Huangming

Chapter 401 Resumption of Political Resumption, Prosperity in Commerce and Technology
January of the second year of the Tianqi reign.

The Forbidden City is still enveloped in the warm red lingering glow of the Spring Festival.

The lanterns on the eaves of the Qianqing Palace have not yet been taken down, and the ink on the Spring Festival couplets on the vermilion palace walls is still wet.

From the first to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Zhu Youxiao unusually gave himself a holiday and also relaxed the court officials, allowing the perpetually tense imperial palace to finally have a few days of respite.

In the mornings of these past few days, Zhu Youxiao would still wake up at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), but he no longer summoned his ministers to discuss matters as usual.

He would first spend an hour in the warm chamber of his bedchamber to deal with urgent matters that could not be delayed.

It could be a secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a report on the resettlement of the remnants of the Liaodong army, or a report from Sichuan.

He read each memorial carefully, occasionally picking up his pen to make annotations, leaving no room for ambiguity.

These matters concern national affairs and cannot be delayed.

After finishing his official duties, the rest of his time became his rest time.

Just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the sounds of fists and feet would echo across the training ground in the West Garden.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed in light and comfortable clothing, first practiced a set of Eight Pieces of Brocade, raising his hands, expanding his chest, and twisting his waist. His movements were graceful and his breathing was even and long.

Next came the Five Animal Frolics, imitating the tiger's ferocity, the deer's lightness, the bear's composure, the monkey's agility, and the bird's outstretched wings. After completing the set, a thin layer of sweat had appeared on my forehead.

At the hour of Si (9-11 AM), Fang Zhenghua, the eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration, would arrive carrying a wooden sword.

This eunuch came from a martial arts background and was skilled in boxing and kicking. He was a "sparring partner" specially found by Zhu Youxiao.

The two practiced their swordsmanship in the open space, their wooden swords striking each other with a series of crisp "bang" sounds.

Fang Zhenghua was well aware of the difference between ruler and subject, and would secretly hold back in every match.

They could have dodged faster, but deliberately slowed down; they could have suppressed their opponent, but held back at the last moment.

Even so, Zhu Youxiao's progress was still visible to the naked eye.

At first, his swordplay was a bit clumsy, and he was often forced to retreat by Fang Zhenghua.

By the fifth day of the lunar new year, he was able to steadily parry more than twenty of Fang Zhenghua's moves, and even seize his openings to strike his opponent's shoulder with a backhand sword.

"Your Majesty's swordsmanship is much more skillful than it was five days ago!"

Fang Zhenghua sheathed his sword and bowed, his tone full of genuine admiration.

Zhu Youxiao wiped his sweat and waved his hand with a smile: "You're letting me win. But it's always good to practice more. As an emperor, you can't be weak and helpless."

Besides practicing martial arts, Zhu Youxiao also enjoyed the simple pleasures of being an "ordinary person".

In the afternoon, I will go to Kunning Palace to accompany Zhang Yan and Huiying, watch my daughter stretching out her little hands in her swaddling clothes, and listen to Zhang Yan talk about trivial matters in the harem.

Occasionally, she would choose a place to visit, such as Wang Wanbai's Yongning Palace, or the Western Six Palaces to find Yu Peizhen, or the Chuxiu Palace to visit Zhe Zhe and her niece Hailanzhu.
The palace servants whispered among themselves, "His Majesty has started to look more like a living person these past few days."

It can only be said that Zhu Youxiao's previous diligence in governing the country seemed rather abnormal to these palace servants.

Especially after comparing him with Emperor Shenzong.

But only Zhu Youxiao himself knew that this comfort was only temporary.

Every night before bed, he would review the day's affairs, write down the tasks to be done on paper, and remind himself not to indulge in pleasure.

After all, this Ming Dynasty was not a golden age.

He dared to take a vacation, but he dared not truly neglect state affairs.

The so-called "rest" is just to conserve energy so that we can face the challenges ahead with more energy.

Ever since.

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Zhu Youxiao's holiday came to an end.

It was still dark.

Zhu Youxiao then went to the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.

On the emperor's desk lay a thick stack of memorials accumulated during his vacation, with his red brush and inkstone neatly arranged.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed in casual clothes, sat upright on the dragon throne, looking more energetic than usual.

After a five-day vacation, he has adjusted his mindset and is ready to return to official duties.

"It is said that Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe has entered the cabinet for a meeting."

He gave instructions to those outside the hall, his voice steady, unlike the relaxed demeanor of yesterday.

Before long, Fang Congzhe appeared at the entrance of the pavilion.

This elderly official, over sixty years old, was dressed in a first-rank scarlet robe. His steps were slightly slow, and he couldn't help but cough twice as he entered. His face showed obvious fatigue.

He bowed and said, "Your humble servant Fang Congzhe greets Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities, Grand Secretary Fang. Please have a seat."

Zhu Youxiao gestured for him to sit on the brocade stool next to him and casually picked up a memorial.

"This is an urgent message from Sun Chengzong of Liaodong. He says that the resettlement of the remnants of the army has been initially completed, but there is still a shortfall in military pay. See how to allocate the funds."

Fang Congzhe took the memorial, but did not immediately look at it. Instead, he sighed softly in his heart.

You can imagine how Fang Congzhe felt being forced to return to work by his boss during a long holiday.

Unfortunately, he couldn't say anything, because Zhu Youxiao really did follow the rules.

It was simply following the rules of the Hongwu reign.

During the Hongwu era, Zhu Yuanzhang established a rule that the Spring Festival holiday would only last five days, and everyone had to return to work on the fifth day of the first lunar month without any delay.

But that was during the Hongwu reign, two hundred years ago.

Since the reign of Emperor Shenzong, this rule has long been relaxed.

Although Emperor Shenzong rarely attended court, he was exceptionally "generous" in extending the Spring Festival holiday. He would often start the holiday from the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, known as "Little New Year," and not allow officials to return to their posts until the 20th day of the first lunar month, known as "Filling the Granary Festival," which would amount to a holiday of more than 20 days.

Fang Congzhe was already used to this rhythm. In previous years, he would be at home playing with his children and grandchildren at this time. But now he had to brave the cold wind to attend court. He felt that his old bones were about to give out.

Although he was unhappy, he dared not refuse to do the work he was supposed to do.

"This old minister believes that a portion of the Ministry of Revenue's reserve funds can be allocated to alleviate the urgent needs of Liaodong."

Fang Congzhe composed himself and spoke slowly, his tone tinged with weariness.

"The reserve funds are already limited, and if more are allocated, we may be short of funds to deal with emergencies in the future."

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

"I know that the reserve funds are tight, so the tax reform in Jiangnan must be accelerated. Ye Xianggao submitted a report yesterday saying that the gentry in Suzhou and Songjiang are still resisting. You should lead the cabinet ministers to discuss whether we can come up with some more specific measures that can collect taxes without forcing the people to rebel."

Zhu Youxiao casually gave Fang Congzhe a suggestion.

Ye Xianggao started work early, and you're complaining about starting a day late?
Be careful not to get dragged down by Ye Xianggao and lose your position as prime minister.

"Yes, I obey the order."

Fang Congzhe bowed and agreed, but felt a sense of helplessness in his heart.

Was it a blessing or a curse to have a diligent ruler like Zhu Youxiao?
Fortunately, the Ming Dynasty may have a chance to be revived; unfortunately, his old bones are likely to be tormented by His Majesty.

Yesterday, at home, his son advised him, "Father, you are getting old. Why don't you ask His Majesty for permission to resign and enjoy your old age at home?"

But then he thought again, now is the time when the Ming Dynasty needs people. If he resigns, who will help His Majesty stabilize the cabinet?
We could only grit our teeth and persevere.

Fang Congzhe said: I want to continue to improve.

After giving Fang Congzhe some pointers, Zhu Youxiao asked, seemingly casually:
"By the way, those Western barbarians, such as Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands, have recently been sending messages through envoys, wanting to formally establish trade with our Great Ming. What is the Grand Secretary's opinion?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Congzhe immediately raised his head, a hint of caution in his eyes, and slowly spoke:
"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that the Western barbarians are uncivilized and ignorant of etiquette and moral principles. How can they be expected to trade with our Great Ming on an equal footing?"

After saying that, he secretly raised his eyes to observe Zhu Youxiao's expression.

Seeing that the emperor showed no anger and was simply listening quietly, he felt slightly relieved and continued:

"Since the founding emperor, our Great Ming Dynasty has been a celestial empire. All the surrounding vassal states could only trade with our dynasty under the pretext of paying tribute."

If we establish trade relations with the Western barbarians and do not pay tribute, the world may see it as 'using barbarians to change Chinese customs,' which would damage the dignity of our Great Ming Dynasty and shake the foundation of the people's hearts.

His tone became increasingly earnest:
"Moreover, these Western barbarians have always been greedy. If they are not qualified to pay tribute, refuse to become vassals, and are unwilling to be included in the tribute system of our Great Ming, why should they do business with us?"
I have heard that the Portuguese have already occupied Macau, ostensibly as 'temporary residents,' but in reality, it is no different from secession.

If we allow them to formally trade again, they will surely covet our lands in the future, and who can guarantee they won't turn against us like the Japanese pirates, eyeing our coastal territories!

When the Japanese pirates were mentioned, Fang Congzhe's voice deepened:
"Furthermore, once coastal trade is opened up, the flow of merchants will be prosperous, inevitably leading to a mix of good and bad."

The Japanese pirate raids during the Jiajing era were caused by the relaxation of the maritime ban and the collusion between unscrupulous merchants and Japanese pirates. How much military funds did the court spend and how many soldiers died to quell the chaos?

If history repeats itself, with the war in Liaodong still raging and She Chongming causing trouble in the southwest, where will the court find the energy to deal with the unrest along the coast?

After his speech, Fang Congzhe had almost exhausted all his reasons for opposing trade, from "the dignity of the Celestial Empire" to "territorial security" and "the threat of Japanese pirates." Each point was closely related to traditional governance concepts, and every sentence was intended to persuade Zhu Youxiao to give up the idea of ​​trade.

Zhu Youxiao did not interrupt him until Fang Congzhe finished speaking before slowly opening his mouth.

“What the Grand Secretary said is all based on ancestral rules and old principles, but the current situation is not comparable to that of the Taizu and Chengzu eras.”

He pointed to an inconspicuous report on the corner of the desk:
"This is a secret report from the Fujian governor, which states that the people of the coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong have long been trading privately with the Westerners through transit points such as Luzon and Malacca."

They used the silk, porcelain, and tea of ​​our Great Ming Dynasty to exchange for silver shipped from the Americas. In a year, the scale of smuggling was no less than one million taels.

This wealth ended up in the pockets of merchants and pirates, while the imperial court received nothing. Instead, it had to spend military funds to suppress smuggling. Was this a sustainable solution?

Fang Congzhe was taken aback upon hearing this, opened his mouth, but could not utter a word.

Although he knew that smuggling existed along the coast, he did not know that it was on such a large scale.

Zhu Youxiao continued, "As for the Japanese pirates, I'm afraid you don't know that Japan is no longer as chaotic as it was during the Jiajing era."

After the Tokugawa shogunate came to power, it strictly enforced a policy of national isolation, forbidding Japanese people from going to sea, and even rigorously inspecting passing merchant ships. The so-called "Japanese pirates" had long since ceased to be a significant force.

"Moreover, in the past, the Wokou raids in the southeast were mostly caused by coastal people who were forced to collude with a few genuine Wokou because the sea ban cut off their livelihoods."

If the imperial court could open up trade and give the people a way to survive, why worry about the Japanese pirates rising again?

"As for 'using barbarians to transform Chinese culture'..."

Zhu Youxiao smiled slightly, his tone carrying a hint of confidence.

"If our Great Ming Dynasty truly has the confidence of a Celestial Empire, then it should have the courage to 'replace the barbarians with Chinese culture,' rather than being afraid to make contact with the Western barbarians."

Their firearms may have some merit, and their navigation skills may have some merit, but in terms of etiquette, culture, and governance, they are far inferior to our Great Ming.

Trading with them would not only replenish the national treasury with taxes, but also provide an opportunity to understand their strengths and weaknesses and learn from their advantages. Why not do it?

Fang Congzhe was alarmed.

His Majesty's views on "trade" are so "out of line" that he even wants to "learn from the strengths of the Western barbarians".

He was about to retort when he saw Zhu Youxiao's gaze suddenly turn serious.

"Prime Minister, do you think they will give up if we refuse to trade with them and relocate their people to the interior?"

Zhu Youxiao's voice turned somber.

"I have received news that the Dutch have assembled ships in the South Seas. They are not content with smuggling with the people, but want to forcibly occupy the Penghu Islands of our Great Ming Dynasty, and use them as a base to force the court to open up trade."

"Some things can't be avoided by hiding."

The Western barbarians have powerful ships and cannons; they will come knocking on our door sooner or later.

The coastal people's demand for trade will eventually break through the shackles of the maritime ban.

Instead of reacting passively, it's better to take the initiative.

Regulating trade, establishing government-run trade, setting up customs and collecting taxes not only replenished the national treasury and allowed for better control of the situation, but also provided an opportunity to train troops and build ships, thus preparing for future threats.

Fang Congzhe stood there, his mind in turmoil.

He had never imagined that "trade" would involve so many considerations.

"You, Grand Secretary, should take the lead in overseeing trade with the Western barbarians, but there is no need to rush to have cabinet ministers or high-ranking officials take the lead."

“First, select a few officials of low rank but with practical skills from the Ministry of Rites’ Directorate of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of War’s Directorate of Military Affairs, and send them to the meeting hall to contact the envoys from the Western barbarians.”

Remember, the first thing to do is to find out the details.

What do they want?
Is it silk, porcelain, or tea?

How much silver are you willing to pay in exchange?

What are the requirements for treaty ports and tariff quotas?
These things must be asked clearly one by one; nothing can be overlooked.

Finally, he emphasized his words, a shrewd glint in his eyes:
"Trade is about exchanging goods, but our Great Ming Dynasty must never engage in unprofitable business."

If the Western barbarians want the good things from my Great Ming, they must show enough sincerity.

"The silver must be plentiful, and the rules must be followed. Anyone who tries to take advantage of our Great Ming Dynasty through trade will not be allowed to do so." Upon hearing this, Fang Congzhe already understood how thorny this task would be.

But since things had come to this, he had no choice but to accept the assignment.

"Old minister, I obey."

But after saying that, a bitter feeling crept into his heart.

Those officials who dared to criticize His Majesty even for reorganizing the capital garrison and promoting tax reforms would probably have piled up more impeachment memorials than the Emperor's desk if they knew that he was going to trade with "barbarians".

He's probably going to get a severe scolding again.

Saying that philosophers have ruined the country is the lightest of the worst; the personal attacks that follow are much harsher.

But then he thought about it again and sighed to himself.

He didn't secure his position as Grand Secretary by relying on the goodwill of his colleagues.

During the reign of Emperor Shenzong, he rose to power by mediating factional struggles and stabilizing the court.

In the current Tianqi Dynasty, His Majesty is determined to reform. If he dares to go against His Majesty's will, not only will he be impeached by the censors, but he will probably have to hand over the seal of the Grand Secretary in just a few days.

There are too many lice and it doesn’t itch.

Over the years, he has been criticized enough for supporting His Majesty's military reorganization, land survey, and transgression of ancestral rules.

As long as His Majesty still trusts and employs him, what does this little criticism matter?
"This old minister would never dare to neglect this matter."

Fang Congzhe bowed again, his tone no longer hesitant, but filled with the self-awareness of a scapegoat.

"Once we have thoroughly investigated the situation of the Western barbarians, I will convene the cabinet ministers, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites to discuss the trade regulations and formulate a sound plan for Your Majesty."

Seeing that he understood, Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly: "Alright, I'll leave this matter to you. You may leave now and have your men get to work as soon as possible."

Fang Congzhe bowed and took his leave. Although his steps were slow, he no longer felt tired as he had come.

Is Ye Xianggao, this old man, also getting all worked up?
Then I'll start rolling it up from Fang Congzhe!

Let's see who gives up first!
After Fang Congzhe took his leave.

Zhu Youxiao was the only one left in the warm pavilion. He picked up a folded drawing from the corner of the table.

That was a sketch of a spinning machine that Song Yingxing had handed over not long ago.

His willingness to consider "trading with the Western barbarians" was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Firstly, the war in Liaodong was critical, and although the tax reform in Jiangnan had made progress, there was still a shortfall. The silver from the Americas held by the Westerners was exactly the "lifesaving money" that the Ming Dynasty urgently needed.

Smuggling by civilians alone can earn a million taels a year. If it could be brought under government control, it could at least fill one-third of the military pay shortfall.

Secondly, after Mao Wenlong's reorganization, the Tianjin Navy had added more than 20 warships, and after half a year of training, the soldiers were already proficient in operating the new cannons. They had enough confidence to defend the treaty ports and guard against the instability of the Western barbarians.

The most crucial breakthrough was Song Yingxing's work on spinning machines.

Traditional spinning wheels can only spin three ounces of yarn per person per day. If the new machine can achieve "one machine equals ten machines", the silk production can be increased at least tenfold, while the cost can be reduced by 30%. At that time, the cheap and high-quality silk of the Ming Dynasty can monopolize the Western Yi market, and the silver earned can completely fill the national treasury of the Ming Dynasty.

"Summon Song Yingxing to come see me immediately!"

Zhu Youxiao gave instructions to Wei Chao beside him.

Wei Chao bowed and agreed immediately, then hurried off to deliver the imperial decree.

Half an hour later, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the warm pavilion.

Song Yingxing, dressed in a blue cloth craftsman's uniform, strode into the warm pavilion.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, he lifted his robe and knelt to pay his respects, his voice slightly breathless but unable to conceal his excitement:
"Song Yingxing of the Academy of Sciences pays respects to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youxiao stepped forward and personally helped him up.

"No need to be polite."

Zhu Youxiao patted him on the shoulder.

"I've heard that the Academy of Sciences has come up with a lot of good things recently, especially your spinning machine, which is said to have made great progress."
"Today is perfect. Take me to the Academy of Sciences so I can see for myself this treasure that can double the daily production of silk in the Ming Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Song Yingxing's eyes lit up instantly, and he nodded quickly:
"Your Majesty is wise! Three prototypes of the new spinning machine have been built and tested yesterday. One person can spin three catties of yarn a day, which is equivalent to ten spinners!"

"I was just about to report this to Your Majesty, but I never expected Your Majesty to summon me personally!"

"Good! Good!"

Zhu Youxiao said "good" twice, his tone full of satisfaction.

"Come, I will accompany you to the Academy of Sciences today so that I may see this 'treasure' in person!"

In the northeast corner of the imperial city, next to the Bureau of Armory, was the "Academy of Sciences" established by Zhu Youxiao's personal decree.

The location was chosen because the imperial city was heavily guarded and it was also very close to the Qianqing Palace. This allowed the emperor, who loved to examine objects, to come and check on the progress at any time, avoiding the hassle of "clearing the way, imposing martial law, and having officials accompany him" when leaving the city.

Just after 9 a.m. that day, hundreds of burly Han generals escorted the imperial carriage and stopped outside the vermilion gate of the Academy of Sciences.

After dismounting from the imperial carriage, Zhu Youxiao, dressed in ordinary clothes and without a crown, only wearing a jade belt, strode into the courtyard with a hint of anticipation for the new item in his eyes.

The Academy of Sciences had only been established for a little over three months. The compound was converted from a former idle palace and covered an area of ​​ten acres. On both sides of the blue brick-paved path, there were several workshops such as "Glass Workshop", "Soap Workshop", "Cement Workshop" and "Loom Workshop". Although the layout was simple, it was full of novelty.

As Zhu Youxiao walked to the first workshop, he saw several craftsmen surrounding a furnace of bright red glass material, with several translucent flat plates placed beside the furnace.

It was a glass prototype made according to his casual idea of ​​"translucent glass". Although there were still some air bubbles on the edges, it could clearly reflect a person's image.

In the soap shop next door, rows of square soap bars are stacked on the shelves, some with osmanthus and some with rose. The soaps are delicate and exude a light fragrance.

However, research on cement and perfume has progressed more slowly, and no results have been achieved so far.

Looking at these novel items, Zhu Youxiao nodded with a smile, but his gaze had already moved beyond them.

Today, what he was most concerned about was the "improvement of the spinning machine" that Song Yingxing had mentioned.

Following the guide through two moon gates, we arrived at the three-courtyard house where the loom workshop was located. As soon as we entered the courtyard, three machines of different sizes came into view.

Zhu Youxiao walked straight to the spinning machines.

"Song Qing, please introduce him."

"Yes!"

Song Yingxing stood up and led Zhu Youxiao to the two smaller machines on the outermost side. He pointed to a machine on the left, about ten feet tall, with a two-story wooden building attached, and said:

"Your Majesty, this is the 'flower loom' commonly used by the government-run weaving bureau in Jiangnan, which is used to weave intricately patterned fabrics such as dragon robes and brocade satin."

Look at this structure, it's sixteen feet long, with 1,800 bamboo supports standing underneath, supporting the upper 'flower pavilion'.

Two people are required to work together when weaving:

A person sits on the flower pavilion, holding up a 'flower book' with both hands. Each thread on the flower book corresponds to a warp thread on the loom. As the person holds up the book, the warp thread rises and falls according to the pattern.

Downstairs, another person held a shuttle in both hands, weaving the silk threads into cloth by throwing the weft back and forth.

As he spoke, he gestured for the craftsmen to demonstrate. The craftsmen on the upper floor bent over and lifted the brocade book, their movements slow and their foreheads were already covered in fine sweat. The craftsmen downstairs had to use both arms to throw the shuttle, and it took them a long time to weave a piece of cloth only an inch long.

"The drawbacks of this flower loom are obvious. To weave a dragon robe, the pattern alone needs to be prepared six months in advance, and the weaving process takes three or four months."

Changing the pattern would take ten days or more, requiring the replacement of the entire pattern book; the efficiency is simply too low.

Then he pointed to a slightly shorter machine next to him, equipped with a winch:
"This is a 'Luoji', which is specially used to weave breathable silk satin. Summer clothes are mostly made of it."

The principle is similar to that of a flower-making machine, except that it has an additional device to control the winding of the warp threads, which is equally labor-intensive.

Nowadays, the most commonly used spinning wheel in the Jiangnan region is actually this kind of 'multi-spindle foot-operated spinning wheel'.

Song Yingxing led Zhu Youxiao to a small machine in the corner of the wall. The machine had three spindles on its body, and a pedal connected to a rotating wheel.

"This machine uses feet to move the wheels and hands to handle the silk. A peasant woman can operate it and spin one and a half pounds of yarn per day, which is three times faster than a hand-cranked spinning wheel and just enough for a traditional loom."

But therein lies the problem.

Spinning speed increased, but weaving remained the same. A traditional treadle loom could only produce a maximum of one bolt of cloth per person per day. The excess cotton yarn piled up in the workshops, unable to be sold, gradually leading to the problem of 'cotton yarn surplus and cloth shortage,' a worry for weavers in the Jiangnan region.

Zhu Youxiao listened attentively, his fingers gently tracing the wooden wheels of the foot-operated spinning wheel, when he suddenly looked up and asked, "Then what about your improved machine?"

Song Yingxing's eyes lit up instantly, and he quickly led Zhu Youxiao toward the largest machine in the center of the courtyard.

This machine is taller than a spinning machine. It is made of hardwood and has eight spindles. On the side is a brass-colored shuttle groove with two thin springs embedded in the groove.

"Your Majesty, look! This is the 'flying shuttle spinning machine' that I improved!"

He pointed to the shuttle groove and had the craftsman step on the pedal. With a few "whoosh" sounds, the shuttle moved back and forth automatically along the groove without being manually thrown, its speed so fast that it was almost a blur.

"I carved grooves at both ends of the shuttle, and installed springs and small wooden hammers. When the pedal drives the wheel, the springs will use the force to launch the shuttle, and the wooden hammers will cushion the force, allowing the shuttle to move back and forth smoothly."

With this modification, the width of the cloth can be increased from three feet to six feet, and it can be operated by one person.

"Your Majesty, what do you think the daily output will be?"

Zhu Youxiao stared intently at the shuttle's movements, his eyes gleaming: "How many?"

Four horses!

Song Yingxing's voice rose several decibels.

"It's four times faster than a traditional loom! And the woven fabric is smoother, without the deviation that occurs when you throw the shuttle by hand."

As he spoke, he pointed to the eight spindles on the machine: "I have added more spindles to the spinning wheel, from three to eight. Spinning and weaving can now be integrated on one machine. By calculation, the weaving speed is more than ten times faster than before!"

Zhu Youxiao stepped forward and carefully examined the rotation of the spinning spindle.

The eight spindles rotate synchronously with the rotating wheel, and the silk threads are drawn out from the spindles and woven into the fabric through the guide tubes. The movement is smooth and without any disorder.

He reached out and touched the ejected shuttle; the cool wood, combined with the resilience of the metal spring, made him admire it.
"Great! This shuttle modification is ingenious. It allows us to weave wide cloth without the need for two people to work together. It truly solves a major problem."

"Your Majesty, this is not its limit!"

Song Yingxing walked to the other side of the machine, pointed to the several tenon and mortise joints reserved on the machine body, and said:

"I would like to increase the number of spindles to thirty-eight! At that time, one machine can spin eight or nine catties of yarn per day, and the weaving speed can be tripled!"
There are still some technologies that I haven't fully mastered yet.

Thirty-eight spindles must rotate synchronously, and the gears must mesh precisely, otherwise the yarn is prone to breakage.

Moreover, the spring force of the shuttle needs to be adjusted, otherwise it will easily come off the groove when weaving cloth longer than six feet.

However, I have already drawn up the blueprints. Let's try for another two months; it will surely succeed!

As he spoke, he took out a roll of drawings from his pocket, unfolded it, and showed it to Zhu Youxiao. The paper was densely covered with details of gears and yarn spindles, as well as several revision suggestions marked in red ink.

Zhu Youxiao took the blueprints and was also very shocked.

He had only casually mentioned to Song Yingxing that "weaving is too slow, could we make the machine move on its own?" and gave Song Yingxing a general direction for research.

Unexpectedly, Song Yingxing actually figured out so many tricks of the trade.

During the Tianqi era, there were already many workshops in Jiangnan where "households provided capital and workers provided labor," and the seeds of capitalism had quietly sprouted, but they lacked the technology to drive the industry.

Now that this shuttle machine is out, if it can be promoted to the Jiangnan region, not only will weavers earn more money, but the imperial court will also collect more commercial taxes. Wouldn't the military pay for Liaodong and the city walls for the border defenses be secured?
He looked up at Song Yingxing, then glanced at the busy craftsmen in the courtyard.

Suddenly, I felt a sense of clarity in my heart.

He used to be told by court officials that he was "indulging in material things and neglecting his duties," but after seeing these things today, he realized how much knowledge and wisdom was hidden in "material things."

By gradually developing the technology tree, we can enable artisans to turn their ideas into tangible things, which will not only improve the lives of the people but also generate wealth for the Ming Dynasty. Isn't this much more useful than empty debates in the imperial court?

"Song Qing."

Zhu Youxiao's expression was very solemn.

"Let's build ten of these shuttles first and send them to the large weaving workshop in Songjiang Prefecture to test them out."

You can report the required timber and brass directly to the Imperial Household Department, and I will approve it for you.

As for the 38-ingot machine, feel free to try it out. If you need money or manpower, just tell me.

"I want to see if this little spinning machine can enable the Ming Dynasty's cloth to be sold overseas!"

Upon hearing this, Song Yingxing's voice trembled with excitement: "Your Majesty, I obey! I will certainly not fail in your trust!"

Science and technology are primary productive forces.

The first industrial revolution began with the spinning jenny.

But this time, why not start from my Great Ming Dynasty!
Think about this.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the energetic Song Yingxing and gave him a look that said, "I admire you."

You oxen and horses, get to work!

Let's make more money for the Ming Dynasty!
perhaps
The imperial court's trade with the Western barbarians would cut off the financial resources of the Jiangnan gentry and pirates, causing turmoil in the Jiangnan officialdom.

This could also be a golden opportunity for Zhu Youxiao to intervene in Jiangnan!

ps:
A long chapter of 7600 words!
There's so much information to look up, I need to hurry and finish typing this!
(End of this chapter)