Rome Must Fall

"Yes, leader!" Everyone calmed down and responded respectfully.

Maximus said in a gentle tone: "After the banknotes are made, we have to consider how to distribute them so that the people are happy to use them. After all, many of them are used to buying things with gold and silver, and some of them are used to buying things with gold and silver. People from other mountain tribes are more willing to barter. They will inevitably doubt that such a light note can really be exchanged for a chicken? A sheep? ...

Capitoti's previous suggestion was very good. We can first replace the wheat previously distributed to tribal officials with banknotes as their monthly salary. At the same time, we need to tell all shops in each market to allow the tribesmen to use banknotes. When it comes to purchasing goods, I believe that under the guidance of officials, ordinary people will soon discover the benefits of using banknotes to buy things——"

"Chief, even if ordinary people are happy to use banknotes, they cannot obtain banknotes through salary payments like officials. Do we have to distribute them directly?" Pygris asked.

"After paper money is made, it is not paper, but money. Each one represents wealth. Of course, it cannot be distributed to ordinary people for free."

Maximus said seriously: "We can establish an exchange office in each market, and the Ministry of Property will be responsible for it. Many city-states in the Mediterranean have exchange offices, which are used to exchange gold and silver coins, and the exchange office we want to build It allows ordinary people to use the wheat at home to exchange for banknotes issued by the tribe, and then ordinary people can use the exchanged banknotes to buy things in the market. "

"This method the leader said is great! Our property department will definitely manage the exchange office well!" Cornelius was excited about a new right gained by his department.

He then asked: "When the ethnic people pay taxes, can they also use banknotes to pay taxes? This can also save a lot of manpower in our finance department."

"Field tax must not be paid in paper money, it must be paid in grain and other crops!" Maximus said firmly, because he knew very well: Food is the basis for a tribe's survival. With enough grain reserves, when encountering difficulties Only then will I not panic.

Then Maximus softened his tone and said, "As for business taxes, you can hand over banknotes."

It has been nearly two years since the Nyx tribe was established, and the commerce in the market has become relatively active. However, the tribe has received very little business tax, because most of the shops in the market belong to the tribe, and the wheat obtained from selling the goods is also small. It belongs to the Ministry of Property and there is no such thing as commercial tax.

Cornelius did not dare to argue and responded calmly: "Yes, leader."

“In addition, we also need to establish an important institution—a bank!” Maximus said with emphasis: “The bank is very important. It is an institution specifically responsible for managing currency.

Every year, how much food our tribe produces, how many goods are manufactured, and the circulation of goods in the market...these are all statistics made by the bank, and the amount of currency to be issued is decided based on the statistical data.

The bank also needs to constantly investigate the business situation within the tribe. If it is found that there are too many banknotes and the price of goods is too high, it needs to recycle some banknotes; if it is found that there are too few banknotes and the price of goods is too low, then it needs to issue additional currency.

In short, banks should always keep an eye on tribal commerce to ensure that banknotes are always valuable and that good things at corresponding prices can always be purchased! I propose that the bank be placed under the Treasury Department, and that the head of the bank be temporarily served concurrently by Marcus, the adjutant of the Finance Department! "

Although Magus is young, he has been doing his duty without making any mistakes since he took charge of the tribal treasury. Moreover, his work in the Treasury Department also prompted him to spend his free time in school and study harder. According to Kephisophon, Magus's arithmetic skills are now among the best among students.

It was precisely because of Marcus's outstanding performance that Maximus decided to give him an extra burden.

No one in charge of the various departments expressed any objection. In fact, they were all immersed in the new terms and novel and profound monetary theories spoken by Maximus, and did not notice the importance of banks to the tribe.

Pigris couldn't help but ask: "Chief, we still have so many complicated issues to consider when using paper money. But when everyone used gold and silver coins in the past, there seemed to be no city-state to do these things."

"It's not that these city-states didn't do it, it's that they simply don't know that the use of currency in a city-state or a kingdom requires profound currency knowledge and strict supervision! They think that gold and silver are wealth, and as long as they get more and more The more gold and silver there are, the stronger the city-state will be.”

Maximus smiled contemptuously: "Is this really so? The most typical example is Rome! After Rome became strong, it continued to conquer other city-states and kingdoms, and at the same time, it continued to obtain large amounts of gold and silver from these conquered areas and transported them back to Rome. As a result, the amount of gold and silver in Rome and even Italy is increasing, but the amount of crops harvested and various goods manufactured in Italy remain basically the same every year. What phenomenon has this caused? "

Pigris's eyes lit up: "...Well, there should be too many gold and silver coins, which makes the prices of goods in the market more expensive!"

"That's right, to use what I said before is currency devaluation."

Maximus looked at Quintus and Cornelius and said in a deep voice: "And since most of the gold and silver obtained by the Roman army from the conquered areas flowed into the hands of Roman senators and nobles, the increase in the price of items in Italy has a great impact on Their impact is not big, but for ordinary civilians, it will make their lives more difficult, so it is inevitable that a large number of civilians will go bankrupt——"

"So that's it! I asked why the price of farm tools became more expensive day by day in those years, and the cost of buying cattle increased several times. It turned out to be a good thing done by the Roman Senate!" Cornelius said bitterly.

"Yes, the prices of goods in the market have soared, wiping out all the money we had finally saved. The Roman nobles also used cheap crops produced in large estates to make it impossible to sell the food we finally harvested. It would be strange not to go bankrupt. !" Quintus was also filled with rare anger. He had repeatedly failed in managing the fields, which had become a barrier in his heart.

On the other hand, Capito's expression was relatively calm. The Knicks tribe had provided him with a vast space to display his talents, and he had already put his tragic past behind him.

"Chief, before the silver mines in Athens were exhausted, they used to mint a large amount of silver coins. Why didn't they have a situation where the price of goods was too high and the people's lives were difficult to live because of too many coins?" Kephisso, a Greek Feng asked with some confusion.

Maximus did not expect Kephisophon to ask such a question. He thought about it carefully and said, "Well...Athens was not only the overlord of the Eastern Mediterranean, but also the commercial center of the Mediterranean.

Many of the goods it produces can be sold to various city-states in the Mediterranean. Other city-states also transport large amounts of goods to Athens for sale. Moreover, because Athens’ silver coins are exquisitely made and have high silver content, merchants in other city-states are willing to exchange them for use. Athens’ silver coins are in prosperity. A large amount of it is consumed in foreign trade, so how can it be too much? "

Kephisophon was lost in thought.

Maximus continued: "Athens's position as a trade center in the Eastern Mediterranean is enviable. They can use as many silver coins as they mint without worrying about being worthless. This is something our Nyx tribe cannot match.

For a long time in the future, the issuance and use of our banknotes will be limited to this tribe, and trade with the Aldiyi tribe and other tribes will still use barter or gold and silver coins for the time being. "

Pigris opened his mouth, but finally said nothing. He understood that the reason why the leader was so conservative about the use of banknotes was out of consideration for the safety of the tribe.

Maximus saw everyone's expressions in his eyes and said: "Tomorrow we will hold a special meeting to discuss the issue of banknotes. Officials from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice will participate, as well as the papermaking workshop. The leader, Tormias, must also attend.

We will discuss in more detail the production of banknotes, the design of patterns, the size of the face value, the quantity, the establishment of banks and exchange offices, the supervision of banknote circulation, etc., and formulate a series of regulations on the production and production of banknotes. The issuance plan, as well as the systems and laws to ensure the smooth operation of banknotes in the tribe. I believe—"

Maximus suddenly raised his voice and said passionately: "In the entire Mediterranean, no city-state or kingdom has such a profound understanding of the use of currency like Nyx! There is no city-state or kingdom like Nyx that can Use banknotes that are lighter and easier to count!

As long as our various departments strictly supervise the operation of banknotes, banknotes will definitely greatly promote the prosperity of Nix's business and give the tribe stronger strength to expand. One day, it will become as wealthy as Athens and as powerful as Rome! "

…………………………………………………………………………

On this day, the sky was high and the clouds were clear, and the south wind was blowing strong. A fleet of boats sailed upstream along the Sava River.

On the bow of the first ship stood Alakosia, the adjutant of the Commercial Department of the Nyx tribe. He held on to the railing of the boat and looked towards the shore: each Nyx infantry centurion was marching towards the villages on both sides of the bank, and behind these teams were The people of Segostika supported the old and young and followed closely. Their faces no longer showed the fear when they fled, but the stability protected by force and the hope of rebuilding their homes...

This war really started and ended so quickly! ...Arakosia sighed in her heart.

The Nix envoy sent to the northern border a few days ago sent back news that the Yapod people, who had suffered a disastrous defeat, quickly concluded an armistice agreement and expressed their willingness to have friendly exchanges after receiving the olive branch from the Nix tribe.