Daming: The system rejected my request for salted fish

"What we need to do is to gradually influence people to use Baochao for settlement, rather than forcing them to use it."

"As long as the people's trust in the treasure notes is greatly enhanced, the promotion problem can be solved by other more gentle means."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang became curious and immediately asked:

"Xiao Wu, in your opinion, what is the best way to promote the treasure notes?"

Hearing this, Wei Wu chuckled and said:

"Mr. Zhu, you have to know that if something is truly convenient, people will use it themselves without being forced to do so."

"For example, the curved plow allows people to cultivate the land better, so people have been using it since the Tang Dynasty."

"The same goes for Baochao. In fact, Baochao is really convenient for merchants, who need large amounts of cash to settle transactions."

"But although silver is easy to carry, it's not convenient. But treasure notes are different. They're just a piece of paper. You can put them anywhere you want."

"So the promotion of Baochao should start with merchants. Once they accept it, the people will naturally follow suit."

Wei Wu had just finished speaking when Zhu Biao suddenly interrupted.

"Xiao Wu, if that's the case, then when the court issues tenders in the future, can I add a rule to the contract?"

"Whether it's the court settling accounts with them or they settle accounts with their workers, they must use treasure notes."

"In this way, those merchants must hold treasure notes in their hands."

Zhu Biao felt that his idea was feasible to circulate the treasure notes from top to bottom through merchants.

But after hearing this, Wei Wu immediately shook his head and denied it.

"Brother, it's not impossible for you to do this, but it must be done when the people have sufficient trust in the banknotes."

"If it were implemented now, it would still be coercive, and might even cause businesses to resist bidding."

After hearing this, Zhu Biao nodded seriously, thinking that what Wei Wu said made sense.

"Xiao Wu, then tell me how to promote the Baochao."

"It's very simple. Let the people experience the benefits of using treasure notes, and they will naturally use them, just like taxes."

While speaking, Wei Wu turned and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Uncle Zhu, the imperial court allows the people to pay taxes using banknotes, but the tax amount remains the same regardless of whether it's grain or banknotes."

"Then if the court orders that the use of treasure notes to pay taxes can reduce some of the tax amount, for example, the mandatory payment of 50 kilograms of grain."

"But if we use treasure notes to pay taxes, and we only need to pay treasure notes worth 49 kilograms of grain, what will the people choose?"

Hearing Wei Wu's question, Zhu Yuanzhang gave the answer directly without any hesitation.

"Of course, we choose to pay taxes with treasure notes. One pound of grain is enough to feed a family of three for a day."

As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Zhu Biao on the side also echoed.

"Yes, if it were me, I would also pay taxes with treasure notes."

At this time, Wei Wucai spoke again:

"In addition to tax reductions and exemptions, there are many other areas where preferential treatment can be given, such as salt and iron, which are the exclusive domains of the imperial court."

"For example, if ordinary people use treasure notes when buying salt, they can buy more salt for the same price."

"Salt used to cost eight cents a pound, but now it only costs seven cents using treasure notes. I'm sure the people will be very happy!"

"Through these little things, the people can benefit from it, and they will unknowingly fall in love with the treasure banknotes."

Although the method Wei Wu said was indeed useful, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly after hearing it.

"Xiao Wu, if we really do this, the imperial court's annual grain supply will be much less. This is related to the development of the country!"

"Uncle Zhu, we can expand our horizons a bit. Now that we have potatoes, there will be no shortage of food in the Ming Dynasty."

After hearing Wei Wu's answer, Zhu Yuanzhang remembered that the Ming Dynasty now had potatoes, a magical food.

With the per-acre yield of potatoes, there is no need to worry about food shortages in the future.

At this moment, Wei Wu said again:

"Besides, our Ming Dynasty will never be short of money in the future. It will only become richer and richer. Even a small loss can be regarded as a benefit to the people."

"Think about it, the Japanese pirates have mountains of gold and silver, while the small countries to the south have a warm climate and can grow three crops a year."

"Now that we have a strong army and strong horses, and with the newly developed firearms from the Academy of Science and Technology, we can definitely seize all those lands."

At this point, Wei Wu turned around and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with a serious face.

"Wherever rivers flow, wherever the sun and moon shine, all is Han territory. This precious land of the world should be inhabited by those who are capable."

"They have such good land and climate, but they don't know how to use them. They're wasting such great resources."

"Uncle Zhu, in my opinion, this bullshit Celestial Empire and neighborly friendship are all bullshit. The good things should belong to us."

"What do the people of other countries have to do with us? What we need to do is to make the people of Ming Dynasty live better and more prosperous lives."

"There's a saying in later generations: I'd rather bear the infamy of this life than let my descendants enjoy happiness. This is called committing sins in this life but benefiting future generations!"

As soon as Wei Wu finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said impatiently:

"Alright, alright, what do you take me for? I'm not a weakling emperor like the Zhao Song dynasty who was led astray by corrupt scholars."

"It would have been fine if we didn't know before, but now that we know, do you think we'll let go of those good things?"

"It's just that now is not the right time. When the time is right, none of those who benefit our Ming Dynasty will be left behind."

Having said that, Zhu Yuanzhang pointed directly at Zhu Biao next to him.

"Even if we don't have enough time in this life, we still have your elder brother!"

After hearing what Zhu Yuanzhang said, Wei Wu also remembered that the person in front of him was not a scholar.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a good emperor, but it is undeniable that his background made his thoughts somewhat different from those of other emperors.

Other emperors might be concerned about the reputation of the Celestial Empire, but he certainly wouldn't care about that.

He is the emperor. If there are good things in the world, he should naturally take them back and make them his own.

While Wei Wu was lost in thought, Zhu Biao nodded and said with a smile:

"That's right. If I didn't know, it would be fine. But now that I know, I definitely can't miss it..."

"Alright, alright, that's all for the future. Let's first deal with the treasure note issue."

Zhu Biao was just halfway through his words when Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted him and looked at Wei Wu and said:

"Xiao Wu, you just talked about the common people, but you initially said to start with the merchants. How should we proceed?"

Hearing this, Wei Wu smiled slightly.

"It's simple. Open a nationwide chain of banks and print larger denominations of banknotes to facilitate transactions."