Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 212 Green Seedling Money

“We need to make money!”

After settling the accounts, Zhao Xin couldn't help but sigh in the Lecture Hall.

Ouyang Xiu and others also got used to it after hearing Zhao Xin's sighs.

But there is one thing to say...

What they need to consider and solve is just what is reported in the current memorials.

However, His Royal Highness Prince Yu has many more things to consider and solve.

Immediately afterwards...

Zhao Xin then asked Ouyang Xiu and the others, "How do you think we can make a lot of money quickly?"

After all, Ouyang Xiu and others are not good at financial management.

Of course, it is not clear where the money comes from.

Zhao Xin also immediately thought of Wang Anshi.

after all……

He knew that Wang Anshi had presided over reforms.

Although this reform has brought suffering to the people since ancient times.

But it’s also worth listening to what Wang Anshi said.

Anyway...

He is bored, after all.

So a few days passed.

Wang Anshi returned to Kaifeng.

The first thing I did when I returned to Kaifeng was to talk to Zhao Xin about it. It seemed that Zhao Xin’s theory really worked.

and……

There are indeed some horses that are sick and do not look very healthy.

Zhao Xin asked him to put all these things down and asked him what he should do next if he needed a large amount of stable money.

Wang Anshi was also very direct and replied: "Your Highness, just collect salt tax, commercial tax, and liquor tax in Xuchang and Nanyang, isn't that enough?"

As far as Wang Anshi knows, he seems not to have seen Zhao Xin collecting these taxes in Xuchang and Nanyang areas.

Zhao Xin also said: "This salt tax and wine tax have already been collected in many other places in the Song Dynasty. How can we collect it now?"

But Wang Anshi doesn't care about this.

Anyway...

Your Highness, you are only asking me for stability and to make a lot of money.

Since ancient times, the only way to ensure stability and large amounts of taxes is to collect these taxes.

Zhao Xin asked again: "How do those wealthy families usually make money?"

Wang Anshi said, "Lend it."

Zhao Xin: "Lending?"

Wang Anshi: "It means lending money or seeds to farmers, and agreeing to take the money or seeds back when the harvest comes next year."

Zhao Xin asked, "How much money can this make?"

Wang Anshi said: "What you earn is not the money from seeds, but the money from selling your children."

Zhao Xin asked, "What do you mean?"

Wang Anshi replied: "The peasants will certainly not be able to pay back the money, so they will just sell their own children at a low price, and the lenders will use them as servants, or sell them at a high price."

Zhao Xin asked: "Is this kind of situation common in the Song Dynasty?"

Wang Anshih replied: "You can say that they are everywhere. Some can pay it back, but at most they can barely make ends meet."

"That's why so many people like to be tenant farmers. Moreover, some of them even run away after becoming tenant farmers."

Zhao Xin then asked: "Do you have any solution?"

Wang Anshi said, "Your Highness, are you asking to solve the problem for Your Highness or to solve the problem for the people?"

Zhao Xin said, "It would be best if you could help me solve the problem and help the people solve the problem at the same time."

Wang Anshi said, "Your Highness can try the Qingmiao money."

Zhao Xin: "What is Qingmiao money?"

Wang Anshi gave Zhao Xin a brief account of it.

to be honest!
Qingmiao money is lending. And since private individuals can lend money, then Zhao Xin can lend money too!
only……

Zhao Xin also asked: "I remember you said before that many people can't pay it back?"

Wang Anshi also said: "That's right."

Zhao Xin said, "How do I make money? You don't want me to ruin other people's families, do you? I can't do that."

Wang Anshi also replied: "No, I can't pay it back. Many of the people I mentioned can't pay it back. It's just that the interest rate is high. Your Highness can lower the interest rate. For example, only charge half of others."

Zhao Xin also asked: "How much is half?"

Wang Anshi said, "If the capital is ten strings of cash, then when the term is due, two strings of cash can be collected, for a total of twelve strings of cash. I have investigated your fiefdom, Your Highness Prince of Yu, and the people in your fiefdom should have a lot of food left over. If we can use it to lend out in the surrounding areas..."

Zhao Xin asked, "How much money do you think you can make?"

Wang Anshi said, "It's hard to say whether it will be several hundred thousand guan, but I'm afraid it should be possible to get one hundred thousand guan. However... the premise of all this is that the grain can be transported to other places without being wasted."

"If we take into account the losses on the way... I guess we can only earn a few tens of thousands of guan in the end."

amount……

But a few tens of thousands of strings of cash is not a small amount.

only……

You've lost too much!

It’s right to think about it!

There is definitely no shortage of food in Xuchang and Nanyang.

Because people here have a lot of land.

But how to transport the grain out for loan and then bring it back is a difficult problem.

Zhao Xin also said: "But if we lend money to Hebei Province, I'm afraid we won't even be able to get back the principal."

Wang Anshi said, "You can send it south."

Zhao Xin said, "Isn't that further away? I hope to transport all the grain earned from lending to the north."

Wang Anshi also said: "If we use water transport, there shouldn't be much waste."

Zhao Xin pondered for a moment.

Anyway...

Even if he doesn't do this, the rich people will do the same.

Why not make the money yourself?
Zhao Xin then said, "I appoint you as my finance minister, responsible for making money. What do you think?"

Wang Anshi asked, "I heard that Your Highness invented the steam engine."

Zhao Xin then asked, "You also know about this?"

Wang Anshi was honest and said directly: "Zeng Gong told me. Your Highness should know Zeng Gong."

Zhao Xin then asked calmly: "Why? Do you two know each other?"

Wang Anshi said: "Zeng Gong is my close friend."

Zhao Xin said: "You are interested in steam engines."

Wang Anshi said, "I heard that this thing can be used to transport grain. If it can be assisted by a steam engine and combined with water transportation, the effect may be even better."

……

Using the collected taxes to lend money seems to be a good way out.

Others charge 40% or 50%, but Zhao Xin feels that he can even charge 10%.

only……

I feel like they must have their reasons for charging 40% or 50%.

One, it is indeed more profitable this way.

The second reason may be to avoid risks, for example, in case the people cannot pay back the money, or there are people who refuse to pay.

otherwise……

Why do they set the interest rate so high?

Immediately afterwards...

I also asked questions related to Wang Anshi.

Wang Anshi also told Zhao Xin directly: "People have to borrow money whether they want to or not, because if they don't borrow money, they will starve to death."

Then... Zhao Xin had nothing to say.

(End of this chapter)