Chapter 1453: Minting Coins

Then, the Emperor shifted his gaze to the Field Marshal, the Duke of Cai, Shi Manqiang, and, looking at his sturdy but dark, weather-beaten face, sighed with considerable emotion.

"Manqiang, after all this time without seeing you, you've gotten even darker than before... You've truly worked hard in Sichuan."

"Serving Your Majesty, how could there be any talk of hardship or not?" Shi Manqiang straightened his back and answered in a firm voice. "I only regret not having exerted my utmost for Your Majesty to completely wipe out all the remnants of the former Ming. I am ashamed!"

"What is there to be ashamed of? You've already fought well enough. Some time ago, I heard the reports that you had already driven all the former Ming remnants out of Sichuan, and even quelled quite a few of the local chieftain rebellions. To have achieved such merit in just a few short years, I'm overjoyed, so what do you have to be ashamed of?" The Emperor smiled again. "The former Ming remnants are now just that few. They are merely hiding in the mountains and wilds, barely clinging to life. They can be crushed at any time. I'm not in a hurry, so you don't need to be either!"

"Now, those former Ming remnants are utterly incapable of withstanding a single blow before the imperial court's great army. They can only flee like wolves and hide like rats, absolutely unable to match our army's sharp edge. After many vigorous extermination campaigns by your servant, most of them have now fled to Yunnan. Led by the Mu family, the hereditary Dukes of Qian who have guarded Yunnan for generations, they have enthroned the pseudo-Ming Gui King, Zhu Youlang, as their false emperor, vainly attempting to resist stubbornly." Shi Manqiang's voice, while respectful, carried the solemnity unique to a commanding general. "Your servant requests that Your Majesty allocate some more provisions and fodder, allowing your servant one more year of preparation. Next year, I can advance the troops into Yunnan and sweep away the former Ming remnants in one fell swoop!"

The Field Marshal's heroic declaration instantly drowned out all other sounds in the room. For a moment, the other two important ministers fell silent, looking at the Emperor, hoping to glean his current thoughts.

"Sweeping them away in one fell swoop is certain, but... there's no need to be so hasty." The Emperor smiled. "Those former Ming remnants are no real threat anyway; leaving them there for now doesn't matter."

"Leaving them?" Shi Manqiang was somewhat surprised. "Does Your Majesty mean to halt the troops for now?"

"Yes, halt the troops for now, and let those former Ming remnants live a few days of peace." The Emperor nodded. "Yunnan and Guizhou are covered in continuous high mountains, and Sichuan's terrain is also quite complex, making transport conditions extremely inconvenient. If we launch another major offensive to push in, the material losses would truly be too great. Recently, the army needs to launch another major offensive against the Mongols, so your side can only be postponed for a while."

"We're going to fight the Mongols?" Shi Manqiang finally began to understand.

The Emperor was not wrong. Compared to the former Ming remnants, the Mongols were indeed a greater scourge, capable of causing far more trouble, and they truly should be dealt with first. Moreover, the numerous mountains and rugged, complex terrain of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan were something he himself had felt the acute pain of.

However... what commander would wish for the war zone he is responsible for to be calm and quiet? If it were calm and quiet, that would mean his voice within the military would grow weaker and weaker, and it would also mean fewer and fewer opportunities for the men under his command to achieve merit, gain promotion, and earn titles. This was something he absolutely had to contend for.

"Your Majesty is indeed farsighted and discerning; your servant cannot match you." Shi Manqiang first flattered the Emperor, then tactfully voiced his own opinion once more. "However... although the former Ming remnants' combat strength is not strong, we still need to be more vigilant against them. They hold the legitimate line of the Zhu family, which can quite deceive and incite the people. If left unchecked, I fear it will inevitably lead to disaster..."

"You... have you learned to speak in circles now?" The Emperor laughed, half-annoyed and half-amused. "What legitimacy? What legitimacy does their Zhu family have? The legitimacy is right here! In the hearts of the millions of people!"

He gestured vaguely around him. "I have spared the millions under heaven from bureaucratic extortion, reduced their corvée labor, and lessened their taxes. I have allowed the millions under heaven to hope for days of peace. That is why the legitimacy is here, and has always been here! Zhu Youlang is just a youth, without virtue or ability, and has shown no grace to the world. What legitimacy does he have? Just because his surname is Zhu and he is the grandson of the Wanli Emperor? Who under heaven would still wish to return to those days? I suspect you are deeply afraid the men under your command will have nothing to do, and want to find more tasks for them, isn't that right?"

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty..." Seeing the Emperor's rebuke, Shi Manqiang quickly apologized.

"Forgive what? It is a good thing that you and your men want to fight. If you were timid and hesitant at the sight of battle, that would be a crime." The Emperor was still smiling slightly. "If you want to wipe out those former Ming remnants sooner, why not have the troops there help build roads for a while? The more you build, the sooner the day to advance the troops will come, and the greater the opportunities for your men to achieve merit and establish themselves. Do you understand?"

In other words, this battle would be fought sooner or later, and as long as preparations were made quickly, it would be fought sooner? Shi Manqiang felt a secret joy in his heart.

"Your servant understands. Thank you for Your Majesty's instruction." He honestly bowed to the Emperor.

"Good things will always come; no need to be impatient. Besides... even if it's not in Yunnan, your men will not lack places to earn merit." The Emperor added another sentence. "The world is vast."

The world is vast?

Shi Manqiang was stunned again, not understanding what this meant, but he now had a vague premonition that this must be the reason the Emperor had summoned him together with the two civil officials, the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister.

Therefore, Shi Manqiang said no more, merely turning his head slightly to glance at Wang Zhaojing, who had remained silent all along.

Wang Zhaojing understood tacitly.

"Your Majesty has summoned us today to discuss matters, surely there is an important matter to announce? Please give us clear instructions, Your Majesty, so that we may make early preparations."

Because he had contributed immensely during the Emperor's rise to power, his prestige was also the highest after the new dynasty was established. When speaking to the Emperor, he was sometimes not particularly careful and was instead much more direct. Compared to the obsequiousness of others, the Emperor actually preferred his attitude.

"There is indeed an important matter, but we'll mention it later." The Emperor waved his hand vaguely, telling the Prime Minister not to ask yet, then turned his head to look at the Finance Minister, the Marquis of Pingyuan, Chen Hong. "Chen Hong, how is the preparatory work for the Great Han Bank progressing? Are there any difficulties?"

When he heard the Emperor's inquiry, the already very solemn Marquis of Pingyuan, Chen Hong, became even more solemn now.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the preparatory work seems to be going smoothly so far. The minting of the new coins has also been finalized in design. I was just preparing to present them for Your Majesty's inspection."

"Did you bring them? If you did, take them out and let everyone have a look." The Emperor nodded. "They are all important ministers of the court; it's good for them to see them early."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong acknowledged, then picked up a small case he had brought from a nearby seat and opened it.

The Emperor soon saw the gold and silver coins lying quietly on the satin inside.

Before he could even gesture, the Prime Minister, who was closer to him, had already moved the small case in front of him.

The Emperor leaned down slightly, scrutinizing these coins, then reached out and gently picked up a few to play with in his hand.

These meticulously crafted gold and silver coins varied slightly in diameter according to their denominations, but they were all alike in their very bright luster. The front was printed with the denomination, with different patterns as designs, and also stamped with the words "Made in the Fifth Year of Great Han." The back of the coins was uniformly stamped with a dragon pattern, which had a distinct, raised feel to the touch.

The silver coins had smaller denominations and more variety. According to the coin size and fineness, there were "One Yuan," "Two Yuan," "Five Yuan," and "Ten Yuan" denominations. The patterns on the back were flowers like azalea, pomegranate, lilac, and orchid. These silver yuan coins of various denominations would be the main currency circulating in the future market, the ones commoners would encounter most in daily life.

The gold coins had very few types, only "Fifty Yuan" and "One Hundred Yuan" denominations. The craftsmanship of these two gold coins was particularly high. The Chinese rose and peony patterns on the back were bright and vivid, emitting a brilliant golden glow in his hand.

"Not bad, quite beautiful. You all play with them too." After playing with them for a while, the Emperor placed the gold coins back into the small case, then gently pushed it across the table to Prime Minister Wang Zhaojing. He then looked back at Chen Hong. "They're made so beautifully; will mass production be a problem?"

"The molds did indeed take some effort, but fortunately, there are many skilled craftsmen, so it was finally accomplished. The molds are now finished, and minting coins will be convenient in the future. Even if they aren't as beautiful as these sample coins, they won't be much worse." Chen Hong smiled with relief. "Your servant believes making the coins beautiful is a good thing. This way, even if someone wants to counterfeit them, it won't be so easy."

"It is indeed very good, quite excellent. You have put your hearts into it." The Emperor nodded in praise. "However, to prevent those with ill intent from counterfeiting, just making them beautiful is not enough. We must also rely on severe laws and harsh punishments to deter those people!"

"Severe laws and harsh punishments are necessary. In your servant's opinion, it would be best to promulgate a law declaring to all under heaven that anyone who dares to counterfeit coins will be executed without mercy, to warn the world." At this moment, the Prime Minister, who had been handling the sample coins to one side, spoke up. "Marquis of Pingyuan, since the sample coins are ready, then speed up the process. There are many places everywhere that need money. Next year, I plan to pay the salaries of all local government offices with this new currency to test the reactions in various regions. If there are no problems, then we will promote it throughout the empire as soon as possible."

"Alright, Prime Minister, I will have them speed up." Chen Hong immediately agreed. "If the sample coins are fine, I will have them step up minting. By next summer, we should be able to produce several million."

At this time, the Duke of Cai, Shi Manqiang, had also received the sample coins. After carefully playing with them, he was also quite satisfied.

"These gold and silver coins are truly not bad. The men under my command will definitely like them. Marquis of Pingyuan, speed up the work, and quickly give these to us as military pay!"

"That is only natural." Chen Hong smiled. "However, Duke of Cai, please keep this secret from your men for the time being..."

"I naturally understand that!" Shi Manqiang laughed heartily.

With this laugh of his, the atmosphere in the council hall immediately softened considerably again, and the few of them exchanged smiles.

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