In his opinion, there was actually nothing to think about these two things.
Since it's so expensive, we will definitely sell it to the workshop. As long as we let them take a look, they will understand the huge difference and then buy it. There shouldn't be any need for any strategy... right?
When Qu Sinian looked up, he found that Yan Shiyue was squinting at him, tapping his fingers on the armrest.
He was frightened by her look, "Prime Minister?"
Yan Shiyue smiled and said, "Si Nian, have you ever heard of the poem 'Young men in Wuling compete to tie their hair, and they don't know how many red silks they have.'"
Of course I have heard of this! After all, I am also a cultured person.
Yan Shiyue smiled and said, "I found that you are quite good-looking."
This sounded familiar. Qu Sinian said cautiously, "Prime Minister...didn't you discover this a long time ago?"
In fact, if he was not good-looking, he would not have been sent to approach her in the first place.
Yan Shiyue pondered and said, "It's a pity that the leaders I recruited are not very good-looking. The only good-looking one, Jiang Yu'an, was sent out by me." She thought for a while and said, "By the way, Weixin, what is Meng Er doing now?"
...
...
Wei Xin said: "I haven't heard from him yet, so he should be doing business!"
"Well," Yan Shiyue said with a smile, "Send a message out and ask someone to instigate him to come to me to ask for an official position."
Wei Xin didn't ask why and just followed the order.
Qu Sinian asked: "Prime Minister, what do you want to do?"
Yan Shiyue said: "You have been in the Ministry of Commerce for such a long time, so tell me, what do I want to do?"
She had just recited a poem, and Lord Qu was no fool: "Do you want Meng Yiqiu to learn it and demonstrate it? But why bother? It's easier to sell without him!"
She said, "Let me ask you, who do you think we should sell these looms and sewing machines to?"
"A place like a clothing store or a silk shop!"
Yan Shiyue looked at him and suddenly stopped smiling: "I don't know if I am worrying too much. I am thinking about a question. Do you still remember the story of 'wearing silk and surrendering to Luliang' told by Lin Fujian?"
Qu Sinian nodded, and Yan Shiyue said, "If we sell a lot of machines, the efficiency of many workshops will suddenly increase several times, and the demand for cotton will increase greatly. After that, will everyone only grow cotton and not grain? This is one thing. Second, will there be many weavers without work and income?"
She frowned. "Although our Ministry of Commerce is dedicated to making money, it also has to be based on a certain balance. So regarding textile machines, my idea is that we open government-run factories. We don't sell machines, we only sell yarn. For example, now in the northwest, there are many people growing cotton, so we don't build factories here. We want to encourage cotton growing in that area, so we build factories there. With our guidance, merchants from all over the country will follow suit, and we will control the 'degree', and it will be relatively easier to keep the process secret. In the meantime, we may lose money at the beginning, but in the long run, it will achieve a certain balance. This is the meaning of 'state-owned'."
Qu Sinian looked at her without blinking.
It seemed that at this moment, he truly realized the importance of economy.
Yan Shiyue continued, "As for the sewing machine, my idea is that the main target customers are not workshops. After returning, I want to ask the queen and the harem to learn first. After they learn, I will choose a day to demonstrate in public, and then ask these ladies from noble families and officials to learn and buy them. This is how we can make money. Then we will change the appearance of the sewing machine and sell it to those wealthy families, the kind of families that can afford it with a little bit of effort. After they learn it, they can make clothes at home."
She paused and said, "This is easy, but the middle part is still what I said. In this way, many weavers and embroiderers will be idle. How will they live?" She looked at him and said, "Why don't you tell me?"
Qu Sinian thought for a moment and said, "Isn't it easy to change the spindle of a textile machine into the one used in a sewing machine? But you drew different spindles on that picture, which was a lot of work. You also made a small machine... just to give them this machine to use?"
Yan Shiyue smiled: "Yes. This young man is teachable!"
She told him: "Although I am very domineering, you should also dare to think."
Qu Sinian responded with a smile.
She said, "This machine is small, cheap, and is used exclusively for sewing. Sending out the work of making the spools as well will give them a living!"
After the two of them had discussed it, Qu Sinian went to arrange the preparations for the government-run factory, and Yan Shiyue went to see Emperor Ming Yan. His main purpose was to get the empress and concubines to come forward, and he must report to Emperor Ming Yan.
Yan Shiyue felt that the Qixi Festival was a very good festival, and it would be appropriate to show it off during the prayer for cleverness.
Emperor Ming Yan and the Crown Prince couldn't help but look at each other as they listened to her chattering.
To be honest, Yan Shiyue's perspective on things and the grand manner in which he does things really make them amazed time and time again.
Then the prince said, "I understand everything else, but I don't understand. Why do you want Meng Er to demonstrate?"
"Not only Meng Er!" Yan Shiyue said: "When the time comes, Xiao Gu, Si Nian, Ren Zenan... I also plan to go to the Imperial College to pick a few that I like, and I will demonstrate them all. Why? First of all, a pleasing picture will make women willing to spend money on it, but this is not the key.
The key is that this is sold to the wealthy, the kind of family that grits their teeth to buy it. You know, clothes can be worn by sewing them, and it is the women who work hard. For example, do you know how much effort it takes to sew a piece of clothing?"
The prince could only shake his head. Yan Shiyue said, "That's right! It's not that I worked hard, I don't feel deeply, and it's expensive, so I won't buy it if I can. But I chose to use a group of men to show it, in order to give people the feeling that 'this should be done by men'. It's very subtle, but in this way, won't you be less confident when you refuse? Will your wife have more reasons to refute? This will make a large number of people who can buy or not choose to buy."
The prince sighed after a long while, "It's true... Yue'er, if all businessmen were like you, calculating so thoroughly, it would be a bit scary."
Yan Shiyue smiled and cupped her hands: "Thank you for the compliment!"
Emperor Mingyan said, "I agree. You can go back to the palace to find the queen. Ask Consort Xian to go with you."
"Don't!" Yan Shiyue said, "Just let Concubine Xian stay here. I don't want to bring a delicate woman with me. I don't know how much I have to worry about along the way."
Emperor Ming Yan glared at her.
The prince smiled and said, "I will write a letter to your sister-in-law, and you can ask her to come along."
Yan Shiyue responded.
When she came out from Emperor Mingyan, the prince asked her, "What happened to Concubine Xian?"
Yan Shiyue was a little surprised.
Her greatest impression of the prince was his gentleness.
He is a gentle, kind and good-looking person... When did he activate his ability of being observant?
The prince laughed at her look: "Do you think your father can't see it? Who can't see your little thoughts?" He gently tapped her: "Silly child, why don't you tell me? I'm afraid she will plot against you!"
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