Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4936 Capital Prototype
Dugu Mou took a deep breath and said, "Doesn't it mean that opening a small spinning mill will cost 20,000 strings of cash?"

Fang Jun took a sip of tea and said, "What are you thinking about? This is just an investment in a deseeding machine. Cotton will not turn into cotton thread by itself after being deseeded. It needs a textile machine, the kind used to weave wool. At least a dozen or twenty machines are needed, and each costs three thousand guan. Machines alone are not enough, people are needed to operate them, so a small spinning mill must employ at least fifty people, and there must be a factory building. Neither the cotton nor the cotton thread can be exposed to moisture..."

The imperial court promoted cotton and then used textile machines and seed-threshers to reap capital. Everyone got what they needed and was happy.

Dugu Mou swallowed his words when he heard footsteps. He turned his head and saw Cheng Chuliang coming in. He hurriedly greeted him, "Come over and have a cup of tea. The banquet will not start for a while."

Unexpectedly, Cheng Chuliang came in with a little tail following behind him. Princess Qinghe followed closely, her face tense, and she was obviously a little nervous...

The couple sat down separately. Cheng Chuliang said helplessly, "It's noisy in the main hall over there. I was annoyed by the noise, so I came over to have tea and chat. Your Highness doesn't need to worry."

After he said this, Fang Jun and Dugu Mou realized that Princess Qinghe was afraid that Cheng Chuliang would clash with Fang Jun...

Fang Jun smiled bitterly and said to Princess Qinghe, "Your Highness, you are worrying too much. I have a deep friendship with Lord Lu. What happened before was just a matter of official business and it does not affect our personal friendship. Moreover, our two families are old friends and Chu Liang and I are brothers-in-law. We will never become enemies."

Princess Qinghe rolled her eyes, snorted, and said, "You are the Grand Commandant now. Your position of power is different from before. I came to see if I can serve you tea and water to avoid being bullied by you!"

Almost all Tang princesses were extrovert, cheerful and strong. Princess Qinghe was petite, pretty and charming. She sat among three men without any shyness.

Fang Jun smiled and said, "In that case, I will give Your Highness a chance to pour tea and water... But Your Highness should stay away from me, for fear that Chu Liang will be frightened and unable to sleep at night. After all, my reputation is not very good."

When he said this, Dugu Mou and Cheng Chuliang both laughed. After all, Fang Jun's name as the "good princess" was known to the world.

Princess Qinghe blushed, her nose wrinkled slightly, and she glared at Fang Jun: "You want to chase me away? Humph, I don't know what shameful things you are talking about. I don't want to listen to them!"

After saying this, she stood up, nodded slightly, and walked away with graceful lotus steps.

Since Cheng Chuliang would not fight with Fang Jun, she would naturally not stay...

Fang Jun poured a cup of tea for Cheng Chuliang and said with a smile: "It seems that in His Highness's heart, I am not a good person."

"How could that be?" Cheng Chuliang explained hurriedly, "After all, my father was unable to return to Chang'an as he wished. In the eyes of others, it was Erlang who was obstructing him. Maybe there will be some dirty things between us, so I am worried. But don't worry, Erlang. My brothers and I are clear about the distinction between public and private. Erlang is in a high position and the things he considers are beyond our participation. He will definitely not bear any resentment."

The Cheng and Fang families have a deep bond, so they will naturally not become enemies and go their separate ways because of this incident. After all, it is His Majesty's wish not to allow Cheng Yaojin to return to Chang'an. Whether Fang Jun stopped him at the time would not affect the final result.

Fang Jun said happily: "I'm glad you think so."

He and Cheng Chubi were as close as brothers, and he also had a good relationship with the other members of the Cheng family.

"What are you talking about?"

Cheng Chuliang took a sip of tea and asked curiously.

He had already noticed that Fang Jun and Dugu Mou had left the crowd and were hiding here, whispering to each other...

Fang Jun briefly talked about planting cotton and opening a spinning mill, and then asked, "Although the investment is a bit large, it is a business that is sure to make money. If Chu Liang is interested, he might as well get involved. A man must have some private money to be able to stand tall. Otherwise, he would have to ask his wife for money even to go to Pingkangfang for a meal. Isn't that aggrieved?"

Emperor Li II's genes are extremely strong, and his children all have a strong desire for control. Princess Qinghe looks petite and weak, but in fact she is very strict with Cheng Chuliang.

Cheng Chuliang's eyes lit up, he looked around guiltily, then leaned forward and asked in a low voice: "But I don't know anything, I will need Erlang's help when the time comes."

Fang Jun didn't take it seriously: "It's a small matter. You just need to pay the money and let Duke Lu get more land in Hexi. As long as you grow cotton, I will arrange the rest of the matters of opening a spinning mill. We have an experienced team to run this matter."

At this stage, any sprouts that may breed capital must be guided and controlled. If they are allowed to grow at will, they are likely to form a capital monopoly.

Under the circumstance of extremely limited productivity, every additional industry monopoly means that the common people are severely exploited. The greed of capital will cling to the common people like leeches, sucking their blood and flesh until they are drained dry...

It is necessary for a guild to dominate the cotton textile industry, and it must be controlled by him to direct capital abroad to Japan, Southeast Asia, and even the West to dump cotton cloth, rather than relying on the country and causing a huge impact on the already poor economy.

It would be easier for him to control the situation if he could get the children of noble families to work together on this matter.

Dugu Mou was a little envious. In fact, he was not well versed in business, but he could not directly ask Fang Jun for help. First, the two families were not that close, and second, he was worried about leaving everything to Fang Jun...

It's not that he is narrow-minded, nor is it that he is petty, but it's because of the Dugu family's principles in doing things.

The "Dugu" family, as its name suggests, is the backbone of the Guanlong clan and has deep entanglements with various parties, but it always keeps a distance and takes the initiative in terms of interests.

Whether in politics or economics, we will not give others any handle.

Otherwise, I'd rather not do it.

Cheng Chuliang nodded happily and picked up the teacup: "I'll use tea instead of wine to toast Erlang."

Fang Jun smiled, clinked glasses with him and took a sip.

Princess Qinghe, who had just left, came back and said, "The banquet is ready, Your Majesty will be here soon, let's go first."

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes kept scanning Cheng Chuliang and Fang Jun's faces. Only after confirming that the two had not had an argument or fallen out with each other did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Fang Jun today is no longer the brother-in-law who used to have a stubborn temper. He can even prevent Cheng Yaojin from returning to Chang'an. He is extremely powerful and unparalleled in the world. Even Li Ji has to give him some distance. If Cheng Chuliang turns against him because of Cheng Yaojin, he will be the only one who suffers.

Fang Jun immediately sensed Princess Qinghe's gaze and intention, and patted Cheng Chuliang's shoulder helplessly: "Go back and teach your Highness more. Things in the court often seem to be fighting and killing, but in private, people can still drink and chat happily. My opposition to your opinion does not mean that we have opposing positions and become enemies. Her royal education is not up to standard."

Princess Qinghe was dissatisfied: "If it was someone else, I wouldn't worry. Even if I offended him, what would happen? But you are a well-known fool. What if you lose your temper and bully me?"

"Hey!"

Fang Jun was very angry and gave Cheng Chuliang a look: "If you don't fight for three days, the roof will fall off. The ancients said it's true! Chuliang, take care of yourself."

Princess Qinghe raised her eyebrows and said angrily, "Can't you teach me a lesson? What's the point of being a man and showing off to your woman?"

Fang Jun retorted, "If he can't even handle his own woman, what else can you expect him to be capable of outside?"

"You, you, you are confusing right and wrong and making up stories!"

How could Princess Qinghe be a match for Fang Jun in bickering? After all, she had fought against many scholars in the court and was not inferior to the imperial censors.

Cheng Chuliang quickly hugged Princess Qinghe's shoulders and pushed her out, saying soothingly, "His mouth gave even Emperor Taizong a headache and he was at a loss what to do. Can you convince him? The more you talk, the angrier you'll get. Let's ignore him and go, let's go eat. After the banquet, go home quickly. Don't you like setting off fireworks the most? I've prepared a lot of them, in all kinds of colors."

The couple obviously have a good relationship.

Princess Qinghe was pushed and took two steps. Suddenly she stopped and looked back at Fang Jun: "Hey, I am your sister-in-law, do you recognize me?"

After she said that, Fang Jun understood: "If you don't have a smart mind, don't beat around the bush, lest you get yourself confused... You want fireworks? It's a small matter. When I go back, I'll have someone send all the stock in the store to Duke Lu's mansion, so that Your Highness can set off as many fireworks as he wants tonight."

Princess Qinghe snorted, turned around and walked forward, muttering, "Sly, sly, so annoying..."

Fang Jun was speechless, and turned around to complain to Dugu Mou: "She is clearly my wife's sister, but she acts like a sister-in-law."

Dugu Mou just laughed.

If she was really my sister-in-law, I'm afraid she wouldn't be spoiled like this...

Eh?
Thinking of this, I suddenly realized that I seemed to have not seen Princess Jinyang today.

On the way to the main hall, Dugu Mou asked, "Why haven't you seen His Highness Jinyang?"

Fang Jun casually said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had a seizure while sleeping today. The Queen was a little worried so she went to the East Palace to take care of him. His Royal Highness Jinyang had nothing to do so he went to accompany the Queen. He must have come here with the Crown Prince and the Queen by now, right?"

"I see."

Dugu Mou nodded.

Fang Jun was thinking that perhaps Li Shenfu and others had not decided to launch the attack during the New Year, and the "Shenjiying" composed of students from the academy led by Cen Changqian could not lurk in the East Palace for a long time. If they were discovered by others, this trick would no longer be useful.

However, to ensure everything is safe, we should wait until all sacrificial activities are over before withdrawing...

While he was thinking, he came to the main hall of Liangyi Palace. The hall was filled with candlelight and looked magnificent. All the royal family members gathered together, laughing and chatting in a harmonious atmosphere, showing the wealth and elegance of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

Soon, Li Chengqian, Empress Su, and Crown Prince Li Xiang walked out of the back hall hand in hand, followed by Li Jue and several concubines.

The banquet begins.

(End of this chapter)