Chapter 897

In fact, ever since Wei Yuan founded Azure Origin, Li Chengfeng and the entire Zhao Kingdom had been moved, and the Zhao Wang had also discussed the matter of issuing paper currency for the Zhao Kingdom.

But issuing currency involved too much, and the internal mechanism was extremely complex. Azure Void relied on the world-leading grain, brocade, forged armor, cloth, and small Foundation-Nurturing Pills as backing, forcing trading partners to use Azure Origin.

And the Zhao Kingdom was self-sufficient; after issuing currency, the uses were not that extensive. Plus, they had no relevant talent at all, and a group of ministers were all confused about issuing paper currency, and even less understood why they had to go through the trouble when they already had Immortal Silver.

The Zhao Wang was fully occupied with dealing with Western Jin at the time and had no time to care about other things, so this matter was left unsettled. Li Chengfeng was busy biding his time, only thinking about this matter, never expecting that it was Zhang Sheng who took the initiative to bring it up now.

Li Chengfeng was excited inside, but on the surface, he remained calm and said: "I don't know what the procedures are for issuing currency."

Zhang Sheng said: "The new currency is just a piece of paper. To make it accepted by people, the first thing is the word 'trust'. Your Fourth Highness can place a batch of Immortal Silver, or essential goods, in the bank for people holding Clear Water coins to exchange freely. As long as things can be exchanged, trust will naturally be established.

Secondly, it is manufacturing and issuing. The key points of manufacturing are durability and difficulty in counterfeiting; these are minor details, so I won't go on. Issuing can be done through the bank. I see that Clear Water now mostly has military dependents and craftsmen. As long as military pay is issued in the new currency, and trading caravans are ordered to trade in the new currency, the issuance will be more than half done."

Li Chengfeng asked tentatively: "What about trading with Azure Void?"

Zhang Sheng said: "Naturally, I have no reason not to trust Your Fourth Highness, so Clear Water coins can be exchanged for Azure Origin, exchanged at a one-to-one ratio. Initially, we will exchange fifty million Azure Origin first, and subsequent exchange matters can be carried out by the banks of both sides. If the Clear Water Bank is not familiar with the business, I can also send some people from the Azure Void Bank to give guidance, and wait until the Clear Water Bank can operate independently before letting these people return."

Li Chengfeng thought carefully, and the more he thought, the more he felt it was feasible. Especially when he suddenly thought that the fifty million Azure Origin exchanged could also be placed in the bank like Immortal Silver for everyone to exchange. In this way, wouldn't it be equivalent to having an extra fifty million in credit guarantee?

But Li Chengfeng never felt that there was such a thing as a free lunch from the sky, so he sat still and said: "Zhang Shi's help is something I am deeply grateful for. I just don't know what Zhang Shi needs, so that I can express my sincerity."

Zhang Sheng pondered for a moment and said: "Your Fourth Highness's power is strong, which is the greatest benefit to Azure Void. However..."

Li Chengfeng and his confidants and staff knew that the meat of the play was coming, and they all pricked up their ears to listen carefully.

Zhang Sheng said: "Currently, the Zhao Kingdom is still cut off from Azure Void, with only one port in Clear Water, which is very inconvenient. I want to set up several commercial stations within the Zhao Kingdom and organize several trading caravans to facilitate the circulation of materials. But commercial stations and trading caravans need to be able to travel freely within the Zhao territory, so I want to organize them in Your Fourth Highness's name."

Li Chengfeng immediately looked troubled. Within the nine kingdoms of the Great Tang, there were many checkpoints, extracting commercial taxes. These checkpoints could be set up by the royal families of various countries, down to county magistrates and prefects, and there were many names. When the King had a birthday, various places could add hundreds of tax items. When a prince had a full-month celebration, there could be more than a dozen more.

Li Chengfeng said: "It is not that I am pushing it off, but Li's name is sometimes not very useful. If it reaches the territory of the Crown Prince's line, this name is better not used than used."

"No matter, go wherever you can go."

Seeing Zhang Sheng say so, Li Chengfeng said to his left and right: "Pass my order, immediately prepare ten sets of documents for commercial stations and three sets of documents for trading caravans, and have them completed within today. Zhang Shi, do you think these are enough?"

Zhang Sheng nodded: "Enough."

"Then about the Clear Water coin matter..."

Zhang Sheng said: "Tomorrow I will order the Azure Void Bank to station in Clear Water, and there will be enough personnel to guide the Clear Water Bank. Your Highness only needs to prepare the printing method. Once the Clear Water coin is officially issued, I will exchange fifty million Azure Origin with you first."

Next were the details, which naturally did not need Li Chengfeng and Zhang Sheng to labor personally; there were subordinates to handle them.

Li Chengfeng became much more enthusiastic and wanted to keep Zhang Sheng for a few more days. Zhang Sheng declined and said: "I still have to take a trip to Yu Yangjun."

Li Chengfeng was startled: "What is worth worrying about in Yu Yang?"

Zhang Sheng said: "The nine western counties of Yu Yang are now flourishing again, with a large population. I am going to take a look and collect some refugees without masters."

Li Chengfeng was dumbfounded. Yu Yangjun was now filled with relocated people to fill the land without masters; where would refugees come from? Listening to Zhang Sheng's meaning, it was that even if there were no refugees, she would create refugees.

The Azure Void army then set off, moving slowly toward Yu Yangjun. Not long after leaving, scouts reported to Li Chengfeng, saying that shortly after leaving the Clear Water Realm, the Azure Void soldiers changed into multicolored clothes and then raised the flag of the Nether Dragon Gang.

Li Chengfeng's expression was strange. These Azure Void soldiers who came were all in heavy armor; how did they change their clothes?

As a result, the scout said that they just casually put on tattered clothes over their armor and killed their way toward Yu Yangjun like that. ===== CHAPTER 898 =====