Gu Zhengchen knew that with Zhu Yuanzhang's character, compromise was only temporary.
Zhu Yuanzhang may not have decided how to solve the problem of money shortage at this moment, but within two years, he will use another trick to take back the imperial court's control over coins:
Paper money!
Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang's relaxation in privately minting copper coins does not mean that the Guo family died unjustly. In Gu Zhengchen's view, the Guo family's biggest crime was not to mint copper coins privately, but to rob people into slavery!
Find a small courtyard at home and find two relatives to secretly make some copper coins. At this time, you may not be beheaded, but if you capture people as slaves, restrict their actions, and treat them like animals without any freedom, the same will happen. die.
In mid-November, the Jurong Weaving Compound achieved a daily production of 180 pieces of cotton cloth.
The increase in output is related to the expansion of looms, the proficiency of personnel, the adjustment of processes, the payment of money and grain, and the mechanism of more rewards for more work. In particular, the more work you do, the more you get, so the working method that was originally supposed to be three shifts was abruptly adjusted back to two shifts.
There are three shifts, and each shift can only work for four hours. This is extremely dissatisfying to women. When they are at home, they work at sunrise and rest at sunset. After returning home, they have to weave. Which day is not busy for five or six hours?
Besides, if you only do four hours of work, how will you spend the remaining eight hours? You can't go out at will in the weaving compound. How to pass the long time?
Gu Zhengchen thought that working in three shifts protected women's labor interests, but this idea was obviously influenced by the labor laws of later generations. For the broad masses of Ming people and those struggling at the bottom, there is no such thing as "885". In 996, as long as they can make money, support their families, and earn more, they are willing to spend more time working and make sacrifices.
Talk to them about labor rights, and they will think that they want to pay less money and food, which affects their interests...
The reason for working two shifts is not that Gu Zhengchen is exploiting them, but that they are striving for the possibility of a better life.
Good days come from hard work.
In their eyes, struggle is not measured in terms of working hours, but in terms of exhaustion. Gu Zhengchen felt a little distressed. They didn't have many other enjoyments or demands for rights. They just wanted to live and make their lives less difficult and tight.
This incident told Gu Zhengchen that not all experiences from later generations are suitable for Ming Dynasty. Even some mechanisms that are very familiar to later generations may not be suitable for Ming Dynasty.
The instructor is still wise and has told me a truth long ago: analyze specific problems in detail.
On this day, Gu Zhengchen was checking the account books with Sun Niang and Mrs. Wu. Gu Cheng came over and said, "Sir, a businessman has come from Jinling and wants to buy a large amount of Jurong cotton."
Gu Zhengchen looked at Gu Cheng: "You are the boss, so you don't need to report this matter, right?"
Gu Cheng was very grateful for Gu Zhengchen's trust and said that if he was allowed to be the big shopkeeper, he would be the real big shopkeeper. Apart from giving tasks and finally writing off the account books, he never interfered in the whole process.
However, this time the business is different.
Gu Cheng smiled and said: "The merchant who came this time purchased more than 5,000 pieces of cotton. It is no longer our decision."
Below five thousand pieces of cloth, the shopkeeper can decide.
For less than three thousand pieces of cloth, the second shopkeeper can decide.
If it exceeds 5,000 pieces of cloth, Gu Zhengchen needs to personally check it.
These rules were determined from the beginning. After all, the delivery of bulk goods often requires more negotiation, and the corresponding benefits will increase, but the risks that come with it will also increase.
According to Hu Hengcai's story, not all merchants in the Ming Dynasty were honest and trustworthy. Merchants with promises worth thousands of dollars and gold-lettered signs were not everywhere.
Some merchants will deceive you, saying they want your goods, placing a deposit first, and then taking the goods away. The subsequent money will disappear. If you trace it, you will find that even their names are fake...
Hu Hengcai had experienced this kind of thing personally, not to mention that there were gangs that committed the crime. Several groups of people deceived him one after another, and in the end they lost all their money.
It cannot be said that no businessman is a traitor, but it must be said that you need to be careful when doing business.
Gu Zhengchen decided to meet this businessman.
Meditation tea house.
Gu Zhengchen met a businessman from Jinling. He was a wealthy middle-aged man in his forties, with a slightly protruding belly and a lot of flesh on his face, which squeezed his eyes into slits.
"The common man Lu Xingyuan has met the Grand Master."
"No courtesy, please sit down."
Gu Zhengchen looked at the kind-faced Lu Xingyuan and said straight to the point: "I heard that Mr. Lu's family plans to buy a large amount of cotton?"
Lu Xingyuan chuckled and rubbed his hands: "I heard in Jinling that Jurong cotton is of high quality and low price. To be honest with you, the more north and west this cotton business is, the more valuable it becomes. The Lu family specializes in cloth trading, if Jurong cotton is The price is right, I’m willing to buy a batch.”
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly.
The winter in the north is very cold, so cotton is indispensable. Although there are many desolate places in the west, there are many mountains in those places, and there are a lot of valuable things. You can get a good price by bartering.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Gu Cheng, who arranged for Sun Er's family to bring two pieces of cotton.
After Lu Xingyuan inspected it, he repeatedly praised the quality: "Although it is not as rich as Songjiang Prefecture's jacquard printing and dyeing, it is more durable and durable. The Lu family plans to purchase 6,000 pieces of cotton first, but I would like to ask my master to give me a low estimate on the price."
Gu Zhengchen picked up the tea bowl and said with a smile: "On top of the market price, a piece of cotton cloth is 300 yuan. Other merchants from the Jurong Weaving Compound sent a piece of cotton cloth for 230 yuan. Since you want 6,000 pieces of cloth , which can be used for two hundred and twenty pieces."
Lu Xingyuan thought for a moment and shook his head: "Master, the purchase price of a piece of cotton cloth in Songjiang Mansion is only two hundred yuan."
Gu Zhengchen sipped the tea and remained silent.
Seeing the situation, Lu Xing took a step back: "Jurong is closer to Jinling, how about discounting it for 205 cents per horse?"
Gu Zhengchen put down the tea bowl and tapped the table with his fingers: "Mr. Lu, Jurong still knows a thing or two about the purchase price of Songjiang Mansion. Two hundred and twenty yuan, if you agree, the business can be done. If you don't agree, the business can be done." , you can go to Songjiang Prefecture to buy it. In addition, the goods from Jurong can only give you one thousand hacks at present, and the others will not be available until March next year."
Lu Xingyuan was not in a hurry, he just cared about the cost: "Master, such a large deal is rare, why not give in? Two hundred and ten cents, how about it? You have to know that we need to pay various customs fees during transportation. Taxes, as well as business taxes, are two hundred and twenty cents, so our income is extremely limited..."
Gu Zhengchen shook his head slightly and bit the bottom price: "Two hundred and twenty coins per piece, Jurong can transport the goods to Jinling. The Lu Dong family and ordinary people weaved day and night to have these cotton cloths. If the price is low, Jurong cannot afford it. them."
Lu Xingyuan and Gu Zhengchen agreed to deliver the goods to Jinling. They argued again, but Gu Zhengchen refused to let go, so he agreed: "You are a determined magistrate. No wonder Hu Dashan favors you. That's all." Let’s make a decision.”
