In a large house in Hangzhou, a middle-aged man about fifty years old read the letter in front of him, put it on the table, closed his eyes and remained silent.
The thirty-year-old man sitting next to him did not dare to take the letter without permission. He just said: "Father, what did Shang Bo write in the letter?"
"Shang Yuan wrote in the letter that Yang Zirong, a member of the Zhongshu family next to His Majesty, met with him and the head of the Li family who deal in silk in Suzhou, and told them what kind of industrial park they would set up in Suzhou and asked them to move all their industries to the park.
It will be good for them. Both the Li family and the Shang family plan to move some of their industries to the park..."
Like Li Yuanli, this man suddenly thought of the pros and cons of this matter: "Father, this will probably make it easier for them to run the family business. Since the court wants the horses to run, it is impossible not to let the horses eat grass; but what if?
In the future, it will be much easier for Your Majesty to covet property if he has the mind to do so."
"It's just that since the people around His Majesty came forward to tell the matter personally, we can't just follow the instructions at all. We must move some of them over."
"What you said is exactly what father thought. Not only that, father also thought about the impact on us."
"Not to mention the risk of relocating industries to the park. No matter how powerful the Suzhou Li family and the Shang family are, they are far inferior to Shen Wansan back then. Your Majesty will not move for a while."
"They moved the industry to the park, which reduced the overhead of up-and-down management and allowed them to honor the royal family. The cost of the goods would be lower, and our industry might be affected. Now people who are also engaged in embroidery in Suzhou have been unable to do business because of the lack of business.
Most of them have not been noticed by His Majesty, but they can invite themselves to the garden in the future. Su embroidery is not much worse than our Hangzhou embroidery. If there is a price gap, I am afraid that the business in Hangzhou will not be as good as that in similar industries in Suzhou." The older man said.
said.
Their family is now the Qiantang Zhou family, which is mainly engaged in Hangzhou embroidery. The older man is named Zhou Zhibao, the patriarch of the Zhou family, and the younger man is his eldest son Zhou Shuyin.
The four most famous embroideries in the country in later generations are Su embroidery, Shu embroidery, Hunan embroidery and Guangdong embroidery. However, at this time, Guangdong embroidery and Hunan embroidery were not yet famous and their skills were not as advanced as in later generations. Although Su embroidery has emerged, it is still slightly inferior to Hangzhou embroidery; in addition,
Long embroidery in the northwest became famous at this time.
The ancestors of the Zhou family worked hard to develop three embroidery methods before becoming the leading embroidery master in Hangzhou. However, the Qian family in Suzhou also developed several novel embroidery methods to challenge them. Both parties have their own strengths, and the Zhou family relied on this
Hangzhou Embroidery has an advantage because of its relatively loud reputation, but that won’t necessarily be the case once Suzhou has a park.
"Your Majesty will not just set up a park in Suzhou. Why not set it up in Hangzhou? The outstanding people and places in Hangzhou are not worse than Suzhou but slightly better. How can Taihu Dongting Tea (Biluochun) compare with West Lake Longjing and Tianmu Yunwu? How can Suzhou Silk compare with Hangzhou?
Silk? How can Suzhou embroidery compare to Hang embroidery?" Zhou Shuyin said.
Zhou Zhibao did not comment on his son's words, but seemed to be talking to himself: "Would you like to send someone to find out from Lian Zining? No, Lian Zining has abolished the system of subordinate staff in the Chief Envoy Department. The original subordinate staff
Many of the officials were executed, and the rest kept their tail between their legs and dared not do anything. The ambassadors at the gate of the city were only ninth-grade officials and were of no use."
Zhou Shuyin also followed his father's thinking, but soon he said in frustration: "It's not possible at all. No one can speak, whether it's the Chief Envoy, the West Zhejiang Patrol Road or the Hangzhou Government Office. Those guards
We can’t bribe people who are born now.”
Finally, he said: "It is better to bribe the eunuchs around the emperor directly. They have been serving His Majesty and they should know something."
Zhou Zhibao's eyes suddenly lit up and he said, "Not bad."
Zhou Shuyin said doubtfully: "Dad, are you really going to bribe the eunuchs around your majesty? The risk is too great. I heard that your majesty treats the eunuchs around you very kindly. Those young eunuchs are of low rank and may not know anything."
Zhou Zhibao said: "Of course it's not about bribing them. Just now, my father suddenly thought about the way His Majesty behaves in daily life based on the news coming from the capital, and suddenly found a way, which is very likely to work."
"What method?" Zhou Shuyin asked.
Zhou Zhibao did not answer, but instead ordered: "Go and invite the head of the Shen family to come over."
The Shen family is another family in Hangzhou that specializes in embroidery. Because the embroidery industry relies mainly on technology rather than capital or power, it is too difficult to monopolize. As long as someone has a unique skill, they can make a living from embroidery. So they operate these businesses
On the one hand, embroidery people want to steal unique techniques from their opponents, but on the other hand, they have to keep in touch.
Zhou Shuyin was a little confused, but he didn't ask any more questions and turned around and left the room.
Zhou Zhibaoqing stroked his beard, as if thinking about something.
…
…
While walking, Yunxi was listening to the head of Hangzhou Jinyiwei talking about Hangzhou's business and big merchants.
"Your Majesty, although Hangzhou's money, food and taxes are not as good as Suzhou's, its business is still above Suzhou's."
"Hangzhou's teas include West Lake Longjing and Tianmu Yunwu, both of which are famous throughout the country; silk is also extremely plentiful, with ancient fragrant satin and silk gauze being the most famous; Hangzhou embroidery has many treasures;..." said the director of Hangzhou Jinyiwei.
He talked for a long time, and finally said: "Hangzhou West Lake Longjing is produced in five places, but they are collectively called West Lake Longjing, so it is divided into five families. Tianmu Yunwu is also divided into several families. The ancient silk in Hangzhou
The fragrant satin is managed by the Shen family, and the silk gauze is managed by the Lu family."
"As for embroidery, because of its skills, there are many people operating in this industry, among which the Zhou family has the largest industry."
Yunxi thought for a moment and was about to speak when suddenly Wang Xitong reported: "Your Majesty, Lord Lian Zining wants to see your Majesty."
Yunxi said to Wang Xi: "Ask him to meet me in the east study." He also said to the head of the Suzhou Jinyi Guard: "Wait here for a while, I will be back soon." With that, he got up and walked out of the room.
After a while, Yunxi came to the east study. Just as he asked the young eunuch to make a pot of tea, Lian Zining came in and saluted Yunxi and said, "I have seen your Majesty." Because it was in private and there was no one else, he
He didn't kneel down to salute.
Yunxi didn't care, and after chatting with him for a few words, he said: "What happened? Please tell me to come here?"
Lian Zining smiled and said: "I can't hide anything from your Majesty. I have something to ask me for advice." Then he became serious and said to Yunxi: "Your Majesty, a merchant has written to me to request the establishment of an industrial park in Hangzhou."