Chapter 105

Chapter 105

Upon entering the main hall, the mother and daughter knelt to pay their respects. "Villager Hai Jiangshi and her daughter Hai Guanxing pay tribute to Her Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy a long and prosperous reign."

The Empress was taken aback for a moment. "Rise. Hai Guanxing, your name suggests that you are like a star guiding a voyage at sea. It reflects your father's high hopes for you. You must study diligently to live up to the expectations of your elders."

Hai Guanxing replied, "Yes, this humble maiden will surely apply herself in her studies and not disappoint the hopes of my late father."

The Empress became even more pleased. "I've heard that you have traveled abroad. How was it?"

Hai Guanxing took a deep breath and replied, "Your Highness, the lands I've visited are vast and include numerous countries. My family only engages in trade with a few of them, thus my knowledge is limited to those few nations."

"The climate in these countries during spring, summer, and autumn is similar to that of Beijing's spring, while their winters are slightly colder, akin to Beijing's late autumn. The temperatures are quite pleasant, but they experience frequent rain and fog, making many things damp, much like the plum rain season in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Consequently, the houses there are often built spacious to allow more sunlight inside."

"Due to the spaciousness of their homes, they favor laying exquisite carpets. In the past, they used silk carpets, but they easily wrinkled; woolen rugs were also used, but they absorbed too much moisture, causing distortion over time. Sometimes, they would have a fireplace built into their walls, called a hearth, for warmth in winter. When not in use, they would hang blankets to cover it."

The Empress asked, "How large is their population?" Implicitly, she was inquiring about the potential market size, as a larger population would indicate a bigger market.

Hai Guanxing understood her intention. "I don't have an exact figure for their population, Your Highness. However, from what I've observed, their streets are bustling with people, comparable to the busy cities of Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Yangzhou in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions."

The Empress pondered for a moment, "Seems like they have quite a large population."

Meng Die interjected, "Your Highness, since their climate is practically spring-like all year round, it's likely that they have ample food supplies, thus explaining their substantial population."

The Empress nodded in agreement, "Indeed. Judging from the imported goods, their land must be prosperous as well. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to create such intricate and novel items."

Meng Die responded, "Your Highness speaks wisely."

The Empress continued her inquiry, "Do you know that Persian carpets are commonly traded by the Hu merchants?"

Hai Guanxing: "Your Highness, this humble woman understands that Persian carpets are all handwoven, making them exquisite and highly sought after abroad."

Empress: "I have a few Persian carpets myself. Indeed, they are incredibly beautiful, seemingly surpassing even this silk carpet. Do you think this silk carpet could compete with Persian carpets overseas?"

Hai Guanxing: "Your Highness, in my opinion, it can, for three reasons. First, Persian carpets are entirely handmade, sometimes taking nearly a year or even longer to complete, thus limiting their production significantly compared to silk carpets which can be mass-produced. Second, Persian carpets are often made from wool, silk, and threads of gold and silver. Wool absorbs moisture, and many countries overseas experience foggy conditions for half the year, making Persian carpets prone to deterioration. Third, silk carpets are priced affordably, while a Persian carpet could cost at least a thousand taels of silver overseas, while a silk carpet is around fifty taels. Therefore, one Persian carpet could exchange for at least twenty silk carpets."

The empress was immediately pleased with Hai Guanxing's well-structured response: "Excellent."

Hai Guanxing opened her mouth but hesitated to speak. She glanced at Meng Die with the corner of her eye and received an encouraging look from her. Gaining confidence, Hai Guanxing continued, "Your Highness, this humble woman has another thought to share."

Empress: "What ideas?"

Hai Guanxing: "In the lands I've visited, they have a great fondness for fragrances and various perfumes, mainly because the people there tend to have stronger body odors, especially in the summer. Since tussah silk is so breathable, I believe they would appreciate it being used as the upper part of shoes."

Meng Die's eyes curved into a delighted smile.

The Empress looked at her, asking, "What is it?"

Meng Die replied, "Your Highness, Miss Hai and I share the same thought. Tussah silk is durable and sturdy, making it perfect for shoe uppers. Most importantly, its breathability is a key factor."

Shoes, much like clothing, need not be worn out before they are replaced; many people continually update their wardrobe for new styles. Even if the material used for the uppers is less substantial, this provides an additional use for mulberry silk, which is a positive development.

The Empress became increasingly pleased with Hai Guanxing: "Very well. You may leave for now."

Having clarified this matter, the Empress turned her attention to another pressing issue: "The memorial states that all rug weavers should be moved to the newly established factories. Why is that?"

Meng Die adopted a serious expression: "Your Majesty, there are several advantages to this approach. First, if I were to divulge the method of weaving silk rugs, it's likely that influential families would take notice and consider purchasing or leasing mountain lands to raise silkworms and weave rugs, then sell them to maritime merchants. While this would increase the government's revenue, the common folk would benefit very little. I am unwilling to let that happen."

"On the contrary, if the imperial court takes the lead and assigns the mountain lands directly to each village under the supervision of the local magistrates, allowing them to rear silkworms, produce silk thread, and dye it, we can prevent the monopolization of silk rugs by these influential families, just as they have done with silk itself."

The Empress pondered for a moment and found a loophole, "If that's all, there's no need to establish a factory. We can follow your suggestion and let the county magistrate distribute the dyed silk thread to the women in the villages or towns. They can weave the silk rugs at home."

Meng Die replied, "Your Majesty's plan is indeed commendable, but there are two advantages to having a factory. My elder brother, Yue Jia, serves as the governor of Zhi Jiang province."

The Empress didn't hesitate, "Huì Mù'en, Viceroy Huì."

Meng Die continued, "That's right, Governor Huì. The silk from Yuhang in Zhi Jiang is renowned throughout the world. There are many weaving workshops there, and merchants often pressure the weavers to work day and night to produce more silk. As a result, many women have developed eye problems, unable to see things clearly from a distance, as if they were blind with their eyes open."

"These weavers work tirelessly around the clock, partly due to the merchants' exploitation for profit, and partly because the weavers' families, often their parents or husbands, pressure them to weave nonstop. Because of this, Governor Huì has attempted to address the issue of excessive exploitation by merchants several times, but the effects have been minimal."

"Silk carpets are as costly as silk itself. With such high profits at stake, it's hard to guarantee that the weavers' parents or husbands won't be tempted. Then they might either plead with or pressure the weavers to work day and night, causing the northern weavers to develop eye ailments and become visually impaired."

"If we establish factories with regulated working hours, preventing overnight weaving, the likelihood of weavers suffering from eye diseases would significantly decrease."

The queen nodded. "Your concern is indeed valid. I've also heard that many women there suffer from eye problems. It's said that while weavers fare better, almost nine out of ten embroiderers have eye issues. However, I'm not sure if the factory system will be effective. Once everyone starts raising silkworms and spinning silk, ordinary households will surely obtain the silk thread too. They might continue weaving after their shifts."

Meng Die smiled gently. "This last reason is precisely what makes the factory model ideal. The silk carpet weaving process consists of multiple steps. I propose dividing these steps, so each person only learns and performs one specific step. This way, even if she wishes to weave after work, she wouldn't know the other steps, and even if she did, her hands wouldn't be skilled enough."

"By using this method of division, the weavers, due to repeatedly weaving the same pattern, will quickly master their task, greatly increasing efficiency. Originally, even the fastest weaver would take two months to complete a silk carpet. But with this segmented approach, a silk carpet can be completed in about fifty days."

The Empress was astonished. "So much faster?"

Meng Die replied, "Yes."

The Empress regained her composure. "Indeed, knowledge from books is limited. I didn't have a concrete understanding of the concept of 'practice makes perfect' before. Now, I fully grasp its meaning. This factory is undoubtedly an irreplaceable entity."

Meng Die acknowledged, "Your Highness is wise."

The Empress's smile softened her features. "With formalities aside after our serious discussion, I'm curious. How did you come up with the idea of raising silkworms for silk carpets?"

Meng Die instantly laughed. "This story dates back several years. I had a craving for fresh fish, so I purchased the former Minister of Rites' mountain estate. Initially, it was just for raising sheep and fish; I never considered rearing silkworms."

"In recent years, there have been severe droughts in the northern provinces, forcing many women to flee to the capital. Around the time I was cultivating oyster mushrooms on the estate, I had purchased quite a few women from brokers. My estate gained a good reputation among them. This time, when these famine-stricken women arrived, they were sent to my place."

"The estate manager is kind-hearted. Seeing that these women were all malnourished, he didn't want them to do strenuous work. However, he was also concerned that the original servants might object if they didn't work. So, he approached me, asking if these women could be assigned to gather wild vegetables. Any excess could be sold at my little shop."

"I thought even gathering wild vegetables would be tiring, but coincidentally, I recently read about ancient people rearing silkworms. So, I instructed the estate manager to select a few mulberry forests and let these women tend to the silkworms. After spinning the cocoons into silk, we could make silk quilts for the servants – it would be a great use of their labor."

The Queen chuckled softly. "The estate manager has a kind heart, and so do you. Otherwise, why would you have taken in so many women who looked so frail?"

Meng Die offered a bashful smile. "They've given me the most remarkable return. Historically, it's considered good if one can retrieve five to fifteen percent of the silk cocoons from the wild silkworms. But these women have managed to gather fifty percent for me."

The Empress was equally astonished. "So much?"

Meng Die replied, "I didn't expect it either. Normally, as the wild silkworms are left to spin their cocoons freely, records mention that the cocoons are collected only after the pupae have hatched. But on my estate, these women inspect the area daily and harvest the cocoons before the pupae emerge. Although the silk they produce is still not as lustrous as that from mulberry silkworms, its brightness has significantly improved, and there are more options for dyeing."

The Empress pondered for a moment. "I suppose the silk isn't exposed to the elements, which must elevate its quality."

Meng Die agreed. "Your Highness is correct. With so much silk exceeding our expectations, it would be a waste to let it sit idle. I thought of weaving a few silk rugs to make the floors warmer during winter. My maid, Xue Qing, is skilled in weaving. When I mentioned this to her, she immediately said that the wild silkworm silk is the best material for rugs. She promptly wove a handkerchief to show me, convincing me entirely to embark on weaving these silk rugs."

The Empress slowly revealed a genuine smile. "Your concern for their hardships has earned you their loyalty. Your maid is skilled as well."

The two of them engaged in lighthearted conversation, enjoying each other's company. Meng Die mentioned the incident with Yan Si and the dye worker, praising the local county magistrate for his efforts.

The Empress concurred, "For the county magistrate to gather information among the famine-stricken people is an unconventional way of understanding the people's suffering. Especially since his method proved effective, it's quite remarkable."

Meng Die smiled in agreement.

As the Emperor was in the side palace, the Empress couldn't extend an invitation to stay for dinner. Thus, Meng Die took her leave, mindful of the time.

Shortly after returning to the Marquis residence, an imperial edict from the Empress arrived. There was one edict, but three sets of rewards were bestowed, with the finest and most generous reserved for Meng Die. Another was for Xue Qing, and the edict specifically praised her dexterity. A third reward was for Wang Zhuangtou, commending his kindness.

Meng Die expressed her gratitude as she received the edict. Neither Xue Qing nor Wang Zhuangtou were present in the residence. The eunuch who delivered the edict instructed four junior eunuchs to accompany Nurse Fan with the gifts destined for them to be delivered at the manor.

When Xue Qing and Wang Zhuangtou received their rewards, they were utterly stunned. Never in their wildest dreams did they imagine that as servants, they would receive personal commendation from the Empress. It was as if their ancestors' graves had sprouted green smoke, indicating exceptional luck.

The following morning, before going to pay respects, Nurse Fan entered the residence. Feng'er had conveyed a message the previous night, informing that Second Lady wanted her to come early today.

Meng Die had just arisen, and Ying'er and Meihong were in the process of dressing and grooming her. Upon entering, Nurse Fan immediately asked, "Is there an urgent matter with Second Lady?"

Meng Die gazed at her reflection in the mirror. "There is indeed an urgent matter. Today, you must immediately visit the real estate agency to search for a large tract of land. It doesn't need to be in a prime location, but it should be spacious enough to accommodate at least a thousand houses. It can be remote, as long as it's not outside the city gates. A square and even plot would be ideal. After that, contact the skilled masons in the capital who specialize in bricklaying and construction to inquire about their availability. If there aren't many with spare time, arrange for people to seek out masons from the surrounding counties."

"Also, notify Xue Qing at the manor. Let her estimate how many looms they'll need. Inform Head Wang to prepare a larger space beforehand, as the weaving will begin there before the new houses are constructed."

Nanny Fan nodded repeatedly. "Ah, I've noted everything. Second Lady, are you planning to recruit a large number of women to weave silk carpets?"

Meng Die nodded. The Empress had already given her permission to hire workers. It would be a disservice to Her Majesty's support if she didn't undertake a grand project.

Nanny Fan's face lit up with joy. "This will require quite a few people, won't it? The agents might not have many skilled weavers on hand. Should we announce that we're looking to recruit experienced women weavers?"

Meng Die pondered for a moment. "That makes sense. Ask Xue Qing to write some notices and post them by our soup stall."

Nanny Fan exclaimed, "Oh, that would be excellent. Most of the people who come to eat at our stall aren't well-off. If their wives have this skill, they'd certainly be willing to work for us. Even if their wives don't know how, surely they have neighbors or relatives who might."

Meng Die agreed. "I was thinking the same. Come to me in three days to collect the blueprint for the factory. My drawing is just an idea, so you'll need to consult with several experienced craftsmen to ensure it's feasible."

"Aye."

With money comes efficiency. As Meng Die was both wealthy and willing to spend, Nanny Fan handled matters swiftly. Within two days, she found a suitable plot of land and arranged a transaction with the local authorities for the following day. She returned to Meng Die. "Second Lady, we've found the perfect land. It's located in the northwest of the capital, covering thirty acres."

In the northwest of the capital, to the west lies the commoners' quarter. Meng Die was quite satisfied with the location: "Whose land was that originally, and what was its purpose?"

Aunt Fan chuckled: "It doesn't belong to anyone yet; the government hasn't sold it. The area is remote and borders both the west and the north. No wealthy family would build their residence there. The land has been idle for a long time, with a dozen or so dilapidated houses and sheds left from the past. During the droughts of the past two years, the government used it to shelter the victims."

Meng Die understood: "Just thirty acres remain, then?"

Aunt Fan replied: "Not exactly. Those thirty acres sit right in the middle, forming a square. If you count the corners and edges, it's closer to forty acres, at least thirty-seven or thirty-eight."

Meng Die pondered for a moment: "Let's not leave any corners untouched. We might as well buy the entire plot. When we construct the factory, we'll follow the original square layout. With the leftover materials from building, we can construct more houses and sheds for those beggars and impoverished families to seek refuge."

Nanny Fan immediately understood Meng Die's concern for the beggars who might lose their shelter: "Second Lady is truly kind-hearted."

Meng Die smiled: "It won't cost much anyway. I've already drawn up plans for the factory. You can take them with you today."

"Ah," Nanny Fan turned back, "I almost forgot. Yesterday, His Majesty issued an imperial edict to the northern provinces, ordering all prefectures and counties not to sell mountain land. Any previous sales must be reported in detail, including the year of sale, who it was sold to, and how the buyer intends to use the land."

Meng Die's eyes curved in amusement. As she expected, the emperor and empress were not to be underestimated. Once she hinted at the issue, they took action to control the source of the raw materials, making it nearly impossible for the wealthy and influential families to intervene in the silk rug trade.

With the land purchased, Fan Hong had been busy these past two days contacting over a hundred bricklayers and three well-known master craftsmen. Upon receiving Meng Die's plans, the three masters were momentarily stunned.

The layout of the plans Meng Die designed was clear and concise. A large warehouse was to be constructed in the exact north, with a southern entrance and a high foundation to prevent dampness. The warehouse itself would prioritize sturdiness and longevity. This part was straightforward.

South of the warehouse, four three-story courtyard houses would be built, interconnected by corridors. Each house would have six rooms for Lu Wei and her companions to use.

The remaining area would be allocated for workshops. The design for these buildings was simple: two-story structures arranged in ten rows, with each row spaced over ten meters apart to ensure ample sunlight. Each row would consist of twenty rooms, approximately fifty square meters each. The number of rows and houses per row could be adjusted according to the terrain.

This was a very basic blueprint, one that even an inexperienced mason could handle. The challenge lay beneath the ground.

Meng Die insisted on installing underfloor heating systems beneath all the buildings. But more importantly, there would be an additional layer between the heating system and the ground, filled with terracotta pipes. In winter, hot water would be pumped through these pipes, while in summer, it would be drained out.

In essence, Meng Die planned to create a simplified version of geothermal heating. The efficiency of the traditional underground heating system, or "tunnel dragons," was simply too low. It was the thought of all that wasted heat that prompted her to come up with this idea. However, injecting hot water required the use of pressure valves.

Constrained by the limitations of available technology, the pressure relief valves in this world were not particularly efficient. They couldn't even power a dozen rooms, let alone a thousand. Hence, Meng Die asked the senior craftsmen to carefully consider and determine the best solution.

This was a challenging task, but the three master craftsmen showed no signs of hesitation; instead, they were quite intrigued. An expert could see at a glance the advantages of using this terracotta pipe for hot water circulation. If the design proved successful, it would undoubtedly become a sensation in the capital, and their future work would be guaranteed.

The three master tutors exchanged glances, each infusing their full concentration into the task at hand, commencing their meticulous study.

Observing the three master craftsmen engrossed in studying the blueprint, Fan Hong quietly slipped out of the room. He had a multitude of tasks awaiting him, such as procuring the blue bricks necessary for constructing the factory, placing an order for a batch of translucent tiles, and acquiring various types of timber, among other things... At this moment, a single thought occupied Fan Hong's mind: it was fortunate that Second Mistress possessed both wealth and generosity. Anyone else in her position would likely struggle to produce such a substantial sum of silver all at once.

The scene at the weaving workshop instantly became bustling with voices and fervor, though the intensity could not quite match that of the soup stall.

Even before the old lady selling soup and the widow arrived, their stall was encircled by layers of eager onlookers. Besides the usual working men, there were now many simply dressed yet clean women, their faces a mix of anxiety, excitement, anticipation, uncertainty, and a hint of bewilderment. They conversed with acquaintances, discussing the upcoming event.

"Ah, you think I can manage it? I only touched a loom twice when I was a child."

"Who knows? We'll just have to give it a try."

"Indeed, what's the harm in trying? If chosen, Second Grandma is known for her generosity. She pays a handsome wage."

"Not only that, last year when my spouse and I went to her estate to dig a pond, she even provided meals for us. Every meal had meat, and we ate so well that I gained weight."

"My heart is thumping loudly right now, I'm so afraid I won't be chosen."

"You'll surely make it. Didn't you used to weave cloth before?"

"Weaving cloth? That's ancient history, like something from hundreds of years ago. I've almost forgotten what a loom looks like. Just look at all the people gathered here, and more are coming our way. Do you really think someone like us has a chance?"

A man suddenly whispered, "I've heard that Second Grandma is planning to hire quite a few helpers this time."

"Aha?"

In an instant, the man's acquaintances gathered around him, while those who didn't know him closed their mouths and pricked up their ears to eavesdrop.

The man didn't hide anything: "I was digging shrubs on Second Grandma's estate last year. During the New Year, when I went to give a report to Headman Wang, I overheard Miss Li'er telling Miss Mei'er that with so many mulberry trees planted by Headman Wang, there must be a huge amount of cocoons. They'll have to hire two or three thousand workers for the harvest."

Everyone's eyes lit up at once. The woman who had mentioned forgetting how to operate a loom wore a broad smile: "Miss Li'er and Miss Mei'er are from Second Grandma's courtyard. What they say can be trusted."

"Not just that," another man interjected. "I heard that Miss Mei'er is also hiring. If you don't make the cut for weaving, you could try your luck with her."

"How many women are Miss Mei'er employing for her silk-dyeing venture?"

"It's said that she specifically hires women for the job."

"Oh my, this is truly a stroke of luck."

As the conversation continued, the mood grew increasingly lively. Initially, the men who were saddened by their wives' lack of weaving skills now, upon hearing this news, promptly forgot about their own work obligations. They hurried home to summon their wives to join in.

Common folk didn't abide by as many rules. As long as there was money to be made, they cared little about societal expectations of modesty. Second Grandma was offering generous wages, and even provided meals!