Infrastructure Throne

The red wall alley trading area in the east of the city is next to an old aristocratic mansion. After reconstruction, this former mansion area has now become a school, medical center, taxation and other public service places.

A month later, a three-story red brick and terracotta house stood up, surrounded by iron fences and cement lime walls.

Residents nearby often watch this unprecedented new building, and they have different opinions on its use.

Some people say that this is the private mansion built by the priest for himself, and some people say that this is the vault where the gold is stored. Otherwise, why are there so many guard handles?

A two-meter-high stone tablet stands at the main entrance, covered with red silk and satin.On the day when it was officially completed, Shen Qingze, Yan Zui, and all the chief officials were present.

When the red silk was uncovered, the onlookers were surprised to find that there were four large characters deeply carved on it—Yuanliu Bank.

For the general public, the word bank is a completely coined word, and we can only vaguely guess that it may be related to money.

The people didn't have to wait long, and the new city lord order appeared on bulletin boards, newspapers, street propagandists, and even storytellers in teahouses.

"Yuanliu Bank is in the city, and there is Nanji City, each opened a bank, and exchanged coins for banknotes." The propagandist explained dryly, took a sip of water, and took out a palm-length square piece of paper from his pocket .

The paper used for banknotes is different from printed matter. It is made of thick material and is not easy to tear. Each banknote has a unique number, with complex patterns engraved on the edge, the denomination on the left, and the emblem of Yuanliu City printed on the right.

The most important part is anti-counterfeiting - the banknotes are evenly scattered with extremely fine metal powder, which shows a special sparkling effect under the sun's rays.

The banknote anti-counterfeiting work should be attributed to the sorcerer Tag. This is the first job he did in Abyss City: in the banknote printing factory, he used the gold spells he is good at to mix various metal powders in a certain pattern. , evenly embedded in the printed banknotes.

This kind of "craft" is not a simple adsorption, but an embedding in a physical sense. After it is formed, it no longer depends on spells. Even if a gang with evil intentions tries to imitate it, it cannot be imitated at all.

Surrounded by several circles of curious residents, they poked their necks and looked at his hands.

Someone frowned and questioned: "Exchange coins for such a piece of paper? Are you kidding me?"

"This is not a joke." A well-dressed man next to him pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose—since the advent of transparent glass, concave and convex lenses have been gradually polished by craftsmen to make binoculars, magnifying glasses, and short-sighted glasses .

Restricted by technology and production efficiency, most of the myopia glasses currently on the market are thick and heavy, and they are expensive. Those who can afford them are often high-income earners such as teachers and doctors.

The man held a book case under his arm, and while flipping through it, he said: "Paper money is nothing new. The Great Xia Kingdom in the east and the Blue Sky Business Alliance in the south have similar paper money. In the east, they are called silver money." Tickets, in the south, are called gold bills."

"Paper money has a denomination. A copper coin is exchanged for a penny denomination, and a silver coin and a gold coin are exchanged for one yuan and one hundred yuan respectively."

The propagandist looked at him unexpectedly, always feeling a little familiar: "Your Excellency?"

The man smiled embarrassedly: "My name is Zhaoli, I am from Nanji City, and I am now a teacher at school. I usually like to delve into the customs and history of the mainland, so I know a little bit."

Knowing that the other party is a teacher, the people around are immediately in awe, and even less resistant to banknotes.

The purpose of banknotes is obvious. Metal coins are extremely heavy, and ordinary people with low incomes are fine. They are quite unfriendly to merchants. When buying and selling goods, it takes several carriages just to carry the coins, which is heavy, slow, and inconvenient. transportation.

Yuanliu City and Nanji City have opened banks separately. For merchants, the transportation cost can be saved immediately, which is safe and efficient.

The person who questioned it at first said, "Such a thin piece of paper, what if the store doesn't accept it?"

The propagandist had already prepared answers to various questions that the masses might ask, cleared his throat, and answered deftly: "Don't worry, if there is any shop in the city that refuses to accept banknotes, you can report it to the Commerce Department of the City Lord's Mansion." , and directly seized after verification.”

"From next month, all public rice shops in the city will only accept banknotes, not coins. If you don't go to the bank to exchange banknotes, then you won't be able to buy food in the future!"

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was taken aback. Those who didn’t think so much about banknotes suddenly changed their faces—it’s all for other things, and food must be bought. If the metal coins in hand can’t buy food, then What's the difference with a stone?

It seems that the City Lord's Mansion is determined to replace gold and silver with banknotes!

The propagandist secretly observed the expressions of the crowd. After mentioning the issue of food, everyone really became emotional and began to ask when they could exchange it.

※※※

After a week of publicity, the streets and alleys of Yuanliu and Nanji are discussing the exchange of paper money for food.

Some people are happy, some are worried, some people start digging holes to hoard gold and silver, and more people are carrying bags of coins, waiting eagerly at the door of the bank, waiting for the first exchange.Mass protests and opposition did not happen at all.

The city lord's mansion, the meeting hall.

In front of Shen Qingze's desk, there was a large pile of questions reported by the grassroots propagandists. Thousands of words can be summed up into one question - the credibility of the City Lord's Mansion.

Luo Xin said cheerfully: "It seems that our city residents still trust the City Lord's Mansion."

He sat upright in front of the desk, crossed his fingers under his chin, his eyes fell on a sample banknote, and said slowly: "The credibility of the City Lord's Mansion does not depend on the trust of the people."

"Our monetary system is based on grain. This is based on the large amount of fertile land cultivated in the past year, the hard work of farmers, and the bumper harvest of grain."

After confiscating the farms of many old-style nobles, more than 70.00% of the land in Yuanliu City belonged to public land, and the remaining 30.00% belonged to the few remaining enlightened nobles and civilians.

Private ownership is still recognized, with the current level of productivity, Shen Qingze does not intend to overthrow it at all.

The public land of the City Lord's Mansion is all upgraded by Shen Qingze, the soil is upgraded, the seeding system is improved, and high-grade chemical fertilizers are applied. Coupled with centralized irrigation and management, livestock machinery and iron farm tools are widely used, and the yield per mu of public land far exceeds that of private land.

All the grain produced in the public fields, if the farmers want to sell the surplus grain that they can't eat, it is more cost-effective to sell it directly to the rice store under Yuanliu Ginza than to sell it to a private grain store.

And the selling price of the public rice store in the market is also lower than that of all other private grain stores.

Therefore, the rice and grain merchants who want to hoard and hoard in Yuanliu City will not work at all. If they dare to do so, they will end up with two consequences. Either no customers will come to buy them, and the loss will lead to bankruptcy, or they will be reported directly and the grain shop will be closed by the guards. prison.

People have long been accustomed to go to the rice store under Yuanliu Ginza to buy cheap food.

Private land can’t compete with public land, unless it is a self-sufficient self-cultivator, the surviving nobles still want to make money by lying on the land, it has long been impossible, it is better to sell the manor to the city lord’s mansion, and use the money to do other business .

On the discussion table, the officials showed a thoughtful look, limited by their education level and professional fields, not everyone could understand Shen Qingze's economic policies.

He thought for a while, and put it in a simple way: "The people's trust in us lies in the fact that when force majeure disasters come again, such as animal swarms, such as wars, our granary can still support possible runs."

"When every citizen believes that the banknotes in their hands will not become waste paper, and that they can be exchanged for enough food at any time, then the credit of the currency will be established."

Lu Xin from the Ministry of Commerce sat at the end of the long table. He was originally not qualified to participate in this meeting, but as one of the few young officials who understand economics, Luo Xin made an exception to let him participate.

Lu Xin weakly raised his hand and asked, "Then what if there is a run on the bank and you can't get food or gold and silver?"

Shen Qingze glanced at him meaningfully: "Then there is only - to declare bankruptcy."

He got up, walked to a giant map hanging on the wall, and said slowly:

"Our northern land is different from the three empires. Due to the long-term threat of the orcs and monsters outside the Grand Canyon, the order in the northern land is relatively chaotic, and the cities of the major territories are doing their own things."

"Food is the most important strategic material in the North, not gold and silver."

"Not all cities are qualified to issue banknotes. As long as our Yuanliu City can ensure a stable output of food, we can remain invincible."

Yan Zui is not good at economics, but this does not prevent him from understanding Shen Qingze's intentions: "Could it be that you are digging a hole for Beiji City by promoting banknotes with great fanfare? How can you be sure that Beiji City will definitely step in?" ?”

Shen Qingze's eyes fell on his face softly: "Because greed is human nature."

Yan Zui supported his cheek with one hand, turned his head to look at him, and said with a light smile: "But you, Master Priest, seem to be against your nature."

Jin Da who was standing by the side quickly nodded: "Isn't that right, you don't even have your own mansion. According to your status, you should at least build a three-story manor."

As soon as this remark was made, everyone present echoed it. Compared to the previous chief priest, Shen Qingze was too frugal. He was not even as luxurious as an ordinary nobleman in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation. He had neither a private manor nor a mansion, but instead lived in the City Lord's Mansion all the time.

Yan Zui narrowed his eyes slightly, and glanced over with neither salty nor indifferent eyes: "Really?"

Jin Da's back tightened suddenly, did he say something wrong?Why does the city lord look at him strangely.

Shen Qingze coughed lightly: "Actually, it's good to live in the City Lord's Mansion..."

Everyone looked at him suspiciously, Shen Qingze dryly thought of a reason: "It's near to work."

"........."

※※※

into the night.The summer night wind blew a corner of the scroll, and the pages rattled.

Shen Qingze leaned over the desk to process a mountain of documents, and after approving the last one, he breathed a sigh of relief and stretched himself. The clock on the table had passed nine o'clock.

He drank the last sip of herbal tea, moistened his throat, and suddenly missed the coffee from his previous life.

Just as he was about to change into his pajamas and rest, half of his body leaned out of the open window, and the man with long hair in black flipped out the window neatly and landed on the carpet without a sound.

Step by step, the man slowly approached Shen Qingze from behind, opened his arms, and was about to hug——

"Do you have to be so sneaky? My lord, the city lord?" Without looking back, Shen Qingze picked out cotton pajamas from the closet and put them on her bare upper body.

"Can't you go through the front door?"

Yan Zui put his arms around his waist from behind, and lazily complained: "There are too many patrols in the corridor."

With the tip of his tongue licking his lower lip, he gently grabbed the corner of the collar with his teeth, and said vaguely, "Don't wear it..."

Shen Qingze sternly refused, and casually pulled out another set and handed it to him, ordering: "Don't sleep naked on my bed!"

Yan Zui: "...stingy."

That night, Jin Da was on duty on the third floor of the city lord's mansion, and happened to meet the attendant who came to deliver supper to the chief priest.

He glanced casually, hey, does the officiant have such a big appetite?

Alas, it must be because I have been too tired from work recently, a bachelor, but he just doesn't feel sorry for himself.Jin Da shook his head and sighed.

After a while, the door of the officiant's bedroom opened, and Jin Da bowed slightly to say goodnight to him. When he looked up, he seemed to see an arm around Shen Qingze's waist.

Creaking, the door closed.

Jin Da was taken aback, staring at the cold carvings on the door, suddenly fell into self-doubt.

Master officiant... Is the golden house hidden? !

In the bedroom, the city lord, who had been "hidden and coquettish", sat on the soft bed with his legs crossed, filling his mouth with light and light snacks one by one, and took a sip of his milk.

Yan Zui looked around Shen Qingze's bedroom, and suddenly frowned, it was too small, the carpet was old, and the curtains hadn't been changed.How could the dignified Priest of Yuanliu City, his beloved, not live in the most spacious and beautiful room?

He said slowly, "If you like it, I'll send someone to build you one..."

Shen Qingze was taken aback: "What?"

Yan Zui pouted, reluctantly said: "Private estate."

Shen Qingze was a little funny: "It's good to live here."

Yan Zui raised the end of his eyes and looked at him: "Is it near work?"

Shen Qingze pursed her lips, casually took out a document that had been reviewed from the table, lowered her eyes, looking through it seriously, and said casually: "It's close to you."

For a moment, Yan Zui opened his eyes wide and looked at him, his heart was full of joy.

※※※

The news that Yuanliu City issued banknotes to replace gold and silver spread like wildfire. The first thing people did after they exchanged banknotes was to go to the rice store under Yuanliu Ginza to buy food. They were relieved when they found that everything was as usual.

Except for food, all commodities produced in the Yuanliu City Industrial Zone can be purchased with banknotes, and the wages paid by the factory to the workers are all replaced with banknotes, and the same is true for the soldiers of the guard.

Recycling and issuing at the same time, the simultaneous circulation of gold and silver coins and banknotes only lasted for half a year at most, and they were all replaced by banknotes. With sufficient food reserves, over time, the people gradually realized the benefits of banknotes.

I don't know when, in addition to Yuanliu's matches, glass, wind-up clocks and other commodities on the black market in Beiji City, there is one more thing-Yuanliu coins.

This thin piece of paper has extremely strong purchasing power, and the goods that can be bought on the black market far exceed its denomination itself.

It's not that no one is desperate to make counterfeit currency for profit, but unfortunately not everyone has the courage and financial resources of Yuanliu City to hire a wizard to prevent counterfeiting of banknotes.

Since Yuanliu City is gradually no longer circulating gold and silver, commodities can only be purchased with Yuanliu coins, and the total amount of Yuanliu coins issued is limited. Many cities in the Northland are buying a large number of Yuanliu coins, which has doubled its value. Several times.

The same is true of Beiji City. To a certain extent, Yuanliu currency has even become a financial product. If you buy it and keep it in your pocket, even if you don't spend it, you can wait for the black market to appreciate and make a steady profit without losing money.

A lot of gold coins and silver coins, just for a few sheets of thin paper, everyone is still scrambling, this is clearly making money lying down!

Aware of the astonishing profits, the nobles in Beiji City finally couldn't sit still.