Daming: I, the emperor who trains the carpenter

"Master thinks that Daming is still in troubled times?"

Zhu Youxiao didn't understand.

Didn't Zhang Haogu say that today is a prosperous age? Why has it turned into a chaotic world?
Zhang Haogu explained: "Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty is in its prime right now, but only in the north, and the south has not yet been controlled by the imperial court."

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Haogu said: "Your Majesty, since the death of Grand Tutor Zhang in the Wanli Dynasty, Daming has been going downhill. Inside, there are Donglin Party strife, which harms the country and the people. Outside, slaves are established in Liaodong, endangering the country. It is not an exaggeration to say that internal and external troubles, Does the emperor agree?"

Zhu Youxiao nodded, and had to admit that Zhang Juzheng continued Da Ming's life with Wanli Zhongxing, but with Zhang Juzheng's sudden death from overwork and the failure of Emperor Shenzong, Da Ming was indeed going downhill.

Those Donglin corrupt scholars, corrupt officials, deceived the emperor, oppressed the people, colluded with merchants in Liaodong, and sold food and military supplies. It can be said that they will do whatever the Ming law prohibits, and they will do everything.

And Liaodong is indeed difficult to stop. If Zhang Haogu hadn't organized and trained the new army and vigorously promoted firearms, it is estimated that the Ming army would still have no way to take Liaodong. After all, those generals in Liaodong are rotten to the root. , the frontier army, the Beijing camp, and the guards are all rotten.

The dignified central court, the annual tax revenue is only two or three million taels of silver, there is a lack of payment and food at the border, the people are displaced, the officials are corrupt, and the army is rotten. It is not an exaggeration to say that the dynasty is doomed.

Seeing Zhu Youxiao nodding, Zhang Haogu continued: "I am trusted by the emperor, undressing and pushing food. Naturally, I need to take care of the emperor, so I choose to use heavy prescriptions. Just like a patient who is terminally ill, he is still alive after taking heavy medicine. Xu Xu Tuzhi cannot cure the root cause, and I must take heavy steps to save the situation."

"Now the north is peaceful and stable, the people can live and work in peace and contentment, the soldiers die in the battlefield, and the officialdom is governed cleanly. It is not an exaggeration to say that the country is strong and the people rich. However, the south is still under the control of the gentry and the old Donglin party. The biggest reason is that the court can use it. There are too few people."

"At present, if the imperial court wants to grasp the current situation in the south, it needs extraordinary people. Not only must they be familiar with the Donglin Party members, the gentry, but also the southern environment. Wang Wenyan is the best choice."

"I just hope that he will not disappoint the expectations of the emperor and the minister."

Zhu Youxiao nodded: "Well, when the students of Datong Academy grow up, there will be no shortage of people for the imperial court."

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "It takes ten years to grow trees and a hundred years to cultivate people, and the emperor spent ten years to straighten out the government and the public, and cultivate students. The court will definitely not be short of manpower in the future, and the emperor can employ people as he likes, so there is no need to be entangled."

Zhu Youxiao undoubtedly agrees with Zhang Haogu's words. After talking about Wang Wenyan's personal problems, Zhu Youxiao looked at Wang Wenyan's business ideas in the booklet and said: "Nowadays, Wang Wenyan proposes to open the sea ban. Do more."

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "Yes, Wang Wenyan, as the governor of Jiangnan, proposed to open the sea ban, and the imperial court can use this to promote the relaxation of the sea ban."

"I believe that with the current strength of the Daming Navy, if the sea ban is completely lifted, it is actually not appropriate for the coastal people. After all, Westerners and Dongyi people still need to be vigilant. They are merchants when they go ashore. It's pirates."

"Therefore, it is better to open a few ports first, which is equivalent to opening two more windows for the Ming Dynasty, allowing more outside air to come in, replacing the damp and rotten smell in the house, and increasing tax revenue for the court."

"As for the complete lifting of the sea ban, we still have to wait for the imperial court to train an elite navy."

Zhang Guoji said from the side: "Yuanfu's words are old-fashioned words for seeking the country."

Zhu Youxiao asked, "Master, now that the imperial court has no blueprints for treasure ships or western charts, it is not easy to train a new navy."

Zhang Haogu said: "I also know about this problem, so I have two plans at the moment. On the one hand, let Wang Wenyan buy a batch of warships from Western merchants in the name of the governor of Jiangnan, whether they are red-haired foreigners or yellow-haired foreigners." Foreigners can buy some, let the artisans of the imperial court study and extract the essence."

"In this way, in a short period of time, the imperial court can imitate Western warships to ease the urgent need. With a batch of warships in hand, craftsmen can also build Western warships. At least the coastal guards are guaranteed."

Zhu Youxiao heard the word "short time" and asked, "What is Master's long-term plan?"

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "It's not the beginning of Ming Dynasty anymore. Even if my Ming Dynasty builds a treasure ship, the gap with the Westerners will not become an advantage. In this case, why don't my Ming Dynasty research a new type of warship?"

"Now the steam engine is ready for use. If we continue to study, a steam engine with greater power will appear sooner or later. Then why don't I, Ming, plan ahead and directly develop warships that Westerners don't have?"

As he said that, Zhang Haogu looked at Zhu Youxiao: "Does your majesty still remember the wooden cow and horse that I mentioned?"

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

Zhang Haogu pointed to the steam engine and said with a smile: "With the steam engine, if we continue to study it, the imperial court will be able to create a wooden ox and horse made of iron armor, which can carry thousands of stones of goods, and travel from south to north, day and night."

"Thus, I believe that although the Daming navy can use Western warships for emergency, it will still need Daming's own warships in the long run, iron-clad warships that can be powered by steam engines."

"Iron armored battleship?!" Zhu Youxiao and Zhang Guoji looked at Zhang Haogu together, and the shocked eyes had one meaning: How dare you think!
Zhang Guoji stared at Zhang Haogu with wide-eyed eyes, thinking that Yuanfu also had something he didn't understand, wouldn't the iron sink in the water? !
Zhu Youxiao asked, "Is it possible to make an iron-clad battleship?"

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "Your Majesty, before this steam engine came out, did you ever imagine that there would be such a thing?"

Zhu Youxiao shook his head.

"Since this is the case, if there are steam engines, why can't there be steam cars and steam boats?" Zhang Haogu asked rhetorically.

Zhu Youxiao also smiled when he heard it: "Then I will wait for the good news from you, Master. I am looking forward to the wooden cows and horses made of steel, and the iron-clad ships sailing on the water."

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "Based on the current industrial strength of my Ming Dynasty, there must be results in more than ten years. Right now, the imperial court only needs to sweep the south, develop industries, and liberate the people, and the imperial court will be free to develop these things."

"Thus, the emperor doesn't have to wait long before he can see it."

Afterwards, Zhang Haogu said to Zhang Guoji: "Guo Zhang, I have asked Governor Wang to bring Jiangnan businessmen to Yongding County, and then Guo Zhang can take them to visit the steam loom and see their reactions. "

"If they want to buy it, the head of the country can let them order it. How can they not be tempted by such a good thing?"

Zhang Guoji was also happy when he heard it: "Then I will sell them for a high price."

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "They will buy it at a high price. They can imitate our original textile machine, but it is difficult for them to imitate this steam textile machine in their life. There are no workers and no experts. What do they use to make steam engines? what?"

"Don't be afraid to sell it at a high price, they are afraid that we won't sell it to them."

At this time, Wang Wenyan also invited the shopkeepers of the major chambers of commerce and textile textiles in the south of the Yangtze River to the governor's mansion in the south of the Yangtze River.

These merchants sat anxiously in the governor's mansion, as if they were sitting on pins and needles, feeling uneasy. They were afraid that the imperial court had ordered them to seize their textile machines and factories. After all, they were imitating the textile machines developed by the imperial court.

Sure enough, after the merchants arrived, Wang Wenyan waited anxiously for half an hour before slowly entering the side hall. Looking at the anxious merchants, Wang Wenyan smiled and said, "Every shopkeeper has been waiting for a long time. I have dealt with some government affairs and wasted everyone's time."

Hearing this, a group of businessmen quickly said that it's okay, it's okay, and it will be done without delaying the governor.

Just kidding, this is the governor of Jiangnan, who holds the financial power in Jiangnan. It is already a reflection of their status that these businessmen can wait here. After all, ordinary businessmen are not even qualified to sit here.

After sitting down, Wang Wenyan looked at the shopkeepers with a smile, and asked abruptly, "I heard that the shopkeepers have copied a batch of the emperor's looms, and put them into use?"

Hearing this, these merchants were about to shed cold sweat. Is the court really going to hold them accountable?

For a while, many businessmen turned pale and regretted.

But Wang Wenyan said with a smile: "Don't worry, shopkeepers, the governor is not here to inquire about crimes."

A shopkeeper asked cautiously: "I don't know what the governor called me to wait for?"

Wang Wenyan held the teacup and blew on the hot air gently: "All the shopkeepers here are experts in the cloth business. I have a piece of satin here from the governor. Please review it."

As they spoke, two people came in carrying a bolt of silk and put the silk on the table.

As soon as the silk and satin appeared, the shopkeepers in Jiangnan all stared at each other. They all leaned forward and looked at it carefully. Some even took out mirrors to observe the texture. Several experienced shopkeepers reached out to touch the texture of the silk and satin. , Looking at the color, I couldn't help but frown.

"How is this texture smoother than the one spun by the Apocalypse loom, as if it was made by nature?"

"Come on, look at this texture. It's extremely fine. It doesn't take decades of hard work. It can't be polished to this level! And there can't be any interruptions in the weaving, and there can't be any mistakes. Only from beginning to end Only when it goes down can it be so precise.”

"In today's Ming Dynasty, I have never seen a master who can weave top-quality brocade, but master masters with such skills are too rare."

"Try this texture again. This silk is extraordinary. This silk is extremely soft, as smooth as crisp, without any wrinkles. The skill is extraordinary."

"The paint is so well-proportioned. You can see that every part of the dye is extremely in place. The whole body is bright in color, and the colors are smoothly connected without any abruptness. If you look closely, the colors complement each other. It is really a rare treasure."

Wang Wenyan watched the shopkeepers constantly praise the piece of silk, smiled and continued to drink tea.

Finally, a shopkeeper couldn't help asking: "May I ask the governor, is this brocade brocade, Suzhou embroidery or Shu embroidery? Or Yun brocade? Which master weaved it?"

Seeing that all the shopkeepers couldn't bear it anymore, Wang Wenyan said slowly, "This piece of material was just brought from the capital to Ben Du."

"what?!"

When they heard that the material was from the capital, the shopkeepers were all dumbfounded.

The materials used in the imperial court are Yun brocade, and besides Yun brocade, Sichuan Shu brocade, Suzhou Song brocade, and Guangxi Zhuang brocade are also extremely exquisite, but these are all brocades produced in the south without exception. When will there be capable people in the north who can weave Are you waiting for the ingredients?
Even with the Apocalypse textile machine, it is impossible to achieve such a fine texture and such precise stitches.

What Wang Wenyan was waiting for was the reaction of these shopkeepers. He said with a smile: "The imperial court has recently researched a new weaving machine, and this material is spun by that new weaving machine."

"Every shopkeeper, if you are interested, why don't you go and take a look with me?"

When they heard that the imperial court had developed a new textile machine, the first reaction of these shopkeepers was that their eyes went dark!
They managed to imitate the Apocalypse loom, why did the imperial court update it so quickly?
And the brocade produced by this new loom is so exquisite, this, this is not enough to make people live?
All the shopkeepers who are suffering from headaches look at me and I look at you, and they don't know what to do.

Now they all use the Apocalypse looms, and relying on the craftsmanship of the masters in the south, they can already compete with the cloth in the north.

But now that the people in the north have updated and iterated, once the generation difference comes out, how can we fight against it?
Aren't those who just used the Apocalypse textile machine going to go bankrupt?
These shopkeepers lost their minds for a while, and began to discuss one after another.

Wang Wenyan was not in a hurry, and let the shopkeepers discuss.

In the end, these shopkeepers reached an agreement, and they sent a spokesperson to ask: "Your Excellency, I am willing to go to the capital to have a look, but I don't know the new textile machine."

Wang Wenyan said with a smile: "Don't worry shopkeepers, since the imperial court is willing to take it out and let you see it, it's natural to sell it."

After getting Wang Wenyan's affirmative answer, the shopkeepers were relieved: Fortunately, it's good that the imperial court is willing to sell food.

Otherwise, if you just let them see it, but they don't, it's really going crazy.

Wang Wenyan didn't waste time, and set off with these big shopkeepers the next day.

After rushing all the way to Gyeonggi, they stayed directly in a hotel in Yongding County. After resting for a night to relieve the fatigue of the pommel horse, Wang Wenyan took the shopkeepers to the factory again.

And Zhang Guoji is waiting here.

"Governor Wang, you are here." Zhang Guoji looked at Wang Wenyan and the big shopkeepers in the south behind him with a smile. These were not enemies, but Gods of Wealth who gave money one after another. Naturally, he greeted them with a smile on his face.

Wang Wenyan replied with a smile, and then said to the shopkeepers: "This is the head of the dynasty and the owner of this factory."

As soon as they heard that it was the current king, these shopkeepers quickly saluted: "I have met the king."

Zhang Guoji smiled without airs: "All shopkeepers, there is no need to be too polite, you don't need to be too polite, everyone is here, you are all businessmen, let's just talk about business today, just talk about business."

"Come, come, let me show you our machines."

Seeing Zhang Guoji's smiling face, all the shopkeepers put down their guard for the time being, and followed Zhang Guoji to see the most advanced weaving machine today, even the most advanced machine in the world today, the steam loom.

Seeing the steam loom weaving yarn and spinning cloth under the control of a few workers, all the shopkeepers were dumbfounded.

The simple Apocalypse textile machine, they can still tell why, and the craftsmen under them can easily imitate it, but this thing, how can this thing be imitated?
Some of the shopkeepers who were still thinking about it and went back to imitate it, were immediately fooled.

How could he understand this?

He doesn't understand at all!

Zhang Guoji, on the other hand, didn't care about the looks of these shopkeepers at all. He pretended not to see it, and he was extremely proud: Just kidding, this thing, I handed you a machine, you can't imitate it in your life, you don't have the ability to know it? !

"Come here, shopkeepers, come and see the silk that comes out. The texture is tough, the texture is fine and smooth, and it can be called top grade."

"Come on, let's take a look at the dyeing. The whole body is evenly dyed, no stains, no dipping, and the color is bright and detailed."

Listening to Zhang Guoji's words, these shopkeepers all came forward to look at it, and they all nodded involuntarily. Although they didn't want to admit Zhang Guoji's words, the facts speak louder than words. The new looms indeed spun high-quality goods. Exquisite.

After seeing the approval of these shopkeepers, Zhang Guoji also said: "My shopkeepers, how can we use ordinary looms to weave brocade and silk?"

"If you don't mention the residual products, how troublesome is it to smudge?"

"Today, with this new textile machine, spinning, weaving, and printing and dyeing finished products are not only faster than other textile machines, but also have more finished products and reliable performance. Isn't this a hundred times stronger than other textile machines?"

"A new textile machine to spin and dye cloth is much easier to use than the Apocalypse textile machine."

The shopkeepers nodded after hearing this. They were really excited about the new loom, but what if there were still so many Apocalypse looms?
They can't replace them all, can they?
How much does that cost?

Zhang Guoji said at this time: "Masters, most of the silk and satin in the south is traded with foreigners. If you have this loom to weave silk and satin, and then trade with foreigners, even if the price doubles, those foreigners, Dongyi people , can you refuse?"

"What's more, the Apocalypse loom can be used to weave linen and cotton, right?"

"Let me share a gossip with all shopkeepers. The imperial court has decided to lower the market price of cotton and linen cloth for the convenience of the common people. It will not work for the price of this cotton and linen cloth in the future. It is better to use the Apocalypse textile machine to sell the volume. The profit is thin and the sales are high. .”

"As for the price, if you use this steam loom to weave silk and satin, all the fine stitches and soft textures will come out. These few workers can control it. Isn't it more cost-effective than hiring those master craftsmen?"

"A few more steam looms means more than a dozen master craftsmen. When the time comes, the brocades will be spun. Not to mention those foreigners, the domestic dignitaries, why not buy them? Will this reduce the market?"

After hearing Zhang Guoji's words, these shopkeepers were already moved. What the head of the country said made sense. This steam loom does not need to rest, it will not make mistakes, and it is more reliable than the master.

After thinking about it, a shopkeeper took the lead and said:
"Guo Zhang, how much is this steam loom, we Li Fang bought it!"