Chapter 1060: Chapter 885, Coal Mine_3
The boy shook his head, pale-faced, “No, it won’t be.”
Xiao Yeyang withdrew his hand and took Daohua with him as they left in the horse carriage.
…
“Do you think what the boy said was true or false?”
Inside the carriage, Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang replied, “It’s highly likely true. Under my gaze, he didn’t avert his eyes.” And with a smile, he added, “If his deceit could fool , then he would be a talent indeed.”
Daohua chuckled, “At the age of twelve or thirteen, to recognize our ability to contend with Yang Baihu and to make such a decisive plea for help, his boldness and decisiveness are already stronger than many.”
Xiao Yeyang nodded in agreent, “Xiliang has a shortage of trees, and it is cold in the winter. Most of the warming is done with coal balls. If we can really find an open-pit coal mine, it would alleviate so of the financial pressure on the Gan State Guard.”
Since arriving here, he had already invested quite a bit of silver, including the gold used to purchase horses, which ca from the Xiao Residence.
An act that was acceptable once or twice, but to continue indefinitely would empty his family’s coffers.
Daohua reminded, “When using coal, we must pay attention to ventilation and air circulation, or there will be a risk of coal gas poisoning.”
Xiao Yeyang said, “The people of Xiliang have been using coal for more than a day or two. They understand this point better than we do, so there’s no need to worry too much.”
As evening approached, Xiao Yeyang and Daohua once again settled into an inn near the North Bay Hundred Household Office.
After a day’s travel, everyone was hungry. Xiao Yeyang ordered dishes, and he sat at one table with Daohua, while i Lan, i Ju, Deshou, and Ang Ying sat at another.
They were halfway through their al when a cry ca from the backyard of the inn.
People in the inn’s hall turned to look, with many getting up to walk towards the backyard.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Deshou, who imdiately followed the others to the backyard.
Deshou returned quickly.
“Master, Madam, nothing serious. It was just the old woman who tends the fire in the kitchen; she fainted from the coal ball smoke. After being carried out and throwing up for a while, she’s fine now.”
Xiao Yeyang nodded and continued eating.
But Daohua asked, “Coal balls? The solid kind?”
Xiao Yeyang shrugged, for he had never seen coal balls himself.
Daohua turned to i Lan, “i Lan, after you finish eating, fetch a coal ball from the kitchen for to see.”
Xiao Yeyang wondered, “What’s so interesting about coal balls?”
Daohua replied, “I’m just curious. If it really is a solid coal ball, maybe I could modify it to increase its combustion rate and reduce poisoning caused by incomplete coal burning.”
After finishing their al, the two returned to their room.
Just as Daohua was loosening her hair bun, i Lan ca in with a blackened coal ball.
“Indeed, it’s solid. I’ll have the smithy’s master make a manual honeycomb coal mold, and then we can convert these solid coal balls into honeycomb coal.”
Seeing Xiao Yeyang’s puzzled expression, she laughed, “It will certainly be more efficient than this coal ball. If that boy indeed leads you to a coal mine, producing this honeycomb coal will surely sell well.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled, “Then I look forward to seeing Madam’s skill in action.”
…
After the horse purchase, Xiao Yeyang began to leave early and return late. Sotis, when he went to the Frontier Army Barracks, he would not return ho for several days.
The boy who proposed the coal mine protection deal was nad Li Mancang. He was brought to Ganzhou City by Defu the day after arriving and imdiately led Defu, Bu Gandang, and a team of bodyguards to search for the coal mine.
On the third day of May, Daohua was directing the kitchen’s old won and maidservants in making zongzi when Guyu ca striding over, “Miss, Defu and Commander Bu are back.”
Hearing this, Daohua turned to leave but stopped to say to Guyu, “Keep an eye on things here. The boxes for the zongzi should arrive soon from the carpenter’s shop. Please receive them.”
Guyu nodded, understanding the importance of these zongzi, which were to be presented to officials in Ganzhou City, and took care not to overlook any detail.
Upon reaching the front courtyard, Daohua saw excitent barely concealed in Defu’s eyebrows, and she guessed, “Did you find the coal mine?”
Defu nodded with a smile, “Madam, the open-pit coal mine is located on the Gobi desert; it’s very large. The Master will definitely be thrilled.”
Daohua, curious, remarked, “Gobi desert? No wonder it hasn’t been discovered before.”
Ganzhou Guard’s jurisdiction was sparsely populated, even more so the Gobi desert.
Finding the coal mine pleased Daohua as well. Ganzhou Guard faced substantial financial expenditures with few sources of inco and zero support from the Imperial Court. She had often seen Xiao Yeyang worried about it.
“Now that the coal mine has indeed been found, we cannot let the Li Family be underserved. Here’s what we’ll do: buy them a residence in the city, the kind with a shop and backyard.”
“When the coal mine starts to operate, they can sell honeycomb coal from their shop, ensuring a livelihood for the whole Li family.”
Defu happily agreed, “Madam always thinks of everything.”
Daohua continued, “I have already had the blacksmith’s master produce several tools for crafting honeycomb coal. Bring so coal fragnts and so yellow clay, and I will teach you how to make honeycomb coal.”
“And yes, call that Li family boy over too.”
In Xiliang, not only during winter but also other tis, coal was used. The next day, Defu arranged a large amount of coal fragnts.
Though Daohua said she would teach, she mostly just gave instructions; the tasks were carried out by the servants.
After several experints to determine the right proportion of coal to clay, the honeycomb coal was ford.
“Once it dries, it can be used.”
Li Mancang, seeing the honeycomb coal, excitedly said to Daohua, “Madam, this honeycomb coal will be far more efficient than the coal balls we normally use.”
Daohua smiled, “Naturally.” This was the crystallization of the laboring people’s wisdom.
Li Mancang imdiately asked, “Madam, shall we then call our shop ‘Honeycomb Coal Shop’?”
Daohua smiled, “Since it’s your family’s shop, naturally you make the decisions.”
With the news of the coal mine’s discovery, Xiao Yeyang returned from the barracks. After considering the officers of the guard, he finally appointed Zhang Da to take charge of the coal mine’s operations, with Dong Yuanxuan providing assistance.
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