Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

With the prosperity of the clothing industry, Ming Dynasty's business also ushered in a climax.

The dock was busy with cargo: kapok from Southeast Asia, dyes from India, and loom parts from Persia were continuously imported into the Ming Dynasty, while ready-made clothes from Jiangnan were sold by sea to Goryeo, Ryukyu, and even farther away to France.

Commercial taxes soared: According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Revenue, the commercial taxes on cloth in Yingtian Prefecture alone tripled compared to the same period last year. Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the silver that was filling up the treasury day by day and smiled from ear to ear: "If I had known that doing business was so profitable, why would we have fought the war back then!"

Employment increased greatly: whether it was weavers, dyers, tailors, or sailors, cloth sellers, or shop owners, all benefited from this clothing revolution. There were no more idle vagrants on the streets, and even beggars could find odd jobs in dyeing factories.

On this day, Zhu Yuanzhang went on a private visit and walked on the streets of Yingtian Prefecture. Looking at the people wearing all kinds of new clothes with smiles on their faces, he felt deeply moved.

"Zhongba, look at that little girl." Empress Ma pointed to a young girl wearing a narrow-sleeved skirt who was selecting books in a bookstore. "Nowadays, women can dress neatly and study calligraphy. They no longer need to wear heavy skirts like in the past, which made it difficult for them to even walk."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and suddenly smiled: "Now we understand. If the trade routes are open and the people are rich, the country will naturally be stable!"

Queen Ma smiled and said, "Then why are you still competing with Ouyang Lun all day long?"

The old emperor snorted, "Although that boy is cunning, he is indeed capable... But we can't let him take all the limelight! Let's go back to the palace! We have to think about how to double Zhuji's business!"

In the Taiji Hall, the morning light shines through the carved window lattices, reflecting a brand new atmosphere.

Civil and military officials stood solemnly on both sides, and the official uniforms they wore were very different from before - no longer the cumbersome style of wide robes and big sleeves, but the improved "new court dress".

Minister of Rites Lü Chang wore a dark crimson official robe with narrowed cuffs and a belt around the waist. The hem no longer dragged on the ground, but fell just enough to reach the boots, so that he would not trip when walking. The most eye-catching thing was the patch on his chest, which was no longer embroidered on the wide front, but was made of stiff brocade, with lifelike cranes embroidered in gold thread, shining in the morning light.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat high on the dragon throne, his eyes swept over the ministers, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised: "My dear ministers, how do you like this new official uniform?"

The Minister of War was the first to step out and said, "Your Majesty, I never thought that official uniforms could be so light! In the past, it would take half an hour just to tidy up my clothes when I went to court. Now, I only need to tie my belt and adjust my hat, which makes my movements much smoother."

Minister of Works Shan Anren also echoed, "I went to the Ministry of Works yesterday to inspect the project. I climbed up the scaffolding in my new official uniform and didn't feel any encumbrance at all! If it were in the past, I would have tripped over the hem of my clothes."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction and turned his gaze to Lu Chang: "Lord Lu, how do people respond to the new clothing?"

Lu Chang bowed and stepped out of the line, saying in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, the people have praised the new style of clothing!"

"First, the common people followed the officials' method of improving their uniforms, changing from long gowns to short ones, making work more convenient."

"Secondly, orders from weaving workshops across the country have surged. In Suzhou alone, more than 300 looms were added last month."

"Third, overseas merchants were very fond of the new clothing of the Ming Dynasty. Envoys from Goryeo and Ryukyu even requested to customize the official uniforms and bring them back to their own countries for imitation."

Zhu Yuanzhang was delighted to hear this and tapped the armrest of the throne with his fingers: "Okay! What are your plans next?"

Lu Chang was well prepared and took out a memorial from his sleeve: "After discussing with Prince Consort Ouyang, I have drawn up a three-step strategy."

"The first step is to promote 'four-season official uniforms'. In spring and summer, use light and breathable 'flying cotton', and in autumn and winter, use velvet-added 'warm woven cloth', so that officials can wear them appropriately in all seasons."

"The second step is to set up a 'weaving school' where Nike will teach new weaving and dyeing techniques and train craftsmen."

"The third step is to set up 'official uniforms monopoly' in Yingtian, Suzhou and Guangzhou, allowing wealthy merchants to purchase simplified official uniforms, but they have to pay a special amount of silver to enrich the national treasury."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but applaud: "Great! It can not only make officials wear comfortable clothes, but also bring in money to the national treasury, and it can also make the people follow suit!"

He suddenly remembered something and asked with narrowed eyes, "Did Ouyang Lun, that kid, gain anything from this?"

Lu Chang couldn't help laughing and said, "The Prince Consort said that he would not take a penny from the weaving technology of the new official uniforms, but only asked Your Majesty to allow him to plant more cotton in Southeast Asia."

"What a cunning businessman!" Zhu Yuanzhang cursed with a smile, "I knew he was thinking about the cotton fields!"

A burst of good-natured laughter suddenly broke out in the court. Zhu Yuanzhang leaned forward slightly, staring at the Minister of Revenue Guo Zi with a sharp gaze: "My dear Guo, I want to ask you, how much will this new clothing improve the economic development of our Ming Dynasty?"

Guo Zi hurriedly stepped out, his expression respectful and confident: "Your Majesty, according to the calculation of the Ministry of Revenue, since the implementation of the new clothing policy, the economic benefits of my Ming Dynasty have increased by 200 million!"

As soon as these words came out, there was a gasp in the Taiji Hall. "Two hundred million?!" "How can there be so much?" The ministers whispered to each other, their faces full of shock and doubt.

The Minister of Personnel was the first to step forward, with a questioning look on his face: "Minister Guo, is there any definite basis for such a huge number? Could it be that the calculation was wrong?"

Guo Zi took out a thick stack of account books from his sleeve without any hurry and said in a loud voice: "Please read this, my lords! First, the rise of the clothing industry has led to a surge in the import of textile raw materials. The trade volume of Nanyang kapok and Indian dyes has increased by more than five times compared with the same period last year, and the tariffs alone have increased by tens of millions of taels; second, the export of ready-made clothes is even more popular. The profits of clothing woven in Jiangnan and shipped to Goryeo, Ryukyu, France and other places have increased several times; third, the new clothing policy has prompted the expansion of weaving workshops in various places, adding thousands of looms, and driving the employment of weavers, dyers and other jobs. With money in the hands of the people, consumption has also increased, driving the development of all walks of life. Under this kind of growth, there is an economic growth of 200 million!"

At this time, a censor stepped forward, looking worried: "Sir Guo, although this number is large, it may be false. Why hasn't the national treasury fully reflected such a huge profit?"

Guo Zi smiled slightly and explained, "Your Excellency may not know that business is booming now, and although commercial taxes collected in various places are growing steadily, due to the increase in commercial activities and the acceleration of capital turnover, some of the income has not yet been fully deposited. In addition, although the newly established weaving school and official uniforms monopoly projects have invested costs, in the long run, the benefits are immeasurable, and there will be more economic growth in the future."

With Guo Zi's calm answers, the doubts of the ministers gradually subsided, and the eyes they looked at Guo Zi also showed a little more conviction.

Guo Zi struck while the iron was hot and bowed to Ouyang Lun, "Your Majesty, you may not know that the Prince Consort had already done a 'clear account' before implementing the new policy - from the cotton fields in Nanyang to the looms in Jiangnan, from the dye ratio to the hours of tailoring, how much money each link should earn, he used an abacus to calculate it clearly. In particular, the material method of the 'four seasons official uniform' was actually improved by using the sail fabric on overseas merchant ships!"

All the civil and military officials in the court immediately turned their eyes to Ouyang Lun in the corner of the palace. The prince consort was lazily leaning against a red lacquered pillar, turning a Western gold pocket watch on his fingertips. Hearing this, he just raised his eyebrows and smiled: "It's just bringing the 'shrewd accounts' of Persian merchants to the Ming Dynasty. If you have been to the Nanyang port, you will know that those red-haired barbarians can even split a pepper into three pieces and sell it - we have only learned the basics."

The Chief Censor could not help but retort: ​​"Your Highness, you have made a lot of money from this 'fur'! I heard that the kapok you stockpiled in Guangzhou has tripled in price now?"

Ouyang Lun glanced at him nonchalantly and said, "Mr. Zhongcheng should go to the market more often. Nowadays, everyone wears shorts, and who doesn't need two taels of cotton? I have already sold the kapok I stockpiled to the weaving workshop to make winter clothes. The money I earned is to keep the people warm. It is much more lively than you squatting in the government office to calculate the "clean account."

This remark made several generals burst into laughter, but Zhu Yuanzhang knocked heavily on the imperial desk and said, "What a 'much more lively'! Was it also so 'lively' when you were selling private tea on the Ancient Tea Horse Road?"

Ouyang Lun suddenly stopped smiling, took a half step forward, clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I am dealing in 'official prosperity' now. The cotton fields in Nanyang grow your Majesty's 'Fuguo Cotton', the looms in Suzhou weave your Majesty's 'Taiping Cloth', and even the gold thread on this new court dress is from your Majesty's official kiln. I am just an errand boy, and the real God of Wealth is you who sits on this dragon throne."

Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that he couldn't help laughing. He pointed at Ouyang Lun and shook his finger: "Look at your mouth! If it wasn't for Empress Ma stopping me, I would have thrown you, a sly fellow, to Fengyang to break rocks! Now, you have calculated all the money in the world, and you still dare to keep us in suspense in the court?"

Ouyang Lun calmly pulled out a sheepskin map from his sleeve, and unfolded it to reveal a detailed sea map of the Nanyang Islands: "Your Majesty, please take a look. The 'golden cotton' that I had people try to plant on Luzon Island has already produced a harvest, and its wool yield is 20% higher than that of the Nanyang kapok. The newly established 'Da Ming Trading Station' in the Strait of Malacca has collected 3,000 taels of gold from Arab merchants in tolls alone. The most amazing thing is the weaving method of this 'flying cotton'. I asked skilled craftsmen to improve the Persian loom, and now one loom can replace three in the past - all this 'excitement' is 'excitement money' saved for your Majesty's treasury."

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at the densely packed red dots on the map, and suddenly clapped his legs and laughed: "Great! Back then, I despised the merchants for their money, but now I know that the most fragrant smell in the world is the smell of copper money! But you kid, remember this -" He suddenly frowned, "If you dare to mix sand in the cotton fields, or pass inferior goods off as good ones, I will throw you to the weavers to work like a slave, and you will have to work on the loom every day!"

Ouyang Lun bowed solemnly: "How dare I? Besides--" He suddenly looked at Lu Chang, "The Commercial Tax Regulations drafted by the Ministry of Rites will be promulgated next month. From now on, no matter how much a merchant earns, they must follow the rules set by Your Majesty. Even if I want to be cunning, I have to pass the test of Lord Lu's pen first."

Lu Chang stroked his beard and smiled: "Don't worry, Prince Consort, these 'rules' are not ropes to tie people up, but stone pavements that make the trade smoother. When the first batch of craftsmen from the 'weaving school' graduate next year, our fabrics can be shipped across the oceans and sold to the red-haired barbarians. That's what it means to make money all over the world!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's heart surged when he heard this. He suddenly stood up, walked to Ouyang Lun, and patted his shoulder heavily: "You sly guy, if you had let me understand the truth that 'commerce is the kingly way' ten years earlier, the territory of our Ming Dynasty would have been expanded to Southeast Asia long ago!" He paused and snorted, "But let me put it here - the cotton you grow in Southeast Asia must first be used to weave dragon robes for our royal family! If you dare to let any foreign envoy wear brighter clothes than us, we will..."

"How dare I?" Ouyang Lun smiled and pulled out a brocade pattern from the pocket watch. "Your Majesty, look at this new pattern of 'bright yellow satin'. I specially asked the craftsmen to hide the words 'rich' and 'powerful' in the dragon scales. When it is made into a dragon robe and you wear it, all the civil and military officials in the court will have to recite the sutra of 'enriching the country' to the dragon's belly!"

Laughter broke out again in the Taiji Hall. Zhu Yuanzhang kicked Ouyang Lun and cursed him, "Go back to your cotton fields! If you dare to flatter me again, I'll skin you as my consort and make patches for my new imperial robes!"

As Ouyang Lun was rubbing his lower back and retreating, he ran into Empress Ma's personal maid carrying a tea tray. Half an inch of the maid's sleeves revealed a piece of moon-white flying cotton, with stitches as fine as stars - exactly the style of the "improved women's short jacket" he had just promoted last month.

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Ouyang Lun with interest and pointed his finger: "You are a good calculator and eloquent talker. I want to hear what you really think about this 'clothing business' that has enriched the national treasury?" The hall suddenly fell silent, and all the officials were waiting to see how the son-in-law would boast about the great achievements of this commercial revolution.

Ouyang Lun suddenly straightened his hat and stood up solemnly, then turned to face Zhu Biao and saluted: "Your Majesty, without the support of Your Majesty, even if I have a thousand plans, they will be nothing but talk. Your Majesty often says that 'a country can only be strong if its people are rich', and he personally inquired about the site selection of the weaving school, and even stayed up all night planning overseas trade routes. The test planting documents of the Nanyang cotton fields were annotated by Your Majesty word for word; the terms of the new commercial tax regulations were also repeatedly deliberated by Your Majesty and me and the six ministries. I am just running errands and doing the math according to Your Majesty's grand plan."

Zhu Biao stood up hurriedly: "You are too kind, my dear Prince Consort! This is all your fault." Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted him with a hearty laugh: "Good! Good! A good father will have a good son. Our Biao is indeed far-sighted!" His eyes were full of satisfaction, and the hem of his dragon robe swayed gently with his laughter, "It was not in vain that I taught you to read Zizhi Tongjian!"

The civil and military officials in the palace were stunned at first, and then there were voices of agreement. The Minister of Rites, Lu Chang, stroked his beard and praised: "The prince consort's move not only shows the harmony between the monarch and his subjects, but also shows the wisdom of the crown prince. It is really brilliant!" Even the usually strict Chief Censor nodded slightly, secretly sighing that Ouyang Lun had hidden his edge so cleverly.

Ouyang Lun bowed again and spoke earnestly: "Your Majesty cares about the world, and even the improvement of the weaving and embroidery courses in the girls' school must be proposed to incorporate new techniques. I am just grateful to your Majesty and have the honor to participate. In the future, I will do my best to assist your Majesty and make the Ming Dynasty's trade routes accessible to all corners of the world!" These words made Zhu Biao's eyes red, and Zhu Yuanzhang smiled from ear to ear, slamming the table heavily: "Okay! Just because of your understanding, I approve the matter of the Nanyang cotton field!" (End of this chapter)