Chapter 1245 – The Storm Approaches (Part Six)
Besides these four points, Zhang Ping had one thing he did not dare to mention, fearing he would offend Jiang Pengji.
Right now, the lands being reclaimed were all used to grow edible crops; how could they switch to something like a hydraulic spinning machine?
In chaotic times, manpower and land are the most important.
Zhang Ping sensed that his lord was planning something significant, gradually diminishing the importance of “manpower” and “land.” However, reform is not an overnight effort, and it could easily impact the common people. Zhang Ping certainly did not want his lord to recklessly push forward, leading to a grand ambition collapsing.
Which reformer ever had a good ending?
After calmly expressing his thoughts, Zhang Ping awaited Jiang Pengji’s decision.
She said, “Xi Heng’s worries are also reasonable.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the audience in the live stream began to protest.
No matter how useful the hydraulic spinning machine was, it held monumental significance.
【CrazyPigCrazy】: OMG, stream host, don’t let Zhang Ping sway you. Although he makes a lot of sense, I can tell you this thing’s significance is definitely beyond that; future history might even view it as the dawn of the industrial revolution!
【NightDanceFireSpirit】: While Zhang Ping’s argument isn’t wrong and he’s considering the current social context, the host isn’t a person of this era—she hails from the future and should know the importance of technology even more. If Zhang Ping’s words could dissuade her, she wouldn’t have supported Miss Hui Jun in this endeavor in the first place. Didn’t you all forget about Miss Wan Xiuer’s cotton project? This is a combo move!
With the reminder from the big shots in the stream, the audience finally remembered Wan Xiuer’s cotton endeavors.
One hydraulic spinning machine might not seem like much, but if cotton takes off, this combo will definitely leave people stunned.
If cotton could be cultivated over several generations and yield even two to three times the standard of their era, it would impact this ancient timeline like an earthquake. With a population of 1.4 billion in Huaguo and a land area similar to the five nations of this era, but the five nations only having less than a hundred million people due to years of conflict, there’s still so much potential to explore with so few people and so much land!
Moreover, they knew that cotton requires much less from the soil, unlike the delicate rice and wheat.
Food takes up the most fertile land, while cotton can be grown elsewhere—these two things aren’t in conflict!
The audience spoke with emotion and reason, wishing they could leap through the screen, crossing the dimensional barrier to speak with Jiang Pengji directly.
Not wanting to intimidate the idle viewers anymore, Jiang Pengji simply stated, “Although Xi Heng’s concerns are valid, these challenges are not without solutions. Xi Heng, my current goal is to ensure that all common people can be warm in their clothes and full in their stomachs. This thing has great potential.”
Zhang Ping watched Jiang Pengji, and though he usually struggled to recognize faces, he suddenly understood what Wei Ci had once said.
Wei Ci remarked that when the lord spoke of serious matters, her eyes would sparkle, as if she could pierce through time to see the future.
At first, Zhang Ping found Wei Ci’s words too poetic, but now he felt it profoundly.
Indeed, her eyes shone brightly!
Zhang Ping was dazzled, while Bai Yuexia, a fangirl by his side, could not help but be even more captivated.
“What is the lord planning?”
“There’s no progress yet, but it’ll come soon. By the way, the spinning machine here needs a bit more modification; otherwise, it might not be enough,” Jiang Pengji teased. “Surely, this move will disrupt the livelihoods of some common people, but it benefits the majority. For those whose interests will be affected, I will find ways to compensate, minimizing their losses and ensuring their livelihoods aren’t impacted. If I hesitate due to the interests of a few and abandon the happiness of the majority, then I am not a qualified leader.”
Zhang Ping nodded in agreement, while Bai Yuexia skillfully caught the dual meaning in the lord’s last sentence.
For the benefit of the majority, she could unflinchingly sacrifice the interests of a small number?
But what if that small number weren’t common people, but noble elites instead?
Recalling her views on the aristocracy, commoners, and the common people, this leader truly was one of a kind.
Bai Yuexia secretly glanced at Jiang Pengji’s profile, feeling that this person towered over all men in the world, possessing a formidable and indomitable spirit.
Fangirl Bai Yuexia and Hui Jun were utterly enraptured by her.
Until—
Bai Yuexia asked, “The lord says this spinning machine needs further modifications?”
Jiang Pengji replied, “Of course it needs to be improved.”
Inquiring about the professional aspects, Bai Yuexia naturally wanted to clarify.
“Where does it need modification?”
“A spinning machine is complicated to make, but the spindle is single; why not increase the number of spindles?” Jiang Pengji said, “Instead of having ten looms each with one spindle, why not put ten spindles on one machine? That way, isn’t the output multiplied?”
With just that simple sentence, the two Mo family disciples present were left utterly confused.
What’s this?
The lord speaks, and the subordinates are left scrambling?
Putting ten spindles on one machine and having them work simultaneously—could that even happen?
Besides the spinning machine, Jiang Pengji also wanted them to improve the looms.
Currently, the loom efficiency was incredibly low, mainly using hands, but why not modify it to allow both hands and feet to work?
One question after another bombarded them, leaving Zhang Ping and Bai Yuexia’s heads spinning, wishing their parents had blessed them with two more brains.
The critical issue was that they couldn’t refute her. Though her questions sounded somewhat naive and irrational, each was like an all-powerful key, instantly unlocking the iron shackles confining their thinking, providing fresh avenues for research.
However, another problem emerged—
What significance did their tinkering with spinning machines and looms hold?
Where would all the yarn and cloth needed for weaving come from?
As it turns out, there was indeed a source!
Another piece of good news followed closely.
The newlywed Feng Zhen stroked his chin, realizing his new wife was emulating Leizu in creating something big.
Leizu invented silk farming, while Wan Xiuer was planting cotton.
Before getting married, Wan Xiuer had specifically brought people back to her ancestral home to work on something there.
These matters were not hidden from Feng Zhen, so he knew a bit about it.
But he never imagined his wife would quietly align with their lord, working on a big project without him even knowing!
“Just when you were dozing off, Zi Shi, your wife is far more capable than you.”
Feng Zhen was utterly baffled, secretly rubbing his nose.
At what now? He was definitely more skilled than his wife.
Yet he couldn’t speak recklessly in front of the lord, so he obediently played the supporting role for Wan Xiuer.
Jiang Pengji looked at the wealth of information Wan Xiuer had brought, all detailed and comprehensive, and smiled as she teased, “With this effort, it may not be comparable to Leizu, but obtaining the title of ‘Little Leizu’ is certainly well within reach. If this succeeds, I will certainly remember your great contributions—”
Wan Xiuer’s heart fluttered with joy.
With two pieces of good news arriving back to back, Jiang Pengji was in high spirits, until some unfortunate soul came along to disturb her peace.
Days later, a piece of extremely bad news reached her ears.
