Chapter 644

"Datang silk system!"

When Li Shimin heard this word for the first time, he couldn't help wondering.

Dai Zhou on one side was also confused and looked at Merton puzzled.

Merton explained: "The so-called Datang silk system is to make use of the influence of the military parade and the prestige of Datang to forcibly stipulate that Datang silk can be used as the common currency of all countries in the world and can be circulated in all countries. It can not only be transported to the far western countries to earn high profits, but also be traded between countries. In this way, it is greatly convenient for Datang to trade with Hu merchants and the West In this way, the silk of Datang will surely sell well all over the world. "

"Silk as the common currency in the world!" Li Shimin's eyes suddenly brightened. He was excited just thinking of this possibility.

"How could the western countries agree to treat silk as money?" Dai Zhou said excitedly and uneasily. The big cake Merton drew for him was too big for him to accept.

Merton shook his head and said, "but this requires the influence of Datang to sign an agreement with envoys of other countries and take silk as the only currency for bilateral transactions."

The silk road is popular. This is the moment when silk has the greatest value and the highest credit. It is the best time to take silk as the common currency in the world.

"In this way, silk has become another white deer coin!" Dai Zhou didn't immerse himself in surprise, but calmed down.

"White Deer coin!" Li Shimin was surprised, and he calmed down slowly from ecstasy.

The White Deer coin was invented by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. At that time, the Han Dynasty was at war with the Huns. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was financially nervous. In order to raise money, he directly took the white deer skin as a currency, and it was very valuable. It was almost like robbing money by selling it directly to the nobility.

Merton shook his head and said, "Lord Dai's words are bad. White deer skin itself is worthless. However, silk is also valuable in our Tang Dynasty, and can even be used as money. On the Silk Road, it is often used for the transaction of large goods. Its value has been recognized by all countries in the western regions. How can it be compared with white deer coins."

Li Shimin nodded. From this point, silk is very different from white deer coin.

"But silk is not gold and silver after all, how can the countries in the western regions be willing to!" Dai Zhou frowned. As the Minister of the people, he deals with money all day. If he suddenly changes all the money in the imperial court's Treasury into silk, I'm afraid he will go crazy immediately.

Merton took a deep breath and felt it necessary to popularize money knowledge to the two people. He got up and said, "gold and silver is indeed recognized in the world, but it is not the only money. Your majesty, do you know that most of my Chinese words about money are beside Bei?"

Merton said and wrote on the rice paper, money, accounts, expensive, poor, cheap... And so on.

Li Shimin took over and saw it. He was surprised. It was the first time he found this strange phenomenon in his life.

"The old minister has heard of it! In fact, in ancient times, the oldest money in China was shells! So that the words gradually evolved here." Dai Zhou explained.

Li Shimin suddenly looked at these words with a sad face and looked at them curiously.

"Yes, the ancients used shells for money. Even now, all parts of the grassland use animal skins for money, and there are countless and even more strange currencies in the western regions. Now why can't we use silk as money?" Merton asked.

Dai Zhou suddenly became silent. As the Minister of civil affairs of the Tang Dynasty, he was most proficient in the way of money. Naturally, he knew what Merton said was right.

"Moreover, this is not bad for all the countries in the world. There are many small countries in the western region with different currencies, and even the fineness of gold and silver. Mutual trading will remain the same. If silk is used to trade goods, it can be said to be extremely convenient. This is also the biggest opportunity for silk as the common currency in the world, and this can reduce the risk of copper shortage in the Tang Dynasty!" Merton said positively.

Li Shimin nodded again and again. Now Datang is a powerful country in the world. He is also a heavenly Khan. Datang's money can naturally become the common currency in the world. Datang's is Kaiyuan Tongbao. In addition, he is short of copper, so he uses silk cloth as supplementary currency. Lack of copper has always been the biggest problem of Datang.

Moreover, silk is unique to the Tang Dynasty. There can be a continuous flow of silk production every year. There is no need to worry about the supply of raw materials.

"This is really very beneficial to our Tang Dynasty, but how can we force the western countries to trade their gold and silver with silk instead of gold and silver?" Dai Zhou shook his head.

"Datang is a state of etiquette. Naturally, it will not do forcible robbery. However, in the future, Datang's transactions with other countries must be monitored in the customs. Datang will only pay for goods from other countries with silk, and only accept silk when selling goods to other countries." Merton showed a trace of confidence.

Dai Zhou thought a little and gradually understood the truth, that is to use the power of the Tang Dynasty to promote this.

"Moreover, at the moment, the envoys of all countries are in Chang'an city. We can take this opportunity to sign an agreement with the envoys of all countries, so that the countries in the western regions can not only trade with Datang with silk, but also accept silk as the common currency. In this way, Datang is like controlling the coinage right in the world!" Merton said excitedly.

"Coinage!"

Li Shimin and Dai Zhou were suddenly breathless. As the imperial court, they naturally knew how profitable coinage was. If it was successful, the benefits of the Tang Dynasty would be too great. Li Shimin and Dai Zhou were not impressed.

Li Shimin didn't expect that they just wanted Merton to sell these silks, and Merton took the opportunity to arrange such a grand plan. Once Datang silk became the common currency in the world, Datang would not only obtain a lot of economic benefits, but also gain a lot of political influence, killing two birds with one stone.

"Is it feasible?" Li Shimin was offended.

Dai Zhou bowed his head and said thoughtfully, "if this matter is successful, it will be beneficial and harmless to our Tang Dynasty. However, if we want to implement this matter, I'm afraid it will be difficult to prevent it."

Dai Zhou naturally knew the advantages, but he understood how difficult it was to do all this. Moreover, the people of the western countries were not united, and there must be countless objections.

Li Shimin immediately looked at Merton.

Merton smiled and said, "it's easy if it works. It depends on your Majesty's determination."

"No matter how much it costs, it will be done," Li Shimin said firmly.

When Merton heard the speech, he said positively, "as long as Datang publicly promised, countries can exchange silk with Datang at any time and exchange equivalent silver with Datang at a fixed exchange rate!"

This is the core of the Datang silk system, that is, linking silk with silver! Free convertibility, the core of the Bretton Woods system of later generations is to link the US dollar with gold. However, Datang gold is not the most common currency at the moment. In block transactions, silver is the real main force. Moreover, Datang copper money is not enough and gold is scarce. As long as silver is the most appropriate medium.

"Silk and silver are linked and freely convertible!" Li Shimin suddenly opened his mind.

Even Dai Zhou nodded and said, "if so, it will be done."

"This matter is very important. We need three provinces and six ministries to discuss it together. Merton, you will explain it to all officials at the great court meeting tomorrow." Li Shimin has no interests. He is right. Such a big thing can't be carried out without the cooperation of the whole court.

"Yes, Mr. Wei!" Merton said positively.