At the end of Song Dynasty: I want to be the master of ZTE

Chapter 169 Make the Best Use of Everything
Early on the morning of November [-]th, Zhang Shiba from Zhangjia Village in Yanguan County opened the door and prepared to sell salt.

Under the new salt policy of the imperial court, anyone can collect salt from the salt field and transport it to other places without restrictions.

Intense competition leads to micro-profits, but it is also a means to support the family, especially during slack times.

As soon as he went out, two men walked towards him. One of them had tattoos on his face and did not look like a good person. However, there was a young man in the middle who was very energetic and noble. Zhang Shiba couldn't help but take a few more looks.

Under Lin Jingxi's governance, Lin'an Mansion never closed its doors at night, and no one dared to commit crimes. No matter how powerful the government officials were, everyone was honest, so there was no need to worry about the other party making trouble.

Seeing that he was holding a pole with salt grains still on the rope, Zhao raised his hand and asked, "Brother, are you going to sell salt?"

Zhang Shiba hurriedly returned the gift and said: "Well, Xiaoyameni knows that I am going to earn some subsidies and want to buy some clothes for my mother-in-law."

Zhao Shi asked again: "I don't know how much salt I can transport in a day, and how much profit I make. Are there any difficulties in the salt field?"

Zhang Shiba didn't want to be long-winded, but he didn't dare to offend the nobleman, so he had to reply patiently: "I get [-] wen a day, I barely make a profit, and there is nothing difficult about it. It's just that there are many salt sellers, so we have to wait."

"Peng Da, give me a silver coin." After giving the order, Zhao Shi added: "To be honest with you, we are just collectors to observe the people's sentiments for the government. I hope I can delay you for a day."

Zhang Shiba was hesitant at first, because he had an appointment today, and if he didn't go, he would have to queue up again, but the shining silver coins...

"Please come into the humble house and have a cup of tea." Zhang Shiba took the silver coin with a smile on his face.

There are three ordinary rooms, and there is a daughter-in-law and two children at home. The furnishings are ordinary. The most eye-catching thing is the two huge salted fish hanging on the wall.

Seeing him staring, Zhang Shiba smiled and said: "Nowadays, a pound of salted fish is only worth two pounds of salt. Even a villain can afford it. Eat a little every now and then. It's delicious!"

Zhang Shiba invited the three of them to sit down and asked his wife to serve tea.

The tea is the lowest form of old tea. There are no tea cups, only a bowl for each person to eat.

For safety reasons, the emperor would not drink it, but when he saw the rice grains on the rim of the bowl, Zhao Shi smiled and said, "It seems that my life at home is pretty good, otherwise there would be no rice grains left on the rim of the bowl."

"Forgive me, distinguished guest. I'll bring you another bowl right away." Zhang Shiba said with a smile.

"No need, I just had breakfast." Zhao Shi smiled and waved his hand.

Zhang Shiba smiled and said: "The court's benevolent government and only collecting [-]% of the tax are indeed much better.

Now that the family has food in store and can work to earn money, as long as the Tartar dogs don't come back, the whole family will have enough food and clothing.

But I didn't expect that just two days later, the two children would waste so much, making the distinguished guests laugh. "

If it was an era when there was not enough to eat, and the bowls were licked clean without washing, the emperor could tell that Zhang Shiba's family lived a good life, which could be regarded as a subtle understanding.

After looking at Zhang Shiba's granary, he asked the two children if they were going to school. Hearing that they were both enlightened, the emperor smiled happily.

Walking around and looking at everything, basically the people's lives are pretty good.

Because the southeast has been ravaged by war, it is quite sparsely populated now. A family has at least twenty acres of land and government employment guarantees a minimum income, and every family has some savings.

Unknowingly, we arrived at the Qiantang River, at the foot of Miao Mountain in Fuyang County. Ten large waterwheels were lined up along the river, and the paddles kept turning with the water flow.

clang clang ~
Watching the water hammer being lifted up and down by the water wheel, and the armor on the iron pier gradually taking shape, Zhao Shi smiled like an old father.

"Your Majesty, we have built ten water hammers so far. Forging iron saves time and effort, and the quality is high. Yuanlu will definitely not be able to compare with it." Chen Nan introduced.

"Very good." Zhao Shi said, "Zheng Gong gave him a baron, and those who participated in the construction were each rewarded five taels of money."

Zheng Gong was the designer of the hydraulic forging hammer, but the concept came from the emperor, so his credit is inevitably much less.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Zheng Gong bowed immediately.

"The new year is approaching, you have worked hard for a year, take a good rest, and make new achievements in the coming year." Zhao Shi encouraged.After seeing the water-powered forging hammer, Zhao ordered the ship to be prepared and went to Shaoxing Prefecture to have a look.

"Your Majesty, I have been away for more than a month and I will return to Lin'an." Huang Dahua, the bodyguard and general of the army, said.

"After going to see the Lizhu Iron Mine, I'll go back in about three to five days." Zhao finally made the trip and was unwilling to go back.

The emperor's golden words had no choice but to be followed.

After crossing the Qiantang River, we entered Zhuji by land, followed the Kuaiji Mountains for twenty miles, and arrived at the Lizhu Iron Mine.

Upon learning of the emperor's arrival, the Iron Mine Director Qu Xing led the people to pick him up.

To be honest, Zhao Shi didn't know whether this was the Lizhu Iron Mine, but that didn't stop the emperor from giving it this name.

From the beginning of the search to the discovery of the ore vein, it took half a year, and then to the time when the iron ore was mined, it was gone in a year.

"Currently, only one mine has been dug, with a daily output of more than [-] stones of iron ore." Qu Xing said.

At the entrance of the mine, someone handed out a backpack, and people outside took it and carried it to the car behind. Once it was full, it was immediately transported to the coal mine.

Suddenly, there was a loud boom, and everyone felt their feet shaking.

Peng Zhenlong and Huang Dahua's ghosts emerged, and they immediately protected the emperor and retreated out. Fortunately, the shock went away as quickly as it came. Before they had retreated far, they saw a man covered in blood coming out of the mine and shouting: "It's collapsed~"

"No need to panic, the mine just collapsed." Zhao Shi calmed down and ordered Qu Xing to take charge of the rescue.

"Your Majesty." Qu Xing hesitated and said, "They are all heinous prisoners. It will not be too late to dig until the mine is stable."

"Are there many accidents?" Zhao Shi asked.

"Xinkuang has not yet stabilized. It has only been a month since the mine started, and there have been more than a hundred casualties." Qu Xing replied.

Zhao Shi nodded and said: "If it continues like this, I'm afraid the mine slaves won't be enough."

Qu Xing replied: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Once the mine is stabilized, the casualties will be greatly reduced."

"Japan, Nanyue, Champa and other places all have people of short stature who may be used for mining." Zhao Shi crossed his arms and thought for a while, then said: "Women can be married to army lieutenants, and men can be used for mining. It means making the best use of things.”

"Your Majesty, Liu Yu has not set out yet, so he may issue an edict." Peng Zhenlong admonished.

"How can such a thing, whether it is good to say or not, be left in writing? I think Liu Yu is a bold man and must have made his own decisions." Huang Dahua said.

Zhao Shi shook his head and said: "I am afraid that the Taoist priests will criticize me, so I cannot give any hints and send someone to deliver my handwriting."

He wrote a small note on the spot and asked someone to give it to Liu Yu.

This thing will not be recorded in the political affairs hall, and it cannot be regarded as a formal imperial decree, but it is enough as a talisman.

Qu Xing looked at it and said, "Your Majesty is kind and kind."

Who doesn't love a boss who can protect his subordinates?
After seeing the iron mine, I went to the coal mine.

To be honest, Zhejiang's iron ore mines are not very good, and their coal mines are just average, but mosquito meat is still meat no matter how small it is. In this iron-deficient era, mining still needs to be done.

Zhao couldn't help but think of Ma'anshan Iron Mine and Shilu Iron Mine. Not only were these two mines of high quality, they were also open-pit mines, making mining much easier.

As for the coal mine, it is of course Pingxiang, Jiangxi Province. However, it is close to the front line and there are frequent cross-border raids by Yuan troops, so mining cannot be started for the time being.

After looking at the industrial base, it was already the end of November and I had to go back.

(End of this chapter)