Zhang Lingyi’s words put Pei Shaohuai’s mind at ease regarding the coin designs on the reverse. After all, it was a small misstep of no great consequence, and what mattered most was that the unification of the currency had taken a decisive step forward.

The disputes at court were far from over. With something as significant as minting rights at stake, who would not want a share?

For half a month running, the morning court session saw repeated, protracted arguments over the matter.

Unable to seize control outright, the Ministry of Works proposed sharing it — submitting a memorial recommending that, to accelerate coin production, branch offices of the Baoquan Bureau be established under the northern and southern metropolitan regions and across the various provinces, just as copper cash foundries had been set up, so that coins could be minted simultaneously across the country to speed up circulation.

Pei Shaohuai would not yield. He argued his case firmly, saying, “If branch offices in distant regions mint coins, oversight becomes impossible and inconsistencies are bound to arise — coins of varying quality and inconsistent weight will obstruct circulation. Your Majesty, this minister’s position has always been the same: minting coins is like wielding authority — authority must not be dispersed.”

He also said, “If the methods of coin production were to leak out, would all the effort thus far not be wasted? And who would bear the blame? What purpose would assigning blame serve after the fact?”

Pei Shaohuai had chosen to collaborate with the Ministry of War not merely because of his mentor Zhang Lingyi, but also because the Ministry of War administered the Baoquan Bureau with military discipline — which meant the production methods could be kept sealed and production could be conducted under strict secrecy.

Touching as it did on the Emperor’s control of authority, he immediately rejected the Ministry of Works’ memorial. One Baoquan Bureau was sufficient, and it would be located within the imperial capital.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Personnel had already begun inspecting and rectifying local officials at all levels, and the officials tasked with conducting land surveys and compiling new Fish-Scale Registers were also readying themselves and setting out one after another.

At this day’s morning court, Pei Jue reported on the progress to the Emperor, his account systematic and well-organized in every particular.

“Pei has done well,” the Emperor said approvingly with a smile, then continued, “When officials are upright, Da Qing flourishes. This round of inspection and rectification must address root causes — not merely skim the surface.”

After a brief pause in thought, he turned to face the five Grand Councilors at the front of the hall and said, “Rectifying the officials touches on serious matters and requires additional oversight. This being the case — please accept the trouble, Lord Lou, of overseeing this matter on our behalf for a time, attending the Ministry of Personnel daily to hear reports on the progress of the rectification.”

Pei Jue’s expression darkened. If Lou Yuxing were to be physically present at the Ministry of Personnel each day, Pei Jue would have to spend considerable energy dealing with him. In the past, he might have fought back — but given his current circumstances, what the Emperor decreed, he had to accept.

Pei Jue understood: the Emperor wished to use him to restrain Lou Yuxing.

Lou Yuxing, as leader of the Hexi faction, had long harbored designs on the Ministry of Personnel, but had never been able to find an opening — Pei Jue was not easily outmaneuvered. Now that the Emperor had suddenly offered him this opportunity, Lou Yuxing was instead suspicious — the Emperor had long been wary of Hexi scholars; why would he now allow Lou Yuxing into the Ministry of Personnel?

“This minister obeys,” Lou Yuxing agreed for the time being.

Grand Councilor Lou soon solved the puzzle.

The following day, when the morning court discussed who should oversee the circulation of the silver coins, before the Hexi faction could speak up to nominate Lou Yuxing, the Emperor said first, “Lord Lou is already working hard overseeing the rectification of officials — let Lord Shen take responsibility for the distribution of the coins. The ministries of War and Finance, together with the Imperial Stud, will work in coordination to ensure the people of Da Qing are able to exchange silver for coins as soon as possible.”

“This minister obeys.”

So that was it — assign the seemingly attractive post to the Grand Councilor first, and use it as grounds to silence the Hexi faction.

……

The designs on the reverse of the coins were not greatly altered. Following the Emperor’s suggestions, a rising sun was added to the “Great River Flowing to the Sea,” and a few auspicious cloud motifs were added to “The Summit of the Eastern Peak.” The other designs received only minor adjustments that enhanced their meaning without diminishing their beauty.

Pei Shaohuai indulged a small private wish.

Before the new molds were engraved, Pei Shaohuai had over a thousand taels of his own silver brought in from home, all of it melted down and struck into coins using the old molds. Then the old molds were dismantled, and he kept one piece to take home.

“What is this for, Young Pei?” Zhang Lingyi asked. “To keep as a keepsake?”

“A collectible,” Pei Shaohuai said with a smile. “Since these will no longer be issued, they’re limited editions.”

The mold was worth even more than the coins.

……

When the silver coins were officially released, the Ministry of War led the effort, and Zhang Lingyi followed Pei Shaohuai’s recommendations.

First, the coins were publicized widely so the people would know what they were, what each denomination was worth, and how to tell genuine from counterfeit. If the people did not recognize these objects, how could they be expected to accept them?

Government offices posted notices and displayed sample coins at checkpoints and in busy markets, so ordinary citizens could examine and identify the newly issued silver coins up close.

They also had catchy rhymes composed, encoding the distinguishing features of all five coins — for instance: “Grain stalks at dawn on the long river’s shore, exchanged for cloth and grain at the store,” and “One qian, two qian, and five qian bright — grain, flowing water, and mountains’ height,” and “One liang fits the hand, two liang weighs sound — golden dragons dance on the Forbidden City’s ground.” Throughout the capital and its outskirts, children of all ages followed along, chanting the rhymes.

With the northern capital as the center in the north and the southern capital in the south, the coins were first introduced on a limited basis, gradually expanding outward. Rushing to roll everything out at once would only lead to inadequate oversight and numerous problems.

The two great capitals were, after all, the economic centers of Da Qing. If the new silver coins could be successfully established there, the matter would be more than halfway accomplished.

Merchants and money changers were given priority attention. Government offices applied both incentives and pressure to encourage them to exchange their silver bullion for silver coins. When merchants conducted large-scale transactions using silver coins, the government would act as guarantor.

Finally, a sufficient stockpile of silver coins was built up in advance. Once official circulation began and enthusiasm among merchants and the public for exchanging silver ran high, the coins could be released into the market in a timely surge.

In short, preparations for the issuance of silver coins were proceeding in full swing, and popular momentum was already building.

The Baoquan Bureau was expanded more than tenfold. All craftsmen were rigorously vetted by the Ministry of War — their lineage checked back three generations, and binding contracts signed. The production process was divided into multiple stages, each housed in its own separate courtyard and workshop, each kept entirely independent of the others.

All under one standard — the Emperor was fully resolved. He authorized more than half of the state treasury’s silver reserves to be transferred to the Baoquan Bureau for the production of the new currency.

The Baoquan Bureau worked with purposeful, disciplined order.

At last, Pei Shaohuai was able to step back from the Baoquan Bureau for a time and return to his duties at the Six Bureaus.

He first went to see Bureau Chief Song Lian. When Song Lian spoke to him now, there was no longer the same disdain as before — though one could not quite call it warmth either. It remained squarely in the realm of professional dealings.

Much as, during this period in court, Song Lian had neither stood up to support Pei Shaohuai nor opposed him.

Before Pei Shaohuai left, Song Lian reminded him, “For a remonstrating official, timing is everything. One successful memorial does not mean every subsequent one will succeed. Pei, you are still young — you have time to develop further. You would do well to be more measured in your words and actions.”

Clearly, Song Lian felt Pei Shaohuai had been overreaching.

The words were not ill-intentioned, and Pei Shaohuai replied, “This subordinate will bear it in mind.”

On his way out, passing the office of the deputy chief, Pei Shaohuai saw that it had a new occupant — the very official who had tried to bend the coin in court that day. He had replaced the former deputy, whose whereabouts were now unknown.

“Jishizhong Pei, a moment,” the new Deputy Chief called out, stepping out quickly, then lowered his voice and asked, “This official has a small matter to trouble you with.”

Before Pei Shaohuai could reply, he continued, “I have some broken silver at home and would like to ask you to exchange it for silver coins.”

“That is easy enough,” Pei Shaohuai replied. “In another half-month, the Baoquan Bureau will officially issue the silver coins. When the time comes, Deputy Chief can simply bring his silver to exchange.”

“Ah, that is not what I mean,” the Deputy Chief said, lowering his voice further still. “I meant — exchange them for coins from that first set. The ones that were never issued.”

“I am afraid this official is powerless in that matter. The old molds have already been dismantled, and everything being produced now is the new silver coins.”

“What about that chest from the court that day?”

Pei Shaohuai replied, “Those naturally remain with His Majesty… If the Deputy Chief wishes, he could inquire with His Majesty some other day?”

“How could I possibly do that…” The Deputy Chief’s hopes collapsed. Disappointment crossed his face, and then he patted his waistband and murmured quietly, “Fortunately, I still have one.”

……

……

That day, Pei Shaohuai had the silver coins minted from a thousand taels of his own silver carried home.

“You truly did engrave the embroidery designs onto the silver coins,” she said. And every single one was identical.

Pei Shaohuai smiled and said, “I said long ago that the skill in your fingertips goes far beyond sewing clothes — it should never be overlooked just because it is familiar.”

He thought for a moment, then said, “A painting may be praised by scholars and men of letters. In my view, embroidery deserves the same recognition.”

Both expressed beauty — the needle and the brush were merely different tools.

Joy shone at the corners of Yang Shiyue’s eyes. She went to close the door of the room and said, “These words — it is enough that you say them to me.”

If word spread, he would no doubt be mocked and gossiped about among officials at court.

Pei Shaohuai brought out the sandalwood box and went through Yang Shiyue’s embroidery pieces one by one once more — watching how intricate and complex patterns had been step by step simplified, until at last they became the designs on the coins.

He arranged the embroideries and the old mold side by side and said, “This is your contribution. It must be kept safely — the day will come when it is known to the world.”

Difficult as it might be, it was something that had to be done.

Yang Shiyue leaned against Pei Shaohuai’s shoulder, her heart filled with a warmth that could not be put into words.

“By the way — this afternoon, someone came with a message from the Nanping Earl’s Mansion. Third Elder Sister asked when you have a day off. I replied on your behalf, and it seems Third Elder Sister and her husband will be coming over sometime tomorrow,” Yang Shiyue said.

“I see.”

The night stretched long. The wind blew out the lamp. They drew the covers close and slept.

The next morning, Steward Zhang delivered a collection of carefully crafted small wooden boxes, each lined inside with silk.

Pei Shaohuai placed a complete set of silver coins into each box, closed them carefully, and had them sent to the Yang, Xu, Situ, Qiao, Chen, and Lu families. He also found a postal courier to send several sets to Jiangnan.

He wrote a letter to Grand Councilor Zou, saying, “…Commerce and trade are how clothing and food reach the people. That conversation by the lotus pond — this younger generation has at last taken one step forward. The silver coins are ready. I ask that the Nanju Elder please examine and assess them…”

All that needed to be sent had been sent. The remaining half was kept at home as a collection.

When the hour of chen arrived, the carriage from the Nanping Earl’s Mansion came. Pei Ruozhu was by now several months along in her pregnancy, and Qiao Yunsheng remained closely by her side at all times.

Pei Ruozhu was in good spirits. As she conversed with Concubine Shen, she said, “Younger Sister Ying often comes by and tells me — even when expecting, one must walk around often and take in fresh air, and then the labor will be easier when the time comes.”

She had come this time to ask Pei Shaohuai about something of substance.

Older sister and younger brother sat down together. Pei Ruozhu first congratulated her brother on his great achievement at court, then got to the point. She drew out a small square of blue-printed cotton cloth from her sleeve, unfolded it, and asked, “Brother, did you ever notice this cloth during your travels and studies in Jiangnan?”

The cloth was somewhat roughly woven, and after washing had shrunk slightly — it was dyed cotton fabric.

Pei Shaohuai guessed at something of her intent, and felt a quiet flicker of surprise — yet thinking of his third sister’s temperament and intelligence, he found it was not surprising at all that she had thought this far.

He nodded and said, “I saw it. I even went to conduct an investigation in Songjiang Prefecture.”

Though cotton had been introduced to Da Qing for over a hundred years, it had never been widely cultivated. Cotton cloth was produced only in small quantities in Jiangnan and the Guangdong region, and was rarely sold in cloth shops throughout the rest of the country.

Pei Ruozhu lit up with pleasure — she had found the right person. She went on, “Mother brought back many things from Jiangnan, and this piece of cloth was among them. I noticed that though it is not as fine as silk, it is softer and warmer than hemp cloth, and quite durable. So I had someone look into it, and discovered this is cotton cloth — a specialty of Songjiang Prefecture.”