Back to Daming to be a genius

Chapter 83
(PS: The second update will be delivered.)
Our young master Zhang is a modest gentleman who can do what he says, and he promised Zhang Qing that he would not go to the flower boat to find Yang Wan, but he really didn’t go to Yang Wan’s flower boat on the way. The brothers almost lived on Yang Wan's flower boat, but our young master Zhang didn't take a step on Yang Wan's flower boat, but he also saved the face of the court, and at the same time left behind the reputation of the imperial envoy who was not in trouble - of course, This is also related to Zhang Qing, who lives in the cabin next to Young Master Zhang, staring too closely.So Young Master Zhang and his party went south to Suzhou without talking all the way, and they arrived at their destination smoothly on June [-]th.

When the ship arrived at the ground, Pan Ruzhen, the famous sycophant in history, Zhejiang governor, had already led Zhejiang officials and gentry to wait at the dock.By the way, Master Pan Ruzhen's governor's office is actually in Hangzhou, and Suzhou Mansion was also under the direct jurisdiction of Southern Zhili in the Ming Dynasty. Pan Ruzhen was supposed to be in Hangzhou with Young Master Zhang and his party, but Young Master Zhang insisted on coming to Suzhou for some purpose. , Governor Pan had no choice but to do whatever he wanted, leading a large group of Zhejiang officials and the owner of Hangzhou Dazhifang to come and set up a home court in Suzhou to welcome Master Zhang and his party. It was the imperial envoy Master Zhang who took the initiative to ask to meet Pan Ruzhen and the big weaving merchant in Zhejiang in Suzhou, so Governor Pan could use the excuse to carry out the imperial envoy's order, but he didn't have to worry about the Donglin party censor making trouble for him.But that's exactly how Governor Pan complained affectionately as soon as he saw Young Master Zhang...

"Oh, my lord imperial envoy, you really look down on our Zhejiang officials." Governor Pan took Master Zhang's hand and complained half-truthfully: "Originally, the whole purpose of this official is to invite you to Hangzhou to enjoy the West Lake. Scenery, you just don't give face, you insist on coming to Suzhou to see the gardens, so hundreds of us officials and gentry in Zhejiang can only come to Suzhou to accompany you from afar. I'm sorry for the folks in Zhejiang."

"Don't blame the governor, the time is really tight." Young Master Zhang also knew that it was a bit too much for him to let the majestic governor of the province go out of the province to welcome him. After Chitose ordered the opening of warehouses to relieve the victims, eight counties of the six prefectures in Shandong have run out of food storage, and other prefectures are also running out of food storage. Locusts have risen again in Jinan. I was afraid that it would be too late. Therefore, the officials did not dare to go to Hangzhou, which is far away, and went directly to Suzhou, which is adjacent to Hangzhou and Songjiang Prefecture. It is urgent. If there is any offense, please forgive me, Lord Governor."

"Your Imperial Envoy, don't worry about it. I'm just making a joke." Pan Ruzhen waved his hand generously, and pointed at the more than 200 Zhejiang official gentry and textile shop owners behind him, and said with a smile: "Your Imperial Envoy also knows that the Imperial Envoy is worried about state affairs and is in a hurry. Fundraising for disaster relief, so the officials brought all the big textile households in Zhejiang, if the imperial envoy wants money, just reach out to them."

As soon as Pan Ruzhen finished speaking, a big fat man dressed as a businessman stood out from the ranks of Zhejiang officials and gentry, holding a big gift box, kowtowed and said: "Zhao Ruyi, the owner of Hangzhou Ruyi Weaving Workshop, a grass-roots man, is here to greet the imperial envoy, Zhejiang big and small weaving line 120 six households , a total of 500 taels of silver, please accept it with a smile from the imperial envoy." As he spoke, Zhao Ruyi, the owner of the weaving workshop, held the wooden box over his head.On the other hand, the chief envoy of Zhejiang also made donations on behalf of 190 seven in-service officials of the eighth rank or above in Zhejiang, all of whom donated one year's salary-although the money is not much, but the reputation is very good.

"Pan Ruzhen is a good guy. I didn't go to Zhejiang, but he was able to knock out nearly 7 taels from the owner of Zhifang. It seems that this old boy has quite good control over the place." Young Master Zhang glanced in surprise. With a flattering smile on his face, Pan Ruzhen was a little impressed by this famous sycophant in history.However, Young Master Zhang did not go to receive the donation from Zhejiang Weaving Bank presented by Zhao Ruyi, but instead helped Zhao Ruyi, and said sincerely: "Master Zhao, you Zhejiang Weaving Bank donated money on your own initiative, and you have donated so much. I am acting on behalf of the court." , I also thank you on behalf of the people who suffered from the disaster in the north. However, I will not accept your money for the time being."

"Master Imperial Envoy, do you think there are too few?" Zhao Ruyi's fat face turned pale, and he said tremblingly, "Master Imperial Envoy, the eastern part of Zhejiang was hit by a flood just two years ago, and many places have not recovered from it. It is no different than the salt merchants in Yangzhou. Really... Forget it, please give me your advice, my lord imperial envoy, how much more do you want Zhejiang Weaving Bank to donate?"

"Treasurer Zhao, you misunderstood, I am not trying to force you Zhejiang Weaving Bank to donate more." Young Master Zhang knew that Zhao Ruyi was afraid that he would open his mouth, so he explained with a smile: "I will not accept your donations." , because I want you to see something first, and then ask you to donate voluntarily." Zhao Ruyi, who had heard of the notoriety of Master Zhang's quick knife, heaved a long sigh of relief, and quickly asked with a smile: "Your imperial envoy, what do you want? What do you want the grassroots to see?"

Young Master Zhang smiled without answering, but just clapped his hands on his official ship. The mechanical lunatic Bo Jue immediately led two Dongchang fans to carry down a machine—the eight-spindle spinning jenny copied by Young Master Zhang.Young Master Zhang waved to the owner of the Suzhou Textile Shop led by Hu Zanzong, the prefect of Suzhou, and said with a smile: "All the shopkeepers of the Suzhou Textile Shop, you are welcome, come and have a look together. I will not regret taking care of you."

Right on the wharf in Suzhou, in front of hundreds of textile mill owners from Suzhou and Hangzhou, Young Master Zhang and Bo Jue worked together to put the cotton prepared in advance into the eight-spindle spinning machine, crank the wheel by hand, and eight pieces of cotton yarn Then they spun out endlessly, and the hundreds of shopkeepers of the weaving workshop present were stunned and their eyes glowed, and they exclaimed endlessly.Young Master Zhang picked up a few spun cotton yarns, pulled them with his hands to show their tenacity, and explained loudly: "Dear shopkeepers, this spinning machine can not only spin cotton yarn, but also hemp yarn and wool yarn. The thread is far stronger than the yarn woven by hand—you can think about it, if all your weaving workshops use such machines, how much more money will you earn in a year? Look, come and see , If you want to operate it yourself, you can also think about it yourself.”

"Thank you, Imperial Envoy." Hundreds of Suzhou-Hangzhou weaving workshop owners burst into cheers and flocked to the jenny spinning machine brought by Young Master Zhang's cottage, or scrambling to operate it with their own hands, or to test the quality of the yarn with their own hands, or like to touch the baby. Touching the wooden and iron spinning machine in the same way, all I can imagine in my mind is the bright future of my own weaving workshop after using this kind of spinning machine.Moreover, after Zhao Ruyi, the largest textile mill owner in Zhejiang, finally calmed down from the ecstasy, the first thing he did was to rush to Young Master Zhang, knelt down on his knees, kowtowed and said, "My lord, may I ask where you bought this new spinning machine?" Arrived? How much is one? Can you help Caomin buy two hundred? Caomin is willing to donate more money to the disaster victims in the north.”

"Yes, yes." The other textile mill owners also came to their senses, rushed to the front of Young Master Zhang and knelt down, and shouted: "Master Imperial Envoy, the villain is also willing to donate more money, I just ask the Imperial Envoy to replace the villain Buy a few of these machines." "Even if you can't buy the machine, you can buy a few drawings for us." "Mr. Imperial Envoy, did you say the price? How much is this machine? How much do we want? How much?" "My lord, I beg you——!"

"Shopkeepers, don't worry, just listen to me slowly." Young master Zhang waved his hand, calming down the textile shop owners first, and then said loudly without blushing: "Shopkeepers, this machine is actually made by this machine. The official invented it himself. This time I brought it to Suzhou to give away the textile workshops in Suzhou, Songjiang and Hangzhou, so that you can earn more money and pay more taxes for the court. You don’t need to spend a penny to buy it! I don’t have time for it! I will sell the machine to you, but the sketch of this machine, as many as you want, I can give it to you for free!"

"Master Imperial Envoy, you are my best official in Ming Dynasty!" Zhao Ruyi yelled crazily with excitement, and kowtowed desperately to Young Master Zhang.The same is true for hundreds of other textile shop owners, scrambling to kowtow to Young Master Zhang, shouting constantly, "Master Imperial Envoy, you are really the best person in the world, the best official in the world, our textile shop in Suzhou and Hangzhou, in the future I will burn incense for you every day, and bless you with a long life."

"My shopkeepers, don't be in a hurry to thank me." Young Master Zhang said with a smile: "I can give you the sketch of this kind of spinning machine for free, but I have one condition, that is, if you want this kind of spinning machine Suhang weaving workshop, each household must donate at least 1000 taels of silver to the disaster victims in the north! —Of course, if you donate more, the official will be more grateful."

"My lord, the grassroots are willing to donate 4000 taels... no, 4000 taels, the grassroots are willing to donate 1000 taels!" Zhao Ruyi was the first to shout.Although the textile shop owners present were not as wealthy as the salt merchants in Yangzhou, they were all rich, and they all scrambled to donate, and out of face and excitement, they all donated more than 200 taels, and as little as one Thousands of 3000 taels, as many as [-], [-] taels, only a small number of iron roosters mixed in the crowd and did not speak, thinking in their minds that they would wait for others to get the sketches first, and then steal or buy them at a low price. ——Of course, Young Master Zhang, who is more slippery than a fox, has already expected this...

"Thank you, thank you all shopkeepers. I thank you for the suffering victims in the north." Young Master Zhang clasped his fists again and again to express his thanks, and then said loudly: "However, I would like to make an agreement with all of you. You can register and leave a name in the official yamen of Suzhou and Hangzhou. In the future, no matter how many new spinning machines you make and use, the officials will not care. But if anyone dares not to donate money and not register, they will secretly imitate and use them. The spinning machine invented by this official, I will not only ask the local officials to come and confiscate it, but also make his name known to the public, and please cut off all business dealings with him if you have donated silver.”

"Yes, that's the truth." Zhao Ruyi was the first to agree again, and shouted to the owner of the textile workshop in Zhejiang: "All shopkeepers, you have heard it. , our textile company in Zhejiang will cut off business with him, how about it?"

"Okay, that's it." More than 100 textile mill owners in Zhejiang agreed neatly.Over there, the presidents of Suzhou and Songjiang Zhifang also took the lead in making an oath, agreeing to work together to clean up the unscrupulous businessmen who pirated Master Zhang's spinning machine, and at the same time completely wiped out the luck of a small number of iron cocks.The Zhejiang officials and Suzhou officials next to him looked at each other. They really didn't understand how Master Zhang's head grew. How could he figure out such a way to collect money for the court?However, there are also some honest officials who secretly admired Young Master Zhang, and they all said together: "Everyone says that Zhang Haogu can only flatter nine thousand years old, but now it seems that he is really a man who benefits the people and the country. Loyal officer."

At this time, a spinning mill owner suddenly asked timidly: "My lord, is there a name for this new spinning machine?"

"Is there a name for the spinning machine?" Young Master Zhang was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered that he only cared about pirating others, and hadn't given a Chinese name to the Jenny machine that appeared 140 years in advance.But at this time, Zhang Qing's voice suddenly came, "Master Zhang's nickname is Gou Shao, this kind of machine can be called Gou Shao yarn machine." superior.

"Huh..." The hundreds of officials and gentry present almost couldn't laugh out loud, and they all felt uncomfortable.And Young Master Zhang blushed, and glared angrily at Zhang Qing, who was leaning back and forth with a smile, and said loudly: "In my opinion, this spinning machine should be called the Nine Thousand Years Spinning Machine. A gift of nine thousand years."

"Okay, Nine Thousand Years Yarn Machine! The name couldn't be better!" Pan Ruzhen, who was the first in history to give the Nine Thousand Years Xiusheng Shrine, was the first to shout, and applauded enthusiastically.With him taking the lead, officials and gentry in Zhejiang and Suzhou naturally echoed and agreed to name the new spinning machine Nine Thousand Years Yarn Machine. ——Of course, this name hasn’t been called in Jiangnan for a few years, and it was replaced by other names, and the new name is——Gou Shao Sha Ji!This is a later story, so I won't mention it for now.

After the commotion brought about by the new spinning machine subsided, Master Zhang and his party began to rush to the Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou, where Hu Zanzong, the prefect, arranged for himself and Pan Ruzhen and his party. On the way, Young Master Zhang asked Pan Ruzhen in a low voice: "Master Governor , I invite you to invite Mr. Xu Guangqi, who has retired and returned to his hometown, to Suzhou, I wonder if Mr. Governor has invited you?"

"Forgive me, my lord, but I didn't invite Mr. Xu here." Pan Ruzhen replied with a sad face.Young Master Zhang was taken aback, and asked in a low voice: "Why? Do you know the reason?"

Pan Ruzhen looked left and right first, and then whispered in Young Master Zhang's ear: "Master Imperial Envoy, I dare to say this in front of you. The relationship between Master Xu and Jiu Qiansui is extremely bad. Mr. Xu, who lives in Tianjin, once recommended Mr. Xu as the right servant of the Ministry of Rites and the assistant of Zhan Shifu, but Mr. Xu refused. In a rage, Mr. Xu was impeached by Nine Thousand Years, and Mr. Xu returned. My hometown in Songjiang (Shanghai)—Master Imperial Envoy, you are a nine-thousand-year-old man. Everyone in the world knows this. You invited him to Suzhou, but of course he refused. So he reasoned that a distinguished guest from Sichuan is visiting Yu in Songjiang He, he couldn't get away, so he refused."

"Trouble." Young Master Zhang frowned, thinking trouble, that mechanical lunatic Bo Jue was too young and inexperienced, and originally wanted to ask the experienced Xu Guangqi to help him build rifles and miniature bullets to deal with Jiannu as soon as possible. Otherwise, with Bo Jue alone, how long will this rifled gun and Mini can get?After a little calculation, Young Master Zhang gritted his teeth and said, "It's okay, since Master Xu doesn't want to come to Suzhou to see me, anyway, Suzhou is not far from Songjiang, so I will visit him in Songjiang when I have time."

(End of this chapter)