You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

According to the timeline of Qin's Moon, the recruitment of manpower in Lu Zuo Shang County to prepare for mining, coking, and ammonia fertilizer production took place ten months ago.

This matter is easy to say, but quite complicated to do.

Just to find coal mines, the Qin state dispatched 10,000 troops to him, and it took more than five months.

The subsequent work, such as building earthen kilns and mining coal, consumed a great deal of time.

Only in the last ten days or so have we seen initial results, producing the first batch of coke and the first batch of ammonia fertilizer.

However, this matter remains unknown to outsiders, and Lu Zuo's actions have become a laughing stock in Xianyang.

Many people believe that Lu Zuo is indulging in wishful thinking and fantasies.

How can you burn black stones?

Jingni dismissed this with disdain, as the idea that stones could be used as firewood was beyond her comprehension.

......

Half a day later.

As soon as Jingni arrived near the coking plant, she saw wisps of smoke drifting from the other side of the mountain, swirling and rising into the sky.

The air was filled with an extremely strong and pungent acrid smell, mixed with a scorching odor similar to sulfur, which was swept in by gusts of mountain wind.

"What does this taste like?"

She clenched her nose, then a thought struck her: "Could it be...?"

Thinking of this, Jingni lightly touched the ground with her toes and shot out in a flash, quickly passing over the low hill in front of her and seeing a sight that made her speechless!

In the valley, dozens of dark earthen kilns stretched out in a continuous line.

At the edge of the kiln complex, a small hill made of black stones stands out.

Several shirtless men, their faces covered in soot, were using rudimentary tools to throw black stones into the opening of a newly built earthen kiln.

Once the kiln was more than half full, one person threw in a torch, and the oil inside burst into flames. Another person quickly sealed the kiln door with mud bricks.

Before long, thick black smoke billowed out from the holes reserved on the top of the kiln.

"This is……"

Jingni stared wide-eyed in astonishment: "The stone is really burning?"

There's a reason why the character for "firewood" (柴) is listed first in the phrase "firewood, rice, oil, and salt."

Especially in the north, where winters can be freezing cold!

People often freeze to death in large numbers due to heating problems during the winter!

Almost every year, the number of people who froze to death in the Qin state was staggering!

A glint of light flashed in Jingni's eyes: "If we had these things..."

"That would save so many people from freezing to death every year!"

Just then, Lu Zuo appeared in Jing Ni's sight. His face was full of joy as he drove a carriage out of the coking plant. On the carriage were large vats, the contents of which were unknown.

"Finally, a chance..."

She took out a pill from her bosom, popped it into her mouth, and quickly retreated.

Not long after, he collapsed on Lu Zuo's path.

.......

A little while later...

"Whoa!"

Lu Zuo pulled on the reins, stopped the carriage, and looked at the beautiful woman lying on the ground: "Jing Ni?"

He jumped down quickly and rushed to Jing Ni's side, reaching out to examine her pulse points and using his true energy to probe her meridians.

"The Triple Burner is blocked, and the meridians are disordered; this is poisoning...?"

Lu Zuo hesitated for a moment, then picked up Jing Ni and placed her on the carriage. He then channeled a wisp of true energy into her to protect her heart meridian before driving away, heading straight for the Shangjun Prefecture.

……

Night fell.

The bedroom of the Marquis of Changxin's residence in Shangjun Prefecture.

Lu Zuo, who had just found a secluded spot to store all the ammonia fertilizer in his personal space, pushed open the bedroom door and saw that Jing Ni had already woken up and was looking around with a dazed expression.

"Jingni, how are you feeling?"

"Jing Ni greets Marquis Changxin..."

Upon hearing Lu Zuo's words, she withdrew her gaze, looked at Lu Zuo, and moved her body towards the bottom of the bed, intending to bow to him.

"There's no need for that."

Lu Zuo quickly stepped forward to help her back to bed, saying, "You've been poisoned, so there's no need for such formalities."

"What's wrong with you?"

"Why did he collapse from severe poisoning in Shangjun, within the territory of Qin?"

"Reporting back to the Marquis..."

Jing Ni took a light breath: "I was ordered by the Prime Minister to investigate the Chu spies who had infiltrated Shangjun."

"He chased them all the way to Shangjun, and during the fight, he was accidentally injured by their poisoned needles."

"That spy was incredibly skilled, and his hidden weapons were coated with a strange poison. Although I repelled him, the poison took effect..."

When I woke up again, I was already here.

At this point, she raised her eyes and looked at Lu Zuo with tender eyes: "This time... I thank you, Lord Marquis, for saving my life."

"If it weren't for Lord Hou's passing by and his assistance, and his use of his true energy to protect my heart meridian, Jing Ni would probably be nothing but a skeleton by now."

"I see." Lu Zuo nodded. "Then you should rest and recuperate here. Although this poison is potent, you haven't been poisoned for long, and you will recover in a few days."

"Um."

Jingni nodded slightly, thinking to herself, "Finally, I'm getting close to him."

"From now on... things will be much easier."

……

Several days later, at the Prime Minister's residence.

Lü Buwei, wearing a fox fur coat, sat in the main seat, while several high-ranking officials in court attire sat around him. The wine and dishes on the table had already been served more than halfway.

Turn the page, and you'll find yourself in another world.

These people have come to the Prime Minister's residence for a small gathering today, and they also want to discuss how to settle the people after winter begins.

As they talked, the conversation turned to Lu Zuo.

"I wonder how that black stone that Lu Zuo got is doing?"

"I wonder how that black stone that Lu Zuo got is doing?"

"What else can we do?"

Court Minister Wei Zhuang shook his head helplessly: "This matter has long been a laughing stock in Xianyang."

"Even a street kid knows the principle that stone cannot be burned, but Lu Zuo is obsessed with this kind of... nonsense."

"Utterly ridiculous!"

Lü Buwei gently put down the jade cup in his hand: "Young people always have some unrealistic fantasies."

Sitting opposite him, Ying Xi nodded: "To burn stones for warmth?"

"That's utterly delusional!"

"If stones could be burned, then mountains would all be firewood; how could there be people starving and freezing in winter?"

"Why should we, the people of Great Qin, toil year after year for firewood, fighting for even a sliver of firewood?"

"Does Lu Zuo think everyone in the world is a three-year-old child?"

"Alas," Wei Zhuang sighed, "This matter has consumed a tremendous amount of money, food, and manpower. Tens of thousands of soldiers have been working for five months, and the amount of food, fodder, and tools consumed is no small sum."

"Wouldn't it be more beneficial to the country and its people if the funds were used to dredge channels, strengthen city defenses, or reclaim wasteland for farming?"

"Now all we have left is a useless rocky hill and dozens of nonsensical earthen kilns..."

"The cost in money and supplies is one thing," Lü Buwei sighed. "What I'm worried about is that if this matter gets out, it might damage the prestige of my Qin state."

"When the other states hear this, won't they laugh at Qin for having no one capable of believing such absurd and ridiculous things?"

"What I fear even more is that if this trend continues, those at the top and those at the bottom will follow suit and all pursue these illusory arts. What benefit will that bring to the country and its people?"

At this point, Lü Buwei thought to himself, how could Zhao Ji have believed Lu Zuo's words and been willing to send troops to do these absurd things for him?

Could it be...

These two had already been hooking up, and Lu Zuo had been whispering sweet nothings in her ear?

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, a letter has arrived from Shangjun."

Just then, a servant entered, bowed to everyone in the hall, and then walked up to Lü Buwei and handed him a letter.

Lü Buwei reached out and took the letter, opened the envelope, took out a piece of cloth covered with writing, and then looked down at it.

The letter was sent back by Jing Ni, informing Lü Buwei that she had gotten close to Lu Zuo and was trying to have further in-depth exchanges with him.

Upon seeing what followed, Lü Buwei's gaze suddenly sharpened!

"How is this possible?"

Upon hearing Lü Buwei's exclamation, everyone else turned to look.

"Your Excellency, what's wrong?"

Lü Buwei put away the letter, picked up his wine cup, and took a big gulp: "News has come from Shangjun that those black stones Lu Zuo mentioned can really be burned!"

Transporting coal was too troublesome, as Lu Zuo had told Zhao Ji before starting mining.

The coke and coal would be kept for Qin's own use, but some would also be sent to Xinzheng in Han.

Zhao Ji didn't care much about this matter; as long as her lover was happy, she didn't care what he did.

However, this matter is a completely different concept for important officials in the court!

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhuang was slightly taken aback: "Prime Minister, can that black stone really be burned?"

Lü Buwei nodded: "The report says that the stones in the mountains of Shangjun are not only flammable, but also produce a fierce and long-lasting fire, even more so than firewood."

"What?"

Ying Xi abruptly stood up, his eyes wide open, as if he had heard the most absurd and outlandish tale: "Stones...can really be used as firewood?"

"Prime Minister Lü, is this truly the case?"

"The letter was sent by a reliable person, witnessed by my own eyes, how could it be false?" Lü Buwei sighed deeply: "We were all wrong before."

These words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving the people present speechless and stunned on the spot.

After a long while, Wei Zhuang finally reacted and slammed his hand on the table!

"May God bless the Great Qin!"

"If this stone can provide an inexhaustible source of fire, what need is there for the people of Great Qin to worry about getting through the winter?"

"In the northern prefectures and counties, the number of people who die from the cold or from logging each year can be reduced by seven or eight tenths!"

"No, most likely! This is... this is a divine object that has saved countless lives!"

Ying Xi snapped out of her disbelief: "It's not just about keeping warm!"

"If this stone is readily available and easy to mine, then the army's cooking stations, city government offices, smelting workshops, and even the people's cooking can all save countless efforts in cutting and transporting firewood!"

"The freed-up manpower can be used for land reclamation, canal construction, or military equipment!"

"This is the cornerstone for leveraging national power!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had seen a broad and promising road ahead: "Mountains as firewood, mountains as firewood!"

"This person, Lu Zuo..."

"He truly has some talent; no wonder the King bestowed upon him the title of Marquis..."

"It seems our judgment is far inferior to Your Majesty's."

Lu Buwei slowly said, "The money, grain, and manpower spent before are but a drop in the ocean compared to what we have gained today."

"What I am concerned about is not the loss of dignity, but the fact that once this thing is produced, the profits from firewood and charcoal production throughout the world, and even the winter survival strategies of various countries, will all be thrown into turmoil!"

……

At this very moment, Lu Zuo disappeared from the world of Qin's Moon and returned to Nantong.

He first found a secluded spot, removed all the ammonia fertilizer, and then sent someone to summon Shen Luoyan.

"Sir, what good things have you brought us this time?"

As soon as Pu entered, Shen Luoyan, as if she had expected it, smiled and asked Lu Zuo.