Zhu Youxiao thought it would be best to wait until the Jiannu were defeated in the winter before transferring Bi Ziyan back to Beijing. After all, Jinzhen would be a key force in the counterattack against the Jiannu, and Bi Ziyan would be more familiar with it and better able to command it.

Thinking of the very likely attack by the Jiannu in winter, Zhu Youxiao remembered something else and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Looking up, the emperor saw Li Chengcheng there, and he ordered, "Chengcheng, based on the materials and labor costs estimated by the Ordnance Bureau, calculate how much silver it would take to make ten thousand iron masks."

After a pause, Zhu Youxiao added, "There are also data on cotton hats, hoods, and gloves reported by weaving bureaus in various places. Let's summarize them and see how much is missing."

Li Chengcheng quickly agreed, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment, and I will do the math."

It's almost the end of the year, and the Ministry of Revenue doesn't have much money left, so I have to use my own money to pay for these expenses!

Although Zhu Youxiao felt a little pained, he was not vague or procrastinating. He was generous in spending money on the officers and soldiers who were defending the country on the front line.

Iron Mask, well, he looks quite impressive. With all the armor on and a slightly ferocious Iron Mask, he looks like the terror of an undead army!

In order to rush the production of the Eagle Gun, the Ordnance Bureau was no longer able to forge the iron mask.

Zhu Youxiao had no choice but to ask the Ordnance Bureau to report the materials and labor prices, as well as specifications and dimensions, and to produce a small number of samples, which were then outsourced to private workshops.

The artisan household system was abolished, and the Gunpowder and Weapons Bureau recruited many of the craftsmen. The remaining artisans made money with their skills and made a living on their own.

This outsourcing gave private workshops an opportunity to survive and even develop and expand, and was also a trial policy by Zhu Youxiao to promote the development of industry and commerce.

If the effect is good, there will be more work to be outsourced in the future, such as the forging of bayonets.

As for cotton-padded coats, cotton hats, hoods and gloves, they are used to keep officers and soldiers in northern border towns warm during the winter.

The Ministry of War has allocated funds in previous years, and this year is no exception, except that the emperor has used the treasury to do more and better.

If the state-owned enterprises in various places - the weaving bureaus - could not complete the work on time, Zhu Youxiao was also prepared to outsource it to increase the income of the people.

For women at that time, needlework was a compulsory course. Whether a lady from a wealthy family or a poor family, if she couldn't sew, she would have trouble getting married.

Zhu Youxiao also planned to have the Ministry of Industry build a batch of textile machinery, either for sale or rental, to make the practice of men farming and women weaving truly common. If both men and women were earning money, life couldn't be any worse, right?

It can be seen that although Zhu Youxiao was busy in less than a year, many tasks and things were still not sorted out.

But by realizing the existence of the problem and taking the initiative to reform, Zhu Youxiao had already taken the first step to solve the problem and prevent the bankruptcy of Daming Co., Ltd.

Overall, the burden on ordinary people was indeed reduced. For example, artisans and the people who received tax exemptions were the groups that felt the most.

……………………

The wind has become a little chilly, and the leaves on the trees are half green and half yellow, which means that autumn will soon be gone and winter will come.

Craftsman Zhou Laosi glanced at his wife, who was sound asleep, and then his eyes swept over her bulging belly, which was visible even under the quilt. He couldn't help but smile, and quietly pushed the door open and walked out.

The temperature at noon was not too cold. Zhou Laosi closed the gate and strode out of the dormitory area. He felt a little hot.

Working three shifts is harder than before, but the wages have also increased. Moreover, for Zhou Laosi, it gives him some free time to do odd jobs.

After walking five or six miles, the tinkling sounds became clearer and clearer, and Zhou Laosi showed a silly smile on his face.

It was a blacksmith shop run by an old craftsman named Hu, who had a fifteen or sixteen-year-old grandson as his assistant.

Previously, because of his age, Lao Hu was not recruited into the Ordnance Bureau, so he did this job to make a living.

But without the hard labor and constraints of a craftsman, Lao Hu's son went to Xishan to drive a cart and transport coal. With this small workshop, he lived a good life.

As Zhou Laosi entered the yard, he heard the jingling sound stop. It was not to greet him, but because Old Hu was indeed not as strong as the young people, and his grandson was not grown up yet, so he had to rest after working for a while.

"Old Four is here." Old Hu came out of the blacksmith shop and sat down on a bench. He took out his pipe and slowly filled it with tobacco and lit it. "We got enough materials today. If you work hard, you can make a few more pairs."

Zhou Laosi agreed readily, took off his coat, put on his somewhat worn work clothes, and walked into the blacksmith shop.

A burst of hot air hit Zhou Laosi's face, but it didn't dampen his smile. He adjusted himself to the light, then expertly picked up his tools and shoveled the iron into the fire.

Old Hu puffed on his pipe and asked casually, "Old Four, you said that the southern barbarian just offered a solution and got a reward of twenty taels of silver?"

Zhou Laosi flipped the iron in the furnace and said, "Yeah, it still makes me angry when I think about it!"

"Why are you so angry?" Old Hu laughed and said, "First come, first served. It's your fault for not being able to figure it out!"

Zhou Laosi didn't argue. He smiled and said, "Twenty taels of silver! Honestly, who wouldn't be jealous?"

Old Hu nodded slightly and said, "That's true. But since you have no knowledge and no ability, you can only be jealous."

Zhou Laosi opened his mouth, then swallowed his thoughts. The experiment hadn't been successful yet, so he couldn't let anyone else know. Who knows, maybe he'd be the next one to claim the reward!

The door of the house opposite opened, and Old Hu's daughter-in-law came out with a bunch of twisted ropes in her hand. She walked up to her father-in-law and said with a smile, "Dad, there are more than forty of them. Shouldn't that be enough?"

Old Hu nodded vigorously, held out his hand to take it, and said, "While it's still early, let's go to the capital with me! Oh, and don't forget to buy a small jar of liquor. I want sorghum liquor!"

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!