Chapter 244: Coinage
On the other side, Cui Zhouping and Ma Liang returned to the residence.

Cui Zhouping had a lot of experience. He came back, washed his feet with hot water, and lay down to sleep.

Ma Liang, however, was tossing and turning on the kang. He had heard of kangs but had never slept on one.

I have something on my mind now and I am particularly sensitive to the hot kang that burns my butt.

He was somewhat resistant and reluctant about serving in Guanzhong.

This means being away from home and most of your family and friends.

He was born in Xiangyang and has become accustomed to the climate of Xiangyang.

It has become his instinct to shiver when it is cold.

As for the current treatment of being roasted on the hot kang, it really makes him very uncomfortable.

But does he have a choice?
The black bear started talking about wolves and sheep as soon as he opened his mouth. If Ma Liang dared to refuse, wouldn't he be putting Zhuge Liang and Cui Zhouping on the fire?
Now it is the beginning of the first lunar month, when the temperature difference between day and night is large...it is reasonable that he, a man from Xiangyang, died accidentally due to fatigue from the journey and catching a cold.

When Ma Liang woke up after staying up all night, the sun was shining brightly over the Guanzhong area.

When Ma Liang got up, he didn't see Cui Zhouping. He didn't have time to wash up. He just rubbed his face and went to the mansion where Black Bear lived.

When I came in, I saw Cui Zhouping sorting out various military books and files in the front yard. More than a dozen guards and clerks followed Cui Zhouping's orders and reclassified the documents that had been roughly classified before.

Cui Zhouping was also speechless. He had been a General of the Tiger Guards and had seen how the various departments in the Taiwei Mansion operated.

The organization and functions of Black Bear are in a mess, and Black Bear is the only one who is responsible for terminal processing.

Thanks to the black bear's physical strength, energy, and great endurance, he was able to remotely control and coordinate the overall affairs by himself.

Now Zhuge Liang is about to become the Chief Secretary and take over all affairs. As a result, the documents and files are in a mess. Cui Zhouping has to help Zhuge Liang train a team of clerks first.

At this moment, Zhuge Liang was sorting out the archives of various government treasuries with Black Bear.

Black Bear sat in the main seat, with his left hand on the abacus, dialing back and forth with his thumb and index finger, and the hardwood polished abacus beads hit back and forth, making a crisp sound.

Zhuge Liang sat opposite the black bear, always worried that the abacus beads that the black bear was dialing would jump out and hit him in the face.

He had heard Black Bear roughly describe the approximate spoils last night, but now that he had calculated two-thirds of the treasury data, it was equal to Black Bear's rough estimate last night.

This shows that the value of the wealth sealed in the treasuries of various places in Guanzhong is very high, half higher than Black Bear’s estimate!
Gold is easy to transport, so the gold data is consistent with Black Bear’s memory; the huge discrepancies are in the various bronze objects!
Mint coins, mint better Wuzhu coins, and also mint ten- and one-hundred-Wuzhu coins!

Upon learning of such a large reserve of bronze, the idea of ​​minting coins repeatedly struck Zhuge Liang's mind.

The launch of a large number of high-quality Wuzhu coins into the market will naturally stimulate people's enthusiasm for production!
Especially since Cao Cao gave up taxation in the fifth year of Jian'an and replaced it with household levy, his side has minted high-quality Wuzhu coins on a large scale. In terms of currency and economy, his side is far ahead of Cao Cao and the Xu Du court!

Whether it is future corvée labor, land rent or anything else, a large amount of circulating currency will be needed for circulation.

Using swords and spears to force the people to produce grain and transport grain to government warehouses is far less efficient than using money to stimulate the people.

As long as the money circulates, everything will be fine.

Money is the best repair agent and lubricant. Zhuge Liang did not understand repair agents and lubricants, but he admired Guan Zhong's ideas on governing the country.

Ma Liang stood in the corridor outside the door, listening to the fierce sound of abacus beads colliding in the side hall. Although he was very curious, he did not dare to enter rashly.

He was somewhat embarrassed to be late on his first day at work.

As Black Bear stopped calculating on his abacus, he said, "Many of the giant copper artifacts are estimates. Now, roughly, it is estimated that there are about 830,000 kilograms of copper materials."

Most of them were large bronze objects that were difficult to destroy, disassemble, transport or hide. After deducting some exquisite and practical small bronze objects that were sealed in warehouses, there was less than 100,000 kilograms of copper available for casting new coins.

Black Bear has been concerned about the issue of casting high-quality Wuzhu coins for a long time.

Money can save a lot of trouble, increase administrative efficiency, and improve everyone's life.

Zhuge Liang wanted to mint new coins and use them to consolidate people's hearts, so he naturally supported it.

But at this moment, as he stopped his left hand, Zhuge Liang was also attracted by the abacus. In Zhuge Liang's eyes, it is not an exaggeration to say that the abacus is a national treasure.

Some of the doubts he had in his mind before were also dispelled by the abacus.

The reason why the black bear can command the army is probably that he does not need any genius to assist him. The black bear can complete the coordination and allocation calculations by himself.

The more troops you command, the greater the amount of computing power the command center has to do.

Hei Xiong himself had a very advanced method of calculation. When he was conquering the Huns, the army, auxiliary troops, and rescued women and children were organized into teams of 100 or 1,000 men, which further saved the amount of calculation.

"I can allocate about 100,000 to 130,000 kilograms of copper materials."

As he spoke, Black Bear smoothed out his abacus, tapped it, and said in the blink of an eye: "Take the average value, and we can mint about 90 million five-zhu coins. When the weather gets warmer, we can continue to clean up the ruins and collect copper materials. Then we will set the price for minting 100 million coins this time."

Seeing that Zhuge Liang's eyes were focused on the abacus, Black Bear lifted it up, shook it, and handed it to Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang stood up and took it with both hands. The abacus was made of very solid materials, the beads were ebony and the frame was golden sandalwood. Zhuge Liang felt like he was lifting a small table.

He sat down again, and Black Bear continued, "In addition to the copper coins of five baht, five baht, and fifteen baht, I will also mint gold coins of four values, fifty baht, one hundred baht, five hundred baht, and one thousand baht."

Zhuge Liang was stunned and raised his hand to touch his temples: "My lord, are you saying that you want to use gold to mint new coins?"

"Yes, I have thought about using copper to make fifty or hundred coins before, but I felt it was inappropriate. Last night, the gentleman talked about minting new coins, and I felt that it would be better to use gold for large-denomination coins."

Black Bear was silent after he finished speaking, giving Zhuge Liang time to think. In the measurement units of the time, the basic anchor of weight was millet. Sixteen millet grains were one bean, and six beans were equal to one zhu; twenty-four zhu were equal to one liang, and sixteen liang were equal to one jin.

A five-zhu coin, in its most perfect condition, should weigh five zhu.

Generally speaking, five five-zhu coins weigh one liang, and eighty coins weigh one jin.

In the past, according to the official exchange rate, ten thousand coins were equal to one gold, which means one hundred and twenty-five kilograms of copper was equal to one kilogram of gold.

Zhuge Liang did not argue, but asked: "My Lord, what you mean is to use gold to make large and small coins. The large coins are worth one thousand or five hundred, and the small coins are worth one hundred or fifty. Should we use one gold to make ten large coins or twenty large coins?"

If one gold ounce is used to make ten large coins, which is equivalent to dividing the gold equally, the exchange rate still applies: ten thousand five-zhu coins equal one gold ounce.

"If one gold coin is divided into ten parts and made into ten large coins, the powerful and wealthy will certainly collect the gold coins and melt them into utensils. For a large coin of one thousand, use one liang of gold; for a large coin of five hundred, use half a liang of gold. For another 100, use six zhu of gold; for the rest of the coin of fifty, use three zhu of gold, which is too little, and mixing with other gold is not good either."

Black Bear calmly explained his idea: "Gold is soft. To prevent thieves from cutting and wearing out gold coins, I plan to improve the craftsmanship and use stamping to make gold coins. I will set the face value to 1,000, 500, and 100. For copper coins, I will use one ounce of copper to represent fifty, and half an ounce of copper to represent ten. I will not make coins worth five."

Zhuge Liang frowned again as he listened, feeling that something was not right. His original plan was to use half a pound of copper to cast coins as a hundred coins.

This is a credit currency. The specific weight is not the key. Equal value recycling and technical anti-counterfeiting are the key.

His original plan was to mint 2 billion coins at a time.

If Black Bear's plan is followed, with the largest copper coin having a face value of fifty, then about 800 million copper coins can be minted this time; the remaining shortfall will be filled with gold coins.

Zhuge Liang thought again and again and said: "My lord is kind and benevolent, I am not as kind as you."

"I don't value money. In the future, sir, don't save money for me. Just consider the smooth governance."

At this time, Black Bear looked outside the door and saw several people waiting. Zhang Ding had also returned and was sitting in the corridor outside the door drinking tea.

Eye to eye, Black Bear smiled at Zhang Ding, then glanced at Ma Liang, and then at Zhuge Liang: "Previously, clay molds were used for coin casting, I want to use copper molds instead. I will be responsible for the gold coins myself. Taishi Wengong has excellent craftsmanship, I will ask him to carve the ancestral coins and cast the mother coins. The coin casting will be entrusted to Mr. Kong Ming. You can draw up a list of requirements for who you need, and I will search for you."

"Also, minting coins is a major event that benefits the country and the people. Sir, you don't have to hide it. You can consult with others and work together to make improvements if necessary. If not, we can encourage each other."

"Yes, I accept your order."

Zhuge Liang stood up and bowed. Black Bear also stood up to see Zhuge Liang off. "The abacus is a state secret. After dinner, I will teach you the formula for calculation."

"Thank you, Lord."

Zhuge Liang restrained his smile, walked to the door, held his feather fan, bowed, and took a few steps back before leaving.

Black Bear led Zhang Ding inside, walked around the screen and went straight into the study through the side door.

Zhang Ding took off his helmet and was about to salute, but Black Bear supported him and asked, "How are the hundred households in the Zuofu counties?"

"Everything has been laid out, nothing is left out."

Zhang Ding put the helmet on the wooden cabinet next to his seat, and saw Black Bear casually throw a peach to him. He immediately caught it with a smile and wiped its fur.

Black Bear also wiped the peach fuzz and took a bite. He chewed it and said, "From now on, you will be the captain of my personal army. In the next period of time, you have to patrol more in Weinan and Weibei. Don't let them be bullied, and they can't bully the people. Don't be afraid of killing people. If you execute a few people decisively, you can prevent many similar cases."

Zhang Ding ate the peach in small bites, and after swallowing it, he said, "General, I am worried that killing meritorious men will discourage the brave men."

"Since they disobeyed my orders and broke the law, they are no longer meritorious. You lack merit, and it will be very difficult to convince these new troops. Instead of convincing them, it is better to make them fear you. Don't tolerate them. In the future, even if you leave the town, I will assign other troops to you, and you don't have to worry about trying to please them."

On the other side, Zhuge Liang led Ma Liang to meet Cui Zhouping. Although Cui Zhouping had not yet obtained an actual official position, considering his background, resume and age, when the Grand Marshal's Mansion was established, Cui Zhouping would definitely be one of the top five.

Zhuge Liang did not hide anything and told him about the position of Chief Secretary that Black Bear had promised him last night.

Ma Liang seemed to feel the same way when he heard this. Zhuge Liang's recognition was a recognition of him.

Cui Zhouping frowned, and Ma Liang quickly calmed down: "Sir, is Brother Kong Ming not suitable?"

"It's not that Kong Ming is not suitable, but the current timing is not right."

Cui Zhouping said, shaking his head and smiling: "Our young master has a lot of thoughts on his mind. He certainly values ​​Kong Ming very much, but Kong Ming has not done anything, so how can he convince the people? So if Kong Ming becomes the chief secretary, it will definitely disturb the officials and ministers of the government, and foreign enemies will also look down on him."

Then he raised his head and laughed: "Perhaps in the eyes of the world, Kong Ming will be reduced to a lucky recruit and a treacherous minister."

Seeing Zhuge Liang's solemn expression, Cui Zhouping comforted the anxious Ma Liang: "Kong Ming is naturally competent. The lord does things without leaving any traces, and people dare not blame him, but only make things difficult for Kong Ming. In my opinion, the lord wants to take this opportunity to see how they perform. These people are like fish in a pond, and Kong Ming is the food thrown into the pond."

Ma Liang listened and nodded slowly, feeling relieved.

But Zhuge Liang heard something and also saw the caution in Cui Zhouping's words.

Scaring the fish is definitely not just for the sake of watching the fun.

Zhuge Liang then told him about the commission to mint copper coins, and Cui Zhouping immediately advised: "Kong Ming might as well decline the position of Chief Secretary. After the lord is conferred the title and appointed as the Grand Marshal, Chen Zhen, as the Chief Secretary, will be the most suitable person to go to Xudu to pay homage to the emperor and present local products. When he comes back, he will be in charge of a county, so he will certainly not be able to be the Chief Secretary at the same time."

Zhuge Liang nodded and said, "Mr. Cui, do you mean to appoint another wise man after Chen Xiaoqi leaves?"

"Exactly."

Cui Zhouping stretched out his hand and pointed at himself with his index finger: "I am an old man with no talent, I only have a false reputation, I can only serve as a temporary figurehead."

Looking at Ma Liang again, Cui Zhouping said: "The muddy water in the pond is not a good thing. We have a shallow foundation and should not compete with the people of Guanlong."

(End of this chapter)