Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned red with anger.
"Bullsh * t, I'm the emperor, how can I get something for nothing?”
Zhu Chen ignored the angry Old Zhu and asked,""If that's not the case, then why were the commoners able to buy a jin of rice with half a string of notes in the eighth year of Hongwu?
Now, in the 19th year of Hongwu, you are using five strings of notes to buy one jin of rice. Tell me why!”
Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless.
This was…He also wanted to know why!
However, he had never thought of getting something for nothing.
However, it was impossible for Zhu Yuanzhang to lower his head and ask Zhu Chen.
Zhu Biao had no choice but to ask,"Brother Chen, why?"”
"Hmph, it's all because we don't have any reserves. The commoners can't exchange for gold and silver.
Therefore, the Great Ming Treasure Notes became money that relied on Emperor Hongwu's credit.
In the beginning, Emperor Hongwu's reputation was still somewhat credible. However, as time passed, counterfeit banknotes became popular. In addition, there was no reserve fund, so wouldn't the people have doubts?
In addition, the imperial court is giving out large amounts of money without restrictions, causing the Great Ming Treasure Notes to increase in number. This money is becoming less and less valuable."
Every word pierced his heart!
Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned ashen.
He had to admit that Zhu Chen was right.
However, he was helpless in this situation.
He did not understand why the money was becoming less and less valuable.
Without understanding the reason, there was naturally no way to do it.
" Hehe, the commoners use money, but it's more accurate to say that it's the reputation of our Hongwu Emperor. However, with the currency depreciating, your reputation is almost gone." Zhu Chen smiled and took a sip of tea.
It was comfortable!
This old man came up and questioned him.
If he didn't rebuke him, he would really think that he didn't have a temper.
Even if he forced the old man into a corner, Zhu Chen wasn't afraid.
However, many people would die on this path.
Zhu Chen couldn't bear to see this happen. It would be better to resolve this peacefully.
The Chinese people had suffered enough since ancient times. He really did not want to experience it again.
At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned by Zhu Chen's words.
It turned out that the commoners used the Great Ming Treasure Notes because they believed in him!
Only then did he believe that the Great Ming Treasure Notes could be used as money!
When the commoners did not believe in him, then the Great Ming Treasure Notes would also…It was worthless!
Zhu Yuanzhang found it hard to believe, and even unwilling to believe it.
" Impossible," he muttered.
Zhu Biao, who was standing at the side, was also dumbfounded.
With Brother Chen's words, wouldn't the people of Ming no longer believe their father?
"Brother Chen, is it really that dangerous?”
" Big brother, you can't be as naive as His Majesty, right?" Zhu Chen smiled.
Although it was an exaggeration, it was the truth.
"Big brother, let me tell you this. Do you know about the opening method?"
Zhu Biao nodded." I know. The imperial court sells salt to merchants, and the merchants need to help the imperial court transport grain to the border in exchange for salt."
"That's right, big brother is indeed the crown prince. His memory is really good, unlike some people who don't remember things that they should remember."
"Hmph!" Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly.
He could naturally tell that this brat was mocking him.
However, Zhu Yuanzhang was really curious about what this brat had to say.
Endure it for now!
" Alright, Brother Chen, hurry up and explain to your brother," Zhu Biao smiled bitterly.
"Yes, Your Majesty has been in a high position for a long time and doesn't know how to lower his waist."
"Nonsense, we have always shared the world with the commoners!”Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't hold it in anymore. This brat was not done yet.
Unknowingly, even Zhu Yuanzhang himself did not realize that he might have misunderstood Zhu Chen.
"Anyone can say nice things. Your Majesty, do you know the kitchen?”
"Of course we know! The people who boil salt in the saltworks are called the kitchen households."
"That's right. Then does Your Majesty know that the salary of the kitchen is paid with banknotes?"
" Of course I know." Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Chen discontentedly.
What was this brat trying to say?
"Humph, if, I mean, if in the eighth year of Hongwu, the kitchen households boiled the fixed salt stipulated by the saltworks every month, and the salary they received was a monthly fixed amount of money.
If they produced more salt, they could sell it to the saltworks or sell it through other methods to earn more money.
In addition, the value of the banknotes was still very stable, so the life of the kitchen owner should be quite good.
However, with the constant depreciating of the Ming Dynasty's treasure notes, it was originally half a string of treasure notes that could buy a catty of rice, but now it needed five strings to buy it, and the remuneration of the kitchen households had not changed.
Tell me, will the days of the kitchen households get better and better, or will they get better and better?”Zhu Chen blinked.
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting on the main seat, suddenly felt as if he was sitting on needles.
This brat's words were like a slap to his face.
Zhu Chen didn't care. Today, he was going to kill people.
"As a result, if the Imperial Court continues to issue a large number of banknotes, the value of the banknotes will continue to fall.
It might cost five strings of notes to buy a catty of rice now, or maybe fifty strings of notes a catty of rice in a few years.
At that time, the money earned by the kitchen household in a year won't even be enough to buy a catty of rice. Your Majesty, what do you think will happen?”
Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Zhu Chen. Why did this brat keep asking him questions?
This was…How should he answer this question?
"If the commoners can't survive, they will naturally become fugitives."
Zhu Biao answered.
"That's right. If the stoves become refugees, there will be less salt in the saltworks. Those merchants who hold salt can't exchange for salt for a long time.
They would sell the salt to the big merchants at a low price.
Big merchants had their own ways. Whether it was working with officials or something else, they could always exchange for salt.
After a few years, business groups that were large enough to cover a province would appear.
Now, Shanxi Prefecture, Jiangsu and Zhejiang have already shown signs of success."
"This... This…" Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't believe what Zhu Chen said.
"You're definitely exaggerating. The truth is definitely not like this!”
Zhu Chen shook his head and smiled,"That's nothing. There's more."
Zhu Yuanzhang's face was instantly filled with colors.
Just hearing these words, Zhu Yuanzhang felt as if his Ming Dynasty was about to perish.
However, this brat actually said that there was something even more powerful!!!
"Does Shangtun know?"
Zhu Chen threw out another question.
" I know," Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao said in unison.
Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head and did not say anything.
Zhu Biao had to answer," It's a trading village. As Brother Chen said, northern merchants need to transport grain to the border in exchange for salt.
As time passed, the merchants naturally wanted to save some trouble.
Thus, they began to reclaim large amounts of land at the border.
At that time, we only need to collect the grain from the land we reclaimed and send it to the border. Then, we can directly obtain the salt."
"Big brother is amazing. It seems that you've been working hard for the country these years." Zhu Chen stood up and bowed.
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that this brat was mocking him again.
But he could not refute it.
He could only keep a straight face and say nothing.
Zhu Biao shook his head helplessly.
"Brother Chen, tell me!"
"Okay, big brother wants to hear it, then let's talk about it.
Shang Tun could be considered to have made a huge contribution to the border defense of the Ming Dynasty. The soldiers at the border could maintain their combat strength at all times because of the timely supply of food by the merchants.
However, when the saltworks couldn't produce salt, a large number of northern merchants sold salt to southern merchants at a low price.
At this time, if there was a Minister of Revenue in the court who colluded with the southern merchants, the Southern merchants would be able to get away with it.
Instead of using grain to exchange for salt, what do you think will happen?”
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately knocked on the table.
His face was ashen, and his eyes were filled with killing intent.
"If that's the case, the northern merchants will not be able to make money and will naturally give up on selling salt. Then, the trading villages will be abandoned and the border defense forces will be weakened."
Zhu Yuanzhang's voice became lower and lower, and his expression became uglier and uglier.
Yes, he believed Zhu Chen's words now.
This was very likely to happen.
The war between the north and the south had always existed in Great Ming, such as the Northern and Southern Roll.
If it wasn't for Zhu Yuanzhang suppressing the court and even helping the northern scholars, the court would have become the world of the southern scholars.
And the northern scholars would gradually become alienated, which was very detrimental to the stability of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Chen had expected Zhu Yuanzhang's reaction.
What he said was not a guess, but something that really happened in Da Ming.
This kind of thing would not be described in detail in the video.
"There are even more powerful ones! They had already seen the comparison video, so they all knew Zhu Yijun of the Wanli Ming God Sect!”
Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang nodded at the same time.
"Yes, now that Shangtun is destroyed, the border defense forces are weakened.
What do you think would happen if the officials in the court asked the emperor to reward them with salt?”
Zhu Chen didn't wait for their reply and continued.
"Hehe, as I said earlier, the kitchen households have fled, and the salt produced by the saltworks has decreased greatly. Merchants have no way to exchange for salt.
Compared to merchants, wouldn't it be more convenient for meritorious officials, vassals, and officials to exchange?
This was for sure. They more or less held power in their hands, so they naturally had to exchange for salt before the merchants.
In this way, the salt industry of Ming Dynasty became the private property of the noble class.
Then wouldn't the tax revenue of the imperial court be decreasing?
Thus, Wanli personally sent out a large number of servants to collect the mine tax and salt tax.
Not only were the officials suffering, but the commoners were also troubled.
These eunuchs represented the emperor in the local area, which meant that they had special privileges. After that, they could take as much money as they wanted.
This is also why Zhu Changluo was so popular when he recalled the Imperial Attendant."
Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao looked at each other.
All of this was because of the depreciating value of the banknotes?
It was too unbelievable.
However, Zhu Chen had explained the reason in great detail.
Zhu Yuanzhang had to believe it.
He looked at Zhu Chen seriously.
He did not expect his son to be so…So outstanding.
He could even predict what would happen in the future.
Combined with the Wanli video, which was also the time of Zhu Yijun of the Bright God Sect.
However, the truth was hard for Zhu Yuanzhang to accept.
The culprit that caused all of this was actually the Great Ming Treasure Notes that he had issued.
The suffering of the people in the future was all because of him!!!
I love the people, but in the end, I'm the one who harmed them!!!
Zhu Yuanzhang found it hard to accept and almost fainted.
Seeing this, Zhu Biao quickly supported Zhu Yuanzhang and comforted him,"Father, there is still a chance to change everything."
" Mm." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded his head numbly.
"What else do you have to say? Continue."
Zhu Chen didn't stand on ceremony and continued.
"The salt method has collapsed, and the same goes for the other tea method of the Great Ming Dynasty.
In the fifth year of Hongwu, the Ming Dynasty established the Tea Horse Department and began trading with the Tibetan region.
In the beginning, everything was good. Tea was a necessity for the Tibetan people.
However, the Tibetan land did not produce tea leaves, so Ming held the initiative in trade.
Using tea leaves to exchange for the warhorses that Ming needed, they would have enough horses to go out of the border to sweep Northern Yuan.
In this way, the border pass of Ming Dynasty is peaceful.
The Ming Dynasty used treasure notes to collect tea leaves locally. If merchants wanted to collect tea leaves, they also needed to give the government treasure notes.
However, when the Ming Dynasty's treasure notes gradually depreciated, the government still used treasure notes to collect tea leaves, while merchants began to use silver to buy tea leaves.
Therefore, the people spontaneously handed over the old and rotten tea to the government, while the good tea they hid was sold to merchants.
Do you know what will happen?"
Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little dizzy and muttered,"That's impossible. We have stipulated that merchants are not allowed to transport tea. All tea leaves must be transported to Tibet by the government.
How could they have the chance to sell tea leaves?”
"Hehe," Zhu Chen sneered.
"In this world, nothing is constant. If the government needs a large number of horses one day, and the tea leaves shipped by the government are far from enough, then it will be impossible for the government to transport them.
Would the officials in the court allow merchants to transport tea leaves?
Then, he would take another 40% of the profits.
The imperial court doesn't need to spend a single cent and can obtain a certain amount of profit."
"This…" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes widened. This was not impossible.
"In this way, the people will give good tea to the merchants, and the 40% of the merchants in the Imperial Court will give bad tea.
Of course, this was not without hidden dangers, but it only required a small amount of money to be spent in the court.
Even if the officials let their own white gloves do this kind of thing, the hidden danger would be gone.
In this way, the common people would naturally exchange good horses for good tea with merchants and inferior horses for the government.
In this way, there are no good horses at the border of the Ming Dynasty, and the border defense has been weakened by another layer."
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly felt a little dejected.
"This... All of this is because of my notes?!”
"That's right, the depreciating of the Ming Dynasty's notes is the cause." Zhu Chen continued to pursue the victory, showing no pity for Old Zhu.
Zhu Biao smiled bitterly.
My little brother Chen, don't provoke my father anymore. Can't you see that my father is about to faint?
"Dad, look, since Brother Chen has pointed out the problem, he naturally has a solution, right?”
Zhu Bianmian wanted to comfort Old Zhu, but Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes suddenly lit up.
He believed it!
Seeing the old man looking at him with burning eyes, Zhu Chen shook his head and said,"Don't look at me, there's no solution to this problem."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled bitterly and thought to himself,"This brat definitely has a way to solve this. He's just angry with me now."
However, Zhu Yuanzhang was unwilling to lower his head to Zhu Chen.
How could a father bow down to his son in this world!
He glanced at Zhu Biao.
Quickly go and ask!
Zhu Biao immediately felt helpless when he received the signal.
This was…What solution could there be to this thing? It was nothing more than recycling the banknotes.
If he did so, who knew how much wealth Da Ming would need to give away.
But if he didn't do this, then Big Ming would definitely be like Big Ming Number One.
In the end, they died under the continuous uprising of the people.
Unless Chen Di became the emperor, the second big Ming would naturally develop like the comparison video.
Zhu Biao shook his head.
Although their brotherhood was deep, the throne…Since ancient times, who was willing to give up?
Zhu Biao was unwilling!
"Brother Chen, what do you think?"
"Tsk, big brother, I'm not the emperor of Ming Dynasty. Why should I worry about this? Who's the emperor of the money?
By the way, were my previous crimes also excessive wealth, deceiving the emperor, and violating etiquette?”Zhu Chen asked curiously.
This was…
Zhu Yuanzhang felt uncomfortable.
Good heavens, this damned child!
He really didn't give me any face at all.
Old Zhu's face was livid as he snorted in dissatisfaction.
"Eh, what does Your Majesty mean? Did I say it was too little? This was…"Your Majesty, please speak frankly. I will definitely explain it to you." Zhu Chen smiled.
He looked like a sunny and cheerful boy.
Zhu Yuanzhang kept a straight face and didn't say anything. He even closed his eyes.
Whatever you say, I can't hear it!
"Alright, let's talk about deceiving the emperor first. This should be about the Jinyiwei, right?”
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyelids twitched, apparently listening attentively.
Zhu Biao didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Old father, your son has already advised you to investigate, but what happened?
"It's the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Indeed, more than half of them are dead. Only one is still alive. Even so, this person has lost an arm."
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。