The 20th gift also needs strategy

  Yongzheng held out a folded paper with both hands, "Imperial Father, this is your son's filial piety."

  Kangxi opened it and found that it was a deed of transfer, which transferred 40% of the shares of "Si Da Heng" silver number in Beijing. All procedures were complete, and it would take effect as soon as he signed his name.

  "'Four Great Hengs' is the largest silver note in Beijing, and the recently issued silver notes are even more popular in Beijing. How could Kangxi not know? His first reaction was, "'Four Great Hengs' is your industry?"

  "To be exact, it was three months ago when I acquired 80% of the shares in 'Four Great Constants'."

  "Hum, ill-gotten wealth obtained through cleverness and robbery, you still dare to offer it to me. Are you trying to make me collude with you or tarnish my reputation?" Kangxi suddenly flew into a rage, sternly questioning him.

  Li Dequan saw Kangxi's great anger, and was so scared that his whole body went soft, and he knelt down in a hurry, making a gesture of killing a chicken to wipe his neck towards Yin Zhen. Yin Zhen also did not expect Kangxi to be so furious, and reluctantly knelt down, saying in a low voice: "Imperial Father, although this stock is the son's filial piety, but this money is not for you, it is welfare subsidies for all banner people. Secondly, the 'Four Great Constants' assets are over 10 million, if the son were to embezzle, I'm afraid the impeachment papers would have been on Imperial Father's desk long ago. The 'Four Great Constants' invested 2 million taels and silver tickets, technical assistance, and helped with business planning, making this small silver bank communicate with the world in three months, with branches all over the Qing dynasty, becoming the number one draft bank in the Qing dynasty, it can be said that he has taken full advantage of it."

  Good guts, Li Dequan secretly praised him. In the face of Kangxi's fierce anger, he still dared to speak so strongly, and such a master is absolutely one in a million. However, today he himself might be unlucky, praying to Bodhisattva for protection, hoping that the emperor wouldn't vent his anger on him.

  Kangxi unexpectedly did not erupt, and after turning around to sit down, his face had already calmed down. "So, issuing silver tickets was also your idea?"

  "Yes, the silver notes and meeting tickets were all issued under my guidance." Yinzhen said, taking out a silver note from his sleeve and presenting it with both hands, "This is for Your Majesty to review."

  "Stingy." Kangxi muttered under his breath, took the silver ticket and examined it carefully before saying, "Tell me in detail, what's going on?"

  After listening to Yinzhen's words, Kangxi immediately asked: "How can we control the excessive issuance of silver tickets?"

  "It is decreed that all silver notes issued must be stamped with my imperial seal to take effect, thus controlling the quantity of silver notes. The issuance of silver notes in each province follows the principle of being conservative and restricted, with a specific quota, and resolutely implementing the guarantee system of issuing as much as there is stored silver."

  The issuance of silver tickets did not violate the imperial court's currency policy, and silver tickets were convenient to carry and easy to circulate, especially beneficial for large transactions. These advantages were well known to Kangxi, as long as they were not issued excessively and guaranteed to be exchanged at any time, Kangxi was also unwilling to interfere too much. Since Yin Zhen was not relying on his imperial status to plunder, he put his mind at ease and turned his interest to the transfer documents in his hand, "How much dividend do you expect these 40% shares will have each year?"

  "This year, we will lay out branch numbers across the country, and all profits will be invested in it, so no dividends will be distributed. Next year onwards, the annual dividend for these 40% shares should not be less than 500,000 taels, and five years later, it should not be less than 1 million taels each year."

  One million taels, Kangxi's heart trembled involuntarily. This was no small sum. Although the imperial court's annual revenue exceeded 30 million taels, after deducting expenses, the surplus was only about 3 million taels, and this was just on paper. These shares would yield a dividend of one million taels every year, in real gold and silver. How could Kangxi not be moved? Thinking back to Yin Zhen's previous words, he asked: "You said this money wasn't for me, but welfare subsidies for all banner people, what do you mean?"

  As for the development of 'Si Da Heng', Yong Zheng has also given it careful consideration. If 'Si Da Heng' wants to dominate the country, relying solely on him would not be enough to control the situation. The profits are clear to see, and when the time comes, a rush of people will cause chaos in the national silver ticket market. Once someone starts issuing them indiscriminately, it will inevitably lead to a big mess. At that time, he, as the initiator, will also face fierce attacks from his opponents.

  To ensure sufficient profits and stability for themselves, the best way is to monopolize, but to do so, Kangxi must be brought in. Kangxi values his reputation and face, so to bring him in, not only must there be enough benefits to move him, but also a strategic approach, and the banner people are Kangxi's weak point.

  "Return the imperial mother." Yin Zhen said loudly: "The imperial mother is noble as the Son of Heaven, rich with the four seas, how dare I, a humble subject, take pleasure in small gains?"

  Upon hearing this, Kangxi's eyebrows furrowed. Although the old man is rich with all four seas, he also lacks money. The silver stored in the national treasury is now less than ten million, one million taels per year, is this a small profit?

  Yinzhen didn't know that as soon as he opened his mouth, Kangxi would be greatly displeased. He continued on his own: "The banner people are the foundation of the country. When we first entered the pass, there were only 300,000 banner people. Although they have been through many battles, now there are more than 400,000. Today, under peaceful rule, the growth rate must be greatly increased. The more people, the greater the pressure on the national treasury, and the gap between rich and poor is becoming increasingly apparent. If we don't prepare for a rainy day, I'm afraid it will be difficult to turn things around later. Although the benefits of the 'Four Stabilities' are like a drop in the bucket, if we accumulate them, one day the banner people can completely not rely on the country. This is both a blessing for the country and a blessing for the banner people."

  The Banner people's livelihood policy has always been the most troublesome problem for the Qing emperor, and Kangxi's pressure at this time is still small. However, due to the emptiness of the national treasury, he also gradually began to feel embarrassed. He had noticed the problem of the Banner people's livelihood, but he was in a dilemma without a good solution. Yin Zhen's words were like opening up a new path, pointing out the way to finally solve the burden of the Banner people. Kangxi excitedly laughed and said, "Good, good, this is indeed a wise and mature statement for governing the country, Li Dequan, reward..."

  Kangxi suddenly remembered, and then rewarded Yin Zhen with a double salary, also bestowed a seat, rewarded tea, and hastily changed the subject, "Reward the 14th prince with a cup of milk."

  Yuan Zhen almost burst into tears upon hearing this, isn't this being too petty? The milk is just cow's milk, and the silver I sent was also worth tens of millions of taels, but it's only worth a cup of milk. Is there anything more expensive than this in the world?

  Although Kangxi was in a great mood, he had not forgotten that Yin Zhen held four-tenths of the shares. The welfare of all banner people accounted for only four-tenths, and one person occupied four-tenths, wasn't that too much? Thus, he pondered and said: "I remember, you seemed to have occupied eight-tenths of the shares of 'Four Great Constants', right?"

  I've never seen such an unscrupulous old man, giving away half for free and still wanting to control the other half. Fortunately, Yin Zhen had a plan in place, otherwise it would have been a disaster. "Replying to the Emperor, as they say, 'shared interests', I, your subject, have considered the people of the banner and naturally won't forget the noble relatives of the imperial clan. I will take out three-tenths of the four-tenths shares in my hands to distribute to the noble relatives of the imperial clan, but it won't be given away for free."

  Kangxi did not expect that Yin Zhen would be so open-minded and thoughtful, selling the shares in his hands, avoiding becoming the target of public criticism, saving face, and gaining practical benefits. The only thing he didn't know was how much he planned to sell for one percent. Kangxi wanted to know very much, but considering his dignity, he couldn't ask, so he had to give up and smile: "It's rare that you have this kind of filial piety, I accept it with a smile. However, when giving gifts to others, there must be something in return. Speak."

  "Your Majesty has a discerning eye for detail, I have one thing to humbly request. Yinzhen secretly praised Kangxi's insight and first flattered him before saying: "The issuance of private silver notes indeed has its positive effects, but if the imperial court does not regulate it, it will inevitably lead to chaos in the silver notes market. If there are treacherous people who recklessly issue notes for personal gain, the consequences will be unbearable. Therefore, I humbly request that Your Majesty impose regulations on the ticketing system, implement an accreditation system, and prohibit any establishment with a capital of less than 50 million taels or fewer than 50 branches from setting up a ticketing system. The issuance of silver notes must also obtain permission from the imperial court."

  Supervise the issuance of silver tickets and maintain the stability and order of the financial market, which is an indispensable responsibility of the imperial court. Since Kangxi now owns 40% of the shares of "Si Da Heng", he is a beneficiary and naturally wants to start from maintaining his own interests, so he said without hesitation: "It's reasonable to make a living, this proposal is also a matter of course, let it be."