I will never be Renzong

Chapter 201 Minting coins
For two or three days in a row, after Zhao Zhen finished handling the political affairs, he read Shen Moran's plan for building a bank in the Chongzheng Hall. I have to say that Shen Moran is worthy of a business talent. The plan is very detailed and comprehensive. Zhao Zhen couldn't help but move his heart.

In the Song Dynasty, there was a Jiaozi service on Sichuan Road, but it was one-sided from beginning to end, and it was only limited to Sichuan. As early as the fifth year of Tiansheng, Zhao Zhen ordered the abolition of coinage rights in various places and prohibited private minting of currency. Those who made coins were all sentenced to death, their family property was confiscated, and the whole family was demoted to slavery. Under such a heavy punishment, no one in the Song Dynasty dared to mint coins privately.

In addition to giving Zhao Zhen a plan for the bank, Shen Moran also gave Zhao Zhen a proposal for calibrating weights and measures.

"Officials, the three ministers have arrived."

Zhang Mao, the servant, came in to pay homage.

"Xuan!"

Zhao Zhen put down the book in his hand, and then said.

"The minister waits to meet the official!"

Wang Zeng, Lu Yijian and Yan Shu walked in and hurriedly said in unison.

"Come on! Give me a seat!"

After the three of them sat down, Zhao Zhen said: "Can the edict concerning women's enrollment that I asked the three princes to draft yesterday be issued?"

Wang Zeng said: "Go back to the official's house! The minister has asked the officials of the Ministry of Officials to do it. Gao Ruona, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, said that the common people are very active when they learn that women are exempted from poll tax for five years. They all look forward to the court's early return." Building a girls' school!"

Lu Yijian said: "Officials! There are far more women than men in my dynasty, and the girls' school established by the government is five years. If all girls who meet the age are allowed to enroll, then the court will reduce a lot of taxes every year!"

Yan Shu said: "Officials! I think the five-year limit should be changed to three or two years, the same as in boys' schools."

Zhao Zhen thought for a while and said: "The girl's school established by me is five years old, and the age requirement is for girls between the ages of 8 and 12 to enroll. My daughter is afraid that she will only be able to read and write during these five years of her life.

Moreover, although the men's school lasts for three years, after three years, those who are diligent, studious and have excellent grades can be promoted to county schools, prefecture schools, and even take part in the imperial examination, but what about girls?The options they can choose are still very limited. Besides, with a literate wife who educates their children at home, we men can feel at ease to serve the country, right? "

Zhao Zhen said again: "As for the lost head tax money, it's not worth mentioning. At most, I will let the Royal Chamber of Commerce send all the money from the annual sales of briquettes to the treasury. I'm afraid it will be more than enough!"

Seeing this, the three of them stopped talking, because in the past, the treasury had no money, but wherever there was money to be spent, they could save as much as they could. Now it is different. Since Zhao Zhen reduced the army, streamlined the official system, encouraged business, and potatoes and Since the large-scale planting of corn, the imperial court's finances have become increasingly affluent, and there are many surpluses every year.And Zhao Zhen is also a very good emperor. At the end of every year, he distributes a big red envelope to the ministers.

Since the treasury became rich, the waists of the ministers have also straightened, and various proposals that benefit the country and the people have been played to Zhao Zhen one after another. As long as it is feasible, Zhao Zhen generally supports it vigorously. Well, it's no problem to be promoted to an official position and be honored with grace.

Seeing that the three of them were not objecting, Zhao Zhen picked up the three printed new-style measures on the table and distributed one to each of them, and then said: "The three gentlemen will take a look at this first to see if it is feasible!"

After reading it, Wang Zeng said: "Guan family! Our dynasty's measurement follows the Sui Dynasty. One pound is equal to 16 taels, one tael is equal to ten qian, one qian is equal to ten cents, and one cent is equal to ten cents. If we change it rashly, I am afraid it will cause trouble in the market." fluctuation!"

Lu Yijian said: "Officials! I feel that the units of measurement recorded in this book are very suitable. There are three units of measurement: gram, kilogram, and ton, and the conversion is more accurate. If implemented, the tax and expenditure of the imperial court will be calculated in the future. Save a lot of manpower."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "Take this book back to the three ministers and take a closer look. I am not in a hurry to publish it to the world now. I ordered the three ministers to come here today. In addition to talking about this with the three ministers, there is one more thing. The thing is to mint coins!"

What is currently commonly used on the market is the Tiansheng Yuanbao made by Zhao Zhen when he ascended the throne, which is a round square hole coin.

Yan Shu said: "The government has been on the throne for eight years, the country is peaceful, the people are safe, and the country is prosperous. It's time to mint new coins to show a new look!"

Wang Zeng and Lu Yijian also hurriedly agreed: "The minister also agrees to mint new coins!"

Seeing this, Zhao Zhen said, "I don't plan to mint copper coins, but silver coins, gold coins, and copper-iron alloy coins!"

Wang Zeng couldn't help but ask: "I wonder how the government plans to cast it, and what is the exchange ratio?"

Seeing this, Zhao Zhen said just now: "The weight of the silver and gold coins I plan to mint is controlled at about one tael. This one tael is the new measurement unit, about fifty grams. One gold coin is equal to 10 silver coins, and one silver coin is equal to 100 tael." 1000 iron coins are equal to [-] copper coins."

Yan Shu said, "It's okay for the government to issue gold and silver coins, but I'm afraid the exchange of silver and copper coins can't be counted that way!"

Zhao Zhen was puzzled and said, "Why is that?"

Yan Shu said: "Originally one tael of silver in the hands of the common people could be exchanged for 1000 copper coins, but according to the official's calculation, the current one tael is less than the one tael set by the official, so it takes more than one tael to exchange for 1000 copper coins." [-] copper coins, who would be willing to exchange them?"

Zhao Zhen is a liberal arts student, so he would be somewhat wishful thinking about these things. He only knew that currency exchange would be convenient for calculation, but he also ignored many simple truths.

Zhao Zhen then said: "Yan Xianggong's words are reasonable, but I didn't think carefully!"

Lu Yijian said: "The official family! This problem is not difficult to solve. If the official family wants to reform the currency system, it must change it from beginning to end. Since they have minted one tael of gold and silver coins, they will also re-cast copper coins, and then step by step Guide the people to exchange it, and within a year or two, the new coins will be accepted by the people!"

The words woke up the dreamer, and Zhao Zhen suddenly realized that according to the new law, one tael of silver cannot be exchanged for 1000 copper coins, but Zhao Zhen can cast copper coins that are different from those in modern circulation. He only needs to slightly adjust the size to distinguish them. Invest in the folks, and then slowly replace the old currency system.

Aluminum has not been discovered in the Song Dynasty, so it is impossible for Zhao Zhen to make coins of [-] cent, [-] cents, [-] cents and [-] dime. The reason why it is based on copper is because it is the Iron Age, and most of the soldiers' equipment is made of iron. It is much larger than copper, and iron ore is not mined as much as copper ore, so iron is more expensive than copper.

However, since iron is currently used a lot, Zhao Zhen decided not to promote iron money.

In the end, Zhao Zhen formulated a new exchange ratio, that is, one gold coin is equal to ten silver coins, and one silver coin is equal to ten copper coins. The copper coins here are larger than the copper plates, so one copper coin is equal to 100 copper coins.

(End of this chapter)