Chapter 147: On the right track
In short, the opening of the Japanese market has become a good medicine to relieve the crisis in Liaodong.
Japanese gold and silver became the best lubricant for Liaodong's industrial system.
Recently, with the Japanese market in full swing, He Xi no longer has to worry about the operation of Liaodong's industrial system. As for other questions. These are all minor issues.
However, He Xi also wrote down problems in his mind. First of all, it was the issue of talent. This is a hard problem that is not easy to solve. It takes ten years to cultivate trees and a hundred years to cultivate people. This is hard work and there is little room for trickery. However, it is not entirely impossible that there is no other way. We must wait for the next generation to cultivate them.
Such as literacy.
This will be an important question.
Secondly, there is the technical issue.
Before He Xi, existing technologies had been implemented. For example, there are no key technological breakthroughs in steel plants, textile factories, machinery factories, shipyards, and other places. And He Xi did not alleviate this concern.
And he had a premonition. The key technology of the steam engine is about to explode.
On the one hand, the accumulation of various previous technologies. On the other hand, the accumulation of various production technologies is also gradually improving.
Otherwise, one or two steam engines would be enough for Ming Dynasty. It's of no use. What Ming Dynasty needed was hundreds or even more steam engines.
He Xi felt that he had to work hard on this.
At this moment, Wang Qianli came in from outside. He whispered a few words softly in He Xi's ear. He Xi was stunned and said, "Wait a moment." Then, He Xi glanced at Yao Guangxiao.
Yao Guangxiao immediately understood and followed He Xi out.
Wang Qianli handed the letter in his hand to He Xi. After He Xi read it, he handed it to Yao Guangxiao. He Xi pressed it on the railing and patted it a few times.
Yao Guangxiao said: "It seems that a storm is about to arise in the capital."
He Xi said: "How can I see it?"
Yao Guangxiao said: "Your Majesty has summoned the kings back to the capital. The prince has always wanted to clean up the kings in the north. This time, your majesty is expected to support the prince. In addition, Xie Jin and Ding Xian have been arguing for so long. They also have an understanding. Song Guogong is guarding Beiping, it must have been there for several years.”
"The Duke of Song is not the Duke of Wei after all."
He Xi said: "You mean, major adjustments are needed?"
Yao Guangxiao said: "It's very possible. And I always feel that there are too many factors behind this, and it's unpredictable."
He Xi was silent for a moment and said, "I understand."
Then he entered the inner room again.
He Xi waited for everyone to finish reporting, coughed twice, and said: "Everyone knows that Mr. Huang is going to serve in the capital. From now on, Mr. Huang's responsibility will be taken by Yang Shiqi. In addition, there is news just now that His Majesty summoned the kings of the north. There is also Japan. The ministers who contributed to the great victory in northern Liaoning entered the capital, and a certain person is also among them. I will not be in Liaodong for some time in the future. Everyone can just settle down in his place. Wu Hou, Mr. Liu, from now on Liaodong I’ll leave it to you two.”
It's not that He Xi trusted these two people. It's the rules and regulations of the imperial court.
The governor He Xi was originally set up temporarily. If there was no governor, everything in Liaodong should have been taken care of by the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong Dusi, plus the head of the civil service in Liaodong, the Liaoyang prefect, the deputy envoy of the Liaodong inspector.
However, during this period of time, He Xi also saw the two people clearly. Wu Gao, as long as there is no big change in the center. He would not do anything that would surprise He Xi, whether it was positive or negative. He is the most cautious person.
As for Liu Jing, she actually prefers to stay away from the court and do some practical things for herself.
He won't do anything that's not there either.
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Back home, He Xi originally wanted to talk to Princess Anqing about something, but she didn't want to see Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhen came back from outer northeast. During this period of time, I have been in Liaodong, and more time in Yingkou and Lushun. For nothing else. It is to plan the best business model for Xuanyangshe. Although it is said that now furs and medicinal materials are collected from the north, and food, tools and other things are transported from the south. Although it can be profitable.
But in Yang Zhen's opinion, it is not the most profitable.
On the one hand, operate Liaodong. Strengthen the original temporary stronghold and turn it into a fixed stronghold. On the other hand, it is to choose high-value products as much as possible. At this moment, Yang Zhen is ready. Ready to set sail again. Before that, I naturally have to report here.
When He Xi arrived, he naturally wanted to listen. He did not interrupt Yang Zhen's words, but walked from the back and sat down on a chair.
Yang Zhen naturally wanted to stand up and salute.
He Xi said, "Just go on and I'll listen."
Yang Zhen said: "Yes." Then Yang Zhen continued: "The fur has been processed. A fur workshop has been established in Yingkou. Several masters have been invited from the mainland. This industry can be started."
He Xi suddenly became interested and said, "Are there many people opening workshops in Yingkou?"
Yang Zhen pondered for a moment and said: "Not too many, most of them are made of fur salt. The reason why they are here is that there are more furs in the Northeast. Secondly, the salt in Liaodong is cheap."
Salt, as a raw material, is not just for human consumption. It is also useful in industry. A large amount of salt is needed to tantalize fur, and the price of salt in Liaodong is much lower than the price in Guannei.
After calculating the costs, it was naturally found that it was more cost-effective to set up a workshop in Liaodong.
He Xi said: "Oh. Just keep talking."
In his heart, He Xi actually hopes that the industrial model can be transplanted from the official to the private sector. After all, He Xi knew it very well. He Xi hadn't felt that before. But this question was raised recently by Huang Zicheng. Let He Xi understand a problem more clearly. That is the government, or the imperial court, or the official manufacturing industry. There is an upper limit to scale.
This upper limit is determined by many aspects.
At least, He Xi now thinks it is software ability. That is, management ability.
At least in the Liaodong stall, He Xi is already having a hard time managing. He Xi actually hopes that the private sector can develop industry. Naturally, he hopes that the seeds of industry will not cease to exist because He Xi's political influence has faded. Because He Xi knows it very well. In fact, this kind of division of labor, processization, and use of machinery is a factory-like production model. In ancient China, it was never a rare thing.
No matter it is, weapons manufacturing in the Qin Dynasty. It was also a large-scale iron smelting base in the Song Dynasty.
There are similar or similar situations.
Even in terms of internal management, there are many such methods, which are better than He Xi's current crude management method.
But what happened to these industries in the end?
Because of war or political factors, it became the swan song of history.
Therefore, He Xi understands very well that as long as a production model exists among the people, they will spontaneously accept this production model because of their interests. Only in this way can it truly be deeply rooted in people's hearts. As long as we don't encounter that kind of large-scale war, there will be no problem of disconnection. Even if there is such a large-scale war, it cannot stop people's pursuit of interests.
It just seems that the reality is a little slower than He Xi expected.
Or maybe this was normal in ancient times. A secret recipe can be passed down for more than ten generations. For a new production model to spread, it will take more time than He Xi imagined.
However, He Xi was also thinking, what is the problem?
Yang Zhen said: "In addition, I found that the forest people in the north like sugar very much, so I arranged to transport sugar from Chaozhou. I just found that the price of sugar is a bit high."
He Xi said: "It's naturally high. There are also a group of people in the army who like to eat sweets. It gives me a headache."
Sugar is not in He Xi's plan, at least the Northeast does not produce sugar. Later generations of Northeastern sugar beets originated in Europe and had not yet been introduced to China at this time. Not to mention, there is accumulated technology in the matter of sugar cane extraction.
You don’t have to worry too much. Even if the beets are transplanted, how will you squeeze out the sugar? This process needs to be started again. He Xi really had no idea about this. After all, he has too many things to worry about, including technologies that have substitutes. He Xi does not want to repeat research and development.
Therefore, for a long time, Liaodong had to produce sugar from the south.
Nowadays, the place where sugar is pressed on a large scale is actually Chaozhou sugar. Production is limited. However, it is expanding rapidly. Planting has begun in many places in Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, and even the four towns in Nanyang. But industrial development also takes time.
He Xi asked: "Is Xuanyang Club making money now?"
Yang Zhen said; "Although I don't make much, I have already made money. This is just the money owed to the company, and it will be difficult to pay it back in a short time."
He Xi said, "You don't have to think too much about this. Just run your own business. Anyway, if you have money, pay it back. If you don't, you'll owe it first."
"What do you owe?" Princess Anqing, who had been silent all this time, suddenly snorted coldly and said, "It is obviously my own money. It has been turned around in a circle and lost most of it. It is no longer my own. How could you do such a thing."
He Xi didn't know what to say for a while. He knew Princess Anqing and was still angry about what happened before. Even resentful. Perhaps what Princess Anqing is angry about is not the money issue. After all, Princess Anqing has never been short of money. But He Xi did not consult with him when doing things.
In short, this matter has not yet passed with Princess Anqing.
It's fine if you don't mention it, but you'll get angry if you mention it.
He Xi just gave Yang Zhen a look.
Yang Zhen understood, stood up, bowed slightly, and slowly retreated.
After Yang Zhen left.
He Xi said: "Okay, okay. This is not the family business of Xuanyang Society, and it will not be smaller than the Jinghai Chamber of Commerce in the future. Just don't worry."
Princess Anqing murmured in a low voice: "The outside master is outside, the inside master is inside, you just did my thing like this. Now it's like this, who owes any bank money."
He Xi said: "Okay. Okay. Okay. I'll find a way to do this. I'll find a way to settle the account."
Princess Anqing said, "Forget it. Don't bother my Master Qingtian with this matter. Just do your thing and let Yang Zhen do these things. Anyway, there is more money and less money, and I can't spend it anyway."