Ming Zuo

"At the beginning, His Highness said that the steam engine would change the whole era, but we still thought it was an exaggeration. Now, it seems that His Highness is far-sighted."

Accompanying Zuo Menggeng to inspect the factory, Wang Xiuqin's emotions never stopped.

Although this former peasant widow is now a lieutenant general.But when it comes to the changes in the textile factory, I still feel quite dreamy.

She casually picked up the finished product at the side and showed it to Zuo Menggeng.

"Because the spinning machine driven by the steam engine rotates faster, the yarn can be woven with finer and stronger, and the resulting cloth is of higher quality. We made military uniforms from the new cloth, which is far superior to the original. "

Spinning is the process of turning plant fibers into silk threads. Only the silk threads can be woven into cloth, and then turned into various cloth products.

It can be said that the quality of spinning determines the quality of fabric.

In this respect, human beings can never be compared with machines.

Because people can never make the spinning machine reach a faster speed, and they can't make the silk thread condense more tightly.

"Have you ever calculated the cost?"

Speaking of this, Wang Xiuqin couldn't help smiling.

"The logistics department also has to do accounts. How could it not be calculated? After adding the steam engine, a lot of manpower has been reduced, and the number of silk threads spun has increased dozens of times. Overall, the cost has dropped by more than half. Currently The clothes we produce have freed up a lot of room for military spending."

For this result, Zuo Menggeng naturally expected it a long time ago and was not surprised.

"When will it be possible to weave cloth by steam machine?"

The operating principle of today's steam engine can only drive the spinning machine.As for the loom, because the program is too complicated, further research is needed.

Speaking of this, Wang Xiuqin is quite regretful.

"We have tried it. The purely mechanical weaving method cannot meet the requirements for the time being. There are too many processes and components that need to be improved."

"Take your time, don't worry. As long as you study hard, it will come true sooner or later."

Industrialization is a long and complicated process. Even in the field of textiles, the relevant knowledge involved is massive.

Not only does the textile industry need to improve itself, but also related industries need to progress together.

But the steam engine can be applied to textiles, which quickly brought a huge impact.

"We have visited the textile factory of the logistics department. If the steam engine can be applied to our factory, the cotton cloth we produce will definitely occupy all the markets."

Xu Ji, Pan Yunlong and others rushed to Shandong, approached Zuo Menggeng, and made a request.

There is only one purpose, and that is to purchase steam engines to realize the industrial transformation of Songjiang Prefecture's textile industry.

The largest cotton cloth production area in Xia Kingdom is Songjiang Prefecture, and it can even be regarded as the largest cotton cloth production area in the world.

In the past, the people of Songjiang Prefecture were very reserved and proud of their own skills.

In their perception, there is no place in the world that can compare with Songjiang Prefecture in terms of cotton cloth manufacturing.

Until not long ago, some of them heard that the steam engine could be used for weaving, so they came to the textile factory of the logistics department for a field visit.

After seeing the efficiency of the steam engine, these people were shocked and quickly realized that times had changed.

After consultations, Songjiang Prefecture Textile Association sent Xu Ji and Pan Yunlong as representatives, hoping to get the support of the government.

Both the cabinet and the central government support the reform of the textile industry.But on the issue of the steam engine, it was a big matter, so Hou Xun still asked them to discuss it with Zuo Menggeng in person.

"In principle, I agree with the cabinet and support your reforms very much. But now, there is a very serious problem..."

Hearing that Zuo Menggeng supported the reform, both Xu Ji and Pan Yunlong were filled with joy.But when he heard the words behind him, he couldn't help becoming nervous again.

"Zhongheng, no matter how difficult it is, the application of the steam engine is urgent. As long as the new production method is established, we are confident that we will completely occupy the cotton cloth market in East Asia within five years."

"Father-in-law misunderstood."

Zuo Menggeng quickly comforted him.

"Using the application of steam engines to reduce production costs and lower the price of cotton cloth, so as to seize the market, this is what the government has always wanted to do. But the problem now is that the current cotton production is somewhat in short supply."

After hearing this, Xu Ji and Pan Yunlong looked at each other.

With the development of the commodity economy and the development of industrialization, cotton cloth has become one of the main products consumed in the Xia country's domestic market.

In particular, people's lives are getting richer and they are more willing to invest in clothing.

As a result, the consumption of cotton cloth was multiplied.

Originally, this is a good thing, which can drive the continuous progress of related industries.

But in the past year, there have been negative problems.

That is, the output of cotton began to fail to keep up with the demand for textiles, causing the price of cotton to rise steadily.

Obviously new technology has been invested, which can reduce the price of cotton cloth.However, the shortage of raw materials has caused the price of cotton cloth to remain high.

Shandong is the main cotton producing area, accounting for almost two-thirds of Daming's cotton production.Even if it is not supplied to places other than Xia, it will not be able to meet the production needs.

Jiang Wei has issued a serious warning on this issue.

If there is no solution, the price of cotton cloth will rise to an unaffordable level within three years at the latest.

Before meeting with Xu Ji and Pan Yunlong, the senior management had already held a discussion meeting to find a solution.

Jiang Wei, who is in charge of industry, started from himself and suggested increasing the cotton planting area.

But Chen Zilong, who is in charge of agriculture, raised clear objections.

Although the shortage of cotton will affect the industry and the economy, in the final analysis, people's stomachs are the most important.

Once people can't eat enough, no amount of cotton is just a castle in the air.

Now the area of ​​cultivated land in Xia Kingdom is very tight, and it has reached the point where it is almost unable to withstand the population growth.If the area of ​​food planting is further reduced, the pressure of survival will suddenly erupt.

Chen Zilong's opinion received the unanimous support of all the senior management.

They are all people who have come from hardships and understand the importance of food in troubled times.

It can be said that if there is a food problem, Xia Guo's situation will not be much better than that of Daming.

Seeing the irreconcilable contradiction between industry and agriculture, Zuo Menggeng also had a headache and kept thinking about the solution.

Unexpectedly, the big head of cotton spinning, Songjiang Mansion, was also involved.

He seems to see the booming cotton spinning industry, just like a big crocodile, ready to open its bloody mouth and swallow countless people alive.

During the industrial revolution in Britain, the tragedy of sheep cannibalism occurred.

Is Xia Guo also going to experience cotton eating people?