I Became the Crown Prince of a Ruined Country

31 – Contracts and Promises

In more detail, what is a metaphor?

It can be said to be a speculation in which profits are obtained by repeating currency exchange and transfer with foreign currency whose value is flexible.

Of course, there had to be at least two types of currency to exchange money, and there had to be a change in the exchange rate between these currencies.

‘In that sense, the Warring States period is a very good environment for a change of pace.’

The seven great countries that dominated the Warring States Period, the Warring States Chilwoong.

Although several countries share a similar shape, each was issuing its own currency.

In my previous life, I learned it when I was in middle school and high school, and in this life, the Myeongdojeon issued by my home country, Yan, is very famous, and various other currencies were circulated throughout the continent.

Each currency can be classified according to its form.

Representative were the popye (布幣) with the head of a shovel, the dopae (刀幣) with the shape of a sword, and the familiar circular hwanpye (環幣).

It does not end here. Within the major categories, there are also different types.

For example, in the case of the bage, a gongsupo with a hollow handle, a plain waterpo with a flat upper part, a cheomjokpo with sharp points on both feet, and both legs There were various types such as bangjokpo (方足布) with sharp angles, circular jokpo (圓足布) with round legs, and yeolgukpo (列國布), which was long and had a hole in the upper part.

This is the extent of the collapse alone, but if you add the cover and currency exchange, it is a situation where dozens of currencies are scattered. This was because not only the state but also the private sector minted and used currency.

However, it is not possible to know all the currencies in detail like this, and you only need to keep in mind about three things.

One. Popae was mainly made and used by merchants for trade, Dopye was issued and circulated by the state, and currency was used almost only in the Qin Dynasty.

Two. Dopae was mainly used in the coastal states of Qi and Yan, and Popye was mainly used in the central agricultural regions of Zhao, Han, Wei, and Chu.

Three. But also the fact that several types of currencies were used simultaneously in one country.

If you know this much, it is safe to say that you have grasped the monetary system of the time.

Then, how can you profit from exchange trading in such an environment?

In fact, in order to properly earn money through currency exchange, a huge amount of basic funds was required. If you want to deliberately plunge a certain exchange rate.

‘George Soros, the highest authority in this field, said that.’

The legend of currency exchange, George Soros, made an astronomical profit by artificially creating a difference in value between the British pound and the German mark.

In the process, George Soros combined with several hedge funds and hit all the money he could mobilize. He robbed Britain of its very soul by selling the pound short, dumping the value of the pound vertically.

Of course, I can’t copy George Soros’ way. No matter how much Nogucheon was recruited as a partner, funds were insufficient, and the concept of short selling did not exist at the time.

Nevertheless, the reason I thought about currency exchange was because I didn’t have to forcefully crash the exchange rate by putting in a huge amount of money.

“Already, the currencies issued by Wei have lost a lot of value.”

The currency of the Han Dynasty, which became a vassal of the Jin Dynasty, was on the verge of being delisted, and the currency of the Wei Dynasty, which lost a lot of its territory through consecutive defeats, was also declining in value.

There is no need for me to intentionally collapse the value of currency, but it is said that the value of currency itself has decreased due to the defeat in the war.

“Certainly… Young master’ idea is amazing. Let’s say he collects the coins issued by the Wei Dynasty.

Nogucheon was quite quick to understand.

Looking at the fact that he was clearly aware of the concept of buying a currency when its value is low and then exchanging it again to make a profit when the value recovers, and even the opposite risk.

But I wasn’t worried about him in the slightest.

“Why do you think the currency value of the country of Wei has fallen?”

“Isn’t it because the prestige of the Wei Dynasty, where currency will be used, has weakened?”

“Overall, it’s true, but if you look more closely, there are two reasons.”

As Nogucheon said, the first is that demand has decreased because the national power of the country has weakened, the territory and people have been lost, and the market of the country has shrunk.

And the second is that the people of Wei, who fled the attack of the Qin Dynasty and crossed over to the Zhao Dynasty, exchanged the Wei currency for the Zhao Dynasty currency, resulting in a huge supply.

It is a very simple law of supply and demand. Demand goes down, but supply goes up, so the value goes down.

“Conversely, when demand increases and supply decreases, the currency of Wei is supposed to recover its original value.”

“So what I’m saying is, is that possible? Demand? Supply? A small person is not well-educated, so he doesn’t know such difficult words as Young master. But at least I know that the situation in Wei is not so easy.”

“It will recover. Definitely.”

“Yes?”

To those living in the present, even the Han Dynasty has become that way, and it would seem that the Wei Dynasty is completely subjugated to the Qin Dynasty, but the future does not work that way.

‘The state of Wei will not perish until Qin Shi Huang ascends the throne. And before, I fought hard against Qin with other countries. Looking at that, the envoy sent from the state of Wei this time will conclude an alliance with the state of Zhao.’

If that happens, the demand within the country of Wei will also increase.

And supply is still shrinking.

Since the concept of playing money with money was lacking, there were few places that exchanged the currency of the country at a fixed exchange rate or exchange rate. Even so, it was short-lived in the early days, and now they just melted the currency of the Wei Dynasty and sold it as bronze. A decrease in the amount of money in circulation, in other words, a decrease in supply.

‘It’s unfortunate that money has a lower limit on its value because it’s made of raw materials.’

It’s as if a limit has been drawn for profit. Even if he achieved great success, he could not reap astronomical profits like George Soros did.

“Soon the Zhao court will form an alliance with the Wei Dynasty and try to fight the Qin Dynasty together. Even the Zhao Dynasty can no longer stop the Qin Dynasty alone, so they will somehow revive the Wei Dynasty. At that time…”

“The demand for the currency of the Wei country that we have accumulated will rise, and the value will be restored.”

No Gu-chun didn’t ask any more questions, just shook his head excitedly with his mouth open.

“How did Young master come up with this idea? He treats money as a commodity… I’ve met a few great merchants, but no one would have thought of this.”

Originally, the exchange itself is not a difficult concept. However, many inventions of the century often come from simplicity that was not thought of in everyday life.

Why didn’t I know this later? Even if you wanted to, it was a law that required the same realization as coincidence to think of something new that didn’t exist.

“So, can you do it?”

“Leave it to me. Originally, this gambling hall is where the world’s money gathers, so no one will notice even if I work openly.”

Nogucheon was like that when he was defeated in close quarters before, but this time he really stared at me with eyes stained with amazement and boasted.

To Nogucheon, I no longer seemed to be recognized as a foolish kid who brought about his own downfall, but as the owner of an extraordinary idea that he could not possibly follow.

Seriously, when I read that he was trying to work hard with me, I was relieved inside and asked him to pretend that nothing was wrong on the outside.

“Be alert and be careful. It won’t do you any good to find out that I was involved.”

“Take note.”

Looking at Nogucheon’s determined eyes, it seemed that I no longer needed to give instructions.

‘In practice, Nogucheon, who actually rolled on this floor and made a name for himself, would be brighter than me.’

After discussing a few more plans, I left the safe house prepared by Nogucheon.

It was still full of darkness outside. It was because I waited for the day when the old moon rose to move without being noticed by the people around me.

After barely returning to the dorm, I exhaled the breath I had been holding in as much as possible.

My arms and legs tingled when the tension was released.

“hahahaha…”

Originally, I was the one who couldn’t even properly present the group assignments, but now I’m acting like I’m a special agent.

Maybe if I told the me in my previous life that one day you would do what I did today, what kind of nonsense would I have refuted.

“Real seats make people.”

“Really?”

“Huh!”

I was startled, almost fainting, by the voice that suddenly jumped out and spoke to me. Even in the middle of it, I thought I shouldn’t get caught, so I covered my mouth to stop screaming.

“Whew…That’s true. I almost fell out of my liver.”

I kept this a secret even from my family. Except for Seok, who was entrusted with the role of contacting Nogucheon and conveying my will, even Hankyung did not tell me about the day.

“Are you surprised? But Dan, who left without telling me, was also bad.”

“Oh, sorry about that.”

It was not an empty apology.

I felt a little sorry for cheating and acting on my family members, including Jung.

Nonetheless, it is unavoidable. Originally, if you want to deceive someone, there is a saying that you should deceive your closest allies first.

“Dan went out today. Is it because of me, no, us?”

“Well…I do. But I don’t think you woke up. Did you know I was going out today?”

“Yeah, something was different today. I thought something was going to happen.”

I thought I hid it thoroughly, but to find out. Even Hankyung, who spent the longest time with me, tricked me well.

Certainly, perhaps because he had been paying attention to others, Jung was good at noticing changes in others.

“Let’s go inside first.”

“Before that, promise me one thing.”

“Promise? Which one?”

I was outside and said a little nervously that I might be seen by someone else as if I was caught by Jung.

“I won’t ask you to tell me everything. Instead…If Dan has to do something dangerous because of me, tell me without hiding anything.”

I wonder if there will be such a thing in the future if we get over this crisis well, but it wasn’t a particularly difficult promise.

If my promise can give you even a little bit of peace in your heart, what would be difficult? I nodded willingly.

“I promise.”

“Really?”

I broke up with her mother because of the other day, and now the only person I could trust was me. It will be difficult to completely relieve anxiety with a light word.

I held out my pinky finger to Jung who was asking another confirmation question.

“Would you like to cross your little finger here?”

“Like this?”

With a little clumsy hand movement, Jung wrapped his little finger around my little finger.

“And thumbs up. Yes, like that.”

He was confused but faithfully followed my orders.

“In the place where I lived, I made a promise with my little finger like now. It means that I will definitely keep it.”

“Must be…”

Jung’s finger caught in my pinky got stronger.

Anyway, it was still just the grip of a child, but the power felt in the heart was much stronger than that.

“Yes. As long as a dark night like now falls from the sky like rain and no horns come out of the horse, it’s a promise I’ll keep.”