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In the spring breeze of the eighteenth year of the Hongwu reign, the Xiaoling Mausoleum was swept by the wind, and the newly green pines and cypresses swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound.

Seven-year-old Su Ning stood at the highest point of the Xiaoling Academy, her light blue robe fluttering in the wind.

He looked down at the bustling city of Nanjing below, his gaze deep and unlike that of a child.

Over the past three years, the Mingtang Trading Company, which he founded, has grown into a towering tree, its roots deeply embedded in the economic lifeline of the Ming Dynasty.

From salt, iron, tea, and horses to silk and porcelain, Mingtang Trading Company's influence can be found in almost every industry.

"Your Highness, this is the tax and grain account that the Ministry of Revenue just released." Ma He walked over quickly and presented a secret report with a solemn expression. "The land survey in Zhejiang, which was presided over by Vice Minister Guo Huan, is said to have uncovered a major problem. Many local officials have falsely reported the acreage and lined their own pockets."

Su Ning took the secret report and quickly scanned the densely packed numbers with his eyes.

He then casually placed the secret report on the table, a faint smile playing on his lips: "The bigger the tree, the more the wind blows. We don't need to wade into the murky waters of the Ministry of Revenue."

"But, Your Highness, I've heard this case has far-reaching implications. If we could seize this opportunity..."

“That’s precisely why we need to avoid suspicion.” Su Ning interrupted Ma He, looking into the distance. “Our battlefield is elsewhere.”

"..."

Then Su Ning turned around and took out a stack of design drawings from a hidden compartment on the desk, and gently spread them out.

The paper is decorated with exquisite ticket designs, with fine lines and a meticulous layout.

Ma He carefully examined the design. He saw that the ticket depicted a panoramic view of the Xiaoling Mausoleum, surrounded by intricate and complex patterns, with different denominations written in the center.

"Your Highness, this 'check' is indeed exquisitely designed, but given the precedent of the Ming Dynasty's 'treasury note,' it may be difficult to gain people's trust."

“Therefore, we need to take a two-pronged approach.” Su Ning said confidently, tapping the design with his finger. “First, Mingtang Trading Company will be the first to use it, with all payments for goods and salaries made by check; second, we will set up redemption points in branches across the country, where checks can be exchanged for real money. Credit cannot be built overnight, but with enough patience and strength, we can eventually gain people’s trust.”

Ma He nodded thoughtfully: "The Imperial Grandson is very farsighted. I wonder what this money exchange should be called?"

“Da Ming Qian Zhuang.” Su Ning said firmly, “Simple and clear, yet grand in scale.”

"Da Ming Qian Zhuang?" The now-adult Ma He murmured thoughtfully, once again confirming the true ambition of the young king before him.

……

That night, in a secluded chamber deep within the Xiaoling Mausoleum, Su Ning activated the money-printing device in his storage space.

You should know that you've become a top-tier tycoon in the "Heavenly Path" dungeon world, so acquiring top-notch money-printing technology is a piece of cake.

This seemingly ordinary secret room is actually a hidden world behind the walls, a secret workshop transformed by Suning using modern knowledge.

A large number of AI robots skillfully operated the machines, and soon the first batch of trial-printed checks were freshly produced.

The hum of the machines echoed in the enclosed room, just like any factory in the modern world.

"Master, we use high-polymer anti-counterfeiting paper, complete with watermark, metallic thread, and fluorescent anti-counterfeiting features." The AI ​​robot calmly reported in a mechanical voice, "According to calculations, the technology of this era can never reach the same level, confirming that it cannot be imitated."

Suning picked up a check with a face value of ten taels and examined it closely under the light.

The checks feature a watermark of the characters "Da Ming" hidden within their design. The metallic edge shimmers in the light, and the checks are exquisitely crafted, rivaling even the banknotes of later generations.

In particular, the portrait of Zhu Yuanzhang on the front is lifelike and exudes majesty, clearly showing that it was carefully designed.

……

On the first day of the third lunar month, the Daming Money Shop officially opened in Nanjing.

Firecrackers crackled and drums resounded; almost all the prominent merchants in Nanjing were present to witness the ceremony.

However, unlike the grand opening of Mingtang Trading Company, although many merchants came to observe, very few actually opened accounts.

"No matter how exquisite this check is, can it compare to real gold and silver?" A Shanxi merchant weighed the sample check in his hand, shook his head, and left. "The lesson of the precious paper money is still fresh in our minds. Who would dare to trust these pieces of paper?"

However, Suning was already mentally prepared and showed no surprise or panic.

The turning point came on September 17.

On this day, Su Ning, in the name of the third grandson of the Ming emperor, invited the nobles of Huaixi to Xiaoling Mausoleum, ostensibly to pay homage to Empress Ma.

After the ceremony, Suning hosted a banquet for the distinguished guests at the Xiaoling Academy.

When the banquet was halfway over, Su Ning ordered someone to bring a wooden box and take out a complete set of checks of various denominations, ranging from one tael to one hundred taels.

"My lords, the reason I invited you all here today is to have you witness something." Su Ning held up a check for one hundred taels of silver. "This is a check issued by the Great Ming Bank. Some people say it is not as real as gold and silver. Today, I will show you just how 'unreal' it really is."

After saying this, he ordered someone to bring a basin of clean water and put the check into the water.

Everyone present held their breath, thinking that the check would immediately turn into a puddle of pulp.

However, a quarter of an hour later, the check remained intact in the water, and the design was still clear.

Xu Huizu, who had just become the Duke of Wei, couldn't help but get up to take a closer look. He could be said to have perfectly captured the essence of the Ming Dynasty's acting. "Such a strange thing has happened!"

In April of the eighteenth year of the Hongwu reign, Xu Da died of illness, and Xu Huizu succeeded him as Duke of Wei.

Because Xu Huizu studied at Xiaoling Academy for many years, he had long been a loyal supporter of Suning.

Su Ning smiled slightly and ordered someone to bring candles to dry the wet checks over the fire.

In a short while, the check was restored to its original state, without any damage whatsoever.

However, Suning did not pressure them or urge them to open accounts and deposit money. Instead, they gave each of them a set of checks of various denominations and then politely saw them off.

……

On the same day, Mingtang Trading Company distributed salaries, and for the first time, tens of thousands of employees received checks instead of copper coins and silver.

Amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Zhang San, a shop assistant, was the first to arrive at the money exchange to make the payment.

"A check for ten taels!" After verifying its authenticity, the teller immediately cashed the check for pure silver, without any discrepancy.

The news spread like wildfire throughout Nanjing.

What shocked the business community even more was that Ming Teng Trading Company announced that all transactions would be settled by check, and that a 5% discount would be given for check settlement.

In October, the Duke of Wei's mansion took the lead in depositing 50,000 taels of silver into the Daming Bank to obtain checks for purchasing supplies for the mansion and military needs.

"This check is lightweight and portable, and it's also resistant to water and fire, making it an excellent travel companion," Xu Huizu praised to his colleagues.

"The Duke is right! We will immediately exchange the gold and silver for checks."

"Haha, there's no need for that! The Third Prince's intention is still to prioritize needs."

Following suit, the Chang family, the Lan family, and other noble families of Huaixi followed suit.

“These checks are really convenient,” Chang Mao remarked to his brothers. “Last time I went to Beiping to buy warhorses, carrying a box of checks was much safer than transporting silver. The bandits along the way didn’t even glance at it.”

However, the good times didn't last long. One day, Ma He rushed over to report: "Your Highness, counterfeit checks have appeared on the market!"

Suning remained calm: "Has the anti-counterfeiting measure been verified?"

"It has been verified that the counterfeit is poorly made, but it is enough to disrupt the market. Three merchants have already been deceived."

"Order all branches to hand over to the authorities any person found using counterfeit checks. Also, post notices to teach the public how to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit checks." Su Ning pondered for a moment. "In addition, all branches of the Daming Money Shop will use banknote verification machines. I have already prepared them."

"Yes! Should we inform the Embroidered Uniform Guard and have them search for the counterfeiters?"

"If even such trivial matters require orders, then there's no need for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to exist."

"..." Now, Ma He felt an increasingly heavy pressure from Su Ning, and never treated Su Ning as a child.

……

Just as the Ming Dynasty's money shops were battling counterfeit currency, a huge upheaval was brewing in the imperial court.

When the Guo Huan case came to light, Zhu Yuanzhang seized the opportunity to once again wield the sword against corrupt officials, implicating tens of thousands of officials and causing shock throughout the court and the country.

"Your Highness, the Ministry of Revenue is almost entirely empty," Ma He reported the latest development. "Should we take this opportunity to send more people in..."

“No.” Su Ning’s gaze was deep. “To interfere in the Ministry of Revenue at this time would be tantamount to playing with fire. Our foundation lies in the people. The world still belongs to my imperial grandfather.”

He walked to the window and looked at the endless stream of customers at the money shop: "Once this storm passes, the Ming Dynasty will realize that a stable financial system is more important than the heads of any number of corrupt officials."

……

In December, Daming Money Shop launched its deposit and loan business.

Merchants can borrow money based on their credit, and ordinary people can save money and earn interest.

A complete financial system is beginning to take shape.

Late that night, Su Ning reviewed the accounts in a secret room.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating his youthful yet resolute face.

The money shop's deposits had reached one million taels, and its checks circulated throughout thirteen provinces.

Even more remarkably, the 30% deposit and gold and silver reserves were sufficient to cover the redemption, while the remaining funds were quietly reshaping the economic landscape of the Ming Dynasty through lending. Meanwhile, inside the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was listening to Mao Xiang's report.

"Your Majesty, the checks from the Great Ming Bank can now be redeemed in all thirteen provinces." Mao Xiang presented a stack of check samples. "It is said that they are more popular with the people than paper money, and merchants and common people are happy to use them."

Zhu Yuanzhang played with the exquisite check, tracing the watermark and metal thread with his fingertips, and indeed believed that its quality far surpassed his own banknotes.

He remained silent for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Did Yunhu interfere in Guo Huan's case?"

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince has always remained uninvolved, focusing solely on managing the money exchange and trading company."

"Smart." Zhu Yuanzhang revealed a meaningful smile. "You know what to touch and what not to touch. Issue an edict to the Ministry of Revenue that next year's grain transport costs can be settled with Ming Dynasty checks."

Mao Xiang hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Should we bring the Great Ming Bank under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue? Such a beneficial asset to the country and its people is being controlled by private individuals..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes suddenly sharpened: "Hmm? You're teaching me how to do things?"

Mao Xiang was so frightened that he knelt down and cried out, "Ah? This humble general wouldn't dare! This humble general has misspoke!"

"Hmph! Have you tracked down the gang that forged the checks?"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has already found some clues and is preparing to play the long game to catch a big fish."

“Yun Tong is absolutely right! If you Embroidered Uniform Guards can’t even handle this small matter, then you have no reason to exist.”

"Yes, Your Majesty, I guarantee that I will find out within three days."

Soon, the news that the emperor had decreed that the cost of transporting grain could be settled with Ming Dynasty checks was like a spring breeze, instantly dispelling the last trace of doubt in the minds of the merchants.

The threshold of the Daming Money Shop was almost worn down by the crowds.

Standing atop Xiaoling Mausoleum, Su Ning looked down upon the brightly lit city of Nanjing, the night breeze ruffling his clothes.

The foundation of the financial empire has been laid; now it's time to set our sights on even greater heights.

On the eastern horizon, a red sun is slowly rising.

……

Beiping, Prince Yan's Mansion.

As dusk settled, the candlelight flickered in the study.

Zhu Di laid a ten-tael Ming Dynasty check flat on the rosewood table, lightly tapping the exquisite pattern on the check with his fingertips, making a soft tapping sound.

"Daoyan, what do you think of the novel gadgets that Yunhu has come up with?"

Yao Guangxiao stood before the table, his Buddhist prayer beads turning slowly and steadily in his hand.

He bent down to examine the check closely, his gaze lingering on the lines for a long time.

"The watermark is clear, the pattern is exquisite, and there is a hidden secret." His voice was deep. "Such craftsmanship is beyond the reach of even the Ministry of Works' Crafts Bureau. I have carefully compared them, and the pattern of each check is exactly the same. Such precision is beyond the ability of ordinary people."

He suddenly held the check up to the candlelight. “Your Highness, please look. The design on the check subtly contains the characters ‘Great Ming’. The metallic thread along the edge shimmers in the light, making the anti-counterfeiting measures truly ingenious. What’s even more remarkable is that the paper is exceptionally tough and impervious to water and fire.”

Zhu Di took the check and examined it closely by candlelight. He noticed the metal wire gleaming strangely in the firelight, and the watermark clearly defined. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Indeed exquisite. Yunwen is only seven years old this year, isn't he? Yet he can manage such a business. Daoyan, do you think someone is guiding him behind the scenes?"

“This humble monk finds this to be the most alarming aspect,” Yao Guangxiao slowly placed the check down. “If someone were truly guiding us, it wouldn’t be so frightening. But if it was the grandson of the emperor’s own idea…”

He paused meaningfully, then looked up at Zhu Di: "Does Your Highness still remember the 'Investigation of Things' textbook from Xiaoling Academy last year?"

Zhu Di's expression hardened, and his fingers tapped unconsciously on the table: "You mean... all those novel subjects were created by Yunhu himself?"

"This humble monk has carefully studied those textbooks," Yao Guangxiao said, his eyes gleaming. "The sophistication of their mathematics and the profoundness of their investigation of things are far beyond the reach of ordinary Confucian scholars. Not to mention the way these money shops operate—the balance between deposits and loans, the circulation of bills—it's a system that forms its own. If it were truly the thought of a seven-year-old child, then..."

Before he could finish speaking, a guard's voice came from outside the door reporting the news.

Soon, a travel-worn guard strode in and presented an urgent report.

"Your Highness, an urgent report from Xi'an," the guard whispered.

Zhu Di unfolded it and sneered, "Second brother is quite shrewd. He has already deposited 50,000 taels into the Ming Dynasty Bank. I heard that he uses checks to pay military salaries, saving the trouble of escorting silver. Now, even the military supplies in the Northwest are using this newfangled thing."

Yao Guangxiao nodded slightly: "His Highness Prince Qin is guarding the Northwest, and transporting military funds is indeed a problem. These checks are lightweight and easy to carry, which solves his urgent problem. I heard that a batch of military funds was robbed in Tongguan last month, and the bandits took all the checks, which cannot be cashed locally."

"Hmph! It's not just Second Brother." Zhu Di took out a stack of letters from under the table. "Third Brother used checks to purchase warhorses in Taiyuan, Fifth Brother used checks to pay the wages of craftsmen in Luoyang, and even Eleventh Brother opened a cashier's office in Chengdu. Now, in all thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, where is there no Ming Dynasty bank? This Yuntong is even more knowledgeable about business than his father."

Yao Guangxiao suddenly asked, "Has Your Highness ever tried using checks to purchase supplies in Beiping?"

Zhu Di raised an eyebrow: "Daoyan, you also suggested that I use this check?"

"Not only should we use them, we should use them extensively." Yao Guangxiao revealed a profound smile. "Your Highness might consider this: if the people of Beiping were to become accustomed to using checks, what would happen in the future..."

Zhu Di was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized: "You mean... military supplies?"

“Exactly.” Yao Guangxiao lowered his voice. “Checks are lightweight, unlike cash. Wouldn’t it be much more convenient to allocate military supplies in times of war? Besides…”

He pointed to the secret mark on the check, "Wherever this check circulates, the Ming Dynasty Bank's eyes and ears will follow. Why doesn't Your Highness use their eyes and ears for your own purposes? After all, right now, it's not us who most want to know the movements of the various princes."

Zhu Di pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Daoyan, what is Father's attitude toward this matter?"

“Your Majesty is wise; how could you not know the advantages and disadvantages involved?” Yao Guangxiao said meaningfully. “But since Your Majesty has tacitly approved, there must be another reason. Perhaps… you want to use the grandson of the emperor to reform the monetary system of our Great Ming. After all, the problems with paper money are not new.”

Zhu Di walked to the window, gazing towards Nanjing, his tone complex: "This child, Yunhu... if he truly is a prodigy, it would be a blessing for the Ming Dynasty. But I fear..."

"Is Your Highness worried that the imperial grandson is too sharp-witted?"

"The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind." Zhu Di sighed softly. "How could those old ministers in the court sit idly by and watch a seven-year-old child wield such financial power?"

Yao Guangxiao clasped his hands in a respectful bow: "Your Highness is wise. However, for now, we might as well wait and see. This check still needs to be used, after all..."

He smiled meaningfully, "Why not save the trouble of escorting the silver?"

Zhu Di finally smiled: "That's right. Issue an order that all purchases made by the Prince's Palace should henceforth use Ming Dynasty checks. In addition, allocate another 30,000 taels from the treasury and deposit them into a money exchange."

"promise."

After Yao Guangxiao took his leave, Zhu Di was alone in the palace, deep in thought.

He picked up the check again and examined it repeatedly by candlelight. Suddenly, he noticed a line of tiny writing in the lower right corner of the check: "Remittances to the world".

“What a brilliant plan to connect the world…” Zhu Di murmured to himself, his fingertips tracing the small characters on the screen. “Nephew, what exactly do you want to do?”

……

Meanwhile, inside the Qin Prince's Mansion in Xi'an, Zhu Shuang was instructing his chief secretary: "Deposit another 30,000 taels of silver into the Daming Bank. This check is indeed convenient; it's truly a great thing that benefits the country and its people."

The chief clerk bowed to take notes and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, while this check is certainly convenient, should our Prince Qin's Mansion consider investing in it? Such a beneficial undertaking for the country and its people—if we could get a share of the profits..."

Zhu Shuang laughed heartily: "Don't worry! My nephew is no simple man. He won't forget our Prince Qin's Mansion. You know, last month he specially sent someone to deliver a set of specially made checks, which were printed with the emblem of our Prince Qin's Mansion. He said they were specially made for the Northwest military supplies. This gesture is much more meaningful than investing in the company."

In Taiyuan, Prince Zhu Gang of Jin was paying for warhorses with checks; in Luoyang, Prince Zhu Su of Zhou was distributing wages to artisans with checks; and in Chengdu, long queues formed in front of the check-out point opened by Prince Zhu Chun of Shu.

These vassal kings who guarded the frontiers were the first to experience the benefits of financial innovation for military and political affairs.

Each branch has an AI robot overseeing finances and supervision, making it absolutely impossible for anything to get out of control.

All of this, through the circulation network of the Ming Dynasty's money shops, was transformed into data and converged in the secret chamber deep within the Xiaoling Mausoleum.

……

Inside the secret chamber of Xiaoling Mausoleum, candlelight shone brightly.

Su Ning stood in front of a huge map of the Ming Dynasty's territory, which was densely marked with various colored dots.

The route of each check's circulation is clearly visible on the map, like veins of blood extending across the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Ma He stood behind him and reported in a low voice: "Your Highness, payment points have been opened in all thirteen provinces, and even the most remote Yunnan has a branch. The princes are using it quite frequently, especially the Prince of Qin, who has deposited almost all of his military supplies into the bank."

A smile appeared on Su Ning's lips as she lightly tapped the location of Beiping on the map: "Fourth Uncle is quite adept at using it too."

He turned and walked to the desk, taking out a thick ledger: "However, this is just the beginning."

"What does the imperial grandson mean?"

“Next, we should introduce drafts.” Su Ning unfolded a new design. “It’s neither convenient nor safe for merchants to carry large amounts of silver when traveling to various places. If they could deposit their silver in Nanjing and redeem it in Beiping with drafts…”

Ma He's eyes lit up: "In this way, trade and travel will be much more convenient! But... what if the various vassal kings..."

"Don't worry." Su Ning's gaze was profound. "They will only rely more on our banks. When the entire commercial lifeline of the Ming Dynasty is in our hands..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Mahe already understood what he meant.

Outside the window, a bright moon hangs high in the sky.

The lights of Nanjing twinkled in the night, like a galaxy fallen to earth.

Beneath this sky, a gentle, subtle reform is quietly transforming the vast Ming Empire, following the trajectory of those checks.

...(End of chapter)