People who have never been there, including Pingxi County Magistrate Wang Jianbei, have long been extremely curious about everything in this woolen mill.
Needless to say, the process of the visit was very important. Yan Liqiang not only did not want to keep the production process secret, but wanted more people to know about it. Therefore, the entire factory and the entire production process were open to the public. Once the group of people entered the factory, it was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. Whether it was the wool weaving process or the new spinning machines and looms in the factory workshops, it was an eye-opener for everyone.
Yan Liqiang even served as a tour guide himself, explaining the production process to Wang Jianbei and Grandpa Ou, especially the process of purifying soda ash with wood ash. After arriving at the corresponding processing workshop, Yan Liqiang even demonstrated it himself - first add water to the wood ash and stir it, then filter out the impurities in the solution and retain the clear liquid. The liquid is the alkaline potassium carbonate solution, which can be used to wash wool and degrease the wool.
The most inconspicuous plant ash is actually the key to turning wool into treasure. If you don’t see it with your own eyes, who can believe such an incredible connection? Yan Liqiang actually discovered the key, which makes people wonder how Yan Liqiang discovered the secret. Of course, many people already have the answer to this question, especially after seeing the new spinning machines and looms invented by Yan Liqiang that can increase textile efficiency by dozens of times, everyone muttered in their hearts - could it be that Yan Liqiang really met a god in his dream? Otherwise, how did Yan Liqiang know such ingenious skills and the means to wash wool? It is not easy for ordinary people to achieve a little success in this area throughout their lives, but Yan Liqiang does these things as if it is like eating, completely at his fingertips, effortlessly. He has only been back in Ganzhou for a few days. He made a four-wheeled carriage and springs, and then he made this world's number one factory. It's like someone is teaching him...
After visiting the factory, Pingxi County Magistrate Wang Jianbei said what everyone had in mind, "This is the best factory in the world, it is indeed worthy of its name. Looking at the entire Han Empire or even the Silver Continent, there is absolutely no other place like this!"
"Your Excellency, the County Magistrate, you are too kind. This is the name given to this factory out of His Majesty's love. I believe that it won't be long before textile factories like this are everywhere in the northwest and the Han Empire!" Yan Liqiang responded modestly, and then looked at everyone with a smile on his face, "Thank you all for coming to Yan'an Fort today. After a whole morning of hard work, I see that everyone is hungry. My family has prepared wine, lunch, and snacks in the manor. You can take a rest!"
"Mr. Yan, how are the woolen cloth and blankets in this factory selling? Can I place an order for the factory's goods for the second half of the year?" A pot-bellied cloth merchant, who had just finished touring the factory, could no longer contain himself and asked anxiously without even having a meal.
The products produced by this world's number one factory, which was awarded a gold plaque by His Majesty the Emperor, are not only rare items such as woolen cloth that are praised by the royal nobles in the palace, but even if they are straw mats that can be seen everywhere, they can be sold all over the world and sold at the price of gold. Anyone who does business understands this principle.
As soon as this cloth merchant opened his mouth, the other cloth merchants who were visiting were all excited.
"Ah, why is the second half of the year yours? I said it was mine!"
"We in Guangchang have not said anything, how dare a small businessman like you come here and ask for such a high price..."
"If Master Yan agrees, no matter how much the wool cloth is priced at, our Xiangyun Cloth Shop can pay a deposit of 100,000 taels of silver in advance..."
"We, Hengtai Cloth Shop, can prepay 200,000 taels as a deposit..."
This huge piece of fat meat, the endless amount of silver and the opportunity to make a fortune were right before their eyes, so even in front of Wang Jianbei and Eunuch Ou, the cloth merchants and shopkeepers no longer cared about their dignity and started to fight for it, each one more wealthy and powerful than the other.
"I already have the rules for the sale of woolen cloth in the factory. Don't worry, everyone will have a chance. After you finish lunch and drink some tea, I will have someone hand out the rules to you, and you will know what they are after you take a look!"
After hearing what Yan Liqiang said, the cloth merchants stopped talking and waited for Yan Liqiang's arrangements with peace of mind.
…
Because Eunuch Ou didn't like crowds and was particular about pomp and circumstance, Yan Liqiang pulled Wang Jianbei over for lunch to accompany Eunuch Ou. The three of them had a meal in the small garden of the Yan family.
After dinner, seeing that Eunuch Ou was a little sleepy and lacking energy, Yan Liqiang arranged for Eunuch Ou to rest in a courtyard of the Yan family mansion, and then sent Wang Jianbei away from Yan'anbao.
"I will go back and prepare what we discussed in the carriage before!" At the gate of Yan'an Fort, Wang Jianbei, who was about to part, smiled and said to Yan Liqiang.
"Don't worry, sir. As long as you make a move, I will cooperate with you. I will not lose a single ounce of silver or anything like that!" Yan Liqiang nodded.
"Hahaha, that little bit of silver may be a lot for others, but it's nothing to you. As soon as His Majesty's imperial edict arrives today, the signboard of the world's number one factory will be placed in Yan'an Fort. Your factory will be an inexhaustible gold mine in the future. Wool goes in, and gold and silver will flow out. What you should worry about now is probably the appointment His Majesty has given you. This is His Majesty betting on you. The bigger the bet His Majesty places, the more he wants to win, and the greater his expectations of you. Judging from the current situation of the Han Empire, this may not be a completely good thing. Everything has two sides!" The two sides already have trust and understanding of each other's character and personality, so this time before leaving, what Wang Jianbei said was no longer superficial, but rather profound.
"Thank you for your reminder, sir. I know what to do!" Yan Liqiang bowed to Wang Jianbei with a solemn face.
Wang Jianbei nodded without saying anything more, then got on the four-wheeled carriage and left Yan'an Fort under the escort of the guards.
Just after turning around and taking a few steps, before entering the city gate, several guards escorted a four-wheeled carriage that was leaving Yan'an Fort. The carriage stopped suddenly when it met Yan Liqiang. The door of the carriage opened, and Zhong Ruolan walked down from the carriage gracefully and calmly and stood in front of Yan Liqiang.
"Is Master Yan sending the county governor off?"
"Oh, yes. Miss Ruolan is leaving too?" Yan Liqiang greeted the young lady from the Zhong family.
Zhong Ruolan smiled with her hands covering her mouth, her beautiful eyes moving around Yan Liqiang's face, "If I don't leave, Master Yan's future wife will probably send someone to chase me away!"
"Hahaha, Miss Ruolan is joking!"
"Thank you for the invitation and hospitality today, Master Yan. It opened Ruolan's eyes and let her see how the youngest master craftsman in the history of the Han Empire and the world's number one factory came about. Three days later, Ruolan will prepare some wine at her home, and she would like to invite Master Yan to come and discuss something with her!"
"Three days later..." Yan Liqiang hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he would have time to attend the banquet three days later.
"If it's not convenient for Master Yan, then we can come another day. Ruolan will be ready to greet you at any time!" Zhong Ruolan said considerately, without any intention of forcing him, which made people feel very comfortable.
Yan Liqiang laughed, "No need to postpone it, three days later is three days later!"
Zhong Ruolan burst into laughter, her face blooming like a hundred flowers. "It's a deal then!"
"It's a deal!"
…
At about this time, the cloth merchants were holding a strange "franchise charter" in their hands, dumbfounded and talking about it. Even though they had been doing business for a lifetime, they had never seen such a novel way of cooperation. Although the cooperation method in this charter was strange, it was meticulous and took into account the interests of both parties. It was amazing and refreshing...
(End of this chapter)