Dominate the Country

Yang Xu, the old man who was highly praised by Chen Ming, was not in Nanjing or the humid south at the moment, but in Shanxi.

After receiving such high praise from Chen Ming, the old man, who was already 88 years old this year and nearly 90 years old, could be said to have gained both fame and fortune. Even the future of his family's descendants was guaranteed, and he could really rest. But he didn't do so. The energetic Yang Xu was still doing his part for the closure of mountains and forest cultivation in Shanxi and Shaanxi.

Yang Xu, who was born in the 26th year of Kangxi, had never thought about the Daqingguo pills. After all, when he was able to remember things, the crisis in the early Qing Dynasty had been almost solved by Kang Mazi. Yang Xu, who had been wandering in Shaanxi for most of his life, saw the thriving Daqingguo. So when the news of the Fu Han Army's uprising reached Shaanxi, Yang Xu smiled and thought that the Chen family was just a group of lunatics. Wouldn't it be a self-inflicted grave to rebel during this prosperous era? Although they are now very prosperous in conquering cities and territories, they are still rising and falling, and they have not achieved great things.

But reality always slaps Yang Xu's face hard. In battle after battle, Daqingguo has failed one after another. Chen Ming's return from Jiangnan to Huguang was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but the Qing Dynasty failed to seize this opportunity and took Nanjing in one fell swoop, which eventually led to the collapse of the southern world, and it only took three or four years. When the news reached Yangsu Garden in Sangjia Town, Xingping, Yang Xu knew that he was wrong and that Daqingguo was in danger.

Even if the Southern and Northern Dynasties were in opposition, the Fu Han Army, whose base was in southwest Henan, also took advantage of the terrain. It was definitely a situation of revitalizing the Han Dynasty's Northern Expedition, just like the Ming Taizu back then. Even if the Qing Dynasty was based in the north, it would not last long. As a result, the effect of the big green fruit pills was faster than Yang Xu expected. The Fu Han army had a weapon called the Fire Dragon Bullet, which turned the magic trenches that the Qing Dynasty used to defend the city walls into large coffins for burying people.

In just two years, the Fu Han army chased the enemy north and took all the land of Zhili.

When the Fu Han army entered Guanzhong from Shanxi, Yang Xu wrote to his students, saying that they should stop resisting as soon as possible. Trying to stop a chariot with a mantis arm is a way to death. And the Qing Dynasty was also a foreign dynasty after all.

Yang Xu had set up a school in Yangsu Garden in Sangjia Town, Xingping for decades, and had hundreds of students who studied there, all over Guanzhong. That was a huge network of relationships. Although few of those who could learn farming from Yang Xu were from real wealthy families, they were more or less landlords. Even though their respective strengths were quite weak, their cooperation also provided great help to the Fu Han army in effectively establishing local order.

If Yang Xu was 20 years younger, Chen Ming would have dared to use him, but now he is really too old, almost 90 years old, and his two sons are both very old. At this age, even in the 21st century, he is half buried in the ground. At present, Yang Xu is only a "consultant" in this mountain-closing and afforestation project, and the real work is done by his disciples and grandchildren.

The so-called "agriculture and forestry are inseparable" is not it. Yang Xu is very knowledgeable in mulberry and silkworm farming, and he is also familiar with arboriculture and animal husbandry, and has deep research and practice. He also took into account that the gardens in Guanzhong had been abandoned for a long time and the arboriculture was out of practice, so he wanted to imitate Su Feng. "Yangsu Garden" was established as a research and practice base for teaching, arboriculture, gardens and animal husbandry. Yangsu Garden was established between the sixth and eighth years of Yongzheng. Mulberry trees and timber trees were planted around the garden, and various fruit trees, vegetables and medicinal herbs were interplanted in the garden; a large well was dug in the center of the garden, and a waterwheel was installed for drought-resistant garden irrigation. There are houses, a school, books, and talents in the garden. This is also the place where Yang Xu conducted agricultural research and experiments and wrote academic works.

Chen Han's current agricultural adjustments are not big, mainly the afforestation of Shanxi and Shaanxi, and the future wind and sand control. These are the top priorities. Now alfalfa has begun to be planted on the grassland, and there is silage feed. These are the times for the children of the Yang family to show their skills. Anyway, in the next 20 to 30 years, it will be difficult for anyone to surpass the Yang family in China's agricultural work.

Holding the latest issue of the "Zhongyuan Daily" delivered to him, Yang Xu's face was solemn in a quiet courtyard in the south of Linfen [Pingyang Prefecture City].

Sitting in front of him was Yang Xu's eldest grandson Yang Sicheng, who failed to study and transferred to another school halfway. He is already fifty years old this year. He is not specialized in agronomy, and is far behind Yang Xu's proud disciples. But Yang Sicheng is one of the few people who can show off among Yang Xu's descendants.

Yang Xu was not short of money, otherwise why would he build the "Yangsu Garden"? Moreover, he himself was also a scholar. This was the only thing that Confucianism was good at. By the time it developed to the Ming and Qing dynasties, it had already incorporated all the "characters" in China into itself.

Yang Xu was an agronomist, but he was still a scholar before he became an agronomist; he was still a scholar after he became an agronomist. Yang Xu was a student of Li Yong, whose name Chen Ming had heard for the first time, but this Li Yong was known as one of the "Three Great Confucian Scholars" together with Sun Qifeng and Huang Zongxi. If he didn't serve the Qing Dynasty [why didn't he die? ], he taught at Guanzhong College in the second half of his life. Yang Xu was quite impressed by his teacher's Neo-Confucianism, especially Li Yong's emphasis on practical learning and his views on "managing the world and controlling things for use", which had a profound impact on him. Later, Yang Xu became famous as an agronomist, but for him, agriculture was attached to Confucianism.

The children of the Yang family all studied literature and took the path of imperial examinations, but it should be said that they did not have the talent and luck. Among the dozens of descendants of Yang Xu, only one Juren and three Xiucai were born before Daqingguo Pills. However, this did not discourage the children of the Yang family, but they continued to bury themselves in the Four Books and Five Classics, and regarded Yang Xu's agricultural skills as miscellaneous knowledge.

Yang Sicheng also studied with his grandfather for more than ten years because he had no choice in the imperial examination, so that he could inherit the Yangsu Garden after Yang Wei left. Of course, the "family tradition" of the Yang family has changed now, and the younger generation are all stuck in agriculture. The Four Books and Five Classics have been abolished, so the 'agricultural science' that the new dynasty attaches great importance to and the countless materials Yang Wei has accumulated over the past few decades have become their best 'stepping stone' to enter the officialdom.

However, Yang Sicheng, who was looking at his old man nervously now, was not worried about Yang Wei because of something in the officialdom. What bothered Yang Wei was the news in the newspaper. The new dynasty actually issued a decree prohibiting the circulation of non-metal currency gold and silver in the market. In other words, from today onwards, things like silver ingots, gold nuggets and the like are no longer 'money'.

"Grandpa, what this Xin Dynasty said is quite clear. Currency is a general equivalent." Yang Sicheng looked at the newspaper in his hand and read: "Currency is a commodity that is separated from commodities and serves as a unified value expression material for all other commodities." It's awkward, isn't it? But Yang Sicheng understood that he had gold yuan coupons and checks presented by the bank in his hand, and he understood the meaning of these words.

Aren’t the golden yuan coupons also ‘money’?

Who dares to say that golden yuan coupons are not ‘money’? The whole country can drown him with Tumo stars.

"Its emergence is the inevitable result of the development of commodity production and exchange." Yang Sicheng remained silent on this sentence. But he absolutely agrees with the following words: "Historically, general equivalents have been borne by some special commodities, such as the original shells. With the progress of society, gold and silver have become the most suitable currencies to perform the functions of general equivalents. And when the social economy When developing to a higher level, currency can no longer be gold, silver and precious metals, but just special commodities that are separated from commodities and serve as general equivalents..." Most people really can't understand these words, but Yang Sicheng understands. The example is the golden coupon in his hand.

This thing also has a cost. It represents the gold and silver in the bank, just like the original silver notes.

"Sicheng, you said that the new dynasty suddenly issued this decree. Do the Chen family want to imitate Zhu Hongwu in issuing banknotes?" Yang Wei's face became serious for a while before finally speaking. Then Yang Sichen was stunned.

"Pa." Yang Sicheng was dumbfounded for a while like a fool, then slapped his thigh fiercely. "Yes, yes. The Chen family must want to issue banknotes." The officials of the Ming Dynasty were really fooled by the banknotes.

"Go and write a letter to your family and tell them that the gold and silver are still there. Keep calm. After all, if you keep them for ten or twenty years, the gold will still be gold and the silver will still be silver."

The ancestors and grandsons of the Yang family are all educated people. They have read history books and know how deceptive banknotes were back then.

"But today's prince is different from Zhu Hongwu. I won't talk about other aspects. I just say that the economy and taxation are much more relaxed than Zhu Hongwu. He is not an ignorant person. Maybe the paper money of the new dynasty can really come out. A different way to come.”

But talk, talk, do. Although Yang Wei felt that the banknotes of the Chen family would be more reliable than the banknotes of the Lao Zhu family, with gold yuan coupons, checks, and supply and marketing cooperatives, etc., they had no intention of taking the gold and silver to the bank to exchange for gold and silver coins. . It’s no different now than before, and there is a handling fee.

Yang Wei didn't want to suffer this loss.

As time went by, the Zhongyuan Daily, which originated in Nanjing, quickly expanded to prefectures and counties across the country. Take Shanshan as an example. Although it takes five days to spread newspapers here than in Nanjing, it will arrive eventually.

The new dynasty issued a decree that gold and silver would not count as money from now on, unless they were gold and silver currency. In the eyes of many discerning people like Yang Wei, this is just the breeze before the storm. The real power will have to wait until..., probably after the enthronement ceremony next year, then it will be revealed. But in the eyes of many people who don't have this vision, this is Chen Han forcing them to pay the handling fee.

The same news could not be clearer to the eyes of Europeans such as Britain, France, and Sweden.

After all, paper money has become a regular currency in Europe.

For Europeans, as long as the Chinese can ensure the stability of the value of banknotes, they are completely acceptable.

Europeans received "endless" gold and silver from the Americas, and then continuously sent it to China, especially silver. But China is like the wild beast in their myths and legends, and it will be difficult for them to get back the money that flows into China, whether it is Britain or France.

Opium, which was strictly banned by the Chinese, was a good deal. But China's laws are too strict. Once discovered, there will be no life or death. You must know that the Chinese have the largest intelligence and police system in the world. In order to better understand the meaning of the word "national security", Robert, Perrier, and Pierre also specifically checked "History of the Ming Dynasty". Although these foreigners did not know that the "History of the Ming Dynasty" in their hands had a new name in China - "History of the Ming Dynasty", Chen Han organized manpower to start re-editing the "History of the Ming Dynasty".

Robert and the others were shocked by the Jinyiwei and Dongchang and Xichang inside. Such a strict intelligence system and such a sharp layout. If they did bring opium from India, it would be extremely difficult to transport and sell it without leaving traces. And once the matter is exposed, the punishment they have to bear can severely damage companies in both countries.

Under such circumstances, all Europeans believe that the Chinese government has enough gold and silver to serve as a deposit for the issuance of government banknotes. So what's there to worry about?

"Will China have no money?" Facing Chen Hui, who was a little uneasy, Luo Dongni smiled. "Your Majesty, this is the biggest joke in Europe."

"Since the opening of the sea route from Europe to the Americas more than 200 years ago, China has maintained a huge trade surplus for more than two centuries. When will this phenomenon end? It is still far away, and there is no end in sight. ”

"In the history of Europe, in the history of Europe and the Tianfang world, this is a unique phenomenon. You must know that whether in Europe in the past or in the equally huge Tianfang world, in the era when gold and silver were the standard currencies, theoretically there was no No country can maintain a trade surplus for a long time, but China has become unique.

In the past two hundred years or so, most of Japan's silver production and half of the silver production in the Americas have flowed into China, a very large amount. In ancient China, China was very short of silver. During the Qin, Han, Sui and Tang Dynasties, silver was called platinum in China, and its value was much higher than gold. However, by the Ming Dynasty, silver became China's currency. China's huge economic interests are like a powerful suction pump, continuously absorbing the world's silver. "

Rodoni wanted to change jobs, but the thick-legged man he first chose was no longer the emperor. He was the emperor of China, the supreme emperor in all of China. But Chen Hui actually wanted to give up!

He didn't understand. He didn't think that Chen Hui's health really couldn't support him to sit on the throne of emperor. Don't the Chinese regard rights as something more important than life? That damn Tatar monk.

If Rodong Ni wants to change jobs, he is not willing to spend the next few years eating, drinking and having fun with an old man who has lost his rights. Rodong Ni also has a long-term revenge. He envied Newton very much. Although Newton's weight in Chen Ming's heart was far from comparable to his weight in Chen Hui's heart, Newton had a greater future.

Therefore, Rodoni must seize every opportunity to show his talents.

Chen Hui was hesitant now. When the issuance of banknotes approached, he wavered. And Rodoni wanted to eliminate his wavering and strengthen his belief. He believed that what he said would eventually reach the ears of His Highness the Crown Prince.

"The entire world's economy and trade is a single world system with China at the center. The earth is very vast and complex. There are countless nations and countries here, but it is also very simple. So simple that only five economies are needed The world can be divided. China is the center. Apart from China, there are only four regions in the world that have long-term merchandise trade deficits. They are the Americas, Japan, Africa and Europe.

In the last two hundred years, the Americas and Japan made up for their trade deficits by exporting silver, while Africa made up its deficits by exporting gold and slaves. Therefore, all three regions are able to produce "goods" that are needed elsewhere in the world economy. Europe, by contrast, can barely produce anything for export to cover its long-term trade deficit. As a result, Europe can only make a living by "operating" the exports of the other three trade deficit regions, exporting from Africa to the Americas, exporting from the Americas to Asia, and exporting from Asia to Africa and the Americas. Europe has become an intermediary in the global trade network. In order to balance China's seemingly permanent surplus! "In the 16th and early 17th centuries, what Europeans did was to arbitrage the exchange rates of gold and silver in Asian countries, and to act as middlemen in certain trade transactions, especially those between China and Japan.

Luo Dongni said that the whole world except China is very pathetic, but there is some truth in this statement.

The world's silver flows to China. China's profit surplus for more than two hundred years was only a situation after the sea routes were opened. Before the European voyages began, was China's foreign trade in deficit?

Think of the Silk Road, think of Marco Polo. China is a huge monster that has been devouring gold and silver all over the world.

China is the center of the entire world trading system!