The courtyard in the middle of Mengxian Castle is generally a rectangle close to a square.
There are five outward protrusions around it. If you look down from above, it looks a bit like a cartoon figure with extremely short limbs.
It was originally a military fortress with a wall fifteen meters high and two and a half meters thick, with cannons mounted on the walls.
The comfort of living in a place like this cannot be compared to that of a specially built holiday estate.
But after decorating it well, it won't be too bad if there aren't too many people living there.
Because the place is spacious enough, the entire castle has a total area of nearly 10,000 square meters and a courtyard of more than 3,000 square meters.
Zhu Jingyuan didn't say that he was here for a vacation to escape the heat. Lin Zexu didn't know that Zhu Jingyuan wanted to live there permanently, so he chose this place considering safety.
Zhu Jingyuan stood in the middle of the yard, looking at the surrounding stone buildings, trees and pavilions with seats in the yard.
Feeling the surrounding temperature of up to 29 degrees and the gentle sea breeze blowing constantly, I am quite satisfied with the environment here.
Zhu Jingyuan said goodbye to his staff and courtiers, and went to rest for a day to get used to the feeling of setting foot on land again.
The next morning, Zhu Jingyuan formally accepted Lin Zexu's report.
In the conference room of the castle, Hao Zhongyi, director of the third textile workshop, led a group of workers to take out samples of the main products of the Mengxian textile factory and garment factory and placed them on the conference table one by one.
After finishing cleaning up here, Lin Zexu went to the conference room of the castle and began to introduce and show Zhu Jingyuan.
The first is to demonstrate the fabric’s greatest advantage – its wear resistance.
Lin Zexu did not let Hao Zhongyi do experiments on site, but took out the results of the experiments.
"Your Highness, this is pure cotton cloth. After being scratched three hundred times, the warp and weft threads broke and holes were opened.
“This piece of fabric is made of rayon, and it was scratched three hundred times, and there was basically no obvious damage.
"The last piece was made of rayon fabric. It was scratched a thousand times. As a result, only the weft threads that crossed the direction of the scratching were broken. The warp threads remained connected, and the entire fabric was still not completely penetrated.
“The samples we sent to the capital were displayed on site at the Dudu Mansion, and the Dudu Mansion arranged for soldiers to conduct on-site experiments.
“After seeing the comparison results, the Governor’s Office decided to purchase on the spot.
"In the future, all outer materials of spring, autumn and winter training uniforms will be made of rayon."
Zhu Jingyuan had expected this and nodded with satisfaction after hearing this.
Then Lin Zexu asked Hao Zhongyi to bring over a set of clothes, a camouflage zippered top and pants for training.
The Ming Dynasty originally had double-breasted coats, and they were directly attached with zippers. It is a normal result to make this kind of clothes.
The fabric has actually been shown. The most important thing on this dress is not the fabric, but Zhu Jingyuan's newly invented zipper.
The zipper may seem inconspicuous in modern times, but it is definitely one of the most important inventions in human history.
And the earliest zippers were not the most common styles in modern times, but two rows of thick metal hooks.
It took almost thirty years from the invention of the invention in the North to the basic maturity and formation of the modern form.
Zhu Jingyuan's inventions were as always, directly based on the experience of later generations, and directly took out three mature designs.
Lin Zexu pulled the zipper back and forth twice and praised the invention sincerely:
"Your Highness's idea is so wonderful. There are hundreds of small holes, which can be closed or opened in an instant.
“It allows workers and soldiers to dress quickly and close packages quickly and tightly.
“As long as mass production technology matures, it will definitely become popular around the world.
"And orders from the Ming Dynasty's military can directly mature related industries."
Zhu Jingyuan pulled the zipper back and forth several times, and tugged on the elastic bands of his sleeves and trouser legs. He wanted to sigh loudly:
This new type of training uniform was finally made, and Ming Dynasty was one step closer to modernization.
But considering the environment and identity, I couldn't express this feeling, and others wouldn't understand it.
In the end, Zhu Jingyuan just nodded slightly and said the word "good" sincerely, indicating that he was very satisfied.
Lin Zexu was used to Zhu Jingyuan's reaction.
In Lin Zexu's view, His Royal Highness Prince Dashi has invented too many magical items, so he is already familiar with and accustomed to the novelty of new things.
No matter how important the matter is to others, it is just a slight nod to His Highness.
However, rewards and rewards are never stingy.
It was the first time for Hao Zhongyi to see Zhu Jingyuan, and also the first time to see a person of this level.
Seeing Zhu Jingyuan's reaction, I couldn't help but admire in my heart:
"As expected of the prince of the Ming Dynasty, worthy of being the inventor of these magical things. Seeing that they can be so calm..."
Next, Lin Zexu showed Zhu Jingyuan the various packages he had made.
Backpack in thick rayon fabric, as well as crossbody and tote bags in the same material.
Lin Zexu said with emotion:
“Compared with the zippers on clothing, the zippers on packages are easier to use. It’s so convenient to open and close to access things.
"So these rayon zipper packages, as well as equipment for storing bullets, magazines, pistols, and grenades, the Fifth Army Governor's Office also ordered a large number of them.
“What the factory needs to do now is to expand production, and at the same time provide technology licenses to the royal consortium to build factories in other places for production.
“With military orders plus authorized production fees, our synthetic textile and garment factories will be able to achieve profitability this year.
"The expansion of the synthetic textile industry will definitely increase crude oil consumption and increase the growth rate of crude oil sales."
Zhu Jingyuan pursed his lips after hearing this.
This textile factory will make money on its own, and it will also push up oil sales...
In short, Da Shiguo can make money no matter what it does now.
Zhu Jingyuan reluctantly put down his clothes and picked up a pair of white socks next to him.
Lin Zexu immediately followed the introduction and said:
“These socks are made of 95% cotton, 50% stretch silk, blended with stretch cotton thread, and made through circular knitting.
“It fits your feet perfectly, is not easy to slip off, is not tight, keeps warm and absorbs sweat without being loose and bloated.
“There are different thicknesses and densities, suitable for all seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter...
“This is the most popular product produced by our factory and can be used by almost all groups in the entire Ming Dynasty.
“It just takes time to promote it and continue to expand production to reduce costs.
“Real low-level workers still can’t afford it in the short term.”
Zhu Jingyuan tugged at the cuff of his socks, which were half elastic, that is, 5% spandex and 95% cotton.
The warmth and sweat-absorbing capabilities are the same as those of pure cotton, but they have better elasticity and are more comfortable to wear.
The nominally "pure cotton" socks and Laika pants of later generations were basically at this level.
Pure cotton with no stretch silk is actually not comfortable to use:
"Send a batch to the palace. I will wear these socks from now on. You can say that I wear them during publicity."
Lin Zexu immediately understood that this was using the name of the prince Zhu Jingyuan as an advertisement.
Moreover, Zhu Jingyuan really uses it, not just in name. This thing is really good.
So far, the relatively formal mass products of the two factories have been introduced.
Zhu Jingyuan followed Lin Zexu and Hao Zhongyi to the other end of the conference table, where more special products were placed.
There is also a basin on the table.
Hao Zhongyi took a piece of cloth, wrapped it in his hand, soaked it in the basin, and then raised his hand again.
Hao Zhongyi didn't dare to speak when facing Zhu Jingyuan, but Lin Zexu introduced next to him:
"Your Highness, this kind of material and design can indeed prevent the fabric from sticking to the body after being soaked in water, which is especially suitable for wading in water.
“It’s just that we can only use pure rayon and elastic yarn to weave, and the market is relatively narrow, so it’s difficult to keep the cost down.”
This is actually a swimming cloth, used for swimming suits.
There is also a set of swimsuits placed next to it. Of course, it is not the bikini of later generations, but a sports style with long sleeves and pants.
Lin Zexu said that the market is narrow, and it seems to be true at present.
This kind of fabric is not sticky, but it is not waterproof.
People who need to work in water should either wear shorts to enter the water or use rubber waterproof clothing.
Swimming suits can only maintain their appearance in the water. Lin Zexu believes that there is basically no market for such extremely special effects.
That is, in some extremely special situations, just playing in the entertainment pool.
People of this era certainly could not imagine the grand occasion of people of all ages wearing swimsuits and playing on the beach.
Zhu Jingyuan didn't say anything, and tried the soaking effect of the swimming cloth before looking towards the end.
On the last small tray, there was a folded pair of white pants.
Zhu Jingyuan pulled it up and took a look. He felt that this thing was a bit strange. The bottom of the trouser leg was connected to the foot.
And the overall look is relatively small, like a child's pants.
Lin Zexu next to him continued to introduce:
"This Eastern and Western style was made at the request of shopkeeper Chu Yuqiang of Ming Dynasty Taixi Clothing Company.
"Using 80% rayon and 20% elastic yarn, they are intertwined to make elastic threads and weaved into an elongated cylinder.
“An opening is made on the inside of one end of two cylinders, and a piece of bottom crotch cloth is added to the two openings and then sewed together to create this form of trousers.
"Shopkeeper Chu said that this is equivalent to combining the tight shorts and long stockings worn by the Thai people, so he plans to sell them under the name of pantyhose."
Zhu Jingyuan finally understood what this was.
Zhu Jingyuan had never paid special attention to this thing in his previous life, and had always equated pantyhose with the thin stockings on women's legs.
The pants in front of me are about the same thickness as a summer sweatshirt, and they are completely opaque.
So much so that Zhu Jingyuan didn't immediately understand its identity.
After understanding what was going on, Zhu Jingyuan grabbed it with both hands and pulled it, and found that the elasticity was surprisingly good.
Although it doesn't look bulky, it should be able to be worn by adults.
This is a customized product from Dashi Clothing Company.
This thing solves the pain points of the Thai people for hundreds of years.
In the past, in order to put tight shorts and stockings together, I had to leave a seam in the middle. In the future, I can completely disappear.
If the price of this thing is right, it will definitely sell well in the Thai and Western markets.
Zhu Jingyuan thought about the situation there and subconsciously asked Lin Zexu:
"How much does this thing cost? Has Chu Yuqiang ever said how much he plans to sell this thing for?"
Lin Zexu picked up a small notebook next to him and read:
“The cost... cannot be estimated accurately yet, because the early R&D and trial production costs are difficult to share.
“The pure production cost is estimated to be around one dollar, and should continue to decrease in the future.
"After discussing it with us, shopkeeper Chu felt that the ordinary ones should also be sold for ten yuan in silver notes.
"The high-end models sold to those nobles should cost twenty or even thirty yuan a piece."
Zhu Jingyuan calculated in his mind that the price of these pantyhose was quite outrageous, costing one hundred yuan.
Under normal circumstances, two-yuan banknotes can be sold in the market, which is two hundred yuan.
But Chu Yuqiang, the shopkeeper, plans to sell the most common ones for one thousand, and the high-end ones for two to three thousand.
However, its current status is not that of a mass product of later generations, nor is it a cheap product.
Even if it will become a cheap product sooner or later, when it was first born, it will definitely be positioned as a luxury product.
If Chu Yuqiang is completely allowed to run it alone, he will probably maintain the positioning of luxury goods for a long time.
Try to maintain a profit rate of ten times or even higher...
Zhu Jingyuan thought for a while and said:
“Let Chu Yuqiang be responsible for the sales of this thing.
“Don’t sell on the market through other channels without consulting him or getting my permission.
"Also, tell Chu Yuqiang that twenty or thirty silver notes are still conservative. You can try selling one hundred silver notes.
“According to the different proportions of elastic yarn and the different colors of the finished products, they are divided into different grades and sold to different people.
“Besides, it’s still the same old trick, let Chu Yuqiang send a few to Charles in France first, saying they are gifts from me.
"Let this brother continue to help promote it, he should be enjoying it..."
