The Great Industrial Ming Dynasty Started from Beiping

Chapter 116

The tables and chairs in the meeting room are made of huanghuali, the surface is polished and shiny, and the floor is covered with marble slabs.

Whether it's windows or beams, the materials used are all expensive, and they look extraordinary.

The entire conference room was spotless.

The briquette workshop owners who have not yet left their original class, some of them still have patches on their bodies.

They are timid and even dare not sit down, for fear of getting the chair dirty.

Among them, the workshop with the largest scale can only earn a profit of more than a hundred taels of silver a month, and only a thousand taels of silver a year.

1000 taels of silver, even Dehui, a coal yard before the birth of the steam engine, could throw it out without blinking.

And it's not just a matter of money, there is also a huge difference in status, and the qualifications of each industry are different.

The owner of the mine either has the status of a scholar himself, such as a child, a scholar, or a scholar with a reputation in the family.

As for juren, juren in the early Ming Dynasty was still relatively valuable, and the gold content of juren would not decrease until the mid-term, and some coal mine owners began to have the status of juren.

For example, according to the historical records, the owner of the coal mine who was confiscated by the eunuch party in the Tianqi Dynasty was the name of Juren.

But the gold content is low, and it is aimed at the national level. At the level of the six departments and three divisions of the central government, it is very useful to put it in the local area and to be a person.

And the briquette workshop owners are not scholars, nor are they young students, but just businessmen with small capital.

Whether it is business scale or social status, there is a gap between the two.

"With the breakthrough in the output of the coal industry, honeycomb coal has also achieved considerable development. The number of honeycomb coal workshops in Beiping City has increased from zero to 55, and the number of employees has reached more than [-]. It has become an important force to promote the development of the coal industry."

"For the development of the briquette coal industry, the Prince Yan's Mansion has provided strong support by canceling the gate tax, canceling the gate tax, and taking a share of the tax."

"According to the statistics of the guys in the outer cabinet, the briquette workshops are mainly concentrated in Beiping, north of Baoding Prefecture, Qingxian County, Hejian Prefecture, and Renqiu."

……

"The focus of China Heavy Industry in the next stage is to fully promote the coal industry and quickly promote the eight prefectures, 37 states, and 130 six counties in Beiping."

"In this way, the coke industry, iron smelting industry, honeycomb coal industry, forging industry, etc. will be driven to create a new production chain."

"According to its own positioning, as well as the scale and strength of China Heavy Industry, the smooth implementation of the plan will be determined. Therefore, it will support a group of businessmen with high profile, long-term vision and courage."

Gao Zhen read the manuscript meticulously.

He revised this manuscript many times, and finally wrote a draft according to the requirements of the little nobleman.

Many people listened in a cloud of fog, and some people actually understood it, but they didn't want to believe it, or didn't dare at all.

There were also people who listened carefully, and their expressions became more and more serious.

noon.

These people eat in the factory canteen, and the tableware in the canteen has been boiled in hot water.

"This food is really good."

"Nakato Heavy Industries, I have long heard that the food here is full of oil and water."

Many of these briquette workshop owners are still involved in labor, and the profits of briquette cannot support their extravagance.

"I heard that you employ more than 50 people. Are you not afraid of trouble?"

"Scared."

The middle-aged man with short beard and round eyes said with a smile.

"Then you still dare."

The man asked curiously in a low voice, "We are all using hermit households, usually three or five people are not afraid, but if you make such a big commotion, if you provoke the government, are you not afraid of lawsuits?"

"Support the bold and starve the timid to death."

"Our business is originally an ascetic business. Outsiders call us a boss, but we are actually a shitty boss."

"But who let us have no capital and no footholds, and it is the blessing of our ancestors to have this kind of business that can settle down."

"Besides, the briquette technology belongs to the little nobleman, and we can be regarded as doing things for the little nobleman, even though the little nobleman doesn't want our money."

"If you have this opportunity, don't miss it, work hard, or you will miss the opportunity." The middle-aged man persuaded.

He is really not afraid of competition from others, but hopes that there will be more and more workshops like him, so that he will not stand out from the crowd.

Otherwise, if one day it collapses, he will be the first to die.

"Let's take it easy."

"We are a small family, and it is good to be able to live without worrying about food and clothing."

Someone at the same table said.

While the middle-aged man was chatting with his peers, he kept staring at another place from the corner of his eye. Seeing someone get up, he quickly put down his chopsticks.

……

"The king is in charge, the king is in charge..."

"Guo... Dong Guo's family?" The manager of the outer cabinet remembered who the person in front of him was, the owner of the largest honeycomb coal workshop.

The vast majority of those employing less than ten workers are employed by a family. In the eyes of Steward Wang, these workshop owners are not businessmen.

But the person in front of him, although the business is not big, has some courage, so Wang Guanshi's attitude is more polite.

As far as the number of workers is concerned, this person is almost [-]% of that of the steam engine factory.

However, the profit between the two cannot be mentioned at all.

"Are you done eating? The conference room can rest."

"It's over, the food is really good."

"Just eat it." Seeing Guo Dong's family following him, Steward Wang stopped, "Is Guo Dong's family interested?"

The middle-aged man rubbed his hands together, his face full of embarrassment.

Steward Wang is the steward of the outer cabinet.

This time he invited the briquette workshop, and he took people to run from house to house, because the workshop in front of him was the largest and the impression was deep.

Otherwise, how would the hundreds of briquette workshops in Beiping know who he was?

"Dong Guo's family is an important participant on the list. If you have any questions, just speak up." Guanshi Wang said with a smile.

Guo Dongjia hesitated for a while, and finally mustered up the courage.

"Our workshop uses the technology of noble people. The noble people are benevolent and righteous, and they benefit the people. They don't take money from us grassroots people. It's really a great kindness."

Steward Wang waved his hands, showing complacency, and said in a flaunting tone: "The little prince said that they complement each other. Your honeycomb coal sells well, and the coal from the coal kiln will not worry about selling. The steam engine from the steam engine factory can also sell well."

"Besides, your honeycomb coal is something that benefits the people and the country. Naturally, we should vigorously support it and open the door of convenience."

Guo Dongjia nodded again and again, it was the first time he heard such words.

This person was able to talk to the nobleman, and his attitude became more and more respectful.

"Caomin can have a business to support their families, thanks to the nobleman, but I have nothing to repay the nobleman."

"Where does the little prince need your repayment? If you really want to repay, you can make briquettes. You are the largest family. Maybe the little prince will call you in the future."

Hearing this, Dong Guo's family became excited.

What happened to the briquette workshop.

It is true that he has no roots, but Guo Dong's family is not convinced.

What others are able to do, I am also able to do. I am no worse than others, the only difference is my background. Gritting my teeth, Dongjia Guo finally expressed his thoughts nervously.

"I don't hide it either. My workshop employs the largest number of workers, just to repay the nobles. It's just that I use all hermits. I'm always worried."

Steward Wang was stunned.

Why are you bringing this up?
Whose business is useless?

As for Xu Ning, the manager of the engineering team, he used to be an apprentice in another shop, and his hometown was also not registered.

Xu Ning's name is not listed in the official register, so he is considered a hidden household.

"The imperial court is not strict about the affairs of hidden households. It's the same for every family. Don't be afraid, and it's useless to scare yourself."

"As far as I know, tens of thousands of people have escaped from the guards in Beiping over the years, and how many of them have been captured? Even military households are not afraid. What are you afraid of?"

"Speaking of a well-known fact, how many of the people farming around the guardhouse are not hermits? The guardhouse doesn't even care about it."

Guo Dongjia showed a wry smile.

"Different."

"What's the difference?"

"Although the non-registered people who farm around the guard are not under the control of the government, they are still under the control of the guard."

"And my workshop employs more than 50 people, and it's the only one in the whole of Beiping. It's really hard to hide."

This principle is correct.

Everyone is the same, the law does not blame the public, and the government is too lazy to take care of it, or it doesn't have the strength to take care of it. This is the case all over the country.

No yamen is willing to do such a thankless task.

But this man is indeed courageous.

And after getting in touch with him, I also feel that this person has nothing to do with him. If he dares to do this, he is either a reckless man or someone who has something to say.

Steward Wang smiled, but did not speak.

Guo Dongjia gritted his teeth, and said in a low voice: "Can the Honeycomb Coal Workshop be named under the nobleman's name?"

Steward Wang was stunned.

Why?
"Guo Dong's family, how much money do you earn a year?"

"According to last month's profit, it's roughly five hundred taels a year."

Guo Dongjia lowered his head and answered in frustration. The meaning in Wang Guanshi's words was obvious, and his business was not qualified.

"It's not worse than I estimated."

Hearing this, Guo Dongjia looked up in astonishment, how did he know how much money he could earn in a year.

Steward Wang shook his hand triumphantly.

"Don't look at me like that, the reason is very simple."

"There are [-] households in Beiping Mansion. At present, roughly half of the population has switched to honeycomb coal, and a small part is used in exchange. The rest are still accustomed to using firewood."

"According to the scale of your workshop, your model is somewhat different from other places. Your profit is smaller, which can be easily calculated."

Dong Guo's face was full of shock.

This is a big deal.

How many people like Wang Guanshi does China Heavy Industry have?
"But don't be discouraged. The situation in the city is completely different from that in the countryside. Everything in the city costs money."

"For firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar tea, the first thing is firewood. Honeycomb coal is cheaper than firewood and has more benefits. Sooner or later, most of the residents in the city will switch to honeycomb coal."

"In the city of Beiping alone, there are [-] households, and each household uses two to three loads of honeycomb coal every month, which is a business of more than [-] taels a year."

"There are the other seven prefectures, which are 23 taels of silver. As for the prefectures and counties, although the individual markets are far less than those in the prefectures, the number is large, nearly two hundred prefectures and counties."

"Then sink the market, that is, the countryside. Although the people have the convenience of using rice stalks and firewood, even if it is one-tenth of what the people in the city use every year, it is only three loads a year. Think about how much money this will cost."

"Your briquette market alone, counting 10 taels of silver a year is no longer a problem, and you can earn money."

"That's why I specially organized you to let you understand these principles and expand the market as soon as possible."

(End of this chapter)