pappabearbooks Chapter 56 Textile Industry
Chapter 56 Textile Industry
A banquet was held at the governor's mansion in Linzi, Qingzhou.
The banquet was brightly lit, and everyone was in high spirits.
The newly recruited Zhao Yun sat in the seat of honor. Although he was a little reserved, the enthusiasm and sincerity of Yuan Tan's civil and military officials gradually made him relax.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, the chief clerk Wang Xiu left his seat and whispered in Yuan Tan's ear, his face filled with worry:
"My lord, the treasury is once again running low on funds. Although the 'Qingzhou Bank' has been established, many people are hesitant and few are actually depositing money. While the profits from salt are substantial, the expenditures are even greater. Expanding the army, building the city, and comforting the displaced people all require money. If this continues, I fear it will be difficult to sustain."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Tan sobered up considerably and frowned deeply.
He pondered for a moment, then whispered to Lu Su, Guo Jia, and the others beside him:
"Zijing and Fengxiao, the crux of the matter of money shops still lies in 'credit' and 'convenience.' Providing the people with high profits may entice them, but it is ultimately not a long-term solution and will easily exacerbate the money shortage. I have an idea that may help to increase the source of income: the desires of the people are nothing more than food and clothing."
Qingzhou already has salt, which generates income from food; why not develop income from clothing? If I can widely weave fine cloth, making it inexpensive and of good quality, so that the people not only seek to be well-fed, but also to be warmly clothed, and even to wear beautiful clothes, then the circulation of money and goods can be greatly accelerated.”
To get people to save money, you can use high interest rates to attract them.
However, if you attract money to deposit but can't use that money to generate more money, then it's definitely a losing proposition.
So what kind of investments are profitable?
The textile industry, of course.
Anyone who has played Victoria 3 knows that if you want to start an industrial revolution, the most profitable industry in the early stages is undoubtedly textiles.
They developed their own textile industry without ever considering an industrial revolution.
His idea of doing this now is absolutely delusional.
However, developing the textile industry can generate more money.
While engaging in sea salt trade was indeed very profitable, the money was merely a drop in the ocean compared to the dire need of rebuilding Qingzhou.
Moreover, he has so many troops to support.
Otherwise, they would end up like Spain during the Age of Exploration, making a lot of money from the profits of the Ming Dynasty, but in the end, they only developed an invincible fleet without creating a virtuous cycle in their economy.
The main reason why the enclosure movement occurred in Britain was the booming development of the textile industry.
This is another major consumer demand for ordinary people after they have money, besides their appetite.
The workers at the saltworks nowadays are paid fairly well, and they certainly have enough money to buy clothes.
The main reason why workers keep their money at home and refuse to spend it is that they have no one to spend it on.
They wanted to buy clothes, but there weren't any available in the market.
Furthermore, this is a time of chaos, a time when the self-sufficient small-scale peasant economy is collapsing.
Moreover, their own army also needs uniforms, and there is a huge shortage; even now, the uniforms of the Taishan Army are of inconsistent quality.
Therefore, this essential demand must be substantial.
Developing the textile industry would create a market and also solve the employment problem for some of the displaced people.
This will allow the money to circulate again.
They can also collect an extra business tax.
A glint of light flashed in Lu Su's eyes: "Does Your Majesty intend to emulate the salt policy and establish a state-run textile industry? To use these new goods to stimulate consumer spending and promote the circulation of money?"
"Indeed!" Yuan Tan nodded. "I know a method, which might be called a spinning machine. Although the device is ingenious, the principle is not far-fetched. It can double the efficiency of spinning! If it can be developed, the cost of cloth will be greatly reduced, and production will surge. It can meet the needs of the people domestically and be sold to other states, thus becoming another source of income!"
Technically speaking, the spinning jenny could have been developed in the late Han Dynasty.
All that's missing is an opportunity to break through the barrier.
Before I transmigrated, I did study this thing. If I could recruit a craftsman and give him detailed instructions, it wouldn't be too difficult to tinker with it.
But that's all for later. I can start by opening a textile factory, hiring female workers, and using traditional textile techniques to see if there's really a market for it.
If market demand is high, the scale can be expanded.
They even invented the spinning jenny.
Guo Jia coughed lightly, revealing the key point:
"However, starting this new business requires a large capital investment. Craftsmen, raw materials, workshops—all require money. The government treasury... may not be able to support it."
For a moment, silence fell over the room.
Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice; the development of domestic affairs is being severely hampered by a lack of funds.
Just then, a guard led in a man with an air of superiority; it was Feng Ji, a strategist under Yuan Shao. He held a silk scroll in his hand, his face displaying an air of haughty arrogance, and he merely bowed slightly to Yuan Tan.
"Young Master Xiansi, the General has given orders!"
Yuan Tan led his men to rise and receive the order. Feng Ji unfolded the silk scroll and read it aloud.
The content was an order from Yuan Shao, commanding Yuan Tan, the governor of Qingzhou, to "prepare troops immediately, march south to Shouchun, suppress the rebellion, and defend the emperor; there must be no delay!"
After Feng Ji finished speaking, a cold smile appeared on his lips:
"Young Master Xiansi, the General has high expectations of you and has entrusted you with this important task. Do not fail him. When shall we depart?"
His tone was full of contempt and urging.
"bass!"
During the meal, Zhang He's expression suddenly changed, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword, his tiger-like eyes wide open.
Even he could see that this was clearly a scheme to kill someone with a borrowed knife!
Should we send the isolated Qingzhou army south to face the formidable walls of Shouchun, and the fierce army of Yuan Shu?
Moreover, Lu Bu of Xuzhou has a grudge against Qingzhou. Do you really think he can let us pass through safely?
Yan Liang was also furious.
Even Zhao Yun, who had just joined the party, frowned.
Yuan Tan laughed heartily, his expression unchanged. He even personally descended the steps to receive the silk letter and warmly grasped Feng Ji's hand.
"Thank you for coming in person, Mr. Yuan Tu! My father has given the order, and I dare not fail to do my utmost. You must be tired from your journey, please rest for a moment and allow me to make some arrangements. I will certainly give my father a satisfactory explanation!"
As he spoke, he used his eyes to stop Zhang He from lashing out.
Seeing Yuan Tan's "obedience," Feng Ji felt even more contemptuous. He gave a few perfunctory words and then arrogantly followed his attendants to the post station to rest.
As soon as Feng Ji left, the hall erupted in chaos.
Zhang He was the first to exclaim, "My lord! This is a trap to wipe out our entire family! That brat Yuan Shang wants to kill us all! How can we fall for his trick?"
Xinpi stepped forward quickly, his expression solemn:
"Junyi is absolutely right! This is indeed a well-laid plan. If we accept the order, all the elite troops of Qingzhou will be sent out, isolated behind enemy lines, and their chances of survival are slim. If we refuse, we will give them a pretext to accuse us of 'disobeying orders,' and Yecheng can then rightfully attack us!"
"The best course of action now, in my opinion, is to send a lieutenant general with several thousand elderly and weak men to slowly advance south. Upon reaching the border of Xuzhou, they should feign obstruction, hesitate to advance, and submit a memorial complaining of blocked roads and insufficient supplies. This feigned evasion is the best strategy."
This is a safe and reliable strategy of "delaying".
The generals all nodded in agreement, believing the plan to be mature and prudent.
However, Guo Jia chuckled lightly and shook his head:
"Zuozhi's strategy is a conservative approach, which can ensure temporary peace. However, my lord, I have a question: Our Qingzhou army has been training for a long time and is full of vigor, yet it is confined to a corner. When will the soldiers' ambition to achieve great deeds be fulfilled?"
He stood up, his gaze sweeping over Yan Liang, Zhang He, and even the newly arrived Zhao Yun, and said with a hearty smile:
"Huainan is the wealthiest place under heaven! Yuan Shu has plundered it for years, and his treasures are piled up like mountains. Shouchun City is a tough nut to crack in the eyes of Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Ce, but in our eyes, isn't it a gold mine?"
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