After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

"The reason Minister Fu wants to devise a finer thread spindle is that silk can be made thinner, and some precious silk and brocade require extremely thin thread, which the general spindle cannot satisfy. But as I see it, there are very few people in the world who can use this spinning machine. Our Ministry of Industry should make it, but there is no need to promote it among the populace."

Zhao Hanzhang understood, "The fine thread spindle is sold to a targeted audience, and users are extremely few."

The craftsman nodded.

Fu Tinghan was about to speak but stopped.

Zhao Hanzhang knew what he wanted to say.

Currently, the areas for raising silkworms are mainly concentrated around Yu State, Jingzhou, and the Shu region, but in later generations, the well-known areas for raising silkworms are Jiangnan.

However, the current economic and technological development of Jiangnan is far behind that of the Central Plains, and their silk production is not high. Exquisite, nationally recognized silkwork is even rarer.

But now there are radio stations, and roads will be built, facilitating more frequent exchanges between the north and south in the future. Coupled with the completion of docks in Qingzhou and Guangzhou, domestic fabrics will be continuously sold.

Jiangnan will certainly become a regional economic center.

Given how expensive a spinning machine is, he wants to make it in one step, considering the future, so that people don’t have to spend money again due to upgrades.

Zhao Hanzhang pondered for a moment and asked, "Have you calculated the lifespan of a dual-function spindle?"

Fu Tinghan: "It’s reduced by one-third compared to the spindle we’re currently using."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Then let’s follow the master craftsmen’s advice, and initially launch two types of spinning machines, focusing on promoting the coarse thread spindle spinning machine."

Fu Tinghan was puzzled.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Have you forgotten? Our technology will keep improving. In five or ten years, can’t we increase the spindle count of our spinning machines? Or can we not change the power system?"

Fu Tinghan almost immediately understood, "You want to convert it to steam power?"

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow.

Fu Tinghan said, "I tried..."

The craftsman beside them interjected lazily, "It exploded."

Previously, they didn’t know what steam was, but now they knew. They felt their courage was already big enough, but they realized they were still far inferior to Minister Fu.

The craftsman said, "Minister Fu blew up three spinning machines in less than a month."

Under their strong opposition, he finally took a step back and returned to manual power, so he wasn’t thinking about using external force to drive the spinning machines anymore.

Fu Tinghan was slightly embarrassed.

Zhao Hanzhang encouraged him, "Don’t be disheartened. If it doesn’t work now, I believe it will work in the future."

With significant improvements in spinning machines, weaving machines naturally weren’t far behind. Besides the foot-powered weaving machine, Fu Tinghan had also made a large water-powered weaving machine.

It was placed in another room with a power facility using water drawn from the Luoshui River to drive the weaving machine.

Compared to the second-generation foot-powered weaving machine, he preferred this water-powered weaving machine more, "I also want to build a water-powered spinning machine next to it. I calculated that the spindle can increase to eighty, requiring no manual pedaling and only needing to add hemp. A day can spin a hundred pounds of hemp."

With this output, one wonders how much profit can be made if a fabric workshop were opened.

As human labor decreases, doesn’t it get saved here?

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes sparkled, and she waved her hand vigorously, saying, "Do it. Once the research is done, I’ll choose a site by the Luoshui River to build a fabric workshop."

Having seen the textile machines, Fu Tinghan led them across the walkway. The walkway was spacious enough for two carriages to pass through, but now, only one side was used by pedestrians and carriages, while the other had a row of iron tracks laid.

Mrs. Wang and others looked curiously.

Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Erlang weren’t surprised. With a ringing sound, a long string of iron boxes resembling caterpillars chugged along the tracks, with black smoke billowing from the top.

Mrs. Wang and others were curious but not shocked due to their lack of understanding.

When the caterpillar-like vehicle approached, they realized belatedly, "How is it moving without anyone or horse pulling it?"

Zhao Hanzhang laughed, "Ah, mother, you’re sharp, you asked the right question right off."

Zeng Yue stepped forward to open the carriage door. Zhao Hanzhang helped Mrs. Wang onto the vehicle, and everyone boarded one after the other. The seats inside were fixed, and Zhao Hanzhang quickly chose a spot to sit down.

Once everyone was seated, the vehicle started moving, all the way to the deepest part where the Ministry of War’s Observing Things Department was located.

Mrs. Wang touched the wall of the vehicle, glanced at the people in the carriage, and exclaimed, "If such a vehicle can carry many people at once, doesn’t it mean horses won’t be needed in the future? People can travel using this?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Hui Niang was too shocked to speak. Although she hadn’t studied much, she knew horses were strategic resources, and how important they were.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Unfortunately, iron mines are scarce, and so is iron, so it can’t be popularized yet."

Although it can’t be popularized, some mines can make use of it, specifically for transporting heavy items outward, saving a lot of manpower and material resources even on short trips.

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