Chapter 455

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Copper coins and iron coins are the most commonly used currencies on the West Continent, able to circulate everywhere, far better than those thin coins blindly minted by city-states.

But the melting and casting of copper coins and iron coins has almost never stopped. Knights, merchants, even city-states themselves, for the sake of war or profit, inevitably set their sights on the currency. The resulting monetary contraction is almost impossible to suppress; for example, when Chen Yi first arrived at Yun Village, the villagers could only conduct transactions through barter.

Apart from the major city-states in the central region, the Elder Council of a city-state like Ma La would never proactively mint copper coins and iron coins; at most they would send people to search for some conch shells, and they fundamentally do not understand the meaning of monetary contraction and currency inflation.

The West River Water Fortress trial-produced multiple currencies, among which the most popular was the copper coin, but the most cost-effective was the iron coin. The prosperity of the Xima Market spread the Water Fortress's self-minted currency to many city-states, many of which were then re-melted by merchants into weapons or ornaments.

Continuing to promote copper coins and iron coins can no longer be called profitable; copper-lead alloy is a relatively better alternative. There are many methods to separate the two, but they always require a bit of technical content, unlike melting and casting copper coins where you just heat the furnace.

And for the West River Water Fortress, copper-lead alloy can increase the value of lead, thereby collecting more minting tax. At least offsetting the transport capacity loss equivalent to the price difference of an equal quantity of light industrial products.

The first furnace of coins Chen Yi sent over — 70% copper, 30% lead — aside from a few kept for collection, the rest were immediately sent to the Xima Market.

This is already the most prosperous market in the eastern region of the West Continent. Hundreds of tons of "giant" vessels can be seen everywhere; if not for wars breaking out everywhere, the quantity might increase tenfold. The Xima Market truly has too many materials that West Continent people lack.

Huang Wei, carrying a large bag of "West River Minted Coin Fourth Edition," walked down the most bustling main street of the Xima Market.

Merchants on the road all made way. As the direct person in charge of the Xima Market, Huang Wei's status is only slightly inferior to Finance Minister Jin Douna. And the highest-ranking finance official ordinary people can see is, in substance, Huang Wei.

The excellent performance of "Jiangning Goods" conquered the merchants, and also brought Huang Wei enormous reputation; among the cadets who don't command troops, he is one of the few with the fastest promotion speed.

Huang Wei, stepping with precise strides, arrived before the largest cloth merchant in the market, then solemnly took out a "West River Value Coin" and asked amiably: "What can one copper coin buy?"

The cloth merchant grabbed the copper coin, bit down hard on it with his teeth, then answered without hesitation: "One chi of coarse cloth."

"Deal." Huang Wei cut off one chi of coarse cloth — not enough to make underwear — which is the hemp cloth produced by the locals.

He immediately went to the largest shoe merchant, handed over a Value Coin, then pointed at a pair of Liberation Shoes and asked: "How much for Jiangning Goods Liberation Shoes?"

The latter rubbed the minted coin, then held it up in the sunlight, carefully observing the beautiful patterns on it, and said: "5 copper coins."

Huang Wei took out 5 copper coins and placed them in his hand.

The shoe merchant placed a pair of Liberation Shoes in Huang Wei's other hand.

Next, Huang Wei went to the rice merchant, meat merchant, ready-made clothing merchant, and leather merchant's shops, using up all the "West River Minted Coin" Fourth Edition he carried.

Countless people followed Huang Wei's footsteps, watching his actions, watching the actions of other major merchants.

They were confirming the value of the "West River Value Coin."

This is the West Continent's business model; in a world before electronic computers, the market's power to discover value lies in the eyes of a few hundred merchants. Through their pricing and settlement, port merchants become messengers transmitting information, thereby changing the pricing of surrounding markets.

In fact, even in a world with electronic computers, the market's power to discover value still belongs to those few hundred merchants.

The West River Water Fortress issued 100,000 minted coins that very day.

The next day, a shocking 1.7 million coins, equivalent to Ma La's annual tax revenue. Since last year, merchants who newly learned to tap rubber brought back the natural latex they found, trading centrally at a price of two copper coins per bucket — a hugely profitable deal for both parties.

On the third day, Huang Wei used 3.5 million minted coins to purchase over 20 tons of precious metals, including both gold and platinum, as well as silver.

The crazy speed of amassing wealth shocked the Water Fortress's scholars, and thoroughly stunned Ma La's Elder Council, as well as the priests of the Water Dragon Temple.

5 million minted coins is equivalent to Ma La-State's annual currency issuance — and in China, this figure should be 18 trillion RMB, distributed across 600-plus cities under 80% over-issuance conditions.

Vladimir, just returned from the God Temple Battlefield, even felt an itch to melt down some copper coins to take back.

But the first to find Chen Yi was High Priest Iyal.

He wore traditional long robes, with two handsome little boys holding them up, like a star walking on a red carpet, standing on an open-top (azure) ox, parading ostentatiously through the Xima Market and Xijiang Wharf.

This is the highest-ranking figure Chen Yi has met face-to-face since arriving on the West Continent.

Although in terms of rank, his status is about on par with He Fuhan, perhaps even weaker than a Mayor; but in the feudal-era West Continent, Iyal, who holds the power of life and death, is truly more imposing than a 21st-century national leader. He is the master of this land; aside from noble interests, he can act almost arbitrarily.

On the other hand, priests are the most cultured people in this world; like the Mages of the Holy Qiao Kingdom, they take lifelong learning as their duty, and are quick-witted and eager to learn, with an education level far higher than ordinary people on Earth, thus respected by too many mud-legged peasants. In other words, a priest is someone who can arbitrarily harm others yet still be respected by the victims — simply like 20th-century bankers and 21st-century red capitalists.

"Your Excellency!"

Iyal, with a priest's understanding, rolled up his robes and saluted. His movements were as graceful as a dance — truly speaking, dance originates precisely from classical religious sacrificial activities, which is exactly Iyal's scope of work.

"Priest Sir, a pleasure to meet you." Chen Yi nodded slightly. He was not lying; as one of Ma La's giants, Iyal could use the bearing of a subordinate — although largely stemming from respect for a Divine Art Knight — it also shows how much he values the transaction.

"You understand the Water Dragon Temple's priest language?" Iyal was a bit pleasantly surprised; if so, his work would be much easier.

Chen Yi chuckled lightly and replied: "I chose the Divine Art of Language Comprehension."

"Oh, Divine Dragon above, truly an enviable choice." Iyal thought: if I had Language Comprehension, I'd at least be a High Priest by now, right? Too many classics in the Temple's library await translation.

"Please sit, tell me the purpose of your visit."

"Your Excellency truly is unexpectedly fast!" Iyal praised Chen Yi as much as possible.

Yu Weichao and the others behind Chen Yi had strange expressions.

Chen Yi let out a muffled hum.

"I brought some gifts." Fortunately Iyal quickly smoothed over the awkwardness; his fingers waved two circles in the air, and under a visible shower of gold dust, two large chests instantly appeared on the empty floor ahead.

"Space Storage Ring?" Chen Yi immediately called out the name.

"It is the Water Dragon's bestowal." Iyal smiled proudly.

Chen Yi began to find it interesting.

Although in terms of bearing, Iyal compared to Yun Village's villagers is like two different species. But judging by his status and power, he is probably far inferior to an ordinary Divine Art Knight. If even someone like this can obtain a Space Storage Ring, it shows its cost is much lower than in the Holy Qiao Kingdom.

The ring on his hand was still a piece of spoils.

Amid anticipation, Iyal lifted the lids of the two large chests.

Books and gold!

"The classics here were specially selected by the High Priest as a gift for Your Excellency. There are 1,000 gold coins, bearing the Divine Dragon's Mark/Seal, very beautiful."

As a gift, the golden-yellow gold coins are indeed much better-looking than platinum.

"The Temple has gold coins." Chen Yi didn't even look at the classics or such.

Yi Yaer immediately gave an evaluation of "practical" and "profit-oriented," saying aloud, "Gold coins are not easy to mint, and they suffer wear; they rarely appear on the market."

"I see. In any case, I must thank the High Priest for the gift." Chen Yi waved his hand, having the chest put back.

From beginning to end, he never asked about the Space Storage Ring.

Although this thing is not as precious as the Holy Qiao Kingdom's, it is certainly also a scarce commodity, belonging to the "high Magic" products that can command sky-high prices; discovering its value requires a certain knack.

"I also brought some delicious food — Rock Cattle meat and rice from the valley, both have a sweet fragrance. I hope you like them." Yi Yaer rambled on with irrelevant talk.

Chen Yi accompanied him in conversation.

Yi Yaer naturally entered the mood; he first spoke of the recent war, then of the recent reduction in living supplies, and finally asked as if casually: "I heard that several Knights of the Yin Sen Family have become Divine Art Knights?"

"Yes." Chen Yi answered briefly and forcefully.

Yi Yaer's lips instantly dried.

"So you have your own Temple." Yi Yaer asked in a seemingly casual but actually concerned manner.

Chen Yi pondered for a moment, then replied: "It is not a Temple belonging to me."

Yi Yaer's nervously clenched fist immediately loosened; he truly let out a breath of relief.

If Chen Yi had his own Temple — he had never thought of this before, but if it were truly confirmed, then the West River Water Fortress built on Ma La's territory would inevitably become a trouble.

The exclusivity of Religion is almost inevitable. The Water Dragon Temple might tolerate the West River Water Fortress until the Temple War ends, but who knows which side the West River Water Fortress will stand on during the next Temple War.

Families and city-states are both vassals of Temples, therefore they can switch allegiance.

A Temple cannot switch allegiance!

Yi Yaer took a deep breath and asked solemnly: "How do you view the Water Dragon Temple?"

"A pretty good Temple."

Before meeting Yi Yaer, Chen Yi had anticipated this question, but he could not produce a sufficiently good answer.

Perhaps he should find a Political Aide; if it were Fo Lao, he would definitely come up with a perfect way to put it.

Yi Yaer was also thinking rapidly.

Although not the best answer, Chen Yi expressed his Neutral stance. At least during the Temple War, this is enough.

The Temple War that occurs every few decades can change the political ecology of the entire Continent precisely because of the Temples' political attitude.

During wartime, as long as one does not Oppose, they are an Ally.

And during peacetime, as long as one does not support, they are an enemy.

Yi Yaer struck while the iron was hot and asked a second question: "How do you view the Temple War?"

"The expansion of the Water Dragon Temple's power is a good thing for the West River City-State." Chen Yi paused, and amid the High Priest's wildly joyful gaze, slowly said: "Our goods can reach farther places, we can acquire more supplies, we can obtain more slaves and workers; I support the Water Dragon Temple."

"My Lord!" Yi Yaer was so excited he could barely stand; he replied word by word: "The West River City-State's goods will definitely reach farther places; the entire Water Dragon Temple will acquire more supplies and slaves for you, and workers. Although we take a defensive stance on the Battlefield, we have gained not a few slaves; I will immediately order them to prioritize sending slaves to the West River City-State."

……(Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast Recommendation Tickets and Monthly Tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)