eldest son of Ming dynasty

Chapter 622 The increasingly prosperous Hangzhou

Zhu Houzhao himself did not understand the relevant technical principles in the cotton textile industry and how to improve it. Although in his mind, textile equipment like the Jenny machine represented backwardness, he still could not build it.

But this is not fatal. Improving looms is not a Zenith star technology that only foreigners can do but the Chinese cannot. Whether the technology can develop depends on demand.

Just like a tragic war can promote the technological progress of guns and artillery.

Once trade is carried out, trade itself will spontaneously generate motivation to improve production technology.

Besides, just improving the loom is actually only a very limited change.

For the rest, for example, should navigation skills be improved?Should shipbuilding technology be improved?Is there any room for improvement in making ceramics and making tea?
If Zhu Houzhao relied on himself to set up the technology tree for all this, then he would have to bring an artificial intelligence.

And if the business environment does not change, the concept of trade does not change, and the driving force for productivity improvement disappears, what should we do?
Business is a matter of competition. You can’t improve once and then become popular all over the world. Who will make subsequent improvements?
Therefore, the most fundamental method must be to reshape the Ming Dynasty's business environment from the underlying logic, mobilize the power of the people, and open overseas trade to the private sector.

This is different from the tribute trade in the early Ming Dynasty before the maritime ban.

In the past three or four years, Zhu Houzhao would emphasize in every memorial sent to the capital by Wang Qiong and Mei Kejia that Zhejiang and Fujian were mountainous and sparse, and that although commerce was a late industry, it was an important supplement to agriculture and should be encouraged and regulated.

Rural people in northern Zhejiang gradually regard cotton weaving and cloth weaving as important side jobs besides farming.

There are many loom workshops in the city of Hangzhou. From the most ordinary loom craftsmen to large and small households running workshops, the lively scene in the streets and alleys has wiped clean the blood stains from the opening of the sea in the first year of Zhengde.

News came out from the governor's office that Hangzhou's bank customs was cancelled, and the imperial court wanted to build a navy to protect the merchant ships of the Ming Dynasty... These things that used to sound like science fiction have really happened.

The small households who were not qualified to enter the yamen also sent people to inquire about the news at the door. When they heard that this was the case, the servants in the street coaxed them to disperse, and then everyone went their separate ways and went back to their homes.

"Is what you said true?"

As soon as he entered the courtyard, an old man stood up with a cane.

This family's surname is Song, and they own more than ten looms. They are not small in the city of Hangzhou, and of course they are not big either.

"I don't dare to lie. Now it's spread outside."

Old Man Song has rich experience in his life, and he will always be suspicious of this kind of pure good news, "So what about the Jianshui Division's money? Did the government ask businessmen to pledge donations?"

The boy who reported the report was dumbfounded and hesitantly said, "This... no one has mentioned it. Why don't you go inquire more about it?"

"Okay, you go, you go."

Standing next to Old Man Song was his granddaughter, who was in her twenties and eighties. Her eyes were watery and her skin was fair and tender like that of a Jiangnan woman, giving people a very clean feeling.

"Grandpa, what do you mean, the government is taking this opportunity to let merchants pay money?"

Old Man Song sighed slightly, "I'm just saying that this is a possibility. But if those navy really protect merchant ships, it wouldn't hurt to pledge some money. I'm afraid that in the end, the navy will collect protection fees from us again."

Put it this way, it does look a bit like the government's past style.

"It shouldn't be so...my granddaughter heard that the Holy One is wise and powerful, and she will never allow the officials below to behave like this."

"The Ming Dynasty is great. Your Majesty has good intentions, but there are many people with bad intentions. Sometimes they can care about the north but not the south. But it is useless to worry about that. Since the imperial court encourages silk spinning and business, We can still do business. Is everything okay now?"

"Grandpa, don't worry. Everything is normal for the mulberry silk and the craftsmen. As long as the Nanyang Company continues to go to sea as usual this year, our goods will be sold. But my granddaughter feels that she cannot keep guarding these dozen looms like this."

"You have a wild heart. If your father could defend me, I would die in peace. How many people can't even defend themselves."

The girl's name is Song Wenxue. She has a pair of dark eyebrows, and her beats are sharp with wisdom. "Grandpa, my granddaughter has been worried all the time since she took over the management of this loom workshop. As expected, Zhengde's income in four years has been It dropped by [-]% last year, so it would be fine if my granddaughter was not doing well, but Daming Nanyang Company's income has also dropped. Although it is still okay now, this business... is always a bit worrying. "

"That's how business is, every step is not easy. But what can we do?"

"Can you think of a way to make the silk weaved by our family different from others?"

"What do you mean?" Song Wenxue stretched out her bare hands and took out something different from her cuffs, "There are also people from overseas in Hangzhou. From what they said, the buildings, streets, and cities there are different from those in the Ming Dynasty. Then Can we knit some patterns that are more acceptable to them?”

While the two of them were discussing, the man who had just gone out to inquire about the news also came back.

The boy was panting, and came back to report, "Master, the cancellation of the banknote check is definitely true, and it is absolutely not wrong. As for whether to donate money to build the navy, it is now a voluntary principle. The government does not force it, but there are some people who are the same as the master. I took the initiative to pledge donations. The largest donation was from Zhang Yourong’s family, who pledged 5000 taels of silver.”

Old Man Song muttered, "Voluntary?"

"Well! That's right."

"Tsk."

This is annoying. Other people have pledged donations. Do you think they have pledged donations or not?If you don't pledge the donation, if something happens and the government doesn't protect you, it won't be your end.

Of course, the government will still speak. This is called voluntary, no one forces you.

……

……

In the governor's office, Zhang Li, Mei Kejia and Gu Dayong were all there.

They are quite happy.

"...The merchants responded enthusiastically and took the initiative to donate to help the imperial court." Zhang Li held the brush in his hand and said with a smile: "How about writing this memorial like this?"

Mei and Gu both felt that there was no problem, "Your Majesty has implemented good governance this time. It is reasonable for the merchants to express their gratitude to you for your kindness."

"Next, this year's merchant ships will go to sea."

Modern people may not understand that in the age of sails, if humans wanted to sail on the sea, they must pay attention to one thing - the monsoon.

Therefore, many Japanese pirates in the Ming Dynasty were concentrated from March to May, because at this time, they could reach the coast of China with the help of the monsoon from Japan. After a wave of raids, the seasons changed and the wind direction changed, and the Japanese pirates could go back directly.

For trade, Ming Dynasty currently has two main routes. One is to go to Japan in the first half of the year, and then come back when the wind direction changes in winter;
The other is that in October, the northeast monsoon begins to blow south of the Yangtze River Estuary. At this time, merchant ships loaded with cargo can go all the way south and even cross the Strait of Malacca.When the southwest monsoon begins to blow next summer, you can set sail northward.

So the fleet that will come back in two months will be the ones that went out last year.

Zhang Li wrote the last words, and then said: "This is also a memorial to announce the good news. It should be handed over to His Majesty as soon as possible. As for the next thing, Ping Haibo, when are we going to see the treasure ship with two thousand materials?" With merchants paying donations, the money will become even more abundant."

In order to prepare for the establishment of the navy, the emperor had allocated 46 taels of silver in advance at the court meeting, of which 20 taels were used to build large ships. The price of these ships was 2000 taels each, which was no longer cheap.

But the emperor is rich now, and he can get 20 taels with a wave of his hand. He will build 100 ships first. If this is taken to the sea, the scale of the fleet will scare the Japanese pirates to death.

Of course, having money is one thing, but taking three years or ten years to build it is another. Raw materials, craftsmen, and the number of shipyards are all limiting factors. Zhang Li proposed to visit at this time, and it was not just a visit. .

How to effectively alleviate various limiting factors is the key. This is what the so-called pragmatic and specific work refers to.

"As long as Zhong Cheng has time, you can go see it at any time."

"What about the day after tomorrow? Then let the people from the Chief Envoys Department come together. That Song Heng was originally in charge of the Capital Planning Department. Let's all go and see him."

"it is good!"

After Mei Kejia walked out of the governor's office, she was still a little uncomfortable. After all, there was a new person.However... Zhang Li seems to be not much inferior to Wang Qiong. No matter what, he is also a man of action.

After he left, the governor's yamen also brought out a horse, and then quickly went north with the memorial. What was left behind was the city of Hangzhou where everyone was in it and watched it become more and more prosperous. .

(End of this chapter)