This is the cotton armor workshop jointly managed by the Ministry of Armaments and the Ministry of Works, supervised by the Shadow Guard.
Liang Xiao arrived at the site, his eyes fixed on the scene, a smile on his face.
This was one of the rooms. On the ground lay four large wooden boards, each twenty zhang long, joined together. Beneath the boards were twenty pairs of wheels, resembling oversized skateboards.
On either side of the boards, hundreds of workers operated in shifts, using the rolling of the boards to collect materials in sequence.
The first board was laid with the first layer of cotton clothing after rough processing. Workers along the path collected it, stitched a layer of steel plates, and then turned it over onto the second wooden board.
Workers stationed beside the second wooden board collected the crudely made cotton armor from here, stitched another layer of cotton clothing, forming the rough cotton armor. Upon completion, they turned and placed the armor onto the third wooden board.
Workers by the third wooden board removed these secondarily processed cotton armors and adjusted their size further.
Workers at the fourth wooden board performed further rough processing, after which porters would transport them to another workshop for fine finishing...
Each man performing his duty, everything in perfect order!
And this was merely a microcosm of the workshop.
"How did you come up with this method of regulation? Without mentioning a severalfold increase in efficiency, it has at least greatly improved things, reducing much redundant travel and processes! This is a measure that absolutely benefits the country and the people. Civilian workshops can completely emulate it! Most importantly, your concept of improving efficiency!" Zhang Yang praised without end, his face alight with excitement.
Liang Xiao explained, "Let's call it a 'production line' for now, but this is not a true production line. A true production line will have to wait for the advent of steam engines or more advanced machinery. When that time comes, we can also experiment with various 'machine tools'."
"Production line? Machine tool..." Zhang Yang murmured to himself, and after a moment, exclaimed, "I eagerly await what kind of improvements will be made to the production line once steam engines are put into operation! I believe in your wisdom!"
Liang Xiao mused.
A production line in the true sense of the word might not emerge until after the Second Industrial Revolution...
The immediate priority was still to improve the efficiency of the workshops in Da Qian, at least the official ones.
Cotton armor was not a necessity for all soldiers, but it helped in winter and winter combat. As long as troops were careful to avoid fire attacks during mass engagements, it would be difficult to effectively counter cotton armor.
However, Zhang Yang was right; the significance of the production line was far more profound.
Liang Xiao was gratified. At least Zhang Yang could grudgingly accept and absorb his scientific ideas, and could be taught gradually.
The Arabic numerals and mathematical symbols, along with the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division algorithms he promoted, had provided Zhang Yang with an initial enlightenment.
But this way, Zhang Yang would likely choose to cling tightly to the Ministry of Works in the future, tinkering with these new things that made him feel as if he were oscillating between life and death every day, making it unlikely for him to contend for the position of Prime Minister.
Of course, this fellow didn't care what official post he held.
After understanding the function of the initial production line, Xiao Qing, both surprised and delighted, immediately issued an order to the Ministry of Works to promote this concept nationwide, inspiring civilian workshops to pool their wisdom and seek continuous improvement.
The next day, Huang Xing, the Minister of Works, also came to visit Liang Xiao.
"Marquis An, this steam engine burning coal, its efficiency is much higher than human labor, but it always emits black smoke. I feel it is somewhat inauspicious..."
Liang Xiao replied, "This is a form of pollution. Da Qian needs to plant more trees, designate industrial zones, and avoid having the populace live in industrial zones where large numbers of steam engines are located. That should suffice. Minister Huang, the state will pay attention to these effects."
He did not want the capital of Da Qian to become another "Fog City."
Huang Xing suddenly understood and said joyfully, "If steam engines can be put into operation in the future, they should be located in sparsely populated areas outside the capital, establishing industrial zones as Marquis An described!"
The concept of industrial zones was also preliminarily decided.
In the Western Palace Villa, Xiao Qing was even happier. She could no longer contain herself, and sitting in Liang Xiao's arms, she praised him profusely, forgetting that her sisters were around.
Liang Xiao simply smiled and conversed with his wife and children.
In reality, he was worried that the Industrial Revolution might bring another negative impact, such as the burgeoning development of capitalism, which would inevitably conflict with the existing imperial power.
Regardless, he had to protect Xiao Qing and their children well. She had brought about change to this country, and there was no reason for her to be sent to the guillotine.
The threat from the Tianri Dynasty was increasing day by day. Da Qian had endured centuries of internal strife and consumption. Time no longer allowed it to stand still; social productivity must be continuously enhanced.
After the news of the production line spread, even though the citizens of the capital had become accustomed to the changes brought about by Liang Xiao, the streets and alleys were still filled with sounds of praise.
Xiao Qing had gone to the Imperial Study to handle state affairs. Liang Xiao embraced Luo Qingxue, saying with concern, "Wife, you're truly working too hard."
His businesses were managed by Luo Qingxue, ensuring everything was in order. Luo Qingxue's workload was only slightly less burdensome than Xiao Qing's.
After careful calculation of the financial reports from various regions, the minimum confirmed value of his personal assets had reached one hundred and thirty million taels of silver!
The Dingguo Marquis Manor, with its mountains of gold and silver, did not possess such astonishing wealth.
Besides Liang Xiao and Gongsun Ye, Da Qian could not find a third individual whose assets reached the level of ten million taels of silver. The wealth of those aristocratic families was fundamentally family assets, and their hearts no longer belonged to Da Qian.
"I heard from Shuang'er that husband plans to widely distribute money and grain in the future, build bridges and repair roads, and benefit the common people," Luo Qingxue said with a pleased hum.
"One cannot be reluctant to spend money. Convenience for others is convenience for oneself. If the common people live well, they can continue to look after our family's businesses," Liang Xiao consoled.
Luo Qingxue nodded repeatedly, "This is a good thing! Husband has set a good example. Perhaps in the future, more wealthy individuals will follow suit. If the rich can treat the poor kindly, instead of being avaricious and ruthless, and if everyone respects each other, the common people will not harbor resentment towards the wealthy. I can roughly understand husband's and the Great Liang Emperor Shi Zong's thoughts: if there is universal harmony, there will not be so many worries."
Great Liang Emperor Shi Zong, Emperor Wu, was the late Mu Cheng.
Liang Xiao nodded with satisfaction, but in his heart, he could not help but feel a sense of bewilderment.
How easy was it to achieve that?
The wealth gap was a scar capable of tearing a society apart. It was far from enough for the wealthy to merely engage in charity. Some wealthy individuals even established foundations in the name of charity to evade taxes, which defiled the sanctity of charity.
To resolve the fundamental contradiction, perhaps in addition to the efforts of those in power, continuous improvement of productivity was necessary, ensuring that everyone could satisfy higher pursuits and no longer covet power and wealth. Without thousands or hundreds of years of steady development, this was simply impossible...
But he could not give up because of this and betray the expectations of his father and Mu Cheng. He could only do his utmost in the current era.
More and more trebuchets were being sent to the Western border and Jiangnan...
The first batch of gold finally arrived in Yanzhou, totaling ten million taels, valued at over one hundred million taels of silver!
Under the escort of two thousand Shadow Guards and five thousand Imperial Guards, the gold was sent to the capital and placed in Xiao Qing's private treasury to cover deficits.
The current bureaucratic system of Da Qian was almost ironclad, united against external threats, and fiercely loyal to Xiao Qing, who had opened up territories and held the Nine Cauldrons and the Imperial Seal. Therefore, they did not seize this opportunity to create fictitious expenses to make Xiao Qing pay.
They believed that the Holy Emperor of Da Qian would spend this gold wisely, just as their Emperor had secretly developed the world-renowned armaments.
At the same time, the Jade Gate Pass in Da Qian's western border was once again facing an assault by the infantry of the Kushan Dynasty.