144 The Imperial Court Will Definitely Value It Highly
After Yang Gongbing bought Bai Wutong’s blueprint with his own money, he immediately went to learn from Cui Shize how to publicize it the fastest.
Cui Shize had chatted a lot with Sheng Huaixuan recently about how to allow the emperor less concerned about businesses and develop the economy.
As they chatted, there realised they was probably only one way. The commoners could farm at home and earn money at the same time. Only when the source of this money was clear could the emperor feel at ease.
Yang Gongbing had obtained Bai Wutong’s sprayer design. It was good for farming.
An idea suddenly flashed across Cui Shize’s mind. He gathered all the carpenters and build an official workshop area to craft the sprayers. Then, he would sell the good-quality spray machines at a cheap price, so that he could also obtain additional income besides his official pay.
Compared to the products that the commoners sold privately that required paying a large amount of taxes, the official products would definitely be able to be at an affordable price.
Cui Shize was idealistic, but Yang Gongbing frowned and was worried that he would be reported for using his official authority to accumulate wealth. Moreover, there were not many people in Woqian Town, and the market size was too small. It would cost money to build a workshop area, and he had to gather the various equipment needed by the carpenters. If the carpenters’ homes were very far away, he had to build another house for them to rest and give the carpenters a stable salary. The capital cost was too huge, and Yang Gongbing felt that it was a little unfeasibe.
However, Cui Shize asked him to report to Qu Yuanxian. If Qu Yuanxian agreed, he would pay for the construction of the workplace. If the market in Woqian Town was not large enough, they would expand the business into the market in Pingyang County.
As the county head of Pingyang County, Qu Yuanxian would be willing to take responsibility for this matter if he knew about it.
Yang Gongbing had noted down the accounts clearly, proving that he did not implement his idea just because of his personal gain.
As for the money that was earned, it would become the income of the government and allow the workshop area to expand smoothly.
If Yang Gongbing used the money he earned to buy the recipe for cleaning paper from Madam Bai and build a cleaning paper workshop, he could let the use of cleaning paper reach thousands of households.
Cui Shize could already imagine the peace and prosperity of the entire state.
If the construction of the sprayer workshop could be implemented smoothly, other projects could also be carried out in the same way. Not only would it allow the people to earn money to improve their livelihood, it would not delay their farming and cause the higher-ups to blame them.
Cui Shize wanted to fund the spray machine workshop area for Woqian Town for free, which touched Yang Gongbing deeply. He no longer had any concerns. When he returned to Woqian Town, he immediately wrote an official document and mailed it along with Cui Shize’s letter and the blueprint and samples of the spray machine.
When Qu Yuanxian received the letter, he had just been made difficult by the new magistrate of Luochuan Prefecture, You Huaijie. He told Qu Yuanxian that before the end of this year, the income of Pingyang County must increase by more than 20%.
You Huaijie was someone that Si Huihua had specially promoted so that he could deal with Qu Yuanxian. If he did not do his job well, his “good deed” in Anning County would be exposed.
How could he not do as he was instructed?
Moreover, as a county head, he could not stand Qu Yuanxian, who was more capable than him in every aspect.
Now that he had become Qu Yuanxian’s immediate superior, if Qu Yuanxian did not show any true ability, he would be replaced and let his nephew take his position.
How was it possible for the income to increase by 20% during the period when Ling Kingdom had placed a restriction on businesses!
It would already be considered good if the income did not fall. Qu Yuanxian was willing to give up on this task. If You Huaijie had the guts, he could just fire him.
After receiving the items from Woqian Town and reading the letter, Qu Yuanxian immediately got the servants to fill the spray machine with water. Following the operating steps on the letter, he raised the spray rod and watered the plants in the garden. The water flowing within his control made his eyes brighter and brighter. After thinking for a moment, he made up his mind.
He was going to do it!
Once the workshop built in Woqian Town was successful, he would build a few spray machine workshops in Pingyang County and sell them to the Ling Kingdom.
The money earned from selling the sprayers would definitely increase the income of the entire Pingyang County!
Yang Gongbing quickly received Qu Yuanxian’s reply. Not only did he agree to open an official workshop area, he also took the initiative to allocate funds for Yang Gongbing to build a spray machine workshop.
This way, there was no need for Cui Shize to fund it.
Yang Gongbing told Cui Shize the good news. After some discussion, he chose to build the spray machine workshop area on the Jade Spiritual Mountain beside Youjia Village.
The Jade Spiritual Mountain was rich in wood material. With the permission of Yang Gongbing, the workshop could use it.
If one joined a workshop personally run by an official, they would be able to take on the enviable title of an employee under the officials.
Moreover, the salary was not low. After deducting the monthly profit from every sprayer, one could even get a commission.
The best thing was that the officials also provided accommodation and two meals a day. There was also a New Year’s gift annually.
If one was hired, it would prove that their carpentry skills were the best in the town and that the officials approved of them. How honorable would that be.
There was a notice that the sprayer workshop was recruiting workers. Anyone who knew some woodworking skills could sign up.
There were also many people who did not know woodworking. When they received the news, they even spent a lot of money to find a carpenter to tutor them overnight in order to get the job. After learning a little, they immediately joined the selection process.
Zhao Sheng had too much work on his hands. The thing that made him the most nervous was carving of the living word printing technique. However, he was the person with the most exquisite craftsmanship in the entire town. He was the first person to build a spray machine.
Yang Gongbing asked him to be an interviewer, so he had no choice but to put aside the carving of the living word printing technique for the time being.
The interview questions he set were also very simple. He gave them a component and asked everyone to make something for ten hours. After ten hours, he would inspect it. Those who qualified could enter the workshop and become official carpenters. He would then choose some apprentice workers from the remaining people.
Although it was just an inconspicuous spray rod, the design inside was very exquisite.
After five hours, only three people had completely met Zhao Sheng’s requirements. The rest of them had polished themselves very well, but their comprehension skills were still lacking. With a little more training, they could also become official workers.
Liu Niu felt that he was the most skilled carpenter in the town. He did not expect that not only did he not pass, he would even be surpassed by three unknown fellows. He even had to learn with the others and could still enter the workshop.
He felt insulted and was extremely dissatisfied with Zhao Sheng. However, because Yang Gongbing was sitting beside Zhao Sheng, he had no choice but to endure his anger.
When he got home, everyone surrounded him and asked, “Father, you’ve been chosen, right?”
Their father’s skills were so good that it was impossible not to chosen.
Liu Niu glanced at them and said unhappily, “I have been chosen. Once the workshop is built, I can go to work.”
Liu Niu’s woodworking skills were good. He usually took on some work from rich families and his salary was not less than that of Yang Gongbing.
However, Liu Niu’s son, Liu Chi, was a scholar and had become a private school teacher in town. While the two countries were at war, the imperial examination had been suspended for two years. He wanted to make a name for himself through the imperial examination, but he did not know how many more years it would take. He wanted to take the path recommended by Yang Gongbing and become an official.
The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel