During the Han Dynasty, there were thirty-six countries in the Western Regions. By the Han Dynasty, it became fifty-five countries.
The reason is that it is the Han Dynasty.
For example, Cheshi Kingdom. Cheshi was originally named "Gushi". It is located at the throat of the traffic jack in the northern road of the middle section of the Silk Road and is a place that military strategists must compete for. It is also the gateway for the Huns to enter the Western Regions. Therefore, from Emperor Wu to Emperor Xuan, the Han and the Huns repeatedly competed for this place, which is known in history as the "Five Contests of Cheshi".
In the third year of Yuanfeng (108 BC), Emperor Wu sent General Zhao Ponu, the Eagle Fighting General, and Wang Hui, the Zhonglang General, to defeat Gu Shi, changed the name of the country to Che Shi, and divided the kingdoms in front and back of the Che Shi and the six kingdoms in Shanbei (ten countries).
In other words, those powerful Western powers in history were all dismembered by the Han Dynasty.
For example, Wusun, which is known as the control of 100,000, was also divided by the Han Dynasty at its peak. From the first year of Ganlu (53 BC), Wusun was divided into borders and ruled by Kunmi. The two kings had one after another and conflicts continued. In the end of the Han Dynasty, the Han courts tried every means to resolve the disputes for Wusun. Therefore, historical records show that after Wusun split the two Kunmi, "the Han Dynasty was worried and hard, and there was no peace in the year."
If I had known today, why should I be the first one?
The reason is very simple.
From a strategic perspective, the Western Regions after dismemberment are more in line with the interests of the Han Dynasty. If it cannot be integrated, it is even more difficult to unify. A loose sand will not only not pose a threat to the Han Dynasty, but also need to protect the Han Dynasty from the side.
At the reciprocity of the two Han dynasties, the Western Regions were in chaos. It was common for big countries to annex small countries. However, when the Han Dynasty made a move, Ban Dingyuan would submit to the Western Regions again. The first thing was to help the small countries annexed by the big countries to restore the country again. So the Western Regions were divided from the thirty-six countries in the former Han Dynasty to the fifty-five countries today.
Except for the five countries including Kushan, Kangju, Anxi, etc., they did not belong to the Protector because they were "very far away" from the Central Plains. The other fifty countries were all prohibited from Han courts.
However, this also caused the disadvantages that Liu Bei could not tolerate.
The currency system is in chaos.
Nowadays, in addition to the Wuzhu coins of the Han Dynasty, there are also Kushan coins, Roman coins, and two-body coins privately cast by the King of Khotan. There are also bartering goods. Silk and horses are all hard currency.
The currency is gold, silver, and copper.
Too confusing.
The harm of issuing money randomly is too severe. The previous generation is the lesson of the past.
From the perspective of future generations, Liu Bei would never allow the vassal states to have an independent monetary system.
This is the main reason for attracting the Anguo of Khotan.
When King Anguo of Khotan came to the Chief's Mansion to pay a visit, Liu Bei was on the short table in front of him, a small bag of Khotan coins were placed.
There are two types of Hanqian two-body money. Six Zhu ‘small money’ and twenty-four Zhu ‘big money’. The exchange rate between large and small money is also four to one (4:1). It is equivalent to the weight. In other words, the material of large and small coins is the same.
The currency is a Kushan coins. The manufacturing process is divided into two parts: first make a certain size of money; then strike while the iron is hot, and use the mold to print different inscriptions and patterns on the front and back sides. The mold has different versions, and the positions of human forging are also different. In theory, the same coins will never appear. This kind of coins are called suppression coins.
The Wuzhu coins of the Han Dynasty were used as minting coins.
It is obvious that the Wuzhu coins cast in one mold are more exquisite and unified.
"See the Chief Historian." Although he was the king, he could see that when the emperor was in charge of the chief historian of the Western Regions, King Anguo of Khotan also gave his rituals first.
"I've seen the king." Liu Bei replied with a solemn greeting: "Please sit down."
"Thank you to sit down."
The guest and host sat down. Liu Bei exchanged a few greetings and then went straight to the point: "I'm asking the king to come here, and this is the matter."
Following Changshi's finger. King Anguo of Khotan looked at the short distance and then realized: "This year's tribute (the princes or vassal states present tribute to the court every year). When I came, I had ordered people to load the car, and I must have been on the road at this time."
Liu Bei shook his head: "It's not for the annual tribute, but for this money."
King Khotan was stunned: "This money?"
"This money is too crude." Liu Bei smiled and said, "And it's more than six zhu. It's not easy to exchange with my Wuzhu coins."
"What do you think?" King Khotan asked.
"The Xiaguan means. Why don't the king send all the coin craftsmen to mint the military armor for the Xiaguan. As for the existing 'Khotan coins', I exchanged six Wuzhu coins for five 'small coins, and twenty-four 'five 'big coins' for five 'big coins', and all of them were exchanged."
King Khotan then realized: "The chief minister must exchange Wuzhu coins for their money."
"Yes." Liu Bei smiled and said, "Not only that. Kushan coins, Qin (Roman) coins, and coins from various countries were exchanged with equivalent value of Wuzhu coins or horseshoe gold cakes. From then on, only Wuzhu coins were used in the Western Regions, and horseshoe gold could be used for bulk transactions. (Emperor Wu also cast a silver coins of "Three Platinum" after issuing, but was stolen on a large scale. It was abolished in the second year of Yuanding (115 BC), and it took a total of 5 years.)"
The King of Khotan bowed and said, "It was because of the lack of money that the vulgar country had minted coins privately. If it could be exchanged for Wuzhu coins, it would be great. However, if the exchanged coins were used up, what would you say if you dare to ask the chief minister?"
Liu Bei smiled and showed his eight white teeth: "Can you know the treasure of the king?"
"I don't know."
Liu Bei then explained the function of Linxiang Lotus Deposit. Then he said, "Don't worry, the Lotus Deposit will be built in this city first. Then, the capitals of the fifty countries in the Western Regions will be built separately. The coins required will be transported from the pass and stored in the Lotus Deposit. When needed, you can go to the Lotus Deposit to withdraw and exchange. There will be no worries about lack of money."
The powerful ability of modern banking industry to attract money (blood) is not something that a vassal king two thousand years ago can know.
Thinking of the Wuzhu coins that were constantly transported from the gate like flowing water, King Khotan nodded happily: "Since that's the case, I will follow the order of the Chief Secretary."
Without bloodshed, Liu Bei lifted the right to mint coins in the Kingdom of Khotan.
After seeing off King Anguo of Khotan, Liu Bei met King Kumi Dingxing again.
Dingxing and Anguo had a grudge against killing their father.
Moreover, after the powerful Kumi Kingdom was captured by Khotan, most of the people fled. The national strength was weak and no longer the same as before.
If the Han Dynasty had not mediated, it would have been annexed by Khotan.
Liu Bei called him, and in addition to being kind to calm his heart, he also talked about the issue of currency system. Ku Miguo was unable to mint coins, and even less able to exchange enough Wuzhu coins. Liu Bei came to him and wanted to talk about something else.
"Taiwan Debt?" King Kumi was confused. He had never heard of this word.
"Yes." Liu Bei smiled warmly: "I heard that the lower officials have suffered many hardships since the death of the previous king of Kumi Kingdom and have never recovered. The so-called "far water cannot quench the thirst in the near future". Therefore, I wanted to provide a sum of funds to the king to help Kumi overcome the difficulties. Because it was a "billionaire debts for the whole country", it was called a national debt."
King Kumi understood: "The chief minister wants to borrow money and despise the country?"
"That's right." Liu Bei nodded happily.
"I don't know how much the Chief Secretary wants to borrow? How much interest is?" King Ku Mi was quite cautious.
"Borrow one million yuan first. You don't need the interest penny." Liu Bei said generously.
"The Chief Secretary is serious?" King Kumi's expression said everything.
"How dare the subordinates deceive the king?" Liu Bei replied with a smile.
King Kumi stood up and bowed with a solemn look on his face: "Thank you, the Chief Secretary, to express your mercy."
Liu Bei hurriedly got up and helped him: "The king is so serious."
After wiping away the tears, King Kumi asked anxiously: "How should I return it?"
"For ten years, you can repay 100,000 yuan every year. If you have no cash, you can also use your country's property to repay it." Liu Bei replied quickly.
"Oh..." King Kumi's gratitude was beyond words, but he was afraid of invisible clauses: "I wonder if the eldest son has any unfinished words?"
"Nothing else." Liu Bei suddenly thought of something: "To facilitate the borrowing and repayment, the official of the Xiaguan wanted to build a separate warehouse in your king's city to store coins. I don't know..."
"What's the difficulty!" King Kumi bowed and said: "It's a matter of raising hands, why do you need the Chief Secretary to speak!"
Liu Bei smiled and nodded: "It's so good."
The four countries of Kucha, Shule, Kumi, and Khotan took the lead. Liu Bei unified the currency system and the requirement of establishing a deposit system were fully accepted by countries in the Western Regions.
It can be foreseen that as the warehouse business continues to deepen, the countries in the Western Regions will be firmly tied to Liu Bei's chariot.
I wonder if there is a trap in the world called the debt trap?
Want to get off the bus?
Let’s pay back the money first.
Not to return?
Chapter completed!