Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 213, Section 212: General Yan Lang
He spent the whole day going back and forth like this, and even personally taught these common people how to make coal briquettes.

The poor are extremely adaptable.

Without molds and unable to afford ceramic kilns, coal briquettes and yellow clay mixed with water can be shaped into blocks or strips and still be fired.

Using it this way would require some Qin Banliang, but if there's a way, no one wants to spend the money.

The reason is that the fields and gardens now belong to the king's private property. The area around Minxian County is sparsely populated, and even though the mountains and forests further away are lush with vegetation, they are not easily accessible to ordinary people.

Not only are there heavy taxes for entering the mountains, but wild animals also inhabit them.

Although management is not so strict around the edge of the woodland, one can only gather dry and thin branches, which will burn out as soon as a fire is lit. It is difficult to even cook a meal every day, let alone keep warm day and night.

There was firewood and charcoal for sale locally, but they burned just as quickly. Ordinary families with a little extra money would buy some firewood, but the smoke would still be billowing, and it wouldn't burn as well as these coal briquettes.

After thinking it over, it really does seem like a good fit.

Only the servants of some wealthy families on the second floor did not look too good.

This is because local firewood and charcoal are also a big business.

Whether it's buying firewood or charcoal, the profit may seem small, but it can actually make a lot of money.

Now that the Queen is suddenly pushing these coal briquettes around, isn't that like stealing food from their bowls?
Mrs. Ba glanced around the crowd and couldn't help but smile again.

Business matters should naturally be handled by businessmen.

The reason their Qin queen was so intelligent was that she entrusted these matters to someone like her. Otherwise, she would have been forced to push through the post station—

How could a small post station possibly withstand the local powerful figures?
But it's different with her.

Since he could get half of the coal business in the Qin Dynasty, he would then authorize the local post stations to sell the coal in each place he visited.

The Ba clan members are already overwhelmed with promotional efforts, so where would they find such a large population to conduct business all over the country?

Only in this way can it be a win-win situation.

Moreover, these coal briquettes sound crude and don't seem to have any particular grade or quality. True noble families use the finest wood to make charcoal, which burns without smoke and has a pleasant aroma. Isn't that much more prestigious than this?

Therefore, although it shook everyone's business, it did not shake the foundation.

In this subtle and gradual way, everyone can profit from it, so the matter is left at that.

If it really doesn't work...

Madam Ba sneered: If they really refuse to listen to reason and have to suffer the consequences, then we'll just have to send this coal to the border troops and spread the word.

General Yan, who had been stationed on the border for many years and was deeply trusted by the king, naturally knew whose side to take in this matter.

With military power in hand, why would he be afraid of these local scoundrels?

Her mind was racing, her thoughts meticulously considered. Meanwhile, downstairs in the hall, the quick-witted and resourceful members of the Ba clan had already begun asking everyone questions.

The group was somewhat apprehensive, fearing that this distinguished guest might ask some tricky questions. They were illiterate and if they couldn't answer, all their efforts would be wasted.

To his surprise, the other party kept their promise just as he had said.

The first question simply asks: "What precautions should be taken when burning honeycomb briquettes?"

It's that simple!
One of the young girls whispered, "We must not close the doors and windows tightly. If we seal them off too tightly, there will be no ventilation, and we will easily get poisoned by the fire."

"it is good!"

The young man giving the speech cheered loudly, and then without hesitation beckoned the girl forward:

Did you bring a cloth bag?

The girl was stunned for a moment, then her face turned red instantly—her father at home did not believe that such a good thing could happen. Although he had asked her to come, he had not asked her to bring a basket or a cloth bag.

So she reached out and gathered up her coarse cloth skirt.

There were patches and scraps on it, but it was fine for holding millet.

The young man smiled, then reached into the large bowl and scooped a deep ladle of golden millet from the towering pile, pouring the overflowing millet grains, which were still sliding down, directly into the other woman's skirt pocket.

"ah!"

This bowl is so big, it could easily hold two bowls, let alone one! The Queen is so kind, and so is the gentleman before me!

The girl suppressed a gasp, then blushed, thanked him repeatedly, and hurried home.

With her as the opening, everyone realized that the topic was indeed simple, and that the millet was not just a cheap imitation mixed with many pebbles and gravel!

Didn't you see that person scooping downwards and towards the center, and what came out was all golden, high-quality millet?

The crowd rushed forward, chattering excitedly, and in an instant, they surrounded the pile of millet in front of them.

Mrs. Barth smiled.

Although the presentation was simple for these business people, everyone had rehearsed it beforehand.

The gifts sent from different places varied, and there was even the possibility that some clansmen would submit inferior rice as part of the tribute.

But regardless, for the common people, this is all food.

If the propaganda in all regions is of this standard, then the Queen's decree will certainly be carried out exceptionally well!

She gave a haughty snort:
Even if the Wu merchants can travel to the Western Regions and bring rare species to the Queen, so what? That's all for next year.

This year, she, Mrs. Ba, will definitely be the winner.

……

And among the border troops.

Yan Lang, who was returning to camp after leading his light cavalry in drills, received a report from his subordinates:
"General, a merchant from the Ba clan requests an audience. He is carrying a letter from the Queen and has been waiting for two days."

Yan Lang was taken aback: "A merchant? A letter from the Queen?" Although he was in the border army, his father had once been appointed as a general and grand marshal, and he himself was also a general. Naturally, he could not be completely unaware of what was happening in Xianyang.

Therefore, it is known that the king recently appointed a queen.

But why would a merchant come to see him with a letter from the Queen in this harsh and cold border region of Minxian?

Could it be that he is to lead the border troops to engage in commercial activities?

Yan Lang was able to be appointed as a general, so he was naturally not someone who would stick to the old ways.

It is permissible for soldiers to engage in business as long as they do not violate military orders; appropriate leniency may be applied.

After all, maintaining the border troops' food supplies by relying solely on allocations from Xianyang City was difficult.

He had served the king for many years and knew the king's bottom line.

However, winter is approaching, a time when enemies from all sides will attack. If we were to do these things at this time...

Remembering his younger brother and sisters' descriptions of the Queen, he opened his arms, allowing the servants to remove his armor, and then gave the order:
"Half an hour later, after I have finished washing and resting, I will ask someone to come and see me."

The Ba clan members outside the camp had been waiting for two days. Now that they heard that their host had finally returned, they were overjoyed and quickly ordered their attendants to carry the large boxes they had prepared onto the camp.

When Yan Lang arrived at the front hall, he saw that the Ba clan members had ordered two people to carry over a strange-looking iron stove.

The furnace has a thick iron furnace cylinder at the bottom, which requires two people to hug, and an even larger iron plate on top.

Further up, there is a long, thin, cylindrical chimney that is clearly not fully installed.

"What is this?"

The Ba clan members hurriedly bowed and said, "If the iron sheet of this chimney were longer, the hot smoke would circulate inside, making the whole hall warm and cozy."

He paused for a moment before continuing:
"General, please forgive me. This was personally instructed by the Queen."

"The Queen said that General Wang led his soldiers to guard the border hard, so she wanted to protect them from the bitter cold. That's why she ordered people to build iron stoves. With the coal that my Ba clan transported from afar, the camp will surely be protected from the bitter cold in winter."

Yan Lang's brows relaxed at this moment, and he bowed from afar: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Even though he was in a remote area, he could still keep warm. In a few days, a huge charcoal brazier would be set up in the tent, and then there would be firewood and charcoal burning day and night.

The young man from the merchant family boldly laughed:
"General, the Queen bestowed this item upon you so that you may personally experience its benefits. If it proves useful, then have craftsmen here to either extend the chimney in the house with sheet metal or build walls with terracotta and install internal flues."

"In this way, accommodations were also arranged for the ordinary soldiers."

Iron is available among the border troops.

If you think the cost is too high, then build earthen walls and heated brick beds.

That tin stove was modeled after the heating stoves used in rural areas in later generations during winter; it could be filled with either firewood, charcoal, or coal.

If you're just storing coal, you don't need to add firewood frequently. Leaving two coal briquettes at night is enough to keep you well until dawn.

A large kettle can also be placed on the stove. In winter, water in the border camp freezes instantly, so having this naturally saves them from other hardships.

The servant was eloquent and concise, and in just a few words he explained the necessity of boiling water as well as the benefits of the tin stove and coal.

She also made sure to mention that Ba was promoting the product to various harsh and cold places on behalf of the Queen, in order to increase its familiarity with the product.

Yan Lang listened patiently, and his expression gradually relaxed.

As long as it's not wartime, generals are generally not too miserable, but ordinary soldiers guarding the borders are not necessarily so.

They could neither afford enough furs nor wear warmer silk, so they could only stuff tattered hemp fibers, willow catkins, and reeds into their clothes to barely keep warm.

They were all his own soldiers, and he couldn't help but feel heartbroken when they suffered frostbite and other injuries.

In winter, foreign enemies often invade, plundering supplies and provisions. Under the bitter cold and arduous battles, without enough firewood and charcoal, the soldiers would truly suffer.

In previous years, a large portion of military expenditures was spent on purchasing firewood and charcoal.

The Queen's actions can be described as benevolent.

Yan Lang recalled his family's comments about the queen's words and actions, and also remembered Yan Cong's eagerness to go to Bohai County. At this moment, he finally understood—

The Queen is kind and considerate of the common people, a character quite different from the King's.

……

Qin Shi, far away in Xianyang Palace, naturally had no idea that his single command had caused everyone to exert such great effort.

Even if you know this, it is only right.

If she didn't have such a strong motivation, why would she become queen?
At this moment, she asked softly, "Have all of Mao Sheng's fellow disciples answered the call?"

The Crimson Maiden smiled: "We have received a reply regarding the secret techniques of Kunlun written by the Queen, and the entire sect has already rushed to Xianyang."

However, his fellow disciples are scattered in various places, and letters have not yet arrived from the farthest one.

But Qin Shi didn't care: "These are enough."

She recalled the other party's presentation of the Golden Elixir, and her expression turned cold and stern: "If I provide the secret method, but this batch is not good enough, then I will summon the next batch."

The woman bowed her head: "Yes."

As for how to deal with those who are not capable, there's no need to elaborate.

　In ancient times, millet was called sorghum, and glutinous millet was called sorghum. They were the main grains in the north that appeared almost at the same time.

　　However, millet, as the king of grains, has many other names, including the millet in the poem "A Pillow of Yellow Millet." I won't go into details.

　　In the Qin state, there were no formal visiting cards. At that time, if a person of lower rank wanted to see a person of higher rank, they would usually go to their door in person and wait.

　　It's a little shorter today...

　　(End of this chapter)