As though one ring was not enough to satisfy him, he took aim at the coin again and flicked it hard once more. The silver note rang out crisp and clear — like wind chiming through bells.
The Emperor had nearly forgotten there was still a hall full of ministers craning their necks in anticipation. He turned the coin over and over at his leisure, taking in every detail.
Placed in his palm, it carried a pleasing weight. The surface was smooth as a mirror, with the distinctive silver sheen impossible to fake.
The front bore two concentric rings of rope pattern, with the denomination “Two Liang” written vertically in clerical script at the center. Arching along the top, evenly spaced, were the characters “Chengshun Yuanbao,” and along the bottom, in a slightly smaller font, “Minted by the Baoquan Bureau.” Running a fingertip across the surface, one could feel the fine texture of each character without it feeling sharp.
Though the characters were written in clerical script, there was a faint vigor hidden within each stroke. The Emperor recognized whose hand this was at first glance.
He turned all five coins to their reverse sides and arranged them on the red silk — those designs were the centerpiece, the ones that most delighted him.
Heavy sheaves of rice speaking of a plentiful year. A great river flowing to the sea, endless as the horizon. The Eastern Peak summited, commanding a view of all the mountains. The solemn, towering imperial city radiating the presence of the sovereign. A coiled dragon soaring through the clouds, sporting with a luminous pearl.
Every design proclaimed peace throughout the realm, and the flourishing of the dynasty.
The coins were smooth all over, save for the delicately engraved serrated edge — which complemented the concentric rope pattern on the front with pleasing harmony.
The Emperor thought: if Da Qing’s subjects, and all people under heaven, could use these coins in trade and commerce — what a magnificent sight that would be. He recalled what Pei Shaohuai had said at the court assembly, and felt a swell of pride in his chest.
He loved these coins — and not only for their craftsmanship.
The Emperor finally came back to himself, remembering he was still holding court. He assumed his imperial dignity and said, “These coins are excellent. We are very pleased.”
“This minister is grateful for Your Majesty’s praise,” Zhang Lingyi and Pei Shaohuai replied in unison.
Before rewards could be discussed, the Minister of Works, Lord Zhou, stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, this minister has something to submit regarding the silver coins.”
Today’s court session had not escaped its round of contention.
“Granted.”
Minister Zhou adopted the air of one who had seen through the Baoquan Bureau’s scheme, and said, “These few silver coins are beautiful, to be sure — yet one suspects they were specially refined by hand-picked craftsmen, produced merely to impress at this morning’s court. Such a tendency cannot be allowed to flourish.” He was insinuating that these coins had been painstakingly crafted just to show the Emperor, and implying that the Baoquan Bureau lacked the capability to produce them in large quantities. “And what use is a beautiful sample coin? After sand casting, they would likely reproduce less than one part in ten of this quality. Would that not leave the court celebrating in vain, while silver was squandered in the process? And if craftsmen are made to engrave each coin individually, how much labor would be consumed? The efficiency would be dismal — not a relief to the people but an increase in corvée labor and a cry of misery from the population… There is an ancient saying about the one who asked why people did not eat meat instead of grain. Today we have coins engraved for the sake of achievement. Minister Zhang, Jishizhong Pei — minting coins is not a matter of decoration or showing off one or two fine pieces.”
Those last few lines were delivered with particular conviction, as though he had long been waiting for the chance to say them.
As though one volley was not enough, Minister Zhou added a few more lines on the spot, saying, “There is a world of difference between fields, and the Bureau of Works’ Baoyuan Bureau has been minting coins for many years and is well-acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of various minting methods. The Baoquan Bureau, established barely a month ago, is bound to invite doubt. This minister respectfully urges Your Majesty to reconsider — for the sake of caution, it would be better to have this matter handled by the Ministry of Works’ Baoyuan Bureau.” He then turned to Zhang Lingyi and advised, “Minister Zhang, while His Majesty is still merciful, it would be wisest to admit your errors promptly. If the silver coins produced subsequently are shoddy and damage the foundation of the state, that would be a grave offense.”
The Ministry of Works had already lost control of the Taicang Shipyard. This time, it could not afford to lose the right to mint coins as well.
Many officials unfamiliar with the art of minting found themselves swayed by the Ministry of Works’ argument. A silver coin of such exquisite quality produced in mass quantities did seem, on reflection, hard to believe.
The Ministry of Works came in with considerable force, and even Lord Yang could not help feeling some concern for his son-in-law.
Yet Zhang Lingyi and Pei Shaohuai at the head of the hall showed not a trace of anxiety — and had in fact begun to defer to each other.
“This matter… Minister Zhang, why don’t you explain.”
“Better if Jishizhong Pei does so,” Zhang Lingyi said. “We see each other every day in the six ministries.”
Pei Shaohuai had no choice but to step forward half a pace and say, “Your Majesty, this minister has an item to present before the court for all to see.”
“Granted.”
Two junior officials struggled to carry a wooden chest, which they set down at the front of the hall. Pei Shaohuai moved nimbly and opened it on the spot — a cascade of silver light scattered outward as coins were heaped inside like a small mountain. Without needing to step closer for a careful look, one could see from a distance that the quality of the coins matched the sample coins on the tray precisely.
Pei Shaohuai explained, “These are sample coins. Without an imperial decree, this minister did not dare begin large-scale production. What is in this chest are the several hundred coins produced over these past two days. We respectfully invite Your Majesty to inspect them — and invite Minister Zhou to inspect them as well.”
They had not dared produce coins in large quantities — so they had produced only “a mere” several hundred.
Minister Zhou’s face flushed deep red. He drew his hands back into his sleeves — having spent many years in court, he was no greenhorn who would lose his composure entirely. After receiving a few mild words of rebuke from the Emperor, he withdrew from the argument with an embarrassed air.
One minister had been dispatched. Behind him, many more officials were ready to take his place.
The newly appointed Left Jishizhong of the Bureau of Works stepped forward and promptly helped himself to one of the one-liang coins from the chest. He walked to the front of the hall and held up the coin, declaring, “Silver is soft and light by nature and is prone to wear. The Baoquan Bureau has made these coins so thin — all one must do is apply a little force like so… like so… and with this much effort…”
As he spoke, he tried with both hands to bend the coin — and gradually exerted his full strength. Yet the coin would not bend.
The Jishizhong gave an awkward little laugh, then improvised a reversal on the spot, saying, “When the common people exert this much effort, they will discover that these coins are truly made of genuine, quality silver — of considerable value. This minister hereby endorses the Baoquan Bureau’s responsibility for minting the silver coins.”
As he withdrew, passing by Pei Shaohuai on his way out, he even offered Pei Shaohuai a word of compliment.
Pei Shaohuai’s expression was complicated.
With the issues of craftsmanship and silver quality settled, someone else raised an objection to the designs on the reverse of the coins, saying, “What the court issues circulates throughout the realm and carries no ordinary significance. How could the Baoquan Bureau act on its own authority and unilaterally fix the coin designs? In this old minister’s view, this matter should follow established precedent — with prayers offered to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestors, followed by a considered deliberative process.”
At this, Pei Shaohuai felt a jolt of unease within — he had been careless.
Zhang Lingyi, however, remained unhurried and responded, “These are only sample coins for presentation. Lord Liu, why rush to assign blame?”
The Emperor once again picked up a coin to examine it, then spoke, “We find these designs quite fitting and full of meaning. If Lord Liu feels anything is unsuitable, let the Baoquan Bureau revise and present new samples — this is a trivial matter that need not be debated further in the hall today.”
This was clearly a show of imperial partiality.
Chief Counselor Lou stepped forward to caution the Emperor, saying, “Your Majesty, we ask that you hear all counsel fairly. Listening widely brings clarity; listening only to one side leads to error.”
In the Emperor’s view, however, it was no great matter — and so the issue was left unresolved.
As Zhang Lingyi had said, these were only sample coins — they could be revised and presented again.
For the Baoquan Bureau’s meritorious work in coin production, the Emperor wished to grant rewards. But Zhang Lingyi reported, “Your Majesty, it is proper to discuss rewards only after a matter is fully concluded. The Baoquan Bureau has only taken its first step — this minister and his colleagues truly dare not claim credit at this stage.”
He then suggested, “After the coins are minted, they must still be circulated and distributed. I humbly propose that it would be more appropriate — and more convincing — to discuss such matters once the silver coins are truly circulating in the market.”
Pei Shaohuai excelled in all respects — except one: he was far too young, newly entered into the court.
Any reward given now — whether too high or too low — would be poorly received, and would easily invite criticism from other officials.
In two or three years, once the coins were in circulation, and Pei Shaohuai came up for his performance review, a promotion at that time would be just right.
……
After court was dismissed, the Emperor summoned Zhang Lingyi and Pei Shaohuai to the imperial study in the Qianqing Palace.
Naturally, the Emperor wished to commend them, and also to learn more about the situation.
The Emperor first asked Zhang Lingyi, “Were these minting techniques developed by the Ministry of War?”
“Your Majesty, you give this old minister too much credit,” Zhang Lingyi replied. “The copper-blending, the silver smelting, the hammer-pressing into coins — all of these were Jishizhong Pei’s ideas… Your Majesty knows this minister’s temperament well. If I had possessed such capabilities, I would have presented them long ago to claim credit — why would I have waited until now?”
“That is quite true,” the Emperor said with a laugh. Then he asked, “You just said these coins are not cast but rather hammer-forged?”
The Emperor was somewhat surprised.
Hammer forging was not a highly efficient method.
“Indeed,” Pei Shaohuai confirmed, and walked the Emperor through the coin-making process in clear, accessible terms.
The Emperor finally understood how the Baoquan Bureau had been able to produce coins in large quantities.
With fewer ministers present, the Emperor was visibly more relaxed. He teased Zhang Lingyi, saying, “Minister Zhang, you have quite the audacity. Those characters on the coins — where did you obtain them?”
The Emperor had written those characters himself — how could he not recognize them?
“Your Majesty’s eyes miss nothing,” Zhang Lingyi said with a chuckle. “Let this minister confess, and may Your Majesty forgive him in advance.”
“You are forgiven.”
Only then did Zhang Lingyi explain, “This minister has long known that the Chief Eunuch Xiao keeps many of Your Majesty’s calligraphy pieces. I took the liberty of borrowing a few from Chief Eunuch Xiao and extracted the characters from those.”
Having confessed, Zhang Lingyi pressed on, “May Your Majesty grant his brush, so that the Baoquan Bureau may make new molds and forge coins with fresh characters?”
“Never mind — the original characters are quite good.”
It was plain that the Emperor was very pleased.
Beside him, Pei Shaohuai understood now why no one in the court had raised any objection to the characters on the coins.
……
After leaving the imperial study, descending the stone steps, Zhang Lingyi noticed that Pei Shaohuai had a contemplative look on his face and asked, “Are you still thinking about the coin designs, Young Pei?”
Pei Shaohuai nodded.
“Thinking about why you didn’t consider an extra layer in advance, to be more thorough?”
Pei Shaohuai was momentarily taken aback, but nodded again. Even having lived two lifetimes, he had only just entered officialdom — he did not yet know all of its ways.
“Trying to anticipate the Emperor’s wishes and cater to his preferences is not necessarily a virtue. In my view, your bold spirit, your willingness to act and to dare — that is rarer and more precious,” Zhang Lingyi said with a smile. “If all that hesitation had prevented those designs from being engraved on the coins in the first place — would that not have been a loss for you?”
Minister Zhang had anticipated that the designs would be used against them, yet chose not to intervene.
“I find myself rather envious of you, Young Pei,” Zhang Lingyi said.