Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

The cooperation between Gu Yanwu and Suzhou Weaving Factory was naturally not like Chu Fan’s investment.

He doesn't have the financial resources, nor the opportunity -

After all, although Suzhou Weaving was just an empty shell, it was an office established by the inner court for hundreds of years. Gu Yanwu's little money could not buy any shares in Suzhou Weaving, nor did he have the opportunity to buy shares.

So his cooperation with Suzhou Weaving Factory was to open a subsidiary workshop.

Suzhou Weaving Factory was responsible for providing looms, he provided funds and management, and hired workers for production.

Gu Yanwu believed that this business would definitely make money, especially since the Laborers' Association had quickly harvested some cotton and Suzhou Weaving Factory could provide looms and orders.

With the money squeezed out by his grandfather, Gu Yanwu found Zhang Yixian and explained his purpose:

"I heard that Suzhou Weaving is looking for someone to co-found a workshop. I wonder if Gu will be so lucky?"

Zhang Yixian was very surprised to see Gu Yanwu. This was not only because of Gu Yanwu's position as the captain of the guard army of Susong New District, but also because when Liu Lishun went to Nanjing to preside over the provincial examination, the new district was handed over to him to manage.

Since the Suzhou Weaving Factory had already been decided to move to the new district, Zhang Yixian naturally had to establish a good relationship with him and find a good place for the weaving factory.

In particular, he knew that Gu Yanwu was highly valued by the emperor and would definitely become one of the important officials in the future.

This brought a smile to his face, and he said:

"Captain Gu, what are you talking about?"

"We are all members of the inner court. How can we be lucky or unlucky?"

"Just ask for anything you want, we can talk it out!"

Although the status of the Jinyiwei in the inner court is somewhat special and different from the inner court offices dominated by eunuchs, it is closer than other offices.

In particular, the Jinyiwei often helped various government offices in the inner court and provided them with protection in the local areas, which further deepened the relationship.

Gu Yanwu himself knew that many officials of the Jinyiwei had jointly established a postal company with the Imperial Household Supervisor and the Imperial Household Department, and even some hereditary officials of the Jinwuwei who were not in the Jinyiwei were involved.

After the eunuchs of Northern Zhili verified this business, they had confirmed that it was a sure win. The hereditary officials of the Jinwu Guards from various places opened postal companies in their ancestral hometowns.

If the new district's postal company had not already decided to co-operate with the Yulin rear guard hereditary officials, Gu Yanwu himself would have wanted to participate.

Now he chose to open a weaving workshop because he is more familiar with this business. His mother is also proficient in weaving and can take care of it at home.

Gu Yanwu thanked Zhang Yixian for his kindness and said:

"Thank you for your care, father-in-law!"

"But your Suzhou Weaving Group belongs to the Royal Weaving Group, and we can't take advantage of the royal family."

"Let's just do what we should do, and just cooperate normally."

Zhang Yixian smiled, realizing that he understood Gu Yanwu's idea, and said:

"That's it! That's it!"

"Captain Gu has a bright future ahead of him, so he can't make any mistakes on this point."

"Don't worry, everything is within the scope of the cooperation agreement. We will have someone select the best loom."

"Come quickly, bring out the atlas of the loom and show it to Captain Gu!"

A young eunuch came immediately and handed Gu Yanwu a booklet.

Gu Yanwu flipped through the booklet and found that there were more than a dozen pictures in the booklet, all of which depicted looms.

It also provides very detailed information on the sizes and dimensions of various looms, as well as their suitable operating methods.

Gu Yanwu turned to the back of the booklet and saw the seal of "Da Ming Wensiyuan". He suddenly realized and said:
"So it was made by Wensiyuan. It seems that these looms are the best."

Zhang Yixian smiled and said:

"They are indeed the best styles, collected from all over the world by the Wensi Institute of Textiles."

"The Emperor asked them to select the best and make the production standards as uniform as possible."

"Now the nails, bolts, mortise and tenon joints used in these looms, as well as a lot of wood, are all universal, making weaving and maintenance very simple."

"Suzhou Weaving is making this now and providing it to those who are willing to cooperate."

This manufacturing idea was naturally proposed by Zhu Youjian.

Although he did not know how to improve looms and spinning machines, he knew how to standardize production.

After collecting looms from all over the Ming Dynasty, Wensi Academy quickly completed the imitation and unified the standards.

Suzhou Weaving Factory said it still had textile tasks, but in fact most of them were outsourced, and its main focus was shifted to manufacturing textile machinery.

Zhu Youjian, who understood the shortcomings of state-run factories, also instructed Suzhou Weaving Factory to cooperate more with individual businesses and business owners to obtain dividend income.

Gu Yanwu heard about this policy and was attracted by it. Now seeing that the looms made in Suzhou are so advanced, he is naturally more confident.

However, he did not know much about it, so he closed the booklet and asked Zhang Yixian:

"Eunuch Zhang, I don't know much about these, so please recommend some!"

"Which models do you think I should choose? How many of each?"

Zhang Yixian pondered this question and asked:
"Which loom you choose depends on how much money you plan to spend and how big your workshop is."

"Also, how many workers will be recruited and what is their skill level?"

"We don't know these things, so we can't recommend them to Captain Gu."

"Why don't Captain Gu recruit the workers first and let them choose the looms themselves?"

This could be considered a preferential treatment for Gu Yanwu.

How can ordinary people choose at will and bring workers with them?

Gu Yanwu felt Zhang Yixian's kindness and said:

"Then let's do as Eunuch Zhang said and let the workers choose for themselves."

"But I must have a few looms to run a workshop, otherwise how can I recruit workers?"

"First, bring two sets of this family loom set and send them to my workshop."

Pointing at the style that was highlighted in the brochure, Gu Yanwu decided to decide on it first.

Zhang Yixian looked at it and said:

"Oh, Captain Gu has a really good eye. This is the most popular style for rent and sale."

“Many weavers choose this so they can spin yarn and weave cloth at home.”

“But it’s still a little small for opening a workshop.”

"If Captain Gu feels that it is not suitable, you can change to another one."

Gu Yanwu waved his hand and said:

"No, just choose this one and I'll buy them."

“Even if you don’t use it in the workshop, you can keep it at home.”

"It will also be more convenient for my mother to spin yarn and weave cloth in the future."

Zhang Yixian then nodded and understood Gu Yanwu's plan.

He immediately arranged for someone to pick out the two best sets and help Gu Yanwu transport them over. Gu Yanwu ordered them to deliver one set to his home and the other set to the tent next to the engineering camp to recruit workers.

The soldiers of the engineering battalion were quite curious when they saw Gu Yanwu transporting a set of looms. Someone jokingly said:
"Captain Gu, you don't have enough clothes to wear. Do you plan to weave them yourself?"

"I think you should get married and let your wife weave."

Gu Yanwu laughed and scolded, and said to the onlookers:
"Screw you, I'm buying it for my own workshop."

"When you go home to visit your relatives, spread the word that I plan to open a weaving workshop and hire weavers to weave."

"You must help me find a few skilled weavers. I will also take them to choose looms."

I told everyone about the workshop and asked them if they had any family members willing to come, or if they could recommend friends or relatives.

Most of the soldiers in these engineering camps are from Suzhou, and many of them have moved to the new district. Because they are not completely treated as soldiers, these people have many opportunities to visit their families, and being in the engineering camp is almost the same as working.

When they heard that Gu Yanwu was going to recruit workers, they all patted their chests and said that they would definitely spread the news.

However, some people still said:
"Captain Gu, we know you are a good person, and we also know that you will not mistreat the workers."

"But most of the weavers in the hired workers' association, especially the women's association, have decided to rent looms, especially those with good skills."

"You want to find skilled workers, but it may be difficult!"

It was Liu Lishun who first proposed to manufacture looms in Suzhou in order to absorb the urgently harvested cotton and provide employment for textile workers.

After the Chu vassal invested one million taels of silver, Suzhou Weaving was not short of funds, so textile workers who could not afford to buy looms were allowed to rent instead of buy, and part of the monthly rent could be used to offset the purchase cost.

This led to many workers renting looms, which is why Zhang Yixian said home looms are the hottest sellers.

Those weavers became self-employed and worked at home.

Suzhou Weaving is responsible for providing raw materials and production orders.

This production method met the needs of Suzhou's employment. It was no longer easy for Gu Yanwu to recruit workers.

After hearing these people's explanations, Gu Yanwu was delighted that the Suzhou weavers were living and working in peace and contentment, and said to them:

"You don't have to work full-time, you can just come and work part-time."

“Serve as a technical consultant in my weaving workshop and solve technical problems when needed.”

"Publicize these conditions well. I will go and select the looms after the factory is decided in a few days."

I told these people my conditions and expressed my intention to recruit senior technicians as consultants, including but not limited to weavers and carpenters, to solve problems encountered in the workshop production.

This immediately made many people excited, and they planned to talk to the senior technicians they were familiar with and work part-time in Gu Yanwu's workshop.

That way, not only can he earn some money, but he can also establish a good relationship with the official Gu Yanwu.

This is something that many people would love to have, as they want to seek protection from officials out of habit.
-
Zhang Daniu is one of them. Although his status is not high, he was just a tenant servant before.

But his wife, Aunt Zhang, was a well-known textile expert.

In the past, there were not many people in the countryside who could compare themselves, and they did not know what level their skills were. After joining the employment association to assess their skills, they found out that Aunt Zhang's textile skills were as high as level seven.

This is already a high-level technician and requires certification from both the Employers Association and the Engineers Association.

In the whole of Suzhou, there are only a dozen textile workers who are classified as senior skilled workers.

So even though his family had no money, he was guaranteed by the employment association and rented a loom from Suzhou Weaving Factory to do weaving work at home.

Upon learning of the idea of ​​the engineering battalion commander to open a workshop, Zhang Daniu asked for a leave to visit his family and went back to discuss with his wife:

"You are also a level 7 weaver, qualified to be a consultant in Captain Gu's workshop."

"If you go, I will have someone to take care of me in the engineering camp, and no one will be able to bully us anymore."

Aunt Zhang felt a little uneasy when she heard this, and quickly refused:
"How can I be a consultant for a workshop?"

"I don't even know how to use this loom. If something goes wrong, I need to find someone to fix it."

"I can't take the responsibility if the loom I choose breaks down."

Zhang Daniu quickly explained:

"Don't worry, there is another carpenter who can do the repairs. You are only responsible for weaving."

"Aren't you good at weaving that pattern? You can teach them."

Aunt Zhang said unhappily:
"That's not possible!"

"That's what we eat, and it can be passed down from generation to generation."

"If we teach others how to do it, won't we starve to death?"

Zhang Daniu laughed loudly, showing off what he had heard from the engineering camp:
"You don't know this. You can also apply for a design patent for your pattern."

"Once the application is approved, you can collect patent fees. The more people use it, the more money you will make."

"In the future, you should spread the weaving method of that pattern more and let them pay you the patent fee."

"As for you, just concentrate on studying the patterns and try to study as many as possible!"

The Engineering Battalion was named after the word "engineering", so there were naturally engineers in it. This engineer had a great background, as he had participated in the construction of Dalinghe Fort in Liaodong and was awarded a knighthood for this.

He was very familiar with the various policies related to craftsmen formulated by the court, and often talked about them with the soldiers in the engineering battalion.

Zhang Daniu learned about the patent when he heard someone bragging.

The purpose of taking leave this time was also to urge my mother-in-law to apply for a patent.

But Aunt Zhang was very reluctant. She didn't know what a patent was, and she didn't think she could get any royalties. She just wanted to keep her unique craft and not let others learn it.

Although Zhang Daniu also felt that he had a unique skill that could be passed down from generation to generation, he thought of the example of patent preemption mentioned by some people and said to his wife:
"It would have been fine in the past, not many people paid attention to us."

"But now you are a seventh-level weaver, and many people are paying attention to you."

"If someone else patents the pattern, we'll be in trouble."

"You might be found guilty of infringement and have to pay patent fees to the person who registered the patent first."

"You have to go quickly to confirm the invention rights of this pattern."

In Jiangnan, people don’t know much about patents, so there aren’t many people who rush to register. But in Beijing, there have been many cases.

Some people make profits by registering patents, and even patent public technologies.

The Patent Office has had a lot of headaches over this, trying to determine which technologies are public technologies that have already appeared and who are the specific inventors of certain technologies.

When Aunt Zhang heard that the pattern she came up with might be stolen by someone else, and that she might even have to pay patent fees if she wanted to use it in the future, she suddenly became nervous and cursed that this was unreasonable.

Zhang Daniu said impatiently:
"Whether it's reasonable or not, some people have done it."

"Besides, the patterns were copied by others before, so we couldn't collect any patent fees at all."

"Let's go to Officer Gu's weaving workshop to apply for a job and ask him to help register the patent."

"With him protecting us from now on, no one can bully us!"

He took Aunt Zhang to the Employees' Association to register the pattern, claiming his right to invention, and then went to Gu Yanwu to apply for the job.

Relying on his appeal, Gu Yanwu quickly recruited several high-level technical workers, each of whom had unique skills.

His weaving workshop was soon established and became one of the earliest enterprises in the new district. (End of this chapter)