Chapter 038: Paper Currency

Three days later.

The Office of the Administrative Clerks at the Kaifeng Prefectural Government.

"Yasi," or administrative clerk, was the term used in the Song Dynasty for lower-level officials who assisted magistrates with clerical work. As grassroots governance expanded, the number of such clerks in the Song government grew significantly compared to the Tang Dynasty. A typical county might have seven or eight clerks, but a major metropolitan center like Kaifeng Prefecture boasted over forty, occupying a dedicated workspace known as the "Clerks' Hall."

As Feng Shiyuan’s carriage pulled up to the gates of the Kaifeng Prefecture, a look of gloom crossed his face. Although the Song Dynasty was commercially vibrant, it remained a feudal state with strictly enforced sumptuary laws governing what different classes could wear. In the Clerks' Hall, these clerks—though inferior to true officials—were permitted to wear black long robes, tie their waists with long Confucian sashes, and wear boots, just like scholars.

Feng Shiyuan, being a commoner, was restricted to short tunics and high-top shoes. While some wealthy merchants flouted these rules by wearing fine silks and brocades, such matters were usually ignored unless reported, and no one would be prosecuted for dressing lavishly within their own homes. However, wearing such attire to the Kaifeng Prefectural Government would be tantamount to stealing in front of a police officer. Thus, every time Feng came to register a property transfer, he had to change into commoner's clothing. Furthermore, because he could not wear the official headgear, the criminal tattoo on his forehead—a mark of his past military exile—was left exposed, making him all the more uneasy.

The clerks circulating through the hall were familiar with Feng, as he had once worked there himself. Despite his plain tunic, these well-connected clerks knew that Feng had "climbed the ladder" and was now the head of the Real Estate Guild; none dared to treat him with anything less than respect. Yet, as Feng looked at the sleek black robes of the officials, a sense of melancholy stirred within him. Once, he had been one of them. Though clerks ranked below officials, these positions were often inherited through generations. In the eyes of his former colleagues, he saw not only a thirst for wealth but also a faint trace of disdain and rejection.

Su Ze, dressed in the robes of a scholar, entered the hall and walked toward Feng.

"Guild Master Feng, we can proceed with the transaction today."

Feng nodded. He navigated the hall with practiced ease, presenting one string of cash to the clerk in charge of issuing official forms, followed by another string of "ink and brush money" to purchase a set of cheap supplies.

That first string of cash was the official fee for the forms, while the "ink and brush fee" likely lined the pockets of the clerks. Feng picked up a brush, filled in the property address, the transaction amount, and the agreed-upon time, then signed his name. He handed the brush to Su Ze and said, "Master Su, please sign."

Su Ze signed without hesitation. Feng reached into his robe, produced an exquisite piece of paper, and handed it over. "This is a Jiaozi note for one thousand strings of cash. It can be exchanged at any Jiaozi Office in Bianjing."

So, this is a Jiaozi? Su Ze thought. It made sense; one string of cash weighed about five or six catties, meaning one thousand strings would weigh five or six thousand catties—a weight impossible to manage in copper coins for such a transaction. Due to a chronic shortage of currency, the Song government had been proactive in financial innovation. During the Tiansheng era, after the public began using private Jiaozi for trade, the government followed suit, establishing the Yizhou Jiaozi Office in the coin-starved region of Sichuan. With Bianjing’s thriving commerce, a Jiaozi Office had been established there as well, under the Court of Imperial Treasury, to manage the issuance of Jiaozi for the capital and its surrounding areas.

However, these Jiaozi were not quite modern paper money; they functioned more like regional interest-bearing bonds. Their use was geographically restricted, and their issuance was limited to three-year terms, after which they had to be exchanged for new ones.

Su Ze took his copy of the document and left the hall with a light step. Feng found this strange—why would someone like this warrant specific instructions from the Young Master for him to handle personally? Regardless, he had fulfilled his duty.

A servant behind Feng stepped forward, pulling out another document—a property transfer contract already signed and sealed by Lu Gongbi. Lu naturally did not trust Feng to hold property in his own name; any house Feng purchased was immediately transferred to Lu. This servant was, in truth, an accountant and spy planted by Lu to ensure Feng could not embezzle any assets.

Thus, the property Feng had just bought from Su Ze was instantly transferred to Lu Gongbi. Feng smiled bitterly to himself. As head of the Real Estate Guild, he appeared wealthy enough to rival a nation, but in reality, he was an empty shell—a "white glove" used by the powerful to launder money, his hands merely passing through wealth that was never his own.

As Feng left the Kaifeng Prefecture, two men—one fat, one thin—slipped out of the hall behind him, blending into the crowd.

They caught up to Su Ze and whispered, "Master Su was right. It happened exactly as expected."

Su Ze nodded slightly. As agents of the Imperial City Guard, the two were quite capable. They had blended in with the crowd at the hall, witnessing everything from the moment Su Ze left to Feng’s subsequent registration of the transfer. Su Ze looked toward the Kaifeng Prefectural Government. Now, it was time to deal with Zhang Yaozuo.

Just then, a commotion erupted at the gates. A grand procession arrived, and a carriage came to a halt. The arrogant clerks Su Ze had seen earlier now stood at the entrance with fawning smiles, bowing to welcome the newcomer. It was Zhang Yaozuo, the official in charge of the Court of the Petition Drum.

Unnoticed, Su Ze and his two companions slipped into the tail end of Zhang Yaozuo's entourage. The Court of the Petition Drum, located at the palace gates, allowed citizens to sound the drum to air grievances. It was an office under the Censorate, responsible for receiving petitions from officials and commoners alike. Though it was a prestigious, quiet post, it fell within the Censorate system. During the reign of Emperor Renzong, the power of the Censorate had been steadily growing, and as a censor, Zhang Yaozuo had the authority to inspect the archives and documents of any government department.

A middle-aged official in green robes approached Zhang, saying, "My Lord, the petition you sent two days ago requesting access to the Kaifeng Prefecture’s archives has been prepared."

If it were any other censor, the Kaifeng government would not have been so compliant. However, it was rumored that Zhang Yaozuo was set to be appointed as the Prefectural Judge and overseer of metropolitan affairs—the second-in-command of Kaifeng, and perhaps even the future Acting Prefect. The officials simply assumed he was using his authority to audit the books in preparation for his new role, and they cooperated willingly.

Zhang Yaozuo nodded faintly and led his attendants swaggering into the government offices.