Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The crowd in the teahouse had already dispersed.

Liu Zhongshun was about to step down from the stage, preparing to head to the exchange next door, when he suddenly saw someone waving at him from below.

He couldn't help but focus his gaze, and when he saw Fang Zheng and Li Yuanzhao's faces, he immediately hurried over.

Standing in front of Fang Zheng, he revealed a brilliant smile: "Your Highness, Master, what brings you two here?"

Fang Zheng smiled: "Listening to your lectures, you must be making a lot of money from the tickets, right?"

Liu Zhongshun chuckled dryly and said in a low voice: "It's all for charity, five taels of silver, not too expensive."

"Sit down, I have important matters to discuss with you today." Fang Zheng nodded towards the seat beside him.

Liu Zhongshun hurriedly sat down, placing his hands on his knees.

Fang Zheng said: "No need to be so reserved, I'm looking for you for something good. The exchange should be on the right track by now, right?"

Liu Zhongshun nodded: "Indeed, with the involvement of officials from the Ministry of Revenue, many things are much easier. I'm not too busy now, Master, you can give me any instructions."

"Good, then I'll get straight to the point. I'm planning to open a new type of bank, called a 'bank,' mainly to solve the financing problems for those private merchants who lack funds. You have extensive connections in the business world, so I'm planning to entrust this matter to you. Is there any problem?"

Liu Zhongshun was stunned: "No problem, but I've never run a bank before."

"A bank is different from other businesses, its importance is no less than the exchange, so this time I will transfer personnel from the county government for you to command."

"Your current task is to find a suitable location next to the exchange and transform it into a bank."

Liu Zhongshun said: "Master, I've already bought this teahouse. Do you think this is suitable?"

Fang Zheng looked around and nodded: "Yes, the area is large enough. First, put up a screen outside, tear down this building, and later I will find someone to build the bank for you. We must build it grandly, in a way that will impress people! The county will provide funds for this part."

Liu Zhongshun nodded repeatedly, and then asked: "But the difference between this bank and a regular bank...."

"There's no need to worry about that, I'll write you a plan when I get back, you can modify it as you see fit and then implement it." Fang Zheng said, "However, the most important thing for establishing a bank is its foundation. You have extensive connections, so bring over those wealthy merchants you're familiar with and have them deposit their family's money with us."

"Strive to get this done before the bank is built. With your reputation, you should be able to attract at least ten million taels in deposits. When the bank opens, with a solid foundation, the people will be willing to come."

Hearing this, Liu Zhongshun looked embarrassed: "Master, it's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that it's not easy to do. Those who have deep friendships with me are also quite powerful. They all have their own cooperative money houses, and those old money houses have decades or even hundreds of years of accumulation. It's impossible for people to be willing to deposit their money with us just because we open a new bank, that's not realistic."

Fang Zheng frowned: "What's not realistic? Don't always make excuses for yourself, you have to believe in yourself."

"Think of ways to give benefits. There's interest for depositing money with us. You can visit people's homes, and every family has elders or something. Those old men and women are easily swayed, and they'll be confused as soon as they hear it. Bring over the elderly customers first."

"Moreover, I'm telling you, it's actually not that difficult. We have a background, the Emperor owns half the shares in this bank."

Liu Zhongshun's eyes widened suddenly: "The Emperor also has shares in it... then this will succeed!"

Li Yuanzhao was also so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth: "Why is Father also involved?"

Fang Zheng smiled faintly: "His Majesty has discerning eyes and saw the prospects of the bank. But Old Liu, don't publicize it extensively before you get the wealthy merchants settled. If the people aren't enthusiastic enough about depositing money when the bank opens, it will be a disgrace to His Majesty's face, understand?"

Liu Zhongshun puffed out his chest, feeling extremely honored.

With His Majesty's involvement in this matter, he had to work hard!

His ancestral grave had been emitting green smoke again and again!

"Don't worry, Master, before the bank is established, I will first select the right people below, and as soon as the bank opens, a large amount of gold and silver will be deposited! Then we can promote it to the people."

"Wait a minute, this matter is not that simple, right? How to make these banknotes, how to ensure safety, and where to set up the vault, have you thought about all of these, Lao Fang?" Li Yuanzhao, who hadn't said much, interjected.

Fang Zheng smiled slightly: "Your Highness, have you forgotten, the Number One Scholar lottery tickets in the capital are all sold by us."

The Number One Scholar lottery tickets are still sold on the market, but because a very high threshold was set up to prevent the people from gambling, the number of purchasers has not been too large.

Later, due to Fang Zong's behind-the-scenes operations, the winning rate has not been able to increase. Although several internal staff members were specially set up as notaries during the lottery to boost the reputation of the Number One Scholar lottery tickets.

However, these literate commoners obviously didn't buy it, so that the income of the Number One Scholar lottery tickets is now close to negligible.

However, there have never been few people who have crooked minds, and there have always been people who make fake winning tickets.

Therefore, the anti-counterfeiting encryption level of the Number One Scholar lottery tickets is also slowly improving.

In addition, Taoyuan County originally started by forging, and the forging was still of official documents.

In terms of confidentiality and anti-counterfeiting methods, it has always been at the forefront of the times!

There is also the large-scale printing and plate-making technology.

With the Banshan Daily in hand, these are even more advantages.

Everything is far ahead!

Although making banknotes itself is a major skill, Fang Zong can crush a large number of his peers with just a slight move!

"As for the vault, I have also thought about it, it will be set up in Taoyuan County."

"In Taoyuan County? The bank is set up at the foot of the imperial city, and the vault is stuck in Taoyuan County with one stick, do you think this is reasonable?" Li Yuanzhao showed a suspicious look, "You don't want to open a bank and then embezzle the deposits, do you?"

Fang Zheng didn't change his expression: "How is that possible? Opening a bank must be based on integrity. The reason why it is set up in Taoyuan County is that I have carefully considered it. There are many people in the capital, and it is inevitable that villains will set their sights on the vault. Taoyuan County is different, there are few people and they are all high-quality people, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard also has a training ground next to Taoyuan County, which is enough to provide security."

"Although the distance from the capital is a bit far, don't we have trains now? It's convenient to take anything with the train. Besides, a small vault will also be set up in the capital. If you want to withdraw more money, just make an appointment in advance, and it will be easier for us to do the accounting."

.......