You have truly caused me great suffering!

Dengzhou, Shandong.

Qu Duan looked at the navy he had recruited and nodded with great satisfaction.

In the golden autumn of October, the waves roll and giant ships are moored.

This is all money.

He also had his scribes do a rough calculation and found that he had spent almost a year's income of the Prince of Dai.

If he fails to make a name for himself, Qu Duan will probably have to commit suicide to atone for his sins.

Of course, someone like Qu Duan never imagined he wouldn't make a name for himself.

If Sun Tzu and Wu Qi disagreed with him, he would always say: "Sun and Wu are ignorant of military strategy."

The King of Dai trusts me so much, investing money like water; I should live up to the King's trust.

He couldn't wait to repay the King of Dai for his kindness with his military achievements.

Upon arriving at an arrow tower by the sea, several guards lay half-prone on the ground, spreading out a map, which Qu Duan examined carefully.

His slender eyes gleamed slightly, but his face remained completely expressionless. It took him a full half hour to finish reading before he looked up.

"Has everything been investigated?"

The subordinate general nodded.

Qu Duan laughed and said, "The Prince of Dai has achieved unparalleled feats and is about to rule the world. Now is an opportunity to serve him, a once-in-a-lifetime chance. These merchants are truly short-sighted; not only are they wasting this golden opportunity, but they also want to compete with the Prince of Dai for profit."

At this point, he could not hide his contempt and sneered, "What's even more ridiculous is that they still take the initiative to provoke others. Compared with Liu Jizu of Hedong, these people are truly pigs in the circle, fattening themselves up by seeking food."

Liu Jizu and these maritime merchants originally belonged to the same ecological niche; they were all making money for Liang Shicheng, Wang Fu, Tong Guan, and other close and favored officials.

However, Liu Jizu directly used Liang Shicheng's capital to join Chen Shao, instantly gaining a foothold in the Dingnan Army and securing a place for himself.

These maritime merchants only focus on those businesses. What good is it if you make a lot of money?
What did Tong Guan think of Shaanxi's original wealthy merchants? Can't you all see that?

They didn't even bother to fabricate charges against them; they just demanded money. If they didn't get it or didn't get enough, they would say they harbored resentment towards the court and were responsible for the defeat. Their entire families would be confiscated, the head of the family would be executed, and even their relatives would be sold into slavery.

Historically, founders have always been in their prime. Now, the King of Dai has accomplished such a feat at the tender age of twenty. Apart from the King's own extraordinary talent, no one can deny that there is an element of destiny involved.

How could the Liao, Song, and Xia dynasties, the three strongest kingdoms of their time, all decline at the same time?

Why did Tong Guan, after destroying the Xia dynasty, go to the northeast to attack the Liao dynasty in the final stage?

How come the Jurchens forgot to occupy Yunnei when they were chasing Yelü Yanxi?

After pacifying the border for twenty years, Tong Guan, a man of great courage and strategy, abandoned Taiyuan and fled when he was ordered to fight against the Jin again.
This enabled the King of Dai to successively acquire the three kingdoms of Xia, Yunzhong, and Hedong.

If anything had gone wrong, the Prince of Dai would have needed to struggle for another decade or more to achieve his current great accomplishments, and there's no guarantee he would have succeeded.

This clearly shows that he was destined for greatness.

He will inevitably change dynasties, ascend to the throne, and wield the power of the emperor.

“They are willing to sacrifice themselves for great things, treat power as worthless, and value petty gains as their own lives. Such stupid pigs and oxen should be sacrificed to raise the flag for my navy.” Qu Duan laughed and said, “My navy’s first battle will be to go south first and then north, which will be a good test of amphibious operations.”

Qu Duan habitually went to war without asking for permission. At worst, he would be reprimanded by the Prince of Dai, or even beaten up, but he would still not ask for permission next time.

If the Prince of Dai thought I was wrong, he would have replaced me long ago.

He won't change it because he thinks I'm right!

Back in Huai Prefecture, when they were heading north to fight the Jin, they needed to cross the river at Wuzhi. The county magistrate disagreed, so Qu Duan had the Wuzhi magistrate killed.

Later, when they were to go to Cangzhou to fight against the Jin, Du Chong of Daming Prefecture lost the city and territory, and was cowardly and afraid of battle.

Qu Duan killed Du Chong directly.

After the Jin army retreated, Qu Duan wanted to enter Shandong again, but Zhang Shuye disagreed.

Qu Duan directly led his troops to confront Zhang Shuye's new army. Fortunately, Zhang Xiaochun, a close friend of Zhang Shuye, wrote a letter persuading Qu Duan to surrender.

Otherwise, given Qu Da's temperament, Zhang Shuye would be in grave danger.

Now he has recruited and trained a new navy to help the Prince of Dai unify the maritime trade routes, but he never expected that even merchants would dare to obstruct him.
-
Another rich mine has been discovered in Zezhou Prefecture, Hedong.

Chen Shao immediately sent people to survey the area, preparing for large-scale mining.

The demand for iron continues to grow, primarily not for making weapons and armor, but for making agricultural tools.

As the Jurchen Tartars were driven out, the demand for weapons and armor was decreasing.

In particular, no large-scale battles have broken out throughout this year.

Weapons and armor wear out very quickly in battle; after a fierce battle, many warriors' swords are no longer usable.

However, when there is no war, such losses are basically zero.

In the early morning in Taiyuan, the weather was already getting colder, with signs of early winter.

A stove was set up in the side room of Chen Shao's bedroom for people to use at any time. Li Wanshu yawned, poured hot water, and brought it into the inner room.

Chen Shao was already reclining on the couch, reading a report with a broad smile.

Chen Shao got up early in the morning. Today he was going to Zezhou Prefecture. He only knew that there were many coal mines in Hedong, but he did not expect that there were so many iron mines as well.

"Hedong is truly a place of outstanding people and abundant resources!"

Chen Shao's seemingly random remark left Li Wanshu and her friends puzzled.

At this moment, the curtain was lifted, and Li Shishi walked in, carrying a package.

"Last night Chun Tao told me that you were going on a long trip. I've prepared some clothes for you. Will you be taking Cui Die with you to take care of her this time?"

Chen Shao laughed and said, "No, no, I'll just give it to Da Hu tomorrow."

Cui Die, who had been somewhat nervous, sighed inwardly upon hearing this and continued preparing her luggage.

Logically speaking, given Chen Shao's status, traveling within his own territory of Hedong would be akin to an inspection tour.

It was normal for Chen Shao to have ten or eight maids with him, but he valued efficiency and never brought female relatives with him when he went out.

Otherwise, the travel speed alone would be significantly reduced.

When Chen Shao left the Prince's mansion, not many people came out to see him off, and he didn't tell anyone.

Li Shishi waved her hand, smiled sweetly, and told him to take care of himself and come back soon.

Chen Shao casually replied a few words and then sat down in the carriage to consider the mining business.

Previously in Fenzhou, the Song Dynasty had established a "coal field" where the government sold coal.

Nowadays, people use charcoal, while coal is mostly used in smelting and kiln firing.

But charcoal is too expensive, and where would we find so much wood?

There is some smokeless coal here in Hedong, which is a favorite of high-ranking officials and nobles.

Now is truly a crucial stage in the process of coal replacing charcoal.

As a pivotal dynasty that bridged the past and the future, the Song Dynasty saw the development of many crucial technologies originating from this period.

Historical records state that in Bianjing (Kaifeng) during the Northern Song Dynasty, "coal was used exclusively, and the people were not accustomed to using firewood." When Su Shi served as the prefect of Xuzhou, he oversaw the excavation of "coal wells," which produced tens of tons of coal daily for iron smelting and porcelain making.

The book "Tiangong Kaiwu" states that "the South lacks coal and uses charcoal more; the North has abundant coal and uses less charcoal," highlighting the differences between the North and the South.

Coal has a high sulfur content and produces a lot of smoke and dust, so direct combustion can easily damage the furnace; therefore, it needs to be coked.

This involves heating coal in the absence of air to produce coke. Coke has a high calorific value and few impurities, and can replace charcoal in blast furnaces.

And coincidentally, the technology for coking was also invented at this time, which shows that the common people of the Song Dynasty were truly resourceful.
If it weren't for the constant invasions by alien races, I really don't know what else they would have invented.

The iron ore mine in Zezhou also served as a reminder to Chen Shao that he needed to develop coking technology on a large scale.

Firstly, the production of charcoal has led to over-cultivation and logging, resulting in a sharp decline in forests.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, the Central Plains were "completely barren of forests," and in the Jiangnan region, "axes and hatchets were used daily, filling mountains and valleys," making charcoal production unsustainable. In contrast, coal reserves were vast, considered "infinitely hidden in the earth," and widely distributed (with veins in North and Northwest China). Moreover, widespread coal availability could support large-scale production in iron smelting, ceramics, and textiles.

In the early morning, the streets had not yet begun their day's hustle and bustle.
But once outside the city, the official road was bustling with carriages and people.

At all four city gates, groups of carts and horses, laden with goods freshly transported from various places, flowed continuously into the city, creating a lively scene filled with the noise of people and the neighing of horses.

Taiyuan, as the center of Hedong and now the residence of the Prince of Dai, has long been the most dynamic city in the Song Dynasty.

It even shows a tendency to surpass Bianliang.

As Chen Shao traveled south along the official road, his biggest impression was that the roads were getting better and better.

At this time, traveling is a very dangerous thing, and all sorts of problems can occur on the road.

However, the large number of pedestrians indicates that the public security in Hedong is quite good.

Chen Shao did not stop along the way, even though many prefectures wanted him to stay for a few days.

In the past, Chen Shao might have chosen a few prefectures to visit and investigate.

He was in a hurry to go to Zezhou to see how iron ore mining was being carried out, as the excavation of such new mines was not common.

If possible, he wanted the engineering college to improve its coking and ironmaking technologies as soon as possible.

With the reclamation of wasteland and the construction of water conservancy projects, the demand for iron farm tools is increasing.

Only with iron plows and hoes can it be considered intensive agriculture; otherwise, the yield will definitely not be high.

Iron farm tools are cheap, low-cost, sturdy and durable.

Chen Shao was not worried that these farm tools would become weapons of rebellion for the people. If they were afraid of even this, it would mean that their dynasty was probably in a terrible state and was indeed on the verge of collapse.

Chen Shao did not ride a horse; he traveled the entire way in a carriage, yet he still arrived in Zezhou that very night.

Although it was already late at night, all the officials of Zezhou, dressed in thick clothes, stood outside the city to welcome him with great joy.

The prefect, vice-prefect, and military commander of Zezhou greeted them with smiles. The government offices in the city had deployed many people, both openly and secretly, in the vicinity to prevent any unforeseen events.

After Chen Shao's personal guards arrived, they immediately took over the defense.

The prefect, Gao Shiyou, was a civil official, but he looked burly and had a martial air about him.

He was a true descendant of a military family.

After meeting Chen Shao, he laughed non-stop, and upon seeing how young the Prince of Dai was, he laughed even more heartily.

"Your Majesty has come a long way and must be tired. Please rest for the night and we will continue our journey tomorrow."

Chen Shao nodded and said, "Thank you all for coming to greet me in the middle of the night! You've worked hard!"

"Your Majesty, there is no need for you to be so polite with us."

Gao Shiyou was from Kaifeng, and his family had some influence in the court. His ancestor, Gao Qiong, a famous general who helped found the Northern Song Dynasty, was originally a thief. He later joined the Later Zhou general Wang Shenqi and was appreciated by Zhao Guangyi for his bravery, becoming a core general of the Imperial Guard.

Gao Qiong eventually rose to the rank of Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guards and Military Governor of the Loyal Army. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the titles of Grand Tutor and Grand Chancellor, and was posthumously granted the title of Prince of Weiguo Wulie.

The Gao family became the core of the "Gao Family Generals" of the Northern Song Dynasty, with 7 members being granted the title of king within five generations and more than 30 members serving as generals across seven generations.

Although he had served as a general in the Imperial Guard, the Gao family quickly left the Imperial Guard and instead guarded the northwestern frontier of the Song Dynasty.

He personally witnessed the actions of the Prince of Dai in Hedong and admired them from the bottom of his heart.

Moreover, Chen Shao destroyed the Western Xia, solving the problem that the Song generals had wanted to do for over a hundred years.

As for the recapture of Yunzhong and Youyan and the defeat of the Jurchens, they earned his heartfelt admiration.

Although he came from a military family, Gao Shiyou was different from those sons of officials. He was both a scholar and a warrior, and it was precisely because of such outstanding individuals that he admired Chen Shao even more.

Historically, when the Jin army first marched south, they reached Zezhou. Gao Shiyou was one of the few prefects who successfully defended the city and repelled the Jin army several times. He was later promoted to Zhilongtu Pavilion for his meritorious service.

Unfortunately, the tide could not be turned against them, and Zezhou fell during Zonghan's second southward campaign.

After arriving in the city, Chen Shao moved into a house that had been prepared for him.

I don't know which wealthy family vacated this house; its simple structure is quite suitable.

After his guards surrounded him, Chen Shao led seven of his personal guards into the room.

Four kinds of side dishes were placed on the table, along with a pot of warm wine. Chen Shao invited his guards to drink with him.

The next morning, Chen Shao led his men to the wilderness not far from the city outskirts.

A large crowd had already gathered and was watching the mining operation.

With the autumn harvest over, many people are staying at home, so they naturally come to join in the fun when there's such a big event to watch.

When everyone gathered around Chen Shao and brought him over, the atmosphere reached another small climax, with everyone pointing ahead and shouting "Prince of Dai!"

Chen Shao smiled and waved to the crowd before arriving at the mine entrance.

He stood among a group of craftsmen, who were covered in dust and seemed very reserved, as if afraid of soiling Chen Shao's clothes.

But as Chen Shao asked question after question, each one insightful and meaningful, these people gradually lost their fear and began to answer seriously.

Among the crowd was a middle-aged man who, watching this scene, frowned more and more deeply.

This person was none other than Li Gang, who was traveling in Hedong.

In his eyes, that person was originally supposed to be the most powerful and treacherous villain of the time, a cunning and treacherous figure.

He is now standing among a group of humble laborers, asking questions earnestly, listening patiently, and patting the laborers on the shoulder when he is pleased.

Then Chen Shao was seen standing in the crowd, seemingly saying something.

Because Li Gang was a bit far away and refused to squeeze in to listen, he told his servant to go in and listen.

A moment later, the servant came out, holding his back, and said, "It seems they were talking about burning coal for heating."

"Burn coal for heating?" Li Gang scoffed. "Once that thing is lit, it fills with toxic fumes. Is he trying to kill the people?"

After raising his questions, Li Gang suddenly fell silent for a while, thinking that this person always had seemingly ordinary but very practical policies.

Li Gang thought that perhaps he could wait and see if he could really use coal with billowing toxic fumes to keep thousands of households in Hedong warm through the winter.

If it's true, then his contribution will be remembered for generations to come.

He knew about smokeless coal; it was more expensive than charcoal.

Looking at Chen Shao in the crowd, he, a prince, stood out from the crowd of ragged commoners without being conspicuous at all.

Because his expression and actions didn't convey any sense of superiority. Even though they were wearing different clothes, Chen Shao didn't show the slightest bit of rejection.

Li Gang wanted to accuse Chen Shao of seeking fame and fortune, but upon closer examination, he realized that Chen Shao had no need to do so.

If he were just seeking fame and fortune, why would he make a special trip to Zezhou? If he were seeking fame and fortune, he couldn't have faked it to this extent. That kind of genuine non-rejection is something that can't be faked.

Finally, even Li Gang, who hated Chen Shao the most, had to admit that this man wasn't faking it; he was genuinely approachable.

Li Gang lowered his head and sighed inwardly, "If he didn't have this wolfish ambition, he might be a good official, a very good official."

In their view, Chen Shao must be preoccupied with how to frame loyal officials, coerce the emperor, develop his own power, install his cronies and henchmen, and plot to usurp the throne from the Song dynasty.

But in reality, Chen Shao was concerned about whether the people would suffer from the cold during the winter.

This is a problem that these high-ranking officials and scholars have been in charge of the affairs of the Song Dynasty for two hundred years, yet few of them care about.

Chen Shao was unaware that Li Gang was there, and even if he had, he would most likely have ignored him.

At this time, the officials arrived one after another. They were all surprised that the Prince of Dai had arrived at the mine earlier than them.

At this moment, Chen Shao was talking to the engineering college officials who had accompanied him, urging them to continue their research on coal coking.

Now that the technology exists, things become much simpler. After all, creating something from nothing is the most difficult part. (End of Chapter)