Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 996: Chapter 953: Used to It

Chen Xi did not want to explain the matters behind coin minting, as minting coins is merely superficial. In fact, he intends to reclaim the pricing power of certain essential goods. Although with their current existence, the aristocratic families will not excessively disrupt the market, the future is uncertain. Only by nationalizing some things can stability be ensured.

Some things cannot be controlled by a certain class; that is too dangerous. To prevent such occurrences, Chen Xi has to prepare in advance, using the so-called huge benefits to reclaim these things.

Chen Xi likes the so-called equivalent exchange, after all, knowledge, information, and martial force each have their own value. Not discussing martial force, knowledge and information alone are most evident in that a merchant can sell waste paper at the price of gold, and a scientist can turn waste into gold.

This in itself is the value of knowledge and information, whether you admit it or not, the fact remains. Counting the value added by information, knowledge, and martial force, the sentence ”exchange is always equivalent” is not much questioned.

”You should do it, in this regard, we really have nothing to advise on, we can only wait for the results.” Li Youu said after contemplating for a long time.

”Time will tell, at the very least, I will not harm ordinary people, or rather my initial intention has always been the stability of the entire country. Although the effect is not very noticeable, the reality is such, and time will testify to everything.” Chen Xi said with a smile.

For himself, Chen Xi has already seen that everyone has some apprehensions. In political affairs, even if it defies some common sense, they will consider it first, rather than stopping as they did before.

Precisely because everyone present is a Sage, they understand Chen Xi’s formidable nature more clearly. In contrast, all the people present could not enable Liu Bei to reach such a level in a few years no matter how hard they tried, but everyone remembers what Chen Xi said to Liu Bei upon returning from Hulao to Mount Tai back then.

At that time, that just-turned-adult young man had already set the current situation, which is the most terrifying part. From beginning to end, everything seemed to be determined at that moment, moving slowly but steadily towards that initial ridiculous but soon-to-be-attainable goal.

That is to say, everyone here understands that Chen Xi has a very good grasp of the trends of the great forces, and his handling of internal governance also earns unending admiration.

”Just as before, you do your work, we will not interfere unless there is a major mistake. Before you notify us for assistance, we will only watch.” Jia Xu said slowly, not being adept at governance, he directly agreed.

”If it’s not related to me, I won’t concern myself with what you do.” Lub Su, being the ever-amiable person, naturally would not interfere with Chen Xi in such matters.

”If you need help, you can look for me, though I don’t have much to help with, we can spend some time together helping Zijing handle political affairs.” Li Youu replied afterward, his not doing household registration does not mean he has nothing to do. Even when not following behind Liu Bei, while relatively idle, he also cannot really do nothing.

”Actually, coin minting is quite simple.” Chen Xi took out a box of pastries from his sleeve, taking out the pastries, and others casually began pinching and eating them.

”Pretty good red bean pastries.” Guo Jia lazily commented.

”Indeed, quite good.” Fa Zheng echoed; their ability to steer the topic away was not of a general level.

”You all only noticed the red bean pastries, didn’t you see the imprint on the pastries?” Chen Xi rolled his eyes and said.

”Oh, isn’t this just pressing rice flour down to steam it?” Guo Jia, having cooked, naturally understood what that imprint meant.

”So, when we mint coins, making this thing is the most important.” Chen Xi said with a smile; the methods of seed coin and prototype coin are not available now, yet this kind of thing is akin to woodblock printing, seen daily but overlooked.

”...” Everyone was momentarily stunned, then reacted; some things are actually the simplest, even used daily, yet overlooked due to habitual familiarity.

”So, it’s very simple, you’re just overthinking it.” Chen Xi said with a smile, the essence of this kind of thing is actually the Imperial Seal.

”As expected, the more familiar something is, the easier it is to overlook; using the seal every day, yet never paying attention to such matters.” Li Youu said with a wry smile as he looked at the seal ribbon at his waist, many things are overlooked amid this habitual familiarity.

”This is also minting coins.” Guo Jia said as he pressed a fingerprint into the red bean pastry. Moreover, the state of materials being nurtured or not in this era makes a huge difference, as long as softening occurs, the situation is no different from Guo Jia’s.

”Borrowing the Yellow River water conservancy at that time will make things easier.” Chen Xi said with a smile, doing such things manually is too slow, hydraulic casting is the fastest way.

”Indeed a clever thought, but have you manufactured the structure of the casting tools?” Liu Ye asked; he has already seen a major difference from previous coin casting – the loss of copper material is very minimal.

”Once Duke Zheng Wen and Miss Huang arrive, naturally it can be resolved. Their skills in machinery and tools far exceed our standards.” Chen Xi said with a smile.

Although it hasn’t been resolved yet, Chen Xi is very confident in Zheng Hun and Huang Yueying. The goal has been stated, the basic principle is there, and how to create it is up to them. Even if the first attempt is a defective product, there will undoubtedly be progress in the second, and after enough time, a complete version will naturally appear.

”As for special drawing rights, it’s actually because I need to enhance the regulatory abilities of the Money Exchange. After all, we’re currently somewhat strapped for funds, relying more on certain means for money, though no one can dismantle it. Moreover, we are indeed thriving, so the risks aren’t apparent.” Chen Xi thought for a moment and explained the special drawing rights.

”We’re short on money?” Li Youu rolled his eyes. Not long ago, after some people from the Mount Tai Bank headquarters had settled, he had already mortgaged treasury notes there, extracting seventy million coins to help Liu Bei adequately reward the civil and military officials.

Although the Official Position and rank can indeed be elevated, Li Youu has always had a sense of crisis towards conferring offices and nobility; they’re too fast, and the upper echelon is too young. If this continues, once there’s nothing left to confer, a rebellion by the nobility will not be far off.

Therefore, this time, Li Youu’s suggestion to Liu Bei was to promote only a few with genuine major accomplishments in Official Position and nobility, and bestow Money and Grain and land as rewards to others, to the extent of actively planning for the Northeastern Great Plain.

Since there is plenty of land, reward it with land, then control the household registration, reduce private slaves, afterward give them power allowing them to own more private slaves. Isn’t this a diluted version of a title? (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)