On the third day of the second month, Chen Xi went to see Hui Niang and asked about the trade situation in the south last year, especially the output ratio of new looms, and the progress of foreign trade along the southeast coast.

Hui Niang brought Chen Xi a message to Folang Jiren's fleet was coming to the north of the Ming Dynasty.

"... Master, you have said before that the Maritime Bureau can release the Florida gang. Our Chamber of Commerce has done several transactions with them before. They have a big appetite. After sweeping away all the tea, silk and ceramics that our Chamber of Commerce stockpiled, they also wanted to go ashore to trade with other Chambers of Commerce, but were sternly rejected by the local government."

"I also thought it was inappropriate for them to go ashore to purchase on their own, so I went to write a letter saying that my authority was not enough and I could only find the court to solve the problem. So they went north along the sea outside the Ming Dynasty and wanted to come directly to the capital to find you... Because Franji people once paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty during the late emperor and had an office in the Huitong Pavilion. This time they came as envoys..."

Hui Niang seemed very eager. She knew that there were huge business opportunities in business dealings with Folang Jiren. Folang Jiren was strong and powerful. She used sea boats to communicate with things. She also had medicinal materials, spices, jewelry and other products that the Ming Dynasty urgently needed. The most important thing was silver with high purity. In her opinion, the arrival of Folang Jiren was the best way for Chenxi to resolve the current financial crisis.

Chen Xi's eyes lit up and nodded, "It's really a great thing for the arrival of Folang Jiren. We can make sure to make a profit when we do business with them. Didn't we hoard a large amount of goods in Beijing before and didn't sell them? We just sold them, and then find a way to raise a batch, which may make a lot of money."

Li Jin asked in confusion: "Master, we trade with those foreigners, sell the goods to them, and only exchange them for silver that cannot be eaten or worn. Is this really good? How good should we keep silk, tea, ceramics, and cotton and linen products for our own people?"

"Jin'er, don't talk nonsense." Hui Niang gave Li Jin a glance.

Chen Xi smiled: "The situation Jin'er mentioned involves the basic concept of currency... In the transaction with Franji people, we exchanged silk, tea and other commodities of Daming's specialty products for silver, which seems to be a disadvantage, but what we lack in Daming is silver. As long as we have silver, we can buy anything in the territory of Daming. Therefore, silver is our Daming's currency, a medium for purchasing goods and saving wealth, and a kind of agreement between property owners... I use my own everything to the market and exchange what I need. Money is the agreement in this process, reflecting the economic cooperation relationship between individuals and society."

Seeing Li Jin and Hui Niang looking confused, Chen Xi shook his head and said, "I think the people of Folang Ji should have found a silver mine somewhere in the ocean. After mining the silver, they urgently need to exchange the silver for higher-value goods, transport it back to their place and sell it, and make a lot of money from it. Therefore, they are more eager than us to buy silk, tea and other specialties from the Ming Dynasty."

Li Jin wanted to say something, but because Hui Niang was there, she didn't dare to speak casually.

Chen Xi smiled and said, "Jin'er, what do you want to say, but it's okay to say it."

Li Jin then said: "Since they are the silver they earn from mining, they don't take any effort to get it, why do we give them the goods?"

"You can't figure it out?"

Chen Xi smiled slightly, "Actually, as early as the Qin and Han Dynasties, silver began to circulate on the market as currency, but because the silver production in our place is very low, the amount of silver available for circulation is seriously insufficient, and the value of copper coins is very unstable. Many wealthy families cast fake coins in private to impact the copper coins made by officials. However, our Ming Dynasty lacks copper, and the imperial court has no choice but to use higher discounted treasure banknotes as currency... Do you think that under this situation, could the industry and commerce of the Ming Dynasty prosper?"

Li Jin thought for a while, nodded thoughtfully, as if he understood something.

Chen Xi said again: "If we can exchange enough silver from the hands of the Folang Ji people, then all industrial and commercial activities in the Ming Dynasty can use silver as equivalent exchange products, and copper coins are only used as a beneficial supplement, which is of great benefit to promoting the development of private trade. And most importantly, we can exchange silver for high-purity silver from them. Looking back, can't we exchange silver for a large amount of food and grass to solve the problem of lack of military capital?"

When Li Jin heard this, he smiled: "It's better that the master will find a way, but the Folang Jiren may not have that much money, right?"

Chen Xi sighed lightly: "You may have seriously underestimated the silver production in the Americas."

"What did you say, Master?"

Hui Niang opened her eyes wide open when she heard this.

Chen Xi shook his head and did not explain more about Hui Niang and Li Jin. He could not explain some things clearly, just like the place name America and the importance of silver to the Ming society.

Since the Tang and Song dynasties, records of "money shortage" have been endless in history, and insufficient currency in circulation has become a "bottleneck" that restricts the development of the commodity economy.

In order to make up for the lack of coins, dynasties in history had to use food, cloth and other commodities as circulation media, and actually implemented a parallel system of coins, grains and cloth. Although Emperor Taizu of this dynasty issued the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes, it soon became a name-based one after another. By the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the world had been peaceful for a long time, and commodity production and exchange made great progress, and the money shortage increased.

Silver native to the Americas continued to flow into the Ming Dynasty, eliminating the constraints of domestic silver mine poverty, and finally resolving this contradiction and capitalism began to sprout. If it weren't for the Qing Dynasty's invasion, the Ming Dynasty might have entered the capitalist society earlier than the West... This is the unexpected situation in heaven, and many things are difficult for human resources to control.

Chenxi Road: "How many boats did Folang Jimen come this time?"

Hui Niang thought for a while and said, "The specific number is not clear. I only learned from Fei Ge's letter that there are quite a few ships, all of which are large ships. They can't easily dock, but I don't know where they will stop in the middle... Maybe they brought too much silver, so I'm afraid we'll snatch them."

Chen Xi couldn't help but sigh: "It's really easy to find a place without any effort. I was still worried about how to raise money from the people. Even if I raise it from multiple sources, I have only prepared less than 20% of the planned food and grass. When the Folang Ji people came, all the problems were solved... If nothing unexpected happens, they will log in from Dazhigu. I will arrange people to go to Tianjin Guard and escort them to the capital... This time I have to knock on them."

Li Jin hurriedly asked, "Do you need my sister and I to do anything?"

Chen Xi smiled and said, "What you and your sister have to do is prepare the local goods in the capital. In addition, let the Chamber of Commerce transport tea, silk, cloth, ceramics from Huguang, Jiangxi, and Jiangnan to Quanzhou... Oh, by the way, I will ask His Majesty to issue an imperial edict. Local Chamber of Commerce must not trade with the Folang Ji people, otherwise the family will be confiscated and exterminated."

"I am going to monopolize the deal with Franchisemen. I will ask His Majesty to grant the brothers' chamber of commerce and the carriages foreign trade franchise to specialize in doing business with Franchisemen. Even if foreign trade is relaxed in the future, we have to wait until the end of the Battle of the Grassland. This time, Franchisemen will treat me as a military pay!"

Hui Niang said, "The master is really optimistic. The Folang Ji people are not fools. If we don't provide enough goods, they will not give us the money for no reason... Their ship is very big and runs fast after sailing. The Ming Navy's warships are not their opponents. If the master hadn't defeated them, they might have been publicly robbed along the coast... They come and go freely, how could they easily submit?"

Chen Xi was very happy and took Hui Niang into his arms. He didn't mind that Li Jin was right beside him and said with a smile: "When doing business, the most important thing is sincerity... Since I can monopolize the transaction between the Ming Dynasty and the Westerners, it means that I have the right to price the goods. The porcelain, tea, silk, cotton and linen products they want, as well as tung oil, boar bristles, hemp ropes, etc., are legal and large in quantity only if they buy from me, otherwise they can only ship silver back to the Franchise machine."

"Yes, why don't they ship silver back?" Li Jin asked.

"Because it's too far, and it's not worth it!"

Chen Xi was straightforward, "They came full of silver, so they naturally wanted to go back with our Ming Dynasty specialties... Take silk as an example. The local price of our Ming Dynasty silk is only one-eighth of the Franji Kingdom, one-sixteenth of the silver production area, and one-fourth of the South China Sea... This means that even if we double the price, they can make huge profits from the ocean trade. This time I am going to do a ruthless person. They want to buy one or two goods from us and leave one or two silver. Isn't that fair?"

Hui Niang said in surprise: "Master, are you kidding? Silk and tea are okay, but porcelain and cloth are not expensive enough to exchange for one tael for one tael!"

Chen Xidao: "Whoever has the right to speak in his hands, and who will make most Westerners in the world do not produce them? Don't worry, as long as we nail the price to death, they will buy it with us, because even if others come to buy it, it will be the same price. I will even tell them that the price we sell to other Western merchants will be higher, and they will use their price advantages to monopolize the trade between the world and the world, and they will still make huge profits."

Hui Niang said, "But... aren't there any Western Regions merchants coming to the Ming Dynasty to do business? They can privately buy silk and ceramics from the people of the Ming Dynasty... Our prices are set to be high, so we won't be able to sell them, right?"

Chen Xi smiled and said, "It depends on who is smart... The reason why the merchants in the Western Regions are so rich and can even form private troops? Do you think they sell our goods cheaply? And as I know, there are frequent wars in the west of the Western Regions. In addition to the Ottoman Empire blocking the east and west, the Duchy of Moscow and Poland are also fighting. In the next few decades or even hundreds of years, this business road in the Western Regions will not be peaceful. Even if some goods can be transported over, it will be a phoenix. The maritime trade with the Folang Jiren is the big deal."

...

...

The Folang Jiren arrived at the capital of Daming and said that he was here to pay tribute, but in fact it was to discuss expanding the trade volume with Daming.

The last time the Folang Jiren came to the capital, although the court gave Folang Jiren the trade authority at that time, unfortunately, due to a series of reasons such as the death of Emperor Hongzhi, and because the Folang Jiren brought too much silver, they could not buy enough goods with the brothers' chamber of commerce, so they simply went to the capital to discuss expanding trade with the Ming Dynasty court.

This incident will be an excellent opportunity for Chen Xi to take advantage of, because it can directly solve the financial crisis he is facing.

While Chen Xi sent someone to secretly investigate the situation of Folang Jiman heading north, he notified Hu Lian to go to Tianjin Guard to greet him, and asked him to be careful to avoid being sneak attacked by Folang Jiman.

After all, the Folang Ji people carry hot weapons. Without strong military forces to guard and escort, it is easy for these Folang Ji people to see the truth and reality of the Ming Dynasty, and then burn, kill and loot.

But obviously Chen Xi's concerns were unnecessary. The Folang Jiren was very honest. After landing in Dazhigu, he reported to the local government of the Ming Dynasty. It happened that Hu Lian's troops arrived in Tianjin Wei at the same time. Soon he met the Folang Jiren and made an appointment to return to Beijing with his representatives.

Judging from the information obtained by Chen Xi, Folang Jiren and Hu Lian will probably arrive in the capital in mid-February.

Just as Shen Xi was paying close attention to the trends of Franji, Xie Qian's budget approval meeting was being prepared in full swing. In order to make Chen Xi surrender, the cabinet specially issued a letter to the Ministry of War to ask Chen Xi to attend the meeting in person. The time was set on the ninth day of the second lunar month. Unfortunately, Chen Xi was not ready to attend at all.

...

...

On the eighth day of the second month, the examination will begin, and the court's attention will be paid to this matter. At the same time, Xie Qian's audit meeting will be held soon, and the people in the court are distracted.

The troops who followed Hu Lian to fight returned to the capital that day. Because Hu Lian divided his troops to Tianjin to "escort" Folang Jimen, the large army returned to Beijing first. Although they were stationed outside the city, the generals could first go to the city to report to the Governor's Office of the Five Army, including Ma Ang, who was fleeing to Chen Xi.

This time, Ma Ang followed Hu Lian to fight against the rebellion in the Central Plains. Although this person had no courage, Hu Lian's troops had amazing combat effectiveness. Ma Ang didn't need to fight in person. He just followed the crowd and went on the battlefield and his military achievements were already obtained.

The Governor's Office of the Five Army gave an approval document, and Chen Xi submitted the memorial to quell the Central Plains and Northern Zhili. Later, Chen Xi would go to see Zhu Houzhao in person, but before that, he would meet several of his confidant generals who went to the expedition. Except for Wang Lingzhi, Ma Jiu and Hu Lian to receive the Folang Ji mission, the other generals promoted by Chen Xi were basically in the capital.

In addition to Ma Ang, there are many generals such as Jing Yue and Sun Xinian who have followed Chen Xi, and many have not seen each other for many years.

Chen Xi did not meet guests at his house. After all, he was still ill. He knew that he would be criticized by the government and the people when he saw military generals in private. Although these people were promoted by him, they could not be treated as close followers. He did not have direct jurisdiction over these people.

In the evening, Chen Xi came to Ma Lian's place to gather. Ma Lian said happily: "I heard from my sister-in-law today that my brother returned to the capital. This time, the Governor's Office of the Five Army has determined his military merits and may be promoted in the next few days. All of this is from the grace of the Lord."

Chen Xi smiled and shook his head: "He made military achievements himself, and he deserved it... By the way, what else did your sister-in-law tell you?"

"My sister-in-law didn't come today. She didn't know that the little girl had moved here. She just sent the letter to the agreed place. Guard Yun sent the letter. As for other things, the little girl didn't know."

Ma Lian felt that Chen Xi was suspicious and his tone became delicate.

Chen Xi nodded: "This time your elder brother will not stay in the capital for a long time. I guess in a month, the troops will start to travel northwest. This is not a good job."

"Where is the little girl?"

Ma Lian looked at Chen Xi timidly, begging Chen Xi to take her to the war.

Chen Xidao: "You are naturally staying in the capital, a woman. Do you want to follow the army to kill the enemy?"

Ma Lian said stubbornly: "Who said women are not good? Mulan won't join the army on behalf of her father?"

As he said that, Ma Lian straightened his back and looked unwilling to give in.

Chen Xi then remembered that Ma Lian was not an ordinary weak woman. She was born in a military family and was very strong. In addition to sword dance, she was also familiar with riding and shooting. I heard that she could complete the entire process of bending a bow and arrow on the horse's back.

Chen Xi smiled bitterly: "It's too dangerous to go to the front line, and I don't want to be distracted by this. Okay, I won't stay with you for more. There are still important things to do later, so I'll leave..."

Ma Lian didn't expect that Chen Xi would leave as soon as she arrived. Even if she was unwilling to accept her, she could only say goodbye to Chen Xi. She was in a very depressed mood when she went out. It seemed that Chen Xi would not take her to the battle for the rest of her life.
Chapter completed!