Chapter 157 Those who are close to Zhu are red

Take the Ming Dynasty banknotes and the French franc as examples:

A certain Ming merchant owns a product and can earn 20% profit by selling a product worth 100 yuan of Ming treasure notes. Assuming that one yuan of treasure notes is exchanged for one franc, then this product needs to be sold for 100 francs to earn 20%.

, that is, the profit of 20 yuan of Ming Dynasty banknotes.

If the exchange rate between Ming Dynasty banknotes and francs drops to two to one, that is, two yuan of banknotes are exchanged for one franc, then this product only needs to be sold for 50 francs, and the 20% he earns is 10 francs, which is still equivalent to 20 yuan.

Ming Dynasty treasure banknote.

It should be noted that the price he sold the goods was half lower, but the total profit he received in the end was exactly the same, and a lower price can open up a larger market and thus make more money.

This is the benefit of a low exchange rate, and vice versa.

Of course, if we only consider import and export issues, then Ming Dynasty does not need to consider exchange rate issues at all.

For example, take the above question: The Venetian bought a shipload of spices from the Egyptians, and then resold the spices to the French, English and Austrians. How should he settle and price the spices?

In fact, there was no unified currency in Europe at that time, and there was no such thing as a credit currency, so judging the value of the currency itself and making settlement was the only way.

For example, for a gold Ducat coin made in Venice, the merchant will first observe the completeness of the gold coin, and secondly refer to which version the gold coin belongs to, thereby determining the value of the gold Ducat coin and completing the settlement.

Therefore, under the premise that the currencies in the current world are basically based on the silver standard, no matter what the face value and unit are, they are the same in the form of physical metal currencies such as gold coins and silver coins. The exchange rate issue is not actually important. The previous exchange rate

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the question is a false proposition.

This point is exactly the same when it comes to Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes.

As long as the Ming Dynasty can guarantee that ten yuan of Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes can be exchanged for one tael of silver, then the only ones in trouble will be the merchants, because they need to exchange them back and forth, that's all.

But Zhu Jinsong wants to use currency to control the economies of other countries and cut off another wave of wool from time to time.

Yingjiang can cut it, and so can I, Da Ming.

That’s why the value of Ming Dynasty banknotes and exchange rate issues are involved.

In addition, the idea of ​​using treasure banknotes to control the world economy and cut the wool also involves the issue of the circulation of treasure banknotes.

If too few treasure banknotes are issued, it will not be enough to support international settlements, and may even cause the value of the treasure banknotes to be too high, thus causing deflation.

If too many banknotes are issued, they may damage their own value and cause inflation.

Also, whether those barbarians are willing to accept Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes as the settlement currency for international trade is also a very troublesome question.

In short, there are a lot of problems. The statement that having a carpenter become an economist will not affect the economy is purely a joke by Zhang Xiaohua and must not be taken seriously.

Fortunately, although there were no decent economists in the Ming Dynasty, there were a lot of scholars like Zeng Cheng who were extremely thick-skinned and black-hearted when it came to treating barbarians.

To describe them as having pus or sores on the soles of their feet is to praise their kindness.

As the saying goes, those who are close to red are red, and those who are close to ink are black. After hanging out with these bad guys for a long time, Zhu Jinsong, the Ming emperor, has obviously become a lot worse.

Zhu Jinsong directly threw the question to Zeng Cheng.

…

Pierre took a handful of Ming Dynasty banknotes and coins and looked them over for a long time before looking at Zeng Cheng with a confused look on his face: "These small ones, they should be coins? Are these papers also currency?"

Zeng Cheng smiled and nodded, and said: "Look at the smallest and thinnest coin. The face value is one penny, which is equivalent to one penny in the past... The banknote with the face value of 1 yuan is probably the same as yours."

The national 2 francs, with a face value of 100 yuan, are roughly equivalent to 200 francs.”

After roughly explaining the face value to Pierre, Zeng Cheng continued: "The Ming Dynasty is now promoting new treasure banknotes, and merchants on the market also prefer to use new treasure banknotes instead of the original silver and copper coins.

"

"So, even if this money is given to you personally by me, it can be regarded as a testimony of the friendship between Ming Dynasty and France, and you and Bensuke."

Hearing about the friendship between Ming Dynasty and France, and between Zeng Cheng and himself, Pierre was very moved. Once moved, he asked a confusing question.

Pierre held up a treasure banknote and asked: "Master Zeng, I know that the emperor of Ming Dynasty was very powerful, but there is no need to print the words "very good" on the money, right? The royal family of Ming Dynasty was very good? Isn't this a bit

Son, um, you are not humble anymore?"

Zeng Cheng looked at the words "Da Ming Royal Bank" that Pierre pointed at with a confused look on his face, and said: "The last two words are pronounced as bank!"

Pierre nodded, and then took the initiative to lie down on the stretcher: "Okay, I made a mistake, but Mr. Zeng, I want the French treasury to reserve a large number of Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes, so that France and Ming Dynasty can have

I need to use it when doing business settlement, but I don’t know how to get permission?”

Zeng Cheng was immediately happy - look, look, I just prepared crutches for him, who would have thought that he would take the initiative to lie down on the stretcher!

After praising Pierre in his heart, Zeng Cheng shook his head under Pierre's expectant gaze and rejected Pierre's proposal: "The Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes have just been issued, and the Ming Dynasty has not yet fully begun to circulate.

, France doesn’t have to be so anxious to get it back for reserves.”

"I, Emperor Ming, have said that France recognizes Ming as France's Far East ally, and Ming also recognizes France as Ming's ally in Europe. Therefore, France will not consider letting France reserve some until the treasure banknotes have passed the test of Ming market.

"

"Of course, I can assure you, Pierre, that as long as the Ming Dynasty banknotes pass the test of the market, France will be the first European country that can reserve Ming Dynasty banknotes."

"Just like the newly developed artillery and artillery developed by the Ming Dynasty, isn't it also sold to France first?"

When he heard Zeng Cheng say it would take some time, Pierre couldn't help but feel disappointed at first. He even wanted to ask how long this market test would take. When he heard Zeng Cheng talk about muskets and artillery, Pierre

El couldn't help but feel happy again.

I have to admit that the Ming Dynasty is the Ming Dynasty, and its technological development has always been more powerful than that of Europe. Relying on the guns and artillery of the Ming Dynasty, Louis XVI severely suppressed a group of nationalities and the bourgeoisie. The money obtained from confiscating homes not only turned France around.

The deficit in the national treasury and even the exemption of some taxes for the common people have made the situation in France a little more stable.

Zeng Cheng smiled and nodded, then changed the subject: "By the way, have you read the latest issues of the newspaper?"

Pierre nodded and replied: "I have seen it all. I noticed that the Ming Dynasty launched an attack on the Portuguese barbarians in Macau - after understanding the cause and effect, I think the Ming Dynasty should have driven away those Portuguese barbarians long ago. After all,

There is an old saying in the Ming Dynasty that people are afraid of power but not moral. The previous Ming Dynasty allowed them to live in Macau, but they want to occupy Macau. They are worse than animals!"

Listening to a blond Europa barbarian calling another group of blond Europa barbarians barbarians, and even saying things like being averse to force and being unethical and inferior to animals, Zeng Cheng, the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty, was confused.

It feels like the whole world has become magical.

What is this?

After coming back to his senses, Zeng Cheng couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and praised: "Pierre, your Chinese studies have improved a lot."

Pierre was a little embarrassed by the praise and said: "No, no, I still need to learn. As the saying goes, learn and live until you are old. I will not give up learning."

Learn and live until you are old? If you keep studying, won't you be able to live forever? Then why did the First Emperor ask for the elixir of immortality? He could just hold a book and read it every day!

After complaining secretly, Zeng Chengcai said with a smile: "Then you remember to study hard. However, what I want to tell you is that the Portuguese barbarians who occupied Macau have been completely wiped out. It will probably be published in the newspaper tomorrow

That’s the news.”

Pierre was stunned for a moment, and then he exclaimed: "God! This is too unbelievable - from the time the Ming Dynasty declared war on Portugal to the time you told me the news, it only took a dozen days, right? If you include the news

The time it takes to pass on the road and the preparation time of the army, then the time to actually attack those Portuguese barbarians may only be two or three days?"

Zeng Cheng shook his head and said: "No, it's not two or three days, but less than a day. From 10 o'clock in the morning... oh, starting from the attack at seven o'clock, to annihilating the Portuguese barbarians at three o'clock in the afternoon, the Sixth Army

We had dinner in Macau with the officers and men of the South China Sea Fleet."

Pierre was sour.

Although Portugal has declined, Portugal has two thousand troops on land in Macau and a small fleet on the sea. Its strength cannot be underestimated. If the French army is allowed to deal with the Portuguese army that has occupied Macau,

It is estimated that the fight will not be completed in less than ten or eight days.

It was better to switch to Ming Dynasty. It only took most of a day to wipe out all the barbarians.

Total annihilation?

Pierre suddenly came back to his senses, looked at Zeng Cheng stupidly and said: "Annihilate? All Portuguese barbarians?"

Zeng Cheng nodded and said: "Yes, the Ming Dynasty did not accept their surrender and used them all to build Jingguan."

Speaking of this, Zeng Cheng couldn't help but show a hint of shame on his face: "However, the problem lies in total annihilation - at that time, the Sixth Army thought that the South China Sea Fleet would capture prisoners, and the South China Sea Fleet thought that the Sixth Army would

Capturing prisoners, it was not until the battle was over that it was discovered that neither side had left any prisoners.”

"So, Ming Dynasty now needs someone who can deliver news to Portugal on behalf of Ming Dynasty and mediate the war at the appropriate time."

Pierre asked in confusion: "Mediation?"

Zeng Cheng nodded and said: "Yes, it is mediation. You know, Pierre, that Ming Dynasty has no interest in Europa."

Of course, this is only temporary and we will talk about the future later.

After silently adding this sentence in his heart, Zeng Cheng continued: "However, it is an indisputable fact that Portugal invaded our territory of the Ming Dynasty. Although the Portuguese entrenched in Macau have been completely wiped out, the Portuguese country must also pay for this.

cost."

"For example, they should compensate Ming Dynasty for its military expenses."

"Otherwise, His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty will never mind launching an attack on the Portuguese mainland and completely destroying it."

After Pierre nodded, Zeng Cheng added meaningfully: "Recently, I have been studying the art of war, and I found that there is a strategy in the art of war called "taking advantage of the fire." After you go back, you can ask your questions

Interpretation, what does this strategy mean?"

Pierre thought, why should I go back and ask for an interpreter? Do I really think that all the years I spent in Guangzhou were in vain?

However, this strategy seems to be very useful for France now?
Chapter completed!