Chapter 8 Zhangjia Buzhuang
A piece of cloth is four feet long. As for the width, it usually depends on the loom. If the loom is large, then it should be wider; if the loom is small, then it should be narrower.
In ancient times, every woman had to learn how to be a female worker, even if Princess Anqing was not a very good female worker. But I still have some knowledge about cloth needlework. Therefore, Princess Anqing had a basic impression of this cloth as soon as she started using it.
First of all, the portions are generous.
Although Princess Anqing did not open the piece of cloth and use a ruler to measure the size. But the weight alone. Princess Anqing knew that the weight was not much different. Even just from the fabric point of view, the material used is very sufficient.
But who is Princess Anqing? She grew up in fine clothes and fine food. Everything used was tribute. Although Zhu Yuanzhang was very frugal, Zhu Yuanzhang's frugality was all about gold, silver and jade. Not that. Even the fabric was wronged by Princess Anqing. The top-grade silk and satin was also used by Princess Anqing. It's only worn when it's needed and when it's a big ceremony.
After all, ancient silk was difficult to clean, fade, and shrink. So generally, if a piece of clothing is dirty, it cannot be worn.
As for cotton cloth, Princess Anqing has also seen it.
After all, Zhu Yuanzhang promoted cotton cultivation, and cotton cloth was not rare.
Ordinary people may pay more attention to whether the fabric is thick or not, but Princess Anqing has long focused on other aspects of fabric. Therefore, when Princess Anqing looked at the fabric, she thought it looked stupid, clumsy and thick. It's good to make clothes for servants. But it's not what she likes.
But Princess Anqing is also very smart. She knew that her husband and father were people who did great things. I came here today and evening not really to see these pieces of cloth. She was dissatisfied. But he didn't say it out loud, but handed it to He Xi and said, "Take a look."
He Xi hugged the cloth and felt the thick cotton with her fingers, feeling a familiar feeling. This feeling comes from homespun when I was a child.
There are no familiar patterns on it, and it is much rougher. But the thick feeling is not much different from the homespun cloth of my childhood.
After all, the craftsmanship of homespun cloth is actually inherited from the traditional Chinese cotton weaving. With the advancement of modernization, it was replaced. But it still leaves traces in the times.
He Xi asked: "This cloth is very thick."
Shopkeeper Zhang is a business person. What a keen eye. It can be seen at a glance that Princess Anqing is not satisfied. But there was no opening here. He was not easy to talk, so when He Xi opened his mouth, it didn't matter what he said. Shopkeeper Zhang immediately stepped forward to catch the conversation and said, "Your honor is wise. The cloth here is all made of fine Zhejiang seeds. This kind of cotton produces the thickest cotton. If you don't believe it, take a look. It’s been worn for years.”
He Xi was not interested in the others, but was very interested in the variety mentioned by shopkeeper Zhang, and said, "Zhejiang variety?"
"That's right." Shopkeeper Zhang said; "Today's cotton seeds are mostly grown in the north and the south, and the south is mostly grown in Zhejiang. The cotton in our area is grown in Zhejiang, and it grows better than cotton in other places. , the cloth woven is the best in the world. Therefore, our town is famous all over the world. Sir, you will not come here specially to see whether the cloth is good or not."
He Xi smiled slightly and said, "Not bad."
He said it was good. But in his heart, he secretly said: "That's right."
Perhaps the reason why Songjiang was so famous in the world was not because of anything else in the beginning. Songjiang is rich in cotton. However, with the passage of time, local cotton in Songjiang was not enough, and a large amount of cotton from other places was imported. As a result, it is not profitable to grow cotton locally, and no one grows cotton anymore. Leaving behind the world's number one textile industry.
In addition, He Xi discovered another blind spot that he had not discovered. That is Daming’s cotton and its varieties.
It sounds strange.
In fact, cotton should have varieties. It's just that the Ming Dynasty scholar-bureaucrats didn't pay attention to this. To them cotton is cotton. He Xi has been up there for a long time and has not noticed this. Now I know that there are different types of cotton in Ming Dynasty.
In an instant, all kinds of thoughts about breeding came to mind.
Egyptian long-staple cotton is known as the best cotton in the world. It also came to He Xi's heart.
He Xi immediately added another project for the future fleet to go to sea, collecting fine seeds from all over the world. At the same time, it seems that an agricultural college will be established in Daming.
He Xi said: "How much cloth like this can you provide?"
Shopkeeper Zhang said: "I have a thousand horses in stock at home. If you ask for it, I will give it to you immediately. Any more will have to wait."
"A thousand pieces?" He Xi pondered for a moment and said, "Can't you dismantle some from your colleagues?"
He Xi understands that in a small town like this, where most people work in the same industry, peers are both enemies and rivals. Also a partner. Usually there is a big order, if you can’t eat it. It is also common for peers to join forces to eat together.
Shopkeeper Zhang said, "Your Excellency, you are wise. This is actually a dismantled number. In fact, Your Excellency has come at the wrong time. If in a few months, even ten thousand horses can be obtained by a small shop. But now is the time when the supply chain is in decline." . We can only wait until the cotton comes down in a few months, then the market will be prosperous, and now there is only so much."
He Xi doesn't need so much cotton cloth. Of course, it doesn't matter if he buys it. After all, he has a lot of money in his hands. He also brought funds from the capital. Although it is public funds. But cloth was also hard currency. He did nothing else but distribute these cloths as welfare to the people below. The people below are also very happy.
However, He Xi did this mostly because he wanted to know how big the Songjiang cotton industry is now.
Now it seems that it is not big enough.
Ten thousand horses says a lot. However, although Zhangjia Buzhuang is not the best in Zhujing Town, it can still be called a big Buzhuang. Songjiang Prefecture is not the only place where cloth is produced in Zhujing Town. To be honest, Suzhou is not the only place where cloth is produced.
But since Zhujing Town is famous for this. It accounts for a large part of this industry.
Now all ten thousand horses are worth boasting about.
If you think about it, the entire Zhujing Town's output of one million horses would be as high as the sky. Are there tens of millions of horses in the entire Songjiang River? It’s hard to say.
The number seems to be quite a lot. But He Xi inquired about it and found out that the price of a piece of cloth was between one and two cents. Even assuming that Songjiang has an output of tens of millions of horses, the output value is only one million taels. It is far, far away from the fake world of Songjiang cotton in He Xi's mind.
He Xi secretly thought: "Yes. I came early. Songjiang cotton really became dominant in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, about a hundred years ago. This matter is difficult to handle."
When He Xi came to Songjiang for inspection, he might not have the intention of picking peaches. If Songjiang's textile industry has already laid a foundation. On this basis, he made some improvements and brought the entire textile industry under his control.
But now it seems that Songjiang Cotton Textile Industry is simply a premature baby, and it is still in the process of development. If he wanted to pick the fruit, he had to find a way to grow it himself.
This is a bit troublesome.
"This guest?" Shopkeeper Zhang said cautiously: "How many guests do you want? Let me count, so I can prepare for it."
He Xi smiled slightly and said: "How much? Actually, when I am really interested, please set a price for your store."
As soon as He Xi said this, Shopkeeper Zhang's expression changed slightly and he said, "Sir, are you kidding me?"
He Xi said: "No. You can make an offer."
Yao Guangxiao coughed twice and said: "Shopkeeper, I have told you before that my lord is the nephew of Cao Guogong, and my wife is the concubine of Wei Guogong. Do you know these two? Sometimes, those who know the current affairs are heroes. "
He Xi suddenly felt a little embarrassed. It seems that I have come to occupy other people's property.
But He Xi really wanted to open a cloth shop. After all, many things were much easier to do in his own property than in other people's properties. In addition, we also obtained more detailed data through a cloth shop. His estimate was ultimately imprecise.
He Xi said: "Old man, don't worry, His Majesty is wise and has strict control over his meritorious children. If you really don't want to sell, please introduce me to a family. The price will be as much as you want. I will never lose you a single star."
Although He Xi spoke nicely, to the old shopkeeper's ears, he was just a white-faced person and a red-faced person.
How could he not understand this method?
