Last time we talked about the Qin State's use of infrastructure construction to reduce the impact of the economic crisis, but it was also because of the rampant behavior of infrastructure officials and the deduction of wages, which led to a peasant uprising, and the Qin Dynasty ended its rule for a period of time. After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, the Han Dynasty was established.
At the beginning of the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty, the people did not have a good life, sima Qianshi once said: "The affairs are complicated and the finances are scarce, and since the Son of Heaven can not find four horses of the same color, the prime minister can only ride on the ox cart, and the people's families do not have a little surplus grain" In addition, because the war has just passed, unscrupulous merchants hoarded goods, prices rose rapidly, the price of rice was 10,000 yuan per stone (equivalent to 100 yuan per kilogram), and a horse was worth 100 gold.
In order to punish some unscrupulous merchants who made war money, Han Gaozu formulated a series of policies to suppress merchants, but this was also a symptom rather than a cure, and the country's economic growth had to rely on merchants to do business. After the death of Han Gaozu, he let go of the restraint on merchants, and when Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing reigned, they made a bold attempt to completely marketize, and the government completely withdrew from the market, gave up monetary and financial rights, and allowed private minting (is it similar to a beautiful country now). Although this advanced attempt reduced the burden on the government, it also laid the groundwork for the financial crisis that followed.
Han Dynasty currency
Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing created the "Prosperous Era of Wenjing", but the currency was chaotic, some used light money, some used heavy money, at this time the official wanted to unify and mourned, and the financial circle was controlled by a small number of financial big capital. This subversive and erroneous policy has led to the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor in the country for some people, and these people have rebelled and challenged the central power of the country by virtue of their economic strength.
Network map of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty
At this time, the Han Dynasty was in danger, but a series of operations by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty rescued this dangerous moment:
1. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty strengthened the central control over the localities, further weakening the kingdom's power;
2. The local salt and iron and coinage rights shall be transferred to the central government;
3. Accept Dong Zhongshu's suggestion: "Depose hundreds of families and respect Confucianism alone"
4. Move the contradictions outward and send Wei Qing and Huo to attack the Xiongnu.
After this series of operations, the Western Han Dynasty appeared a situation of political, ideological, cultural, and economic unification, and the economic crisis was lifted.