Chapter 174: Continued Fermentation

Three million Yinzhou Coins were sold in three days.

Liu Zheng was clearly not in a hurry.

He was still in Yintan City, playing chess with Qingyang Shuo.

Now, he had fallen into deep thought regarding the state of the board.

Qingyang Shuo chuckled and said, "Young Master, your chess skills have truly improved since your return from Baiya."

Liu Zheng gave a wry smile and said, "Sir, you have already beaten me seven games; can you still call that improvement?"

Qingyang Shuo shook his head and smiled, "Winning is winning, and losing is losing, but the improvement in your chess skills is self-evident."

Liu Zheng was taken aback, then laughed out loud, "Are you comforting me, Sir?"

Qingyang Shuo shook his head, "No. I know that Young Master's Yinzhou Coin will certainly be very popular; that is beyond doubt. Young Master's 'Decentralized Trading' also struck me as extraordinary. It is just... Young Master, have you considered the perspective of the Imperial Court?"

Liu Zheng was jolted, only then realizing what Qingyang Shuo was trying to warn him about.

Once this Decentralized Trading of his came out, it was very obvious that he had completely taken over the illicit business the Baiya Army used to engage in. Although he had taken it over in a highly covert manner, but... how could the Emperor not know?

Now that this Yinzhou Coin had been released, although it was in the form of a Silver Note, what if it gradually developed into a real currency?

Could this be considered a provocation against the Imperial Court and the regime of the Xie Family?

Currency is, after all, a matter of national importance.

Liu Zheng had overturned the currency system within Yinzhou so casually; what would the Imperial Court think?

Liu Zheng gasped, gave a wry smile, and said, "Sir, I truly had not thought of this."

Qingyang Shuo smiled slightly, "This is likely what those wealthy merchants are hesitating about. So, in fact, they are also waiting for the Imperial Court's stance..."

Liu Zheng felt enlightened and bowed deeply.

He admitted that, for now, he was still far behind Qingyang Shuo in terms of vision. He could always see further than Liu Zheng could; this Yinzhou Coin did not just concern the trading methods of Yintan City or the secret transactions of the various Feudatory Kings.

More importantly, it was the impact on the monetary system!

How would the Imperial Court view it?

If the Emperor were to become enraged because of this and issue a decree, the entire Yinzhou would suffer the consequences.

Liu Zheng asked, "Then..."

"Wait!"

Qingyang Shuo smiled lightly, "Wait for the Imperial Court's attitude toward you. I have always felt that the Emperor seems to have a special fondness for you. What does the Young Master think?"

Liu Zheng was startled, "I am my old man's own biological son!"

"Hahahaha!"

Qingyang Shuo could not help but slap his thigh and laugh, "I believe the Emperor intends to support Yinzhou..."

"What?"

Liu Zheng was jolted, feeling a sudden chill, "Does Sir think..."

Qingyang Shuo looked down at the chessboard, holding a white piece, ignoring the chaotic battle on the board, and moved it toward the Northeast, saying calmly, "The way of checks and balances, the art of the Emperor. If the Emperor were to pass away, who among those two useless sons would be a match for the Prince of Wei?"

Liu Zheng took a deep breath.

Liangzhou Prefecture.

Chen Ping had not slept well for several days.

He felt that his sense of presence in Liangzhou was becoming lower and lower. In his several confrontations with this father and son of the Liu Family, he had not gained any advantage at all.

Regarding the disbanding of the Baiya Army, the Crown Prince had suffered heavy losses—although the Baiya Army had not been under the Crown Prince's control before, at least there had been a Second Leader, Yang Ke, inside the Baiya Army helping him do things. Now, it was all cut off in one stroke.

The Crown Prince was furious, and Chen Ping's days were not easy either.

"The Liu father and son, the Liu father and son!"

Chen Ping gritted his teeth. Beside him, Liu Chang smiled and said, "My Lord, I have heard recently that Yinzhou is quite lively! That Governor Liu has concocted something called the Yinzhou Coin."

"What is that?"

Chen Ping looked over.

Liu Chang took a brand-new Yinzhou Coin out of his pocket and sneered, "My Lord, it is this thing. In my view, this matter could be big or small. If you handle it properly, My Lord, the Liu father and son could even lose their heads!"

Chen Ping's eyes lit up, and he looked at it carefully.

Liu Chang explained to him from the side what this Yinzhou Coin was.

Chen Ping frowned as he listened, "Isn't this just a Silver Note? What is so strange about it?"

As long as it is a silver shop, it can issue Silver Notes; this is not regulated by the state.

Liu Chang, however, chuckled, "My Lord, if it were just that, then it would be nothing. But Yinzhou has just issued a decree: from now on, all merchants who purchase goods from their Yintan City must use Yinzhou Coins, and they do not recognize any other currency!"

"My Lord!"

"They do not recognize our Dragon-Flame Copper Coins!"

"What kind of crime is this!"

"My Lord, their intentions are punishable!"

Chen Ping's eyes flickered, "But this Liu brat is very clever. If he insists that it is a Silver Note, what can we do?"

Liu Chang suggested, "My Lord, no matter what, our Liangzhou Prefecture can no longer remain silent on this matter!"

"Otherwise, the business of the Baiya Army will all be snatched up by this Liu family!"

"Where will our Liangzhou Prefecture's face be left!"

Chen Ping pondered, "That is indeed true. Very well, go and issue a Liangzhou Order! The so-called Yinzhou Coin is not recognized by the Liangzhou Prefecture, and its legality cannot be guaranteed. Please, all wealthy merchants, distinguish carefully and use your discretion!"

A Liangzhou Order made this matter surge with wind and clouds once again.

Those wealthy merchants who were still in Yinzhou seemed as if they had been injected with adrenaline.

"Look, even the Liangzhou Prefecture has said that they cannot guarantee its legality or safety!"

"Hahahaha, it's a good thing we didn't buy any."

Unable to guarantee legality or safety—the meaning is already very clear; you bear the risks involved yourselves. If you have been hoodwinked by this Liu Family father and son, then our Liangzhou Prefecture bears not the slightest responsibility!

This kind of public challenge in an official decree finally allowed people to smell the gunpowder between Liangzhou Prefecture and this Yinzhou Prefecture.

"Refund them!"

"So it turns out the imperial court doesn't recognize them at all!"

"Hurry and get a refund!"

Those who had just bought Yinzhou Coin appeared one by one at the gates of Yintan City.

Then they saw Lao Ma, once again happily pulling along line after line of Horse Carriage.

"Discounts, discounts! Hahahaha—hic? What are you all doing?"

Lao Ma rubbed his eyes, looking at this group of people filled with righteous indignation.

"Lao Ma, you've been swindled!"

"That's right, this Yinzhou Coin is fake!"

"That is a sign that the Liu Family father and son are about to run away!"

"You mustn't be fooled, hurry and go get a refund."

The merchant Ma looked bewildered: "Yintan City is working day and night, there are countless goods, where could there be fakes?"

The others were all furious.

They cursed Lao Ma one by one for not seeing the situation clearly; that was all just a facade put on for him!

Lao Ma, however, chuckled and said: "In Lao Ma's heart, there aren't as many schemes as you have. This thing, as long as it can buy things, that's enough. Who cares if it's real or fake?"

"Gee-up!"

"Discounts, discounts!"

Everyone looked at one another.

Lao Ma was right.

As long as it can buy things, that's fine. Who cares if it's real or fake? Who cares who recognizes it and who doesn't?

But immediately, someone continued to incite them: "It can buy things today, but what about tomorrow? What about the day after?"

"I think this is just a scam!"

"That's right!"

"They want to exchange our real gold and silver for a pile of paper. Why don't we go get a refund and see how they react!"

Someone sneered: "I reckon that gold and silver has long since been squandered by them; how could they possibly be willing to refund us?"

"Ah?"

"That won't do!"

"Then we must get a refund even more!"

The people were all frantic.

"Young Master, what should we do about this?"

Jiang Xuan was anxious to the point of desperation, looking back at the Jinku of Yintan City.

This ten million plus taels of real gold and silver, just brought in, and now it has to be given back out?

Liu Zheng smiled faintly, not in the least bit anxious.

He just hadn't expected that he would really turn this Yinzhou Coin into a concept, an "investment and wealth management" product. And what they were facing now was a "redemption crisis" for those products!

Of course.

He also understood that this was because these people lacked trust in Yinzhou Prefecture and the risk-resistance capabilities of Yintan City.

Then...

"Refund them!"

Liu Zheng smiled faintly: "Not only refund them, but tell them that because Yinzhou Coin is in short supply and Yintan City has a surplus of goods, the purchasing power of Yinzhou Coin has increased by ten percent; refund them at the market price!"

"What?"

The bystanders were all stunned.

"Young Master, this..."

"Young Master, you absolutely must not!"

"Wouldn't we be losing money then?"

According to what Liu Zheng said, it meant that if it was one gold for one Yinzhou Coin before, today it became one gold for two? If they bought it with one gold, and they refunded them, they would have to give back one gold and two?

Wouldn't this Yinzhou Prefecture lose money to the ends of the earth?

Zheng Yueru was also anxious: "Brother Liu, there is no such way to do business under heaven."

Liu Zheng laughed heartily: "If you don't lose the child, you can't catch the wolf. Understand? Yue Ru, we are the ones manipulating the market now. In my eyes, they are all just leeks."

"In the end, they will definitely return to us many times over!"

"Refund! Just refund them as I said!"

In this short time, more and more people came to return their Yinzhou Coin, shouting one after another, wishing they could get a refund sooner, only seeking to break even.

Of course, there were also those who were smarter; they didn't ask for a refund, but instead took the Yinzhou Coin to buy the Soap, Perfume, and fine wine of Yintan City... however, these goods needed to be manufactured, which required a cycle.

Most people still couldn't wait.

Refund the money!

The entrance to Yintan City became increasingly lively.

Finally, Liu Zheng, Zheng Yueru, and the others moved a table out.

"They're out! They're out!"

"Huh, they are actually giving refunds?"

"Hahahaha, pretending again! Just wait and watch them cry in a moment!"

"Refund our money!"

A group of people continued to roar.

Liu Zheng looked around the circle and chuckled, "Everyone, congratulations. Although it has only been three days, due to the issuance volume of Yinzhou Coin and various market factors, the price of Yinzhou Coin today has already risen to one gold for two silver. You have made a huge profit! For those who want to return their Yinzhou Coin, rest assured, everyone will get a refund. Line up and come one by one!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole crowd was in an uproar.

"Wh... what?"

"The price went up?"

"One gold for two silver?"

"What the hell?"

"Did I hear that right?"

Then, Jiang Xuan led a group of brothers to carry chest after chest of gold and silver out from Yintan City, then opened them; under the shining sun, the gold and silver glittered, blinding everyone's eyes.

In an instant.

The entire scene went silent.

Not only were they giving refunds, but they were giving back more?

Since when did Yintan City become so rich?

Could this Prefect Liu be a wealth-scattering boy?