Prince of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 577 The Land of Coal and Iron

Cui Zhang's mood is very complicated now, some are lucky, some are happy, and some are depressed.

Fortunately, it was because Cui Zhang did not expect that the Lu family was also interested in steam engines. If he hadn't started it first, then the shipyard might already belong to the Lu family.

After all, the Lu family had already cooperated with Gao Ming once in the salt field, and the second cooperation will definitely be smoother.

The good news is that, no matter what, the qualification of the steam engine shipyard has been obtained by himself, and he can go to the Ministry of Military Industry to take away the shipbuilders after the next dynasty.

As for depression, it comes from Wang Ze.

You said that Lu’s family faces the Bohai Sea and backs against the Grand Canal. It’s normal for them to compete for a shipyard. Your Wang family is located in the inland of the Central Plains, and there is no river at the door. Why do you want to compete with us for a shipyard?
In line with the mentality of "one less family is one family", Cui Zhang immediately bowed his hands to Gao Ming, and said, "His Royal Highness, please forgive me for speaking bluntly, Taiyuan seems not suitable for shipbuilding, right? What do you think, Mr. Lu?" ?”

"This is..."

Hearing Cui Zhang ask himself, Lu Zhi knew what the other party was up to when he rolled his eyes, but it would be good for the Lu family to reduce one competitor.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhi nodded immediately.

"That's true. Taiyuan is really not suitable for shipbuilding. If we force the construction, I'm afraid the loss will outweigh the gains. Mr. Wang, let's forget about it!"

Seeing Lu Zhi and Cui Zhang's "I'm for you" expressions, Wang Ze's face froze immediately, and the corners of his mouth twitched.

Whether Taiyuan is suitable for shipbuilding is none of your business?Even if Taiyuan can't build ships, why can't I find a place where ships can be built?His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already agreed, you are still talking about it, you are really meddling in your own business!

Just when Wang Ze scolded Lu Zhi bloody in his heart, Gao Ming who was sitting above spoke.

"After listening to Master Lu and Master Cui, I also found that Taiyuan is indeed not suitable for shipbuilding."

"Ah?" Hearing Gao Ming's words, Wang Ze became anxious immediately, and quickly explained to Gao Ming, "His Royal Highness, listen to me, although Taiyuan is not suitable for shipbuilding, but..."

"Haha, Mr. Wang, don't worry!" Seeing Wang Ze's anxious look, Gao Ming waved his hand at him immediately, and said with a smile: "Taiyuan is not suitable for shipbuilding, but it is suitable for other things. You can come to the East Palace after the court , I’ll tell you the specifics later!”

"Wei Chen understands!"

Now that Gao Ming said that, Wang Ze naturally stopped to say anything else, bowed his hands to Gao Ming and retreated.

Looking at this scene, both Lu Zhi and Cui Zhang's eyes flickered with curiosity.

His Royal Highness asked Wang Ze to go to the East Palace, what would he say to him?

But since Gao Ming didn't say anything, they naturally couldn't ask, so they could only temporarily suppress their curiosity.

Soon, Gao Ming, who had finished handling the political affairs, announced the disbandment of the court. After Gao Ming left, the ministers also left the hall one after another.

Lu Zhi and Cui Zhang rushed towards the Ministry of Military Industry, while Wang Ze followed Gao Ming's instructions to the East Palace, and then met Gao Ming in the Imperial Study.

"The humble minister Wang Ze has met His Highness the Crown Prince!" After seeing Gao Ming, Wang Ze bowed respectfully to him.

"Haha, Mr. Wang, there is no need to be polite, just sit down!" Gao Ming laughed.

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness!"

After Wang Ze sat down, the servant also brought tea and snacks. Gao Ming took a sip of the tea first, and then smiled at Wang Ze again.

"Master Wang must have a lot of doubts in his heart at this time, but it doesn't matter, I can explain it to you slowly, but before that, let me ask Mr. Wang a question!"

"His Royal Highness, may I ask you, I must know everything!" Wang Ze saluted Gao Ming again, with a very serious expression.

"Hahahaha!" Seeing this scene, Gao Ming laughed again, and waved his hand towards Wang Ze while laughing, "Master Wang, you don't have to be so serious, it's just a common question, Mr. Wang, what do you think is the most valuable thing in Taiyuan?" What is it?"

"This..." Gao Ming's question was obviously beyond Wang Ze's expectations. After thinking for a while, he tentatively replied, "Is it iron?"

At first, the Li family chose to raise troops from Taiyuan, in fact, because Taiyuan has iron, and weapons can be made if there is iron, and the Wang family can have the advantage of resources to a certain extent, so Wang Ze's answer can be regarded as quite satisfactory.

"Haha!" Hearing Wang Ze's answer, Gao Ming suddenly laughed, and nodded while laughing, "This answer is correct, but only half of it is correct!"

"Only half the answer? What's the other half?"

Now it was Wang Ze's turn to be surprised, so he frowned first, then cupped his hands at Gao Ming again.

"Your Highness, please clarify!"

Gao Ming smiled slightly and said, "It's coal!"

"coal?"

"Yes, it's coal!" Having said that, Gao Ming nodded immediately, "Coal is coal, and Taiyuan Prefecture produces a lot of coal and iron, which is enough to meet the needs of my Tang Dynasty for hundreds of years. If Jiangnan is a land of fish and rice, then Taiyuan is my land of coal and iron in the Tang Dynasty!"

"Coal? Coal?"

Seeing Gao Ming's excited look, Wang Ze couldn't help being a little proud, but at the same time, his doubts grew, and he hurriedly bowed his hands to Gao Ming again.

"His Royal Highness, please forgive me for speaking bluntly, the charcoal...coal you mentioned is actually worthless!"

"It's worthless?" Hearing Wang Ze's words, the corners of Gao Ming's mouth immediately turned up, "Since you said so, then I will give you [-] yuan to buy all the coal in the Wang family's fief. All the coal is mine, and no one else, including the Wang family, can mine it, would you like it?"

"Ah?" Hearing Gao Ming's words, Wang Ze was shocked again.

In Wang Ze's understanding, coal is really not a valuable thing. Everyone uses firewood for fire and charcoal for heating.

People in the Tang Dynasty didn't know about carbon monoxide poisoning, so they knew it was caused by burning coal. As a result, fewer people used coal, and coal was naturally worthless.

Only the very poor, who have no money for charcoal in winter, use coal, and because of coal, some people die every winter.

Now he suddenly heard that Gao Ming was willing to buy these worthless things with [-] guan, so Wang Ze was shocked.

Although one hundred thousand dollars is nothing in the eyes of the Wang family, if the money is used to buy land, it is enough to buy tens of thousands of mu of fertile land, but now Gao Ming is using the money to buy coal that is worthless in his eyes. Wang Ze was stunned immediately.

"Does this coal have benefits that I don't know about?"

(End of this chapter)