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Although the steam engine developed by Daqin could not drive large machinery such as trains due to technical reasons, it was definitely not a problem to drive light machinery such as textile machines.
Huang Sheng's improved spinning machine, combined with the steam engine, may be one of the driving forces behind the Qin Dynasty's industrial revolution.
As a supporting measure, Qin Mu asked the Ministry of Industry to increase the mining efforts of the Pingxiang coal mine in Jiangxi, and at the same time build an asphalt road from Pingxiang to Linjiang Prefecture.
Linjiang Prefecture is the hometown of Queen Yang Zhi. In this way, Pingxiang's coal can be transported to Linjiang Prefecture via asphalt roads, then loaded onto ships in Linjiang Prefecture, and then transported into the Yangtze River through the Ganjiang River and Poyang Lake, and then transported all the way to the south of the Yangtze River.
In addition, Qin Mu realized that it was necessary for Daqin to introduce a set of profit-sharing laws.
Now many private factories and workshops in Daqin have invested special funds as scientific research expenses. According to Han Zanzhou, Longjiang Shipyard alone invested 300,000 dragon coins in scientific research last year.
With the advent of the scientific research boom, scientific research results will surely emerge like mushrooms after rain. If there is no patent law to protect the interests of researchers, this scientific research boom will definitely suffer a severe blow.
In later generations, why did the United States always lead the world in innovation? It was definitely not because Americans were particularly smart. Qin Mu believed that it was because the United States did a good job in protecting intellectual property rights. Every scientific research result was well protected, and the interests of researchers were not infringed by others. Therefore, many people became rich overnight and even had their own business empire.
In China, the awareness of intellectual property rights is very weak. If you work hard to develop a product, before you make any profit, the counterfeit products have almost completely taken over the market share.
In this case, how many people are willing to devote their energy and huge amounts of money to scientific research that is almost impossible to gain benefits? China's scientific and technological innovation capabilities lag behind. It is not that Chinese people are dumber than others, but that they are actually indifferent to the protection of intellectual property rights.
When the country reports on scientists who have made important contributions, it always focuses on how they have been consistent for decades, how they have disregarded personal fame and fortune, worked hard and made selfless contributions.
Indeed, such people are worthy of respect, but from the perspective of the country, if scientists are forced to live such a hard life and receive such low pay, how many talents can you retain? It would be strange if some talented people did not go to the United States to develop.
Qin Mu felt that if people engaged in scientific research in a country could become rich overnight by relying on their scientific research results, then the motivation for scientific and technological innovation in this country would definitely be much stronger than advocating hard work and selfless dedication.
Qin Mu convened a court meeting to discuss this matter, and finally passed a resolution to establish a patent bill, which was handed over to the Dali Temple to draft the bill.
Qin Mu asked the Daqin Times to publicize this issue repeatedly. First, he wanted to raise the public's awareness of intellectual property rights. Next, he planned to assign the Ministry of Justice the power to enforce the law and set up a special inspection department.
This is all we can do at the moment. Further strengthening of law enforcement capabilities will have to wait until local judicial reforms are completed.
In addition to the spinning machine, there was also good news from the palace that Concubine Xu was pregnant.
Perhaps the happiest person among them was not the father Qin Mu, but the brother-in-law Xu Yongshun. More than a dozen family members, including Liu Changzuo, were also in high spirits and rushed to Xu's house to congratulate him. They also prepared a lot of gifts for Xu Yongshun to bring into the palace.
So, Xu Yongshun came, and Qin Mu received him in the Jianjia Hall. After looking at the gift list he handed over, Qin Mu couldn't help but laugh and said, "Xiao Shunzi, just be happy. How can you bring so many things now?"
Xu Yongshun replied with a smile: "Your Majesty's teaching is true, but I am very happy. Besides, I heard that Your Majesty is too frugal in spending in the palace, and I feel uneasy."
"Don't give me that. Don't you think I don't know what you are thinking?"
"No, no, no... Your Majesty, I really have no other intentions this time..."
"Really? That's what you said, don't mention anything else later."
"Hehe, that... I actually want to ask Your Majesty, that..."
"Just say what you want to say. Don't be so hesitant." Qin Mu gave him a sidelong glance. He knew from the beginning that this guy would not be willing to come here without taking away some benefits.
"Your Majesty... I heard that Your Majesty designed some clothes by yourself. I was thinking, how can you let your Majesty's designs be buried? Your Majesty, how about this? Leave these clothes to me..."
"You wish."
Qin Mu was smiling happily. After the two exotic beauties, Katerina and Henna, wore the Rococo-style women's clothing he designed, Li Xiangjun and others soon became fascinated with them. Then, the design spread among the noble ladies and wealthy daughters in the capital and was warmly sought after.
Women all love beauty, so it is natural that this gorgeous women's clothing, known as the "mobile garden", becomes popular.
The current atmosphere in Daqin is much more open than that in the Ming Dynasty. After all, with more contact with the outside world, people's horizons have broadened and they are more receptive to exotic things.
As far as Qin Mu knew, in fact, during the closed Qing Dynasty, there were also portraits of Emperor Qianlong's concubines wearing Western clothing.
The "mobile garden" is all the rage right now, and it contains huge business opportunities. If it was designed by someone else, Xu Yongshun would have found a way to take it over long ago, but this was designed by the emperor, and if Qin Mu hadn't given his approval, he wouldn't have dared to think of anything crooked.
Xu Yongshun said with a drooling face: "Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that the censors will say that you are competing with the people for profit?"
"What does it have to do with you whether I compete with the people for profit or not? You are not a citizen."
Xu Yongshun was speechless. If it were the Ming Dynasty, officials like them would not be allowed to do business either. If it came to competing with the people for profits, aren't they doing enough of that now
"Besides, this is something I designed myself. I didn't steal it from anyone else. Do you think I'd let you steal it from me?"
"Oh, Your Majesty, look at what you said, how dare I say that."
"It's not easy for me either, Xiao Shunzi, stop worrying about my things and tell us how the trade with the British is going."
Xu Yongshun was devastated by his failure to get the moving garden. He had to answer the emperor's question: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. We have established a solid trade relationship with the British in Ceylon. However, I heard that the Royal Navy is preparing to advance to India, and I am afraid that it will be affected."
Qin Mu nodded. On the one hand, the outward expansion of the navy was inevitable, but on the other hand, Qin Mu did not want trade to be affected too much. How to balance the two was indeed a difficult problem.
Although the navy was at war with the West, it did not prohibit merchants from trading with the West, but Western countries did not necessarily hold this idea.
Qin Mu pondered for a moment and said, "Xiao Shunzi, the footsteps of the Qin merchants cannot stop in Ceylon. They must be more actively exploring the market. Merchant ships like the Dutch are almost all over the world. Many of their armed merchant ships are not protected by the army. They rely entirely on their own exploration and progress. Without a little adventurous spirit, it will not work.
For example, if the merchant ships of the Indian Ocean Trading Company also traveled all over the world, then the Royal Navy's advance into India, even if there was a military conflict with the West, would not necessarily have much impact on the trading company's trade.
In the past, other people's armed merchant ships could reach the coast of our Great Qin. Why can't our armed merchant ships go to Europe or even further now? The more wars there are, the greater the demand for Eastern goods in Europe. This is inevitable.
Where there is demand, there is a market. As long as it is profitable, people will come to trade with you, even at the risk of losing their heads. As long as you have the ability, you will not be afraid of trade being affected by war. "
Speaking of business, Xu Yongshun bowed and said, "Your Majesty is right. I will try my best to expand the scope of trade as soon as possible and try to minimize the impact of the war."
"Okay, I won't say any more. You can figure it out on your own. By the way, since you're here, why don't you ask your sister if she's okay?"
"Your Majesty, I would like to ask you something, but I am overwhelmed by your endless stream of questions."
"Hahaha, stop talking nonsense. If you hadn't come here with ulterior motives, would I have said so much to you?"
Qin Mu was in a good mood, so he asked the palace maid to bring Xu Ruoshi to Jianjia Palace so that the brother and sister could meet.
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ps: I went to my uncle's house today and came back late, so I updated it and apologize to everyone! (To be continued...)
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