I, Am a Living Yama; Empress Advises Me to Stay Calm

Everyone exchanged uncertain glances.
Insult people? That seemed like an understatement. This so-called King of Hell was being far too modest. When had any of his strategies not left people teetering between ecstasy and agony?
Wu Zhao’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t expected Yang Yi to actually have a plan. This man even understood currency?
“Minister Yang, please speak…” she said.
Yang Yi smiled. “It’s only natural for these crypto traders to seek profit margins,” he remarked. “After all, who doesn’t want to make money?”
“So, the court must strike hard, delivering a decisive blow to create a deterrent effect,” he continued. “Deploy the army to arrest these speculative silver traders, impose fines, and detain them. Then, publicize their cases as examples to warn other restless citizens.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Yang Yi went on, “Fines and imprisonment may scare some, but they won’t eliminate the problem entirely. That’s why the court must step in and establish strict management policies. First, private circulation of gold, silver, and treasure notes must be strictly prohibited.
“Second, government offices and all public transactions related to the people must only accept Great Zhou Treasure Notes.
“Third, taxes must be paid exclusively in Great Zhou Treasure Notes. Once these policies are implemented, the devaluation of the currency will be halted and may even return to its previous level.”
The officials pondered his words. It was clear that Yang Yi’s policies leveraged government affairs to enforce the use of Great Zhou Treasure Notes.
Xu Jingzong stroked his beard, a peculiar look flashing in his eyes.
“Minister Yang, didn’t you say this plan might offend some people? This strategy doesn’t seem particularly ruthless.”
Wei Yuanzhong, Zhang Jianzhi, Yao Chong, Song Jing, and others nodded in agreement. On the surface, these policies seemed like standard administrative measures.
Wu Zhao glanced at Yang Yi, deep in thought. This man was always scheming. There was no way his plan was this simple.
Yang Yi raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Once Great Zhou Treasure Notes stabilize, these crypto traders will lose their opportunities to profit. So before the currency fully stabilizes, they’ll undoubtedly try to drive up prices once more.
“If prices surge, the currency’s value will become unstable again,” he explained. “The court must preempt their actions by stabilizing prices in the capitals of Qing and Song.
“If the economy dominated by Great Zhou Treasure Notes collapses, leading to a drastic drop in value, those two cities—once thriving capitals—will trigger a nationwide price surge. That, in turn, will spark widespread panic over Great Zhou Treasure Notes.”
A sudden silence fell over the hall.
Wei Yuanzhong, Xu Jingzong, Zhang Jianzhi, and the others stared at Yang Yi in shock.
They were completely taken aback by his foresight. He had anticipated not only the traders’ actions but also the economic ripple effects that would follow.
Xu Jingzong ran his fingers through his beard and asked cautiously,
“Minister Yang, how should the court respond?”
All eyes turned to Yang Yi.
His gaze deepened. “It’s quite simple. The court must immediately suspend all loans from state-owned banks and money houses. Any government expenditures, including military funding and salt and iron trade, must also be halted. Every bit of available capital should be withdrawn and consolidated into the national treasury.”
Stunned, the officials exchanged uneasy glances.
Xu Jingzong frowned. “Minister Yang, why centralize all funds under the court’s control?”
Wu Zhao also frowned slightly. She sensed that Yang Yi’s true objective was within reach, yet it remained just beyond her grasp, like a veil obscuring the full picture.
Zhang Jianzhi’s confusion deepened. “These speculators are inflating prices, yet you propose suspending expenditures and tightening the money supply under the court’s control. Won’t that worsen the panic? Wouldn’t that be counterproductive?”
The officials turned to Yang Yi, their expressions filled with doubt.
He chuckled. “It’s quite simple. There is one fundamental principle you all must understand—currency must be backed by tangible goods.
“By ‘goods,’ I mean the essential commodities of life. The speculators aim to manipulate prices, but they can only do so by targeting necessities like grain, salt, and cotton. If Great Zhou mobilizes its reserves from the past two years and transports them to the capitals of Song and Qing…
“As soon as prices begin to soar, the government will immediately release reserves at stable prices,” Yang Yi continued. “And if the speculators purchase large quantities, the government will lower the prices even further and continue selling.
“Once the speculators realize that the government is undercutting them, they’ll be forced to sell off their stockpiles to minimize losses. With the market flooded with goods and no opportunity to drive up prices, all merchants dealing in essential goods will have no choice but to lower their prices. In turn, prices across the board will quickly plummet.
“And at that moment…” Yang Yi paused, his eyes flashing coldly. “For these speculators to manipulate the market, they need vast amounts of cash. Manipulating an entire capital city’s economy requires no small sum, which means they will have to take out loans.
“But as I just stated, all court-owned banks and money houses will be prohibited from issuing loans. In other words, they won’t be able to borrow from the official banking system. To fund their speculation, they’ll have to turn to private usurers.
“When the government drives down prices, merchants across the cities will start offloading goods. The speculators, having hoarded massive stockpiles, will find it impossible to sell quickly.
“Their cash will be tied up in these assets, and with no access to bank loans, they’ll still have to repay the usurers while covering their own business expenses.  In an instant, their cash flow will be severed—leading to immediate bankruptcy!”
The hall fell into dead silence.
Xu Jingzong and the others felt their scalps tingle.
Only now did they fully grasp why Yang Yi had proposed banning loans and consolidating the funds under the court’s control.
This wasn’t just about regulating prices—it was an ambush designed to sever the speculators’ financial lifeline, forcing them into a slow, agonizing collapse.
A storm of shock rippled through the officials as they looked at Yang Yi.
No wonder he said this plan would offend people.
Calling it an offense was far too mild. This was outright financial extermination.