Sky Curtain: My Great Qin must have an aircraft carrier!

Inside the Prime Minister's residence, Yang Guozhong was so anxious he was jumping up and down. Li Longji had already seen the sky and his face suddenly darkened.

Li Longji certainly knew that Yang Guozhong was a useless person; if he wasn't useless, he wouldn't have wanted to use him!

If another person like Li Linfu were to appear, would he even survive?

But now that the veil of secrecy has been torn off, even Li Longji has to consider the dignity of the emperor.

If a useless person is appointed as prime minister, doesn't that mean the emperor himself is also a fool?

Li Longji fell silent and began to ponder how to handle the matter.

Gao Lishi stood aside, not daring to utter a sound.

The silence lasted for a long time, so long that Gao Lishi's legs ached, before Li Longji finally said indifferently, "Go and call Yang Guozhong here."

After discussing heating methods, everyone should understand just how precious energy was in ancient times.

Of the necessities of life—firewood, rice, oil, and salt—firewood comes first.

Many modern people, especially those born in the 00s who grew up in cities, have absolutely no concept of firewood.

I always thought that if I wore thick clothes in winter, I could just tough it out.

Actually, if we go back 30 or 40 years, many places in our country still had to rely on burning firewood to light stoves to get through the winter.

When going to school in winter, students are required to bring firewood to burn in the stove.

If we were like this then, how much more so in ancient times?

"indeed."

Lu Li remembered his mother telling stories from his childhood.

"There was no central heating back then, and the only way to keep warm was with the heater in the classroom."

"When it was winter and students went to school, each student had to bring coal briquettes, and there were even weight restrictions."

"Back then, we had to go up the mountain to chop firewood. We also relied on burning firewood and coal for cooking and boiling water."

"Things only started to improve after the reform and opening up, and we didn't really stop worrying about heating until after the millennium."

Zhu Yuanzhang, upon seeing this, felt even more deeply empathetic.

"When I was a child, my family was dirt poor. We didn't even have enough to eat, let alone spare money to buy firewood."

"Back then, all we had were dry biscuits to eat. Those things were harder than rocks, and my mouth was full of blood when I chewed them."

Empress Ma's eyes softened as she gripped Zhu Yuanzhang's hands tightly.

"Zhongba, that's all in the past."

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled twice and then grasped Empress Ma's hand in return.

As the atmosphere gradually changed, Zhu Biao's lips twitched, and he strolled outside the hall with the memorial in his hand.

But a question arose in his mind: people in later generations used to keep warm in similar ways as they did.

If the Ming Dynasty had such a difficult time with only ten million people, how could the number of people in later generations be more than ten times that? Did they really have to rely on burning coal?

Burning so much coal would produce so much toxic gas and dust.

Looking at the environment of later generations, it was far better than that of the Ming Dynasty, and there was no sign of coal burning at all.

How did later generations solve the problem of hundreds of millions of people getting through the winter?

Zhu Biao narrowed his eyes, feeling increasingly strange.

Looking at the houses of these descendants in later generations, there was no stove or heated brick bed.

It was clearly freezing cold outside, but Lu Li was wearing only two thin layers of clothing, and there was even sweat on his forehead.

Where did that warmth come from?

Could it be some kind of magical magic that can magically warm a house out of thin air?

The various questions, like cat claws, prickled at Zhu Biao, making him feel uneasy all over.

"Someone, bring me a chair and a hand warmer."

The eunuch looked completely bewildered, but he did as he was told.

Zhu Biao sat on the veranda, staring at the sky, determined to find out what was going on.

Therefore, firewood was undoubtedly an essential commodity and the most important source of energy in ancient times.

According to historical records, during the Tang Dynasty, a bundle of firewood typically cost around twenty coins, which was much more expensive than grain.

Therefore, in ancient times, firewood was also part of the welfare benefits when officials were paid their salaries, and it was distributed according to their rank.

Therefore, in modern times, many wages are also called salaries.

Then some people might ask, if there isn't enough wood to burn, why not burn coal?

This question underestimates the difficulty of coal mining. Unlike Britain, China does not have many open-pit coal mines.

To mine coal, you need mines tens of meters deep, and you have to be constantly on guard against the danger of gas explosions.

Large-scale use of coal did not begin in ancient times until the Song Dynasty, when coal mining became systematic.

The "Treatise on Food and Commodities" in the History of Song Dynasty records that Bianjing, with its millions of inhabitants, "relied entirely on coal, with not a single household using firewood."

"It seems that as long as there is no war, our Great Song Dynasty is still pretty good."

Zhao Kuangyin nodded slightly, his joy impossible to conceal.

Whenever Tianmu talks about important reforms, Zhu Yuanzhang is always the one who jumps out to steal the spotlight.

Many things were also available in the Song Dynasty, yet the credit is attributed to later generations.

This made Zhao Kuangyin, who was proud throughout his life, lose face.

Now Tianmu says that the Song Dynasty mined coal on a large scale. Isn't that just praising him in disguise?

"However, burning that black stone is not only troublesome, but it also produces a lot of ash."

"Surely future generations are so clever, they must have found a solution?"

Looking at the sky, Zhao Kuangyin felt a pang of anxiety, and couldn't help but pray silently: "Immortal, please teach me!"

As long as you're willing to teach me, I'd be willing to let Zhao Guangyi die on the spot!

Zhao Guangyi: ? ? ?

The sky seemed to have truly heard Zhao Kuangyin's thoughts, and the bearded young man waved his folding fan.

Bianjing was able to use coal on a large scale thanks to its geographical location, with coal mines located near the city.

So even though coal has been promoted for hundreds of years, except for a few major coal-producing provinces, other places still burn firewood.

It wasn't until the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, when ordinary people invented honeycomb briquettes, that coal truly entered every household.

The image shows honeycomb briquettes and a matching stove.

Everyone went crazy when they saw this!

That's it?

Is it really that simple?

Without the slightest hesitation, Ying Zheng immediately ordered, "Li Si, copy this method down and have the Imperial Household Department do so immediately..."

He started to laugh halfway through his sentence.

Does this even need to be copied? It's so simple that you can understand it at a glance.

It's amazing that such a simple thing wasn't conceived until more than a thousand years later.

"The ancients were foolish."

Ying Zheng shook his head, his tone tinged with emotion.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao immediately rushed forward, bowed, and begged for permission to serve.

"Your Majesty, this humble servant is willing to obey the order and send men to search every famous mountain and river in the Great Qin Dynasty to find this black stone vein!"

Zhao Gao put on an extremely enthusiastic show, eager to set off immediately.

Ever since the spoilers revealed that Qin Er Shi was Hu Hai, Zhao Gao has felt that Ying Zheng's gaze towards him was strange.

Seeing an opportunity to prove himself, Zhao Gao was not about to let it slip by.

Ying Zheng gave a noncommittal "hmm," his gaze returning to the sky.

Liu Bang stroked his chin and glanced at the charcoal brazier burning brightly in the corner.

"Xiao He, what difficulties do you think we'd face if we switched to coal?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao He didn't even raise his head, but couldn't help but start grumbling.

"Your Majesty, couldn't you send a few more minor officials to help?"

"Can you really bear to see this old man like me spending all day copying and writing, so busy I barely have time to rest?"

Liu Bang slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing what was going on.

"Oh right, look at your memory, you were so focused on looking at the sky that you forgot about that!"

"..."

Xiao He was so angry that his hands trembled.

So you really just left me here doing all the hard labor and completely forgot about yourself?

Back when the uprising started in Pei County, I was in charge of all the logistics and supplies; now that the country has just been pacified, I have to take care of even copying a book all by myself!

Xiao He slammed his pen down on the table, his beard bristling with anger.

Seeing that Xiao He was about to lose his temper, Liu Bang quickly stepped forward and smiled apologetically.

"Don't be angry, Lao Xiao, he's calling for help right now!"

"Guards! Summon the Crown Prince! He's got nothing better to do all day. Have him come and copy the celestial records for the Prime Minister!"

Upon hearing his father's call, Liu Ying obediently picked up his brush and ink and sat down beside Xiao He.

Seeing that someone had taken over, Xiao He put down his pen and rubbed his sore wrist.

"There are quite a few black stones in Yuzhang County. We can send people to try mining them first."

"really?!"

Liu Bang perked up and immediately became happy, putting his arm around Xiao He and pushing him towards the dragon throne.

"I knew it! Without you, Xiao He, we wouldn't be where we are today!"

"Come on, sit down and rest for a bit, I'll write!"

"Your Majesty, I dare not."

Xiao He looked at the dragon throne, his lips twitched twice, and he quickly pushed Liu Bang back.

That damned emperor is making fun of him again.