Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Zizhong, what brings you to see me?” When Chen Xi came out, he saw Mi Zhu calmly drinking tea in the main hall, which reassured him a lot because it was clear that the matter wasn’t serious.

”It’s like this.” Mi Zhu took out a bill from his sleeve. Unlike the statistics compiled by Liu Ye, this was an internal account from the Money Exchange. To this day, Liu Ye and others still viewed the Money Exchange as operated by Chen Xi, and Chen Xi had no good way to address this perception.

After Chen Xi took it and quickly calculated, ignoring the small details, the expenditure exceeded ten billion coins recorded. Chen Xi was slightly taken aback.

”Did someone come to withdraw money today?” Chen Xi asked calmly.

”I was the one who arranged to allocate funds for Gong Youu’s construction team to pay wages and placed orders for materials needed for the next year, setting the tone for prosperity before the market opens.” Mi Zhu nodded in response, his reasoning very valid.

At this time, it must be real silver. On the fifth day of the first lunar month, big and small shops will open, and the large orders carried over from the previous year ensure that all stores have business when they open. After that, with buffering and interlinking, the entire year will progressively thrive.

”Oh, how much in orders do you need to place approximately?” Chen Xi was also familiar with this, as he had asked Mi Zhu to handle this a couple of years ago.

”The deposit is about seven billion coins, which is expected to fully revitalize the industries under the jurisdiction of the five provinces.” Mi Zhu replied with a bitter smile. He hadn’t anticipated needing so much, as this almost amounted to the state placing orders with enterprises to ensure these fellows had food to eat.

”Moreover, after calculations, the official grain purchase price needs to rise to 170 cents, which will almost entirely affect the prices of all goods. The salaries of various social classes will also be slightly adjusted upwards, seemingly requiring funds in many areas this year.” Mi Zhu said with some headache.

”Go tell Wen Ru not to exchange them for copper coins; use ticket exchanges directly. The seven billion coins you need will be allocated from Wen Ru, preparing to open up commercial investments.” Chen Xi no longer hesitated, as Li Youu actually transferred ten billion in cash, seemingly intent on destroying the credit system.

It is said that Chen Xi did not remember that this ten billion was something he wrote for Xu Shu to play ’cool’, and after being confiscated by Li Youu, it was directly transferred as preparations for the coming year before the annual settlement.

To be honest, if it weren’t for the year-end settlement, the Money Exchange wouldn’t have much cash. Normally, Chen Xi, when using money, wouldn’t use cash unless necessary; he mostly supported it with credit currency.

The direct pulling of cash by Li Youu almost broke Chen Xi’s financial chain, originally like juggling ten balls with two hands. Suddenly pulling one away disrupted the rhythm, which, if collapsed, would cause problems for the credit system, and if it completely broke down, Chen Xi would have to use measures like the Martial Emperor to solve battles by seizing assets from the wealthy.

However, by doing so, the entire economic situation would revert to freezing point, and the reputation and momentum Chen Xi had built up for everyone to work in one direction would collapse instantly, which was the scariest thing.

”Commercial investment?” Mi Zhu asked, puzzled.

”Let the common people deposit money in the Money Exchange, and also allow others to borrow money for business from the Money Exchange. There are two ways in the Money Exchange: one is to consider it as buying shares, and the other as low-interest loans with only ten percent interest.” Chen Xi said slowly.

”At the same time, give a certain interest to those who deposit money.” Pressured by the lack of cash, Chen Xi now planned to use interest to draw people to deposit money. Over twenty million people depositing one hundred cents each would amount to two billion coins, enough for many projects.

Incidentally, Chen Xi felt that as life improved, the prices seemed to be rising a bit too quickly. Even in a bumper year, grain prices soared to 170 cents, and it should be suppressed; it would be better to let money hold more value.

”Of course, this benefit is only given to ordinary people; those with household registration can apply for loans and deposits. The aristocratic families are excluded.” Chen Xi waved his hand, saying that it would be better to let these families deposit without withdrawing while they still didn’t understand what was happening.

”This?” Mi Zhu was a bit dumbfounded, as this approach seemed problematic no matter how he looked at it.

The idea of giving interest to ordinary people’s deposits obviously had a flaw. The aristocratic families got no interest, yet ordinary people did. Isn’t this about not worrying over scarcity but inequality?

Plus, isn’t this essentially distributing money to the people? Although individually it’s not much, when considering the millions of people, when one day there isn’t enough money to distribute, those accustomed to benefits would surely cause trouble.

The people wouldn’t care whether you have money or not; they become used to receiving benefits, and the moment you say there’ll be no more, you won’t be able to win them over.

Chen Xi also noticed Mi Zhu’s strange expression but paid it no mind. He was just collecting money, needing to ensure that the annual earnings from this money exceeded the distributions for savings. Moreover, adjusting interest rates every year in combination with the previous year to always be lower than the previous year would ensure profit without loss.

”I think we need to discuss this.” Mi Zhu wiped away sweat and said quietly.

”Don’t worry about the aristocratic families; borrowing should not be opened to them yet, nor should interest be given.” Chen Xi sneered, saying once interest was given to them instead of charging, they would likely realize this is just a borrowing from Peter to pay Paul move.

”Not worrying over scarcity but inequality.” Mi Zhu said with a troubled expression. This was surely something he had to announce, as no one dared to question Chen Xi. The problem was, he couldn’t explain it well.

”Don’t mind those guys, they are just talkers; no need to mind them. If it were about inequality, they would have been overthrown long ago. This is still within their tolerable capability.” Chen Xi sneered nonchalantly, ”Just tell them, I’m distributing money.”

”Cough cough cough, well, alright, I will remember to pass this on when the time comes.” Mi Zhu said helplessly, since Chen Xi had already decided, he had no way around it.

”You distribute the orders to each subordinate commercial firm, then have them further distribute to each major merchant, and then allocate down the hierarchy?” Chen Xi didn’t regard Mi Zhu’s words seriously, as the aristocratic families weren’t at a point of having to revolt yet.

Chen Xi had given the aristocratic families a path he considered good, and it would be the best choice for them to walk down it if they acknowledged it. At least for now, with both sides just beginning to integrate, it was impossible to fall out over such a small matter.

Mi Zhu took the note approved by Chen Xi to find Li Youu for funds, while Chen Xi frowned, contemplating what kind of sweetener to give to the aristocratic families. After all, anyone could make threats, but he needed the aristocrats to exert effort outward, crucial for distant future matters!

Please vote for the monthly ticket to save me, I think there’s hope for me this month… (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets, your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)