The eldest grandson of Emperor Ming Dynasty!

Chapter 350 Zhu Di's Awakening

Daming now mainly uses charcoal, coal, and firewood in winter.

Among them, charcoal has the best heating experience.

However, the price is expensive, and generally only imperial palaces, government offices and wealthy families are eligible to use them.

There is a department in Daming called the Department of Cherishing Salaries.

Under the jurisdiction of the charcoal factory, forest and exclusive woodcutters, they are responsible for purchasing fuel and making charcoal for the palace and government departments.

Including the officials of the capital, every winter, charcoal is included in the salary.

Sometimes there will be insufficient charcoal. After all, it must be used by the imperial palace first, so there is a subsidy called firewood silver.

The charcoal produced by institutions such as "Xianxin Division" often has very high requirements for quality.For example, "Red Bamboo Charcoal" is the charcoal used by the royal family, and its product standards are:

"All the hardwoods in the mountains in Yizhou area were burnt, transported to Hongluo Factory, sawed according to size, weaved small round wattle baskets, brushed the baskets with red clay and filled them.... Each root is about a foot long, and the diameter of the garden varies from two to three inches. , the air is warm and durable, gray and white but not bursting."

Coal has been used since the Song Dynasty, but it was called coal at that time.

In the winter of the fifth year of Song Zhenzong's Dazhong Xiangfu, the folks in Kaifeng City lacked charcoal, and the price was very expensive. Each scale can reach two hundred cash, and one scale is [-] catties.

Seeing that the people couldn't bear it anymore, the government "distributed 40 charcoal" and took out part of the charcoal it controlled, and put it on the market at half price.

In the four-year winter of Emperor Renzong Jiayou of Song Dynasty, it was cold, rainy and snowy, and the price of fuel and food doubled. According to Ouyang Xiu's memorial, "the cold people in Kaifeng City died a lot".

Ordinary families who couldn't afford charcoal and coal had no choice but to take risks in order to keep out the cold. They violated the prohibition and cut down mulberry trees, and even secretly felled the trees around the imperial mausoleum.

Until now, coal mining is also a government-run monopoly, and there are not many uses. In addition to heating, the Gunpowder Department is also a big head.

That's why Zhu Yuanzhang asked this question when he heard that Dasun transferred the coal from the Gunpowder Department and sold it to the market at a low price.

"My grandson has this idea. At present, whether it is charcoal or firewood, the demand is huge, and it is used quickly. The surrounding trees are severely felled, and many people are even prohibited from logging for heating."

"Grandson carefully checked the records of previous years. Now every winter, it gets colder and colder. In the south, there are many trees and firewood can barely be supplied, but in the north, especially in the northwest."

"There is not enough firewood for heating, but there are a lot of coal mines buried deep underground."

"My grandson asked Liu Rixin, and he said that the world has changed a lot, and the severe winter will become colder in the future, like Liaodong, where Nuergan is even worse, and coal mining is imminent."

"That's why my grandson wants to open a coal mine. He no longer works full-time in the government-run business. Private companies can also open a house to mine coal. Only when the common people can benefit from it can they arouse enthusiasm and make the entire coal mining industry boom."

"It can also provide protection for the severe winter every year in the future. When this industry rises, it will inevitably be accompanied by the prosperity of many businessmen, so in this area, the court can also have a share of income."

"Crops such as sweet potatoes have now begun to be planted on a large scale. With enough food, most people can also be liberated from it. This idle labor is very good for coal mining."

After Zhu Yuanzhang listened, he thought for a while and said, "In other words, the reason why Dasun sells coal at a low price in a large area is to let those merchants see the business opportunity and never invest in it."

"It only needs to spread some rumors that the court has an idea to privately mine coal mining, which will inevitably lead to the help of businessmen."

"Under such circumstances, I'm afraid I can still collect some benefits?"

Zhu Ying paused slightly.

In fact, he didn't even think about charging fees for opening documents, the old man had already thought about it.

It seems to be a good choice to collect some fees from private merchants to mine documents.

After thinking for a while, Zhu Ying added: "Underground mining is extremely dangerous. If you are not careful, it will collapse. In terms of pensions and safety, government supervision should be the main focus. Local officials should be jointly and severally liable."

Such things as killing people in mining are very common in later generations, not to mention it in Daming now.

The necessary charter guarantees must be well planned.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't have much opinion on this.

For example, in terms of engineering construction, just let Dasun do it freely, and nothing major will happen.

I still believe in Dasun's ability.

At the gate of King Yan's Mansion, Zhu Di watched his wife Xu Yihua get into the carriage and gradually disappear in the snow.

"Zhu Ying, Zhu Ying, you seem to be sent by God to hinder this king. Since I met you, I have never been happy."

Zhu Di frowned, now he is very afraid of Zhu Ying.

Every time I think about it, I feel very regretful.

Looking inside and outside the palace, Zhu Yunqi is nothing, but a corrupt Confucianist, at least in his heart, Zhu Di has never been jealous of Zhu Yunqi.

Zhu Ying is different. There are too many methods in all aspects, and they are extremely precise.

The so-called hitting a snake and hitting seven inches, since Dao Yan was transferred away, Zhu Di felt very uncomfortable.

It's not that there are no counselors, but it's almost impossible to find someone as outstanding as Dao Yan.

Although Dao Yan's mind is not pure, but his mind is not bad, after all, he is a little delusional, isn't he, and now even the delusions are gone.

Zhu Di strolled towards the courtyard, and was alone in a daze in the gazebo in the courtyard.

Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui saw it, but they didn't dare to disturb them.

They knew that their father must be thinking about important things at this time, and if they disturbed him, they would have to be reprimanded.

In Yan Wang's mansion, Zhu Di's authority is quite high, and any son would be afraid of seeing him.

Now the thoughts in Zhu Di's mind are a little chaotic, including asking his wife to go to the palace to find a way to intercede and stay in Daming.

Zhu Di didn't even know whether this decision was correct or not.

"It would be great if Dao Yan was here. He should tell this king what is the best way to do it."

Only after losing Daoyan did Zhu Di realize what a pity it was. There were many decisions ahead, even if Zhu Ying entered the palace, Zhu Di had no fear.

After all, he has made great contributions, even if it is the court or the emperor, he will not be demoted at will.

Among the many princes, apart from the eldest brother, he is the most outstanding.

Father was in court, but he said many times that he was like him.

This is also what Zhu Di is most proud of.

The sky was white, and the snowflakes fell slowly, gradually entering the lake and merging into the water.

Zhu Di suddenly looked at this scene in a daze, and a sentence appeared in his mind:

The highest goodness is like water, water benefits all things without fighting.The husband does not fight, so the world cannot compete with him.

Zhu Di has read books, although most of them have been returned to the husband.

But these words seemed to pop out of my mind suddenly.

At this moment, Zhu Di suddenly came to his senses like enlightenment.

"Since I can't compete with him, why should I fight? It's like this snowflake and water blend together. If I can't compete with myself, then I will vote for him. I am the eldest brother and son. It is only natural for me to vote for him."

"Like Zhu Yan, with his back to Zhu Ying now, it can be said that the wind is going smoothly, and he can get consent for anything he wants to do. On the other hand, this king, he almost always walks on thin ice. Once he is accidentally caught , it is very likely to be an abyss."

"It would be fine if we went to the Wa country now, but even in the Wa country, Zhu Ying may not be unable to intervene. His group of British chambers of commerce has a lot of overseas trade. If he really conquers the Wa country, the silver will come in and out through his hands."

Thinking about it carefully, Zhu Ying settled down the Wa Kingdom so easily, there must be some calculations in it. With Zhu Ying's temperament, he never does business at a loss.

Thinking about it this way, Zhu Di probably understood that this is the key to dividing the Wa kingdom.

There must have been a plan for the coveted silver mine. Maybe the land boundary was divided with the silver land as the middle point.

The three kings are fighting together, and no one can monopolize it.

Although Zhu Di felt that he was not weak in commanding the army, Zhu Wei was not easy to provoke, let alone his seventh younger brother, Qi Wang Zhu Wei.

Zhu Yu, the seventh younger brother, went to Qingzhou and left the town of Kaiping to defend against the Hu people.

Beiping is close to Kaiping, and Kaiping is where later Tangshan is located.

Zhu Yu also participated in the multi-party conquest outside the Great Wall. Although he acted tyrannically, he made many gains and made great contributions in the battle.

One side can still be suppressed, but if the two sides add up, Zhu Di will be a little out of control.

There is no need to think too much, with Zhu Ying's method, he will inevitably deploy from afar, use the two kings to suppress himself, seize silver, and give back to Daming.

"It seems that we must find a way to improve our relationship with Zhu Ying."

While thinking about it, Zhu Di had an idea when he saw the door wall of the backyard.

The relationship between the eldest son and Zhu Ying is very good.

in the harem.

"Yihua, let me take a look. I haven't seen you for so many years. You are doing well in Beiping."

Concubine Ning took Xu Yihua's hand and asked kindly.

Xu Yihua has been living in the palace since she was a child.

It was Empress Ma who took it with her back then, and Concubine Ning was naturally very familiar with it.

At that time, the Ming Dynasty had not yet started to be founded, Zhu Yuanzhang was not considered the strongest and most powerful, and Chen Youliang and Zhang Shicheng were still there.

That year, Xu Yihua was just born.

Xu Da's remarried wife is Xie Zaixing's second daughter and Zhu Wenzheng's wife and sister.Zhu Yuanzhang made the decision and was married by Xu Da.

At that time, all the shocked wives and children lived with Empress Ma, including Concubine Ning.

Xu Yihua has been smart since she was a child, and everyone likes her very much.

It was not until the ninth year of Hongwu, when she was canonized as Princess Yan, that she moved out of the palace.

Followed Zhu Di to Fengyang, and then lived in Beiping.

Looking at Xu Yihua, Concubine Ning sighed extremely.

"Your Majesty, everything is fine with Yihua, let me worry about you." Xu Yihua replied softly.

The charcoal fire is strong inside the house, and the wind and snow are all over the sky outside.

Looking out the window, Concubine Ning began to talk about the past.

Xu Yihua just sat quietly beside Concubine Ning, listening carefully.

It didn't take long for Concubine Ning to recover.

"Look at me, I'm old, I always like to recall the past, don't think I'm long-winded."

Xu Yihua said: "Where is your Majesty talking, Yihua just likes to hear these things. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed. Now things are different, people are different, that's... that's it"

Having said this, Xu Yihua couldn't help but choked up.

When she was young, Xu Yihua's biological mother, Xie, died early. Because of her arrogant and jealous nature, her words and deeds were rude, she was ordered to be executed by Zhu Yuanzhang.

This also has something to do with offending Queen Ma.

So at a very young age, Xu Yihua was brought up by Empress Ma.
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ps: A pot of tea, a pack of cigarettes, a chapter for a day.

I'm really stuck today, no matter how I write it, it doesn't feel right.

(End of this chapter)