Chapter 217 New Army

"The master has no time to take care of housework, and all the utensils in the house are old things. I heard the master mention that he likes bamboo utensils the day before yesterday. I think the ones you made are also exquisite, so you might as well leave it like this." The graceful woman in fur fur said to Li San: "I want to buy new things in the house. You bring your tools to the house tomorrow, don't worry about food and drink, and your wages will be generous."

Li Sanyi was overjoyed when he heard that, and he quickly bowed and said: "Bodhisattva is compassionate, Bodhisattva is compassionate. I will be at your residence early tomorrow morning, I dare not neglect you."

The graceful woman nodded slightly and turned back to the sedan.

The maid in green smiled and said: "Hey, it's yours." As she spoke, she took out a money bag, weighed it and handed it to Li San: "This is the deposit."

Li San was pleasantly surprised and secretly thought that his boss this time was very particular. He hurriedly opened it and saw that the coins inside were brilliant, each one round and golden, which was extraordinary.

But Li San was stunned for a moment, grabbed a few coins and said, "What kind of money is this?"

The maid smiled and said: "New coins. Don't you know?"

"New coins?!" Li San said blankly: "Is that the new coins the village chief said?"

The maid said: "Probably. I think the government posted a list and announced it."

Li San hesitated for a moment: "Can it be used?"

"Yes." The maid said, "You are a late-minded person. Don't you know that merchants all over the city will use new currency for transactions from today on?"

As he spoke, he turned around and left, saying: "Remember to come early tomorrow. Don't forget about Ying Mansion in the city."

"Ying Mansion in the City?!" Li San opened his mouth wide and his heart trembled.

How many Ying mansions are there in Kaifeng?

...

The rollout of the new currency went very smoothly. Sure enough, it looks good and is easy to accept. The appearance of the new coins is several times higher than the silver ingots and copper coins of the past. They look like works of art. How can they not be lovable?

Starting from various merchants, it affected the common people in transactions and spread to the common people. Finally, the gentry hesitantly took out the silver melons and gold bricks hidden in the cellar and exchanged them for new coins.

During this period, Kaifeng's business was extremely prosperous. Not only because of the new money, but also because of the bumper harvest.

Because of the bumper harvest, any ordinary citizen who had nothing before could suddenly become wealthy. This had a considerable impact on the landowners and gentry - the grain they had hidden away in previous years was now worthless.

So there was a rush to move out the stored grain and sell it.

It's not that it can't be sold, it's easy to sell. Henan has had a good harvest, but the overall environment in China has not. Most places are short of food, even Jiangnan is short of food.

Due to the development of industry and commerce in the south of the Yangtze River, food production in the late Ming Dynasty was greatly reduced, but the land was used to plant cash crops, such as cotton, linen, and mulberry trees, for silkworm rearing and weaving, in order to make huge profits.

This resulted in the original land of plenty being unworthy of its name. There is also a shortage of food.

As long as you have the means to transport the food here to sell elsewhere, there will be plenty of profits.

Moreover, the government fixed the price of grain, which actually formed a kind of protection for the landlords and gentry, so that their grain would not be sold at a low price.

Of course, it doesn't mean it's a cheap sale. The price must be at the lower limit of the range. The quality of the new grain is much higher than that of the old grain. Now no one eats the old grain. It’s rough.

The grains produced by the improved seeds produced by Dijiyi not only have high yields and short cycle times, but also have various benefits. Even in terms of taste, they are also unparalleled.

This also made Kaifeng's grain trade boom.

However, the grain trade is mostly based on old grain. Most of the new grain was concentrated in Ying Yi's hands. The people's surplus grain, perhaps because they were hungry before, was not sold. Even if there is one for sale, the first choice is the government, not the merchants.

Hoarding of grain has been a national policy of the Ying Yi regime for a long time. The price for government purchases of grain is never lower than that of merchants. There is no doubt that people trust Ying Yi more.

The active business has brought more vitality to Kaifeng, giving the people more channels for income, and the people's hearts have become more stable.

Not only local businessmen in Henan, but also many businessmen from outside Henan. Businessmen's ears and eyes are often sharp. And business requires a peaceful environment. Henan has business opportunities and is stable, so it will naturally attract people.

This also caused the new coins and a very small part of the new grain issued by Ying Yi to go out of Henan and spread to all directions.

Of course, Ying Yi is happy to see the spread of new coins. As for new grain, some people think that buying a batch of new grain can be used as seeds. But that doesn't exist.

When improving, Ying Yi will have settings.

Improved varieties can only be planted for one season. At least in Ying Yi's plan, this restriction will not be lifted for a while.

Although Ying Yi sympathized with the people, he was also a tyrant. He prefers that the people can obtain good seeds through him, so as to gain the people's support, rather than any other way.

Therefore, some people’s small calculations are destined to fail.

According to Ying Yi's plan, it would only take a few years to unify China. If the people everywhere hold back a little, it will soon be their turn.

Simultaneous with the issuance of new coins is the conscription.

Recruitment locations were mainly in Kaifeng and Nanyang. Of course, other prefectures and counties also have recruitment points. However, the population is concentrated in Kaifeng and Nanyang, so naturally these two places are the main ones.

Conscription was extremely formal.

Present facts, reason, move them with emotion, and understand them with reason. Let the people know that joining the army is glorious, let the people know that Ying Yi wants to unify the world, and let the people know the fact that military merit is awarded!

Especially the latter one is extremely important. When it comes to honor, most people don't care much about it. Telling them this is basically talking to an ox. But military merit, titles, various benefits, military land, and privileges are the characteristics of a superior person.

Guangzong Yaozu, this is a brand engraved in the blood of the people.

The key is that this benefit has begun to be reflected. The nearly 30,000 troops under Ying Yi's command are basically Henan natives. Since Ying Yi's rise, he has been fighting all the way, and there are many people who have been knighted for military merit. These soldiers invisibly formed a kind of propaganda for the recruitment - during the New Year, each army took a three-day vacation in rotation, and the scenery created by the soldiers returning home was enviable.

Ye County, Heliu Village. Heliu Village is a resettlement village, of course, a resettlement village built on the ruins of the original village. The original Heliu Village was devastated long ago when bandits were wreaking havoc.

The formation of a village is closely related to the geographical location. Often a village can be formed in a certain place, and it must be surrounded by mountains and rivers. Therefore, many resettlement villages are located on the ruins of the original villages.

On the 20th of the first lunar month, the whole village, led by the village chief, beat gongs and drums and sent Wang Qi and more than 20 people to the entrance of the village.

Wang Qiyi was dressed in dark red armor, fully armed to the teeth, with a spear in his hand, a short sword and a blazing gun hanging from his waist, standing like a divine general.

The other twenty people gathered around him, all of them with red faces and envy.

"Village chief, fellow villagers, stop!"

Wang Qi cupped his fists and bowed deeply: "I am going to join the army, expand my territory, and unify the world for my lord. I will honor my ancestors with military achievements and titles. Brothers, we will not let our fathers down!"

After kowtowing several times in front of their parents and relatives, a group of more than 20 people headed towards Ye County in high spirits.