Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 426: People's Livelihood and National Economy
You have to see it to know what the capital city looks like.

Before the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, Lu Xiangsheng barely arrived in Liangxiang.

"This old man is both civil and military, and he is very strong! I am so ashamed that I need him to do something for me!"

Lu Xiangsheng shook his arms, exhaled, rubbed his palms and smiled, "It's a small matter. If the old man hadn't been willing to drive me in this heavy snow, I would have had a hard time making it. The mule and horse have injured their legs, and I'm already worried. It's nothing to push them into the snow."

"Master, you are so generous. You will surely pass the imperial examination next year!" The old man pointed ahead. "That is Liangxiang Posthouse. Liangxiang Posthouse has a special carriage from here to the capital. Master, please sit in the carriage and warm yourself up first. This section of the road has been paved with coal ash, so the snow is not thick. I will drive slowly. It's okay."

Lu Xiangsheng got on the carriage as he was told and looked back at the road he had come.

The snow was heavy. The cement road to the north of Zhending Prefecture was naturally easier to walk on, but perhaps because it was farther south, or perhaps as the old man said: the snow on that kind of road was always thinner than on dirt roads and fields.

The middle section is still the former official road. The dirt road is covered with ruts and potholes due to the more frequent traffic in recent years, and it is even more difficult to travel on due to heavy snow.

The carriage slowly moved towards Liangxiang Posthouse, and the surroundings gradually became more and more lively.

Lu Xiangsheng soon saw a strange sight.

"Old man, what kind of car is that?" Lu Xiangsheng pointed forward curiously.

"That one?" The old man driving the car in front took a look and said, "It was sent back from Liaodong."

Lu Xiangsheng thought for a moment and said, "A sled? That's not like what's described in the book..."

"Master, you are really well-informed." The old man nodded, "It's a sled. Since you said so, I'm afraid it has been modified. Nowadays, winters are getting longer and colder, and there is no shortage of firewood and coal briquettes in the capital. I think it's to pull more coal briquettes into the city."

"Is that coal briquettes?" Lu Xiangsheng narrowed his eyes, trying to see more clearly through the wind and snow.

"That's right! I heard that it was His Majesty who ordered people to create it, and it has a special name called honeycomb coal. But people are used to calling it coal cake, so people still call it that."

"Honeycomb coal... do you know what the etiquette is?"

"I don't know about that. Nowadays, coal briquettes are in short supply in Kyoto. Although I am from Hebei Province, not far from Kyoto, I still can't afford the honeycomb coal stove and coal briquettes."

"I see."

The mule and horse in front had sprained one of its legs, and now it still had to pull the cart slowly.

Lu Xiangsheng saw the old man slightly change direction: "Master, you may ask, I will move closer to him."

Not far ahead, although two mules and horses were pulling a sled, there was no one sitting on the sled. Instead, one was tied to another. Each sled was the size of a flatbed cart commonly used by the people, and it was indeed piled with coal cakes. Three people, one in front and two behind, the one in front was leading the mule and horse, and the two people behind, one old and one young, were watching the sled and walking slowly on the road.

So they were able to catch up with the two coal transporters.

"Excuse me..." It was the old man who spoke first, introducing Lu Xiangsheng's identity as "master" and saying that he had something to ask them.

The three men stopped and looked awkwardly at Lu Xiangsheng who was leaning out of the carriage, and then the old man and the young one both lowered their heads.

It turned out that they were a family, and the "old man" was an old woman. But judging by her son's age, she was not that old, but her hair was gray and she looked old.

"Excuse me, I'm quite curious about this coal cake business." Lu Xiangsheng simply got out of the car and bowed, "I can ask as we go, so as not to interrupt your business."

So I started chatting with the head of the family on the way.

It turned out that as the demand for honeycomb coal increased inside and outside the capital, the businesses that had almost divided the coal briquettes market in the capital also experienced a supply gap.

As a result, this industry began to spread to the periphery, and some families began to make this business. Most of them were like tenants, learning the craft from those merchants, buying coal and tools, and then digging soil and mixing it at home. Some of the coal briquettes could be sold locally, and the excess could be transported to the coal briquettes shops in the suburbs of Beijing, which collected them and transported them to the capital.

Lu Xiangsheng was a little surprised: "They are willing to teach this craft and secret recipe? Why don't they hire more people?"

In his opinion, it seemed unnecessary to do so. He could hire more people, and even if he didn't care about the smaller sales channels around him, he could just sell the products to some more people and let them sell them outside.

"...I don't know the reason behind this either." The man said cautiously, "But I won't allow you to pass it off as a good thing. You have to rent or buy the coal and the iron mold from the boss..."

Lu Xiangsheng thought thoughtfully: "So that's how it is... So, in fact, the old man is like a hired worker, but he doesn't have to pay him."

"The boss is kind, this is a skill to make a living after all."

"What the old man said is true." Lu Xiangsheng smiled. "For this trip, the coal briquettes the old man carried should be worth a lot of money. With only your family of three escorting them in this icy and snowy place, aren't you afraid of being robbed?"

"Master, you are joking. There are the Public Security Bureau and the capital city in this place under the emperor's feet. How many robbers are there? Besides, why not rob these heavy, not valuable and conspicuous coal cakes?" The person who said this was the old man who drove the cart for Lu Xiangsheng.

"That being said, this meal is still not easy to eat. In the past, there were charcoal sellers, and now there are coal sellers, all of whom are worried about the low price and wish for colder weather." Lu Xiangsheng sighed, "Does your boss have any honeycomb coal stoves for sale?"

"Yes, yes."

"Then we'll go all the way. Wait, I'll buy fifty coal cakes from you first, and then I'll buy a stove from your employer."

His servant had already gotten off the carriage and was accompanying him. Hearing this, he asked, "Master, we are staying in the guild hall. Why do we need to buy these?"

"Don't ask too much." Lu Xiangsheng didn't explain much.

The coal transporting family was naturally very grateful. After all, Lu Xiangsheng bought from them in small quantities, and the price he gave them was always higher than what the employer charged.

After all, Lu Xiangsheng had a grandfather who was a county magistrate, and his father was also a student, so his family background was certainly not comparable to theirs.

We first arrived at a coal shop that specialized in this business, and it was indeed bustling there.

The workshop is not small. It has a large area for making coal cakes and drying them, as well as a warehouse and a special shed for making coal furnaces.

“…It’s actually a physically demanding job.”

Lu Xiangsheng saw the bustling production scene. In the winter, some people were only wearing short coats. The strong men who were mixing coal were holding iron tools and inserting them heavily into the mixed coal mud. Then they lifted it to the side and pushed it carefully. A honeycomb coal was formed and placed on the ground to be dried in the sun.

Such a young scholar came here specially, and the shopkeeper who was in charge here did not dare to neglect him and accompanied him personally.

"Sir, you have condescended to come here, not just to buy a coal stove, right?" the shopkeeper asked carefully.

"I'm sorry for being rude, but I heard that the method of making honeycomb briquettes was taught by your majesty, so I was excited to see it and came to take a look."

"So that's how it is. It seems that you want to take the natural science exam? This method was indeed taught by the Holy Emperor. I am a master craftsman who was specially hired by the imperial supervisor. If there is anything you want to know, I would like to ask Eunuch Fan to explain it to you. He knows the ingenuity of it very well."

"Oh? I really don't know how to repay the shopkeeper for his kindness."

"Sir, what are you talking about? Since we have this fate, we should help others to achieve their goals. Moreover, this method was originally taught by the Holy Emperor, and it was specially published in the court newspaper. There is no reason for me to keep it to myself. The only thing I rely on is that the goods are of good quality and low price, and I will never cheat anyone."

Lu Xiangsheng gave him a deep look and said, "The shopkeeper's conversation is extraordinary. I'm sure he was not an ordinary person in the past. I'm sorry for being rude."

The shopkeeper gave a bitter smile and said, "In the past, it was nothing more than a piece of writing in the county government. You are too kind to praise me. Please come this way." Lu Xiangsheng seemed to be thinking about something. It seemed that he was one of the people who had "suffered" in the local restructuring in previous years.

These veteran officials have been in officialdom for a long time, and their conversation and knowledge are truly incomparable to ordinary people.

Now he also understood that the reason why these coal briquette merchants were willing to make their skills public was, firstly, because this was a method created by the emperor and had long been made public; secondly, because through this method, they were actually still hiring workers, which reduced their daily turnover expenses and expanded their coal usage, obtaining a more stable supply from coal merchants who transported coal to the capital, thereby ensuring their sales share in the capital.

Of course, since they can divide the honeycomb briquettes market in Beijing, there must be a real owner behind them.

But even if the owner is powerful, how much they can sell and how much they can earn still depends on their management and quality. Therefore, the selection of the shopkeeper is very important.

When we arrived at the factory shed where honeycomb coal was being made, it was also very lively with the sound of clanging and banging.

The Da'eun Fan that the shopkeeper mentioned was actually just an ordinary old eunuch in the Imperial Household Department and was not worthy of the title of Da'eun.

But the Imperial Household Department was different. Some of the eunuchs in charge of specific matters did accumulate certain production management experience. Most importantly, many things did first appear in the Imperial Household Department, and many front-line craftsmen and eunuchs accumulated quite rich technical skills.

Now, as the retirement system of granted return has gradually been established among the eunuchs, these eunuchs may not dare to say anything about other places, but near the capital, they have become the hot cakes that many factories and businesses are vying for.

This eunuch named Fan is nearly sixty years old and is currently being treated as a master here.

Lu Xiangsheng sincerely asked for advice, but he didn't put on airs. When he mentioned the emperor, he subconsciously showed respect and described the wonders of the honeycomb coal stove in detail.

"The key lies in the holes on the honeycomb coal," he said. "In the past, I only heard from the servants of the Academy of Scientific Research that whether burning wood or coal, ventilation is actually necessary. Sir, please look, there is a small cover under the coal stove, and several holes are chiseled on it for ventilation. There are also pot pillows and stove pillows on it, which are also for ventilation..."

He recounted the story and then recalled with emotion: "I still remember that the seal holder, Eunuch Chu, brought the blueprint model and said that it was drawn by the emperor himself. Your Majesty is a scholar and has thought of every aspect, even saying that the fire tongs should be used together."

Fire tongs are certainly not a new thing. What is being said here is that the emperor took into account that many families had fire tongs, so he specifically ordered that the hole in the coal cakes should be slightly thicker than that of the fire tongs commonly used by the people to facilitate replacement.

As for the honeycomb briquettes stove, the fire resistance and burning resistance inside are secondary, but the size of honeycomb briquettes of different styles should be the same. The ones that need greater firepower are only two, three or five briquettes per row. As for the outside, you can tighten it with iron sheets by yourself, and add a stove surface as a table or even a place to dry clothes according to your needs.

In short, many practical scenarios are envisioned, and production standards for honeycomb coal and coal stove cores are required.

Naturally, this method was opened up afterwards, but the coal stoves and coal briquettes needed for the palace were either made by the Imperial Supervisor or purchased on a selective basis.

Lu Xiangsheng's eyes were opened along the way. Before leaving, he just bought a honeycomb coal stove as he was told, and also bought fifty honeycomb coals from that family.

Seeing that he fulfilled his promise regarding the coal stove, the coal shop did not "rob" this small business on the spot.

Instead, he heard Lu Xiangsheng say, "This thing is wonderful, and Jiangnan also has a great need for it. If the shopkeeper is interested, you can go there to discuss cooperation in the future. I will recommend two or three good families to cooperate with your bank."

He treated Lu Xiangsheng with such courtesy, firstly because it was rare to see such a young scholar, and secondly, of course, because he was born in Jiangnan.

Currently, the honeycomb coal business is basically in the north, but the winter in the south of the Yangtze River is not cold, so this kind of thing used by the emperor certainly has a huge market.

So after he sincerely thanked him, he saw the young scholar hand the honeycomb coal stove to the old man driving the car.

"I feel guilty for injuring your mule's leg. You may have to stay here for a day or two and find a mule shop to exchange for another one so that you can return home in time for the New Year. I don't need this stove and these coal briquettes, so you can take them back with you."

The shopkeeper naturally saw him carrying the honeycomb coal stove with ease. Lu Xiangsheng was friendly and had no arrogance of a young scholar, which made the shopkeeper remember his name and hometown again.

The Lu family of Mingling, Yixing, Changzhou, I will explain this to the owner when I get back.

This person is definitely not an ordinary person.

Although he didn't know that Lu Xiangsheng had already met the current Privy Councilor and had long been in the emperor's favor, his many years of experience as an official still gave him extraordinary vision and experience.

Lu Xiangsheng and his servants no longer asked him to take them to the post station personally. Instead, after paying the fare, he said goodbye to them, picked up his luggage and walked there by himself.

Liangxiang is no longer the Liangxiang of the past. Liangxiang Post was already prosperous, and now it is even more lively due to the increasing population after the expansion of the capital during the Jialong period. In recent years, industry and commerce have been encouraged, and Liangxiang has also developed many workshops and businesses that rely on the capital for profit. These workshops and businesses are naturally close to Liangxiang Post, a transportation hub, and it has long been a prosperous town.

Lu Xiangsheng didn't need to go far, Liangxiang Post Station was not just the official post station managed by the Privy Council. Many important post stations in Ming Dynasty had already become large-scale, including carriage houses, hostels, restaurants, teahouses, and shops.

As long as you have money.

Lu Xiangsheng did not go to the official post station either. It was the end of the year, and there were probably many local officials coming to Beijing for work. The official post station was also responsible for receiving people sent by the government on official business. Although it was open to the public during its free time, ordinary people did not use the official post station unless it was absolutely necessary or for other purposes.

They are slightly more expensive.

When it came to the guests staying tonight, Lu Xiangsheng happened to see the head of the Taxation Bureau of the Liangxiang County Executive Government, with his clerks and runners, posting official documents here and reminding every household of the deadline for filing accounts and paying taxes for this year.

He suddenly thought that there seemed to be another reason why the coal company did that. Perhaps it was beneficial to the current industrial and commercial registration and accounting and industrial and commercial tax collection?
However, he did not understand the techniques at the moment.

In short, what I saw and heard today was quite different.

He went to bed early. Tomorrow, he would go to the capital. Before the New Year, several elders from the same hometown, elders from the academy, and old friends of his grandfather and father wanted to visit him.

In addition, I don’t know how many candidates have arrived in Beijing.

He became even more excited and wanted to see what the capital city, which had undergone the greatest changes in the Ming Dynasty, looked like under the feet of the Holy Emperor.

Yuan Shumi's words echoed in his ears.

"Since Jiandou has the ambition to be a general or a famous minister, he should have visited the people's livelihood and the officials along the way. Just as your majesty has taught: everything should be based on reality and seek truth from facts. Although it is necessary to study and think about what is recorded in the classics, it is after all an old story."

He was also more curious about and admired the emperor.

But if he wants to see the emperor in person, he must first pass the imperial examination.

It is best to get a higher rank.

Now, the annual grand political meeting is being held in the Forbidden City.

After this meeting, the center will go on holiday.

The shocking focus of the Grand Council was naturally the successive development of the South Sea and East Sea strategies.

The planned time seems to be slightly ahead of schedule.

"The new policy has been implemented for several years, and its effectiveness must be tested in extraordinary times!" Zhu Changluo said solemnly, "It concerns the long-term plan. Whether the whole country can be united can tell whether the new policy is insincere. The power I have given to the central government, the power given to the local governments, and the benefits given by the government to the gentry and merchants must be tested. If the general plan is successful, the officials and people of the Ming Dynasty will have greater room for benefits, which will benefit future generations! If the general plan is successful, there will be no more worries about people holding on to old ideas and only focusing on the small piece of land in front of them!"

His words were as powerful as his words had been for so many years.

There was really no time for him to wait any longer.

This winter is unusually cold again!

(End of this chapter)