"A single ink technique is worth three million strings of string of cash!" The ministers were once again in an uproar. It was not that the Mo Family's ink techniques were not worth that much. On the contrary, many ink techniques were priceless and could generate wealth far exceeding three million strings of cash. However, the benefits brought about by the Mo Family's ink techniques required a long time to be converted and could not be directly converted into money. The only way to raise three million strings of cash in such a short time was to cast money.
"Yes, cast money!" Meton seemed to have read everyone's minds and said loudly.
"Could it be that the Mo Family discovered a gold mine?" Tang Jian said with a trembling voice. To be able to raise three million strings of cash in such a short time, it would only be possible if a huge gold mine was discovered. Could it be that Mo Jiazi had discovered an ink technique to find gold?
"No!" Meton shook his head.
"Silver mine!" Tang Jian frowned. If it was a silver mine, it would be feasible, but the value would be much lower.
"No!" Meton shook his head again.
"Copper mine!" Tang Jian's face darkened. Copper ore was not rare in the Great Tang. Moreover, copper ore was relatively cheap and difficult to mine. If he had to make three million strings of string of coins for one copper coin at a time, who knew how long it would take him to finish the work and whether he could earn back three million strings of string of coins?
"No!" Meton spread his hands.
"No mine! Could it be that Mo Jiu is making fun of the court officials? "Tang Jian said unhappily.
Meton laughed and said, "This humble official naturally does not dare to. However, in addition to gold, silver, and copper, there is another thing in the world that can be cast into money, and that is iron!"
"Iron money!" Tang Jian could not help but be stunned. Mo Jiazi's suggestion to cast money was actually to cast iron money.
Meton nodded and bowed to Li Shimin, saying, "This official was once ordered to study the gold, silver, and copper three-tier currency system of the Tang Dynasty."
"There is indeed such a thing!" Li Shimin thought about it. He had indeed asked Meton to study the three-tier currency system when banknotes appeared.
"However, the Minister accidentally discovered that there was a loophole in the Tang Dynasty's money system," Merton said.
"There are still loopholes?" Li Shimin frowned.
Meton took out a pack of matches and gestured to the civil and military officials. "The smallest currency unit in the Tang dynasty is one coin. One coin can buy a pack of matches, ten boxes in total. However, what if there are people who don't want to buy a pack of matches and only want a box of matches?"
"This …!" The civil and military officials immediately frowned. They were of high status and no longer cared about money. Why would they care about a single copper coin?
Meton opened a pack of matches and placed a box of matches in the hands of the ministers around him. "Apart from matches, there are many things in the world that are like this. Whether you need so many or not, you need to buy at least one copper coin worth of goods. The lives of the people in the world are extremely inconvenient."
Tang Jian looked at the box of matches in his hand and had to admit that what Mo Jiazi said was true.
"But iron coins are different. Its value is smaller than copper coins. It can be used to fill the smallest currency unit in the world, so that the value of all goods in the world can be estimated. Even a small box of matches can be opened with iron coins," Merton said.
Zhangsun Chong chuckled and said, "Chancellor Mo, aren't you being too whimsical? Do you think that the previous dynasties didn't think of using iron coins? You should know that iron is the easiest to rust and is not easy to store. Once the iron coins rust, the wealth in the hands of the people will become scrap iron, unless you can prevent the iron from rusting …"
Before Zhangsun Chong finished speaking, his face suddenly changed and he exclaimed, "Stainless steel!"
The civil and military officials in the court suddenly understood Meton's plan. The reason why gold, silver, and copper were used as currencies, in addition to their value, was that they could be stored for a long time. However, iron was different. Once it rusted, it would become scrap iron. Iron coins were easy to rust and could not be used as currency. However, Mo Jiazi's stainless steel perfectly solved the problem of rust and made it feasible to cast iron coins.
"That's right, stainless steel!" Moton nodded solemnly. "Cast iron coins with stainless steel not only have a bright color, but also enough to ensure that it will not rust for ten years. If it is carefully preserved, it can be stored for a long time. It completely meets the needs of casting iron coins."
"Military ink technology for civilian use!" Zhangsun Chong could not help but feel embarrassed. He gritted his teeth and said. He did not expect that the value of stainless steel was far more than just stainless steel tableware and armrests. It was actually related to casting iron coins.
As everyone knew, casting iron coins was a business with huge profits. If iron coins were cast, it would certainly be able to accumulate a lot of wealth in a short time.
"The Minister suggests casting two types of iron coins under the one copper coin Kai Yuan Tongbao. One is a pentagram iron coin and the other is a dime iron coin as a supplementary currency. They will be the smallest currency unit for settlement. In this way, it will not only facilitate the lives of the people, but also will not affect the market value of gold, silver, and copper. The imperial court can also use this to raise money for the construction of the new Shu Road."
"Huh!"
Suddenly, the civil and military officials in the court could not help but gasp. Whether it was iron coins or dime coins, they were blank areas in the Tang dynasty. It was equal to a huge amount of wealth out of thin air. There were only benefits and no harm.
"No, the iron coins are not without flaws!" Zhangsun Chong was unwilling to give up and retorted, "Although stainless steel will not rust in a short time, it can't withstand a long time. What if eight or ten years have passed, or the people do not preserve them properly and cause the iron coins to rust? Are we just going to let the people lose? "
The officials nodded one after another. Stainless steel was only slow to rust, but it was not completely rust-free. It would probably rust after a few decades.
Meton had already had a countermeasure. He said confidently, "Then it depends on the post station. Once iron coins rust, they can go to the post station bank to exchange new iron coins for free. The imperial court will produce a new batch of iron coins every year to replace the old ones. As for some people who bury them underground for a long time, there is no way. After all, even copper coins will have a copper smell after a long time. Fortunately, it is only a few dime coins and will not hurt the people."
Li Shimin nodded slowly. The loss of a few dime coins was not big. It could even be said that it would have no impact at all. The iron coins could be implemented.
Tang Jian took a deep breath and said, "The iron coins are indeed feasible. It is widely known in Chang 'an that Mo Jiazi can turn stone into gold. Today, I see that he really lives up to his reputation. I admire you. I heard that Merton has been idle recently. I wonder if you would like to work in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Any position will be chosen by Merton, even my position as minister. As long as Merton likes it, I will give it to him."
Everyone could not help but be shocked. They did not expect that Tang Jian, the minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, would be convinced by Mo Jiazi. However, they did not think that Tang Jian was exaggerating. Mo Jiazi was indeed a genius in economics.
Meton hurriedly said humbly, "Lord Tang, you flatter me. I am young and frivolous. I am not qualified to take on such a heavy responsibility."
Feng Guan of Yizhou and Su Luosheng of Chang 'an looked at each other and smiled at the same time. Since Tang Jian, the minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, had agreed with Mo Jiazi's plan, then the iron coins to raise the expenses of the new Shu Road were in the bag.
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