"Amazing, amazing! You can come up with a machine like this. I think if the emperor names you as the Great Craftsman, no one will dare to disobey!"
"Hahaha, if Brother Liang praises me like this again, I'll be embarrassed..."
"Don't be so modest. Last year, I was in Yuezhou. The local merchants and wealthy people in Yuezhou were very excited when they heard that you had developed new spinning and weaving machines that were dozens of times more efficient than traditional ones. They even sent people to Ganzhou to buy them and ship them back. Originally, every family in Yuezhou raised silkworms and wove cloth. Yuezhou's kesi was famous all over the world. When the machines you made arrived in Yuezhou, they immediately increased the efficiency of those large spinning and weaving families by dozens of times. Even the efficiency of small families could be increased by more than ten times..."
Inside the No. 1 Factory in the World, Yan Liqiang took Liang Yiji, Yuan Beihong, Zhang Rui, and Zhang Yunduan to visit the spinning process in the spinning workshop, introducing it to everyone as they walked.
It was also because the reputation of this world's number one factory was too great. Almost everyone who came to Pingxi County wanted to come and broaden their horizons. Liang Yiji and others were no exception. After they settled down in Yan'an Fort and had just eaten, drank tea, and rested for a while, Liang Yiji wanted to come and see the magic of this world's number one factory, so Yan Liqiang also brought a few people with him.
The female workers in the factory have long been accustomed to this. They all wear masks and are busy with their own tasks.
The production process and job arrangement of the entire factory were designed by Yan Liqiang himself. This is Yan Liqiang's forte, so anyone who comes in will find that this world's number one factory is very clean and tidy, and extremely efficient. Everyone knows exactly what they are supposed to do. In the entire factory, there is not a single person wandering around, and there is not a single piece of garbage on the ground. Everything is in perfect order, which makes a very deep impression.
"Oh, I heard that the silk embroidery in Yuezhou is the best in the world. I wonder how the situation in Yuezhou is now?" After hearing Liang Yiji talking about the situation in Yuezhou, Yan Liqiang asked.
"Once the spinning and weaving machines you made were introduced to Yuezhou, many workshops and wealthy families' businesses grew bigger and bigger, and their profits became higher and higher. Last year, the number of looms in the weaving workshop of Mingyue Manor, the largest in Yuezhou, had expanded to 1,000, and more than 3,000 spinners were employed. In the past, there were very few people in Yuezhou who specialized in raising silkworms and growing mulberry trees. Now that the production capacity has increased suddenly, the demand for silk has become greater and greater, and there are more and more people who specialize in raising silkworms and growing mulberry trees. Even Lord Sun said that this is all thanks to you. Oh, and the four-wheeled carriage is also a very convenient thing. It is much more convenient to carry people and goods than before. Lord Sun and I just received the four-wheeled carriage you sent, and all over Yuezhou can imitate it!"
"The transformation of the socialized mode of production will inevitably lead to the refinement of the division of labor, and the labor force will be further liberated. This is the trend..." Yan Liqiang said casually.
"Li Qiang, what you said seems to have a profound meaning..." Liang Yiji frowned slightly as he walked between the spinning machines, thinking about Yan Li Qiang's words.
Yan Liqiang was slightly stunned, and then he realized that he had said something that was difficult for people of this era to understand. However, it seemed that Yuan Beihong and others did not care. They were concentrating and curiously watching the machines and the operations of the female workers. He laughed and interrupted, "Haha, I was just talking nonsense. By the way, after hearing what you said, Brother Liang, I have been thinking about when I have the chance to go to Yuezhou to take a look..."
"If there were no White Lotus Sect, Yuezhou would be considered one of the best places in the world. However, once those evil people from the White Lotus Sect started to cause chaos, those prosperous towns and cities would be reduced to ruins in the blink of an eye!"
"Is the White Lotus Sect very powerful in Yuezhou and other places?"
"Many local governments and low-level officials and servants have been infiltrated by the White Lotus Sect, so it is not easy to wipe them out. By comparison, although Ganzhou and the Northwest are not as prosperous as Yuezhou, the White Lotus Sect has a shallow foundation here, so it is relatively stable!" Liang Yijie glanced at Yan Liqiang and showed a strange smile on his face, "But if you go to Yuezhou, Liqiang, I'm afraid you should be more careful!"
"Why?"
"I heard in Yuezhou that all the machines you made were for girls. After hearing about this, many spinners in Yuezhou also heard that you, Li Qiang, are young and handsome. They all think that you are a rare man in the world and have fallen in love with you. Many spinners even have a longevity tablet for you in their homes. Just a few months ago, I saw a painter in Yuezhou's capital draw a lot of portraits of handsome men, saying that you look like that. They sold them on the street, and in the blink of an eye, they were bought by a group of spinners. If you really go to Yuezhou and those girls know you are here, I'm afraid you won't be able to come back!"
Yan Liqiang laughed out loud after hearing this...
…
Yan Liqiang took Liang Yiji and his party to visit the No. 1 Factory in the World. After visiting the factory, they took a walk around Yan'an Fort and looked at the layout of Yan'an Fort. Then they went to the Kyudo Club and watched the formation drills of the new students of the Kyudo Club. Just like everyone who saw it for the first time, the formation drills of the new students of the Kyudo Club really stunned Liang Yiji and others, and made Liang Yiji and others say that it was an eye-opener.
After visiting these places, almost an afternoon had passed, and then the group returned to Yan'an Fort.
After dinner, when everyone else had left, Liang Yijie finally found an opportunity to talk to Yan Liqiang alone in the concierge pavilion where he was staying. Of course, Yan Liqiang also knew that Liang Yijie's visit to Pingxi County was not just to reminisce with him.
This Concierge Pavilion is a quiet and luxurious courtyard newly built by the Yan family in Yan'an Fort, which is specially used to entertain distinguished guests visiting Yan'an Fort. It is inconvenient for those distinguished guests to stay at the Yan family, and it is too shabby to stay in an inn, so Yan Liqiang specially built a Concierge Pavilion. This thing is equivalent to the guesthouses and hotels designated by government agencies in the previous life.
"This is the letter that Lord Sun asked me to bring to you!" As soon as the maid who served tea left and closed the door, Liang Yiji took out a letter from his pocket and handed it directly to Yan Liqiang.
"Oh, how has Lord Sun been these years?" Yan Liqiang asked as he took the letter.
"My Lord, everything is fine. It's just that when I was in Yuezhou, I was always worried about you and worried that you would be harmed by Lin Qingtian and his gang. Later, when I learned that you returned to Ganzhou from the Imperial Capital, Lord Sun was relieved. Lord Sun asserted at the time that you left the Imperial Capital, a place of trouble, under an excuse, and that you would definitely do something in Ganzhou. Lord Sun guessed it right!"
"Hahaha, I have weak arms and legs. I couldn't stand staying in the Imperial Capital City a few years ago, so I had to come back!" Yan Liqiang smiled and did not avoid Liang Yiji. In front of Liang Yiji, he opened the letter written to him by Sun Bingchen and started reading.
Sun Bingchen didn't say anything special in the letter, just greetings like an elder, concerned about Yan Liqiang's current practice and recent situation, and talked about the current situation in Imperial Capital, especially some changes in the situation after Lin Qingtian was "assassinated" and the matter of the heavenly tribulation next year...
After turning over a page, there was another page behind it, and Yan Liqiang started reading again—
"The Han Empire is in a turbulent time right now. The issue of relocating the capital has been put on the court's agenda. However, some officials are still hoping for the best and want to see the news from Zhuzhou in August. However, according to the news from the local government of Zhuzhou, the climate in Zhuzhou this year is indeed abnormal, hotter than in previous years. The rainfall in April and May was unusually scarce, and there are already signs of severe drought. In my opinion, the court must relocate the capital. Your Majesty, as the monarch, is responsible for the safety of the world. Even if there is only a one-tenth chance that what the stone tortoise said is true, Your Majesty will not be suitable to stay in the Imperial Capital next year, and preparations must be made early. "The situation in the capital is very complicated, and there are tens of millions of people living there. It is a great disaster for so many people to migrate away from their homes. A little carelessness can cause great changes. In addition, Lin Qingtian's incident has a wide impact. The situation in the court and the local areas is difficult to calm down in the short term. The White Lotus Cult is also watching from the side. The situation in the Han Empire in the next few years is really turbulent and extremely dangerous. Your Majesty is also well aware of the dangers, so he called me back from Yuezhou. Although I am in the cabinet now and have more power than before, I can't sleep all night every night when I think about the situation in the empire in the next few years. I toss and turn..."
…
"The Gulang Grassland is actually the territory of the Han Empire. At this moment, the Black Jie people and the seven tribes of Shatu are fighting endlessly on the territory of our empire. It is really a shame for the officials and warriors of our empire. However, at this moment, the empire is busy with many things, and major events are happening one after another. The central government and Your Majesty are really unable to take care of the affairs of the Gulang Grassland, and are even more unwilling to shed the blood and sweat of our empire's soldiers and waste our national treasury's wealth to fish in troubled waters for the seven tribes of Shatu. The plan advocated by Lin Qingtian that day must not be implemented. The court withdrew the army and captured Wei Wuji. As the governor of Qiyun, the Gulang Grassland is under your fiefdom. In this chaotic situation, it is time for us to be loyal to the country and share the worries of Your Majesty. When your majesty appointed you as the governor of Qiyun, you were not given real power. Facing the seven tribes of Shatu and the black Jie people, although you have the will and extraordinary ability, I am afraid that you will not be able to do anything. The day before yesterday, your majesty discussed with me and prepared to separate Pingxi County from Ganzhou and rename it Qiyun County. Together with the Gulang grassland, it will be under the jurisdiction of the governor of Qiyun. Let you set up a government and establish a yamen, so as to confirm your title of governor of Qiyun and master the power of managing the Gulang grassland. Let the seven tribes of Shatu and the black Jie people see the determination of our great Han Empire and your majesty to regain the Gulang grassland, boost the morale of the people, and prevent foreign races from laughing at our country and running rampant in our land..."
"Do you still remember the plan you told me about taking back the ancient Lang grassland? Now is the right time. You already have a foundation in Pingxi County, with no shortage of money and food. You are also on good terms with local officials, and your reputation has spread far and wide. I see that you have set up a bow club and a manufacturing bureau in Pingxi County, which shows that you have great ambitions and have already made arrangements. This important task is not something you cannot accomplish. Your Majesty and I both have high hopes for you. Yijie's appointment to the Northwest as the Northwest Transport Envoy can help you. If you work hard, you will have a great cause for generations to come..."
Separate Pingxi County from Ganzhou, give him a county, let him set up a government office, establish the title of Qiyun Governor, and reclaim the ancient Lang grassland...
Yan Liqiang was stunned by Sun Bingchen's handwritten letter and was speechless for a long time...
(End of this chapter)