It is said that Emperor Yongzheng ordered someone to send the blueprints for the textile machine to the Ministry of Works as quickly as possible. Not to mention the shocked expression on the face of Ortai, the Vice Minister of Works, when he received the blueprints.

The first step in building a factory is to select a site, so Emperor Yongzheng and the Thirteenth Prince rushed back to the capital to finalize the matter as soon as possible.

After a night's rest, the next morning court session...

Inside the Imperial Study

The Thirteenth Prince, Yinxiang, unfolded a sheepskin map and slowly traced his finger across several locations on the outskirts of the capital.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell onto the desk, reflecting the dense markings on the map.

He frowned slightly, and finally stopped his fingertip on an open space on the southern outskirts of the city.

"Fourth Brother, this place is flat, close to the river, with convenient water transportation, and far away from residential areas, so it won't disturb the people."

Yinxiang looked up at Yongzheng, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "If we build a factory here, the transportation of raw materials and the output of finished products will be much more efficient."

Yongzheng took the map and calmly scanned the area.

He pondered for a moment and then asked, "How will the local people be resettled?"

Yinxiang was prepared and replied, "Your Majesty, I have already sent people to investigate. This land was originally abandoned government land, with only a few tenant farmers cultivating it."

My brother intends to purchase their land at double the market price and arrange for them to work in the factory or be relocated to nearby villages.

Emperor Yongzheng nodded slightly: "Good. This matter concerns the national economy and the people's livelihood, so it must be handled properly and must not incite public resentment."

Yinxiang solemnly agreed, and then added: "In addition, reports from the Jiangnan Textile Bureau in recent years show that traditional looms are inefficient, and weavers working day and night still cannot supply military supplies and tributes."

If the new looms can be widely adopted, it will not only alleviate the hardships of weavers but also replenish the national treasury.

Yongzheng's gaze sharpened as he recalled the small print on Lin Yun's drawing: "Five zhang of cloth can be woven in half an hour."

He asked in a deep voice, "What is the current state of textile manufacturing in Jiangnan?"

Yinxiang sighed: "Most of the weavers are poor families. Women and children all have to work on the looms, and they only earn a few coins a day."

In years of famine, they were even worse off, lacking proper clothing and food.

The imperial court required enormous quantities of silk and cloth, and local officials, in order to meet these quotas, often forced weavers to work day and night, leading to widespread poverty and hardship.

Yongzheng sneered: "It has always been the case that officials force the people to rebel. The promotion of this new machine must be expedited to relieve the people's suffering."

The Qing Dynasty at that time appeared prosperous, but in reality, it was riddled with hidden dangers. Although the Jiangnan region was a land of plenty, its manufacturing industry was gradually declining due to technological stagnation.

The looms were old, and although the craftsmen were skilled, they could not overcome the constraint of low efficiency.

Yinxiang unfolded a scroll of memorials and said in a deep voice, "Fourth Brother, please take a look. This is a secret memorial from Li Xu, the Suzhou Textile Commissioner."

In recent years, large quantities of imported cloth from countries such as England and France have flooded the market at low prices, leading to widespread use of imported cloth and making it difficult for local weavers to make a living.

Emperor Yongzheng took the memorial, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "These foreigners are actually using their strange and ingenious tricks to steal our resources?"

Yinxiang nodded: "Not only that, some ministers in the court colluded with cloth merchants in Jiangnan to monopolize the profits from weaving and line their own pockets."

If the new machine is promoted, it will inevitably affect their interests, which may cause trouble.

Yongzheng sneered: "I'd like to see who dares to obstruct me!"

He immediately ordered: "Starting today, the Ministry of Works shall select skilled craftsmen to rush to manufacture the new machine according to the blueprints."

The imperial treasury allocated 100,000 taels of silver for factory construction and resettlement of the people. Furthermore, it ordered that craftsmen from various textile bureaus in Jiangnan be selected to travel to the capital to learn how to operate the new machinery.

Yinxiang solemnly accepted the order: "Your subject will certainly not fail in your trust!"

After the two discussed and agreed on the matter, Yinxiang went down to get to work. He was a pragmatist, and the thought of enabling all the people to afford clothes filled him with enthusiasm.

Three days later, at the construction site on the outskirts of the capital, the craftsmen were working hard, and the foundation of the factory was already taking shape.

Such a commotion, of course, could not be kept secret from the eyes and ears of the imperial court.

One day, the Eighth Prince Yinzhi was discussing matters with several trusted confidants in his residence.

Suddenly, a scout rushed in and whispered, "Eighth Master, Thirteenth Master has recently acquired a piece of land outside the city, seemingly to build some kind of textile workshop."

Yinzhi frowned: "A workshop? When did he become interested in business?"

The scout shook his head: "The specific purpose is still unclear, but the people from the Ministry of Works are working day and night, and even the blueprints were personally supervised by the Thirteenth Prince."

The Tenth Prince, Yinzhen, interjected, "The Thirteenth Prince is always cautious. There must be something fishy about his grand display this time."

Ninth Prince Yin Tang sneered, "It must have been Fourth Brother's doing. Didn't they go on an incognito visit just a few days ago?"

A glint of light flashed in Yinzhi's eyes: "Send people to investigate and find out exactly what they're up to!"

The Tenth Prince, Yinzhen, snorted coldly: "The Fourth Prince has only been on the throne for a short time, and he's already in such a hurry to do these things. Is he trying to win people's hearts?"

Yinzhi said calmly, "The thirteenth prince has always been pragmatic; he must have acquired some powerful tool for this."

Building a textile workshop is no small matter; where will the blueprints come from? Those old fogies in the Ministry of Works certainly don't have that kind of ability.

At this moment, the Fourteenth Prince, Yinzhen, pushed open the door and entered, his face gloomy: "Eighth Brother, I just received news from the Ministry of War that the Fourth Prince has secretly ordered the various textile bureaus in Jiangnan to select craftsmen to come to the capital to learn how to use some new textile machines."

This move is clearly intended to promote the new textile machines nationwide, cutting off our source of income.

A cold glint flashed in Yinzhi's eyes: "A new weaving machine? It must be able to weave a lot of cloth in a short time, otherwise there would be no need to learn it."

Therefore, we cannot allow his plan to proceed.

Ninth Prince Yin Tang said with a sinister smile, "Which of those cloth merchants in Jiangnan doesn't rely on us for their livelihood?"

With just a secret letter, they can unite to resist the new machine, and the fourth brother's plan will fail!

Yinzhi nodded slightly: "I'll leave this matter to you. Also, tomorrow, under the pretext of 'observing the people's conditions,' go to the south of the city to see the specific situation."

Tenth brother, have the censor Wang Hongxu submit a memorial stating that "they have arbitrarily altered ancestral rules, causing hardship to the people and wasting resources."

He looked up toward the Forbidden City and said softly, "Find out where the blueprints for this new machine came from."

When did such a capable person appear by the side of the fourth brother?

If you can modify a textile machine, you can modify others; if you can bring them to your own use...

The group exchanged glances, each seeing calculation and ambition in the other's eyes.

At this time, although the Eighth Prince's faction was not imprisoned, most of its members had been eliminated by Emperor Yongzheng.

Yinzhi served as Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs, while Yintang was in charge of the Imperial Household Department. Although they seemed to hold high positions and great power, they were actually constrained at every turn.

They desperately need a breakthrough.

This incident will allow both the court and the public to see that the newly enthroned Fourth Prince is nothing more than a burden, wasting public resources and squandering the livelihoods of merchants and ordinary people.

If we don't rebel now, when will we?