Chapter 189

Chapter 189

The reeling machine created by Du Changxuan was no longer a traditional reeling machine but a steam-powered spinning machine.

Su Yu looked back and forth, then had to admit that Du Changxuan was truly a remarkable talent!

She had merely suggested using a steam engine on a reeling machine, and Du Changxuan had utilized that steam engine, along with a set of gears, to create a steam-powered spinning machine—

A reeling machine that originally could only produce one spindle at a time could now produce twelve spindles at once.

Although this steam engine was still relatively rudimentary and fuel-inefficient, requiring constant coal additions to keep it running, for this era and for Su Yu at this moment, it was adequate!

She couldn't suddenly thrust this era into the industrial age; one reason was that the productive capacity couldn't keep up, and another was that taking too large a step could easily cause issues. If she held a torch to ignite the plains, she would inevitably become the target of everyone's attack. But using a spark could silently ignite the plains.

A small invention wouldn't cause much reaction, but it was the beginning of changing the world. By the time most people noticed, the world would have already completely changed.

Su Yu's eyes sparkled, as if they held countless stars.

Du Changxuan paused briefly, and his face involuntarily turned red. He thought to himself that when someone's appearance was beyond gender distinctions, it transcended such boundaries. Even though he knew the emperor was male, seeing Su Yu's eyes made his heart race, and he couldn't meet her gaze.

Du Changxuan had only been a Surveillance Commissioner for a year, and Su Yu had no intention of transferring him away from Hedong. Since he couldn't be promoted for the time being, she awarded him gold, silver, and jewels and asked if he had any wishes.

"I can decline these gold, silver, and jewels, but I do have one wish," Du Changxuan said, his face turning red again. He had studied for the sake of the country and the emperor, but now he was making a bold request.

Thinking this, his voice unconsciously softened, sounding a bit lacking in confidence: "I have a younger sister. I've heard that women can also take the Imperial Exam, and I want... I want her to attend school... Although my family has some assets, we can only afford to hire a tutor to teach my sister a few words at home. It's not the same as attending school. Your Majesty, rest assured, I can have her disguise herself as a male so she won't be discovered. If she is discovered..."

"If she is discovered, it's fine," Su Yu waved her hand in agreement.

Du Changxuan was stunned for a long time. He had thought it would be a difficult request, but he didn't expect the emperor to agree so easily, leaving him momentarily unable to react.

Su Yu smiled faintly: "It's just a matter of a word from me, but your sister, as a girl attending school, will face a lot of pressure. You must make her think carefully. Once she enters, she can't back out, or it will be my face that's lost."

Du Changxuan nodded heavily. Since he had asked the emperor, there was no turning back. His sister would have to finish her studies even if she had to kneel and weep, or else how could he face the emperor?

The next day, Su Yu summoned Liu Wushi over.

The Liu family's base was in Jiangnan, and Liu Wushi was particularly skilled in the silk business. So when he saw this steam-powered spinning machine, his eyes also lit up. Currently, the low spindle output resulted in limited cloth production. If this steam-powered spinning machine could be put to use, the entire cloth production would increase.

Su Yu, however, said: "Take this machine to Jiangnan and sell it. The Liu family is not allowed to participate in this transaction."

The spark in Liu Wushi's eyes faded, and he looked at Su Yu with confusion on his face.

Su Yu smiled faintly: "The money of the world can't all be earned by your Liu family alone; it must be shared. Moreover, you manage the bank, and in the future, you will need to increase loan services for merchants. So you can't be both the judge and the plaintiff."

She looked directly into his eyes and continued: "If you want to go back and become the richest man in Great Qi, you must resign and return. If you want to continue as the Revenue Bureau Minister, the Liu family must keep a low profile. Which path you want to take in the future, you must think carefully, Buyi."

Liu Wushi looked back at her eyes somewhat impolitely. He wanted to tell her that back then, he had been willing to give up all his wealth to secure her freedom, and now he could also give up the title of the richest man in Great Qi, just to stay by her side.

However, when Su Yu was Su Da, he could freely express his burgeoning love, but now he couldn't.

He lowered his eyes, pursed his lips, and tentatively asked with a hint of reluctance: "I want to stay by Your Majesty's side... is that possible?"

Su Yu stepped forward and patted his shoulder, "Of course, it is."

Liu Wushi suddenly looked up and met her smiling face. She said: "I'm glad that Buyi can choose to stay without hesitation."

"Your... Your Majesty..." Liu Wushi's heart was beating wildly, and he almost said that not only would he stay, but he wouldn't mind entering the palace as a male consort. But he still had some rationality left, and he bit his tongue hard to calm himself down.

"Then I will prepare a ship and transport this item to Jiangnan by water, ensuring it sells for a good price," Liu Wushi bowed with restraint and walked out of the palace as usual.

Guo Laidong glanced at him, thinking that his beaming expression must have come from gaining favor with the emperor.

Before he could even catch his breath, Liu Wushi suddenly threw himself into the carriage. A grown man, six feet tall, rolled around on the soft cushions, then abruptly buried his entire face in the cushion, his hands dangling against the carriage wall.

Guo Laidong: "..." The emperor should really be stricter with Liu Wushi. Liu Wushi's behavior was truly frightening!

The steam-powered spinning machine was secretly transported from Hedong to the capital and was shipped to Jiangnan via waterways.

Liu Wushi did not handle the matter personally but instead entrusted it to his sister, Liu Wuyan.

Liu Wuyan specially hosted a banquet, inviting several influential ladies from Jiangnan, and seized the chance to flaunt the steam-powered spinning machine she had in hand.

These ladies were all eloquent, and upon returning home, they spoke to their husbands about the machine, exaggerating its wonders until it sounded almost mythical.

These influential figures from Jiangnan, who had traveled far and wide, were skeptical but still intrigued, wanting to see for themselves.

A few days later, Liu Wuyan had her husband, Jia Jun, step forward and invite these influential figures from Jiangnan to their home for a visit. Under the encouragement of these guests, Jia Jun "reluctantly" demonstrated the steam-powered spinning machine once more.

The influential figures from Jiangnan watched with envy, plotting how to acquire it.

Not long after, Jia Jun took an interest in a piece of land owned by Mr. Hu. However, Mr. Hu said he only wanted Jia Jun's steam-powered spinning machine in return.

Jia Jun hesitated and said, "What a coincidence! Mr. Wu also offered to exchange five shops in the east of the city. It seems like a better deal to trade with him."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Hu grew anxious and quickly said, "I'll give you this land for free, along with three shops in the south of the city. Trade with me," he said.

Jia Jun still hesitated, and Mr. Hu changed his offer again: "This land plus five shops in the south of the city. That's my final offer," he said.

Jia Jun replied, "Mr. Wu's five shops in the east of the city come with a courtyard attached..."

Mr. Hu, now desperate, said, "You already have plenty of places to live. This land plus six shops in the south of the city—that's all I can offer!"

Jia Jun finally reluctantly agreed. Afraid Jia Jun might back out, Mr. Hu swiftly handed over the land deed and immediately sent his servants to Jia Jun's home to carry away the steam-powered spinning machine.

However, after taking it back, Mr. Hu didn't know how to use it and had to seek Jia Jun's guidance. Jia Jun, putting on airs, said, "There's an additional fee for lessons."

Mr. Hu was so angry he wanted to leave, but considering the hefty price he had already paid, he couldn't let his investment go to waste. So, he reluctantly gave Jia Jun another piece of land.

Jia Jun, now in possession of two plots of land and six shops, turned them all over to Liu Wushi.

"Did it really sell for such a high price?" he asked. Liu Wushi was shocked. His original intention was to promote the machine in Jiangnan, not to sell it at an exorbitant price.

Liu Wuyan glanced at Jia Jun and said, "Your brother-in-law is far more ruthless than anyone in the Liu family."

Jia Jun wasn't offended and chuckled, "Scarcity drives up the price. While this thing is still a novelty, we can fetch a good price. Once everyone starts imitating it and every household has one, it won't be worth much."

After acquiring the steam-powered spinning machine, Mr. Hu felt that having just one wasn't enough, given the high price he had paid. So, he hired craftsmen to examine it closely and soon replicated two more machines.

With these three spinning machines, his spindle production increased more than tenfold compared to others, and his cloth production naturally sped up as well. He raked in a hefty profit that spring.

Despite Mr. Hu's attempts to keep it under wraps, unwilling to let others have the steam-powered spinning machine, the secret eventually leaked.

Seeing how much Mr. Hu had profited, others spent heavily to hire the craftsmen who had replicated the machine for him. Before long, the entire Jiangnan region began to adopt this steam-powered spinning machine.

However, as the number of spinning machines increased, the original looms couldn't match the speed of spindle output, leading to a surplus of spindles.

The influential figures in Jiangnan realized this was unsustainable, and the craftsmen saw an opportunity to make money, starting to think about how to improve the looms.

The improved looms were eventually developed, but they required two people to operate together for weaving.

These wealthy merchants from Jiangnan devised a new plan: they assembled about ten looms to create a workshop and exclusively hired women weavers to come and work.

These women weavers were originally homemakers, relying on their husbands to bring back yarn for weaving cloth, which the men would then sell for money. But now, these wealthy merchants only hired women to work in the workshops. Poor families couldn't afford to lose such a source of income, and even though some women were reluctant to appear in public, they were persuaded by their husbands to work in the workshops.

Soon, workshops were established every three miles in Jiangnan, and the streets were bustling with women weavers.

These women, leaving their homes, directly received their wages, and gradually, the money remained in their own hands. The cosmetics that only their husbands used to buy, they could now purchase themselves without relying on a man.

They suddenly realized that working outside was also beneficial; women could support themselves and didn't necessarily need to rely on men.

Moreover, some skilled weavers saved money and considered opening their own small workshops. They could weave cloth, embroider, and make clothes, in which they seemed to have an edge over male merchants.

In the spring and summer of that year, Jiangnan was brimming with vibrant vitality.

Liu Wushi remained in Jiangnan for several months. To support the textile workshops in Jiangnan, he followed Su Yu's instructions and introduced a so-called "loan service" at the bank. In fact, the bank had previously offered mortgages, but without any preference. This time, if it could be proven that the loan from the bank was for establishing a textile workshop, the original 70% loan against collateral could be raised to 90%.

However, Liu Wushi was unaware that during his months in Jiangnan, he had missed significant news in the capital.

After Qi Chen developed the mobile artillery platform, Su Yu personally traveled to Yuanzhou.

Returning from Yuanzhou, she brought back a long case and a monk.

Ruo Kong had been traveling for four years, always feeling that his spiritual cultivation was insufficient.

Su Yu met him again and asked with a smile, "Would you like to come back to the capital with me? This time, I met Master Xuling of Xiuyun Temple and learned a great deal. You, Ruo Kong, would benefit even more from meeting him."

Ruo Kong looked at the smiling emperor, feeling that his entire journey was due to Su Yu's enlightenment, so he followed her suggestion and decided to return to the capital with her.

Little did he expect that when he left the capital, he was despised by all, but upon returning, he became a revered monk returning from the west.

On the day Ruo Kong returned to the capital, the emperor, who was supposed to accompany him, quietly took another gate back to the palace, leaving him alone to face the officials and commoners who came out of the city to welcome him.

Hearing the praises from the crowd, Ruo Kong felt something was amiss.

He was guided into the palace and met Su Yu again.

Su Yu pointed to the Great Cloud Sutra on the table and said, "The Great Cloud Sutra you brought back is indeed of great significance."

Ruo Kong: "?"

Su Yu then had Yuan Ran take Ruo Kong to see Master Xuling.

As soon as Ruo Kong stepped into the palace gate, Yuan Ran quickly closed the door, bolted it, and locked it, all in one smooth motion.

Ruo Kong: "?"

Qi Chen handed him a loquat, "The loquats in the courtyard are ripe, eat it."

"Thank you," Ruo Kong repeatedly thanked him, but still felt something was wrong. Turning to see Qi Chen's bald head, he felt a bit more at ease, "Are you Master Xuling?"

"No, I am Qi Chen," Qi Chen pointed inside the room, "Master Xuling has been fasting these past few days and probably cannot see you."

"Then..." Ruo Kong hadn't finished asking when Qi Chen shook his head and said, "The emperor probably wants to detain you for a few days. Don't worry, your life won't be harmed. Just consider it as a change of place for your cultivation."

Ruo Kong looked at the unusually calm Qi Chen and once again felt that his spiritual cultivation was indeed not sufficient!

Ruo Kong was detained in the palace, while the Great Cloud Sutra, which was said to have been brought back by him, quickly spread throughout the capital.

Not everyone had a copy, but at least everyone had heard of it. At the same time, a northern ballad about a goddess saving the world quietly spread in the capital.

Cui Xuan also saw the Great Cloud Sutra. His usual composure finally cracked. He stood up, almost rushing out, but forced himself to sit back down, staring at the chess set on the table.

Was it what he thought it was?