Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 168 Minting Coins and Thor's Return to Hong Kong

That "Eternal Family" is currently living in the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, and ordinary people can't see it at all.Zhao Xin visited the Kyoto Imperial Palace in another time and space.But the problem is that it's too big inside, how can we lure that one out?This matter has to be pondered carefully, there is no rush.

After three consecutive days of hard work, more than half of the people in Beihai Town were mobilized to catch nearly 20 kilograms of salmon on two rivers; an average of four fish per person.

Chen Qingsong’s previous request to all the refugees was that each family could keep two, and the rest should be dried or pickled for preservation.So since the last time Xu Dayong and the others were forced to pickle [-] catties of large yellow croakers, Beihai town has launched a vigorous activity of pickling salmon.There are salmon rubbed with salt hanging in front of the houses of every household, and even the food in the canteen these days is salmon roe rice.

The nine-person teacher team headed by Lao You and Fang Hua finally reached an agreement with Zhao Xin that it is okay to stay and teach, but the salary will be doubled; the second is that the nine of them will become the boss of the education system in Beihai Town, what to teach? , How to teach is up to the nine of them, and Zhao Xin has no right to interfere; the last point is that since most of the members of the nine-member group are over fifty years old, medical and health issues must be taken seriously.Once Hong Tao couldn't handle it, Zhao Xin had to send the patient back to another time and space.

Regarding the first and third points, Zhao Xin said that there is no problem at all.As for the second point, Zhao Xin only accepted half of it.It's okay to want to be the boss of education, but ideological education must be controlled in his own hands. The nine-member group can assist, but is not allowed to oppose.

Lao You and the others finally accepted Zhao Xin's terms after a day of closed-door discussions and stuffed their stomachs with fried and grilled salmon.So on the fourth day, the new office of the education department began to choose a site, which was next to Hong Tao's "community hospital".

And teacher Fang Huafang in the nine-member group, after talking with Zhao Xinshen all night, took his luggage to the workshop on the east bank of the river the next day, and took over the manufacture of black powder.

On the third day after the salmon was harvested, Zhao Xin, Chen Qingsong, Liu Sheng, Zhao Liang, Hong Tao, Zhang Bo, and Wu Siyu all gathered in Zhao Xin's office.

A wooden box was placed on the table, and several newly minted coins were placed on the red velvet cloth inside the wooden box.

There is only one kind of gold coin. The front is the full-body portrait of Xuanyuan Huangdi, which is based on the portrait of the Yellow Emperor in the Eastern Han Dynasty left in the Wuliang Temple in Shandong;

There are three types of silver coins: 10 yuan, 5 yuan and 1 yuan. The front is also Xuanyuan Huangdi, but a bust is used; the pattern on the back is exactly the same as that of the gold coin.

最后两枚则是用铝铜合金压制的5角和1角，其中5角硬币比1角的大了一圈。正面是麦穗围绕的RX9620的侧面图像，背面则是币值字样。

Because it is a sample coin, Zhao Liang specially adopted the mirror polishing process when making it.First, various alloy cylinders are smoothed by mechanical cutting, and then polished with different meshes of sandpaper.After the polishing is completed, mechanical pressing can be carried out, and after pressing, the wool wheel is used to polish again.The coins produced in this way have a flat bottom plate, high gloss, delicate patterns, and prominent layers, which are very eye-catching.

After hearing the production process introduced by Zhao Liang, everyone was stunned.

Hong Tao was wearing white gloves, holding the gold coin and exclaiming: "It's so beautiful, will you have to do this for all your money in the future?"

Zhao Liang shook his head with a smile, and explained: "In the future, I will use a polishing machine or chemical polishing agent to do it. If you want to polish it like a sample, you will not be exhausted."

Liu Sheng held a dime coin and asked Zhao Liang, "What is the diameter of this?"

“20毫米。5角的是25毫米。”赵亮指着众人手里拿着的各币种解释道：“金币用的是99%的纯金和1%的银制成，直径是39.5毫米，重量是32.49426克。

三种银币的含银量都是92.5%，也就是俗称的925银，其余用的是铜。10元银币重60.5克，5元银币重37.29克，1元银币重7.46克。”

Hong Tao asked Zhao Xin curiously: "How much is such a gold coin worth in our side? Where do you plan to use it?"

Zhao Xin explained: "According to the price of 330 a gram, it's almost more than 1. However, we have almost no gold reserves now, so this can only be used as a reserve currency and will not be used in daily life. It is mostly used internally and externally. It will be silver coins and this copper-aluminum alloy coin."

"What if someone forges it?" Zhang Bo asked holding a 5 cent coin.

Zhao Xindao: "We use copper and aluminum alloys. In this era, aluminum is more expensive than gold. No, aluminum is even rarer than gold now."

The industrial production of aluminum had to wait until the end of the 19th century.Aluminum smelting became possible only after electricity became cheaper with the advent of new generators.

Except for Zhao Xin, everyone is very interested in gold coins and silver coins, but they don't care much about the 5 jiao and 1 jiao copper and aluminum alloy coins.In fact, they don't know that the most important thing here is the copper and aluminum coins.

Because gold was to be extracted from the island country, the weight and silver content of the silver coins formulated by Zhao Xin were all aimed at the silver coins issued by the shogunate.

The weight of the 1 yuan silver coin is 7.46 grams, and the silver content is 92.5%.

Why set this weight?It is because the silver content in the 1 yuan silver coin directly corresponds to the silver content of the shogunate's four (day two) silver.The shogunate silver is 3.75 grams, and the four is 15 grams, but the silver content of the shogunate silver coins is only 46%.

The anchor of Beihai Town's currency is not rice, but gold.The silver content of silver coins was formulated with the goal of the shogunate's silver coins, and its ultimate goal was to extract the gold reserves of the entire island country.

In the "Three Currency System" system in the Edo period, silver coins were mainly Dingyin and Doubanyin.Among them, Dingyin is a large-value currency, which is oblong in shape and weighs between 30 and 50 匁.Douban silver is a small currency with variable shape and weight, and it is generally in the shape of round grains.

Originally, when the Tokugawa shogunate formulated monetary policy at the beginning, the content of silver coins was around 80%.As a result, due to the shortage of currency issuance and the reduction of gold and silver mine reserves, the Five Dynasties General Tsunayoshi carried out a currency reform during his reign, which reduced the fineness of gold and silver coins.

In 1736 AD, a nationwide "enjoyment famine" came, which led to a sharp rise in rice prices and social unrest.In order to restore the economy, the shogunate launched the currency reform again. The gold content of small sentences was reduced from 84.29% to 65.71%, and the grade of silver coins was greatly reduced from 80% to 46%.In this way, the silver content of the original silver coin was reduced by half; that is to say, in a 3.75-gram silver coin, there are actually only 1.725 grams of pure silver.

From ancient times to the present, the weight and fineness of gold and silver coins directly reflect the economic status of a country.The heavier the weight and the higher the fineness, the better the economic situation, otherwise the poorer economic situation.

Since the 1 yuan silver coin in Beihai Town corresponds to the 1 匁 silver in the shogunate, in a mathematical sense, a 5-point copper-aluminum alloy coin in Beihai can be exchanged for 2 匁 silver; in addition, aluminum is an absolute precious metal in this era , the value of the 5 cents coin is highlighted.

The official currency exchange policy of the shogunate is to exchange 58 silver for one tael of gold, but the two merchants in the island country are not fools, and no one will exchange according to this ratio.According to what Zhao Xin heard from Shengshan Chuansan before, the ratio of gold and silver exchange on the market is usually between 62 and 65.

按这个兑换比价来算的话，北海镇用两枚总共含银才104.04克的银币（1枚10元，1枚5元）外加一枚5角铜铝合金币，就可以换到一两含金量在65.71%的金币。换算成现代货币的话，就是用550元套取了810元。

As for the silver content of silver coins, it will only maintain a ratio of 92.5% at the beginning.Afterwards, as the circulation increases, the silver content will be appropriately reduced, so that more gold will be withdrawn.

Of course, whether this arbitrage process can be completed in an actual transaction depends on the economic and military strength of Beihai Town.

It is said that in the Edo period, the transactions of rice, mineral products and bulk commodities controlled by the shogunate would use gold and silver currencies as the medium, and only small-value commodity transactions in urban and rural areas would be paid in coins.

However, gold and silver goods usually do not use cash when exercising their payment functions. Most of the payments are completed by two merchants in the form of bills of exchange or promissory notes. This is basically the case for trade between private merchants and government merchants.

That is to say, if Zhao Xin started regular large-scale trade with the island country and asked the other party to pay gold or silver, the other party would usually pay in "gold zha" or "silver zha" (money tickets).And if he wants to withdraw physical currency, he needs to go to two dealers to exchange it.

Having said so much, the actual operation will be more troublesome.Because the current gold and silver in island countries are anchored by rice, when the price of rice falls in a good year, gold and silver are valuable; in a bad year, when the price of rice rises, gold and silver are worthless.

Of course, Zhao Xin can also drive the Thunder God with cannons to rob.But when the opponent is kneeling and licking like a dog, no matter how fierce the robber is, he is too embarrassed to force him.So robbing this kind of thing is a must, not to mention he has robbed a lot from Sendai and Nagasaki.

At the end of the coin appreciation meeting, Zhao Xin signed the first coinage order.The workshop will complete the tasks of 5 1-cent alloy coins, 1 5-cent alloy coins, [-] [-]-yuan silver coins, and [-] [-]-yuan silver coins before the spring of next year.

Zhao Liang took this order, shook his head and smiled wryly, "We need to increase the manpower."

Zhao Xindao: "What kind of equipment do you need, you can make a list."

"Magnetic polishing equipment is definitely needed, and copper-aluminum alloy and 925 silver must also be purchased."

Chen Qingsong said with a smile: "Tomorrow I will personally choose the site for the mint. This time we will not build a wooden shed, but a reinforced concrete building."

"No way. I also want steel and concrete for the military workshop!" Zhao Liang went ahead and began to bargain.

Two days later, the Raytheon carrying 32 "intellectual women" and [-] girls from the Qing Dynasty finally returned.

Not to mention how surprised those stunning women standing on the deck were when they saw Beihai Town, Zhao Xin, Liu Sheng, and Hong Tao were the first to board the ship after the ship entered the port and lowered the gangway.

The reason why Dr. Hong came with him was because he missed Director Liu.During the time they were separated, Hong Tao couldn't eat well and couldn't sleep soundly; except for Liu Siting who went on a boat in Yangzhou that night in disguise, she couldn't go anywhere during the day.

When the two met, they gave a warm hug.This scene made Tang Xiao and the others blushed, but also surprised.

The girls whispered to each other, discussing in low voices.

"Bah! I'm so shameless, I don't even care about the defense of men and women in public."

"That's right. I thought that Dr. Liu was a nice person, but I didn't expect that he didn't understand etiquette at all."

After Tang Xiao turned his head and looked around, he saw a somewhat familiar figure from the back, and entered the ship building together with another big man.

"This person looks so familiar, as if he's seen it somewhere before."

After hugging Director Liu, he smiled and introduced to Tang Xiao and the others: "This is my boyfriend, who is also a doctor. His surname is Hong, you can just call him Doctor Hong."

After hearing this, all the women hurriedly clenched their hands slightly into fists, moved their right hand to the left hand and placed it by their sides, bowed their heads to Hong Tao and bowed their knees sideways.This is the "Wanfu Li" in the Qing Dynasty.

These girls have been trained by their mother-in-law since they were young, and they demand beauty in every word, deed, and every move.Therefore, everyone's skirts are swaying slightly, and the smooth flow is completed.

Doctor Hong Taohong was dumbfounded seeing dozens of Yingying and Yanyan dressed in ancient costumes making ancient salutes towards him.He has never seen this scene before!
"Hey hey! Are you stupid?! Can't pull out your eyes?" Director Liu was upset.

"Ah!" Hong Tao trembled in his heart, the food was bad, he was jealous.So he hurriedly explained: "No way! I haven't seen so many ancient people before." He almost said the word "beauty".

Er Tangzhong's elder sister asked curiously: "Doctor Liu, what do you mean by 'boyfriend' just now?"

Liu Siting said, "That's my boyfriend."

Hong Tao quickly explained: "We're not married yet, so I'm just her boyfriend."

Liu Siting glared at Hong Tao, and said in a low voice, "I want you to talk more!"

When the women heard this, it turned out that these two people were not married yet, they were not husband and wife!They all contemptuously said in their hearts: "It's really shameless to dare to cuddle and cuddle without getting married." But they forgot that if they were still working as a skinny horse in Yangzhou and waiting to be bought, the best result would be to be a A concubine; a formal marriage with three letters and six ceremonies is not even thought about.

Zhao Xin and Liu Sheng came to the cockpit and met Wang Yuanfang, Ding Guofeng, Deng Fei and Liu Zheng.When asked why they came back so late, several people shook their heads and smiled wryly.

Ding Guofeng said: "The three of you just slapped your ass and left, we have gone through hardships along the way!"

Zhao Xin wryly smiled and said, "You think it's easy for the three of us!"

Deng Fei said to Wang Yuanfang: "I'll go to the engine room to have a look first, and I'll look for you later."

A few people went to the meeting room on the lower floor. Zhao Xin first talked about the night attack on Wang's mansion, and then Wang Yuanfang began to talk about their experience along the way.

Time goes back to when Wang Yuanfang and the others arrived at Flower and Bird Island.
When Wang Yuanfang drove his official boat to the northern bay of Huaniao Island, a simple trestle built with wooden boards on the coast was almost completed.

Huang Maocai arrived one day earlier, and all the food supplies brought in by the sandboat had already been delivered to the shore.Because he didn't know how long Wang Yuanfang and the others would have to wait here, so he made preparations according to the number of fifty people and ten days; rice, water, cured meat, vegetables, firewood, and cooking utensils.There are a lot of fish, shrimp and shellfish around Huaniao Island. In case of insufficient food, these can also be used for emergency.

In addition to arranging firewood and water boats to deliver supplies to the shore for more than a day, Lao Huang also had to ask his men to dismantle the wooden houses on the island to build temporary trestles and measure the water depth in various places in the bay.These are what Zhao Xin told him before. Since Huaniao Island is to be used as a freight transfer station, it is necessary to build a permanent wharf.

Seeing the white official boat coming through the waves, Lao Huang standing on the coast finally let out a sigh of relief, finally arrived!
It is said that Zhao Xin and the others have made such a big deal in Shanghai and Yangzhou, Lao Huang has been living in fear these days.At night, he was often awakened by nightmares, dreaming that the officials arrested him and Shen Jingdan's family and put them in prison, and ransacked them all.However, after waking up at night, he often secretly rejoices at the profits brought by cigarettes.

Lao Huang felt that life is full of contradictions for the first time in addition to worries and secret joys!
When Wang Yuanfang's boat docked by the trestle bridge, and Liu Siting took the girls off the boat one by one, the sailors on the sandboat and the shore were all stunned, and put down all their work; even Lao Huang ran to the trestle bridge Look at the beauty.

All the sailors stared dumbfounded at the stunning little ladies getting off the strange ship, their graceful figures like willows blowing in the wind, supporting each other as they walked on the swaying trestle bridge.Every slight shake of the trestle bridge will cause the little ladies to scream and scream, and even the sailors will burst into booing-like exclamations.

By the way, what is the situation?The saliva of many sailors flowed out three feet long. Could it be that the fairies descended collectively? !

"How many girls did you get out?" Lao Huang looked at this scene in shock, and asked Ding Guofeng who was the first to walk down the trestle bridge.

Ding Guofeng responded lightly: "32 big ones, [-] small ones."

"Ah! There are so many!" When Lao Huang saw Wang Yuanfang getting off the boat with a girl in his arms, he couldn't help shouting, "My mother! Why do you even snatch the child?"

Ding Guofeng was about to step forward to respond, and turned his head and said angrily after hearing this: "What robbing children! They were all trafficked by human traffickers! They are all as hungry as bean sprouts."

Lao Huang roughly understood what was going on in his heart, shook his head and sighed: "What a crime!"

When everyone got ashore, Wang Yuanfang went to Lao Huang and confessed: "Boss Huang, you should go back overnight. When we came, all the Qing soldiers along the way saw us."

Lao Huang understood what Wang Yuanfang meant.Zhao Xin had told him and Shen Jingdan before that Wang Yuanfang and the others had to be blatant and fanciful along the way, the purpose was to attract the attention of the Qing court, so as not to suspect Shen Jingdan because of Wang Jinglong's matter.If the patrol boat of the Susong navy arrives here and finds his sandboat, all the previous efforts will be in vain.

Thinking of this, he nodded and said, "Then we'll leave in a while, Mr. Wang, be careful at night."

After dark, under Lao Huang's urging and scolding, a group of sailors boarded the sandboat step by step, and then hoisted their sails and headed west.

Afterwards, Lao Huang was very glad that he left in time, because if he didn't leave that night, he would never go back the next morning.

(End of this chapter)