Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

There are also byproducts like tar, which are all good things.

After Link gave the order, several pieces of black ore were placed in front of him not long after.

Looking at these 'black stones', a hint of joy appeared in Link's eyes.

He was immediately certain that these black stones were coal! The familiar color and unique texture made him recognize them at a glance.

Link tossed the few dark lumps of coal into the roaring fireplace.

Before long, the coal was burning in the fireplace. The bright flames leaped merrily, adding warmth to the entire study. Link felt the warmth and his heart was filled with joy.

Having confirmed the existence of coal within the territory, the next step was to mine it. Link knew this was a crucial task, concerning the well-being of the people within the territory.

He began to think about the mining plan, how to organize manpower, and how to ensure the safety of the mining operation.

Meanwhile, Link began drawing up a blueprint for a stove. The stove had a simple and rough design; it was just a cylindrical shape with a chimney attached to it.

Link then ordered the blacksmiths in his territory to begin manufacturing the furnace according to his blueprints.

A day later, the blacksmith in the territory made the first furnace according to the blueprints drawn by Link and delivered it to Link.

The finished stove is about half a meter high, with a hollow belly to hold coal, and a movable iron lid on top to seal the stove.

Behind the stove, there is an iron pipe serving as a chimney to vent carbon monoxide from the stove. A small opening can be cut in the wall of the cabin to extend the chimney and expel the fumes, thus preventing poisoning.

Looking at the stove, Link felt a sense of accomplishment. Without a doubt, this stove would bring warmth and hope to the common people in the territory, allowing them to get through the cold winter peacefully.

"Next up are the honeycomb briquettes."

Link opened "Friends of Dual-Use Military and Civilian Talents," which contained the most primitive method of making honeycomb briquettes: mix 80% coal with 20% yellow mud until evenly mixed. Next, you need to make a briquette machine, which is simple; just find two carpenters to make it. The principle is similar to that of a balloon pump.

The honeycomb briquettes produced only need to be dried for a few days before they can be used. Before that, you can burn firewood for warmth.

Without delay, Link immediately arranged these matters one by one.

76. Stove

Conditions within the territory are currently quite limited. If circumstances permit, Link intended to use fired bricks and stones to build heated brick beds in the simple wooden houses where the commoners live.

He knew in his heart that the kang (heated brick bed) was probably much better at keeping out the cold than a stove, and could provide ordinary people with more warmth in the cold winter.

But given the current situation, for these destitute commoners, a stove is already the best option for keeping warm.

"Can such a small tin box really warm up a room?"

Upon hearing the news, Stella and Lucrezia, who happened to be free, went to the study together.

Lucrezia looked doubtful, her eyes filled with disbelief.

In her view, how could a small iron stove possibly warm up a cold room?

"If you don't believe me, how about we make a bet?" Link's lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile.

"What are we betting on?" Lucrezia stared wide-eyed at Link with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

“Hmm, there’s still some lean meat left from the Ice Wolf King. How about this, if I lose, I’ll make you guys some barbecue tonight. If I win, Lucrezia, I have a nice outfit. Come to my room tonight and try it on, what do you think?” Link said calmly and casually.

“Okay, deal.” Before Lucrezia could speak, the easygoing Stella agreed on her behalf.

In Stella's mind, it was just trying on clothes, what could possibly be the problem?

Moreover, if you win, you can enjoy a delicious barbecue. It's a sure-fire way to make money, so why not?

"I haven't agreed yet!"

Lucrezia looked at Sterula in front of her and said angrily.

She couldn't understand how Stella could make such a decision for her so easily.

"Why refuse? It's just putting on clothes. If we win, we can even eat the barbecue made by Lord Link, right?"

Sterula looked on expectantly, completely unaware of Lucrezia's worries.

Lucrezia rubbed her forehead, feeling somewhat troubled by the personality of her future colleague and partner.

She thought to herself: This guy is too easy to fool. Isn't he afraid that Lord Link will bring out some strange clothes for her to try on?

However, on second thought, she felt that Lord Link would definitely not harm her. At most, he would just give her some embarrassing clothes to try on, which wouldn't hurt her.

So, at Sterula's urging, Lucrezia acquiesced to the bet proposed by Link.

Soon, some coal was brought up.

Link skillfully loaded coal and some wood into the stove, adding some sawdust to ignite it.

His movements were practiced and skillful, as if he had done this countless times before.

Link then lit the flames in the furnace.

The heat generated by the burning sawdust quickly ignited the wood below. As the fire grew larger, plumes of black smoke billowed out through the cast iron chimney and rose into the sky.

The black soot, like a black ribbon, drifted slowly through the air.

As the coal and firewood burned, waves of warm heat radiated outwards through the stove.

The blazing flames scorched the furnace, and eventually, the entire furnace wall turned red, like a small, burning sun radiating astonishing heat.

In the end, the temperature in the entire study rose several degrees under the influence of this small stove.

The study, which was originally a bit cold and quiet, has now become warm and inviting.

Lucrezia and Sterula, who were closest to the fireplace, naturally felt the warmth as well.

"It's so warm! Lord Link, you're amazing! With this and this coal, we don't have to worry about anyone freezing to death!"

Stella stretched out her hand and approached the stove, enjoying the warmth emanating from it. She looked completely absorbed in the warmth, seemingly unaware that she had "sold out" Lucrezia beside her.

Seeing Stella's happy face, Lucrezia felt like crying.

She grumbled inwardly: Damn it! This guy just got me to accept the bet, and now he's saying the stove is warm.

Which side is this guy on?

Link smiled and looked at them, saying, "This kind of stove can not only be used for heating, but also for boiling water and cooking. After the iron sheet on the stove is heated, a kettle or frying pan can be placed on it, and the heat can be transferred to it. In this way, the heat from the combustion can be used more effectively."

Sterula and Lucrezia nodded, a hint of approval in their eyes.

The stove in front of me is indeed a good thing. In a wooden house without a fireplace, having such a stove to burn coal and firewood for warmth will definitely make this winter more comfortable.

After confirming that the furnace was effective, Link ordered the blacksmiths in his territory to work as fast as they could to make more furnaces.

He knew all too well how important the fireplace was to the common people in his territory.

With a stove, they were able to survive the cold winter days.

This also prompted the people in Thorn City to speed up coal mining.

To Link's delight, the area was indeed an open-pit coal mine, with many coal deposits exposed on the surface. Some buried areas were only one or two meters below the surface, and a little digging would yield a large amount of coal.

Link thought to himself that he was truly blessed with good fortune.

It's said that the land in the North is barren, but is that really true?

Link doesn't seem to think so now.

With its iron ore mines, open-pit coal mines, and abundant mineral resources, the Northern Territory is truly a treasure trove blessed by nature!

With proper development and utilization, the territory's growth will surely reach new heights.

The production of the stove was not difficult, but due to the limitations of the manufacturing process, the chimneys were fixed and could only go straight up and down, which could be considered the only drawback.

Considering the possibility of rainwater falling into the chimney, the locals will have to make their own cover on top of the chimney using mud and stones.

However, Link felt that this minor issue was no big deal for the civilians in the territory.

Having a warm stove to keep warm and not having to endure the cold is already an incredibly lucky thing, so they probably wouldn't care about such a small flaw.

With the problem of furnace manufacturing solved and iron mines within the territory providing a continuous supply of iron ore, mass production of furnaces is no longer a challenge.

The coal extraction also went very smoothly.

Mining coal in an open-pit mine is incredibly easy.

Chunks of dark coal ore were transported over and piled up, forming small mountains.

The workers began to mix yellow mud into the briquettes according to Link's method and proportions.

After Link demonstrated it once, the workers quickly learned how to crush the coal and mix it thoroughly with the yellow mud to make regular honeycomb briquettes.

Everything is going on in an orderly manner.

77. The debt of gratitude owed to you, sir, can never be repaid.

"Remember, the first batch of stoves should be given priority to families with young children, the elderly, and those who are frail."

After the first batch of furnaces were rushed out, Link instructed Rosselli to arrange the matter.

He knew that strong and healthy adults could endure the cold for a while without any problem, but newborn babies, young children, and the very old had little ability to resist the cold.

The first batch of stoves produced were naturally intended for this group of people, so that they could feel warmth during the cold winter days.

Luo Suli was also very dutiful. After receiving Link's orders, she personally wrapped herself in a fur coat, led some city guards, and began to distribute the first batch of stoves.

She knew all too well what these stoves meant to the families in need, so she didn't dare delay for a moment.

Because of the previous census, Luo Suli quickly figured out which people needed stoves the most.

She brought the stoves directly to people's homes, precisely located them, and delivered them to those who needed them most.

At each house she visited, she patiently explained to the locals how to use the stove, ensuring they could use it correctly and have a warm winter.

Seeing the grateful smiles on the faces of the ordinary people, Luo Suli felt that all her efforts were worthwhile.

......

Old Mike huddled in a corner of the cabin, his body tightly wrapped in a tattered animal skin.

The animal hide, weathered by time, had faded fur and bore several holes along its edges, yet it was the only thing Old Mike could find to keep warm.

Even so, the biting cold still followed him like a shadow, silently seeping in through the tiny cracks in the wooden house walls, relentlessly eroding his body, making him shiver uncontrollably and his teeth chatter involuntarily.

However, even amidst this cold and torment, a look of satisfaction appeared on Old Mike's face.

He knew in his heart that he really shouldn't ask for anything more.

Looking back, when he was strong and healthy, even though he lived in a dilapidated dwelling, he could still manage to get through the long and cold winter by gritting his teeth and enduring it, thanks to his still relatively robust body.

But now, time waits for no man, and his body is no longer what it used to be; the signs of aging are clearly visible.

If it weren't for the wooden hut that the lord specially built for him, his body would probably have been frozen stiff in this freezing weather, and his life would have been in danger.

"Which winter isn't as unbearable as living in hell? But this year's situation is so much better."

Old Mike muttered softly, his voice tinged with a sense of vicissitude and感慨.

He subconsciously stretched out his calloused, cracked, and rough hands and tightened the tattered animal hide on his body, as if this would keep out the rampant cold.

Just as old Mike was struggling alone in the cold winter, the door of the cabin creaked open.

A gust of cold wind rushed in, making old Mike shiver.

Immediately afterwards, a burly young man strode in.

His name was Kevin, and he served in the city guards. At that moment, he was carrying a strangely shaped stove in his left hand and a heavy bag of coal and firewood in his right hand, with a warm smile on his face.

"Uncle Mike! It's me, Kevin! I've brought you some good stuff!" Kevin shouted, his voice full of joy.

Old Mike squinted and carefully examined the body before recognizing Kevin.

"Hey, Kevin, it's you. Didn't you join the city guards? What brings you here? It's an unparalleled honor to help our kind lord, so you'd better do your job well and don't slack off!"

Old Mike said with a smile, his eyes full of expectation for Kevin.

"Of course! With such a good lord, I'd naturally do my best! Uncle Mike, I'm here today on behalf of the lord to deliver something to you! Look, what's this?"

As Kevin spoke, he brought the stove in his hand closer to Old Mike's face.

"Something sent by the lord? This is..."

Old Mike looked puzzled, his wrinkled face filled with confusion.

Having lived most of his life, he had never seen such an object before, and naturally had no idea what the purpose of this tin box was.

"Hehe, Uncle Mike, you'd better watch carefully!"