People in the Ming Dynasty are lawless

Chapter 760 The whole Jiangnan is shaking!

The waves of the canal reflected the morning sun. The sedan chair of Hangzhou prefect Zhao Mingcheng had just turned the corner when it was blocked on the road. He lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and saw that the whole street was packed with people.

"What's going on?" Zhao Mingcheng asked with a frown.

The bailiff came running over, sweat on his forehead, "Your Excellency, the Crown Prince's procession has arrived. The common people are crowded at the entrance of the Women's Workshop to watch the excitement."

Zhao Mingcheng almost knocked over the teacup in his hand. He had just received the news that the prince was coming yesterday, but he didn't expect him to arrive so soon.

"Quick, take a detour!"

As soon as the prefect's sedan chair turned into the alley, it was blocked by a group of vendors. Shopkeeper Wang, who sold silk, was standing on tiptoe, looking around, muttering, "I heard that the prince tried the loom himself and praised the skill of our Hangzhou women!"

On the second floor of the teahouse, Songjiang cloth merchant Zhou Dehai dropped his account book on the ground. He stared at the apricot-yellow dragon flag in front of the workshop, his face pale.

"Mr. Zhou, what's wrong with you?" the waiter asked in a low voice.

Zhou Dehai wiped his sweat and said, "It's over. The prince is here. Our little tricks..."

The waiter followed his gaze and saw two rows of Jinyiwei standing in front of the workshop gate, their embroidered spring swords flashing coldly in the sunlight.

At the canal dock, porter Lao Wu was smoking a pipe and squinting at the distance. "Wow, that boat is flying a dragon flag, right?"

Zhang, an old man selling pancakes nearby, trembled and dropped the dough he had just kneaded. "It's really a dragon flag! This is the first time I've seen the prince come to Hangzhou in my entire life."

In the mutton soup shop on Gongfang West Street, Aunt Liu was serving soup to the female workers. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. She looked out and the spoon in her hand almost fell into the pot.

"Xiao Tao! Xiao Tao!" Aunt Liu shouted at the top of her voice, "Come and see, the prince's sedan chair is coming this way!"

In the workshop's accounting office, Zhu Youwei was checking the accounts. Xiao Tao ran in in a panic: "Princess, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived at the gate!"

Zhu Youwei's hand trembled, and ink dripped onto the account book. She had just received the news that her father was coming yesterday, but she didn't expect him to arrive so soon.

"Quick, let the female workers line up to welcome them."

Outside the workshop gate, people crowded in three layers. The yamen runners sweated profusely while maintaining order, but they could not stop the curious crowd.

"Make way! Make way!" Zhao Mingcheng's sedan finally squeezed to the door of the workshop. As soon as he got off the sedan, he saw the crown prince Zhu Biao and Chen Han standing at the door.

Zhao Mingcheng's legs went weak and he almost fell to the ground. "Your humble servant pays respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty the Duke!"

Zhu Biao waved his hand and said, "No need to be so polite, Lord Zhao."

Chen Han smiled and helped Zhao Mingcheng up: "Lord Zhao, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is visiting incognito this time, there is no need to mobilize a large force."

Even so, there were already thousands of people gathered in front of the workshop. Old man Li, who was selling candy figures, took the opportunity to shout, "Come and see the prince! Buy a candy figure and get a weaving map for free!"

The crowd suddenly quieted down. Zhu Youwei led the female workers out of the gate and saluted together.

"My son, please see your father."

Zhu Biao went forward to help his daughter up and looked at her carefully. After not seeing her for half a year, his daughter had become thinner, but her eyes were brighter.

"Get up and show us your workshop."

The onlookers were in an uproar.

"Did you hear that? The prince calls the princess his daughter!"

"Nonsense, they are father and daughter!"

"Isn't the workshop a royal business?"

When Zhou Dehai in the crowd heard this, he felt dizzy and almost fainted.

Inside the workshop, Zhu Biao looked at the neatly arranged looms and nodded slightly. The women workers were operating the looms skillfully, with the shuttles flying back and forth.

"This loom is faster than the government-operated one," Zhu Biao said to Chen Han.

Chen Han came closer to observe: "It is indeed exquisite. Youwei, did you design this?"

Zhu Youwei shook her head: "It was improved by the craftsmen in the workshop together."

When Zhu Biao arrived at the dyeing workshop, he stopped. There were dozens of large vats filled with various dyes, and the smell was strong but not pungent.

“This blue is very special.”

Zhu Youwei explained: "This is dyed with indigo brought from Yunnan, which is brighter than the local colors."

When visiting the school, the sound of reading aloud was heard. More than 20 girls were learning the Thousand Character Classic. When they saw the prince coming in, they stood up and saluted in a hurry.

Zhu Biao motioned for them to continue, then turned to Zhao Mingcheng and said, "It is a good thing for women to be literate and sensible. My dear Lord Zhao, Hangzhou should set up more schools like this."

Zhao Mingcheng nodded repeatedly: "I'll take note of it."

At lunch time, Zhu Biao insisted on eating in the canteen with the female workers. The news quickly spread throughout Hangzhou.

In the prefectural government office, Zhao Mingcheng's advisor was scolding his subordinates: "Go check! Has the prince's meal been arranged?"

The yamen runner said with a bitter face: "Master, the prince insists on eating the big pot meal in the workshop, and no one can stop him."

The master was so anxious that he stamped his feet: "How can this be done! What if something goes wrong with the food..."

In the workshop cafeteria, Zhu Biao held a plate and lined up with the female workers to get food. This scene shocked everyone.

"The prince actually gets his own food?"

"He was still chatting and joking with Aunt Liu who was weaving cloth!"

Aunt Liu was so nervous that her hands were shaking, and she almost spilled the soup on Zhu Biao. Zhu Biao took the bowl with a smile: "Don't be nervous, Aunt Liu, I... I often serve myself in the palace."

After dinner, Zhu Biao called Zhao Mingcheng aside.

"Lord Zhao, does Hangzhou Prefecture provide support to the workshop?"

Zhao Mingcheng's forehead was covered with sweat. "Your Highness, all the procedures in the workshop are handled specially, and there are no difficulties."

Zhu Biao nodded: "That's good. Such a move that benefits the people should be supported."

When Zhou Dehai heard the news, he slumped in his chair.

"It's over. The prince has spoken. How can we compete with the workshop?"

By evening, the news of the prince's arrival had spread throughout the city. Shops on both sides of the canal hung up red lanterns, as if it were Chinese New Year.

In the backyard of the workshop, Zhu Biao and Chen Han were listening to Zhu Youwei's report.

"There are currently 500 female workers in the workshop, producing 3,000 pieces of cloth each month. The orders from foreign merchants have been booked until March next year."

Zhu Biao nodded with satisfaction: "Well done. The court is going to promote it in various provinces. What do you think?"

Zhu Youwei's eyes lit up: "I have had this idea for a long time. But..."

"But it doesn't matter."

"I hope that workshops everywhere will be run by women. Men can be craftsmen and managers, but the overall direction must be determined by women."

Chen Han asked curiously: "Why?"

Zhu Youwei said seriously: "Only women can understand women's difficulties. This workshop is not just for making money, but also to give women a way to survive."

Zhu Biao looked at his daughter deeply and nodded slowly.

The night was getting darker, but Hangzhou was still bustling. In the teahouses and taverns, everyone was talking about the prince's inspection of the workshop.

"I heard that the prince even tried the loom himself!" "Not only that! My second uncle's cousin works in the workshop and said that the prince praised Hangzhou women as the most skillful in the world!"

In the prefectural government office, Zhao Mingcheng was writing a memorial overnight. He wanted to record every detail of the prince's inspection, fearing that he would miss anything.

In the workshop, Zhu Youwei saw her father and Chen Han off and breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Tao came over and said, "Princess, you have finally brought honor to our workshop today."

Zhu Youwei smiled and said, "This is just the beginning. Spread my words, the workshop will be closed for one day tomorrow, and all female workers will be given an extra half month's salary."

When the news spread, the workshop was filled with cheers. The female workers rushed to tell each other, and the whole city of Hangzhou was shocked.

In the darkness of night, Zhu Biao stood at the window of the palace, looking at the lights of the workshop in the distance.

Zhu Biao nodded, his eyes full of relief.

At the same time, Zhou Dehai was packing his luggage overnight. He decided to return to Songjiang at dawn and never come to Hangzhou again in his life.

On the canal, cargo ships were quietly moored, and the captains gathered on the deck, discussing what they had seen and heard today.

"I heard that the prince will go to inspect the Canal Transport Office tomorrow?"

"That's right! My wife was cooking in the workshop and she said the prince said it himself."

As the morning light dawned, Hangzhou had already woken up. On the streets, everyone was talking about the same topic: the prince inspected the Women's Workshop.

This shock has just begun.

……

The waves in the canal had not yet calmed down, but news from Hangzhou City had already spread to all directions via the canal boats.

In the oldest Zhou cloth shop in Songjiang Prefecture, seventy-year-old Grandpa Zhou, leaning on a cane, threw the account book in front of his son.

"What are you waiting for? Send someone to Hangzhou to discuss cooperation immediately!"

The young master of the Zhou family shrank his neck and said, "Father, our ancestral weaving secret recipe..."

"Secret recipe?" Old Master Zhou sneered and pointed out the window. "The prince has already gone to the Jinguo Workshop in person, and you are still holding on to that antique? Among the sixteen cloth shops in Songjiang, which one is not deserted now?"

The housekeeper trotted in and said, "Old Master, someone from the Shen family in Suzhou is here, and they want to join us to go to Hangzhou."

Old Master Zhou narrowed his eyes: "Descendants of Shen Wansan? They are quite clever."

In Suzhou City, in a teahouse next to the Humble Administrator's Garden, several silk merchants gathered in a private room on the second floor. Shopkeeper Shen, wearing a long silk gown, opened the window and pointed at the endless stream of cargo ships on the canal.

"Did you see that? Eight out of ten ships are flying the flag of the Women's Workshop. If this continues, our cloth will just rot in the warehouse."

The round-faced businessman wiped his sweat and said, "But it is against the ancestral rules for women to work..."

"Ancient rule?" Shopkeeper Shen sneered. "When the news came that the prince was testing the loom himself, the governor of Suzhou summoned the people from the weaving bureau overnight. This morning, the government posted a notice to set up the 'Suzhou Women's Craft Institute'."

Everyone was shocked. The tall and thin businessman suddenly slammed the table and said, "I have a cousin who works in the government office in Hangzhou. He said that the prince left a message before he left - if workshops in various places cooperate with the women, they will have priority in obtaining the blueprints of the new looms."

The teahouse suddenly fell silent. After a while, the round-faced businessman asked in a low voice: "Then what about us...?"

"What are you waiting for?" Shopkeeper Shen stood up and brushed off his clothes. "I have prepared the boat and will leave for Hangzhou at noon."

In the backyard of the Songjiang prefectural government office, Mr. Zhao, a lawyer, was holding the newly arrived imperial report, his fingers shaking.

"Sir, the court has issued a report! It says that the Women's Workshop is beneficial to the country and the people, and each province is required to promote it as appropriate."

Prefect Wang snatched the newspaper, glanced at it, and collapsed on the armchair. "It's over. The day before yesterday, I accepted money from the Zhou family, saying that they would suppress the cloth coming from Hangzhou..."

Master Zhao leaned in and whispered, "Don't panic, sir. I have an idea. How about calling in all the merchants in the city tomorrow and announcing cooperation with the Women's Workshop? I heard that they are willing to provide looms and technology in exchange for a 30% share of the profits."

Prefect Wang's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"It is absolutely true. The letter from Hangzhou Magistrate Zhao said that this was a rule set by the prince himself."

That night, the owners of the sixteen cloth shops in Songjiang gathered at Zhou's mansion. Under the candlelight, Old Master Zhou unfolded a map.

"I propose that the sixteen of us merge into the 'Songjiang Weaving Association' and cooperate with the Women's Workshop. Each family will provide ten looms and set up a new workshop in the east of the city."

Some people questioned: "Those ancestral tricks of each family..."

"You can still use the same pattern!" Old Master Zhou tapped the map, "but the loom must be replaced with a new one. I sent someone to find out, and the new looms in Hangzhou are three times more efficient than ours."

As everyone was whispering, the young master of the Zhou family rushed in and said, "Grandfather! The Shen family from Suzhou has arrived in Hangzhou, and they brought two hundred thousand taels of silver as a deposit!"

The whole room was in uproar. Old Master Zhou sighed and said, "Did you see? This is the reason why the Shen family has been rich for three generations."

The next morning, the notice wall in front of the Suzhou prefectural government office was crowded with people. The ink on the newly posted notice was not yet dry:

"According to the order of the Crown Prince, Suzhou Prefecture has established a Women's Craft Academy to recruit women aged 15 to 40 to learn the art of weaving. Those who pass the exam will be paid two taels of silver per month, with food and lodging provided."

Among the crowd of onlookers, the woman in coarse cloth tightly grasped her daughter's hand. "Girl, your chance has come."

The front of Songjiang government office was even more lively. Prefect Wang personally struck the gong and announced: "From now on, Songjiang Weaving Bureau and Hangzhou Women's Workshop will cooperate to build ten new workshops!"

The crowd cheered. Mrs. Zhang, who was selling yarn, wiped her tears and said to her neighbor, "My daughter works in a workshop in Hangzhou. Last month, she brought back three taels of silver. Now there is such a good place in Songjiang."

On the canal, the canal boats flying the "Women" flag are particularly eye-catching. The boat captain, Lao Wu, holding a pipe in his mouth, said to his men: "Look, this boat is loaded with new looms, all shipped to Suzhou."

The waiter asked curiously, "Master, how much can we earn this time?"

Old Wu grinned and gestured: "Increase the freight by 30%! I heard there are 30 more ships waiting to be dispatched."

In the main hall of the Hangzhou Women's Workshop, Zhu Youwei was piled with visiting cards. Xiao Tao held up the registration book and read: "The Shen family in Suzhou, the Zhou family in Songjiang, the Wang family in Jiaxing... Seven more families came today."

Zhu Youwei rubbed his temples and said, "Let Manager Xu go to receive them. Remember, cooperation is possible, but you must agree to three conditions."

"I remember." Xiao Tao counted on her fingers, "First, the workshop must employ mainly female workers. Second, wages cannot be deducted. Third, 30% of the profits must be used for girls' schools."

Outside the workshop gate, merchants from all over the country lined up in a long queue. A Songjiang cloth merchant in a brocade robe approached the female worker guarding the gate and said, "Miss, please give me a favor. This is a small token of my appreciation..."

The female worker took a step back and said sternly, "Sir, please respect yourself. According to the workshop rules, anyone who dares to accept bribes will be expelled immediately."

This scene was seen by Zhao Mingcheng who was passing by. He turned to his teacher and sighed: "Look at these rules, they are stricter than those in the prefectural government office."

The master whispered, "Sir, I just received news that the court wants to transfer you to Suzhou to be in charge of the newly established Women's Craft Academy."

Zhao Mingcheng's hands trembled, and the lid of the teacup jingled. "Is this a promotion or exile?"

"Of course it's a promotion!" The lawyer lowered his voice, "It's a job appointed by the prince himself, and he said it would benefit future generations."

As dusk fell, lanterns on both sides of the canal lit up one after another. Zhu Youwei stood on the watchtower of the workshop, looking at the endless stream of cargo ships. Xiaotao came over holding a cloak: "Princess, the wind is blowing."

Zhu Youwei tied her cloak and whispered, "Did you see that ship? It's carrying looms to Songjiang. Once the new workshop is built, it will be able to support thousands more women."

Xiao Tao suddenly remembered something: "Oh, by the way, this morning a woman came from Songjiang and said she wanted to send her daughter here to be an apprentice. The girl was only twelve years old and as thin as a cat."

"Take it." Zhu Youwei looked into the distance, "Tell the kitchen to give the child an egg every day."

As the night deepened, the sound of the bell from Suzhou's Hanshan Temple could be heard. In a teahouse on Shantang Street, the storyteller clapped his stick:
"As soon as this weaving workshop opened, the Crown Prince came in person and merchants flocked to it. The latest news yesterday was that even the Goryeo envoy came to buy a loom!"

Among the tea drinkers, a young man wearing Hangzhou silk quietly left the table. He was the illegitimate son of the Zhou family in Songjiang, and was ordered to come to Suzhou to inquire. At this moment, he was holding the weaving pattern he had just bought, his heart beating like thunder.

"With this, maybe I can also fight for a place in the family..."

The sound of the night watch clepsydra gradually calmed down the hustle and bustle of Hangzhou City. But everyone knew that the shock caused by the Women's Workshop had just begun...

(End of this chapter)