Chapter 1000: Talking Cotton Cloth Again

The news that Zhaozi Camp was opening these five academies did not reach only Xuzhou, nor was it aimed solely at the children of those who had come to join them from various places. Instead, fast riders were dispatched to deliver the detailed particulars to every region Zhaozi Camp could exert its influence over, ensuring that all who needed to know were informed.

The recruitment scope of the academies also varied. In villages and stockades where refugees formed the majority, individuals were not permitted to register on their own, but village heads and stewards could make recommendations. Refugee households could only join the Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Foreign Affairs academies. To join the Industry Academy, one had to possess a certain foundation or a craft. For the Foreign Affairs Academy, one at the very least needed to know how to handle water and operate a boat, with fishermen given priority. If someone who did not meet the conditions was recommended, the village head and steward would be held accountable. As for those wishing to join the Xuzhou Martial Hall, only individuals with the status of Scholar-Conscript, Militiaman, or Patrolman were eligible. They had to be nominated by the Company Commander together with the Platoon Commander, and only after confirmation by the Regiment Commander could they register. After registration, they still had to pass an assessment, and only after passing the assessment could they join.

For the children of Xuzhou and Pizhou, the process was the same as the recruitment of household retainers: as long as they came from a respectable family, had a guarantor, and passed the assessment, they could join any academy.

For people from all other places, they could only join the Commerce, Industry, and Martial Hall academies. Moreover, upon entering, they would start from the beginner class. All those from within Zhaozi Camp who joined the Xuzhou Martial Hall started from the intermediate class. When these details came out, everyone finally understood: the Agriculture Academy and the Foreign Affairs Academy were the most precious of all, and outsiders were not even permitted to enter them.

The scope of the Agriculture Academy was limited solely to the children of Xuzhou and Pizhou, plus the refugees within the refugee villages and stockades controlled by Zhaozi Camp. As for the Foreign Affairs Academy, although it was said one could register, those registering were only people connected to the Cai family fleet, people connected to the Songjiang Yu family fleet, and some children of the Xu family who would participate. The remaining students were not there by registration; rather, Zhaozi Camp selected suitable candidates from among its own subordinates and only then permitted them to join.

When this news spread, people naturally rushed to sign up. Those joining the Xuzhou Martial Hall were naturally the most numerous, but there were also those who knew they lacked the ability to risk their lives, and families who sought only stability, not wishing their sons to achieve great deeds and establish a career, but merely wanting them to come to Xuzhou as a form of hostage and establish a connection with Zhaozi Camp. Quite a few such people entered the Commerce Academy. Zhaozi Camp's Yunshan Trading Company had built such a vast business, churning through mountains of gold and seas of silver; they surely possessed the art of turning stone to gold, and learning it would certainly be of great use. As for the Industry Academy, very few entered. Some craftsmen from Xuzhou and Pizhou did send their children over, but these were not the eldest sons inheriting the family trade; they were the second or third sons and the like, who were costly to raise anyway, so it was better to send them here to seek a path. Then, quite a few people connected to the Xu family's coal and iron operations joined. These people had been craftsmen for generations and understood Zhao Jin's conduct and style better than outsiders, so they were willing to join.

However, the Industry Academy was also quickly filled, because Zhao Jin ordered that among the newly captured refugee prisoners, all craftsmen possessing a trade were to be selected. The older ones would be screened and assigned, while all the younger ones were to be sent directly to this Industry Academy. With this, there was naturally no shortage of people.

When the news of these five great academies of Xuzhou spread, people from all directions began to move. The most enthusiastic among them were none other than the gentry and powerful families of the Yanzhou Prefecture region in Shandong. They had already witnessed the might and strength of Zhaozi Camp, yet had not established any close ties with them. Now that an opportunity had arisen, it was perfect for sending their sons over. There were also the common folk from places where Zhaozi Camp had garrisoned or fought. They too had seen Zhaozi Camp's might, and even more so, had witnessed Zhaozi Camp's fairness in conduct. Hearing the news of these academies, those who met the conditions and had many sons all rushed over as much as possible to try their luck.

Reactions to the establishment of the five Xuzhou academies varied from faction to faction. Some said that Zhaozi Camp's approach was far-sighted in ambition and considerate of all sides. The establishment of these academies gathered together those older scholars who had no path forward, as well as the civil clerks who had lost their former power and position and seen their incomes slashed. The former would teach basic literacy, while the latter would teach practical affairs. Then, the Commerce Academy would win over merchants, the Agriculture and Industry Academies would cultivate talent, and the Xuzhou Martial Hall would gather those martial men from the three Xuzhou garrisons and the local areas who were unwilling to risk their lives for wealth and rank, yet were also unwilling to sit idle at home. Teaching others their skills was, after all, a respectable endeavor.

Yet there were also those who cursed Zhao Jin's methods vehemently. Among those cursing were mainly scholars and literati between the ages of twenty and forty. In their view, Zhao Jin's methods were wildly arrogant and treasonous, an insult to the sages, harboring sinister intentions, and would surely bring divine retribution sooner or later. This reaction was also quite normal, because within Zhaozi Camp's system, those scholars and literati who put on airs and were unwilling to settle down and learn practical work could gain absolutely no benefits or perks, and were further excluded from the system entirely. Yet these very people lacked the ability to obtain any official rank above that of a licentiate in the imperial examinations, so naturally, they were full of resentment.

But in mid-June, what drew the most attention from all sides were the congratulatory gifts sent to Zhao Jin by the wealthy gentry and powerful families of various regions, as well as the imperial court's follow-up actions regarding Shandong. This time, Zhaozi Camp did not keep a low profile as they had in the past. Instead, they displayed the congratulatory gifts sent from all over beneath mat-sheds for exhibition. In front of every gift was the name and background of the giver. Everyone approved of this approach, because it could highlight their close relationship with Zhaozi Camp and also allow them to flaunt their wealth—something the rich merchants of the Huaiyang region loved to do most. In order not to fall behind others in the exhibition, many temporarily added more gifts, but Zhaozi Camp stopped their actions; Zhaozi Camp had no intention of profiting from this occasion.

Although Zhaozi Camp was being considerate of them, it nevertheless left those wealthy individuals who had wanted to supplement their gifts quite dissatisfied.

The gifts made of gold, silver, and gold-and-silver materials added up to roughly one hundred thousand taels of silver. The value of the other various gifts was also around forty thousand taels. This sum was truly astonishing and shocking, but when one considered how many wealthy merchants and nobles there were in Qingjiangpu and Yangzhou, and considered their family fortunes, this really was nothing much.

What stole the most attention, however, was the congratulatory gift from the Yu family of Songjiang: a seagoing Fu ship of around one thousand liao capacity. It was also thanks to Zhaozi Camp's ability to control the canal transport in the Jiangbei region of South Zhili; otherwise, at this time when large numbers of boats were traveling north and south, having such an enormous seagoing vessel towed north by small boats would have been a real hassle.

Fu ships are broad, stable, and sturdy, but while they can harness ocean currents and wind power at sea, on the canal they had to be towed by canal boats most of the time. Fortunately, the Yu family was wealthy and powerful, and Zhaozi Camp provided every convenience along the way, allowing it to arrive smoothly at the ferry crossing near the He Family Village.

On the deck of this enormous seagoing vessel, a stage was set up for opera performances, hung with lanterns and draped with colored silks. Even many of the people gathered at the He Family Village went over to see the novelty. Zhao Jin also led a group to visit. Yu Zhiyuan explained clearly: they had originally planned to build a fleet for Zhao Jin, and this Fu ship was the first one completed. They took this opportunity to send it over and join the festivities. Several more Guang ships and Fu ships were still under construction in the shipyard.

"Elder Brother, do you know about the business on the open ocean? A ship full of goods goes out, and it returns full of silver. Though the wind and waves at sea are perilous, as long as a single ship completes a full year's voyage, the entire fleet's cost for the year is earned back, and several times over at that." Yu Zhiyuan held nothing back in front of Zhao Jin; he was striving desperately to prove himself.

"This is good. The Scholar-Conscripts of the Foreign Affairs Academy can learn and gain experience on it, letting them familiarize themselves first." Zhao Jin was very satisfied with this and said with a smile.

Yu Zhiyuan nodded repeatedly and echoed in agreement, "In that case, let us first arrange for some seasoned and steady shipwrights and sailors to take them on coastal runs. Once they are truly familiar, then they can go out onto the open ocean."

"Are you familiar with cotton cloth?" Zhao Jin came straight to the point, but this sudden shift in topic left Yu Zhiyuan somewhat stunned. He thought, weren't we talking about maritime trade? Why ask about cotton cloth now?

"Elder Brother, you've asked the right person. The Songjiang cotton cloth is the finest under heaven. Songjiang Prefecture produces cotton, and there are large numbers of workshops and factories for spinning and weaving. Every year, vast quantities of cotton cloth are sold throughout the empire via the waterways. Even Goryeo, the Wa Kingdom, and the lands of the Southern Seas need to use our Songjiang cotton cloth." When speaking of this, an expression of pride surfaced on Yu Zhiyuan's face.

One could tell that Yu Zhiyuan truly understood this well: "Two-thirds of the Yu family's annual income comes from this. The fleet can make a fortune bringing anything out to sea, but what can be purchased locally, is a stable bulk commodity, and guarantees a sure profit, is this cotton cloth."

"If we could produce cotton cloth, with an output a fraction of Songjiang Prefecture's, or even greater than Songjiang's output, do you think the price would fall, and we wouldn't earn as much?" Zhao Jin asked vaguely, but Yu Zhiyuan immediately perked up.

To the second young master of the Yu family, Zhao Jin of Xuzhou was practically omniscient and omnipotent. For him to speak to this extent, he must surely have a corresponding method in mind. Although Yu Zhiyuan could not imagine how one could produce that much cotton cloth, since Zhao Jin said so, he could certainly accomplish it. Yu Zhiyuan paid particular attention to the word "we" in Zhao Jin's sentence.

After a brief moment of distraction, when Yu Zhiyuan spoke again, his voice trembled slightly: "Elder Brother, with so many people under heaven, who doesn't need clothing? Besides the Great Ming, there is also the Wa Kingdom and Goryeo, and the Southern Seas. All these places need this cotton cloth. Elder Brother, Songjiang Prefecture produces so much every year, yet supply has never met demand. Apart from a few exceptions, I've never heard of any family having a surplus of cloth. If we could produce this much cotton cloth, it would be equivalent to creating another Songjiang Prefecture, equivalent to gaining another source of wealth generation like Songjiang Prefecture. This... this is a mountain of gold and a sea of silver!"

"A mountain of gold and a sea of silver? How many people have been muttering that phrase lately..." Zhao Jin said with a laugh, then solemnly instructed Yu Zhiyuan, "From the planting of cotton to the harvesting, to the spinning and weaving—at every stage, you must find me craftsmen and masters who understand the trade. Offer high wages and invite them to Xuzhou. Then we'll discuss further."

"Please rest assured, Elder Brother. Your younger brother will return and handle this with all urgency." Yu Zhiyuan patted his chest in promise.

As more and more people poured in, Xuzhou grew increasingly lively. In particular, news from the capital reached Xuzhou through various channels: the Incense-Smelling Sect rebels had been pacified. Just over a thousand local troops from Shandong were left to search for the remaining dregs, while the other various armies withdrew to their garrisons.

The bonus chapter for 600 monthly tickets will be around 7:30 PM. I'll chat with everyone a bit more then.

Thanks to old friend "Yuan Heng Li Zhen" for the tip, and thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets. Thank you, everyone.