Qing Yao

Chapter 343 Lord Zhao, who doesn't freeload

When the old master's decision was transformed into an imperial edict and rushed to Anqing, Zhao An, who was officially working in the provincial administration office, was working on a three-year plan for Anhui's economic development.

The economic base determines the superstructure. As a less affluent province, Anhui could only provide limited financial support to Zhao An. Therefore, it was necessary to rapidly increase Anhui's GDP in a campaign-style development approach within a short period of time.

In this way, not only can Zhao An be provided with stable financial support, but he can also achieve remarkable political achievements, consolidate his position, and pave the way for further promotion.

Developing the economy is essentially about developing industry and commerce. Unless chemical fertilizers are developed, there is limited room for improvement in agriculture. The mountainous terrain and small-scale farming economy in Anhui also mean that Zhao An cannot develop large-scale farming in Anhui. Therefore, he can only focus on industry and commerce.

Yesterday, Zhao An had Lao Song spread the word that he, as the provincial governor, was personally inspecting workshops and shops of all sizes in Anqing City under the pretext of understanding the people's conditions and revitalizing industry and commerce.

The news spread like wildfire throughout Anqing's officialdom, causing a huge stir.

The officials in the prefectural and county governments were so busy that they were running around like crazy, as if they had been stung by wasps. How could they not be busy?

The newly appointed provincial governor's inspection tour is a momentous event!

Moreover, this man also served as acting governor, making him the true number one official in Anhui.

In addition to making proper arrangements for the welcoming ceremony, it is also important to show the Governor-General the prosperous and harmonious state of Anqing, where politics and industry are in harmony.

Thus, under the urgent arrangement of Song Jiawen, the prefect of Anqing, a strange scene appeared on the streets of Anqing that ordinary people had never seen before—the yamen runners who used to lord it over everyone were now working overtime to clean the streets, almost as if they were painting the bricks and stones on the ground.

After receiving the notice from the government, the owners and managers of various workshops and shops summoned their employees overnight to explain the precautions, what could be said and what could not be said, and they were instructed on the rules one by one, so that no mistakes could be made.

The stray dogs that were usually everywhere in the city were mostly captured by the government, just to prevent them from disturbing the provincial governor.

Some special individuals were also given special attention by the government. They were either arrested and imprisoned in the yamen or people were sent to watch their doors, for fear that these troublemakers would block the governor's sedan chair and file false complaints.

The following day, the provincial governor's procession was grand and imposing, with banners and ceremonial guards leading the way, an eight-bearer sedan chair firmly in the center, a group of officials carefully accompanying him on both sides, and personal guards and yamen runners surrounding him from front to back, making him quite a sight to behold.

Sitting in the slightly swaying eight-bearer sedan chair, listening to the rhythmic shouts of "Silence!" and "Avoidance!" outside, Zhao An felt no pride whatsoever; on the contrary, he was quite dissatisfied.

His original intention was to travel light and keep things simple, without making a big fuss. He just wanted to bring a few staff members to take a look around and get a basic understanding of the situation.

Unexpectedly, Old Song said that this was the first time the Provincial Governor had left his post to inspect the government, and it was necessary to make a grand display to show his authority and also to warn the two who had violated the unspoken rules of officialdom.

Lifting the curtain of the sedan chair, one sees the ground spotless and can't help but smile knowingly. Formalism is truly something that applies to all times and places.

In a daze, I had a strange illusion, as if I had returned to that time and space, and was accompanying the leader on a carefully planned "grassroots research".

Anqing's most famous industry is textiles, with the leading sector being the state-run textile bureau under the jurisdiction of Anqing Prefecture. Unlike the textile bureaus in Jiangning, Suzhou, and Hangzhou, which were under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Department, this state-run textile bureau was a "side business" of the local government, and its head was only an eighth-rank official.

Chen, the head of the weaving bureau, had received a notice from the government office long ago. Before dawn, he led all the bureau's clerks and foremen to wait at the gate with their hands at their sides and bowing. They were all as nervous as scholars who were about to take the provincial examination.

Anqing Prefect Song Jiawen, along with officials including the attached Magistrate of Huaining County, arrived early to await the arrival of the Provincial Governor. During the wait, Prefect Song personally inspected the office and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there were no problems.

As the sedan chair came to a stop, Zhao An straightened his clothes inside and stepped out with a warm smile.

"See my lord!"

Everyone bowed in unison, their voices trembling slightly.

"No need to be polite, just get up."

Zhao An spoke gently and gave Prefect Song a light hand to help him up. "I'm just here for a casual look around today. Everyone, please continue with what you were doing and don't be shy."

That's what they say, but who dares to be unrestrained?
Inside, there were already guards every three steps and sentries every five steps, and the ground was so clean you could see your reflection.

The looms were all running with a "whoosh," and the female workers all had their heads down and their fingers flying, their movements as synchronized as if they were one person.

No need to ask, it was rehearsed long ago.

Accompanied by officials such as Song Jiawen, Zhao An walked slowly among the rows of looms with his hands behind his back. Despite knowing nothing about textiles, he would touch this one and pat that one, looking like he knew everything.

This made Manager Chen of the Textile Bureau extremely nervous. If it weren't for Prefect Song constantly giving him meaningful glances, he probably would have forgotten to introduce himself.

As Zhao An looked around and Manager Chen explained things, they unknowingly toured the entire weaving bureau workshop.

In the last "workshop," Zhao An suddenly slowed his pace, stopped beside a pretty young female worker with an approachable smile, and asked with a smile, "Young lady, how much cloth can you weave in a day? How many hours do you work a day? Are you tired?"

"..."

Although the young female worker had been told by her supervisor that an important person was coming today, she never expected that this important person would ask her questions. She was so nervous that her hand trembled and she almost dropped the shuttle.

Seeing this, Prefect Song quickly stepped forward and smiled at the female worker, saying, "This is Lord Zhao from the province. Don't be afraid or nervous. Just answer whatever Lord Zhao asks you."

"Xiao Lian, the master is asking you a question, speak up."

Manager Chen hurriedly winked at the female workers.

Xiao Lian then lowered her head and replied, "Replying to Your Excellency, thanks to His Majesty's good fortune and Your Excellency's care, I can weave more than a zhang a day. The work is not tiring; I only weave for five or six hours a day, which is quite easy."

Well?
Zhao An nodded slightly, knowing that the female workers in the weaving bureau must have received the standard answers beforehand.

I don't mind.

Working ten to twelve hours a day would be common in later generations, let alone in this day and age.

He glanced at the female worker who didn't even dare to lift her head, and then asked with concern, "So how do you manage to eat? Does the bureau provide meals for you? Are you able to get enough to eat?"

"Yes, sir. There's a canteen in the bureau, with two meals a day, enough to fill you up."

Xiao Lian's voice was a little more steady, but she was still very nervous, her delicate white hands clutching the hem of her clothes, unsure of what to do.

Zhao An smiled and said, "How much do you earn per month? Are you paid on time and in full? Has the bureau withheld any of your wages? Speak boldly, don't be afraid, I'll stand up for you."

"Reporting to you, sir, I earn seven hundred coins a month, and my wages are always paid on time without any deductions." Xiao Lian answered much more fluently this time.

If we calculate based on the official price of one tael of silver being equivalent to one thousand cash, then seven hundred cash would be equivalent to seven qian of silver, which would amount to more than eight taels of silver in a year.

The exchange rate varies in different regions, but generally one tael of silver can be exchanged for at least eight hundred copper coins.

This wage is definitely higher than the three or four ounces a farmer earns in a year. If both husband and wife work, the family can easily make ends meet.

This is why industry can absorb a large number of farmers.

Whether the female worker was telling the truth or not was not important. Zhao Anlai's main purpose was to understand the situation. Sui smiled and nodded to Manager Chen, saying, "You are quite capable in managing things. The weaving bureau is doing a good job."

Upon hearing this, Steward Chen immediately bowed and said, "It is all thanks to His Majesty's grace and your excellent guidance, sir!"

Typical official language.

When did Zhao An, a newly appointed provincial governor, ever instruct you?

Picking up a piece of newly woven brocade from the side, Zhao An carefully touched the texture and exclaimed, "The quality of this brocade is indeed excellent; it's clear you put a lot of effort into it."

Just as Steward Chen was about to say a few words of modesty, Zhao An changed the subject: "However..." He pointed to the traditional auspicious cloud pattern on the brocade, "I have seen many similar patterns in other places. I think your weaving bureau can't always stick to the old patterns. You should send more people out to see what's latest in Suzhou and Hangzhou, what patterns wealthy families like, and then you can refer to them when you come back!"

Remember, we must go out and bring in resources, revitalize the market, and lead the trend. We cannot work behind closed doors; we must innovate and not remain stagnant. Otherwise, Anqing's brocades will never be able to compete with those of Suzhou and Hangzhou.

"Going out? Bringing in?"

Manager Chen was completely bewildered. Could such a trick be changed so easily?

But he dared not refute, and could only nod and bow repeatedly, saying, "Your teachings are right! This humble servant will certainly remember your instructions and make them learn more from others, and innovate more!"

Seeing Manager Chen's bewildered expression, Zhao An found it amusing, but maintained a serious demeanor: "The Textile Bureau is the leading force in Anqing's textile industry. As a leader, it must play a leading role, not only developing itself but also driving the upstream and downstream industries to form a cluster effect!"

"clustering effect?"

This term was like a foreign language, leaving Prefect Song and his entourage completely baffled.

"For example, brocade weaving requires high-quality raw silk, right? Could we promote mulberry tree planting around Anqing? We need dyes, right? Could we support local dye workshops? Looms need repair when they break down, right? Could we train professional loom repair craftsmen? ... By developing these related industries, a powerful industrial cluster can be formed around our weaving bureau. This will reduce costs, enhance competitiveness, and truly make Anqing's brocade industry bigger and stronger!"

After gesturing with his hand, Zhao An, regardless of whether the others understood or not, waved his hand and said, "My requirement for you is not only to make Anqing's brocade a famous product, but also to enter the inner court like the three textile factories of Jiangnan, making it a good product known throughout our Qing Dynasty and even to overseas vassal states and foreigners! Let them all come and buy it, fight over it, and that's how we can make big money!"

The cluster effect was a product development strategy Zhao An employed in his previous life. The principle is actually quite simple: by using a famous brand to drive the upstream and downstream industries to form a cluster force, thereby increasing product prices, reducing product costs, expanding market share, bringing income to local people, and also providing a large amount of tax revenue to the region.

The officials present all looked enlightened upon hearing this. Prefect Song even cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency is truly farsighted and your words are pearls of wisdom. How could I have been so dull as to not know how to do it this way! It's like a dream come true! I will certainly follow Your Excellency's instructions and make the Textile Bureau bigger and stronger, so as not to fail Your Excellency's guidance today!"

"Okay! But I hope you'll keep your word!"

Zhao An thought to himself, "If I don't give you a concrete plan later, you'll never be able to achieve the cluster effect." On the surface, however, he was very impressed. After finishing his inspection of the Weaving Bureau, Zhao An rushed to the largest stationery and sports goods store in the city.

The shop owner nervously introduced him to Huizhou ink from Shexian County, Xuan paper from Jingxian County, and Longwei inkstone from Wuyuan County.

Zhao An listened intently, then casually picked up an exquisitely carved inkstick, smelled it, and said, "Good ink, and good craftsmanship too!"

Then he started giving advice like an expert.

"However, Mr. Zhang, you can't just be satisfied with selling these things from other places. You can also try packaging them. For example, can we engrave our Anqing logo on these ink sticks? Can we specially cut and package this Xuan paper to create our own brand? We should make good use of Anqing's status as the provincial capital to gather and distribute fine products from all over the country and create our own famous products!"

In a tea shop filled with the rich aroma of tea, Zhao An savored a cup of local Lu'an Melon Seed tea, then praised it highly: "Excellent tea! The aroma is so refined! But our tea can't just wait for tea merchants to come and buy it; we need to actively reach out. The packaging must be exquisite, the quality control strict, and the story told well. For example, this is called 'tribute tip,' that is called 'pre-rain tea,' we need to differentiate between grades, each with its own price. Originally, a pound sold for two hundred coins, but after grading, a pound can sell for five hundred coins..."

At the tea shop, Zhao An emphasized three key elements: packaging, marketing, and storytelling.

As for how much of the essence the tea merchants can grasp, and whether they can achieve what he envisions, that depends on their fate.

After all, tea is a real rip-off.

At the end of the day's inspection, the merchants were filled with unease. In the past, when officials came down to visit, they either tried to take advantage of the situation or put on airs. It was truly an anomaly that Lord Zhao was so approachable, asked professional questions, and even offered suggestions for development.

But then the merchants in Anqing City started beating drums, because the government had notified them to attend a meeting at the Provincial Treasury the next day.

It was supposed to be a business and industry symposium.

Almost all businessmen believed this was a trap!

Why?

Anhui had just suffered a major disaster and religious unrest, and the government was extremely poor. The newly arrived provincial governor needed money to get things done, but the government had no money. If he didn't ask the merchants for money, who else could he ask?

Sigh, what can we do?
It's better to lose money than to suffer a terrible loss.

Anyway, voluntary donations are nothing new, they've been commonplace for a long time. I just don't know how big the appetite of this new Lord Zhao is.

The following day, the second hall of the Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office was crowded with people, probably two or three hundred.

The list was developed jointly by Lao Song and Song Jiawen, the prefect of Anqing.

Almost all the well-known merchants and workshop owners in Anqing City were present. They were all dressed in the latest silk clothes prepared for the New Year, but they were all holding their breath and their faces were devoid of joy. They were as nervous as if they were waiting for a trial.

The whispers among them were all about how much money would be needed to satisfy the new governor's appetite.

Just as everyone was lost in thought, Zhao An arrived—wearing the robes of a second-rank official, his single-eyed peacock feather on his hat trembling slightly with every step he took—with a smile as warm as a spring breeze!
The first impression Zhao An had of the merchants and workshop owners present was that he was approachable and unpretentious.

Zhao An walked to the chair set up in front of the main seat but did not sit down immediately. Instead, he scanned the room, taking in all the expressions on everyone's faces before laughing and cupping his hands to the crowd, saying, "There's no need for you all to be so nervous. I invited you here today not to freeload or to impose corvée labor, but to discuss with you all how to make money together."

(End of this chapter)