I will never be Renzong

Chapter 71 Divide the cake

Inside the Chuigong Hall, Lu Yijian, the political adviser, replied: "Officials! The dignitaries asked the imperial court to disclose the papermaking technology of toilet paper, but they were unwilling to pay anything. It is indeed inappropriate. Although this technology belongs to the royal family, if it is passed on , and if people spread it, it will turn into a competition between the royal family and the people, so I think it is better to agree to the requests of businessmen and dignitaries."

Lu Yijian's ideas coincided with Wang Zeng's. Seeing this, Wang Zeng also said: "Officials! The powerful and powerful should not be easily offended, otherwise they will have a reputation of violating the ancestral system."

"As important ministers of the court, you should handle political affairs from the standpoint of the court and the people, not the dignitaries. Today I can give the technology of toilet paper to the dignitaries and businessmen, but tomorrow the royal family will invent it again. For other things, who can guarantee that these people will not ask me again?"

Zhao Zhen was very annoyed, no matter the rich and powerful or businessmen, their desires could not be satisfied.

"Officials! What belongs to the royal family belongs to the world, so it is taken from the people and used by the people. I think there is nothing wrong with it!"

Wang Zeng said bluntly.

"When Wang Shenzheng said this, I remembered that I read the account books of the three divisions before. This year, a total of 600 million yuan, 120 million pieces of silk, and 10 catties of tea were allocated to the palace's internal treasury. Ku’s income is only less than 300 million guan, and less than 50 pieces of silk. What is this? Are they rich and wealthy, wives and concubines in groups, who fight cocks and dogs all day without thinking about making progress and only think about getting something for nothing? Are they those big businessmen who are invincible in wealth and have thousands of hectares of fertile land? Or are you those who are in high positions and ruling one side? Minister?"

Zhao Zhen asked back.

"You are all important officials of the imperial court. Every decision may affect the livelihood of all people in the world. You may wish to think about who is the official for the benefit of the world, and who is the most important in this world! Ask, if they ask me to abdicate tomorrow, will you force me to agree?"

Zhao Zhen's voice resounded through the Chuigong Palace.

"The officials calm down! The ministers are guilty!"

The few people below knelt down to plead guilty, Wang Zeng and Lu Yijian also frowned, thinking that it was just a simple proposal, but in the end it made Longyan furious.

Wang Qinruo was in a good mood, thinking that these subordinates usually don't lose face as a big boss, so being reprimanded by the officials today is just what they deserve.

Wang Qinruo said: "Officials! The requests of dignitaries and businessmen can be granted, but they cannot be agreed unconditionally!"

Before Wang Qinruo came here, she specially met Shen Moran, the adopted daughter. Shen Moran was also a shrewd person. She knew that Zhao Zhen was not currently in power, and that no army could support his coup, so her suggestion was to share the cake with everyone.

"Prince Wang, please speak! I will listen with all my ears!"

Zhao Zhen didn't want to offend the powerful to death.

"Officials! It took a lot of manpower and material resources for the royal family to develop toilet paper. If it was given to these dignitaries and businessmen for nothing, it would definitely not be worthwhile. Yichen saw that there are 24 roads in my Song Dynasty, except Beijing Northwest Road. Except for the royal franchise, the remaining 24 roads can adopt the auction method to sell the technology of toilet paper to those who want to operate it."

This method was not thought up by Wang Qinruo, but Shen Moran's suggestion. Of course, Wang Qinruo didn't say everything.

"Well! This is a good idea, just like the tea business, but there is one thing to note, that is, only one businessman representative can be selected for each road to operate toilet paper, and no matter whether it is a dignitary or a businessman, only one road can be operated."

Zhao Zhen guessed that most of the time it was Shen Moran's attention. Although this method divided the cake, it could make a fortune. There are 24 roads in the Song Dynasty, and the starting price for each road is 100 million guan, which is 2400 million guan. This money is enough to form the Xiaocai Army.

"Officials! I don't understand why each person can only operate one road. I think that the one with the highest price wins, and it's okay for the rich to manage more roads!"

Wang Zeng didn't turn his head around for a while, and asked with some concerns.

"It's very simple! There is only one reason, and that is to prevent monopoly!"

Zhao Zhen replied lightly.

"The officials are wise! The ministers throw themselves to the ground!"

A word awakened the dream, and Wang Zeng suddenly came to his senses.

"It's true that I agreed to this method, but I have handed over the responsibility of the Royal Papermaking Workshop to a special person. As for how to auction it, I don't need to ask the ministers how to auction it. Are there other things to discuss today?"

This matter just turned around like this. Although the ideals in the hearts of the rich and powerful have not been achieved, there is no free lunch in the world after all. The court is really in a hurry. When the technology is released to the world, it will really be worth the candle.

Wang Qinruo said again: "Officials! The minister has a play!"

"speak!"

Zhao Zhen originally wanted to go to court earlier, go to Shen Moran to make a good plan, and make a big deal from these dignitaries, but it seems that he can't go today.

Wang Qinruo held the wat board and said: "At the beginning, because of the heavy iron money, the people of Shu land privately made securities, called Jiaozi, for trade, and were managed by sixteen rich people. Later, the rich people gradually weakened and could not repay their debts. Dispute, in the eighth year of Dazhong Xiangfu, Xue Tian served as the transfer envoy of Yizhou Road, and asked the imperial court to set up Jiaozi affairs officially to take care of Jiaozi's access, but there was no reply from the imperial court. , Requesting the establishment of the Jiaozi Office, the minister believes that if the Jiaozi Office is cancelled, it will be inconvenient to carry out trade, but if the people are allowed to build it privately, it will cause disasters, so I think it is most appropriate for the imperial court to set up the Jiaozi Office!"

Zhao Zhen came from later generations, and the natural way Jiaozi was the earliest banknote in the history of the world. In the past, relatively large trades required carrying a large amount of gold and silver, so it appeared in the novel Tiantang Jinxiu, where you have to buy a piece of glass. Dozens of carts and hundreds of carts transport gold, silver and silk.

Zhao Zhen thought of the Qianzhuang of later generations, and Jiaoziwu was the earliest model of Qianzhuang. At present, Jiaozi is only practiced in the middle of Shu, but not in the whole Song Dynasty. Zhao Zhen wants to establish an imperial bank, but the current conditions are not good. Mature, the ministers of the DPRK and China and the Empress Dowager Liu E will not agree to use the money in the national treasury or the money in the internal treasury as a guarantee.

"This matter is related to the imperial court, and the money that the imperial court can provide at present, so it is put on hold for the time being, and we will make a decision after I ask the empress what she means!"

For things that don't involve money, Zhao Zhen can still make the decision to some extent, but the imperial court must have money to guarantee it.

At the end of the first year of Tiansheng, after several discussions, the imperial court began to set up Yizhou Jiaoziwu, with 120 guan as the prescribed amount.

(End of this chapter)