The Young Dragon of the Ming Dynasty: Bound to an Industrial Blueprint from the Start

This is clearly a tentative signal from official or even military demand.

It may be related to the previous attention paid by Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, or it may simply be that the lower-level officials saw the usefulness of charcoal and wanted to prepare for winter heating for the government office or related projects.

Zhu Zhanji realized that opportunity and challenge had arrived at the same time.

Official orders mean more stable sales channels and potential endorsement, but they also mean stricter requirements and more complex dealings with clients. The charcoal plant's existing production methods and quality control must be upgraded to a higher level.

He instructed Chun Tao to reply to Manager Guo: they could make contact, indicating that the charcoal yard was willing to do its best to supply, but the other party needed to clarify the quantity, delivery time, quality requirements, and acceptance standards.

At the same time, urging Sun San to expedite the finalization of the honeycomb briquette stove might be a good key to unlocking the official market, as this more convenient and efficient heating method is perhaps the key to success.

The smoke from the Xishanzhuang charcoal yard never ceased, day and night. In the experimental shed, Sun San looked at a gray pottery honeycomb briquette stove that had just been successfully fired, with a regular shape and tight joints, and showed a relieved yet expectant smile.

Inside the furnace, the first specially made honeycomb briquette was ignited. Blue flames rose evenly along the central hole and around the briquette, and the heat quickly dissipated.

A new type of furnace was born in this mountain valley.

The final design of Sun San's "Xishan Honeycomb Coal Stove" is a vertical square column made of several specially made ceramic slabs joined together and reinforced with heat-resistant clay. It is about two feet high and more than one foot on each side.

The bottom of the furnace has an adjustable air inlet, the top has a pot support ring and a smoke outlet, and the center of the furnace has a circular fire channel running from top to bottom.

The matching honeycomb briquettes are cylindrical, with a diameter that matches the fire channel. The furnace can hold three honeycomb briquettes, and the briquettes are covered with longitudinal holes.

The stove is covered with a basket-like outer cover made of finely woven brambles and lined with thin felt. It is not only heat-insulating and heat-proof, but also easy to carry and move, and even has a rustic aesthetic appeal.

Zhu Zhanji personally tested the first batch of finished products.

Light a honeycomb briquette and put it into the stove. Cover the stove with the lid, and soon the stove will evenly emit warmth.

The firepower can be precisely adjusted via the bottom damper, ensuring complete combustion and minimal smoke.

Most importantly, it can be easily placed in any corner of the room without the need for a stove, greatly expanding its usage scenarios.

"Excellent!" Zhu Zhanji clapped his hands in praise. "Master Sun, this furnace is truly exceptional. It is suitable not only for farmers, but also for shops in the city, government offices, and even military camps and traveler's quarters."

He immediately gave the following instructions: First, while ensuring the supply of existing coal briquettes, the coal yard should begin small-scale trial production of honeycomb briquettes and coal stoves.

Secondly, the three finest coal stoves, along with a sufficient amount of honeycomb briquettes, were carefully packaged and taken back to the Prince's residence by Chun Tao. One set was presented to Zhang Shi, explaining that it was the latest product made by the charcoal craftsmen and was convenient for moving and use.

The other two sets were to be decided by Mr. Zhang, who could either give them away or allow them to be used for trial purposes.

Third, let Manager Guo spread the word in the charcoal shop that a "more convenient, more energy-efficient, and portable new type of heater" will soon be available for pre-order, with the price yet to be determined, but it will certainly be expensive.

The next day at noon, Zhang received a novel stove from her son. After trying it out, she was pleasantly surprised.

This stove is much more flexible than a fixed stove. It can be placed in the living room or study to provide warmth at any time, and its appearance is more pleasing to the eye than I expected, despite its rustic design.

She kept one set for herself, and showed the other set to the visiting officials' families. They were amazed and inquired about the origin of the set. Zhang readily agreed and told them the name of the charcoal company.

Soon, news of honeycomb briquette stoves spread like wildfire within certain circles in Beijing.

Curiosity and inquiries abounded, and Manager Guo was prepared this time, presenting a pre-prepared "pre-sale agreement": due to the complex craftsmanship of the stove, only thirty sets would be supplied in the first batch, each set would come with one hundred special honeycomb briquettes, with a total price of fifteen taels of silver.

Honeycomb briquettes can be purchased separately, and their price is slightly higher than that of regular coal cakes.

The statement also indicated that buyers must accept the charcoal craftsman's simple usage instructions.

Fifteen taels of silver was a huge sum of money in the early years of the Yongle reign, equivalent to several months' salary for a seventh-rank official.

The price caused an uproar throughout the city.

Some people called him a profiteer, some scoffed at him, but others quietly calculated: a set of silver wire charcoal would probably cost more than that in a winter, and it would be far less convenient and cleaner than this stove.

In particular, wealthy families with spacious houses and many rooms, or those who frequently have guests and need temporary heating, as well as shop owners who value efficiency and have limited space, began to seriously consider it.

All thirty available spots were booked within five days of the official announcement.

Among those who made reservations were the official's household, which was involved in the construction, two well-connected imperial merchants, and even a family member sent by the commander of a garrison near Beijing.

Clearly, the military also took an interest in this type of heating device, which was easy to move and for which fuel was relatively readily available.

Xishanzhuang Coal Yard also faced new challenges. The molds for honeycomb briquettes needed to be made new, and although the yield of fired pottery kilns had improved, the quantity of thirty sets was still a burden on Sun San's small kiln.

Zhu Zhanji instructed Eunuch Wang to allocate five or six more reliable households. The women continued to be responsible for logistics, while the men received simple training and joined in auxiliary tasks such as preparing clay materials, making clay bricks, drying and tending the fire. The charcoal yard was beginning to take shape with a division of labor and cooperation.

Just as the first batch of honeycomb briquette stoves was being produced and about to be delivered, a formal price inquiry from the branch office in Beijing was also delivered to Manager Guo.

The other party requested a quote and the shortest delivery time for 1,000 jin of "high-quality smokeless coal briquettes" and 20 sets of "the latest heating stoves," specifying that they would be used for "winter backup in various warehouses and work stations under the Ministry," and also requested that craftsmen be sent to guide the installation and use.

The scale and requirements of the official orders far exceed any previous private procurement. Moreover, dealing with the government involves many rules, slow processes, and potential delays in payment settlement.

Chun Tao quickly relayed the message back to Xishan Manor. Zhu Zhanji pondered for a long time before deciding to accept it.

This is a crucial step in opening up the official market and establishing a brand, but knowing how to do it requires skill.

"Reply to Manager Guo," he said slowly, "The charcoal yard appreciates your trust and is willing to do its best to handle this. Coal briquettes can be supplied at 95% of the market price, ensuring quality."

Due to the extremely difficult craftsmanship and limited production capacity, the stoves will be delivered in two batches of twenty sets. The first batch of ten sets can be delivered at the pre-order price of fifteen taels, and the second batch of ten sets can be delivered at a discounted price of fourteen taels if the customer is willing to wait.

All goods are guaranteed to be of high quality, and skilled craftsmen will be sent to provide on-site guidance. However, the charcoal business operates on a small scale with low profit margins, so a 30% deposit is required in advance, with the balance to be settled upon acceptance of the goods. This is a common practice among merchants, and we hope for your understanding.

He offered a solution that was both sincere and principled.

After arranging this matter, Zhu Zhanji went to the courtyard.