The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

As soon as Li Fu finished speaking, the eyes of the four emperors and ministers changed.

"Huairen, what do you mean?" Li Shimin asked.

"There are two huge mineral deposits on the island of Wakoku, one silver mine and one gold mine." Li Fu said: "I don't know the specific reserves of the gold mine, but I only know that these two mines are very easy to mine. In addition, the silver mine has a large output, which can support the new monetary system of the entire Tang Dynasty."

The Iwami Silver Mine has a mining history of nearly 400 years. During the peak mining period, the silver output accounted for one-third of the world.

A small island country, one-third of the world's silver production, shows how powerful this silver mine is.

If it is not powerful, it will not be recorded in such detail and remembered.

The silver produced by the silver mine is not only circulated as currency within Wakoku, but also supports the exchanges between Wakoku and Spain, the Dutch East India Company and the merchants in the Central Plains.

"Even, the silver mine is composed of two sets of mineralized veins, and the other set is copper."

Li Fu once again threw out a heavyweight news.

The Tang Dynasty did not circulate silver as currency, but it is self-evident how important copper is to the Tang Dynasty at the moment.

"A Japanese country, an island, actually has gold, silver and copper mines." Changsun Wuji's eyes fell on the long island, his eyes full of enthusiasm.

"Yes, who would have thought of this?"

"How did Your Highness know?" Du Ruhui asked curiously.

"Then we have to look at the clues in the book." Li Fu said: "By the way, combined with the former Sui Dynasty, they used troops against Silla and Baekje."

"However, for the mineral resources, it is best for the Tang Dynasty to send someone to go there." Li Fu looked at Li Shimin.

This kind of work needs to be done by the Baiqi Division under Li Shimin.

It is best to blend into their local area.

Li Shimin walked to the map of the island country and stepped on Kyushu Island.

"Since they can come, then we can go." Li Shimin said expressionlessly.

Other things, no matter how much we say, are all things of the future.

War will not happen immediately, but since there are minerals, let's explore them.

Whether it is gold, silver, or copper, the Tang Dynasty lacks them.

At least the officials sent out did not seem to have found many mines, and in terms of reserves, they were not as good as the mineral deposits Li Fu mentioned.

Li Shimin was thinking in his heart.

If we don't mine the good things in the Central Plains now, we can leave them to future generations in the future.

Since we know there are outside, we will wait until the national strength is strong and take them from outside first.

Anyway, if we take them back, they will stay on this land forever.

"You guys, don't go back today." Li Shimin glanced at several people: "Have dinner in the palace tonight, and send someone home to send a message, saying that you have stayed in the palace."

"Yes." Several people bowed in response.

"I will ask Wang De to send all the relevant books and bamboo slips here. All those that record Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje, and Japan should be found." Li Shimin smiled and said, "You still need to read more books."

Then, Li Shimin looked at Li Fu with some curiosity and doubt.

"Huairen, do you have a grudge against Japan?"

If there was no grudge, how could you pay so much attention to the Tang envoys, stay up late to study, and come to Ganlu Hall to say these things?

It is undeniable that what Li Fu said is reasonable, and if you look down at the map under your feet, you will know that what Li Fu said is possible in the future.

However, Li Shimin knows his cousin too well.

He refused to let him enter the court to participate in politics, and he did not want to be an official and give him power.

He just hid in the manor and did what he wanted to do. He was very diligent in what he wanted to do.

No one could persuade him not to do what he did not want to do.

But after the Tang envoys came, he came to the palace the next day. He said so much, and his purpose was obvious.

No matter how you look at it, he seems to have destroyed Japan.

As for the gold and silver mines, it seems more like a reason...

But think about it carefully, for so many years, he has been living in the manor of Jingyang County, and it seems that he has no dealings with Japan, and even has no contact.

Why do you dislike the Japanese so much?

Could it be that more than ten years ago, when Chang'an City was still called Daxing City, there was something unhappy with the Japanese envoys to Sui?

It's not impossible, but how old was he at that time?

Was the third uncle still alive at that time?

Li Shimin was also confused.

"I just don't like them, and by the way, I am thinking about their minerals." Li Fu spread his hands indifferently: "The business has grown, and it is too troublesome to always use copper coins and cloth, so I simply think,The currency system of the Tang Dynasty also needs to make some corresponding changes. Isn't it time to bring in the left and right prime ministers and the Minister of State, Changsun, to discuss this matter together? "

Li Fu had a harmless smile on his face.

But this smile was not innocent no matter how you looked at it.

"There are more and more Hu merchants in Chang'an City. I asked the shopkeepers under me. The countries in the Western Regions use this."

Li Fu took out a silver coin from his arms and handed it to Li Shimin.

"What about our Tang Dynasty? Although it was unified during the Wude period, the currency still followed the previous dynasty. During the wars in the Central Plains, including during the Wude period, and even now, barter still exists." Li Fu explained: "Let's not talk about anything else, just say that the tea shops are doing better now than before. Just the tea shops in Chang'an, before and after the festival, are a lot of income. "

"Take the tea shops in the East City as an example. During the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, the cheapest loose tea was 24 guan coins per catty. "

"Twenty-four strings of cash, one string of cash is one thousand copper coins." Li Fu said: "Two hundred and forty thousand coins, how much is that? It would take a cart to pull it with an ox cart."

"Is it convenient?"

"Whenever there is a large-scale transaction of goods, which family does not first write a note and sign a flower seal."

"Then, to carry these copper coins and brocades, you have to use a lot of ox carts and horse carts."

"Copper coins are useful for daily expenses among the people, but can the court adapt to the current and future situation and add a new currency system to provide corresponding convenience for large-scale transactions?"

"The wealthy families, aristocratic families, and ordinary rich people in Chang'an City have this demand, whether they spend money or make money."

"For example, how many copper coins can this silver coin be exchanged for in the Tang Dynasty? The court has no laws, and it all depends on the merchants to estimate it themselves." Li Fu said: "How many copper coins are appropriate for one tael of silver? Even in the future, as gold is a more precious currency than silver, what is the exchange rate between them? "