After seeing Han Shizhong off, Han Mo, carrying the blueprints he had drawn all night, went straight to the craftsmen's rooms.
"Greetings, Young Master!"
Although these people didn't know Han Mo's identity, just by looking at his attire, these honest craftsmen all hurried to stand up and greet him with clasped fists.
"Let's dispense with these superfluous pleasantries. I've invited you all here today to ask for your help in making a few things!"
As Han Mo spoke, he placed the stack of blueprints he was holding onto the table in front of him.
To prevent any leaks, Han Mo had deliberately split the entire blueprint into several parts when drawing.
Then, he took the key components separately and combined them into another pile of drawings.
Therefore, at this moment, even if each of them received a separate blueprint, he was not worried about them leaking the information.
"This is..."
Upon receiving the drawings, the craftsmen looked at each other in bewilderment, as they had never encountered such blueprints before.
There were not only plan views and elevation views, but also sectional views.
Aside from the dimensions, almost everything else was present.
Seeing their confused expressions, Han Mo was not surprised, as this kind of thing came from a thousand years in the future.
Fortunately, these drawings were simple and easy to understand. After he briefly explained them, the craftsmen quickly grasped the skill of reading the drawings.
Although the drawings lacked fixed dimensions, Han Mo fortunately had no other business during this period.
It was just right for him to stay by their side and experiment repeatedly.
In about an hour and a half, the craftsmen, after consulting with each other, began preparing to make simple molds.
It was only when they actually started working that Han Mo realized that compared to these Song dynasty craftsmen, the so-called masters of later generations were simply a bunch of trash.
Although they lacked profound theories, Han Mo was completely convinced by their craftsmanship when he saw a craftsman, using only his naked eye and simple tools, transform a palm-sized piece of raw wood into a gear with 16 teeth in less than fifteen minutes.
With Han Mo, the original designer, by their side, and with their willingness to trial-and-error at any cost, by the time dusk fell, a simple Jenny spinning jenny had appeared before Han Mo.
Moreover, during the process, Han Mo had specifically made a small modification to the machine.
He had increased the spinning jenny, which could originally drive only eight spindles, to sixteen spindles.
And he had changed the original belt drive to a gear drive.
Although the size of this thing was less than three feet long and two feet high.
Han Mo was completely excited when he saw it appear before him.
To boost the craftsmen's morale, in addition to promising them wages, Han Mo also specially arranged for a lavish meal for them.
"Son-in-law, have you retired for the night?"
After hastily finishing his dinner, Han Mo, without even looking at the dowry blueprints brought back by Han Shizhong, directly entered his room.
Not long after Han Mo returned to his room, Jiang Yan's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Did something happen?"
"We just received news that although those Japanese were stopped at the pier today, they were not apprehended! The copper coins they were carrying were not confiscated but were directly loaded onto a Pu family ship!"
"A Pu family ship? Where are they now?"
Hearing Jiang Yan's words, Han Mo directly opened the door.
"They are all staying in the Pu family's residence in Mingzhou!"
"Find someone to keep a close eye on them. We absolutely cannot let them escape!"
What was originally a simple matter had suddenly become complicated with the involvement of the Pu family.
Although the descendants of the Pu family did not hold high official positions, due to their monopolization of foreign trade over the years, they had woven a vast network of connections for themselves with the infusion of immense wealth.
It would be more accurate to say that the Mingzhou prefect was managing Mingzhou city on behalf of the eight great families, rather than managing the entire Mingzhou city.
Although the Pu family's roots were not in Mingzhou, their influence in Mingzhou was no less than that of the local government.
Nearly one-fifth of the people in Mingzhou city survived directly or indirectly through the Pu family's businesses.
Given the current situation, if Han Mo were to fall out with them at this moment, it would truly be more of a loss than a gain.
But since the matter had already escalated to this point, Han Mo himself felt unwilling to let go.
The gold and silver from Japan had become an important link in Han Mo's plan. If he let go at this moment, all his previous plans would be in vain.
"Son-in-law, this is their territory after all. If we come into conflict with them at this time, I'm afraid..."
Although Jiang Yan did not finish his sentence, Han Mo understood his meaning.
"Don't worry. I am an official of the Six Southern Routes Pacification Commission. Moreover, Wang Bing's 5,000 troops are stationed outside the city. Even if they had the courage of a leopard, they wouldn't dare do anything to me!"
"Yes!"
Seeing Han Mo's firm attitude, Jiang Yan did not insist further. He responded and withdrew directly.
After Jiang Yan left, Han Mo fell into deep thought again. He had originally thought he had ample time, but now it seemed that the matter had become troublesome due to the Pu family's intervention. If he could not win the support of one of the eight great families as soon as possible, every step he took would be exceptionally difficult.
After a long period of contemplation, Han Mo finally picked up his brush and began preparing to write a memorial to the emperor.
He had originally planned to establish the Hangzhou Maritime Trade Office in Hangzhou city after the Fang La rebellion was completely quelled.
To reorganize the imperial Maritime Trade Office and change its scope of responsibilities, transforming it from a manager to a semi-manager and semi-operator. However, judging by today's situation, if he really waited until then, by the time he achieved results, the emperor would have already been captured by the Jurchens.
To contend with the eight great families, he needed more power and deeper support from the emperor!