Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 41: On the Trial of the Sichuan Salt and Banknote Law

After hearing these words, Li Pan finally felt relieved.

Mr. Zhang has always made light of important matters. What kind of recognition is this when he says the words "genius of the world"?
"I am unworthy of this!"

Lu Beigu quickly stood up and saluted, but he finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

In fact, in modern terms, this means that by securitizing the monopoly rights of Sichuan well salt and Hedong salt and the right to transport military grain, a complete closed-loop system has been built, and cross-regional resource allocation has been achieved through the financial attributes of salt notes.

The reason why Lu Beigu was able to determine that his idea was reasonable from the beginning was that all the implementation links of the system he proposed were based on reality.

First of all, he witnessed with his own eyes the situation of merchants from the southeast using copper coins to buy Sichuan well salt on his way to Chengdu.

Secondly, if he remembered correctly, there was a clear record in "Zizhi Tongjian Xuchang" that during the Renzong Dynasty, "the Hedong Jieyan and Sichuan well salt had salt permits in limited areas." Secondly, "On the Case of Thieves in the East of Hebei" also mentioned that "salt notes were circulated in the three capitals, but the Jieyan permits were not available in Sichuan and Shu." Therefore, the regional salt sales system is the current actual situation.

Again, the Song Dynasty's system of buying tickets was very common, and Liu Yan's transshipment strategy in the former Tang Dynasty was also a ready-made case. The operation of reducing transportation costs by buying tickets in segments was quite feasible.

Finally, "Song Huiyao Jigao·Food and Goods" also records that in the middle and late Renzong period, the northwest had already implemented the "compromise method" of "bringing grain and grass into the central government and giving salt in exchange for permits" on a small scale, so there was an actual demand in the northwest to exchange salt permits for grain.

In short, with the annual issuance of salt notes during the Renzong Dynasty reaching approximately 300 million strings of cash, this system was completely feasible!

"As for the specific details, Zhao Chuanyunshi and I will gather our staff to discuss and revise them. As for whether it will be adopted and when it will be implemented, that will be decided by the Prime Ministers. But it's better to write it down first."

Zhang Fangping personally brought the paper and pen to Lu Beigu and patted his shoulder vigorously.

"I'll draft a memorial based on your ideas. Write it out first and then polish it later."

"I?"

Lu Beigu was a little confused.

He was a student at a county school, and he helped the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the Prefect of Chengdu to write memorials?

Zhang Fangping said meaningfully, "With your talent, you're bound to be an official in the future. How can you not know how to write memorials? You should practice your writing skills first."

Seeing that Li Pan was looking at his nose and his heart, Lu Beigu had no way to refuse.

Fortunately, according to the format of memorials in the Song Dynasty, there is not much difference between writing memorials and writing policy papers. Referring to the memorials from the Song Dynasty that he has read, he is not unable to write them.

After all, memorials do not have strict rhythmic requirements, which is different from poems, lyrics, and essays.

Lu Beigu pondered for a moment, picked up a pen, and helped Zhang Fangping draft the memorial.

"I, Zhang Fangping, the Minister of Revenue and the Governor of Chengdu Prefecture, respectfully submit this report.

On the trial implementation of the Sichuan Salt and Banknote Law.

I have heard that the governance of Yao and Shun was based on adaptability; the achievements of Tang and Wu were based on adaptability. Today, soldiers stationed on the western frontier rely on the support of thousands of miles to carry fodder and grain, exhausting the Jiang and Huai Rivers. In Shu, the iron coinage is stagnant, making it difficult to pass even a penny, and the people are therefore in dire straits. I believe we should leverage the benefits of the mountains and lakes as a key factor, exercising discretion in determining the priorities to alleviate these difficult times.

In the past, Guanzi boiled the sea and Qi became the hegemon; Liu Yan monopolized the salt trade and Tang prospered. Today, the salt wells in Jiannan produce over ten million jin of salt, piling up like a mountain; while the annual consumption of grain and fodder in Guanxi is several million dan, depleting like a leaking cup. If salt were the key and banknotes the pivot, allowing copper coins from the southeast to flow through the Shu Road and grain from Guandong to flow through the Wei River, then both dilemmas could be resolved.

I propose a trial system in Chengdu and Qinzhou. Chengdu Prefecture will allocate well salt annually, allowing merchants from Jianghuai to enter Sichuan with copper coins to apply for permits. Qinzhou will establish a grain and salt field, using Jiezhou salt as collateral. Merchants transporting grain to the forts north of the Wei River will be given salt notes per dan, and these notes will be redeemable for goods at the Bianjing customs office.

However, laws must be strict, and prevention must be rigorous. If Sichuan salt is extracted from the wells without a seal, it will be treated as smuggled salt; if Qinzhou pays grain falsely, those who do so will be punished according to military law. The Yizhou Transport Commissioner's Office will report monthly copper coin inflows and outflows, and the Qinzhou grain and salt fields will report ten-day grain and banknote issuance figures, all of which must be reported directly to the Three Departments by express horseback. This way, corruption will have no place, and the laws will be appropriately enforced.

The initial use of Jiaozi began in Chengdu, and the reform of tea regulations was piloted in Huainan. If the current trial of the salt note system proves successful, Sichuan will receive copper coins annually, gradually alleviating the problem of using iron coins for exchange. The annual reduction in grain transport in Qinfeng could reduce shipping costs by tens of thousands of strings of cash. The imperial court holds the key to currency exchange and reaps the benefits of merchants. Even if this fails, simply suspending the two pilot programs will not affect the overall situation.

I, your humble servant, sincerely implore you to defend the camp with all my heart, and I respectfully submit this memorial to your attention."

After the ink dried, Lu Beigu handed the paper to Li Pan and presented it to Zhang Fangping. Zhang Fangping took a look at it and handed it to Zhao Yan.

The atmosphere had become much more relaxed by then. Zhang Fangping asked with a smile, "How does this writing style compare to yours?"

Zhao Yan was a skilled poet and calligrapher, his style characterized by a fresh, rhythmic rhythm, reminiscent of the "Song Dynasty" style. He was one of the few literati in the Song Dynasty who specialized in poetry and rarely wrote lyrics. His contemporaries praised his poetry as emulating the ancient and simple style of Tao Yuanming. His calligraphy, however, was even more profound.

Zhao Yan's calligraphy is upright and rigorous, with smooth and elegant strokes. He imitated the Yan style that was popular in the early Northern Song Dynasty. His style of calligraphy tends to be "beautiful" but not "coquettish". On the contrary, his characters are more loose than the traditional Yan style. The thin and tough strokes and the tilted posture of the characters make them appear clear, vigorous and elegant, forming a school of their own. He can be said to be a master of his time.

“The writing reflects the writer.”

Zhao Yan examined it carefully and it seemed to suit his taste. He said, "A gentleman hides his treasures and does not show them to others easily. But when he takes them out of the box, they will surely shine."

This is a very high evaluation, Zhang Fangping nodded.

"I can't use your stuff for nothing."

Zhang Fangping looked at Lu Beigu and asked, "What reward do you want? Do you want an official position? If so, Zhao Yunyunshi and I can jointly guarantee you the position of Chief Clerk of Wanhu County right now."

To be honest, this reward is quite tempting.

Although the chief clerk was a ninth-rank official, the lowest rank, and his duties included household registration, managing the payment and receipt of money and grain, and document archives, in a county, he was one of the top five powerful officials.

There is no need to work hard to take the imperial examination with a pitifully low acceptance rate, and you can become an official in one step. If it were someone else, they would probably agree immediately.

But Lu Beigu shook his head and said, "I still want to take the imperial examination."

"Good! If you have ambition, the right path is to take the imperial examination."

Zhang Fangping nodded with satisfaction, and then in front of several people, he picked up a pen and carefully wrote a letter, speaking as he wrote.

"I recommended you to Ouyang Yongshu. I wrote about you in the letter. If you really pass the imperial examination and have the chance to meet him in the future, I think he will like you too."

Lu Beigu's heart was shocked.

This letter of recommendation is so valuable!
Ouyang Yongshu is Ouyang Xiu.

Not to mention him and his circle of friends called “Qingli Gentlemen”, for a younger generation, these are terrifying temple resources.

Just to say that Ouyang Xiu is the true literary leader of the Song Dynasty and the leader of the ancient prose movement. As long as you can get his guidance and approval, you will surely become famous all over the world!
Even, become one of the leading figures of the next era in the literary world!

It can be said that this is not a letter of recommendation at all, but a pass to becoming a great writer!
Of course, there is a prerequisite here, that is, Lu Beigu can rely on his own ability to step by step to Ouyang Xiu, otherwise naturally there is no need to mention anything.

But no matter what, the reward is quite generous!
Then, Zhang Fangping put down his pen, leaned back in his armless chair, and asked with a half-smile.

"Tell me, what else do you want? Silk and satin, gold and silver jewelry, and pretty maids are all fine."

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① To rely on others for support.

② Flying straw and pulling millet, the story comes from "Han Shu Zhufu Yan Biography", when Zhufu Yan advised to attack Xiongnu, he said "In the past, the Emperor of Qin, with his victory, ordered the whole country to fly straw and pull millet, starting from Huang, Shen, Langya counties behind the sea, and transported to Beihe, with thirty zhong for one dan", Tang Dynasty Yan Shigu commented that "it means to carry straw and pull it quickly, so it is called flying straw, and pulling means to pull carts and boats", which means to transport food at a very fast speed.

③ Obstruction, that is, blockage.

④Louzhi, "zhi" refers to the ancient vessel for holding wine, meaning continuous loss.

⑤ Refers to the "Tieshe Law" in which tea merchants paid the official net profit and then directly purchased tea from tea gardeners to sell. It was first implemented in the Huainan area, but was abolished due to too much resistance. Later, it evolved into the "Jianqian Law" and was implemented and abolished several times in the history of the Northern Song Dynasty.

⑥Discount refers to currency depreciation.

⑦ "I am not capable of doing what so-and-so does" is a common ending phrase for memorials in the Song Dynasty. The middle words include "fearful and earnest prayer", "sweating and ashamed and frightened", "grateful to heaven and holy, earnestly praying", "looking up to heaven and hoping for the holy, earnestly praying", "praying to heaven and waiting for orders, earnestly praying", etc., which are usually matched appropriately according to the content of the memorial to express the mood when submitting the memorial.

(End of this chapter)