Gu Zhengchen's thoughts were not hidden from the eyes of Li Min, Huang Su and others.
Tang Jun and others also knew that long-distance trade was beneficial, but the environment at this time was different from that of the Song and Yuan Dynasties. There were many bandits and pirates on the sea, and the risks of long-distance trade were quite high. Moreover, the court was most concerned about farming and reclamation, and obtaining money from the people. The interests can satisfy the basic needs of the court, which makes the emperor unwilling and unwilling to invest manpower, material resources and financial resources in the sea.
Gu Zhengchen didn't try to persuade him any more. These officials were all smart people and they would always say that the emperor wouldn't agree or the emperor wouldn't allow it.
Since the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court has never banned official trade, and tribute trade has always been in progress. Even if the sea route was not smooth for a period of time, Annan, Siam and other countries came from the land.
It's just that this kind of tribute trade is passive and one-sided.
Since people can pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, why can’t the Ming Dynasty send official ships to Nanyang to transport some goods on their own? It's not like Lao Zhu never did such business when he was King of Wu.
risk?
Look at the Ryukyu Kingdom, Champa Kingdom, etc. Every year, they risk the double risks of falling into the sea to feed fish and being robbed to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty. They never stop, and sometimes they go three or four times a year. Don't they know? risky?
Envoys are not talismans. Those pirates are not even afraid of the Ming Dynasty, but they are still afraid of these small countries?
It’s just that there is no other way. Before convincing Lao Zhu, all efforts will be in vain. No matter how big the pie is, these old foxes will not easily come forward to persuade Lao Zhu.
Yes, this road won’t work, we have to find another way.
Gu Zhengchen had no choice but to accompany a group of big guys to visit the craftsman compound. Huang Su also wanted to visit the weaving compound, but was scorned by Li Min. There were only women there, and it was inappropriate for a group of men to go there.
It’s okay not to go.
Gu Zhengchen saved a lot of trouble. After all, the division of labor and cooperation in the weaving compound was the most detailed and consistent, and the design and transformation were not spread to the outside world. If these people did not see it, they could ensure the technical advantage for a period of time.
After placing a group of people in the post house, Gu Zhengchen talked to Li Min, Huang Su and others for a long time in the room. It was not until dusk that he walked out of the room. Before leaving the post house, Zhang Pei stepped forward and stood there. Beside Gu Zhengchen, he looked warily at the person walking from the side room, his hand on the handle of the knife.
"Master Kuai."
Gu Zhengchen recognized the other party.
"Gu Zhi County."
Kuai Mingsi saluted seriously.
After Gu Zhengchen returned the courtesy, he looked around and saw that there was no one else around him, so he smiled and said, "You must have been waiting here for a long time. I wonder what Master Kuai has to do?"
Kuai Mingsi extended his hand and said, "I'm not sure about a few things, and I'd like to discuss them with Magistrate Gu. Is that okay?"
"That's natural."
Gu Zhengchen followed Kuai Mingsi to the stone table and sat down.
Kuai Mingsi forced out a smile with some embarrassment and said, "Although I know a few words, I am a rough person after all. If my words offend Magistrate Gu, please bear with me."
Gu Zhengchen waved his hand: "It doesn't matter, Master, just tell me what you have to say."
Kuai Ming regained his composure and his face became serious: "Since I was a child, I have been a teacher of the neighborhood craftsmen and learned some craftsmanship. Later, due to the war, I moved to Xiangshan, Suzhou. While working in the fields, I often looked for craftsmen. Learn craftsmanship skills. Three years ago, a master told me that craftsmanship is the result of ten years of hard work, and it is difficult to master craftsmanship in a lifetime. Today I saw the craftsmanship compound and saw Gu Zhixian’s craftsmanship in it. I was quite shocked, like a The master craftsman is admirable. Therefore, Kuai waits again to ask for advice."
Gu Zhengchen was a little embarrassed. He didn't know how to work as a craftsman. He could only use an ax and a saw, but he couldn't use a plane very well. He felt a little ashamed to be called a brilliant craftsman.
Kuai Mingsi bluntly said: "This kind of decentralized combination is essential for large-scale project construction, but it is so subdivided into a small object that very few people do it. I wonder how Gu Zhixian came up with it?"
Gu Zhengchen thought for a while and replied seriously: "In the final analysis, it is still a matter of cost."
"cost?"
Quin Mingsi was a little confused.
Gu Zhengchen nodded at the stone table: "As mentioned before, the purpose of building the three courtyards in Jurong is to improve people's lives, and to do this, we can only ensure enough profits. And how to make profits, increasing the sales price is not The long-term solution, apart from raising prices, can only save costs.”
"As far as building a cargo cart is concerned, if one craftsman is responsible for all the material costs, the material cost will be the same, but the time cost will obviously increase a lot. It will take at least three days to build a cargo cart independently. It also requires craftsmen who know all kinds of crafts.”
"But if you break it down and give full play to the strengths of the craftsmen, they are good at planing wood, those who are good at making mortises and tenons, those who are good at measuring rulers, and those who are good at painting... They are not good at anything. You can also process wood and learn other skills in your free time.”
"All the processes are closely connected. What originally took one person three days can be completed in less than half a day. This saves a lot of costs. When these costs are enough to offset the cost of adding more craftsmen, it will be extra. profit..."
I couldn't explain too many terms such as performance and assembly lines, so I had to break it down and explain the operating principles.
Kuai Mingsi listened attentively and asked a few questions from time to time. When the two were chatting happily, there was a sudden burst of urgent shouts outside the post house. The postman then ran to the post house with a letter and asked someone to ask. After that, he hurried to Kuai Mingsi. Seeing that the county official was also there, he quickly saluted.
"What's the matter?"
Gu Zhengchen asked.
The postman took out the letter and said quickly: "A servant came outside the door and sent a message to Master Kuai, saying that his eldest son Kuai Fu Neng was infected with the disease..."
"What, my son is sick?"
Kuai Mingsi suddenly became anxious, took the letter and read it.
Gu Zhengchen frowned and murmured: "Kuai Funeng, Kuai Funeng, this name seems familiar."
Seeing Kuai Mingsi worried, Gu Zhengchen stood up and asked, "How is it?"
Kuai Mingsi lowered his hands and looked up at the sky, feeling sad and in pain. The corners of his mouth trembled slightly: "The child is sick, and the doctor won't treat him."
"Why?"
Gu Zhengchen felt angry, but he understood when he saw Kuai Mingsi's patched clothes.
After all, there are only a few doctors who can save lives by hanging pots. Many pharmacies and doctors are not willing to take long-term credit. Although this is understandable, it is a human life after all!
"Quai Funeng! You said your son's name is Kuai Funeng?"
Gu Zhengchen suddenly thought of something and shouted out.
Kuai Mingsi looked at Gu Zhengchen in confusion. Although he didn't say anything, the meaning was obvious. My son is only three years old. Do you know him?
Gu Zhengchen felt that he had lost his composure and said seriously to Kuai Mingsi: "Don't worry, your son will be fine."
Quin Mingsi was still confused.
Gu Zhengchen asked the postman and found out that the servant was still outside. He turned sideways and looked at Zhang Pei and said seriously: "From now on, I will give you a few days off. Go back to Jinling and have a good rest. Follow the servant back. Understand me." What do you mean?"
Zhang Pei was a little surprised. Did the master send him to deliver money?
