Gu Zuo stood up and faced Yang Yiqing and Wang Wei, "Elder Ge, Ping Haibo has already started to test sell cotton cloth over there." ”

"Oh? The result? ”

"Cotton is cheaper, softer, and of course works well. Zhengde went to sea for the first time in nine years and has sold 200,000 taels. Gu Zuo glanced at Gu Renyi, "Of course, it's a good thing to try it in Daming and the Western Regions, but the potential of the cotton textile industry is already determined, so there is no need to be too cautious." Therefore, it is necessary to discuss where to expand the cultivation of cotton, and at the same time how to expand the scale of going to sea. ”

This actually goes back to Xing Guan's original idea.

Expanding planting and expanding the scale of going to sea are easy things to say, but in fact, if you want to grow fast, you need human intervention.

The people don't know that cotton cloth is also very profitable in maritime trade. When they know, they will consider whether to invest, and then really prepare for the workshop and find a way to export again, which actually takes a two-to-three cycle.

But it is much faster to operate by the means of the government.

Shaofu can immediately recruit people to open factories, cotton, can also step up the purchase from all over the country, and at the same time coordinate the capacity of ships.

These things are logical and seem not difficult to do, but if there is no unified voice for dispatch and command, the efficiency will drop a lot.

"In that case, it is better to set up a cloth merchant." Yang Tinghe suggested loudly, "There are many government decrees, and it always seems chaotic, just like a grain merchant, there can be a cloth merchant under the Shaofu, no matter what it is, go from one road and listen to one voice, will it be better?" ”

Well, Yang Tinghe's mind will always be clearer.

Wang Wei agreed, "This suggestion is good, and it should be included in the charter." ”

……

……

The cabinet has been discussing for half a month for the cotton textile industry.

In October, the emperor ordered the chamber to set aside an afternoon and a half day, and then the cabinet brought the main officials into the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Houzhao was waiting for them here, he heard that a few good practices had been discussed, so he specially came to report to him.

After the ceremony, the seat was given as usual.

"Who's going to say?" Zhu Houzhao asked.

Gu Zuo couldn't escape this matter, and no one else felt that he had said it well, "Go back to Your Majesty, the minister." ”

"Okay."

When it comes to the emperor, it should not be as chattering as in the cabinet before, but there are a few more refined points of view.

Gu Zuo bowed his hand to everyone, and finally faced the emperor, "Your Majesty, in the past few days, the major scholars of the cabinet have convened ministers and others to discuss the industry, and the consensus of vigorously promoting the industry is no longer a problem, the key is how to make it prosperous." After several rounds of deliberations, the ministers made a total of three suggestions to His Majesty, and I hope that His Majesty will adopt them.

First, set up a business department. Nowadays, among the six ministries of officials, households, and rites, and the Shaofu, there is no existing responsibility related to the promotion of the industry, and even if there is, it is a little bit of the household department and a little bit of the Ministry of Industry, so chaotic, it is not easy for the government to make a smooth order. After the establishment of the business department, it can be specially responsible for industrial affairs, such as guiding and regulating the industry, and solving all kinds of difficult and miscellaneous diseases in the industry.

Second, cloth merchants. This is modeled after the grain merchants, and the imperial court pays the capital to buy cotton, build factories, hire weavers, and finally sell them overseas, which is the fastest and most efficient.

Third, set business rules. This business rule is not set by the Ming Dynasty itself, but by the Ming Dynasty and foreign countries. In the past, silk and porcelain were high-quality and valuable goods, which were welcomed by the nobles of various countries, and naturally there was no problem, but cotton cloth was different, and it would inevitably have an impact on the commerce of each country itself, so it was necessary to establish rules as early as possible. ”

Zhu Houzhao was still a little relieved after hearing this, and in the past ten years, these guys have finally gradually opened up. However, he didn't understand the third point very well.

"Are you not specific enough about business rules? What do we mean by impact? ”

Gu Zuo hesitated, he thought everyone would understand.

"Your Majesty said that the ultimate goal of this imperial court's expedition to Japan and the northwest is to rebuild trade routes. In this case, after the victory, how to negotiate the commercial rules between the two countries must be discussed in advance, so as to avoid further friction in the future. ”

Zhu Houzhao couldn't hold back a smile.

"Okay, you don't have to say any more, I'm ready."

"Your Majesty."

The courtiers also understood this meaning, and that was enough.

The so-called commercial regulations are high-sounding, that is, foreign countries agree that even if the scale of cotton cloth is very large in the future, it cannot be stopped.

Gu Zuo is right, silk and porcelain are not a problem, those foreign nobles themselves like it, but the sale of cotton cloth may affect the interests of these nobles themselves, so it is difficult to say what will happen.

I can even take this into account.

It's not easy.

"Is that all three? Are there any others? ”

Gu Zuo said: "Your Majesty, these three articles were jointly discussed by the ministers and others, and these are the three articles." ”

Zhu Houzhao said with a smile: "Very good, these three articles are very simple, but it is not easy to summarize and condense them, and the Aiqing have bothered to do so." In particular, the proposal to set up another section is quite wonderful, and it shows that my ministers are no longer limited to the usual routines, but are really starting to think about how to solve the current problems quickly.

The establishment of the Ministry of Industry is a high move, guided by the government, regulated by the government, and supervised by the government, so that it is fast and orderly, which is really good. But at present, we are talking about the cotton textile industry, and the Ministry of Industry should not be limited to this single industry, but also include others. In fact, I am thinking that the Ming Dynasty today relies on sea trade, and under the sea trade, there are more and more workshops and companies of all kinds, and the government must find a way to effectively manage these. ”

He touched his chin and thought of a move, "It's almost time to start." The Ministry of Industry has a number for each industry, for example, the cotton textile industry is A, the salt industry is B, and so on, and then let each company have a separate number, and anyone who wants to set up a new company must apply to the Ministry of Industry, otherwise it is an illegal transaction. ”

In this way, the courtiers did not understand.

"Why is that?"

"For the sake of supervision and management, any transaction must be based on this number, and if there is a problem with any company, the imperial court can find the person who applied for it according to the number, so as to investigate and hold accountable. More critically, in order to collect taxes in the future. ”

With the boom of these commercial activities, it was initially free of charge for cultivation, but it was impossible to remain free of taxes.

Through their mention of the new Ministry of Industry, Zhu Houzhao naturally began to pave the way for the future, and he often had to think about the future.

And this is a ministry alongside the six ministries, such a big yamen, can't it be a little serious about this responsibility? Otherwise, wouldn't the increase or decrease of the ministry become a joke?

However, he rashly proposed that these people probably didn't particularly understand, "Don't mention this first, in short, with the Ministry of Industry in the future, I will know who to contact to do this." ”

The courtiers muttered in their hearts, not knowing what envoy the emperor would send to the new one.

“…… As for the establishment of the cloth merchants, I think it is completely possible, under the Shaofu or under the Ministry of Industry? ”

Yang Yiqing said: "It should be set up under the Shaofu." Otherwise, the Ministry of Industry has the responsibility of supervision, and the ministers are only afraid of relatives and aliens. ”

It is to be lenient with one's own cloth merchants, and to be indiscriminately strong with other cloth merchants.

"Exactly. When was it founded? ”

Shaofu ordered Gu Renyi to stand up, "As soon as Your Majesty's will arrives, it will be done immediately!" ”

(End of chapter)