boyutpedia Chapter 299: Huge Price Cuts, List of Participants.
Chapter 299: Huge Price Cuts, List of Participants.
Gu Xixi's mentor had told him that the steam engine could travel at a maximum speed of 800 li per hour, or 400 li per hour.
He has now tested it for half an hour, covering about 100 li (50 kilometers). Although the speed was much slower than expected, it has met their current needs.
It also far exceeds their current civilian productivity needs. For example, a horse can run 100 kilometers a day, but it is a heavy burden on the horse and it needs to be fed and well cared for.
Horses can't run like that every day, but steam engines can!
It truly allows you to make a horse run without feeding it grass, just water and firewood!
In the context of transportation, the rapid transfer of goods, coupled with increased productivity, has led Zhang Hua to calculate that this could essentially lower related prices.
As a result, people's lives improved, businesses developed better, and they could earn more money trading with foreign countries... This was a huge step forward for their world.
And this is just the beginning.
When the steam engine came to a stop at the foot of the mountain, the common people and workers who had been running alongside it had long since fallen far behind, while the high-ranking officials and nobles on horseback stopped and came forward to offer their congratulations.
"Young Master's move is truly astonishing! You have such talent! This chicken runs faster than my horse. I can't even imagine how secure our army's rear would be if this thing were used for military supply transport."
"This steam engine... the steam can have such a great effect, it's unbelievable. Is the young master really unwilling to come out of seclusion? Even if one of her disciples is willing to lend us a hand, that would be good."
"Young Master, how about we go for another lap? Let us come up and try it out. This thing doesn't look bumpy. If the imperial court can cooperate with you, the national treasury... I wonder if the Young Master would be willing."
……
Everyone stared intently at Zhang Hua. This thing was incredibly valuable, and it was even related to the fate of the nation!
No wonder he's Zhang Chunhua's son; the Zhang family is truly remarkable.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my mother and that senior Gu both said before she passed away that it is our duty to be loyal to the emperor and love our country. This naturally requires us to cooperate with the court, but let's not rush it today. We haven't finished reading it yet."
Zhang Hua bowed respectfully, placing himself in a humble position and giving everyone face, even though he was the one everyone was trying to curry favor with.
"Following the teachings of our predecessors, we have also created a steam-powered loom. The weaving speed is currently being tested. Would you all like to come and take a look?"
After Zhang Hua finished speaking, everyone immediately echoed him, their eyes shining even brighter.
The transportation would definitely be controlled by the imperial court, but they could also get a share of the profits from weaving and spinning... Immediately, everyone bowed and paid their respects to Zhang Hua.
"Oh! There's a steam loom? Of course I'd love to see it. Please lead the way, young master!"
"How could we possibly refuse? It would be our honor! Young Master, please go first!"
"Young Master is so generous, we will never forget it."
……
The group boarded the steam engine and continued along the track ahead, arriving at the textile factory at breakneck speed. Zhang Hua got off the vehicle and explained to the others.
"This steam loom has been in use for three days. I brought you all here today because I wanted to visit it once all the tracks were repaired and the steam locomotive was completed."
Zhang Hua walked at the front, and led by the manager in charge of the textile factory, they arrived at one of the workshops.
"My lords, please take a look. This is our first batch of experimental workshops, with a total of ten steam-powered looms and spinning machines. They can work non-stop every day, and only a few people are needed to guard them at night. In just three days, we have woven 10 times the usual amount."
Zhang Hua looked at the wall-high pile of cotton cloth and nodded in satisfaction. The others nodded in agreement. Then, watching the loom at work, one of them exclaimed in amazement, "Wonderful, wonderful..."
Zhang Hua just smiled. He had also improved the spinning machine with the craftsmen based on the inspiration of the spinning jenny mentioned by his predecessors. It was called... semi-automatic!
That's right, it's semi-automated!
Saves time and effort and reduces costs.
"Please continue your tour. We will have lunch at the medicinal herb factory in an hour, and then we will discuss the future of the steam-powered automobiles and steam-powered spinning and weaving machines in detail. I have other matters to attend to, so please excuse me for a moment."
Zhang Hua left to welcome the next wave of even more distinguished guests.
……
In the afternoon, as these wealthy merchants and dignitaries all left, the news spread like wildfire, and within a few hours, people in several nearby cities knew about it.
Everyone rushed to the cloth shop under the Zhang family's name to inquire, but the shop had many bolts of cloth displayed at the entrance.
The shopkeeper pointed to the hundreds of bolts of cloth and said loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, Zhang's Cloth Shop has indeed undergone a technological revolution. Our cloth-making speed is faster and better than before. Please look, these cloths are woven without a single stitch error, and every single piece is a masterpiece."
"Moreover, and most importantly, these cloths are 30% cheaper than usual. You heard right, 30% cheaper. Normally, this bolt of cotton cloth costs 500 wen, but from now on, it will only cost 350 wen! Other cloths will also be discounted in the future. Please keep an eye on Zhang's Cloth Shop and come back to visit from time to time."
After the shopkeeper finished speaking, the crowd erupted in uproar!
"Shopkeeper, is it really 150 coins short? Are you sure you didn't make a mistake? It's not 15 coins?"
"Of course it's true. The manager of Zhang's Cloth Shop never lies. They already sell cheaper than other cloth shops, and now they've drastically reduced the price. I want two bolts, wrap them up for me quickly!"
"You may not know, but I do. I heard that the new young master received guidance from that mysterious Miss Gu and created a device that can weave cloth quickly and efficiently."
"Which girl is so amazing? But no matter which one she is... as long as she can lower the price for us so we can afford new clothes, she's a living saint!"
.........
Gu Xixi sneezed one after another, and it took her nine sneezes to stop.
She wiped her nose, but there was no snot. She wasn't sick. Who was talking about her behind her back? It must be someone praising her, hehehe, Gu Xixi trusted her intuition.
"Xixi, this is a list of suitable educated refugees selected from among the refugees. Look, there are more than a dozen good ones, including two or three who studied abroad." Chu Feng's tone was impassioned. Studied abroad in the 60s...tsk tsk tsk, that's not something to be proud of.
Gu Xixi took the list and looked at it. At the same time, she looked at the counter of successfully rescued disaster victims in the system. There were already 28 people. She had about 6 people, but only a dozen or so had been rescued... The probability was indeed in line with the current national situation.
That's really not easy.
"Alright, take the list to Elder Yang and let him make all the arrangements." These people will be the backbone of the future rise of the Flower Country in the parallel world.