Mu Chong and the others took the initiative to greet Kou Ji. When they arrived in front of Kou Ji, they spoke with unnatural expressions on their faces.
The three of them thought that Kou Ji's resettlement of the refugees would lead to trouble if they ran out of food. However, they did not expect that a Baozhou soldier and civilian would appear on the way and send a batch of food to Bianjing City to help Kou Ji relieve the siege.
Nowadays, the people in Bianjing City praise the soldiers and civilians of Baozhou as kind and righteous people. Some people even plan to go to Baozhou to buy a farm and live together with the soldiers and civilians of Baozhou.
Throughout the ages, there have been countless people who have provided the icing on the cake, but there have been very few people who have provided help in times of need.
Taizu Zhao Kuangyin traveled thousands of miles to see Jing Niang off, which became a legend and has been popularized for thousands of years. This shows how valuable a kind and righteous person is in need.
There are so many kind and righteous people like the soldiers and civilians of Baozhou that they are even rarer.
The three of them, Mu Chong, did not choose to help Kou Ji when Kou Ji was in the most difficult situation. Now that they faced Kou Ji again, they were naturally a little embarrassed.
Kou Ji looked at the three of them and said, "Find a place to sit down and chat."
Mu and Chong nodded in agreement.
Kou Ji found an empty tent in the camp and took Mu Chong and the others inside to sit down.
After sitting down, Mu Chong anxiously apologized to Kou Ji, "Kou Ministry of Industry, what happened before..."
Halfway through his words, he was interrupted by Kou Ji.
Kou Ji waved his hand and said: "Don't mention all the unpleasantness before. I won't take it to heart, and you don't have to take it to heart. I have my difficulties, and you also have yours. I can understand.
Moreover, for this disaster relief, you have also spent a lot of money and countless manpower.
He also reminded me at critical moments.
If you look at it carefully, you not only have no fault, but you have merit."
Kou Ji said this very sincerely.
Mu Chong and the others heard that Kou Ji didn't seem to be telling lies, and their uneasiness eased a lot.
A smile appeared on Mu Chong's chubby face, and he said: "It's good that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce knew that we were in trouble. The reason why the three of us rushed over overnight to find the Ministry of Industry and Commerce was because we were afraid that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce would misunderstand us."
Kou Ji stared at the three people who were still a little uneasy and said with a smile: "There is nothing to misunderstand. After all, you are businessmen, not officials. It is impossible for me to restrain you with the same set of rules in the officialdom."
When Mu Chong and the other two heard this, they finally felt relieved.
The three of them settled down, and Qian Lexiao asked Kou Ji, "As for the Ministry of Industry, when do you think the forging iron workshop will be built?"
The fundamental reason why they were embarrassed in front of Kou Ji was that they were afraid that Kou Ji would delay the matter in the iron forging workshop, resulting in them not being able to get back the money they invested, or delaying it for a long time before they could get it back.
Many of the materials used to help Kou Ji with disaster relief this time were actually brought back on credit by them.
With their status among merchants, it would not be a problem for them to go to the herb producing areas and wood producing areas and come back with a large amount of supplies on credit.
However, due to the huge amount of supplies, their credit period will not be too long.
Therefore, they need to get the refugees to start creating income for them as soon as possible, and then use the income created by the refugees to pay off their debts.
Otherwise, they will have to pay the debt out of their own pockets.
It would be even better if we could use things forged by the refugees to pay off the debt.
There didn't seem to be much financial transactions between the incoming and outgoing transactions, but they made a steady profit.
Kou Ji stared at the three people and smiled and said: "The victims can make arrangements within three or two days. After the victims have made arrangements, we can start building the workshop.
But before we can build the wrought iron workshop, we have to build the textile workshop first."
When Mu Chong and the other three heard this, they all nodded.
There are a large number of refugees, but not all of them are young and strong men. A large proportion of them are old, weak, women and children.
The iron-forging workshop uses young and strong men among the refugees as laborers, while the textile workshops can use women among the refugees as laborers.
Establishing two types of workshops together will maximize the use of the power of the refugees and maximize the benefits.
The three of them would understand this issue without Kou Ji explaining it in detail.
Qian Le said with a smile: "I have sent people to the Western Regions. I believe that cotton seeds will be brought back next spring."
Kou Ji nodded, "It will take some time to plant cotton. During this period, we cannot let the refugees idle. So we can let the women among the refugees spin wool and linen first."
Mu Chong muttered: "Although woolen and linen fabrics are not as good as silk, the demand among the people is huge."
Meng Weizhong said with burning eyes: "As long as we spin enough cloth, we will definitely make a lot of money."
Cloth has always been in shortage in ancient times, otherwise cloth would not be used for money, so whether it is silk, linen, or woolen cloth, demand has always been in short supply.
There are enough refugees in their hands, and as long as the price of the fabric they produce is not outrageously high, they won't have to worry about selling it, and making money is inevitable.
Kou Ji stared at the three of them with a smile and said, "What if there are too many to sell out?"
Mu and Chong were stunned when they heard this and looked at Kou Ji in astonishment.
They felt that Kou Ji was telling them a joke.
Are you still worried about selling the fabric?
They have been worried about the shortage of fabrics.
Kou Ji did not show off, and said frankly: "In addition to forging iron that is better than iron, the craftsmen in my house also created a spinning wheel that can increase the production of cloth."
The three of them, Mu Chong, stared in vain.
Mu Chong asked in disbelief: "What kind of spinning wheel?"
Kou Ji smiled calmly and said: "Three spinning wheels..."
Mu Chong and the other three were shocked for a moment.
When Kou Ji introduced the three-spindle spinning wheel to Liu Heng and Cao Yi, they did not understand it.
But the three of them, Mu Chong, understood that their ancestors all started in textiles. They knew textiles very well and could be considered half textile experts.
They knew far better than Liu Heng and Cao Yi what the two words "three ingots" meant.
Mu Chong stood up slowly, his heart trembling uncontrollably as he asked Kou Ji, "Is there really such a spinning wheel?"
Qian Le and Meng Weizhong stared nervously.
They were afraid that Kou Ji was joking with them.
Kou Ji smiled and said: "It really does exist... Not only does it exist, but it can also be converted into a three-spindle water-powered spinning wheel..."
Mu and Chong all stood up and rushed in front of Kou Ji.
If it weren't for Kou Ji's status, they would definitely rush in front of Kou Ji, grab Kou Ji's collar, and roar at him loudly.
Give it to me quickly!
The reactions of the three people were all as expected by Kou Ji.
Kou Ji raised the corners of his mouth and said with a bright smile: "Want it?"
The three of them, Mu Chong, had no self-esteem as a big businessman, and they all nodded without any persistence.
Kou Ji waved his hand for them to sit down and said with a smile: "Then let's talk about the members of the textile workshop again."
Mu Chong and the other three were stunned at first.
Then they all smiled bitterly.
They finally understood.
Kou Ji is still the person with a thick face and a dark heart.
Kou Ji graciously let them go just now, not because Kou Ji was kind-hearted.
It was Kou Ji who was preparing to blackmail them.
But they couldn't refuse Kou Ji's blackmail.
The three-spindle pedal spinning wheel and the three-spindle water-powered spinning wheel were very attractive to them.
If they had a three-spindle pedal spinning wheel, their silk production in Shu would skyrocket and double in an instant.
In the same way, the money earned will also rise linearly and double in an instant.
Kou Ji knew that the three of them could not resist the temptation of the three-spindle spinning wheel, so he decisively made the condition.
"You have to provide the spinning wheels, looms, wool, linen, cotton, and silk in the textile workshops. You also have to provide the wages for the female textile workers. You also have to sell the fabrics spun. I only give
You are 50% of the people."
Mu Chong and the others looked bitter when they heard Kou Ji's condition.
Everything is produced by them, but they can only account for 50% of the shares. How can they be happy?
Kou Ji stared at the three people with bitter expressions and continued: "I will not restrict silk weaving workshops, but you have to promise me that you will not build cotton, linen, or wool spinning workshops outside."
Mu Chong and the other three were shocked when they heard this.
Kou Ji's condition blocked their way to go it alone without Kou Ji.
If it were anyone else, they would definitely agree without hesitation, and after getting the three pedal spinning wheels, they would decisively leave them alone and go it alone.
But they didn't dare to face Kou Ji.
Given Kou Ji's identity and background, if they broke their promise to Kou Ji, Kou Ji would definitely destroy their family.
But 50% is too few.
They couldn't accept it.
Kou Ji did not rush the three of them, and sat there quietly waiting for their answers.
Mu Chong and the others thought for a long time, and finally Meng Weizhong took the lead and said decisively: "We provide money and materials, although the 50% members are less, but if the cloth is sold to us, we can still make a lot of profit.
There is still some money to be made.
Since there is something to be gained, why not agree?
Besides, the Ministry of Industry did not restrict our silk workshop.
The silk workshop is the big one for us."
When Mu Chong and Qian Le heard this, they were stunned and nodded in agreement.
What Meng Weizhong said makes sense.
For them, the silk workshop is the most important thing.
The three-spindle bicycle can increase their silk production by multiples, and the benefits they reap will naturally increase by multiples.
Although Kou Ji took up 50% of the textile workshops of cotton, wool and linen, Kou Ji did not take away all the profits. Instead, he gave them the power to sell cloth, allowing them to get the maximum profit from selling cloth.
profit.
They contribute money and goods and still make a profit.
Since you are making money, there is nothing to be sad about.
The reason why they are unwilling is purely greedy.
But the partner they are cooperating with is the thick-faced and sinister Kou Ji, so they must suppress their ambitions.
Mu and Chong looked at Kou Ji and said seriously: "We can agree."
Kou Ji was sure that they would agree, so after they agreed, he didn't have any extreme reaction. He smiled and nodded and said: "Then you go prepare the hair and hemp first.
By the way, we will prepare another batch of wood to be delivered.
The craftsmen in my house have dried the first batch of wood in the shade and started making three-spindle pedal spinning wheels and looms.
Once your wool and linen arrive, you can start weaving."
Since Mu Chong and the others agreed to Kou Ji, they did not hesitate anymore. They all nodded and agreed to the matter.
When the three of them were about to leave, Kou Ji said again: "By the way, please invite some textile experts from Shu to come over and teach the female workers here."
After hearing this, Mu and Chong also nodded in agreement.
The female relatives, maids, and maids in their house are all experts in weaving, and there are many skilled female workers in the silk weaving workshop, so this is not a difficult task for them.
After Kou Ji saw off Mu Chong and the others, he returned to the tent and laughed at himself.
After all, he was still a bit cautious and did not let the three of them go.
Give them some punishment.
Although he could understand what the three of them were doing.
But being able to understand doesn't mean he can forgive.
It doesn't mean they can let them go.
If Mu Chong and the others didn't have that ability, Kou Ji might not punish them.
But Mu and Chong were obviously capable of helping him raise food, but they did not help him at the critical moment due to financial reasons.
Then he must punish the three of them.
Kou Ji laughed at himself for a while, walked to the bed, put on his clothes and slept.
He had not slept for two days and one night and was indeed a little tired.
Kou Ji slept until dawn.
After dawn.
The Minister of Works hurried from Bianjing City to the tent where Kou Ji was, and told Kou Ji what happened in the court hall yesterday.
Yesterday, he was busy taking over the manpower of the Capital Water Supervision Bureau and did not take time to report to Kou Ji, the chief official of the Ministry of Works.
Now that I have taken over the manpower of the Water Supervisor in Bianjing City, I naturally want to come over and give a message to Kou Ji, the chief official of the Ministry of Works.
Kou Ji was stunned for a long time when he learned that the three of them, Kou Zhun, were in the court hall and had made their own decisions.
They expected that Kou Zhun and the others would be so angry and so adamant.
Instead of consulting with the court officials, he began to make arbitrary decisions.
Although the actions of the three of them would offend the civil and military officials of the court, Kou Ji still had to say something.
Domineering!
This is what a man should do.
Now that you have power, you have to be more domineering.
Those who always look forward and backward, always fearing this or that, would be better off not taking power.
Just go to a Qingshui Yamen in Chaozhong and work as a salted fish.
Kou Zhun and the other three acted so tough, and Kou Ji was naturally unwilling to be outdone.
He told the Minister of the Ministry of Works to make preparations after returning to Bianjing City to take back from the Third Division the power of farming that the inner court had exclusively given to the Ministry of Works.
The Minister of Works heard Kou Ji's order and was a little embarrassed, "Shangguan, let's go to the Third Division to get the power. What if the Third Division doesn't give it to us?"
Kou Ji stared, "The inner court has arbitrarily given us the power of the Ministry of Works. What right does the Third Division have to deny it?"
The minister of the Ministry of Works said with a bitter face: "But if Li Zhen, the third minister, makes a fuss and refuses to hand over power, it will be hard for him to take it away from his subordinates."
Kou Ji said angrily: "You are also an old minister in the court, how can you be so cowardly? You can't rob me by force, and you can't rely on begging for it?"
The Minister of Works said in astonishment: "Why do you insist on asking for it?"
Kou Ji rolled his eyes at him and said: "With your body, if you go to the Third Division, if you are angry or pushed by someone, you will have to fall to the ground?"