It is said that the important area for planting trees is in the Northwest. For this reason, Zhang Shuye made a special trip to the Northwest and found people to start investigating the Guanzhong region. The first stage was to restore the vegetation coverage area before the Tang Dynasty.
The first phase will take twenty years.
To accomplish such a task, the Political Propaganda Department's extensive mobilization among the people is indispensable.
However, this incident was merely an interlude in the sixth year of the Jingkang era and did not leave a significant mark on that year.
To be more precise, it was merely a scheme orchestrated by the emperor for the future of the Song Dynasty.
From any perspective, with grain production gradually stabilizing, clothing, one of the necessities of life, was of paramount importance to the Song Dynasty that year.
In particular, the cloth business among ordinary people began to boom that year, with Tokyo being the first city to ignite this fire.
The fundamental reason for this grand occasion is that the new policies of the imperial court have accumulated some wealth among the people in recent years, and the problem of food and clothing in the capital city of Tokyo was solved first.
According to the report submitted by Xu Churen, most of the people in Dongjing City are able to have enough to eat.
As long as you are an adult with hands and feet, and as long as you are not lazy, you can support yourself through labor.
That year, merchants truly felt the benefits brought about by the new policies of the imperial court.
Compared to the significant boost to consumption, the increase in commercial taxes is negligible.
The Huaxing spinning wheel, which completely changed the foundation of commercial production in the Song Dynasty, emerged in this environment and, together with the steam engine, ushered in the first industrial revolution in the Song Dynasty.
While the Ordnance Bureau had already begun working on manufacturing production molds for railway steam locomotives, the Yong Sheng Manor, which few people paid attention to, had already bought a large vacant lot outside Tokyo and built a factory to produce a type of spinning wheel called Hua Xing.
At this time, Zhangji Cloth Shop, which benefited the most from the new policy, was unaware that its end was near.
Just one month later, Li's Cloth Shop's shipments suddenly surged.
Because of the high market demand, Zhangji Cloth Shop's business has not been affected in just one month.
However, with a guaranteed sales volume, the store's cash flow became very impressive, and Li Qiu'e had enough confidence to start expanding the store.
With the help of Yongsheng Manor, the expansion of Li's Cloth Shop became very smooth.
In April, Li's Cloth Shop had already opened three stores in Tokyo City and had just purchased a fourth.
It was only at this point that Zhang's Cloth Shop realized the seriousness of the problem.
Although their sales volume continued to grow, Zhang Qingyuan began to feel uneasy as a powerful competitor rose to prominence.
Therefore, Zhang Qingyuan sent someone to infiltrate the Li family's cloth factory as a hired worker, and the news he brought back shocked everyone in the Zhang family.
Zhang Qingyuan visited Gu Yongzhi that very night and told him what he knew.
Gu Yongzhi owns one-tenth of Zhang's Cloth Shop's shares. Although this is not registered with the Ministry of Commerce, he secretly receives a share of the profits.
How could he allow anyone to snatch meat from his mouth? His first thought was to steal the spinning wheel manufacturing technology of Li's Cloth Shop and then immediately register the patent rights with the Ministry of Commerce.
Learning the manufacturing process of spinning wheels is not difficult. Zhang Qingyuan only needs to send a craftsman who specializes in making spinning wheels to disguise himself as a hired worker, and he can learn it in a few days.
After leaving Gu Yongzhi, Zhang Qingyuan immediately began searching for such a person. The next day, this person went to Li's Cloth Shop to look for a job, and on the third day, he delivered the blueprints for Huaxing Spinning Wheel.
On the third day, during normal office hours, Zhang Qingyuan went to the Commerce Department of the Ministry of Commerce, which is the place that specializes in patent registration.
The official in charge of commerce was named Cheng Xu. When he submitted the blueprints for Huaxing Spinning Wheels, they were rejected on the spot.
The reason is that this type of spinning wheel has already been patented by Huaxing Trading Company.
Zhang Qingyuan was stunned, as if struck by lightning. He hurriedly went to find Gu Yongzhi and explained the matter to him.
Gu Yongzhi frowned: "It's that Huaxing Trading Company again!"
Zhang Qingyuan asked in confusion, "Gu Shangguan, what is the background of this Huaxing Trading Company? Why do you say it's them again?"
"Do you still remember the steam locomotive that caused such a stir more than two months ago?"
"Of course I remember. It is said that even the royal family and prime ministers were present at the time."
"That steam locomotive was made by Huaxing Trading Company, and they also registered the patent rights."
Zhang Qingyuan was shocked. Although his daughter had married Gu Yongzhi, she was only a concubine. He usually obeyed Gu Yongzhi's every word and dared not show the slightest disrespect.
"Gu Shangguan, what is the background of this Huaxing Trading Company?"
"I don't know, I don't know, it's very mysterious."
"So what should we do now?"
Zhang Qingyuan was extremely anxious. He had seen the blueprints for Huaxing Spinning Wheel, and it was practically the common enemy of all the cloth merchants in the world!
Gu Yongzhi suddenly sneered, a cunning glint in his eyes: "It's alright. This Huaxing Trading Company has offended quite a few people in the court. They hold the patent rights to the high-pressure steam locomotive, and the Council of State has to pay them a large patent fee every year. This has angered Minister Xu. This Huaxing spinning wheel will undoubtedly have a great impact on Minister Tang's Bureau of Manufacturing. I'll go see Minister Tang and explain the crux of the matter to him."
Zhang Qingyuan was overjoyed upon hearing this.
Huaxing's spinning wheels were indeed impressive; one of them was equivalent to eight of his, and it only required one person to operate.
Whether in terms of delivery speed or saving labor costs, it is far superior to traditional spinning wheels.
Zhang Qingyuan trembled for many moments, wondering if such a thing even existed in the world.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
