time, it really won't be a good idea to change it, and it won't be a good idea not to change it

Zhu Ying still smiled when he heard this, and explained, "The exchange rate of the Baochao Division is naturally based on the situation of the day. Now two taels of Baochao are only worth one tael of silver, so it is natural to exchange for one tael of silver."

"The exchange amount is not fixed. It can be adjusted by the Treasury Department based on market conditions to match the exchange price in the market at that time."

"As for the problem of bank runs, that is even easier to solve. We just need to set up a rule in the Baochao Bureau that any exchange of more than thirty taels of silver must provide proof of the purpose of the silver and its use."

"Those who cannot provide proof of the purpose of the silver will not be redeemed and must be investigated to prevent possible treason."

"Even scholars, farmers, merchants, officials and common people can deposit silver into the local treasure bank with their household registration, open a personal household registration account, and deposit treasure banknotes into it."

"If you deposit money, you will be charged a certain amount of profit. It can be divided into several levels of accounts. For example, for smaller accounts, the maximum deposit amount is 100 taels, which is only a few copper coins a year."

"Those with higher caps will naturally have to pay more fees. Those who pay higher fees can even be given a household registration account certificate, and I think many people would be willing to do so."

After Zhu Ying finished speaking calmly, this series of actions confused Zhu Yuanzhang.

So Baochao can be played like this? With this, it seems that the profit of Baochao Company is not small.

Zhu Ying saw the old man's surprised look and knew that the old man had gotten used to it because of the existence of the money house.

Baochaosi is not a money house. It is easy to deposit silver, but it is a different matter to take it out.

To put it simply, what did they want to do with so much silver at once? Rebellion? Or running away with the money?

Or, can we also add the crime of having large sums of money of unknown origin?

"The way of business is profound and extensive. I feel like a frog in a well. It's just a simple treasure banknote, but it can have so many twists and turns."

"According to what Grandson is doing, the Baochao Division will not only make Baochao more acceptable to the public, but will also earn a lot of profit. The profit from the household registration account alone will probably be quite substantial every year."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said that this thing was difficult to come up with, but not difficult to understand.

The reason why Da Sun was able to be so successful in business was not just because of those crops. In Zhu Yuanzhang's opinion, even without those crops, Da Sun would not be much worse off than he is now.

"You can also do some loan business. Those high-value loans are very harmful to people, especially the casinos where 9 out of 13 people lose money and 13 out of 13 lose money. It is easy for a family to be ruined. A whole family can be destroyed just like that."

"The Treasury Department shall set the interest rate. No matter what the circumstances of private lending are, the interest rate must comply with the regulations of the government. If it exceeds the regulations, the case shall be considered invalid."

"Let the Ministry of Justice issue a regulation to determine the punishment for those who lend money at high interest rates privately, and include it in the Ming Dynasty law."

Zhu Ying said in a deep voice.

The usury in ancient times was much more brutal than that in later generations. Many of them even involved government officials, and were extremely unscrupulous.

It is not as simple as going door-to-door to collect debts. It is common to forcibly abduct people and sell their children to pay off debts.

Zhu Ying had been in business for many years, so these things were naturally commonplace to him, but he was powerless to change them at the time.

Now that we have this capability, we certainly cannot allow those evil forces to do evil and harm the people.