Chapter 21 Dedication
After a while, Yun Dingxing had already followed Zou Wenteng, and there were two people behind him carrying a strange-looking wooden frame. Yun Dingxing was holding an iron rod in his hand, full of excitement. After entering the hall, he quickly ordered the two to put the wooden frame down: "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Prince."
"Well, Yun Qing's face is so happy today, but is there any good news to tell me?"
"That's right, please see, with this thing, the textile fabric can be at least two or three times faster in the future." Yun Dingxing took the wooden rack to Yang Yong like a treasure.
Yang Yong was overjoyed: "Is that so, let's take a look." Yang Yong picked up the wooden rack and looked carefully. There were three side-by-side wheels above the wooden rack, and there was a pedal below. Yang Yong was born in a rural area in his previous life, and there was still a reflection of the household sewing machine. This wooden rack obviously absorbed the foot design that Yang Yong told Yun Dingxing. The pedal was connected to the three wheels with a sliding rope. Only by stepping on it with his feet, the wheels would rotate quickly. Yang Yong understood at a glance that this was exactly the loom he wanted.
Yang Yong visited the weaving field and visited the current textiles. They were all hand-cranked single-spin spinning wheels. With this wooden frame, not only could three spinnings be formed at the same time, but the footsteps were much faster than hand-cranking, and they also liberated their hands. This advantage was more than three times faster than before.
This spinning wheel is actually equivalent to the three-spinned spinning wheel created by Huang Daopa hundreds of years later. Once this spinning wheel was launched, more than a hundred years later, the Ming Dynasty became an ocean that absorbed world wealth. Huang Daopa's hometown Songjiang area became a national textile center, and it has remained popular for hundreds of years. At the beginning of the 16th century, there were tens of thousands of pieces of cloth woven by local farmers in a day. Songjiang cloth was sold all over the world. It was not until the English textile machine and steam engine came out in the 19th century that the East had the advantages of textiles.
"Okay! OK!" Yang Yong praised him all the time: "Yun Aiqing, this alone can be worthy of leaving his name to the Qing history."
Although it seems a simple change, if no one studies it, even if someone fails to do it in hundreds of years, it may not be possible for anyone to do it. With this spinning wheel, the north will soon surpass Nanchen and become a new textile center. At that time, neither military nor economic, the south will be able to compete with each other in the grassland. Moreover, with this powerful tool, it will also be of great use to deal with all ethnic groups in the pastures.
Yun Dingxing was a little flattered and said reluctantly: "I dare not take credit for my humble position, this is all the help of the prince's guidance."
"Your credit will be your credit. Don't worry, I will report to the court truthfully. You will be a part of your position. By the way, why are you holding an iron stick in your hand?"
Yun Dingxing's face turned red with excitement. He heard Yang Yong ask, and quickly said, "Your Highness, by the way, this iron rod is used to remove cotton seeds. With him, it can speed up the removal of seeds by seven or eight times. In the future, cotton cloth can greatly reduce the price."
Among all cloths, cotton cloth has the most processes, including planting, picking, removing seeds, sprinkling, spinning, and finally weaving. Each item consumes a lot of labor. Therefore, cotton cloth is not popular yet. When Yang Yong asked for the first time, he found that the price of cotton cloth was actually three or four times that of silk. When he heard that this iron rod could increase the efficiency of seed removal by seven or eight times, Yang Yong couldn't help but wonder: "How to use it?"
Yun Dingxing was ready, so he took out more than ten cotton balls that had not yet been removed from his body and put them on the ground. He crushed them with an iron rod. The cotton seeds inside were immediately crushed out. Yun Dingxing handed the cotton balls that had been removed to Yang Yong's hand and said proudly: "Your Highness, look, isn't this going to speed up several times?"
This is too simple, right? Yang Yong couldn't help asking: "How did you remove the seeds of cotton in the past?"
Yun Dingxing was stunned. The prince seemed to have always been omniscient. How could he ask such a simple question? After a while, he replied: "Your Highness, in the past, cotton women used to peel off the cotton seeds directly with their hands. Not only was it slow, but it was easy to hurt their hands over time. I followed Your Highness's instructions and conducted research on all aspects of textiles. Most of them have improved, especially these two improvements were the biggest, which was presented to Your Highness."
"Peeling with your hands?" Yang Yong then realized how backward agricultural production is now. No wonder cotton cloth is more expensive than silk. A country can't even take out hundreds of thousands of cotton coats. Yang Yong felt a sudden enlightenment in his heart. In fact, based on his previous life experience in the countryside, he could find several methods that were several times faster than peeling cotton seeds with your hands.
You should know that the land in China in later generations carried 1.3 billion people, and agriculture was more than a thousand years ahead of the present. A common agricultural tool used in later generations may be a earth-shaking breakthrough. Even if there are no high-yield crops or fertilizers in later generations, as long as you spread some advanced agricultural methods and agricultural tools you know in later generations, it will be fine to feed 200 million to 300 million people.
If you have food in your hands, you are not panicked. The reason why most dynasties overthrew was that the population grew to a certain limit. In addition, corrupt officials were rampant and the people could not survive, so they revolted. If agriculture could make a great leap forward, the court would have the ability to support more troops, explore more land, and greatly extend the time for the alternation of rise and fall. It is not impossible for the Sui Dynasty to stand for a thousand years.
Seeing that Yang Yong just smiled and said nothing, Yun Dingxing was a little nervous: "Crown Prince, is it that what is wrong with Bei Zheng's words?"
"No, very good. Tomorrow you will wait outside the palace gate first, and wait for the emperor to pass the imperial edict at any time. These two items are temporarily left in the East Palace. The Ming Japanese Palace will present it to the father. Remember, keep this matter temporarily secret and no one should tell me."
"Yes, I understand, thank you, the prince." Yun Dingxing continued to be grateful and even Yun Meier forgot to take a look.
Looking at these two items, Yang Yong was always excited. Starting from textiles, the Sui Dynasty would far surpass the prosperity of the prosperous Tang Dynasty in later generations. It was not until half an hour later that Yang Yong ordered people to cover it with red cloth and start writing memorials.
The next morning court was almost finished and Yang Jian was about to announce his withdrawal from the court. Yang Yong stood up: "Report to Father, I have something to do."
Yang Jian smiled and said, "Prince, please tell me if you have something to do."
The prince rarely speaks, but when he speaks, he often hits the point. When he hears the prince’s remarks, all the ministers quickly prick up their ears.
"Father, my son has two things to present to my father, so please forgive me!"
Yang Jian was very interested. The prince presented his things to him, of course, it was a manifestation of the prince's filial piety. He nodded: "Accurate!"
"The emperor has an order to allow the prince to offer tribute!" The guards passed down the emperor's orders layer by layer, until outside the palace. Yun Dingxing had been waiting outside the palace for a long time. When he heard the edict, he hurriedly led the three people behind him to the inner hall.
All the ministers were very curious about the things offered by the prince. They stretched their necks and looked out the hall. Four people stepped into the hall under the guidance of the guards. One of them had no objects, and the other was holding a box in his hand. Unfortunately, a piece of red silk was covered with it above, so there was no object. The other two were carrying a huge object, and unfortunately they were covered with red silk.
The four of them dared not be negligent when they entered the palace. They quickly put down their things and kowtowed: "The little man will meet the emperor!"
Yang Jian's face looked ugly. Since he ascended the top, he has always advocated fertility due to the difficulties in state affairs. Even the food in each palace stipulated that there should be no wine or meat except for festivals. It can be seen how thrifty it is. At first, some officials did not believe it. One person paid ten precious gorgeous silk to Yang Jian. Yang Jian asked someone to set fire in the hall on the spot and demoted the person who offered it.
Another time, an official offered ordinary ginger, which was just put in a good sheepskin felt. As a result, Yang Jian was furious and not only demoted the man, but also beat him forty boards. Now, no matter whether the items Yang Yong presented were expensive or cheap, it was too luxurious in any case. Gao Ying, Su Wei and others were secretly anxious for Yang Yong, saying that the prince was reckless, and some people were scammers and wanted to see how the emperor dealt with the prince.
"Crown Prince, is this the gift you want to offer to me?" Yang Jian said with disappointment.
"I want to impeach the prince from the emperor for excessive luxury."
"I also want to impeach the prince's unfaithfulness and filial piety to the emperor, and for any loss of the emperor's teachings."
"I also want to impeach the crown prince to the emperor."
...
Hearing the emperor's tone, many self-righteous ministers ran out and impeached Yang Yong one after another. Yun Dingxing and three other ordinary craftsmen were kneeling on the ground. Seeing the ministers suddenly impeached the prince, they were frightened and almost collapsed on the ground and could not move.
Yang Yong sneered in his heart. He has been quite restrained over the years and can be said to have rarely offended others. Unexpectedly, after a try, there were so many ministers who could not wait to oppose him. Unfortunately, their approach today was destined to be in vain, because they could not have imagined that the things covered under the red silk could make the Sui Dynasty rich in a short time.
Gao Yingming winked at Yang Yong and signaled him to confess his guilt to the emperor quickly. Yang Yong smiled: "Report to the father, my son is always by his father's side, listen to his father's teachings. If the Sui Dynasty is not rich, how dare the son minister be extravagant? If the father has seen the things below, he still thinks that the son minister is extravagant, and the son minister is willing to admit his guilt."
Yang Jian couldn't help but say that Yang Yong has been dedicated since he was appointed as the crown prince. He has made great sense in the country's plans several times and has not made friends with officials casually. Yang Jian is at least very satisfied with his eldest son now. Hearing this, his expression calmed down: "The prince said this, then I want to see what it is?"
"Yes, Father." Yang Yong first lifted the red silk on the box, revealing the iron rod that was only the size of a finger inside. Everyone was very surprised. He never thought that since there was an iron rod under the red silk, he looked at Yang Yong blankly.
"Crown Prince, is this what you want to offer to me?"
"It's ridiculous. As the prince, your highness shouldn't tease the emperor." Yuan Kai blamed him first.
Yang Yong knew why Yuan Kai was against him, but it was just that he refused Lu Ben's accusation against Gao Ying and Su Wei. These days he frequently received news from the secret guards about the gathering of Yuan Kai, Liu Fang, Li Xun, Lu Ben and others, but he did not expect that he was also planning to do so.
Yang Yong ignored Yuan Kai's accusations and turned to Yang Jian and said, "I believe that it is this thing. Although this thing is inconspicuous, it can benefit the people. The country is prosperous and strong, and it is a rare treasure. Only the ministers dare to dedicate it to the father."
After saying that, Yang Yong personally showed the function of the iron rod. All the ministers were stunned. Unexpectedly, a small iron rod had such a function. Although most of these people were from aristocratic families, many of them could calculate the strong relationship. Although only one of the cotton cloth production was required to remove seeds, it was unintentional to improve the efficiency several times.
Sun Pi, the Minister of Works, said first: "Congratulations to the emperor, the crown prince's offering of this item is considered a priceless treasure, and it will be of great benefit to the country and the people."
Gao Ying, Su Wei and others also reacted and congratulated the emperor one after another. The ministers who impeached Yang Yong just now were very upset. If this thing is really effective, it would be acceptable not to mention red silk, even if it is wrapped in gold and silver.
"Okay, okay, prince, what is another thing?" Yang Jian said impatiently.
"Please look, Master!" Yang Yong lifted the red silk and showed the loom. Seeing the strange loom, everyone shook their heads, not knowing what it is for.
"Prince, what is this?"
"Report to the emperor, I want the craftsman who made this thing to demonstrate it myself!"
"allow!"
Yang Yong kicked Yun Dingxing, who was still sank on the ground, and then he stood up tremblingly. Poor Yun Dingxing had been a small official before, but he had never seen the emperor. He was frightened just now, and his hands and feet were already weak. He made several mistakes before the loom actually turned.
Despite this, everyone was amazed when they heard about the function of this thing. Even Yang Jian walked off the dragon chaise and observed it carefully. You should know what cloth is now. Cloth is money. Cloth can be used to reward ministers and military products. Moreover, the iron rods that are not as good as this thing can be used only for cotton cloth. The textile of silk, kale and other things must be accelerated several times. As long as this thing is promoted, everyone will soon be able to wear clothes for everyone, and the treasury will be fully enriched.
Everyone was amazed and turned around the textile machine for a long time before Yang Jian returned to the dragon throne: "The things the prince offered today are actually the foundation of the great Sui Dynasty's prosperity. I cannot help but reward them. Come and give them a thousand taels of gold, two thousand silks, thousands of pearls, ten fox skins, and tiger skins..."
Chapter completed!