My father Zhu Gaoxu

Chapter 693 Textile Industry
"Your Highness, the current situation in the spinning workshop is like this. I wonder if you have any other instructions?"

After Tao Qiong took Zhu Zhanhe to visit the spinning workshop, he asked Zhu Zhanhe again.

This spinning workshop is run by the government, and its main purpose is not to make money, but to practice various new technologies, such as new spinning machines, which were first promoted here and then spread to the people.

"How are private textile workshops doing now, and how do the cloths they produce compare with those of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Zhanhe thought for a while and then asked Tao Qiong.

Government-run workshops are not to make money, but to lead the trend of technology. The development of the private textile industry is Zhu Zhanhe's purpose.

In fact, Dahan is also facing some problems now. For example, although sea trade is prosperous, it is mainly used as a transfer station for Ming Dynasty goods. Apart from the traditional spices in Tianzhu, the only goods that Dahan really produces are those developed before by Zhu Zhanhe. soaps, perfumes and mirrors. These products are not cheap and are mainly for the middle and upper class.

In contrast, the goods on the Ming Dynasty's side are very complete, from silk and porcelain on the upper level to cloth, ironware on the lower level, etc., and their sales are almost overwhelming overseas, with almost no rivals.

Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to develop the textile industry and make Han Dynasty the center of the global textile industry. Cloth has huge potential, and overseas demand is also very strong. As long as the cloth produced in Daming can be compared, he can definitely seize the entire market. overseas market.

"Don't worry, Your Highness, I've already had people study it. The quality of cloth has a lot to do with spinning machines and looms. Most of the cloth in Ming Dynasty is produced by individuals, and the quality varies. We here After the opening of Bian's workshop, the looms were improved and the yarn spun was already stronger than that of the Ming Dynasty. Although the looms have not progressed yet, the cloth weaved now is no worse than that of the Ming Dynasty. It is just that it has not yet gained a reputation. .”

Tao Qiong reported it immediately.

Although he was only responsible for the improvement of spinning machines and looms, Zhu Zhanhe had told him that the ultimate goal was to make the cloth produced by the Han Dynasty surpass that of the Ming Dynasty, so he also worked hard in this regard.

"As for the output, can it be compared with the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Zhanhe asked again.

"This... can't compare for now. After all, the population of Ming Dynasty is too large, and textile workshops have also appeared in the south of Ming Dynasty. Although the machines are backward and not as good as ours, they can't cope with their large number of people and scale!"

Tao Qiong hesitated before answering.

The population of the Ming Dynasty was hundreds of times theirs, and spinning and weaving was also a traditional craft for women in the Central Plains. As long as women came of age, they would do some textile crafts to earn some pocket money when they were free at home. Therefore, the output of cloth in the Ming Dynasty was also amazing. It's not something that a big man can compare to yet.

"It seems that we still need to increase our efforts to promote it and let more people in the country build textile workshops. Only by forming a certain scale can we have greater advantages!"

Zhu Zhanhe was a little disappointed when he heard this, and then he touched his chin and said to himself.

"Your Highness, I have something you don't know whether to say or not?"

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Tao Qiong suddenly hesitated before speaking.

"But it doesn't matter!"

Zhu Zhanhe raised his head and glanced at Tao Qiong, wondering what he wanted to say.
"Prince, you also know that although the unit price of cloth is not as good as that of silk and porcelain, it is also very popular overseas. After all, people only eat and wear clothes. Except for a few people who can afford to wear silk, most people can only wear ordinary cloth. ." Tao Qiong paused here and then continued.

"So the sales of cloth are very good. In our country, a group of businessmen have made a fortune by opening textile workshops. Many people also want to invest money to open textile workshops. However, the initial investment in textile workshops is huge, and not only does it require a large venue , but also need new spinning and looms, and a large number of workers must be hired. Although native female workers are cheap, when the number of people increases, the cost is not a small amount, so although many people want to, they suffer from the lack of them. Money!”

When Zhu Zhanhe heard this, he suddenly understood that the initial investment in the textile workshop was indeed very large. Although the people in the Han Dynasty were wealthy, this wealth was only relative. Most of them relied on the land allocated by the court, which made the family unable to eat and drink. worry.

Moreover, most of the immigrants who came to the Han Dynasty were poor people who had no choice but to venture out to the sea to try their luck. In addition, the time when the Han Dynasty was founded was too short, and many people did not have time to accumulate too much wealth. Therefore, there are many immigrants from the Han Dynasty. There are not many rich people.

This has led to the fact that although many people are eager for the profits of the textile industry, they have no money to invest.

"I didn't expect this problem. Tao Qiong, you reminded me very well. I'll call people from the bank later to see if I can provide some loans specifically to those who want to invest in building workshops!"

Zhu Zhanhe finally nodded.

People who want to invest have no money, but there is money in the bank, and the bank already has a lending business. As long as it is adjusted, the bank's funds should be able to flow into the textile industry and promote the development of Dahan's textile industry.

"Your Highness is wise, if a bank participates, it will definitely attract more people to enter the textile industry!"

Tao Qiong immediately praised.

When I spoke, it was getting late, and it was time for the female workers in the workshop to finish work. The textile workshop was not allowed to work at night, because they had to light up the lights when working at night, and there were cotton wadding everywhere in the textile workshop, and absolutely no one could be seen. Open flame.

The native women who come out to work are generally from lower castes, all are long and dark, and few are good-looking. However, these Tianzhu women have one advantage, that is, they are hardworking and willing to work. Although their physical strength is worse than that of Tianzhu men, But men are more reliable, so low-labor jobs like textile workshops prefer to use female workers.

"Your Highness, textile workshops require a large number of female workers. These female workers can earn enough money to support their families. If the families behind them are rich, they will naturally be more stable, at least they will not break out in rebellion like before."

Tao Qiong spoke again at this time.

"Are you trying to remind me that if water power replaces manpower, these female workers will lose their jobs on a large scale, which may lead to social unrest?"

Zhu Zhanhe immediately heard the implication of Tao Qiong's words.

"Exactly, there are still few textile workshops now, so the impact may not be big, but if textile workshops are built on a large scale in the future, more and more workers will be needed. If the spinning and weaving tools continue to be improved, the demand for workers will be supported. If necessary, it may cause problems.”

Tao Qiong didn't beat around the bush and nodded directly to admit.

As an official responsible for technological improvement, he knows better than anyone what impact an innovative technology will have on the entire industry and even society as a whole, so he has always been cautious about this matter.

(End of this chapter)