"So, Li Kuan's effort to do something like this is in vain. Even his own people don't support it."

When Wang Jie heard this, he was secretly happy.

"So far, this is indeed the case."

…

In Diandu Dezhong, Laifu sat alone in the elegant seat by the window, tasting the delicious food while listening to the people around him discussing the lively events in Chang'an City.

This is basically an important daily pastime for Laifu.

It can not only satisfy your purpose of relaxing, but also take the opportunity to inquire about various news.

"Have you heard that His Highness the King of Chu has made some gold and silver coins? It's immoral. You should be careful."

"Ah? What's going on? If you don't like gold coins and silver coins, we don't have to use them. What does it have to do with being immoral?"

Laifu, who was originally in a relaxed mood, immediately tensed up when he heard the conversation coming from behind him.

"Hey, I can tell at a glance that you are out of touch with the news. It has long been spread throughout Chang'an City that one yuan of silver coins is exchanged for one copper coin. This is a rule set by the Royal Bank of the Tang Dynasty. However, it is said that one yuan of silver coins is exchanged for one copper coin.

In the past, the silver in the silver coins could only be exchanged for six to seven hundred cents, wouldn't this mean that people would suffer a loss out of thin air?"

As soon as the silver coins were launched, interested people focused on the silver content.

Although there is no advanced technology to accurately measure it, there are still ways to calculate it in general.

Not surprisingly, the silver content of silver coins is definitely not 100%.

This got some people excited immediately.

In just a few days, word spread in Chang'an City.

"Well, yesterday there was someone who went to my shop with silver coins to buy something. No, I will quickly take the silver coins to the bank and exchange them for copper coins."

Laifu, who was eating next to him, became more and more ugly the more he listened.

He was not in the mood to argue with others.

At this time, it would be better to quickly report the news to the prince and see if there is any solution.

Otherwise, His Highness King Chu's reputation will be ruined.

…

In the Xuanzheng Hall, Li Shimin listened to Li Zhong reporting the news with a gloomy face.

"So, gold and silver coins are difficult to circulate. Although there are people behind it, the fundamental reason is that no one accepts it?"

This result is completely different from what Li Shimin hoped for.

Didn’t Li Kuan never make a mistake? Why this time...

"Your Majesty, judging from the current situation, merchants in the east and west cities either do not accept gold coins or silver coins, and some merchants who reluctantly accept them immediately go to the Royal Bank in the lobby to exchange them for copper coins."

"In other words, all the customers in the bank are people who exchange gold and silver coins for copper coins?"

"Yes, at present, only people exchange gold and silver coins for copper coins, and no one exchanges copper coins for gold and silver coins."

Li Zhong lowered his head and reduced his presence as much as possible.

"If no one uses it, it will naturally be impossible to alleviate the shortage of copper coins. Those low-quality copper coins will continue to circulate in large quantities. What should we do?"

As the New Year is approaching, Li Shimin has received the tax data from the Ministry of Household Affairs. He was originally in a very good mood, because this year's taxes have increased by more than 10% compared to last year.

However, just two days after I was happy, I got a hard blow.

Back then, Li Kuan described the future of Datang Royal Bank so brightly that he already believed it.

Unexpectedly, there are some things that just thinking about them are useless.

…

In the other courtyard of Prince Chu's Mansion, Li Kuan had learned about the situation outside from multiple channels.

Although I am a little surprised that the noble merchants in Chang'an City have such a low acceptance of gold and silver coins, they are not in a state of confusion.

"Your Majesty, this Wang Fugui seems to be useless. The Tang Dynasty Royal Bank has been in his hands these days. Not only has it not opened up the situation, but it has become a reason for everyone to attack the prince."

Wang Fugui was the manager of Qianzhuang appointed by Li Kuan himself. Laifu had always had a bad impression of him.

The Prince of Chu's palace was almost sold out, and he was the biggest accomplice.

"Uncle Laifu, don't be anxious. The circulation of these gold and silver coins requires a process. Everyone only sees its shortcomings and has not yet felt its advantages, so naturally they will not accept it."

No matter what kind of currency it is, it is difficult for people to accept it at the beginning. Li Kuan does not blame Wang Fugui for this.

"However, the mansion spent thousands of money just to build the bank in Xishi. Now it seems that not only does it not bring benefits to the mansion, but it actually harms the prince, why not suspend the construction of banks in Luoyang and Liangzhou and other places?

."

A bank will inevitably store a large amount of money. In order to ensure the safety of these vaults, Li Kuandu arranged for people to dig out a foot of ground to build a basement. The surrounding area is made of steel rod concrete structure, and even the door is made of fine steel.

As a result, the construction cost of each semicolon will be high.

Laifu looked at the money flowing out, feeling anxious in his heart.

"Your Majesty, Mei Niang feels that not only cannot we stop it, but we must speed up the construction of banks in other places."

Wu Meiniang, who was making tea at the side, couldn't help but express her opinion.

Wu Meiniang's status in the Chu Prince's Mansion is a bit special. On the one hand, she is the shopkeeper of the carriage workshop, not an ordinary maid and servant.

On the other hand, she had a close personal relationship with the prince, and even the princess did not express any clear objection, so others would not easily get in trouble with her.

Laifu himself had no objection to Wu Meiniang.

However, when he heard that she not only opposed his proposal, but also encouraged Li Kuan to speed up the construction of Datang Royal Bank branches in various places, his face immediately turned ugly.

Clay figures also have three points of fire.

"Mei Niang, it costs thousands of dollars to build a bank. There are so many state capitals in the Tang Dynasty. I don't say that every state capital should be built. Even if we only build a dozen or so branches, it would still cost tens of thousands of dollars.

, and that doesn’t include the hired men and various expenses for guarding. How can you bear to have so much money just wasted like this?”

"Uncle Laifu, don't worry, let's listen to what Mei Niang has to say first."

Li Kuan had no intention of stopping the construction of the bank, and Wu Meiniang's proposal was actually in line with his wishes.

But after all, Laifu was also an old man in the family, and it was difficult for Li Kuan to express his opinions on the bank's affairs, so Li Kuan couldn't attack him too directly.

"Uncle Laifu, although the Royal Bank of the Tang Dynasty is managed by the prince, fundamentally, it should be regarded as the prince managing it for your majesty. This does not stop, but in fact the prince has no say."

Wu Meiniang knew that Li Kuan trusted Laifu, so she didn't mind his accusations too much.

However, her answer was a sneak peek from the very beginning.

Although the major shareholder of Datang Royal Bank is the royal family, if Li Kuan really doesn't want to build it, there are ways to persuade Li Shimin.

"Humph, even if the bank is not owned by the prince alone, the mansion has spent a lot of money."

Laifu muttered.

Wu Meiniang did not argue with him, but continued to explain her reasons.

"To make everyone feel the benefits of banks, especially to make merchants willing to deposit money in banks, it is particularly important to have semicolons in different state capitals. For example, when merchants go to Liangzhou to buy wool, the journey is long, and it is not convenient to carry a large amount of copper coins.

It is both convenient and unsafe. At this time, if both Liangzhou and Chang'an have Datang Royal Banks, depositing money from Chang'an and withdrawing money from Liangzhou will become very attractive."

Wu Meiniang is indeed no ordinary person.

Li Kuan had never discussed this topic with her, but she was able to find the key point of the bank's semicolon at once.

"Well said, Tongdui world, this is the ultimate goal that I hope the bank will achieve."

"But if no one uses gold and silver coins, even if they can be exchanged all over the world, how much money can the bank make?"

In Laifu's view, minting is very profitable, and if it can really be made bigger and stronger, he would support it.

However, it is obvious that in the current situation, no one is willing to use gold and silver coins.

"No one uses it, so we force them to use it."

Wu Meiniang's delicate face and small cherry mouth are very cute, but the words she speaks make people's anus tighten.

Even Li Kuan wanted to see how Wu Meiniang was so awesome that she forced her head to be pressed without drinking any water.

"Mei Niang, what are you doing to force me?"

"My lord, it's actually not that difficult. There are many workshops under the prince's palace now. We only need to stipulate that from today on, anyone who comes to purchase fine steel will only accept gold or silver coins as payment; anyone who comes to wholesale wool thread, salted fish

, whale oil candles and Longjing fragrant tea must use gold coins or silver coins. And starting from this month, as long as the wages exceed one yuan of silver coins, the accounting office will no longer issue copper coins. As a result, many people just don’t want silver coins.

You have to use it too.”

Wu Meiniang's move not only forced other merchants to use silver coins, but also required the craftsmen under the palace to support silver coins.

"Will this cause a backlash?"

Li Kuan tended to agree with Wu Meiniang's approach, but he was also worried about causing trouble.

"A rebound is inevitable, but as long as the Tang Dynasty Royal Bank allows them to exchange gold and silver coins for copper coins at any time, the rebound will be limited."

Wu Meiniang smiled, obviously she had given it full consideration.
To be continued...