Nobita's Time Heist

There's a reason why a system might be replaced.

When Nobita first saw these square fields, he was puzzled. Were all the lands in the country so perfectly square? In such a large country, was all the land flat and square like this, making it easy to divide it into nine-square grids?

Even if we take a step back and assume that's the case, just demarcating land boundaries would be an enormous undertaking. In an era when the literacy rate was less than 3%, to teach illiterate people which fields belonged to them and which belonged to the public, at least one person would be needed to teach them, demarcate the land for them, and handle any disputes that might arise during the demarcation process.

The number of government officials needed to be mobilized for this task alone is already quite large. Not to mention, land is not so easy to measure in reality.

The hills, valleys, and varied, uneven terrain further complicated the implementation of the well-field system. Given the high implementation costs behind this policy, it was only natural that it encountered resistance.

Besides... those powerful families aren't fools. Do you think you can just move the land they've accumulated over generations? That's their lifeline! Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. Is the meager salary you're paying your officials enough for them to risk their lives against these powerful families?

However, being an emperor is a profession ill-suited for reflection. Because of their supreme power, emperors tend to habitually assume that everything they do, and even everything they think, is inherently correct. If forced to reflect, they would probably only conclude that "the treacherous subjects have misled me."

"What surprises me even more is that a considerable number of people would rather remain slaves and servants than regain their freedom. They collude with their masters to resist the new dynasty's policies!" Wang Mang downed his wine in one gulp, but it couldn't quell the restlessness and confusion in his heart. He muttered to himself, "How could such a thing be... After being domesticated, are humans, the most intelligent of all beings, really less than dogs?!"

……

The causes here are complex, involving human nature, habits, psychology, and a specific social context. If Xiaoshan were here, he might be able to analyze it more clearly. Da Xiong's logical thinking isn't that strong, but with his extraordinary intuition, he has already vaguely sensed that the situation is quite complex. Wang Mang, like a seasoned doctor, diagnosed the crux of the era with a single pulse.

However, he prescribed the wrong medicine.

“Since we’ve come this far, how about… we take a break?” After thinking it over, Nobita offered what he thought was the most suitable suggestion: “Making changes is never something that can be done overnight. It took me a lot of effort to get my grades back to a normal level.”

The "back then" he referred to was the morning of his second year of junior high school, the first day after Doraemon returned to the future. When he pulled back the covers and saw the closed shop window, he suddenly realized that this might not be an ordinary farewell. Except for a few predetermined times in the future, he might never see this companion who had been with him throughout his childhood again. This was the first time he had woken up before the alarm rang, and quite a long time since he had seriously thought about the future.

He needs to grow up.

From that moment on, he made up his mind to at least raise his grades to a normal level. Otherwise, even if he went to the future and saw himself at the bottom of the class through the [Time TV], Doraemon wouldn't be at ease, would he?

That being said, the numerous zeros he received in elementary school still had an impact on him. His foundation in all subjects was extremely weak, and he didn't even know where to begin to catch up. Fortunately, after learning about his situation, Shizuka patiently tutored him in all subjects, managing to pull this perennial bottom student up to the lower middle of the class.

Even Shizuka, his childhood friend with whom he knew him well, expended considerable effort to help him "make changes." Not to mention, Wang Mang now wanted to use his own will to change a group of people completely unrelated to him. Ultimately, if you gain praise from the world for forcing your own son to death because of a slave, it's only because it was your own son who was forced to die. People watching from the city gates, of course, find it exciting.

Why don't you try meddling in other people's business?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

However, Wang Mang seemed completely unmoved by Da Xiong's advice. His gaze towards him grew even colder.

"If I stop, wouldn't it be like I'm admitting defeat?"

"Eh?"

Before Nobita could fully grasp the deeper meaning of those words, he continued speaking, seemingly more to emphasize to himself than to persuade Nobita, trying to convince himself to accept the conclusion.

"All the edicts that have been issued by me, I have always considered with the people of the world in mind, and made decisions only after careful deliberation. Therefore, I am not wrong. The truly guilty ones... are those who lurk in the powerful clans and are dissatisfied with the new dynasty. Those people yearn day and night for the days of the old Han dynasty to return! Therefore, they always outwardly comply with the decrees of the new dynasty but inwardly resist them, secretly sabotaging them, thinking that they can use such petty tricks to resist my authority... Ha..."

Having found the enemy he had imagined, Wang Mang snorted coldly, the darkness in his eyes deepening.

Do those enemies he spoke of, lurking in the shadows of the court and temples, truly exist? Da Xiong hasn't reached a conclusion yet; at least, the intelligence gathered by the spy robot doesn't suggest it. However, many powerful clans have expressed reservations about Wang Mang after he implemented the well-field system and abolished slavery.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg, seems to be a mystery.

But Wang Mang didn't care which came first, the chicken or the egg. Once he identified the enemy, he revealed a disdainful sneer.

"It's alright, Nobita, I... have already found the reason."

For some reason, upon hearing this, Nobita shivered inexplicably, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

The disheveled emperor suddenly stood up, and in the cold moonlight, half of his figure was illuminated, and he laughed with a hint of madness.

"To this day, the coins people use are still the Wuzhu coins minted under the supervision of Sang Hongyang during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. Coins are involved in every aspect of daily life, from clothing and food to housing and transportation. If the coins of the previous dynasty are still used, the longing for the old Han dynasty will not be extinguished, and it may even give rise to thoughts of overthrowing the new dynasty and restoring the old one. Just imagine, Da Xiong, how terrible it would be if this public sentiment were exploited by those with ulterior motives!"

Wang Mang himself was a master at manipulating public opinion, which is why he was so afraid of these emerging trends in the corners of society.

The next Wang Mang is hidden among them!

"You...you wouldn't be thinking of..."

"That's right, I've already designed the new currency. It will be mass-produced and put into circulation soon, replacing the Wuzhu coin!"

He sneered, spread his arms wide, tilted his head back, and laughed coldly at the sky, as if challenging the heavens. He said, word by word, "I will take back the memories of the old Han..."

"Pull it out by the roots!"

Chapter 209: Wang Mang's Currency Reform

In 9 AD, the two types of high-denomination knife coins were abolished. The reason given was that the surname "Liu" of the Han emperor could be broken down into "Mao Jin Dao" in ancient texts. Since the Liu family was heartless and immoral and had lost the Mandate of Heaven, the knife coins should also be discontinued.

At the same time, the Wuzhu coin, which had been in circulation for over a hundred years, was officially abolished and replaced by a coin called "Koizumi Naoichi". At this time, only two types of currency were in circulation: one was "Koizumi Naoichi" (which sounds a bit like a Japanese name), which was worth one sen and weighed one zhu, and the other was "Oizumi Usopp" (which was worth fifty sen and weighed twelve zhu).

In order to make a complete and clear break with the Han Dynasty, Wang Mang quickly changed the monetary system, forcibly injecting his own interpretation into it.

Before this, many Confucian scholars, who had become foolish from studying, had submitted memorials demanding the abolition of currency. Their reasoning was that ancient sages did not have currency, and money was not a good thing at all; it only instilled greed.

It is the root of all ills in today's society and should be completely abolished, returning us to the beautiful era of barter! Look at Confucius, he even accepted cured meat as a gift from his students. No matter who is wrong, the classics of the sages are absolutely correct. The new dynasty is a completely new dynasty established according to the sacred principles of our ancestors, and should therefore abolish all the outdated customs and practices of the old era and start anew!

Wang Mang was somewhat rational and didn't immediately accept everything, but deep down, he actually agreed with this view. His ability to rule the world was largely due to using Confucianism to bolster his position. He believed that if he hadn't gone wrong this way before, he certainly wouldn't go wrong now!

The abolition of knife-shaped coins and the replacement with spring-shaped coins marked a completely new step.

However... taking too big a step can easily lead to trouble.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Ha, hahaha..." Asur laughed in exasperation as he looked at the two types of coins, Koizumi Naoichi and Oizumi Iso, laid out on the table. "This guy... is he out of his mind?"

"Shh—!" Huang Amao quickly raised a finger to signal silence and said in a low voice, "These past few days, the Wang family's residence has been under strict control. Such words are absolutely forbidden! It wouldn't be good if others heard!"

Asur gave him a helpless glare. However, the fact that even his own family's public opinion had tightened up perhaps showed that Wang Mang's current situation was far from optimistic.

"Daizumi Iso and Koizumi Naoichi are both made of the same material, and their weights are about twelve to one. But he insists that the small coin is worth one and the large coin is worth fifty. Isn't he treating everyone like a fool? Everyone has a scale at home."

"What the hell? Why would he do something like this... If it's twelve, it's twelve. Why insist on claiming it's worth fifty coins? Who would believe that!" Da Xiong racked his brains trying to figure it out. Was he just messing around to erase the memory of the Han Dynasty? But he had also seriously designed a "currency" system, and it didn't seem like he was just acting recklessly. He genuinely intended to take a fresh start for the new year.

It was only at times like this that Nobita realized his team division was somewhat unreasonable. He should have at least separated Sugi or Suneo; when faced with problems requiring considerable knowledge to solve, neither he nor Shizuka could find a solution.

However, the problem has already occurred... Rather than trying to figure out "why" Wang Mang did this, it's better to think about what will happen after he treats everyone in the world like fools.

"According to the intelligence transmitted back by the spy robot, there are already signs of counterfeiting among the people." Da Xiong sighed. "Although Wang Mang had anticipated this situation and modified the process of minting Daquan Fifty, he still couldn't stop it. No matter how difficult the process is, it will always be deciphered by skillful craftsmen. As long as one person successfully makes counterfeit money, it will spread like wildfire."

"The Wuzhu coin was banned from circulation, but it was not handed over on a large scale. In other words, a large number of Wuzhu coins were still in circulation. Once the technology became more widespread, people would inevitably melt down the Wuzhu coins and recast them into Daquan Wushi. Similarly, the newly issued Xiaoquan Zhiyi coin, which was used to replace the Wuzhu coin, would also be melted down in large quantities and privately minted into Daquan Wushi."

"In terms of weight, you only need to collect about twelve small coins to mint one large coin. And this large coin can be used as fifty small coins. Only a fool wouldn't do such a deal."

"This...this..." Huang Amao was stunned by everyone's prediction and stammered, "How could this be? Unauthorized minting of coins is a serious crime! If you get caught doing this, you'll be beheaded!"

Shizuka sighed, "Since ancient times, no one does business that loses money, but some people do business that risks their lives. If the profit reaches a certain level, people are capable of doing anything. If you really want to blame someone, you should blame Wang Mang himself for setting such a bizarre value system."

"It is foreseeable that before long, small denominations will become increasingly scarce in the market, replaced entirely by 50-yuan notes. At first, people may feel they have gotten a bargain, but it won't be long before they realize that the increasing availability of large denominations means their assets will gradually...depreciate...ah!"

As they were talking, Shizuka suddenly exclaimed as if struck by a flash of inspiration!

"I see!"

"Da Xiong! Wang Mang himself told you that the Wuzhu coin was designed by the finance minister during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han and began to circulate, right? That means that the Wuzhu coin has been in circulation for a full hundred years!"

"Is that so...?" When it comes to things that require real academic knowledge, Nobita's mind doesn't work as quickly. "So?"

"I see." Asur suddenly understood. "The productivity of feudal society remained almost constant for a hundred years. Before the arrival of the Second Industrial Revolution, the total share that the market could produce would hardly change. But the number of Wuzhu coins was increasing every year and constantly flowing into the market. With more money, the supply of goods in the market did not increase, so the purchasing power of Wuzhu coins decreased accordingly. This is a basic economic principle!"

In other words, the five-zhu coin has depreciated!

"Huh?" Nobita was taken aback. "Devaluation...like the devaluation of the yen? This is 9 AD, and this is already happening?"

“There is no distinction between old and new currency. Regardless of the dynasty, the laws of economics are universal.” Asur shook his head and said in a deep voice, “The truly correct approach should be for the government to organize the immediate withdrawal of some Wuzhu coins that have been in circulation for too long from the market, then melt them down and use the money to mint other things, thereby reducing the total amount of currency in circulation. In this way, once the number of Wuzhu coins in circulation is reduced, the problem of currency devaluation will naturally be solved.”

"However, Wang Mang's approach was to establish a new currency and declare that this currency was more valuable."

The problem is that the purchasing power of money cannot be directly determined by the government's will. The government can only indirectly affect the value of money through various policies and market interventions. But what truly determines the value of money is the market and the supply and demand relationship between money and the government.

The laws of economics are always impartial; they will equally educate everyone who overturns them.

Even if you are the emperor, you are no exception.

Chapter 210: We will win!

The brightly lit hall was filled with an oppressive atmosphere due to the emperor's own low spirits.

In such situations, military officers generally do not participate. The truly fatal flaw is that, because the empire was not won through war, the quality of Wang Mang's ministers was not as high as that of previous founding emperors. Most of them were adept at flattery and sycophancy. These people were fine for offering auspicious omens in ordinary times, but when faced with matters of state, they were all dumbfounded.

"What, you have no ideas?!" He tapped the table impatiently, his voice sounding a bit rough.

What was initially thought to be a policy to sever ties with the old Han dynasty has encountered the same problems as before, making it impossible to continue.

In ancient times, there were no market regulators, and the currency that flowed into the market was not subject to precise follow-up monitoring mechanisms. As a result, even now, Wang Mang is unaware of the magnitude and complexity of the problem he faces. He has only received reports that Wuzhu coins are indeed no longer seen in the market, but the quantity of Xiaoquan Zhiyi coins is also very small; most are large-denomination Daquan Wushi coins.

Since he banned trade in industries such as "brewing" and "land and lake livelihoods" and nationalized these industries, the market itself has suffered a blow. At this moment, it is showing an unprecedented contraction, a phenomenon not seen in a century.

Putting inflation aside, the market has completely degenerated into a situation where bad money drives out good. Everyone is fetching counterfeit money. In this situation, if you don't counterfeit and stick to the rules using small amounts of money, your assets will rapidly depreciate. With large denominations of 50 yuan circulating everywhere, what can your few coins buy?

Such a harsh environment forced even the most law-abiding citizens to take risks and counterfeit money, creating a downward spiral of despair: if you didn't counterfeit, you faced asset devaluation, and eventually, you might not even be able to afford food. But if you did counterfeit, more high-denomination coins flooded the market, further undermining its stability. Small-denomination coins are responsible for small transactions, like capillaries. Today, the market is flooded with "Da Quan Fifty" coins, but there's no larger denomination. So, what do people use to make change?

Over time, all small-scale trading in the market died out, and in some areas, the primitive phenomenon of bartering even reappeared. In a sense, Wang Mang also realized his ideal of restoration—in a way that perfectly fits the humor of hell.

……

"Your Majesty, things have come to this point. The currency market is in complete chaos. This situation is not a long-term solution," a civil official stepped forward, trembling. "Perhaps we should take this opportunity to temporarily suspend the issuance of new currency. The Wuzhu coin has been in circulation for a century; replacing it cannot be rushed..."

"The Wuzhu coin has been in circulation for a hundred years!" Before he could finish speaking, Wang Mang added ominously, "A hundred years from now, will the people of my Xin Dynasty still be using the old Han Dynasty's coins?"

Those who stand in this position are by no means incompetent fools; some of them are quite learned and have even some preliminary ideas. However, none of them who have reached this position can fail to understand the unspoken meaning in the leader's words. With just one sentence, he has essentially set the tone for the matter, leaving the civil official who had just made the suggestion kneeling down with a thud, drenched in cold sweat, speechless.

Currency must not be changed; this path must be continued!

"Increase investment and continue to issue laws. Anyone who dares to mint private coins or fails to report such activities will be executed without mercy!"

"This……"

The ministers were immediately stumped. This wasn't like 2000 years ago, where every banknote had a built-in anti-counterfeiting code. In fact, it was impossible to distinguish genuine from counterfeit high-denomination currency circulating in the market. They had underestimated the hidden power among the people; their supposedly inimitable craftsmanship had long been exposed. Even increasing enforcement efforts was useless if they couldn't catch the perpetrators.

However, there's always a saying: where there's a policy, there's a countermeasure. If they can't catch the real ones, surely they can catch the fake ones?

The ministers already had a plan: grab two people, torture them, force them to confess, and they'd be done with it. What happened next could only be dealt with later.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Clang—!!"

This time, even before pushing open the door, Da Xiong could already sense Wang Mang's anxiety. Sure enough, Wang Mang inside the wooden cabin was disheveled, and the entire room reeked of an unpleasant sour smell; it was unclear how long the windows hadn't been opened. On the table sat a bowl of mutton soup, untouched.

The Taoist priest in yellow robes was also in the room. When he saw Da Xiong enter, he stood up, bowed to Wang Mang, and prepared to leave.

"stop!"

Sensing something was wrong, Da Xiong grabbed his sleeve the instant they passed each other. Unexpectedly, the fabric felt nothing like the cloth he was used to; it was slippery, sticky, and uneven, as if he had grabbed the skin of an African arrow frog. Startled, he instinctively let go.

"You..." Da Xiong carefully examined the Taoist priest in front of him. His appearance made it difficult to trust him. "Who exactly are you?"

"I was originally a wandering sorcerer, but now, thanks to the Emperor's grace, I am receiving his bounty, so it is only natural that I should relieve your worries."

He slightly raised his head, and beneath his white eyebrows, his incredibly cold gaze met Da Xiong's eyes. He said in a cold voice, "In essence, I am the same as you."

……

"Where did you find such a monster?"

Wang Mang clearly didn't want to talk about this topic. As if he had just woken up, he turned his head, looked up at Da Xiong, and suddenly asked, "Did I do something wrong?"

“Currency involves far too many aspects. Making such a big adjustment all at once will cause all sorts of problems.” Da Xiong did not answer the question directly, but analyzed it from an empathetic perspective. “It would be best to first conduct a small-scale experiment in a certain area, and only after verifying that there are no problems should it be rolled out on a large scale.”

“One more thing… it’s best to anchor the currency itself to a general equivalent. Gold, silver, copper, iron, all of them are fine. Once their value is determined, don’t change it.” Nobita repeated what Shizuka had taught him word for word and continued, “Anyone can see through any tricks you play with the weight. Don’t do anything meaningless like that anymore.”

“Now, large sums of money are everywhere in the market. If the people trust you and convert all their assets into large sums of money, it will depreciate rapidly. In the long run, the credibility of the new emperor will be greatly affected! More and more dissenting voices will also emerge.”

Nobita said with utmost seriousness, "Therefore, this matter should be handled sooner rather than later; we must act immediately!"

silence.

The disheveled old man remained silent, his eyes and expression shifting between light and shadow, flashing with the anger of having his little trick exposed.

"You... seem to underestimate me a bit, Nobita. Did you think I was completely unprepared for the current situation?"

He held up one finger, revealing his classic confident expression. In Nobita's memory, he seemed to have had a similar expression the last time he stepped into this little house.

"These past few days, I've been thinking about where things went wrong. After discussing it with that alchemist, I've finally made some progress. Just wait and see."

"Within ten days, this situation will inevitably be reversed!"

Chapter 211: The Most Complex Currency System in Human History is Born!

Upon realizing that counterfeit coins were being privately minted, Wang Mang was furious, but he still refused to admit that his methods were flawed, blaming it all on the cunning of the common people who were impossible to guard against.

His reasoning was this: this whole series of events was caused by unscrupulous people exploiting a loophole in the weight calculation. Since they couldn't catch the counterfeiters, they decided to increase the difficulty of counterfeiting so that even if they wanted to, they couldn't.

However, limited by the technology of the time, the most advanced anti-counterfeiting techniques were essentially limited. Seeing that he couldn't prevent counterfeiting through technological means, Wang Mang sought another way to ensure that counterfeits were absolutely impossible to produce—by increasing the variety, conversion methods, and complexity of the entire currency system. You like to tamper with weights? This time, I'll make sure you can't figure it out!

Thus, the most complex monetary system ever held by a single nation in human history was born!