Don't farm, cultivate immortality!

"Please come in quickly!" the Emperor said.

Zhuang Xing and Yunling then pushed open the door and crossed the last threshold.

The first thing you see is a row of extremely tall bookshelves on the wall. The bookshelves are straight and orderly, but the wood they are made of has a glossy golden color. This is the extremely precious Phoebe zhennan wood. Various books are densely packed on the bookshelves, some placed randomly and some placed very neatly, covered with a little dust.

The books that could be placed in the emperor's study must not be ordinary items. Zhuang Xing guessed that most of them were unique rare books and genuine works by famous people.

After they entered, there was a creaking sound behind them; it was Eunuch Li closing the door.

Outside the door, Eunuch Li yawned, leaned against the doorpost, and stood with his eyes half-closed.

Compared to his drowsy father-in-law, the emperor was full of energy and had a rosy complexion.

Perhaps the pot of monkey wine really worked, or perhaps finding coal and resolving a matter of national importance made him so excited that he couldn't sleep. When he saw the Taoist priest enter, he jumped up from his seat with a big smile on his face.

"Please look, sir." The Emperor pointed to a corner of the Imperial Study.

It was a stove, a cylindrical earthen stove, blackened and crumbling with dirt, completely out of place in this elegant and luxurious imperial study.

But the emperor was as happy as a child, showing the earthen stove to Zhuang Xing as if it were a toy a child had just received and couldn't wait to show it off to his playmate.

"This is a coal-fired stove," the Emperor said with delight. "Last night I issued an order, and before dawn, the stove was found in the city at a blacksmith's house."

The Emperor slowly recounted what he had discovered the previous night.

All I can say is that he truly deserves to be called emperor; with a single command, his subordinates run faster than horses and work harder than oxen.

In less than a whole night, just past midnight, all the blacksmith shops, big and small, in the capital were searched.

This furnace was found in a blacksmith's shop.

It was an unknown blacksmith using this furnace. Most blacksmiths in the capital used charcoal to smelt iron, and only a few blacksmith shops had ever used coal.

These blacksmiths don't use coal much. They don't use coal for iron smelting, but for brewing tea and for heating in winter.

This stove is the small stove that the blacksmith uses to brew tea.

There were more than a hundred blacksmith shops in the capital, but coal was found in only five of them.

What's even more coincidental is that these five blacksmith families all came from the same place.

"Sir, guess where they came from?"

“Since Your Majesty has asked me to guess, it must be a region related to me,” Zhuang Xing said. “Then I will guess Chenzhou.”

"It is indeed Chenzhou!" the Emperor said.

Zhuang Xing and Yun Ling exchanged a glance. After hearing the Emperor mention Chenzhou, they both had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

They had seen coal in the sword-forging hall. The technique of forging iron with coal had been practiced at Xuanqing Temple for many years. Xuanqing Temple had a sword-forging hall even before it had dealings with the government.

Xuanqing Temple has a tradition of going down the mountain every ten years to recruit disciples, including those who enter the sect and those who only learn skills.

This means that the blacksmithing skill must have been passed down from the mountains.

Iron smelting from coal was not a rare thing in Xuanqing Temple. Ironware was quite common in Chenzhou, at least around Xuanqing Temple. Zhuang Xing remembered that his family had an iron pot when he was a child.

Iron pots are not common in the capital. Iron smelted in the capital is mostly used to make swords and weapons. The iron smelting technology here is not as advanced as that at Xuanqing Temple.

Those five blacksmiths, whose ancestors migrated from Chenzhou to the capital many years ago and settled there, also passed down their coal-working skills.

They called coal "black cinnabar" or "necropolis." According to them, coal was hard to find in the capital, and the coal they used was bought from Chenzhou. Even in Chenzhou, coal was hard to buy because there were few coal miners.

So they only bought some coal from Chenzhou for their own use. In addition, they regarded the technique of smelting iron from coal as their most treasured skill. They had a group of private customers who would ask them to forge weapons. Most of them were demon hunters who were willing to pay a high price for a good weapon. Only when they met such customers would they use their stored coal to do big business.

When they ran out of coal, they asked an acquaintance to bring it back from Chenzhou.

The Emperor said that when the Imperial Guards found the blacksmith, they were greatly startled. They thought they had committed a serious crime in their private dealings. One of the more timid ones even wet his pants on the spot, and when he came to the palace, his legs were shaking uncontrollably.

The emperor also learned from the blacksmith how to use coal. It was necessary to use this kind of perforated stove to reduce the smoke. When using it, the windows had to be opened, and even in winter, they had to be left slightly ajar, just like when using charcoal, so as not to make it stuffy.

After hearing the emperor's words, Zhuang Xing looked at the earthen stove again and had a different feeling.

It turns out this is a fellow villager's stove; it's like meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

Chapter 210 His Majesty is a Wise Ruler

This stove is older than the entire business. It has been diligently brewing tea for decades, never imagining that one day it would be moved to the emperor's study.

The furnace's workmanship is not very good; although it does not affect its use, there are several cracks.

The emperor didn't mind these flaws at all. He placed the stove in his study not to use it for fire, but because it was a collectible, not furniture.

This was the first coal-fired stove the emperor found.

The moment the stove was brought to the Imperial Study, it became more than just a stove. When the historians recorded it in the Records of the Grand Historian, they would say that the history of the people of Dayu using coal began with this cylindrical stove made of clay, and it would become the opening chapter of a new chapter in history.

The earthen stove still contained unused coal. The emperor opened the lid under the stove, revealing coal briquettes with holes punched in them.

The blacksmith did some simple processing on the natural coal to make it easier to burn. Although coal is buried in the ground, it is not the same kind of stone as gold or iron ore. It actually evolved from wood. Wood is buried deep in the ground and undergoes various wonderful changes over a period of time that humans cannot experience, eventually turning vegetation into coal.

Coal itself is not poisonous unless it is mixed with toxic metals during its evolution. In that case, the smoke emitted when it is burned can be poisonous.

Ordinary coal, when used, requires the same precautions as burning charcoal; proper ventilation is essential.

If combustion is incomplete, both coal and charcoal can produce suffocating gases.

Although people in this era did not know why burning charcoal with the doors and windows closed would cause poisoning, they did know that when burning charcoal, the windows should be slightly opened.

However, many houses are inherently drafty. Thatched huts are naturally like this, and even large houses built of blue bricks in big cities are rarely able to be sealed off completely.

After asking a few questions, Zhuang Xing realized that the people who burned coal had already figured out how to use it.

The emperor said he had already given orders to search for and explore for coal.

Tomorrow at court, all officials will be asked to work together to formulate new policies.

With firewood in short supply everywhere, coal mining is a lucrative business opportunity.

This is what officials do best: provide convenience for coal miners, exempt them from taxes, and without any promotion, coal will naturally become popular.

This industry will become highly sought after, and savvy businessmen will flock to it.

It's early summer now, and there's still a full six months to prepare before winter sets in. This year's firewood shortage should be greatly alleviated.

"That year, when we were in dire straits, you offered us wheat seeds and cotton, and yesterday you brought us coal." The emperor said with a joyful expression, "Meeting you, sir, is truly a blessing for our Great Yu! I will certainly ask someone to record your deeds in the history books, so that your name will be remembered for eternity!"

"How dare I accept such a great name?" Zhuang Xing said. "I was not the first to find wheat, cotton and charcoal. Others have been using them for a long time. I just took a step ahead of them."

He was telling the truth; the wheat he and Yunling planted on the mountain was from seeds left by their predecessors.

The cotton found in Yidu was a seed brought by a foreign merchant.

This coal has been used by Xuanqing Temple and Baihua Valley for many years.

He did indeed only take half a step more than others.

"Sir, you are too modest. Even if someone else were to take this half step, it might take them ten years to complete it," the Emperor said. "Including the coal matter, you have already accomplished three great feats. One great feat would be enough to grant you an official title, land, and a mansion, allowing you to enjoy all the riches and honors. With three achievements, I don't know how to reward you. I intend to invite the Ministers of Rites and Revenue to add your names to the list, and also to have a stele erected and a temple built for the Immortal Mountain and Immortal Temple. I wonder what your opinion is?"

“Your Majesty need not come here.” Zhuang Xing cupped his hands. “Before we set out, our master instructed us that the mountain was a place for quiet cultivation. We are disciples of a Taoist temple, and we came down the mountain to broaden our horizons. We dare not interfere in the affairs of the court.”

"So...sir, did you feel you broadened your horizons on this trip?"

"I've seen a lot."

"Having seen so much, is there anything you wish to ask for?"

"I don't feel like I have anything I want; contentment brings me happiness."

The emperor paused for a moment, then sighed.

"Now that you mention it, I'm actually a little envious of you, sir."

"I heard from Eunuch Li that His Majesty has not slept all night. Why doesn't His Majesty go and rest first, so as not to harm his health?"

"I originally wanted to take you to visit the palace myself, but you said you were a little tired."

The emperor yawned. The sun was already high in the sky outside. After sharing his excitement about the coal, he was immediately overcome with drowsiness.

"Although this palace is quite spacious, there are a few scenic spots. If you don't mind, sir, I can ask my servants to show you around."

"I've been wanting to see the legendary imperial palace."

"Haha, only those who have never been here before will find it strange. They might find it interesting the first time they see it, but if they see it twice, three times, or even every day, they'll have to hold their breath. Otherwise, they might run away one day and never want to come back," the emperor joked.

"His Majesty is a wise ruler."

Whether he was a wise ruler or not, only future generations will know.

"What we have seen along the way tells us that His Majesty is a wise ruler."

The emperor smiled when he heard Zhuang Xing say that the world was at peace and the people were living in contentment.

Zhuang Xing and Yunling followed him out of the Imperial Study. When Eunuch Li, who was dozing off, heard the door open, he shuddered.

"Eunuch Li, go find someone familiar with the area and show the two of them around the palace," the emperor said. "Once everything is arranged, you should go and rest as well."

“This servant understands,” said Eunuch Li.

The emperor nodded and went back to his palace to catch up on his sleep.

Eunuch Li summoned a young maidservant. The maidservant wore a pair of light blue embroidered shoes and clean white silk stockings.

She walked gracefully, taking small steps to stand in front of the two men, and slightly curtsied.

"Greetings, two immortal masters. My name is He Xiang." He Xiang's glossy black braid swayed slightly, and a faint fragrance wafted from her.

Eunuch Li gave He Xiang an ebony and red-tasseled token, and gave her a few more instructions, saying that the Immortal Master was now in her hands, and she must not neglect him.

After giving his instructions, Eunuch Li turned and left. The old man seemed exhausted, walking unsteadily on the mahogany path under the eaves, making one worry that he might fall to the ground. Fortunately, there were two young eunuchs supporting him, one on each side.

After seeing the old man off, He Xiang led the two of them to visit the palace.

“My daughter has been in the palace for twelve years, and has grown up there since she was a child,” He Xiang said, walking ahead.

Zhuang Xing followed He Xiang on a tour of the palace. They visited the Imperial Garden and saw the Imperial Guards. Before they knew it, it was noon.

Chapter 211 My senior brother also visited the palace.

The palace is very large, but the best place to visit is the Royal Garden.

It turns out that the green lake seen when entering the palace was a corner of the Imperial Garden. Zhuang Xing saw geese in the lake. There were not only geese, but also mandarin ducks. Under the lake water, there were golden and red carp. When the carp swam, their scales shimmered. Each one was fat and plump.

It felt like strolling through a park, except this park was exceptionally large.