Chapter 345: Little notebooks, your ancestor is here!

The Xianbei issue came to an end, and there were no major events in the country.

Jinmao began to consider the issue of currency promotion.

The chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty was not only reflected in the political power, but also in the monetary policy.

Since the warlords began to compete for power, each family has been minting coins indiscriminately. In addition, the currency of the Western Han Dynasty is still in circulation, resulting in the fact that the currency on the market is of varying quality and there is no uniform standard.

This is a huge hindrance to business.

It is ridiculous that the food coupons once issued by Jinmao in Qu'a are now very popular and have become a rare value-preserving currency in the market.

However, food stamps had great limitations and were only circulated within Wu County. They were used outside, but this had exceeded the functions that food stamps were supposed to have. Once a problem occurred, it would be a disaster.

Fortunately, not many food coupons were issued, so even if they were destroyed, it would not have too great an impact.

However, the anchor of currency is a big problem. If paper money is issued continuously, it is likely to become something like Ming Baochao.

The current national metal production is insufficient to meet the needs of copper, let alone iron, and gold and silver are in extremely short supply.

The tradition of burying people alive with the dead in the Han Dynasty was to bury as much gold and silver as possible. Even with Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao as tomb-robbers, the amount of gold and silver buried underground was more than that on the ground!
"I remember there was a silver mine in the old days?"

Jin Mao suddenly had an idea and ordered, "Come here, call the Navy Governor Huang Gai and Deputy Governor Zhou Tai."

A month later.

Huang Gai and Zhou Tai traveled thousands of miles back to Wancheng.

Huang Gai was responsible for all inland water transportation and had rebuilt the dock in Chang'an City, which was located upstream of the Yellow River.

Zhou Tai was in charge of shipping affairs along the southeast coast and was currently handling affairs in Youzhou.

The two received orders and sailed along the waterway at the fastest speed for more than ten days before reaching Wancheng.

"Lord!"

"Lord!"

Jin Mao was moved when he saw the two people coming in, looking exhausted. He ran to the hall without even having time to put on his shoes and helped them up one by one.

"Gong Fu and You Ping have worked hard on this journey. I have come thousands of miles to call you back. I do have something important to discuss with you."

Huang Gai and Zhou Tai looked at each other and bowed, saying, "Please let me know, sir. We will not refuse even if we die!"

"You are too kind." Jin Mao waved his hand and said, "This matter is very troublesome and dangerous. It is not something that can be completed in a short period of time. It will take a long time."

Huang Gai immediately expressed his loyalty: "No matter how many hardships there are, Huang Gai will do his best!"

Zhou Tai's lines were snatched away, so he could only clasp his fists and say sullenly: "Me too!"

"No hurry, no hurry." Jin Mao smiled and waved, "Sit down first, this matter needs to be discussed in the long run."

Huang Gai's face was heavy, and Zhou Tai was no less serious. The two men sat upright on the left and right, listening attentively to what was going on. What could be so complicated?

"Do you know the place called Fusang?"

Zhou Tai said that he was poor and not as well-educated as Huang Gai, so he kept silent.

Huang Gai pondered for a moment and said tentatively: "The Book of Liang, Zhuyi Zhuan, Fusang State says: "Fusang is more than 20,000 miles east of the Han State, and the land is east of China. There are many Fusang trees on the land, so it is named after it."

"My lord, are you referring to this Fusang land?"

Jin Mao was stunned. He didn't expect that during the Han Dynasty, Fuso did not refer to Japan.

Twenty thousand miles to the east, isn’t that America?

Could the ancients ride horses to such far places?
Are you sure it's not a myth?

Seeing Jin Mao's expression was not right, Huang Gai thought of changing the words and said, "The Records of the Ten Continents in the Sea - Fusang records that there are many trees with leaves like mulberry trees. There are also mulberry trees, some of which are two thousand feet tall and more than two thousand feet wide. The trees grow in pairs from the same root and rely on each other, so they are named Fusang."

"My lord, are you looking for a country with dense Fusang trees?"

Jin Mao quickly shook his head and said, "That's not the case."

He was afraid that Huang Gai would talk about the sacred Fusang tree next, in which case he would become an immortal. He would suffer a bad fate if he followed the example of Qin Shihuang.

"This Fusang is not that Fusang." Jin Mao said, "I am referring to the Japanese pirates, the Japanese people, and the Japanese country."

Huang Gai let out a long sigh and looked at Zhou Tai.

Huang Gai was not familiar with this aspect of business, but Zhou Tai dealt with it frequently. Whether in the past or now, there were always fishermen in the Eastern Han Dynasty who got lost at sea, drifted to the Xiaori Kingdom, and then sent back news.

During this period, the Wa people were even more barbaric than the Shanyue and barbarians. If Zhou Tai had studied the theory of evolution, he would definitely have said, "The Wa people are beasts!"

Just like monkeys, uncivilized.

The Shanyue and the barbarians at least have their own language and customs. They are not as good as the Han people, but they are much better than the Japanese.

"My lord, you want to conquer the Japanese?" Zhou Tai immediately stepped out and said, "I only need 500 men to destroy them!"

Jin Mao raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and a hint of approval and deep thought flashed in his eyes. He slowly stood up and looked around. Seeing that all the generals were looking forward to the battle, he secretly calculated in his heart. Conquering the Japanese would not only eliminate harm for the people, but also demonstrate the majesty of the Han Dynasty and consolidate the peace of the border. However, this involves not only military operations, but also diplomacy, people's livelihood and even long-term strategic planning.

"Youping's bravery is commendable, but this matter is of great importance." Jin Mao said in a deep voice, "Although the Japanese are barbaric, their sea area is vast and the terrain is complex. In addition, our army knows very little about this place. If we act rashly, there may be unexpected consequences. Moreover, after the conquest, how to govern and educate them? These are all issues that need to be carefully considered."

He turned around, looked at the counselors beside him, and asked, "What do you think?"

An older counselor slowly stood up and said, "My Lord, what you said is very true. In my opinion, we should first send an envoy with gifts from our dynasty to the Japanese land to test their strengths and understand their intentions. If they are willing to submit, we can coexist peacefully and trade with each other; if they are stubborn, we can conquer them at any time. In addition, we should start collecting data on the geography and customs of the Japanese land in case of emergency."

Jin Mao shook his head to refuse: "He's just a savage. Do you still need to treat him with courtesy?"

Then he added: "The latter part makes sense."

"Youping, before we gather information about geography, ocean currents and climate, and before we can arrive safely, we must not think of conquering." Zhou Tai heard this and his expression became more determined: "I will obey your orders! I will live up to your trust and swear to investigate the situation in the Japanese land and prepare for the expedition."

Jin Mao nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "Youping is extremely brave and thoughtful. I am very relieved to hand over this mission to you. However, exploration is not something that can be done by bravery alone. It also requires wisdom and carefulness. Although the Japanese land is far away, its customs, people, mountains and rivers are very different from our Central Plains. You must act carefully to avoid unnecessary conflicts."

"Furthermore, I want to send someone who is proficient in medicine and herbal medicine to accompany us in case of emergency. There may be unknown diseases in Japan, and our soldiers must be on guard. At the same time, we also need to recruit people who are familiar with the ocean climate, and we can't just work in isolation."

"In addition, if I encounter overseas merchants or tribes along the way, I will treat them with courtesy before using force."

"Youping, this trip is not only related to the future strategic deployment of our army, but also an opportunity to demonstrate the tolerance and wisdom of our Central Plains civilization. I hope you will act prudently and return soon so that we can work together on our grand plan."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tai's blood boiled. He clasped his fists and saluted, his voice sonorous and powerful: "My lord, you are so far-sighted. I am grateful! I will do my best to live up to your expectations. I swear to find out all the secrets of Japan and pave the way to victory for my Central Plains army!" After that, he turned around and strode away. His back revealed an unshakable determination and belief.

"Gong Fu." Jin Mao turned to look at Huang Gai and said, "You are in charge of the shipyards on the rivers in the Central Plains. In addition to the necessary tasks, you should focus on developing a series of sea vessels. I need a building ship that can sail on the sea!"

Huang Gai's eyes lit up when he heard this, as if he saw a magnificent battle scene on the sea in the future. He said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, my lord, I will live up to your trust. Shipbuilding is the foundation of our army, and it is also a powerful tool for expanding territory and resisting foreign aggression. I will personally supervise the construction to ensure that every sea ship is indestructible and as fast as the wind, providing the strongest support for our army's conquests. In addition, I will also recruit and train a group of sailors and generals who are proficient in navigation, in case of emergency."

Jin Mao nodded with satisfaction, his eyes far-reaching: "Gong Fu, you have always been steady and steady. With you here, I have nothing to worry about. Remember, be modest and cautious. Research and development will come naturally. Don't force it, and don't push it too much."

"If anyone has made achievements, please report them to me. If anyone has made great achievements, I will make him a marquis!"

Huang Gai heard this and was filled with pride. He bowed and said, "My lord, you have great ambitions. I swear to be in the same boat with you and embark on this magnificent ocean journey together!" After that, he turned and left with firm steps, with a magnificent ocean strategic blueprint in his mind.

As the two generals left one after another, Jin Mao stood alone in the tent, looking at the vast sky outside the window, his heart filled with infinite longing and firm belief for the future.

Now that the shipping industry has developed, will currency be far behind?

wrong!

Jinmao suddenly realized the problem. If it couldn't enter the small country in five years, would it take another five years to launch currency?
What if it takes ten or even twenty years?
Will the currency not be promoted anymore?
No, absolutely not!
"Wen Ruo, Wen He."

Jin Mao expressed his doubts to Xun Yu and Jia Xu.

Jia Xu had already made up his mind, but he pretended to be in deep thought. He had already stole the limelight in the last Xianbei incident, or rather, it was the people of Guanxi who stole the limelight. If someone wanted to grab the credit now, the Yingchuan faction would be no pushover, not to mention the Yangzhou faction, the Jingzhou faction, and the rising Yizhou faction and Guandong faction.

With so many scholars and generals, Jia Xu didn't dare to take the risk if he could bankrupt the people of Guanxi with just some shady tricks.

As Jin Mao's power grew, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the regent had more power than the emperor, and it was up to him to decide whether or not he wanted to become emperor.

Moreover, there won't be as many twists and turns as others who want to become emperor. It can even be said that there are many supporters. Even if the old team doesn't help, the new celebrities will not miss this opportunity.

In fact, Jin Mao's advisers are mainly divided into three factions.

There is the Guandong faction headed by people from Yingchuan, the Guanxi faction headed by Jia Xu's family, and the Jiangnan faction headed by people from Yangzhou.

Within the three major factions, there are small factions and branches based on states and counties.

In short, the leaders are still the old team, including Xi Zhicai, Xun You, Jia Xu, Zhou Yu, etc.

Jinmao does not prevent this healthy competition. Now that he is in his prime, he can control it and is not worried.

Xun Yu was very conflicted. He wanted to speak for the emperor, fight for the interests of the Guandong faction, but he didn't want to admit his mistake and apologize.

Faced with the triple contradictions, Xun Yu couldn't say what he felt. Being in the prime of his life, he wished he could retire on the spot, but how could he give up when his ambitions were unfulfilled?

This time, Xun Yu decided to follow his heart and stand up bravely.

"My lord, this is easy."

"All we need to do is to make sure that the two governors, Huang and Zhou, gain something every time they lead their troops to the sea, and let the people of the world believe that the lord has an inexhaustible supply of gold and silver, and the gold standard will be established."

You know what, this method really works!

"Wen Ruoke is really something!"

Jin Mao was overjoyed and said, "Tell me, what reward do you want?"

Since Xun Yu had never wanted to take up a government post, Jin Mao always rewarded him with gold, silver and land. Now Xun Yu had become a big landlord.

"My lord, please forgive me." Xun Yu gritted his teeth and finally bowed his head to admit his mistake. Even if he didn't think about himself, he had to think about the Xun family.

Xun You has always been restrained and unable to act freely. The other descendants of the Xun family are obviously talented, but have no way to serve the country. Even the future of their young descendants is unknown.

All of this is because of his obsession!
If he was a grassroots genius, no one would say anything if he complained about everything, but Xun Yu was a family genius. Everything he had was given by his family, so naturally he had to take corresponding responsibilities.

Xun Yu in this time and space is different from the one in history. Even though he has Jin Mao's favor, his achievements are not remarkable, not even half of those of Xun You.

Even if Jin Mao was very fond of Xun Yu in the past, he did not dare to promote Xun Yu to a high position. Naturally, he did not have such a prominent position in history, and could not protect his descendants.

Therefore, Xun Yu bowed his head and admitted his mistake.

Jin Mao was overjoyed. He came to Xun Yu, took his hands and said, "Wen Ruo, I have been waiting for this sentence for four years."

"My lord!" Xun Yu's eyes were filled with tears, perhaps to commemorate his dead self-esteem, or perhaps for his broken pride.

In short, the former Xun Yu has died at this moment, and the new Xun Yu has been reborn.

"I won't say more." Jin Mao grabbed Xun Yu's hand with one hand and patted it with the other hand, saying, "I will leave this matter entirely to you. I hope Wen Ruo won't let me down."

Xun Yu nodded heavily, his eyes flashing with unprecedented firmness and determination. "Don't worry, my lord. Now that I have decided to follow you, I will do my best to live up to your trust. In the past, I may have hesitated and struggled, but from today on, my heart is only for you and my great cause. Whether in the court or on the battlefield, it will be a place for me, Xun Yu, to display my talents and assist you."

"I know very well that what my lord is aiming for is not small, it is to bring peace to a region in the troubled times, or even unify the world. Such a great undertaking cannot be accomplished by one person alone, it requires the joint efforts of all to face the difficulties together. Although I am not talented, I am willing to spend the rest of my life recruiting talents for my lord, planning and strategizing until success is achieved."

Jin Mao's eyes flashed with admiration and relief when he heard this. "What Wen Ruo said is exactly what I want. If you and I join hands, we will definitely make a name for ourselves in this chaotic world. Remember, there is no need for too many words between you and me. A glance or a gesture is enough to understand each other's intentions. I have never doubted your talent. When the time is right, I will let you shine."

After saying this, the two smiled at each other. The tacit understanding and trust reached an unprecedented level at this moment.

Xun Yu turned around and looked into the distance, his heart filled with unprecedented strength and hope.

(End of this chapter)