My father Zhu Gaoxu

Chapter 692 Textile Industry
On the banks of the Ganges, several tall waterwheels are under construction.

"Prince, you see, these waterwheels will be completed by the end of the month at the latest. Once they are operational, the power of the river water can be introduced into the spinning workshop to drive the spinning machines. We no longer have to worry about insufficient manpower. …”

Tao Qiong, a member of the Ministry of Industry, pointed to the waterwheel under construction by the river and introduced it to Zhu Zhanhe in a eloquent manner.

Tao Qiong was the guy who wanted to fly into the sky so much that he even disobeyed Zhu Zhanhe's order and cut the rope of the hot air balloon without permission, causing him to almost become an immortal.

Tao Qiong was not only proficient in firearms, but he was also promoted by the Ordnance Bureau, and he was also very knowledgeable in the construction of various equipment. He also had a close relationship with Zhu Zhanhe. When Zhu Zhanhe left the Ming Dynasty, he also left with him. .

Tao Qiong's coming to Han Dynasty was definitely the most important choice in his life, because he rose to the top in one step and was directly appointed by Zhu Zhanhe as Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Industry, specializing in the research and construction of various complex equipment. Zhu Zhanhe also loved him very much. Pay attention to him, often summon him in person, and leave some matters to him, such as these waterwheels in front of you.

Zhu Zhanhe visited the waterwheel and checked the structure of the waterwheel himself. In fact, the structure of the waterwheel is very simple. It is nothing more than a huge impeller. The impeller is driven by water power to rotate.

Next to the waterwheel are workshops. Once inside, you can see a spinning machine with a complex structure. Of course, in Zhu Zhanhe's view, these spinning machines are very primitive and incompatible with efficiency. Compared with those of later generations.

However, this kind of spinning machine was also improved by Zhu Zhanhe himself. It combined the advantages of the Jenny machine in later generations, so that it can spin multiple spindles at one time and is directly driven by water. If it is started in the future, it will definitely be the most popular spinning machine in this era. Top notch machine.

Outside these hydraulic workshops is a huge spinning workshop. Before entering, you can hear the "buzzing" sound of spinning inside.

Entering the workshop, I saw rows of human-powered spinning machines arranged neatly. These spinning machines are very similar to the Jenny machines that appeared in later history. One spinning wheel drives multiple spindles, which greatly improves the efficiency of spinning. s efficiency.

However, this kind of spinning machine is still inseparable from manpower. Therefore, behind each spinning machine, there is a female worker pedaling hard to drive the machine to spin. From time to time, she has to remove the wrapped spindles. The work is very hard. .

These female workers are all natives. After all, the Han people have fields, and few women are willing to do this. After all, spinning is not only hard work, but also the pay is not high.

However, this remuneration is only relative to the Han people. For the natives, the remuneration for spinning work is still very generous. Not only can they support themselves, but they can also support several children. Therefore, every time workers are recruited, these native women compete for them. Sign up.

"Your Highness, we have built a lot of spinning workshops like this now, and the yarn spun is already a bit surplus. At least those weaving workshops cannot use it up. If the water-powered spinning machine starts to operate again, the spindles produced will be used again. If the number increases several times, the weaving workshop will no longer be needed.”

Tao Qiong said to Zhu Zhanhe with some worry at this time.

There are two main steps to turn cotton into cloth. The first is to turn cotton into yarn, which requires the use of a spinning machine. The second is to weave the yarn into cloth, which requires the use of a loom.

In Tao Qiong's view, the improved human-powered spinning machines are enough, because weaving workshops simply cannot use so much yarn, and there is no need for water-powered spinning machines.

"It is indeed enough now, but aren't the craftsmen in your Ministry of Works already thinking of ways to improve the looms? When new looms appear, they will even be powered by water, and the weaving efficiency will increase several times. The spinning machines will naturally have to keep up, and now the water-powered spinning machines are just preparing for a rainy day."

Zhu Zhanhe explained with a slight smile.

"I'm also paying attention to the improvement of looms, but there doesn't seem to be much progress recently?"

Tao Qiong said again at this time.It is not an easy task to improve a machine that has been used for many years. Take the spinning machine as an example. If it were not for Zhu Zhanhe's guidance, they would not have been able to manufacture the hydraulic spinning machine so quickly.

"If this kind of thing is urgent, ask someone to increase the reward. If anyone can double the current weaving efficiency, he will be rewarded with a thousand guan. If he can double the current weaving efficiency, he will be rewarded with [-] guan. And so on. If you give me a reward, someone will definitely come up with a solution!"

Zhu Zhanhe ordered again.

If you want to promote social progress, you must not rely on him alone, but must mobilize the wisdom of everyone. Of course, wisdom also costs money, so he has never been stingy in this regard.

"I understand, but I feel that if we want to improve the loom, we cannot just rely on the craftsmen in our Ministry of Works. It is best to collect methods from the entire Han Dynasty."

Tao Qiong suddenly suggested.

"Oh? You mean to collect ideas from everyone through the newspaper to improve the loom?"

Zhu Zhanhe immediately understood what Tao Qiong meant when he heard this. Although the circulation of newspapers is still not large, it is at least growing steadily. It is distributed in all major cities in the Han Dynasty. If the news is published in newspapers, Soon it will spread all over the country.

"Exactly, three cobblers can even stand up to Zhuge Liang. What's more, there are many strange people among the people. If possible, we can even publish newspapers in the Ming Dynasty to recruit some people to join us."

Tao Qiong nodded immediately.

"Hey, your layout is really quite big. You even thought of Daming!"

Zhu Zhanhe also glanced at Tao Qiong in surprise when he heard this. He didn't even think that far ahead.

"Hey, didn't I learn this from you, Prince? Especially the newspaper you ran. When I was in the Ming Dynasty, I never missed an issue. After reading every issue of the newspaper, I collected it carefully. Now it is placed in the study. It fills a bookshelf.”

Tao Qiong is obviously a newspaper lover who tries again and again, and is reluctant to throw away the newspaper he has finished reading.

"Your suggestion is a good one. I'll have someone do it later. There's a bit of trouble over there in Ming Dynasty. We can't use our big man's name. We can only find a private person to release such information, but the impact will not be big."

Zhu Zhanhe immediately praised him.

Although he left the Ming Dynasty and took many people with him, he still had many informants in the Ming Dynasty, such as Liu Ke and other Jin Yiwei. There was a group of Jin Yiwei who were responsible for collecting intelligence in the Ming Dynasty. There were also people lurking in the Ming Dynasty. It is convenient for Zhu Zhanhe to do some things in Ming Dynasty or contact some people.

Zhu Zhanhe then followed Tao Qiong and turned around the entire spinning workshop. As the origin of the industrial revolution in later generations, Zhu Zhanhe also attached great importance to the entire textile industry. He even wanted to copy the British Industrial Revolution in Dahan. process.

(End of this chapter)