Chapter 25 Chapter 21 Sang Hongyang Gong

At the court meeting, Emperor Wu sat high on the dragon chair, and the civil and military officials at the court saw the emperor's face flushed and his eyes glowing, so they guessed that the emperor would announce a big event today... In the imperial study room of Emperor Wu, Emperor Wu was discussing with Prime Minister Li Cai, Da Si Nong Yan Yi, Da Si Nong Cheng Dong Guo Xianyang, Da Si Nong Zhong Cheng Sang Hongyang, Yushi doctor Zhang Tang, and Nanyang iron merchants Kong Zhi and Sima Qian. financial event.Whenever there is a major event in the court, Emperor Wu will have Sima Qian, who has been named Taishi Ling, be present to record it.

Emperor Wu said: "My dear friends, my great Han has been fighting for years. The national defense expenditure is huge and we can't make ends meet. Now the national treasury is in a hurry. In order to accumulate funds for the country, we have implemented some time ago to sell officials. It has achieved certain results." He took a sip of tea and said, "However, this is far from enough. Now I have decided to centralize the minting power to the central government and nationalize the copper materials used to mint coins to solve the fundamental problem of coins. What do you think?"

Zhang Tang immediately stated: "Your Majesty is wise, the creation of this money market should have been under the unified control of the imperial court long ago, otherwise there will be too many cases of counterfeit coins, and it will be impossible to control them no matter how they are killed. It is really difficult to stop." The young and vigorous Sang Hongyang expressed his support. He said: "The emperor is right. Coins should have been unified by the central government long ago. The imperial court should set up a special agency for minting coins, including a place to distinguish the authenticity of copper materials, and mint coins." places, as well as technical appraisal and anti-counterfeiting technical institutions..."

Sang Hongyang, the son of a great merchant in Luoyang.He was smart and scheming since he was a child, and had a talent for business. He served the palace when he was young, and he is now the chief minister of farming. Emperor Wu nodded appreciatively. "Prime Minister, Da Si Nong, Da Si Nong Cheng, what's your opinion?" Emperor Wu asked. All three agreed, and the prime minister asked, "What kind of coin is the most suitable?" Sang Hongyang said: "It is most suitable to make five baht coins uniformly. Because three baht coins are too thin, they are easy to forge. Five baht coins are more complicated to make, which is good for anti-counterfeiting."

Emperor Wu said: "Five baht is very good. You go down and design the specific shape, and give it to me for the final decision." "Yes." Prime Minister Li Cai replied. Sang Hongyang said again: "Your Majesty, I have another suggestion." "Ai Qing said." "My minister suggested that the emperor implement the monopoly of salt and iron by the state." "Salt and iron monopoly!" Emperor Wu's eyes lit up. "Go on." "Weichen suggested to follow the example of Guan Zhong and Shang Yang to monopolize salt and iron by the state, specifically under the jurisdiction of the Dasinong, collect salt from various places by the state, and iron smelting by the state, including iron smelting and distribution."

"Okay." Emperor Wu said excitedly, "It's exactly what I want." Zhang Tang said: "I think that the salt and iron monopoly should be implemented soon. Now the big merchants have too much power to collect money, so I suggest that they should be extorted money and increase taxes to enrich the national treasury." Emperor Wu nodded again. The inner court meeting was very lively, but Da Si Nong Yan Yi did not express his opinion. Emperor Wu asked him: "Why did Da Si Nong not speak? Do you agree or not?" He reluctantly replied: "I agree." Emperor Wu asked Dongguo Xianyang and Kong Zhi again, and they had to say, "I agree." Emperor Wu was very unhappy when he saw it.

After the meeting, Emperor Wu said: "Sima Qian, wait a moment." "yes." Before Zhang Tang withdrew, he whispered to Emperor Wu: "Your Majesty, it seems that Chief Secretary Yan Yi doesn't agree with it in his heart. He is slandering, and he doesn't know how to object in his stomach." Emperor Wu's face darkened when he heard this, and he didn't answer. He just said: "Sima Qian, write up today's decision, and I will announce it tomorrow." "Yes." Sima Qian replied. When he arrived at the Imperial Study Room, Sima Qian picked up a pen and prepared to draft a text. Emperor Wu thought for a while and asked, "Sima Qian, what do you think of Sang Hongyang and Zhang Tang's proposal? Is it feasible to refer to history?"

"My Majesty, the suggestion that the country unify the minting of money is too much in line with the current needs. Since ancient times, the imperial court has exclusively minted coins. How can the localities make their own money? It should be a capital crime for common people and merchants to mint money privately. Historically, , Emperor Xiaowen once changed to cast four baht coins, and today Sang Hongyang proposed five baht coins, and I think this proposal is very good." Emperor Wu nodded: "Go ahead." Sima Qian also said: "During the Spring and Autumn Period, Guan Zhong assisted Duke Huan of Qi to establish hegemony. Guan Zhong implemented a set of reform methods, such as tax reform and well field reform, which established economic strength for Duke Huan of Qi to dominate the hegemony. The country is rich and strong. Now that the emperor is wise enough to implement the economic reforms suggested by Sang Hongyang, we will be able to prosper if we have money and strength.”

Sima Qian paused. Emperor Wu encouraged him, "Well said, let's go on." Sima Qian also said: "Li Si of the Qin State helped Qin Shihuang abolish the enfeoffment, unify the writing, unify the measurement, and unify the currency, which opened a precedent for Qin Shihuang to establish a centralized power. Today, Sang Hongyang proposed to unify the casting of coins, and the unification of salt and iron by the state. Centralization will definitely have a big effect.” Emperor Wu became excited: "Well said, write down the draft decree, and I will announce it in the Ming Dynasty."

"yes." At the court meeting, Emperor Wu sat high on the dragon chair, and all the ministers saw the emperor's face flushed and his eyes shining, so they guessed that Emperor Wu would announce a big event today. "My dear friends, I want to announce a major event today. For the prosperity of my great man, two major events must be implemented. One is that the minting of coins will be carried out by the imperial court from now on, and local counties and counties will not be allowed to interfere with the law. The production and sales of the iron industry are all nationalized."

Emperor Wu glanced at His Highness sharply, and then said: "Now the Taishi Ling Sima Qian will issue an edict." Sima Qian went out to read out the first imperial edict. There was a murmur of discussion in the hall. Emperor Wu heard it clearly, most of them were praises.Emperor Wu's face turned red, and he said, "Sima Qian continues to read." Sima Qian read out the second edict again. From now on, the salt and iron monopoly will be implemented, and the salt and iron will be managed by the state, and private production and sale will be prohibited.All income goes to the treasury.From now on, the matter of salt and iron will be under the control of the Shaofu, and will be under the leadership of Da Si Nong.In places where salt is produced, set up salt officials and recruit salt households, and all salt production will be collected by the state.The matter of iron smelting belongs to the state, and private iron smelting will be severely punished.Where iron is produced, iron officials are set up, and the production and management are unified by the state.This is it. Your Highness, there was another discussion, most people looked excited and nodded in agreement. Emperor Wu personally announced the decree: "Sang Hongyang, the chief minister of agriculture and agriculture, obeys orders." Sang Hongyang hurriedly came out to listen to the order. "I ordered you to be in charge of salt and iron. From now on, the three officials of Shanglin who mint coins will also be under your jurisdiction. I hope you will live up to my expectations." "The minister obeys the order." Emperor Wu said again: "Zhang Tang leads the decree." Zhang Tang came out and kowtowed. "I order you to supervise the counting and ordering, and all big businessmen who hide their wealth and fail to report and pay less taxes will be severely punished." "The minister leads the order." Emperor Wu also announced: "Dongguo Xianyang, Confucius only obeys orders." The two hurriedly went out to kneel and kowtow: "I sent you two to various places to prepare for the establishment of salt and iron monopoly institutions. We can use rich and powerful merchants to assist in the operation. They have expertise in this area." "The minister leads the order." All the ministers of His Highness, after hearing this, there were fewer whispers, probably because they were more satisfied with the last item, because many of them had various connections with wealthy businessmen from all over the world. Sima Qian thought to himself, Emperor Wu is really smart, he is winning people's hearts.He also thought that Emperor Wu hadn't arranged for Da Si Nong Yan Yi, only to see him bowing his head and sighing aside, it seemed that Emperor Wu was going to replace him with Sang Hongyang in the future. "Do you have any opinions, gentlemen? If you have any, just state it." Emperor Wu's voice like a bell interrupted Sima Qian's thoughts. He raised his head and saw Emperor Wu looking at everyone with confidence. Soon, several important ministers agreed, and only one minister said: "My lord, the salt and iron monopoly is good for the country's financial revenue, but I am afraid that it will be suspected of competing with the people for profit. I think..." "What are you competing for profit with the people! It is for the benefit of the common people to increase the income of the Yu family!" Emperor Wu said loudly. "Besides, these giant merchants have monopolized a large amount of money, which has caused great restrictions on the country and finances. Shouldn't they be restricted?" Soon several ministers came out to support Emperor Wu. "The emperor is holy, and the ministers are sincerely convinced." "Okay, from now on I will pay more attention to finances. If we don't have strong material and financial resources, then how can we defend the border, how can we enrich the people, and how can we strengthen the country!" Emperor Wu's impassioned words made all the officials kneel down. "Your majesty is wise, we all obey orders." "Okay, everyone supports it, so let's carry it out, Sanchao." Sima Qian, Ren An, and Qing'er rode horses and walked in the suburbs facing the rising sun.Sima Qian said excitedly: "Brother Ren An, the emperor reused Sang Hongyang and carried out agricultural and mulberry reforms. It seems that our great Han Dynasty is coming soon." Ren An said: "Yes, the emperor's wisdom lies in his ability to do great things and employ people. Emperor Jing can't do it. He listens too much to the empress dowager and always praises Huang Lao's desire and inaction." Sima Qian sighed: "Brother Ren is right, the current emperor respects doing something, so the development is very fast." "But..." Ren An thought for a while and said, "Did you find out? The emperor is a little overjoyed." "I also have the same opinion, but no one is perfect, and the emperor is not perfect either." After returning home, Sima Qian said to Qing'er: "Qing'er, hurry up and study ink, I want to write down this section of Emperor Wu's achievements." "yes."