The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 640 Who Dares Not Use It
In August, the heatwave raged in Beijing.

It's getting a bit hot at the Summer Palace.

If you stand outside in the sun, it will be unbearably hot.

However, things were different in the workshops.

An ice bath with a fan would be incredibly cool.

That afternoon, around noon, upon hearing that the gold coin stamping machine was ready, Wanli Emperor, with great interest, brought Zhu Changxun to the stamping workshop.

The stamping machine developed by Song Yingxing was actually powered by a waterwheel.

One by one, heavy iron blocks rose from the row of cast iron stands and then crashed down with a series of clangs, giving the impression of playing a giant piano.

The stamping machine seemed to be quite fast, but the craftsmen at each workbench were not busy at all.

Because the iron blocks being stamped are struck down one after another as the waterwheel rotates, the interval between each round is enough for them to calmly use wooden tongs to remove the stamped gold coins from the lower half of the mold and then replace them with gold discs.

This kid is a genius.

Upon seeing this scene, Emperor Wanli nodded slightly.

This waterwheel not only saves coal, but also saves steam engines. This row of twelve stamping platforms saves a total of twelve steam engines.

It also saves a lot of parts.

This waterwheel is perfectly suited for this kind of up-and-down stamping.

Yongnian Earl Wang Wei and Song Yingxing were currently examining the stamped gold coins like treasures.

The stamping machines in the workshop were making a constant clanging noise, so no footsteps could be heard. The two men were focused on the gold coins in their hands and seemed unaware of their arrival.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun couldn't help but lean over and ask curiously, "Grandpa, are gold coins really that pretty? Let me see one."

Upon hearing this, Yongnian Earl Wang Wei and Song Yingxing realized what was happening and quickly bowed.

Wanli waved his hand slightly, stuffed Xiao Zhu Changxun into the arms of Yongnian Earl Wang Wei, and then picked up the gold coins in the wooden trough next to him to examine them closely.

These gold coins are really beautiful.

The front features a coiled dragon, its scales gleaming with light, making it look just like a real golden dragon.

On the back is a lifelike dragon head in the center, surrounded by concentric circles of various languages ​​like a secret incantation, which looks mysterious and makes people's eyes sink into it.

He examined the gold coin closely for a while before nodding slightly and saying, "Hmm, not bad, just like this."

"Chang Geng, estimate how many gold coins this waterwheel can mint in a day."

Upon hearing this, Song Yingxing estimated, "This twelve-dou waterwheel will turn about ten times in a quarter of an hour, and one round is twelve, so it will make about one hundred and twenty in a quarter of an hour, and about nine hundred and sixty in an hour."

If the stamping continues non-stop for twelve hours a day, approximately eleven thousand pieces can be stamped out.

This means that if we need to produce millions of these a day, we'll need hundreds of waterwheels.

There aren't many waterwheels, but there are a few along the Fei River, or rather, along both banks of the Fei River.

That's not a big deal. At worst, we can just acquire more land on both sides of the river. Anyway, the land on both sides of the Chaobai River belongs to the soldiers of the Beijing Garrison. We can just relocate it to the south or east.

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "Father-in-law, how many sets of molds can be carved out per day now?"

Is this also determined by the weather?
Upon hearing this, Earl Yongnian Wang Wei estimated, "Your Majesty, we have now found eighteen master craftsmen to carve the molds. They can carve one side every three days, so that's nine sets every three days, or three sets every day."

Do we need to add more people?

If we calculate based on the stamping speed of the waterwheel, one set of molds can stamp about a thousand pieces a day. With three sets a day, that's more than a thousand sets a year, which roughly means that the annual output can be increased to about one million pieces a day.

This speed seems a bit slow, and the mold will also suffer damage.

After careful consideration, Wanli decisively said, "There are too few people. Let's find another thirty-six, making a total of fifty-four. These fifty-four artisans will be divided into three groups of eighteen each."

The most skilled group of master craftsmen were assigned to carve gold coin molds, those slightly less skilled carved silver coin molds, and those even less skilled carved bronze coin molds.

Yongnian Earl Wang Wei nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Now that gold, silver, and copper coins are about to enter mass production, it's time to consider promoting them.

The problem shouldn't be too big for the Ming Dynasty's domestic markets, since this is real money. As long as Wanshengtang and its various businesses start using it, it will probably be rolled out quickly across the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty.

The key lies outside of the Ming Dynasty's mainland.

There shouldn't be any problem with the vassal states in the Americas, since the people there don't know how to use money yet.

They just give people gold, silver, and copper coins, and people will think that's money.

Do the countries of Southeast Asia need to be forced to promote this now?

The problem is, they don't have the time to attack their vassal states right now.

He didn't even have time to solve the problems of the Three Propagandas and Six Comforts in the Southeast.

They always want to try promoting it overseas, so who should they ask to give it a try?
After careful consideration, Emperor Wanli announced in a loud voice, "Issue an imperial decree to order the naval fleet to fetch the Portuguese envoy, De Silva, for an audience."

This guy is still in Malacca, and the navy can only use shuttle ships to send messages. They can't get him to come over by shuttle ship. It will take him at least a month to get here.

Let's try it out in the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty first.

After thinking it over carefully, he decisively said, "Father-in-law, quickly build stamping machines and start by making gold and silver coins."

When the production of both gold and silver coins reaches around 100,000 pieces per day, Wanshengtang will exchange them for real gold and silver for promotion.

Upon hearing this, Prince Yongnian, Wang Wei, nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand." Wanli still felt that promoting Guangwanshengtang was not safe, so he ordered the Ministry of Rites to issue a notice directly in the official gazette.

The Ministry of Revenue of the Ming Dynasty supervised the production of gold and silver coins, guaranteeing that they were genuine gold and silver. They could be exchanged at all major shops and stores in Wanshengtang. After one year, everyone must use gold and silver coins, and the use of ingots of gold and silver or broken pieces of gold and silver would no longer be allowed in the market.

Anyone who dares not use gold or silver coins and continues to use chunks of gold and silver or small pieces of gold and silver will be punished with twenty strokes of the cane for the first offense, and will be exiled to the army for the second offense!
This guy, who in the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty would dare not use such punishment? Twenty strokes of the cane would be painful enough, but exile and military service would be even more terrifying.

Those with plenty of real gold and silver at home rushed to the shops of various businesses under Wanshengtang to exchange them, fearing that they would run out of money or would be in a hurry to exchange it.

Of course, they weren't stupid. The large amounts of real gold and silver were exchanged in small quantities only after they had a few pieces checked for authenticity before being exchanged in large quantities.

Soon, the gold and silver coins in the shops of Wanshengtang's various businesses were in short supply. The daily production of 100,000 coins increased to hundreds of thousands of coins, and the supply still could not meet the demand.

These real gold and silver coins are indeed easy to promote. Once everyone has tried them and found them to be genuine, they will quickly exchange them. They don't need to risk being beaten or even exiled to the army just to use some money.

Desila had no idea why Wanli was looking for him.

The Ming emperor summoned him and he dared not neglect his request in the slightest.

However, because he was traveling on a naval centipede, he did not arrive in the capital until early September.

He originally thought that the Ming Dynasty's fast ships would take him to the capital.

Unexpectedly, it wasn't like that at all.

That afternoon, around 3 PM, a fast ship of the Ming Dynasty navy took him to a place filled with waterwheels.

Moreover, immediately after he landed, two groups of people escorted him into a small town, seemingly to protect him, but also to prevent him from wandering around or looking around aimlessly.

Before long, he was led into a lobby that did not look luxurious.

Wanli and Zhu Changxun were already sitting there waiting for him.

He quickly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor, Greetings, Third Prince."

This guy's accent is starting to sound more and more like that of a true citizen of the Ming Dynasty.

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then raised his hand and said, "Sit."

Descartes quickly sat down at the end of the large table.

Wanli then raised his hand and said, "Give me gold and silver coins."

what?
Descartes thought he had misheard.

He naturally knew what gold and silver coins were.

The problem is, Ming emperors usually served tea to their guests.

Were the gold and silver coins of the Ming Dynasty used for food or drink?

As it turned out, the eunuch brought out gold and silver coins, and there were six stacks of them.

Curious, he picked up a gold coin and exclaimed, "It's so exquisite! Is this a new work of art from the Ming Dynasty?"

artwork?
Your idea is really bizarre.

Emperor Wanli shook his head slightly and said, "This is not a work of art, but the new currency of the Ming Dynasty."

Go tell your governor that from now on, all business dealings with the Ming Dynasty must use this currency.

In other words, your payments must be in this currency, and our annual dividends to you will also be in this currency. If you don't use this currency, then we can't do business with you.

what?
De Shera was taken aback by what he heard.

If the Ming Dynasty can no longer do business, how will they make money?

He was taken aback for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, we don't have these gold and silver coins. How can we pay for the goods with them?"

Without hesitation, Wanli replied, "You can exchange real gold and silver with us, an equal exchange, and we guarantee that the purity of the gold and silver is absolutely fine."

Are we going to exchange real gold and silver for this?
Deshera thought for a moment, then said cautiously, "Your Majesty, our annual sales are already more than fifty million taels. We simply don't have that much real gold and silver."

Can't you come up with a solution?
Emperor Wanli bluntly instructed: "You can save up your annual dividends to pay out, or you can find a way to get your customers to exchange real gold and silver for gold and silver coins with you."

"If most of your customers are using these gold and silver coins, wouldn't it be enough for you to accumulate some dividends?"

what?
Do you want our customers to exchange for these gold and silver coins as well?
Upon hearing this, Desila looked at the gold coins in his hand with a hint of doubt.

Could there be any fakes among these gold coins?
Seeing this, Wanli said calmly, "This plate of gold and silver coins is yours. You can go back and have someone check their quality to see if there are any problems."

Go tell your governor, "I'm only giving you three years. If you don't have enough gold and silver coins to pay for the goods after three years, then we can't do business with you anymore."

Is the quality okay?
If the condition is really fine, then we definitely need to find a way to exchange it.

Desila nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, I will go and tell our Governor."

Wanli nodded slightly, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, fill the cloth bag down there with gold and silver coins, and hurry back to tell your governor."

Oh, so the cloth underneath was actually a bag.

Desila quickly stuffed the gold and silver coins into the bag, then bowed and took his leave.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun couldn't help but ask, "Father, do they really think they can find a way to exchange real gold and silver with their customers?"

Wanli nodded affirmatively and said, "They will. A profit of several million taels a year is enough to make them risk their lives. Moreover, this is not just about risking their lives; they will definitely rack their brains to find a way."

(End of this chapter)