In fact, the Qian family was not the only one who was against the banknotes. Even the imperial court was in an uproar over the three businesses of the bank. After all, using paper as money was unheard of. However, Mo Jiazi actually succeeded.
"Your Majesty, Mo Jiazi's banknotes are worth 1 out of 100. He's basically a bandit. Ever since the Tang dynasty conquered the world, there has never been a bandit who dared to be so bold." Yu Zhining angrily criticized Mo Jiazi's banknotes business. He even compared Mo Jiazi's banknotes business to a bandit.
"What's even more outrageous is Mo Jiazi's banknotes business. Using paper as money is simply unheard of!" A civil official echoed.
Ever since his son used Mo Jiazi's banknotes, he had spent a few hundred strings of coins in just a few days. Mo Jiazi used paper as money, but his son was simply using money as paper.
"Your Majesty, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is accusing Mo Jiazi of stealing the wealth of the people and using paper money to give to the workers. This is simply extortion and greed. The people are furious. This is even more outrageous than Emperor Wu of Han's Bailu Coins …" An imperial censor roared with righteous indignation.
The White Deer Coin was something that Emperor Wu forcefully sold to the nobles during the Han Dynasty's financial crisis. It was said that at its peak, one White Deer Coin was worth 400,000 gold coins. In the end, it became worthless and became just a decoration. Mo Jiazi's banknotes business was even more disgusting in the eyes of the officials. Bailu Coins were still considered a rare item and had some value. However, Mo Jiazi actually wrote the amount of money on the paper and used it as money. In the eyes of the stubborn officials, it was like rubbing their IQ on the ground.
The officials were filled with righteous indignation. They immediately turned into Bao Qingtian to plead for the people, redress the grievances of the workers, and crusade against the biggest capitalist Mo Jiazi.
Li Shimin couldn't help but cover his forehead with a headache. He naturally knew that Meton opened a bank. He originally thought that the bank was just a place for Mo Jiazi to store money. He didn't expect that Mo Jiazi would make such a big deal out of it. It was simply shocking to the people of the Tang dynasty to know about money.
"Ministry of Justice, did any people complain to Village Mo?" Li Shimin's mind turned, and he turned to the Minister of Justice, Li Daozong.
Li Daozong shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, no one complained to the Village Mo Jia Village. As far as I know, no matter if it's a bill of exchange, banknote, or check, as long as you go to the bank of the Village Mo Jia Village, you can exchange them for cash.
Li Daozong was more familiar with Meton, so he finally said something fair for Meton.
Li Shimin nodded and said, "Since the three banknotes can be exchanged for the same amount of money, the people won't lose anything, and it will be more convenient. How can the imperial court interfere too much?"
Many officials nodded. Everyone in the imperial court was the most intelligent person in the Tang dynasty. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the bank was much better than the notorious money house.
"Your Majesty, please think twice!" Yu Zhining cried sadly, "Your Majesty, have you ever thought that Village Mo is now protecting its reputation, so it will naturally pay in full unconditionally. But in the future, when Village Mo is short of money, how can they not embezzle the money? At that time, the bank, banknote, and check will become a piece of waste paper, and the people will suffer a great loss, or even have nothing left. "
"That's impossible!"
"How can Mo Jiazi allow this to happen?"
Everyone couldn't help but be in an uproar. If the bank and banknote really became a piece of waste paper, it would cause great trouble.
"Well …" Li Shimin couldn't help but hesitate. Although he believed in Meton, since ancient times, money and silk could move people's hearts. Who could guarantee that?
"Prevention is better than cure. If we wait until the day when the accident happens, I'm afraid it will be too late.
"Then what do you mean?" Li Shimin frowned and asked.
An assistant minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Yu Zhining looked at each other secretly, then stepped out proudly and said, "Your Majesty, I think that since Village Mo has issued banknotes, we should let Village Mo deposit the equivalent amount of the banknotes in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. In this way, even if Village Mo declines, the imperial court will compensate for it, and the people will not suffer any loss."
"Deposit the equivalent amount of money in the Ministry of Civil Affairs?" All the officials were stunned by the words of the assistant minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Although most of them knew that it was inappropriate, in the face of such great benefits, they all remained silent. The head of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Dai Zhou, sighed, but didn't say anything.
"In my opinion, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has gone mad from poverty! You just criticized the Mo Family for being like bandits, don't you think that your actions are more despicable than bandits? "Qin Qiong couldn't hold back any longer and angrily rebuked.
"Especially when these bandits are robbing others of their wealth when their owners are not around." Cheng Yaojin chuckled and mocked.
Many of the officials couldn't help but blush, but to be able to sit in the imperial court, which one of them wasn't thick-skinned and black-hearted, they simply turned a deaf ear.
Yu Zhining stepped forward and refuted, "General Qin's words are biased, we are only doing this for the people."
Yuchi Jingde snorted and said, "The banknotes are only used in Village Mo, which is Merton's fief. Everyone there is Village Mo, how can it harm other people? If we can't even make this decision in our own fief, then wouldn't it be a joke?"
Many of the nobles with fief couldn't help but feel embarrassed. In fact, in their fief, as long as you don't rebel or harm the people, they have great autonomy. Moreover, the banknotes were only used in Village Mo. It could be said that Mo Jiazi was already very restrained, there was no suspicion of going beyond the line.
Seeing that the nobles were dissatisfied, Li Shimin's eyes flashed and said, "Meton has always wanted to revive the Mo Family, and Village Mo is the foundation of the Mo Family, I think he will not do anything that will harm the Mo Family's villagers."
Yu Zhining retorted, "Your Majesty, the Mo Family's Village is not only inhabited by the disciples of the Mo Family, but most of them are foreigners. Especially, the Mo Family's Village is undergoing a large-scale construction project recently. Many houses have been built in the Mo Family's Village, which has attracted many people to buy them. In addition to the foreign workers and merchants, there are as many as 30,000 foreigners. These are not the villagers of the Mo Family!"
"And the banknotes and checks that are popular in Chang 'an are not small hidden dangers." The assistant minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs said loudly.
Suddenly, the officials began to argue. Some thought that the Ministry of Civil Affairs was making a fuss, while some thought that the Ministry of Revenue was quite forward-looking.
"What do you think?" Seeing the situation, Li Shimin could not help but look at the leading officials.
The officials could not help but look at each other. To be honest, they were also confused about the business of banks. After looking at each other, Fang Xuanling stepped out and said helplessly, "Your Majesty, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has also heard about the banknotes business. Although the banknotes are worth one out of a hundred, compared with the risk of transporting money over long distances, it is worth it. This is a good thing. As for the banknotes and checks, it makes the saying that promises are worth a thousand gold come true."
Qin Qiong and the others nodded. In their eyes, the bank was simply a stroke of genius.
However, Fang Xuanling changed his tone and said, "As for the risk that the assistant minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Minister Yu are worried about, it is not unreasonable."
"Old fox!"
The officials could not help cursing in their hearts. Fang Xuanling went around in circles and did not say anything.
"However, according to my understanding of Merton, he is very prudent. Why don't we summon him to Taiji Palace and clear his doubts in public? I think there will be a suitable solution. "Fang Xuanling said.
"Summon Meton to court." Li Shimin could not help but pause.
At some point, the entire Imperial Court seemed to dislike Meton. After all, there was a young boy next to a group of white-haired old men. It could be said that everyone was not used to it.
In addition, Meton's position was not high and he did not like to attend court. Unless it was necessary, no one would think of summoning Meton to court. Moreover, with Meton's limited experience in attending court, this boy could always cause a big problem.
Li Shimin thought that the only way was to summon Meton to court again.
"Men, call Modun over for me!" Li Shimin didn't hesitate any longer and spoke in a clear voice.
"The Minister pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Meton walked into Taiji Palace with his head held high and said loudly.
To tell the truth, he was still confused. Before he came, he carefully reflected on his recent actions and did not seem to have done anything to provoke public anger. Why was he summoned to Taiji Palace?
Li Shimin did not know how to explain and could only mumble, "Meton, I summoned you today because the officials want to speak with you."
Meton turned to the officials and patted his chest, saying, "Please ask, I will tell you everything I know."
Seeing Meton's frank appearance, many of the officials couldn't help but feel ashamed. It seemed that they were bullying him too much, but when they thought of Mo Jiazi's past accomplishments, they immediately threw this sympathy to the back of their minds.
Yu Zhining was even less likely to be fooled by Mo Jiazi's simple and honest appearance. He coldly snorted and said, "Meton, there's no need for such hypocrisy. When you fooled around in the past, we only thought of you as young and frivolous. But this time, you are so greedy, wantonly sucking the wealth of the people. You are simply lawless."
Meton was flabbergasted. "This boy has never held a civil official position. Lord Yu is slandering this boy for sucking the wealth of the people!"
Many of the civil officials felt a wave of disgust. What did he mean by not holding a civil official position meant that he had not sucked the wealth of the people? What did he think of them as civil officials?
Cheng Yaojin and the other generals immediately grinned and laughed unscrupulously. Seeing that Meton was still as sharp-tongued as before, the worries in their hearts suddenly disappeared.
"Meton, don't talk nonsense. Just answer your questions truthfully!" Li Shimin put on a straight face and stopped Meton from talking nonsense.
Yu Zhining and the others held back for a long time before they calmed down and angrily listed the three major crimes of the Village Mo's bank.
"Money orders, money orders! It's like bandits robbing people on the road … "
"Money orders, money orders, money orders, money orders, money orders, money orders …"
"Money orders, money orders, money orders, money orders, money orders, money orders, money orders …"
As Yu Zhining listed the crimes one by one, Meton suddenly realized the purpose of these people. Perhaps some of them were really worried about the country and the people, but most of them were probably jealous of the Village Mo's wealth. To be honest, anyone who saw that the Village Mo's wealth doubled out of thin air with the help of the bank would be jealous.
Meton sneered and said, "Since ancient times, there has been a rule in the world, that is, don't show off your wealth. Perhaps no one would be tempted by a few copper coins, but the shining silver caused countless cases in the Ministry of Justice regarding people being robbed on their way out. There were even cases of murder for money. In times of chaos, there were even bandits and robbers who killed people and openly robbed them. The money orders business can only be received by the person or a designated person. It can be said that the risk of people carrying money is greatly reduced. But I didn't expect to be slandered as bandits by you. It really makes me disappointed! "
Li Daozong, who was the leader, nodded. Since ancient times, people were tempted by money, and there were many cases of people murdering for money. In addition, the technology of solving cases was backward, so such cases were extremely difficult to solve. Therefore, the Ministry of Justice had a large backlog of cases. The appearance of money orders had greatly reduced the risk of carrying gold and silver, which could be said to have reduced a lot of pressure for the Ministry of Justice.
This was also the reason why the money orders business in the Village Mo's Village were so popular. In this era, carrying a large amount of money was a very risky thing. If you exchanged the money for money orders and put it in the bank, you could go to the bank to get it when you need it. Some transactions could even be done in the bank face to face, which was extremely safe.
"The bank is taking advantage of the people's mentality, which is why it is worth a 100% commission. They are like bandits, collecting money on the spot." The assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue said coldly.
Meton laughed and said, "Sir, you can't compare the bank to bandits. I have a limerick about bandits, I wonder if you are interested in listening."
"A limerick about bandits! Bandits can also write poems! " Everyone couldn't help but roar with laughter. Many civil officials couldn't help but cast disdainful glances at the military generals beside them. It should be known that in the imperial court, there were many generals who used to be traitors and bandits in the past.
"I would also like to hear it." Li Shimin said with interest.
Meton didn't seem to notice the strange expressions of the officials and said loudly, "This mountain was opened by me, and this tree was planted by me. If you want to pass through this road, you will have to … "
Unexpectedly, before Meton finished speaking, there was an angry shout from the generals, "Pay the toll!"
Everyone was stunned. They turned around and saw that it was the complacent Cheng Yaojin who finished the last sentence.
"I say, Mo boy, you even know the slogan of the Old Man when he was a bandit?" Cheng Yaojin said with a surprised face.
Qin Qiong scolded him with a smile, "How secretive is your bandit history? How many people in the world don't know about it?"
Cheng Yaojin didn't feel ashamed. Instead, he said proudly, "The Old Man was a bandit in the past. He didn't kill people for money. As long as the merchants pay the toll, I won't make it difficult for them. And I will make sure that they have a smooth journey. "
The other generals couldn't help but feel proud. They were able to get to where they were today, so naturally, they wouldn't be as short-sighted as the bandits.
Meton said with a smile, "General Cheng's slogan is crude, but it is reasonable. This mountain was opened by me, and this tree was planted by me. If you want to pass through this road, you will have to pay the toll. When the Village of Mo's village was planning to set up a bank, not only did they spend a lot of money to hire the Gongshu family to build the safest treasury, but they also spent a lot of manpower and resources to develop all kinds of secret codes. They even transferred the risk of losing money to the bank. Is it too much to ask for only 1% of the value of the toll?"
Many people nodded. They only saw that the bank of the Village of Mo's village was enjoying the benefits, but they didn't see the risk that the bank of the Village of Mo's village had to pay. What's more, the bank of the Village of Mo's village had set a limit of 1% of the value of the toll, which was already a good price.
"If even the imperial court is against it, then I don't know what you think of the toll of the brick road!" Meton retorted coldly.
Yu Zhining and others couldn't help but open their mouths and couldn't say anything. Compared with the practice of 1% of the value of the bank of the Village of Mo's village, the toll collected by the imperial court on the Longhai Line was probably more like a bandit's doggerel.
"What about the bank notes and checks? If one day the bank of the Village of Mo's village can't pay the cash, who will bear the risk? "Yu Zhining argued forcefully.
Hearing this, Meton couldn't help being silent for a while and said, "You are right about this. There is indeed a great risk. If the Village of Mo's village can't pay the bank notes and checks, then it is indeed a piece of waste paper, which is worthless."
All the ministers couldn't help but be in an uproar. They were just speechless by Mo Jiazi's bandit's doggerel on the bank notes business. They originally thought that Mo Jiazi would still quibble on the bank notes and checks, but they didn't expect that Mo Jiazi admitted it without any resistance.
In an instant, Yu Zhining and others couldn't help showing a smile of success. The bank notes business was dispensable, and their focus had always been on the bank notes. As long as they controlled the cash of the Village of Mo's village, they naturally had means to make the Village of Mo's village unable to move an inch.
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