Xiao Yungui was very puzzled that this 30-year-old Wuzhong man was crying, his original intention was just to let these weaver township officials in Sufu Province see more advanced production methods, so that they could have the idea of cooperating with the government to set up a new textile factory.

The British textile industry has already completed the industrial revolution, that is, it has entered the centralized large-scale industrial production mode driven by power. Textile factories in Western European countries developed rapidly, and a large number of "foreign yarns" and "foreign cloths" were dumped into China, almost destroying China's textile handicraft industry. The only way for Xiao Yungui to find a way out for his country's weavers is to take the road of industrial revolution, and this is also the best way to let the ancient agricultural country begin to appear capital and markets, and at the same time will lead to other domestic industrial changes.

Historically, the factory textile production of China's power machinery began with the birth of the modern military industry, which was extremely passive and helpless. After the Opium War, some people in power believed that the reason for China's defeat was poor weapons, so from the 60s of the 19th century, the Westernization Movement began, and the Qing court gradually established a government-run military industry. It was only after the 70s that it was extended to the production of military textiles. For example, Zuo Zongtang's Lanzhou Weaving Bureau, which was put into operation in 1880, was the first textile factory in China to adopt a full set of power machines.

However, the machines were purchased from foreign countries, foreign technicians were hired to manage production, and the products were directly supplied to military supplies, so they were not at all competitive in the market. At the same time, foreign capitalists also began to build textile factories in China, such as the French-run Baochang Silk Reeling Factory in Shanghai, which was put into operation in 1878. During this period, in addition to the government-run textile factories set up by local officials in various provinces and the increasing number of foreign-funded textile factories, the local gentry also gradually set up joint ventures and joint venture textile factories between the government and business. For example, in 1872, Chen Qiyuan founded a private silk reeling factory equipped with a small pedal silk reeling machine in Guangdong, and later switched to steam-powered dragging. In 1889, the Shanghai machine weaving layout of the government-supervised commercial office was officially started. In 1890, Zhang Zhidong set up the Hubei Weaving Layout and the Hubei Spinning Bureau in Wuchang. In 1891, the new Huaxin Textile Bureau, jointly established by the government and business. In 1894, the Hubei Silk Reeling Bureau and the Hubei Linen Bureau were set up. In the same year, the Huasheng Textile General Factory run by the government and the commercial department started construction. In 1895, the private Shanghai Dachun Textile Factory started. In 1896, Ningbo Tongjiuyuan and Wuxi Yeqin Textile Factories started construction one after another. At this time, among the Chinese and foreign-funded textile factories in the country, there were only 12 cotton spinning factories. 417,000 ingots.

Compared with the lag of the Manchu industrial transformation, Xidian did not have so many concerns in Sufu Province, and the bankruptcy of the traditional weavers in Sufu Province was imminent, which was a good time to start industrial transformation. The weavers have experience and cheap manpower, and what Xiao Yungui has to do is to introduce Western jishu and machines to them, and give them policy support. Xiao Yungui even planned to hand over the reorganized orders for military clothing to these government-private joint venture textile factories that had not yet been established, why did the township official named Chen Tian cry without waiting for him to finish speaking?

Xiao Yungui immediately ordered someone to help Chen Tian up, and then took the township officials to the side hall of the West Garden, and told the township officials about the plans of the West Palace. Xiwangfu set up new textile factories such as textile factories and silk reeling factories in joint ventures with traditional weaving families in various places in the form of jishu and machine shares. The big family is responsible for investing in factory land, building new factories, investing in manpower, etc., and the military department and household department of Xiwangfu will give many preferential policies to the new textile factory, and Xiao Yungui promised to hand over the military uniform orders to these factories.

There are more than 100,000 soldiers and horses in the Taiping Army in the West Palace, and with the progress of the reorganization, the replacement of military uniforms has already begun to be designed. Up to the usual hats of the officers and soldiers, down to the shoes and socks. This would be a very lucrative order. Xiao Yungui hoped that after the reorganization that lasted a year and a half, the officers and soldiers in the West Hall would be able to change into new-style military uniforms.

Unlike the Qing court, which only regarded industry and commerce as the object of taxation and oppression, the township officials of these weaving families in Sufu Province felt that the king of the west was genuinely supporting and encouraging the development of industry and commerce. Since ancient times, the country has emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, especially in the Manchu Qing Dynasty. The merchant background was looked down upon, and the major merchants were only a place for Manchu officials to make money. When did there ever be such a pro-industry and commercial policy as Xiwang?

After receiving the promise and decree from the king of the west, the officials of the Orido township from all over the country followed the officials of the household department to discuss the details of the regulations. After all, the types of textiles in various places are not the same, and Sufu Province needs a complete textile industry chain. Xiao Yungui hopes that new factories will appear for cotton, linen, silk and other textiles, and there is no limit to the size and scale.

After all the township officials went down happily, Xiao Yungui found that Chen Tian was still sitting there in a daze, and asked strangely: "Township official Chen, do you have anything else?" ”

Chen Tian got up blankly, bowed and said: "His Royal Highness the King of the West, I was thinking, after the appearance of this machine cloth, everyone went to set up a new factory, is our craftsmanship passed down for thousands of years over?" ”

Xiao Yungui laughed, after experiencing the blind reform of Chongyang in later generations, and later the wave of folk revival of Han culture, this king of the West naturally knows the importance of protecting his country's traditional handicrafts. Since taking over the Suzhou Weaving Department, Dianyi Museum has been collecting traditional jishu and talents of folk handmade textiles, in the view of Xiao Yungui and Hong Yuner, the domestic industrial revolution is an irreversible trend of history, but they can artificially preserve some of the culture that has been inherited for thousands of years, they do not want to change for the sake of change, and always leave some of the things of the ancestors in the change.

The most typical example is Japan, although the later generations of Japan also completed the industrial revolution, their traditional culture has been preserved, although the Japanese are very unpopular, but this has to be admired. In contrast, the Chinese people only left braided clothes, braided plays, and nondescript tunic suits, although this has something to do with the Han culture, but it is the regret and sorrow of the whole nation.

Xiao Yungui patted Chen Tian on the shoulder and summoned Zhenlun, the official of the Household Department who was in charge of the West Hall Clothing Hall, in. Fang Zhenlun joined the Taiping Army in Changsha, Hunan, and his ancestors were the descendants of another Hunan embroidery among the four famous embroideries for several generations.

After introducing the two to each other, Xiao Yungui tasted tea and said: "Fang Inspection Point is the successor of Hunan embroidery, and our West Hall Dian Yi Yi has recruited a lot of Hunan embroidery masters, and after arriving in Suzhou, the Yi Yi Hall is also collecting Su embroidery jishu and talents. This king also likes the double-sided embroidery of Suzhou embroidery very much, Suzhou embroidery and Hunan embroidery are the same treasures in the country, how can this king watch them die? ”

Hearing this, Chen Tian felt relieved, Xiao Yungui continued: "This king plans to set up a handmade clothing factory in the West Hall in the name of the official Suzhou embroidery, in fact, our Suzhou embroidery and Hunan embroidery are still very favored by foreigners, but in the past, everyone kept the jishu they knew secret, and the craftsmanship of weavers in various places was also uneven, and there was no joint force, and the cost remained high. In the future, in addition to the official uniforms for the government, the handmade garment factory will also produce some fine products to sell to foreigners. There happens to be a foreigner here who is very willing to buy this kind of product. Chen Tian, since you have the heart to do this, why don't you set up this factory with Fang Jiandian? ”

What Xiao Yungui said was Clifford, when this kid saw the double-sided embroidery in Suzhou embroidery for the first time, he was shocked by God's work, and he did not hesitate to spend a lot of money to buy this kind of Suzhou embroidery. Xiao Yungui felt that since there was a market, both Su embroidery and Hunan embroidery could survive, not to mention that the king of Hexi also wanted to use the exquisite clothes that the former emperor Lao Tzu could enjoy for a long time?

After listening to the words of the King of the West, Chen Tian happily thanked him, the matter of the clan field was solved, the matter of the weaver was also solved, and the craftsmanship handed down by the ancestors was also retained, how could he be unhappy?

Then the king of the west said earnestly: "But this king wants to remind you that the garment factory produces official uniforms, as well as the service for the king's palace, it can be said that the products of the garment factory represent the trend of the upper class clothing in the entire Sufu Province, and the people have always followed the trend of the official, and it will affect the people with our clothing." My Han family clothes have been lost for nearly two hundred years, this king has always hoped to go up to the government, down to the people to restore the Han costume Han ceremony, is to this king to you design and produce clothing must be my Han family clothes, from top to bottom to drive the entire folk clothing change wind! Therefore, if your clothes do not meet the requirements of the king, the king will not receive the goods and pay for them! ”

Fang Zhenlun was okay, he seemed to know about Xiwang's request early on, but Chen Tian heard it for the first time, but he vaguely remembered that an ancestral book recorded some traditional Hanfu production methods, but this book was forbidden, and I heard the grandfather say that this book was buried in the ancestral hall after it was sealed and packaged. At that moment, Chen Tian said loudly: "The king of the West wants to restore the clothes of the Han family, and my generation should do his best to complete it, and there should be a book detailing Hanfu in the things of the ancestral hall under him, and his subordinates are willing to start and dedicate themselves." ”

Xiao Yungui nodded and said happily: "This is very good, although we have also found some styles in the books handed down, but I always feel that there is something missing, Chen Tian, it would be better if you could have this book, and the garment factory will be handed over to you and Fang Inspection to do." ”

Chen Tian said firmly: "My subordinates will definitely live up to the trust of His Royal Highness the King of the West, and they will do their best to restore my Han family's clothes!" ”

Xiao Yungui nodded with satisfaction, he was in a good mood today, solved many shortcomings in the new policy, and by the way, retained the traditional crafts such as Suzhou embroidery, and immediately ordered a banquet to be prepared in the Xiwang Mansion, and he wanted to invite the township officials in Suzhou.

During the banquet, Xiao Yungui and Xi Wangniang personally accompanied the township officials, comforting them one by one, and making the township officials grateful.

In the afternoon, he continued to discuss the new policy with the township officials, and this time Hong Yuner and Zuo Zongtang also participated, because after the major matters involving people's livelihood were almost resolved, some stubborn old customs followed, such as women's footwraps. (To be continued......)