The materials for black gunpowder are not difficult to find.

The way of making saltpeter was circulated in the world, and in addition, the saltpeter mines in China are rich in savings, and there is never a shortage of saltpeter. As for charcoal, this is especially true. In ancient times, there was almost no jungle rafts, and various raw materials were inexhaustible.

Only the sulfur production in Datang is slightly insufficient, but sulfur only accounts for an insignificant 10% of the proportion of black gunpowder, even if it is rare, it is enough to use it.

The black gunpowder is not worried about the output at all. Although the amount of 80 kilograms of black gunpowder is quite large, it is not enough for six alchemists who have mastered the skills and formula and have sufficient materials, it can be prepared in less than a day.

At the same time, Pei Min also used the power of the Longyou Censor and ordered Jiaochen to use the name of the Qiao Family Chamber of Commerce to collect saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal to avoid those who are interested in finding out.

Pei Min borrowed the name of Qiao Feng and Azhu to open three major workshops: quarry, inkstone making and carving, which led to the commercial chain in Taozhou.

Now the momentum of the three major workshops is gradually weakening, no longer as glorious as before, but their income is as stable. In just a few years, the Qiao Family Chamber of Commerce has firmly ranked as the richest man in Taozhou.

Jiao Chen, who is in charge of the Qiao Family Chamber of Commerce, mainly hired a trusted manager to take charge. He just checked the account book every month and made sure it was accurate.

Jiao Chen and Pei Min are not keen on money. Apart from building several restaurants and tea shops in Chang'an, they have never developed new industries.

There are a large number of Tongbaos in stock, which are just used to deal with saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. After the Qiao Family Chamber of Commerce, they are transferred to the Longyou Jiedu Mansion, and then the Jiedu Mansion pays the money. It is almost like going through a formality and ensuring that the black gunpowder formula is not leaked through concealment.

To open Longshan and build Wushaoling, the black gunpowder needed to be used should be counted in tens of millions, not a small amount.

Pei Min also began to select some loyal and trustworthy soldiers from the army, acting as deputy to six alchemy alchemists, and followed them to learn the configuration of black gunpowder to speed up production.

With eighty kilograms of black gunpowder, Pei Min leisurely rushed to Chang'an.

Now it's winter is approaching, so there is no need to worry about the gunpowder being heated and spontaneously ignited. We have also prepared for moisture prevention and are extremely comfortable along the way.

Through Longshan, Pei Min once again strengthened his confidence in opening Longshan.

When we arrived in Chang'an, it was evening when the market was closed for Guanfang in Chang'an.

But Pei Min had a special identity and could not close him in the city gate. He asked someone to tell the palace and went back to the house to wash up.

He was about to go to Jiange to meditate, but he didn't expect that he learned that Gao Lishi came to invite him into the palace.

Pei Min had no choice but to give up his plan to recuperate and followed Gao Lishi to the palace.

On the way, Gao Lishi whispered: "The Duke of the State is not the time to say this time."

"Please give me some advice!" Pei Min stopped Xiaolimao and bowed slightly to Gao Lishi on the back of the horse.

Gao Lishi nodded and said softly: "Since recently, Su Xiang has been busy confiscating bad money. This matter is related to the foundation of the country and the future economy of the Tang Dynasty. There is no way to make any mistakes. If the failure of the matter will cause the people in the capital to fluctuate, the court coins will lose their credibility, and they will retreat to a terrible situation of bartering. If there is a difference in business trips in the Western Regions at this time, it will bring a terrible blow to the economy of our Tang Dynasty."

Pei Min suddenly realized when he heard this.

The so-called bad money is coins with poor quality, mostly private money made by private individuals.

In the early days of Wu Zetian, in addition to being a military ill, the economic development was relatively stable. However, at the end of the day, she was old and foolish, and she was extremely pampered by her face. Everyone had the power to make coins. In addition, the powerful figures like Princess Taiping also kept making money and using money to buy people's hearts, leading to the rampant evil money.

After Wu Zetian, the incompetent Emperor Zhongzong of Tang led to the rebellion of Empress Wei, Princess Anle, and Zong Chuke, which made the court chaotic for many years.

These big names also have the power to create coins, making the world of bad money more rampant.

Because there are too many inferior coins in the world, many businessmen secretly see business opportunities and create private money behind their backs.

Various bad situations gathered together, making the unqualified fake money on the market even more than real money minted by the imperial court.

Because there is too much fake money that is not qualified, there is no place to start.

The only way is to confiscate unqualified coins all over the world, recast the unqualified coins, and punish those who use evil coins, so that no longer any evil money appears in the market.

Once such a policy is issued, it will cause great turmoil. The court will not become a tool for whitewashing for those who make private money. They return real coins with the weight of real copper coins.

With bad and inferior materials, four or five bad money can often be exchanged for a real Kaiyuan Tongbao.

Some wealthy families don't care, but some people in poor families and small vendors with tight economy, whose property is already ruined by half or even more than half, which is fatal to them.

However, this situation cannot be stopped without stopping and allowed to spread rampantly, which will only cause coins to flood, the court will lose its credibility, and cause greater harm.

It is to minimize the losses that the court will choose to deal with bad money when the world is stable and everyone is home to their hearts.

Once the bad money is confiscated, the Tang Dynasty's economy will be greatly affected and it will take some time to ease and recover.

In this case, the Silk Road cannot be careless.

Pei Min happened to get to this time and proposed to open mountains and build ridges to block the most convenient Silk Road. What he did was to hedge against the court's policies.

Pei Min got Gao Lishi's advice and suddenly realized it in his heart, thinking to himself: "It turns out that there is such a reason. No wonder the civil officials in the court opposed it so strongly. If you don't solve the problem of bad money, it may not be possible to open mountains and build ridges!"

Looking at Gao Lishi, Pei Min said sincerely: "Thank you Eunuch Gao's advice!"

Gao Lishi smiled slightly, but refused to answer.

As Gao Lishi entered the palace unimpededly, he met Li Longji in the Wude Hall.

Li Longji had prepared the wine and food, and was waiting for Pei Min to arrive.

"Jingyuan has worked hard all the way. I have specially equipped you with your favorite winter bamboo shoots and fried chicken. It is the first batch of winter bamboo shoots sent to Jiangnan this year. You are so lucky!"

When Li Longji saw Pei Min coming, he directly gave up his salute and asked him to sit down. Then he pointed to the seat on the right and said, "Lights come and try it together."

Pei Min, Gao Lishi knew Li Longji's temper well. When this Li family Sanlang regarded you as his own, if you seemed too restrictive, it would make him unhappy. He would not be polite and just split it into two sides to take his seat.

Pei Min looked at the dishes on the table and smiled and said, "Thank you for your compassion. It's not just my favorite thing about the fried chicken in winter, but also my dried spring bamboo shoots, fried shrimps, fish and rotten skins. I like to drink tea, which is known to everyone in the world. But I am a soldier and never avoids food. No matter how delicious or bad you can eat it, it's very rare to know my taste. Your Majesty is willing."

"Haha!" Li Longji said with a bit of sage: "Jingyuan has followed me for five years, how can I not know your taste?" He paid a little attention to the leftovers of the soup in front of Pei Min at the banquet, and roughly understood Pei Min's preferences. Especially for food such as winter, spring, dried bamboo shoots, bamboo shoots, etc., there is absolutely no left.

After drinking three glasses of wine, Pei Min ate the tender winter bamboo shoots and said endlessly: "It's crispy and not numb, and it's authentic Jiangnan flavor. If you can eat this meal, I won't be in vain this time."

Li Longji smiled and said, "Let me go back and let me choose some good ones in the imperial kitchen, so that you can take them back to Shanzhou, and let Lingtang try them..."

"That's better!" Pei Min said happily: "I remember when I was young, my family was not in good condition. Before the spring and winter seasons, my mother would go to Yanshan to pick bamboo shoots. The land in the north is not as fertile as in the south, and the bamboo shoots taste harder and more astringent, but I can eat it with relish and nothing left. My mother must like to be happy."

The emperor and his ministers drank while drinking.

Li Longji also asked about the black gunpowder at the right time: "Jingyuan, is it really as powerful as you said?"

"How dare I deceive the king!" Pei Min said seriously: "In the letter, I said that it is conservative. As long as there is enough quantity, black gunpowder can explode and collapse even if the city wall can be broken and collapsed, and a hole can be opened by force."

Li Longji stood up movedly and said, "In this way, can it still be used for military siege?"

"Of course!" Pei Min said without hesitation: "And it is inevitable and the trend is the general trend. It is just how to use it and how to use it. The masters of this aspect need to study it themselves. The black gunpowder has just appeared in the world and still have certain disadvantages. For example, it is easy to get damp, and it must be exploded in a certain closed environment, or it is easy to get fire, etc. It is necessary to understand and study it, and study and invention based on the characteristics of the black gunpowder... In the current situation, it is used in actual combat, and it still needs to be a specific battlefield to come in handy. However, it is enough to open mountains and build ridges. In specific situations, Your Majesty can look forward to tomorrow. I promise that those ministers who question me will be scared and unable to speak. Those who are timid may even pee their pants!"

Li Longji looked expectant and said, "Then I will wait and see!" He had no doubt about Pei Min's words.

This is also the greatest advantage and disadvantage of the emperor Li Longji himself...

"Just..." Li Longji hesitated for a moment: "Even if black gunpowder can really break mountains and crack stones, it can be completed in the shortest period, and the regulations may not be approved in a short period of time. Recently, I saw that the time has come and am planning to start dealing with the flood of bad money. The Western Regions business roads cannot have any problems in a short period of time, so as not to affect the overall economy of our Tang Dynasty."

Pei Min paused and said, "It is necessary to rectify the bad money, and it is imperative. But I think it can be slowed down and there is no need to rush to postpone the implementation for a year. After the opening of Longshan and the repair of Wushaoling, we will start."
Chapter completed!