When the fun was almost over, Li Qing began to reorganize the weaving game.
The first thing is to go to the Hubu Yamen and apply for funding.
"How much does an imperial envoy cost?" Shangshu asked, "What is it used for?"
"You don't have to worry about it, just give me the money." Li Qing took out Zhu Qizhen's handwriting, "This is the emperor's special permission. Please give me one hundred thousand taels of silver first."
Why don't you go and grab it? The Minister of Hubu shook his head and said, "This is not the capital, and Hubu doesn't have that much money."
"Haha," Li Qing sneered, "If that's the case, I'll report it to the Emperor right away."
"Wait a minute." Seeing that Li Qing complained after a disagreement, the old minister softened immediately and said: "The Ministry of Revenue can't come up with such a large amount at the moment. In this way, I will allocate 50,000 first, and then I will follow up." Think of a way."
Play a compromise trick with me... Li Qing said directly: "No need to be embarrassed, Zhang Shangshu, I will report to the emperor right away."
"...Okay, here it is." The Secretary of the Ministry of Finance's face was full of black lines, "Follow me."
…
Li Qing couldn't take away the one hundred thousand taels of silver, so he kept it in the Ministry of Household Affairs.
However, the money has been transferred from the Household Department to the Weaving Bureau's account, so there is no need to worry about further disputes. Li Qing can use it as he wants.
After the money problem was solved, Li Qing began to work aggressively.
At the beginning, Li Qing started the Weaving Bureau by himself, and he was very familiar with it. He repaired the looms, recruited workers, and purchased raw silk... in an orderly manner.
Such a big move cannot be hidden from anyone. In just half a month, everyone in Jinling, from officials to wealthy gentry, already knew about it.
When Li Qing discussed cooperation with mulberry farmers and silkworm farmers, these upper-class people could no longer sit still.
How could they not see what the imperial court wanted to do?
Obviously, it is by no means simply trading with Japan. Looking at this posture, it is obvious that it is to return to the West.
Since the imperial court gave up on maritime trade, these big families have spent a lot of money, and such a huge gap has greatly benefited them.
There were people in the court who had money. The route maps to the Western Ocean and the shipwrights and workers of the imperial treasure ships were poached by them for endorsement. Now the wealthy gentry have the ability to travel to the Western Ocean for trade.
Especially in the past two years, their assets have grown by leaps and bounds. Their income in one year has caught up with their accumulation in the previous ten years. After tasting such great benefits, they will naturally not give it away.
But Li Qing was an imperial envoy, so there was nothing they could do.
Although these rich gentry are greedy, they are still clear-headed. The imperial envoy cannot be moved if he wants to, because it involves too much.
However, they are not helpless.
Soon, Li Qing encountered resistance.
The mulberry farmers and sericulture farmers who had previously agreed to cooperate all changed their minds. The reason was simple: the rich gentry offered a higher price.
In just over ten days, the price of raw silk increased by 70%.
It was rising like a rocket, and the mulberry farmers and sericulture farmers were very excited.
The people are not so aware, so whoever pays the highest price will do it.
Li Qing didn't have any good ideas for this.
If it hadn't been for the imperial court's policy of apportioning farmers into acres, at least half of these people's fields would have been annexed by wealthy gentry, but Li Qing had bad morals and kidnapped people.
Everyone has the right to pursue interests and a high quality of life.
Fortunately, Li Qing has purchased some raw silk, which can be used by the Weaving Bureau for a while.
At least we can start work.
However, these raw silk can only last for a few months. After the work is completed, the raw materials will be exhausted and the work will have to be stopped.
"Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy, since you can't be soft, let's be tough." Xiao Liuzi, the eunuch of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, said, "They are just a group of common people. If you give them face, you have to sell it or not."
Jinyiwei Baihu interjected: "Father, what should we do if trouble occurs?"
"Oh, stupid," Xiao Liuzi said, "Why do you Jin Yiwei eat? Don't look at how powerful these unscrupulous people are. As soon as you use your methods, they will immediately wither."
The hundred households in brocade clothes stopped talking and looked at Li Qing.
"This strategy is absolutely unfeasible." Li Qing said decisively, "The imperial envoy represents the emperor. If we do this, we will damage the emperor's reputation. How can we be unjust to the emperor?"
Hearing what Li Qing said, Xiao Liuzi was unwilling to accept it, but he shut up in anger. It was about the emperor's face, and he didn't dare to take risks.
The power of eunuchs comes from the emperor, and protecting the emperor is their first priority.
Otherwise, the end result is to be kicked away.
Not to mention the eunuch Wang Zhen, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, it was only a matter of words for the emperor to get rid of him.
"Then what should we do?" Xiao Liuzi said with a bitter face, "Master Imperial Envoy, you have to think of a way. The Emperor places such great importance on us, we can't let the Emperor down!"
You are a eunuch, but you are very ambitious... Li Qing rubbed his brows and said, "Let the workshop open first, and I will think of a way. Go ahead."
"Hey, okay." Xiao Liuzi nodded sadly, walked a few steps, then turned around and said, "Your Majesty, the imperial envoy, if you can't attack the common people, you can always attack the rich gentry, right?"
Li Qing smiled and asked, "What do you think, father-in-law?"
"None of these rich gentry are good." Xiao Liuzi said sadly, "Look for a reason to trick them. If you can't find it, you will create one."
"No." Li Qing shook his head.
"Sir, you are an imperial envoy, what are you afraid of?" Xiao Liuzi said unwillingly, "The emperor is backing you, but they are just businessmen, how dare they fight against the officials?"
Li Qing was too lazy to argue with him. It looked like a fight between officials and businessmen, but in fact it was a fight between officials. The local wealthy gentry and the local officials were wearing the same pair of trousers. South Zhili was not an ordinary place. If you were not careful, trouble would start again.
After finally calming down, Li Qing didn't want to cause any more trouble.
Breaking the rules can certainly bring temporary benefits, but ultimately it is not the best policy and will bring about strong backlash.
Only winning within the agreed-upon rules can be called a true victory.
"A price war..." Li Qing racked his brains to think of a way to break the situation. Suddenly, he thought of something and waved his hand: "My father-in-law, come here."
Xiao Liuzi stepped forward in confusion. After listening to Li Qing's whisper, he said in surprise: "Sir, is this possible?"
"Just do as you are told. If it succeeds, you will take part of the credit. If it fails, I will take all the blame." Li Qing said seriously, "However, this matter must be kept strictly confidential and no information should be leaked."
"We understand." Xiao Liuzi nodded, "But... wouldn't this be too risky?"
"You don't need to take responsibility. What are you afraid of? Just do as I say."
…
The next day, Li Qing ordered people to spread the news and quadrupled the price of raw silk.
The rich gentry had been keeping a close eye on the east direction of the Weaving Bureau. As soon as Li Qing's news was released, the rich gentry there immediately followed up and added another 30% to Li Qing's.
Then, Li Sin raised the price again, tripling the price.
It tripled in one day. Such a rapid increase brought about a rare phenomenon.
No one is selling raw silk.
The reason is simple, they all hope it will rise again.
The reality was just as they expected. The next day, the price of raw silk had risen to four times the original price.
As a result, people were even less willing to sell.
But what they don't know is that if they buy raw silk at this price, even if the silk they weave is sold overseas, there will be little profit.
But Li Qing ignored it and still raised the price, five times.
The price of raw materials has increased five times, and they are trying to maintain their capital. If it fails, they have to pay some compensation, but Fu Shen still follows up. Nothing else. Even if they pay some compensation, they can't get the weaving bureau to open.
In this way, the two sides chased each other and started a price war.
…
After more than ten days, the gimmick was enough and Xiao Liuzi made arrangements.
As a result, a large amount of raw silk was shipped to the Weaving Bureau.
Fu Shen was unwilling to give up and continued to follow up. As soon as they followed up, Li Qing raised the price again.
In the end, raw silk from major silkworm farmers was sent to the foundry bureau in an endless stream.
Seeing this situation, the rich gentry was in trouble.
Now it is no longer a matter of not making money, but the more you collect, the more you will lose, because the price of raw silk has increased to seven times the original price.
But if you don't increase the amount, the weaving bureau will start.
In fact, the Weaving Bureau has already been opened, and although the wealthy gentry followed up on the price, they confiscated not one tael of silk.
Without him, this is a losing business.
The wealthy gentry were just talking nonsense, and they all yelled fiercely, but they all wanted others to pay for it.
Seeing that the Weaving Bureau was collecting more and more raw silk, and the situation was gradually getting out of control, these wealthy gentry gathered together and began to discuss countermeasures.
~
The richest man in Jinling is the Shen family.
The head of the family, Shen Xin, and dozens of wealthy gentry and heads of official gentry families gathered here, all with solemn expressions.
"Everyone, we must come up with a way." Shen Xin bowed to each other, "If this continues, in less than a month, the raw silk in Jinling will be owned by the Weaving Bureau. By then, our own workshops will face The dilemma of shutdown.”
A wealthy gentleman gritted his teeth and said, "Damn it, is this imperial envoy willing to die? This is just throwing money away!"
"Who says otherwise?" Another rich gentry said bitterly, "Damn it, he is so prodigal, isn't he afraid that the emperor will chop off his head?"
"This guy is risking his life!"
…
