In fact, from an economic perspective, the costs of state-owned workshops can be further reduced.

Although there was no steam engine, the Song Dynasty did not need to reduce costs to the perverted level that Britain was dumping on the world.

Assembly lines and new spinning machines are enough to change the business landscape.

Several important factors that affect the price of a commodity:

1. Productivity.

If it is mechanized, it can save some labor and increase the speed.

2. Division of labor in the assembly line.

In a traditional handicraft workshop, one craftsman is responsible for the entirety of a product.

Adding a product requires four steps. After traditional craftsmen complete the first step, they will then do the second step, and the tools of the first step will rest aside.

Similarly, when you do the third step, the objects of the second step will rest aside.

If it's an assembly line, a craftsman only needs to do the same step over and over again, so there is no tool break.

After rigorous calculations, the efficiency of assembly line division of labor is at least three times higher than that of traditional production.

Why can’t Song Dynasty’s current assembly line be tripled?

Because it involves the third point.

Third, the supply chain is also an important factor affecting commodity prices.

Including raw material procurement, warehousing, and production distribution.

According to the calculation of the assembly line, 1,000 female workers can produce 90,000 pieces of cloth a year, but currently only 50,000 pieces of cloth can be produced.

The fundamental reason is that the procurement, warehousing, packaging and distribution system of raw materials is imperfect, resulting in insufficient supply of raw materials for the production line.

This requires longer running-in and optimization.

Fourth, logistics, which is the transportation problem explained by Zhao Ning.

As we all know, logistics is a dark area where profits are hidden in business. Rationalizing logistics can save a lot of money.

In fact, it all revolves around a concept in microeconomics: marginal cost.

In layman's terms, when the production scale reaches a certain level, the increased output of 1,000 units may only increase the cost by 10%.

But when the output is increased by 10,000, the cost may need to be increased by 1,000.

This is the law of economic practice in later generations.

When increasing the output by 100,000 yuan, the cost will also increase by 100,000 yuan, which means that the factory does not need to be expanded, because the efficiency will not be improved, and it will naturally not bring more profits.

Yu Yunwen said: "How many people does Tokyo Post have now, how many people will it have in the next year, and how much cargo volume can it meet?"

"Last year, Chen Gui already reported on the construction of various post stations in the north. I can first allocate 10,000 people to Tokyo Post. As a state-owned trading company, Tokyo Post is responsible for its own profits and losses. The salary of these 10,000 people will be paid by Tokyo Post, which will be obtained from transportation profits.

.”

Yu Yunwen finally understood.

Traditional freight escort has low efficiency, confusing charges, limited carrying capacity for one shipment, and cannot give full play to the profit margin of one shipment.

Now the imperial court operates it in the form of a formal trading company and distributes this part of the profits to the postal service. The retired Xiang soldiers also have a livelihood and the transportation efficiency has also improved.

A win-win situation.

Although Tokyo Post opened five days ago, planning began at least a year or two ago.

Yu Yunwen felt that the imperial court's skills in governing the world far exceeded his imagination.

I don’t know who came up with this Tokyo Post, it’s so clever.

He said: "So, Tokyo Post can still be involved in shipping?"

"That's what I meant. Qian Yuqing opened a maritime trade in the South China Sea. There is no shortage of ships from Hangzhou Shipyard and Fujian Shipyard."

"I do think that this postal service can be opened to the public and fully mobilize the power of the people."

"Wang Zongli is taking care of this matter. I need you to go to the north to set up a market and manage the border trade." Zhao Ning said calmly, "Based on what I just discussed with you, we will formulate a Song and Jin trade strategy.

One purpose is to infiltrate handover notes into the people of Jin Dynasty."

Yu Yunwen asked: "I am stupid, why does your Majesty have to infiltrate the money into the Jin people? Is it because you want to print money to buy Jin goods?"

Zhao Guanjia smiled mysteriously: "This is just one of them. One day, during the Northern Expedition of the imperial court, the merchants of the Jin people who held banknotes from the Song Dynasty could only do one thing, which was to bring their property to the Song Dynasty, and

I will work hard for the Song Dynasty from now on."

This is to cultivate the party that leads the way.

When Yu Yunwen came out of the palace, his mind was still immersed in the shock brought by Zhao Guan's family, and he felt that he had opened the door to a new world.

At this time, Yu Yunwen did not know that this was the beginning of his career, and that there would be a broader business empire strategy waiting for him in the future.

In the blink of an eye, it was October 25th, and Li Kun returned to Jiyang Army from Champa.

The scorching heat in Jiyangjun (Sanya) at the end of October has gradually dissipated, and even the air is not so humid anymore, just like March in Tokyo.

Qian Yuqing was lying on a bamboo chair on the beach by the sea, drinking coconut juice and feeling the blue sea.

Li Kun came over and said: "Shaoqing, the king of Champa has asked for a ransom of three million yuan."

"How many?"

"Three million strings?"

Qian Yuqing said angrily: "Did he get kicked in the head by a donkey?"

"What should we do now?"

Li Bao, the commander of the naval force on one side, said: "Shaoqing, otherwise, all troops will land and fight against Champa!"

Qian Yuqing stood up. He was shirtless and his skin was tanned. He seemed to be a completely different person than when he was in Tokyo.

"Son of a bitch!" Qian Yuqing cursed.

This would never have happened in the past. In the past, Qian Yuqing was a very gentle man. After running on the sea for a year and leading the army for a year, his whole person became full of mischief.

"I really think I'm a piggy bank!"

Li Kun said: "I think what Commander Li said makes sense. His Majesty, the current emperor, uses force to deter the world. He only captures cities and then fights them!"

"You don't understand. Behind this Champa is Jiaozhi, and the Chenla Kingdom is also watching. If we defeat Champa, Chenla or Jiaozhi, a large army will definitely invade and take advantage of this."

Qian Yuqing's thinking is very clear. He analyzes the current situation completely from the perspective of a businessman.

"The purpose of our coming here is to buy goods and conquer Champa. If we are taken advantage of by Chenla or Jiaozhi, won't we get nothing?"

"Then just watch those three hundred people being imprisoned in Champa?"

"Of course not!" Qian Yuqing put his hand on Li Kun's shoulder, "The news you bring back this time is very valuable. The king of Champa wants money, but Jiaozhi doesn't want the Song Dynasty to have contact with Champa, and is worried about Champa.

The situation will become clear if the Song Dynasty becomes stronger through contacts with the Song Dynasty, or if the Song Dynasty stationed troops in Champa and threatens Jiaozhi from the north and the south."

"What's next?"

"Next, I will write a report and go north to continue to persuade the imperial court to send troops, all the way from the land to fight against Jiaozhi, all the way from the waterway, that is, we will fight against the city. Of course, we need to increase supplies. I have sent troops back, etc.

The imperial court is sure to send troops to Jiaozhi, so we will attack Champa!"

Finally, Qian Yuqing added: "Once Champa is captured, the trade route to Srivijaya will have a seaport, and spices from various countries in the South China Sea will continue to enter our cargo ships. Within two years, we will
Chapter completed!