Chapter 57: Cotton Flossing (2)

Because Li Chengqian was in a hurry, and because making a large wooden bow did not require the same complicated procedures as making bows and arrows, the craftsmen immediately gathered people after returning and worked overtime to make it.

Finally, within two days, all the cotton-flossing tools were completed.

A set of brand new cotton-flossing tools appeared in front of Li Chengqian.

"Have you found the people I want?" Looking at the brand new tools, Li Chengqian asked Wang Quan.

As early as two days ago, he arranged for Wang Quan to select suitable people for cotton-flossing, and now was the time to need them.

"My lord! People! I have already selected them! Now I am waiting outside the hall, waiting for your order." Wang Quan said.

"Call them in quickly! And bring in the prepared cotton wool and other things as well!" Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"Okay! I'll go right away!" Wang Quan said, and then trotted out of the hall.

When they got outside the hall, Wang Quan instructed everyone to do something, "What are you still standing there for! Hurry up and bring the cotton wool in, and don't just stand there! Hurry up and go in, the master is waiting!"

The people who were called immediately entered the hall, first saluted Li Chengqian, and then waited for Li Chengqian's instructions.

"Put all the cotton wool on this board! Bring all the tools over here." Li Chengqian said to the wooden board next to him.

The eunuch immediately stepped forward and put the cotton wool on the wooden board, then stepped aside and waited for Li Chengqian's next instruction.

Li Chengqian pointed at one of them and

said, "Come here!" The man hurried to Li Chengqian. Li Chengqian picked up the big wooden bow and the big wooden hammer and said, "Watch it! Follow me!"

Li Chengqian personally demonstrated how to fluff cotton. Although it was the first time for him to ride a sedan chair, he had watched a documentary about this. He

fluffed cotton quite well. Only after fluffing cotton himself did Li Chengqian understand how difficult it was to fluff a bed of cotton.

"Do you understand? Follow my movements and make these cotton wool soft!" Li Chengqian said, and handed the big wooden bow and the big wooden hammer to the eunuch.

The eunuch hurriedly took it and followed the movements that Li Chengqian had just taught him. He held the hammer in one hand and struck the string frequently, making the cotton on the wooden board gradually loose.

"You two take the fluffy cotton wool and use gauze to make a net on both sides to fix the cotton wool." Li Chengqian sat on a chair and called two more people, instructing them to fix the cotton wool with gauze.

"After fixing it, use a wooden disc to press and grind it until it is flat, solid and firm!" Li Chengqian continued to instruct them.

The eunuch hurriedly picked up the disc beside him and put it on the fixed cotton wool to press it flat.

"Okay! Take these processed cotton wool to the Neizhi Bureau and let the people in the Neizhi Bureau weave a set of cotton clothes, cotton pants, cotton robes and a new quilt."

After all the processes were completed, Li Chengqian asked people to use these cotton wool to sew a cotton quilt, and also tailor-made a set of cotton clothes and cotton pants for himself, plus a cotton robe.

A few days later, the finished cotton-padded clothes, cotton-padded trousers, cotton-padded robes and a cotton-padded quilt were delivered to Li Chengqian.

With these cotton-padded clothes, Li Chengqian was no longer afraid of the cold winter. After all, the people in the future had relied on the cotton-padded clothes in his hands to keep warm for thousands of years.

"How many more cotton-padded clothes can be made with the remaining cotton wool?" Li Chengqian put the cotton-padded clothes aside and asked Zhao An, the head of the Neizhi Bureau in front of him.

"Your Highness! If the remaining cotton wool is used to make cotton-padded clothes, cotton-padded trousers and cotton-padded robes, at most two sets can be made, and there will still be some cotton wool left. If it is only made into cotton-padded robes, five sets can be made, and there will still be some cotton wool left." Zhao An said.

"Then make three cotton robes, two of which will be given to the Crown Princess and one to Xiao Liangdi. The remaining cotton will be used to make robes for the two grandchildren, and one will be prepared for His Majesty." Li Chengqian arranged the remaining cotton.

Now that he had a complete set of cotton clothes and robes, he naturally could not favor one over the other. He had to give one to each of his two wives and two children.

As for the robe for his father, it was mainly to get his father to agree to his promotion of cotton planting in the Tang Dynasty.

As long as his father tried the benefits of the cotton robe, Li Chengqian dared to guarantee that Li Er would agree to his suggestion to promote cotton planting in the Tang Dynasty.

Cotton can be used to make cotton clothes, so that the Tang army will no longer be restricted by the cold winter and unable to fight.

The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty wore a layer of cotton armor inside and a layer of iron armor outside. With the double protection, Li Chengqian believed that the army of the Tang Dynasty would be able to adapt to the severe winter.

Cotton is something that benefits the country and the people. Li Chengqian didn't believe that Li Er would not be tempted.

"Yes! I will give the order to let the craftsmen make cotton robes!" Neizhilang bowed and retreated.

"Wang Quan, bring today's memorials to me for review." Li Chengqian ordered.

"Yes!" Wang Quan retreated, and after a while he came back with a pile of memorials, put them in front of Li Chengqian and said: "Your Highness! These are the memorials sent by the three provinces and six ministries by His Majesty." After

Li Chengqian read them carefully, he wrote his own comments, as well as his views and solutions to the matter.

For these annotated memorials, the more important ones need to be handed over to Li Er for his second instruction and approval.

The memorials with simpler matters will be handled by the crown prince Li Chengqian, and then sent back to the three provinces and six ministries for processing.

The emperors of the Tang Dynasty had a much easier life than the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. Most official documents were handled by officials from the three provinces and six ministries.

Some important matters would be reported to the emperor, who would give instructions and write edicts. The emperor did not have to personally inquire about trivial matters.

"Give these to my father for review! Send the others to the Ministry of Personnel." Li Chengqian said.

Some of the memorials need the approval of His Majesty Li Er before they can be sent to the Ministry of Personnel, where they will be reviewed by officials. After the Ministry of Personnel agrees, they will be sent to the Shangshutai, which will be sent to various departments for processing.

"Yes!" Wang Quan accepted the order! The memorials that Li Chengqian had sorted out were taken down and sent to the Second Emperor Li and the Ministry of Personnel respectively.

"Has the Minister of Agriculture Li Xuanjiang left the capital?" Li Chengqian asked.

"My lord, today the Emperor summoned the Minister of Agriculture Li Xuanjiang and ordered him to go on a diplomatic mission to Goguryeo. He has already left Chang'an City." Wang Quan said.

"How are the two grandchildren's studies going? Who is teaching them?" Li Chengqian asked.

"The two grandchildren's studies have made great progress. I heard that Xiang Ge'er has also learned to write poems. The Crown Princess praises him very much. Now the two grandchildren are studying with Master Di." Wang Quan said.

Just as Li Chengqian and Wang Quan were chatting, a eunuch came in hurriedly.

"What's the matter?" Li Chengqian asked.

"My lord! His Majesty has summoned you to see him!" said the eunuch.