Chapter 18

"Having heard that you, sir, not only enforce the law strictly but also have a deep understanding of house and bridge construction, I believe you can discern the structure depicted in this diagram..."

Ye Yu gave Liu Yuanshan the blueprint, which was actually the textile and weaving machines later researched by Huang Daopo, but Ye Yu had advanced this technology and equipment by nearly a century.

"Where did this come from?" Liu Yuanshan put the blueprint back on the table and looked at Ye Yu with a surprised expression.

Ye Yu tapped his head with his index finger and then said solemnly, "A commoner drew it alone!"

"You drew it alone!?" Liu Yuanshan was even more shocked by Ye Yu's actions.

"This is just a preliminary idea, and there is more that I cannot disclose. However, with just this, if it forms a production line and is gradually implemented nationwide, achieving the goal I mentioned earlier should only be a matter of time... What do you think, Sir Liu?"

Liu Yuanshan nodded solemnly and then said, "If we follow the blueprint and the calculations you annotated, it would indeed bring about a tremendous change within five years. However..."

"However, Sir Liu, you still doubt whether the machines I drew can truly function as I described?"

Seeing that Ye Yu had read his mind, Liu Yuanshan did not say much more, but he nodded solemnly.

Ye Yu bowed and resumed his previous humble demeanor: "That is precisely why I need an opportunity to experiment!

"Perhaps when you see this blueprint, your first thought is to present it to the court and have it promoted nationwide with the court's power... But have you considered two things?"

"Oh? What two things?" Liu Yuanshan's expression became solemn as he realized that this young man was not as simple as the rumors suggested, and he had immediately seen through his thoughts.

"First, if you present this blueprint to the court without testing it, whether it reaches the court and is taken seriously is one thing, but even if it does, if the machine cannot operate, both you and I will be accused of deceiving the emperor. At that time, my life would be a small matter, but Sir Liu might not be spared from Lu Kun's machinations..."

"Hmph! This old man is dedicated to the people; why would I fear him?"

Seeing Liu Yuanshan frown and glare, Ye Yu continued with a smile, "Secondly, the raw materials for the textile industry all come from cotton spun by the people. If this machine is put into operation, it will temporarily lower the price of cloth, but the side effects will be severe.

"For example, the upper-class officials will seize land and plant cotton, leading to a lack of people to cultivate the land. This will result in farmers losing their land and laborers losing their jobs, and many people who rely on silk and spinning will fall into dire straits! Have you considered this, Sir?"

Ye Yu's words were like a thunderclap in Liu Yuanshan's ears. He stared at the calm Ye Yu, his face filled with shock. He had not expected this young man to think so deeply.

He was not unaware of the consequences, but he had been so excited by the machines on Ye Yu's blueprint that he had forgotten himself. Calming down, Liu Yuanshan quietly reflected on Ye Yu's words and had to admit that Ye Yu's concerns were well-founded.

As Ye Yu said, even if the court adopted this technology, it would likely be controlled by the nobility and officials, who would monopolize the resources needed to operate the machines.

This would lead to the continuous seizure of land and the concentration of cotton, which would not benefit the people but rather make their lives even harder.

"What you say is reasonable, but the court does not necessarily have to promote it nationwide. It could be tested in a county or a state. In that case, the severe consequences you mentioned might not occur!"

Although Liu Yuanshan had already agreed with Ye Yu's arguments, he was still reluctant to admit it.

Hearing this, Ye Yu said solemnly, "Sir Liu, what you say is also reasonable. May I ask, in the face of such huge profits, can the court really control the royal relatives and noble families? If it cannot, it would be better to let this beneficial technology develop in the private sector. This is no different from testing it in a county or a state.

"Prosperous people make a strong country. As long as it is not a fundamental industry like salt or iron, why can't the private sector influence the court? Why must everything be controlled by the court? This will only make the rich richer and the poor poorer, which is not a sustainable strategy..."

"This..." At this moment, Liu Yuanshan hesitated. Although he felt that Ye Yu's arguments had some flaws, he did not know how to refute them.

After a long pause, Liu Yuanshan looked at Ye Yu and asked with a deep meaning, "Are you asking me to support you in gradually promoting this technology in the private sector?"

"Exactly!" Seeing that Liu Yuanshan had guessed his intention, Ye Yu did not want to beat around the bush.

But Liu Yuanshan, hearing Ye Yu's answer, lightly tapped the table and coldly laughed, "I am just a minor county official. How can I help you?

"Moreover, with this blueprint in hand, if you rise to wealth and power, how can you guarantee the promises you made? You might become just another greedy merchant, and the price of cloth might rise instead of fall, causing great harm!"

Ye Yu knew that Liu Yuanshan was testing him, so he bowed and said solemnly, "Sir Liu, there is no need to be modest. Since I have come here with honesty, I am prepared to be honest!"

He then took out a document from his sleeve and placed it on the table, pushing it towards Liu Yuanshan: "I know that merchants are driven by profit and are not always reliable, so I will not make empty vows. This is a document, and I have already signed it. In five years, if I succeed, I will lower the price of cloth to fifteen coins. If I fail, Sir Liu can make this document public, and I will forfeit all my wealth to the state!"

Liu Yuanshan was shocked as he took the document and opened it, finding it exactly as Ye Yu had said. At that moment, his eyes trembled slightly, and his gaze towards Ye Yu became more complex.

"This is our agreement and my promise! Sir Liu, can you now be at ease?"

"Good! I hope you do not forget your words today and do not disappoint me! Regarding your dyeing workshop, I have been paying attention. In terms of fabric quality, you are far better than the Pan family's decades-old brand! It seems you lack an opportunity. Speak! What do you need from me?"

Through these days of observation, although they had only met twice, Liu Yuanshan's impression of Ye Yu had gradually changed. Today's conversation had given him a new understanding of this young man's foresight.

With the technology to revolutionize the Song Dynasty's textile industry, Ye Yu could still think so deeply and calmly, which made even the middle-aged county official feel ashamed.

Although Liu Yuanshan knew that Ye Yu had his own interests, he admired his courage to make such a commitment and risk his future.

As Liu Yuanshan had thought, Ye Yu was indeed concerned about the potential negative impact on the country and the people, but he also had his own interests.

He wanted to contribute all his knowledge to this era, but he knew it was not feasible in this environment. He did not want his contributions to become another tool for exploiting the people.

If possible, he would rather build the blueprint he envisioned himself.

Currently, the cloth from his dyeing workshop was not widely recognized by the people, mainly because it was a new product and could not compete with the Pan family's decades-old brand.

Therefore, he believed that to rise quickly, he needed the support of the government. However, since he was a private workshop and not a government-affiliated one, he needed someone to bridge the gap.

Today, Ye Yu had specifically invited Liu Yuanshan, having done his homework. He had learned from County Magistrate Lu Kun that Liu Yuanshan's nephew, Liu Quan, was the vice-magistrate of Chuzhou.

This was why Ye Yu had chosen Liu Yuanshan after careful consideration.

The position of vice-magistrate, although below the county magistrate, was responsible for finance, grain, land, water conservancy, and litigation, and had the authority to supervise the county officials.

Therefore, Ye Yu believed that with the government's recognition and promotion, the problem could be fundamentally solved.

Initially, Ye Yu was worried that his reasons would not convince Liu Yuanshan, but to his surprise, Liu Yuanshan eventually agreed to his request.

In fact, Ye Yu was not very familiar with the economic development of the Southern Song Dynasty. By this period, the Song Dynasty was gradually entering the early stages of capitalism. The Song Dynasty was the only dynasty in ancient China that did not implement a policy of suppressing commerce for a long time.

Because of this, the favorable and open treatment of merchants was unparalleled in any other dynasty. Private enterprises had already flourished, so for Liu Yuanshan, Ye Yu's proposal was acceptable.

After that, the two chatted about some trivial matters. Through the conversation, Ye Yu discovered that the usually stern Liu Yuanshan was actually quite talkative.

When Liu Yuanshan learned that Ye Yu's flattery at Lu Kun's birthday banquet had a hidden agenda, he was both angry at Lu Zhen's frivolous behavior and greatly impressed by Ye Yu's clever and subtle criticism.

From that moment on, the last bit of suspicion in Liu Yuanshan's heart finally disappeared.

...

By the time they left Tianxiang Wine House, it was already evening, and the heart that had been troubled for over a month finally relaxed.

"Xiaotian, let's take a walk by the river!"

Feeling much better, Ye Yu did not go back directly but thought of going outside the city to clear his mind.

Gu Xiaotian, who was usually quiet, simply nodded and pushed the wheelchair out of the city.

Qingliu County was named for its elegance because there was a small river two miles outside the city. The river, called Qingliu River, nourished the people of Qingliu County.

In late autumn, the cold wind from the riverbank made people feel a chill. Ye Yu liked this environment; the cold wind brought him a moment of peace.

"Master, someone is about to jump into the river..." Just as Ye Yu was enjoying the moment of tranquility, Gu Xiaotian's words startled him.