Chapter 1221

"The new Shu Road is about to start, with a budget of 3 million yuan!"

After the great court meeting, the new Shu Road Plan swept Chang'an like a hurricane.

"The Shu Road is difficult and difficult to climb to the sky. It is not vain. The Shu Road should have been built long ago, and the Millennium dream of the people of Sichuan and Shu will finally come true." businessmen in a land of Sichuan and Shu are excited to tears. From Chang'an to Hanzhong, the three hundred mile Shu Road will take about ten days. Once the new Shu Road is built, one day will be enough to pass, the time will be greatly shortened, and the whole journey can be transported by vehicles and horses, This is a great blessing for business travel.

The people in Shu naturally care about the construction of the new Shu Road, while more people in Chang'an focus on the huge wealth of 3 million yuan.

"Three million Guan, I'm afraid it's going to empty the Treasury!" everyone smacked his tongue.

"No, it doesn't cost the State Treasury a penny to build a new Shu Road." a well-informed merchant sold Guanzi road.

"How could this be possible? Could it be that the three million Guan came from the strong wind." the people shook their heads and didn't believe it.

The merchant nodded proudly and said, "it can be said that the three million Guan came out of thin air, which was obtained by Mozi."

"Turning iron into gold!" the people were stunned. They only heard that a liar turned stone into gold to deceive people. They had not heard of turning iron into gold. If it hadn't involved the Mohist family, they might have really thought that they had met a liar. No matter how magical things could have happened to Mohist family.

"Iron money!"

When the people of Chang'an heard how the three million Guan came, they exclaimed one after another.

"That's great. Datang really needs iron money. I'm selling department stores. Sometimes when goods are sold for a penny, they lose money, and selling two cents is too expensive. No one buys them. If people buy two for three cents, they don't want to buy one more. Many times the business is yellow. If they have fifty cents or one dime iron money, it's too convenient," sighed a department store vendor.

Many merchants nodded one after another, and they often encountered such difficulties. Datang can buy many things for a penny. It is very inconvenient to adjust the price of a penny every time. If there is iron money, everyone can accept the price adjustment of a dime and two dimes.

Even if someone knows that the imperial court will make a lot of money by casting iron money, no one has any opinion about it. After all, the emergence of iron money is a happy situation.

"Mozi is worthy of the title of God of wealth! He found the shortcomings of the currency of the Tang Dynasty twice in a row and made up for it perfectly." an old man praised.

Everyone nodded. The first shortage of Datang currency was that it was too troublesome to convert silver and copper coins. Mojiazi took the opportunity to issue silver notes between 100 Wen and one Wen, which made mojiacun bank famous and gain a firm foothold.

The second shortage of currency in the Tang Dynasty is iron money, which is inconvenient for people to trade. Mojiazi took advantage of the trend to launch the iron money with the lowest value, but the silver note is not real money. Every time the mojiacun bank issues one or two silver notes, it will deposit one or two silver in the silver Treasury, but the iron money is not. It is real money, but it can be used directly.

"Three million yuan! Even the national treasury doesn't have so much money. The Mexican family raised it so easily."

All the people who heard of it marveled at the endless ink skills of Mojia village. What's more amazing is that Mojia Zi can always apply the ink skills of Mojia village to the extreme.

"The construction of the new Shu Road has changed the thousands of years' history of no access to cars in Shu, and iron money will benefit all the people. This will go down in history and be revealed!" Yan shigu returned home, took out the thousands of worries he had saved and couldn't bear to drink, and drank them down.

Nowadays, the prohibition order is under the Tang Dynasty. All the breweries do not produce Baijiu, but the old wine they keep is one bottle and one bottle, especially the solution of thousand worries.

It's not just the plan of the new Shu Road. Mojiazi proposed to use stainless steel to cast iron coins to fill the gap of low Tang currency. One of the secret skills of hydraulic stamping is worth 3 million yuan, which is worth a special book and a name in history. Immediately, Yan shigu wrote like a God and recorded today's meeting in history books.

"Iron money!"

For a moment, everyone looked forward to the news about iron money.

"Click, click, click!"

Driven by the strong water stand, the huge hydraulic stamping machine keeps running.

"This is the secret of hydraulic stamping!"

In the Mohist village, Zhang Liang, the Minister of industry and Tang Jian, the Minister of civil affairs, accompanied Li Shimin to inspect the hydraulic stamping machine, the most important part of making iron coins. Looking at the behemoth in front of him, Li Shimin couldn't help exclaiming.

In the past few years, the Mohist way of machine has become more and more sophisticated. It is not only more and more large, but also extremely exquisite. Driven by water power, it can operate at a high speed without manpower. At this time, Li Shimin believes that what Merton said to reduce the cost of money casting, which is indeed too much less than manpower.

"Your Majesty is wise. This machine was originally made of stainless steel tableware in Mojia village. It was just slightly modified to make iron coin templates. Once the imperial court determines it, Mojia village will immediately mass produce hydraulic stamping machines for the Ministry of the people to cast money." Merton explained.

"Satisfied, how can you be dissatisfied?" Tang Jian, the Minister of civil affairs, couldn't help smiling bitterly.

Money casting is a matter of cooperation between the Ministry of civil affairs and the Ministry of industry. Every year, a batch of copper money and silver will flow into the people, which is also a valuable income of the national treasury. However, the traditional money casting is a blacksmith, stove and mold. The workshop is smoky and the blacksmith's face is dark, so he can't bear to step into it.

On the contrary, the workshops in Mojia village are almost clean, and the craftsmen are clean and tidy. In terms of efficiency, they are far better than the iron coins in Mojia village. Dozens of beautifully made iron coins will be spit out every time. Soon, the iron coins in front of everyone will pile up

"This is the iron coin made in Mojia village!" accompanied by Zhang Liang, the Minister of the Ministry of work, picked up a sample coin and frowned.

"Good!" Merton nodded.

"Your Majesty, please see?" Zhang Liang did not speak, but handed the sample money to Li Shimin.

"Why is there no square hole!" Li Shimin took it and frowned.

It has to be said that the sample money made by Mojia village is indeed exquisite, each of which is Cheng guangwaliang, and the words Kaiyuan Tongbao on the sample money are clear, which is much better than the copper money forged by the Ministry of civil affairs before. However, the traditional Kaiyuan Tongbao is round and square, while the sample money made by the hydraulic stamping machine in Mojia village is only a round coin without square holes.

Merton explained: "Your Majesty, the reason why the Kaiyuan Tongbao forged by the imperial court is round and square is convenient for people to carry. However, it takes time and labor to make money, which increases the cost, and the cost of making perforated iron money with hydraulic stamping machine is 10% higher than that of non perforated iron money."

"What else?" Li Shimin was surprised.

"Moreover, the main purpose of iron money is to circulate. People only need to keep a small amount of iron money without carrying and storing a large amount. Weichen believes that the non porous iron money is the most appropriate kind of money. Moreover, everyone knows that a Kaiyuan Tongbao is a Wen money, but the iron money is not. It needs to be made into five corners and one corner. The original square hole can be printed with the value at a glance." Merton explained.

Li Shimin looked at the sample money in his hand and found that there was a clear pentagonal character in the center of the sample money.

"That is to say, two pentagonal coins are equal to one Kaiyuan Tongbao." Li Shimin said solemnly. In the currency system of the Tang Dynasty, there has never been such a conversion method, but directly exchange 1000 Wen for one or two silver. As for silver coins, it is too cumbersome for the people to convert by themselves.

"Yes, not only that, but also one pentagonal coin can be changed into five one dimes. In this way, it can greatly facilitate the daily use of the people." Merton nodded.

Li Shimin nodded. In this way, almost all the prices among the people can be estimated with iron money. He turned over the back of the pentagonal money, and suddenly his eyes were frozen.

"This is... This is the supreme emperor!" Zhang Liang and Tang Jian noticed the abnormality and couldn't help exclaiming.

On the back of the coin, there is a clear side head, which is the lifelike head of the supreme emperor.

"Merton, you're so brave. It's a crime of disrespect that you dare to print the head of the supreme emperor on iron money." Zhang Liang scolded loudly. Needless to say, it's from the handwriting of Mohist. No one in the world has such painting skills and courage except him.

Merton admitted that he was single: "Lord Zhang is too fussy. There is nothing unusual about printing the king's head on coins. Persian silver coins from the Silk Road usually print the king's head. When I saw that the back of the non perforated iron coin was empty, I wanted to print the emperor's head on it so that the world could admire it and let the emperor's dignity spread forever. If your majesty thought it was impossible, I could change it Become a peony or plum blossom. "

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "no, the supreme emperor has worked hard for his country all his life. He really deserves this honor."

Tang Jian could not help but look at the Mohist school. The Mohist school has repeatedly caused trouble, but the holy family has not declined. His ability to guess the heart of the emperor is extremely extraordinary. After all, the emperor has passed away, and his gratitude and resentment with his majesty has passed away. Now there is only kindness left. Li Shimin printed the emperor on the five jiao coin, and the world will only remember his Majesty's filial piety.

"With your Majesty's permission, if you don't print a batch of gold coins and print your Majesty's head in the future, so that the world can see your Majesty's face." Zhang Liang flattered.

Merton looked at Zhang Liang, shook his head and said, "Lord Zhang doesn't know. People living in the world taboo carving and imaging. According to the research of doctors, there are all kinds of wonders in the world. There will even be two similar people thousands of miles away. If someone pretends to be your Majesty with the head on the coin, I'm afraid there will be trouble."

In ancient times, it was difficult to find out the existence of similar people without photos. In later generations, various imitation shows emerged one after another, which simply confused the fake with the real. If Li Shimin's head is really revealed, I'm afraid it will really be used by people with a heart.

"The minister made a mistake!"

Zhang Liang suddenly blushed. He didn't expect that he flattered the horse's leg.

"Your Majesty, the imperial court forged iron money itself for the convenience of the people. Since there is no hole for the convenience of the people, it is inevitable to use it. As far as I know, the coins in Persia and other places are indeed non hole, and printed with the head of the king. Since there is a precedent, there is nothing wrong with ink offering wine." Tang Jian, the Minister of the people, coughed and relieved Zhang Liang.

Li Shimin nodded. The production of non porous iron coins is really exquisite. In addition, if they cast iron coins to raise money for the construction of Shu Road, the cost of more than 10% is not a small amount. For the new Shu Road, it is not so important to have holes and no holes. As for printing Li Yuan's head, it is icing on the cake, and Li Shimin will not refuse.

"But the material of iron money is iron. If it is made into non porous iron money in order to save cost, will it be criticized! I think the imperial court is exploiting the people." Zhang Liang has just been disgraced, dissatisfied and made a bad way again.

Li Shimin immediately frowned. He himself attached great importance to reputation and hesitated when he heard that he might be criticized by people all over the world.

Merton didn't know Li Shimin's mind. He patted his chest and promised: "This matter is simple. There are two solutions. One is to use copper zinc alloy to make pentagonal coins. Zinc ore is not very useful in Datang. The cost is very low, which is lower than the price of iron, but it needs 30% copper to make it. The cost increases a lot. One is to use stainless steel to make pentagonal coins. After copper plating, the cost increases very little."

Zinc ore is widely used in later generations. However, in the society of the Tang Dynasty, the use of zinc ore has not been developed. It is only reused in a small amount in Mojia village, which has no much value at all. It is often idle when other minerals are mined. Merton only makes rational use of it. As for copper plating in Mojia village, the process is mature, and it is easy to apply it to pentagonal iron money.

"What about the angle iron?" Zhang Liang said embarrassed when he saw that Merton could easily dissolve the hole he had dug.

Merton laughed and retorted without hesitation: "a dime is the smallest monetary unit with the lowest value, while stainless steel is also valuable. I'm afraid no one will criticize the use of stainless steel for a dime. It doesn't take much effort at all."

Li Shimin and Tang Jian nodded at the same time. The value of a corner iron is the smallest, and stainless steel is more than enough. No one will say more at all.

Li Shimin pondered for a while, and finally chose iron money and copper plating. First, it can be preserved for a long time. Second, copper plating can not be criticized by the world after all. Finally, the purpose of casting money in chaotang is to raise funds to build a new Shu Road, so it is natural to maximize the interests.

Finally, Li Shimin decided on the sample money of the iron coin. All the iron coins were made of non perforated iron coins. The side portrait of Emperor Li Yuan was printed on the back of the pentagonal iron coin, and the whole money was plated with copper. The plank road of the Shu Road was printed on the back of the stainless steel pentagonal iron coin to commemorate the difficulty of building the Shu Road.

At this point, the sample money of the iron coin was officially finalized, and the iron coin can be cast at any time. Once the iron coin appears on the market, it will be the date of the construction of the new Shu Road.