釋鑑稽古略續集 2.68

2.68

寶鈔　上初造鈔不就。夢神人告曰。非用士子肝心不可。上憂之語馬太后。后曰。此甚易耳。用國學文課置鈔。鈔就矣。上曰何也。答曰。士子嘔心做出文字。豈非此耶。上從之鈔乃就。

Precious Paper Currency: When the Emperor first manufactured paper currency, it was not successful. In a dream, a divine being told him: 'It will not succeed unless the vital hearts of scholars are used.' The Emperor was troubled and spoke of this to Empress Ma. The Empress said: 'This is very simple. Use the examination essays of the National Academy to produce the paper currency, and it will succeed.' The Emperor asked, 'Why?' She replied, 'Scholars vomit their hearts out to produce their writings; is this not precisely that?' The Emperor followed her advice, and the paper currency was then successfully made.