Ming Dynasty: At the beginning of the game, Lao Zhu resigned and retired.

Chapter 475 If You Can't Lead, Then You Will Fall Behind

Chapter 475 If You Can’t Lead, Then You’ll Fall Behind
When Mr. Hu heard the words "workshop" and "employ people", he pricked up his ears as if he was neurotic.

Then I heard Chu Yiyi continue to speak.

"Those stores will naturally produce whatever makes money and sells well."

"I heard that some fabrics are in short supply and demand is so high that they can't even buy enough from ordinary weavers."

"So, they simply expanded the scale of the workshop again and again."

"Many peasant women who usually raise children at home would go to work in the workshop after taking care of their families every day."

"I heard the monthly salary is not bad. At least it adds a lot of money to the family!"

Chu Yiyi was obviously a person who knew interesting things. She keenly discovered Mr. Hu's interests and then told him as much as she knew.

After hearing Chu Yiyi's explanation, Mr. Hu nodded in understanding.

But his face didn't look very good.

Because workshops, hired workers, large-scale production and sales, these things combined together are actually the embryonic forms of capitalism.

These merchants who integrate factories and stores and integrate production and sales are no longer the original merchants who mainly engage in trade and not production.

They not only control the means of production, that is, the raw materials needed for workshop production and the products produced.

This is a fundamental change from the merchants of the past thousands of years.

In the past, merchants did not engage in production at all. They only purchased, transported and resold.

No matter what they sell, whether it is grain or silk, they do not produce them, they only make a profit from the difference.

But nowadays, these people are more like factory owners than businessmen.

What they care about is whether the looms can produce more efficiently and whether more weavers can come to help them produce cloth.

They invest capital, upgrade technology, and use the increased productivity to earn profits.

This... is the embryo of capitalism.

Thinking of this, Master Hu turned his head and looked at Chu Yiyi.

"Yiyi, have you ever been to those workshops?"

Chu Yiyi shook her head slightly confused.

"I have never been there!"

"After all, it's good enough for me to go to the cloth shop when I have some free time. What does it have to do with the hustle and bustle in the workshop?"

Speaking of this, Chu Yiyi asked cautiously.

"Why is the master so interested in this question?"

"Could it be that the master is also a wealthy businessman?"

Master Hu turned his head to look at Chu Yiyi, raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and said playfully.

"I am not a wealthy businessman, but I do have some property!"

"That's why I pay so much attention to these things!"

Chu Yiyi looked at Master Hu's mysterious smile and was suddenly startled, then she quickly lowered her head.

She was a little confused just now, so she said whatever came to her mind.

But at this moment, she suddenly remembered something.

In fact, it is not the wealthy businessmen who really care about these things.

Because the wealthy merchants actually don't need to get this information from a prostitute like her. They have their own channels and people to find out everything.

And there is another type of people who don't know about it on a normal day, but become interested after suddenly knowing it.

That's the official!
When Chu Yiyi thought that Mr. Hu was an official, and most likely a high-ranking official, she regretted what she had just said.

Even a fool knows that speaking nonsense in front of such a high-ranking official will really cause trouble. Seeing Chu Yiyi's panic, Master Hu didn't say much to comfort her.

In fact, Mr. Hu is also having a headache at this moment.

According to what I learned in history textbooks in my previous life, the sprouts of capitalism were indeed born during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

However, in the eyes of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, this kind of bud was considered to be a waste of time and needed to be suppressed.

But in fact, the sprouts of capitalism also emerged in Europe, thousands of miles away.

Moreover, after the Industrial Revolution, countries on the European continent developed faster and faster.

From the surge in output of basic industrial products for food, clothing, housing and transportation, to the emergence of various new machines and new weaponry.

It can be said that the Industrial Revolution and capitalism, two long legs, have completely enabled European countries to embark on a bright road.

The high level of material development has made the means of production increasingly scarce;

However, the lack of means of production has given countries the motivation to develop sea transportation and war preparedness, thereby plundering more means of production.

On the other hand, this plunder further strengthened the national strength.

Under this cycle, European countries eventually completed capital accumulation and became world powers.

On the contrary, the great Eastern country that once stood at the top of the world was eventually left far behind!

That century of humiliation is heartbreaking even for a dissolute man like Mr. Hu when he thinks about it now.

But at this moment, he was very embarrassed.

Because, if you want the Ming Dynasty to rise, you have to complete the Industrial Revolution first!
Then the problem is coming.

How should we promote the Industrial Revolution?
Mr. Hu knew that the core of the Industrial Revolution was the steam engine.

But how is this thing made?

Mr. Hu said that he could only spread his hands!
He really can't!
He knows the principle, it's just boiling water.

He can even talk about terms like cylinder and connecting rod clearly.

But how should things like cylinders and connecting rods be manufactured?

Is it casting, cutting, grinding or hammering by a blacksmith?

Mr. Hu really doesn't know.

After all, this thing is actually a professional content of mechanical design and manufacturing.

He really can't!
But... isn't this another vicious circle?
If he didn't know how to make a steam engine, there would be no way for Ming Dynasty to enter the steam age and start the industrial revolution.

Wouldn't that still make the Ming Dynasty lag behind European countries?

Although Mr. Hu Weiyong is an old man, he still has Chinese blood after all.

He has traveled to this era, how could he just watch the Chinese land sink into a hundred years of darkness?
How can we watch China fall from the top of the world to the point where it is at the mercy of others?
If that situation really happened, I'm afraid Master Hu would have to slap himself a few times.

After all, that was really too embarrassing.

When he thought of this, Mr. Hu's expression changed.

Chu Yiyi looked at Master Hu's expression and couldn't help but shrink aside quietly.

It was really that Mr. Hu’s expression was too horrifying.

But as soon as she moved, Master Hu felt it.

"Ok?"

Looking at Chu Yiyi, whose face was almost covered with the word "fear", Master Hu suddenly had an idea.

Of course I can't build a steam engine to lead the Ming Dynasty into the Industrial Revolution.

But if I can't take the lead, can I pull others down as well?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all stay in the feudal era?
(End of this chapter)