CHAPTER 1066: CHAPTER 1022: MONEY EXCHANGE DEPLOYMENT IN PROGRESS

For Liu Bei, Chen Xi is always magnanimous, attentive to many details that are easy to overlook, and these details are seen as acts of kindness by General Gan Ning, who hides his true talents behind a facade of simplicity.

Gan Ning appeared in Chen Xi’s house with a series of leaps; simply put, he didn’t enter through the main door. However, his way generally doesn’t annoy people.

"Marquis Chen, I’m back!" Gan Ning, like a dark shadow, suddenly appeared in the main hall of Chen Xi’s residence and shouted loudly, his behavior prompted by the sight of light therein.

"What is this?" Gan Ning casually asked, looking at the map Chen Xi was rolling up.

Sometimes, Chen Xi thinks he has an obsession. The map drawn on the white silk is easy to open, but trying to roll it up without creases is immensely challenging. After Jia Xu and others left, Chen Xi repeatedly rolled the map, but each time it left creases, forcing him to start over.

Such actions, bordering on obsessive behavior, made Hann Qiong somewhat uncomfortable, but he did nothing to stop Chen Xi.

"A map." Upon hearing the voice, Chen Xi was initially startled; seeing it was Gan Ning, he didn’t have time to roll it up. Continuing to do so would only draw the attention of Gan Ning, who appeared crude but was actually quite meticulous.

"Oh." Gan Ning didn’t inquire further, giving it just a cursory glance. After all, the part concerning the Central Plains had already been rolled up.

It was fortunate that Chen Xi drew the Central Plains at the starting edge of the map; if it were in the center, Gan Ning might have recognized the Yangtze River line and, though he might not react immediately, he would have understood eventually. After all, he’d traversed every part of the Yangtze, which was once his domain.

"What’s the matter?" Chen Xi casually let go of the map he was rolling and, maintaining composure, inquired, "You haven’t already transported back the copper, have you?"

"The copper, worth 1.5 billion coins, has been transported back. We have constructed numerous mines on Luzon Island, now operational, and the output will significantly increase in the future." Gan Ning explained the current situation on Luzon Island, putting Chen Xi at ease.

Having captured so many of Cao Cao’s prisoners, one couldn’t merely support them; after all, they were thousands of strong laborers. Some of them were engaged in farming in Yiizhou, others were dispatched to Luzon to mine. Given that even if there were a few native tribes, the population density was extremely low.

After populating the area with these people, the mines could finally commence operations. For this reason, Chen Xi also relocated some craftsmen to Luzon and Yiizhou, establishing it as a significant strategic point for resource transfer and as a forward base.

"Copper worth 1.5 billion coins, that’s commendable; the Han Dynasty’s minting is just a couple billion coins annually, so for a security deposit it’s more than enough." Chen Xi nodded,

The Han Dynasty’s yearly revenue surpasses 300 billion coins, equating to about 3 billion gold, but the actual coins minted are quite few, whereas the copper worth 1.5 billion as a guarantee is sufficient. If turned into coins, it wouldn’t hold the same value for Chen Xi, holding more worth as collateral.

To be honest, Chen Xi originally intended to implement a gold standard and then issue credit currency, but there was no basis for that in this era, so he dared not be too reckless. First using copper as security, and once sufficient copper is stockpiled to overturn the entire system, then using gold for security.

Until then, Chen Xi felt he might have to work harder, using himself as a credit voucher. This copper valued at 1.5 billion coins is actually a secondary guarantee. Using himself alone is risky; should there be a slip-up, reserve assets like copper can bail him out, as they suffice being a hard currency.

In fact, another thing could serve as hard currency: salt. But unfortunately, Chen Xi is about to stabilize salt prices, intending to wreck the price, which skyrocketed to 300 coins per stone, double the price of refined rice. This was still after Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping’s price adjustment, truly absurd!

Though the salt tax has always been a major contributor to the national revenue, due to large-scale production, the cost of refined salt has been suppressed to a couple of coins, yet it’s sold at nearly a hundredfold profit. Chen Xi feels if the price isn’t adjusted, it would be intolerable.

A hundred coins are Chen Xi’s baseline; it can be tolerated being higher than grain prices, but not excessively so. However, reducing the price to ten coins would require Chen Xi to use martial force for assurance and complete unification; otherwise, once such a life essential is monopolized, a price surge could be dangerously lethal.

As for using grain as a guarantee, it’s also feasible as it’s a hard currency too, but the biggest problem is that the volume of grain is even larger than copper for the same weight, making it hard to transport. Additionally, grain has preservation issues, hence it’s quite unreliable.

"Escort those copper ingots to the Zhen Family courtyard that was vacated earlier, assign someone to keep an eye on it. Anyway, taking it away isn’t that easy; just remember to stack it properly." Chen Xi’s mind raced with countless ideas, and, coming back to reality, instructed Gan Ning, as these items primarily served to enlighten other aristocratic families.

"Understood!" Gan Ning cupped his hands, hesitated for a moment, then inquired, "Then I shall transport the copper ingots right away. But I dare ask, why has the Money Exchange not been established yet? Is there any issue?"

"Actually, it’s not that significant an issue. I dispatched people to Yizhou, Yangzhou, and Yongzhou to negotiate the Money Exchange distribution with a few individuals there." Chen Xi stated calmly.

Economically, achieving unification comes first. As for whether the justification Chen Xi offers will gain Cao Cao and Sun Ce’s approval remains uncertain.

However, it doesn’t matter much, since this is merely a probe. Even if Cao Cao and Sun Ce don’t agree, privately, something akin to a Money Exchange will emerge once aristocratic families recognize its convenience, spreading uncontrollably. After Chen Xi’s proposal, Cao Cao and Sun Ce wouldn’t be able to avoid establishing something too.

Merely, the recognition of a Money Exchange established with Cao Cao and Sun Ce’s credit poses the greatest challenge. Ultimately, it would be difficult to avoid aristocratic families forming a coalition to establish a Money Exchange in Cao Cao and Sun Ce’s names.

By that time, when the Money Exchanges on both sides make contact, the very institution Chen Xi set as the credit voucher would make it impossible for the Money Exchange under Cao and Sun’s nominal designation to resist becoming a subsidiary of his own, unavoidably so.

By then, either Cao Cao and Sun Ce will have to directly push for a Money Exchange, or they’ll have to grudgingly acknowledge and then spend a massive amount of manpower and resources monitoring a Money Exchange that doesn’t conduct any other business.

Unlike Liu Bei, Cao Cao and Sun Ce currently have no way to break away from the aristocratic families. To forcefully outmaneuver a Money Exchange backed by aristocratic families could lead to both sides’ mutual ruin. Chen Xi is merely giving early notice. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)