In the Ming Dynasty, charcoal, coal, and firewood were mainly used in winter.
Among them, charcoal has the best heating experience.
However, it is expensive and generally only royal palaces, government officials and wealthy families are eligible to use it.
There was a department in the Ming Dynasty called the Xinxing Department.
It has jurisdiction over charcoal factories, forests and its own woodcutter, who are responsible for purchasing fuel and making charcoal for the palace and government departments.
Including officials in the capital, charcoal is included in the salary paid every winter.
Sometimes there is not enough charcoal. After all, it must be supplied to the palace first, so there is a subsidy called firewood silver.
The charcoal produced by organizations such as "Xixinsi" often has very high quality requirements. For example, "Hongluo Tan" is the charcoal used by the royal family, and its product standards are:
"The hardwoods from the mountains in the Yizhou area are burned, transported to the red basket factory, cut into pieces according to size, woven into small round wattle baskets, and filled with red clay. ...Each tree is about a foot long, and the diameter of the garden varies from two to three inches.
, the air is warm and durable, gray but not explosive.”
Coal had already been used during the Song Dynasty, but it was called coal at that time.
In the winter of the fifth year of Emperor Zhenzong's reign of Dazhong Xiangfu in the Song Dynasty, people in Kaifeng City were running out of charcoal, and its price was very expensive. Each scale could reach 200 Wen, and a scale weighed fifteen kilograms.
Seeing that the people really couldn't bear it any longer, the government "invested 400,000 yuan in charcoal" and took out some of the charcoal it controlled and put it on the market at half price. People rushed to buy it, and as a result, a tragic incident occurred where "someone was trampled to death."
In the winter of the fourth year of Jiayou reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, there was cold rain and snow, and the price of firewood and food doubled. According to Ouyang Xiu's memorial, "many people died due to the cold in Kaifeng City at that time."
Ordinary families who could not afford charcoal and coal had no choice but to take desperate measures to keep out the cold. They violated the ban by cutting down mulberry and jujube trees, and even secretly felled trees around the imperial mausoleum.
Until now, coal mining has been a government-run monopoly, and not much has been used. In addition to heating, the Gunpowder Department is also a big player.
So Zhu Yuanzhang asked this question when he heard that Da Sun had mobilized coal from the Gunpowder Department and sold it on the market at a low price.
"My grandson has this idea. Currently, whether it is charcoal or firewood, the demand is huge and can be used quickly. The surrounding trees have been severely cut down. Many people even cut down trees illegally in order to keep warm."
"My grandson has carefully read through the records of previous years. Every winter now, it is getting colder and colder. We have many trees in the south, and we can barely supply firewood, 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. He said that the world has changed drastically, and the severe winters will become even colder in the future. For example, in Liaodong, it will be even worse in the Nuergan areas. Therefore, coal mining is imminent."
"So if my grandson wants to open a house for coal mining, he no longer has to work full-time in the government-run business. Private companies can also do it. Only by allowing the people to benefit from it can they stimulate enthusiasm and make the entire coal mining industry prosperous."
"It can also provide some protection for the harsh winters in the future. The rise of this industry will inevitably be accompanied by the prosperity of many businessmen, so the court can also make a profit from this."
"Nowadays, sweet potatoes and other crops have begun to be planted on a large scale. With enough food, many people can be liberated. This idle labor can be used for coal mining."
After Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he thought for a moment and said: "In this way, the reason why Dasun sells coal at low prices and on a large scale is because he wants those businessmen to see the business opportunities and never invest in them."
"As long as there is some news that the court has the idea to run coal mining privately, it will inevitably trigger businessmen to help."
"Under such circumstances, are you still able to collect part of the benefits?"
Zhu Ying paused slightly.
In fact, he hadn't even thought about charging fees for opening documents, the old man had already thought of it.
Mining documents and charging private merchants some fees seems to be a good option.
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 thing. Local officials should be jointly and severally responsible."
The death of people while mining was very common in later generations, not to mention the current Ming Dynasty.
Necessary charter guarantees must be planned well.
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't have much opinion on this.
For example, when it comes to engineering construction, just let Da Sun do what he wants, and nothing big will happen.
I still believe in Da Sun’s ability.
At the gate of Prince Yan's Mansion, Zhu Di watched his wife Xu Yihua get on the carriage and gradually disappear in the flying snow.
"Zhu Ying, Zhu Ying, you are like God sent to hinder me. Ever since I met you, things have never gone smoothly for me."
Zhu Di frowned, now he was very afraid of Zhu Ying.
Every time I think of it in my mind, I feel very regretful.
Looking at both inside and outside the palace, Zhu Yunwen was nothing but a corrupt Confucian. At least in his heart, Zhu Di had never been afraid of Zhu Yunwen.
Zhu Ying is different. He has many methods in all aspects and is extremely precise.
As the saying goes, hit the snake seven inches. Ever since Dao Yan was transferred, Zhu Di felt very uncomfortable.
It's not that there are no counselors anymore, it's that someone as outstanding as Dao Yan is almost hard to find.
Although Dao Yan has an impure mind, his thoughts are pretty much the same. After all, he is a little delusional, and now he is no longer even delusional.
Zhu Di strolled towards the courtyard and was alone in the pavilion in the courtyard in a daze.
Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaosui saw them and did not 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 be scolded.
In Prince Yan's palace, Zhu Di's authority was quite high, and all his sons were afraid of 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 plead for mercy and stay in the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Di didn't even know whether this decision was correct.
"It would be great if Dao Yan was here. He should tell me the best way to do it."
After losing Dao Yan, Zhu Di realized how regretful it was. He made many decisions in the future. Even if Zhu Ying entered the palace, Zhu Di had nothing to fear.
After all, he has great achievements, and even the court or his father will not belittle him casually.
Among the many princes, apart from the eldest brother, he is the most outstanding.
My father said many times in the court that he was like him.
This is also what Zhu Di is most proud of.
The sky was completely white, and the snowflakes fell slowly, gradually entering the lake and blending into the water.
Zhu Di suddenly looked at this scene in a trance, and a sentence appeared in his mind:
The greatest goodness is like water, which benefits all things without any struggle. Only humans do not struggle with each other, so no one in the world can compete with it.
Zhu Di had read the books, although most of them were returned to his husband.
But this sentence seemed to pop out of my head suddenly.
At this moment, Zhu Di suddenly woke up like an enlightenment.
"Since I can't compete with him, why should I compete? It's like this snowflake and water merge together. If you can't compete with yourself, then surrender. I am the eldest brother's eldest son. It is natural for me to surrender."
"For example, Zhu Fan, with Zhu Ying as his back, can be said to have a smooth sailing. He can get consent for anything he wants to do. On the other hand, I almost always walk on thin ice in everything I do. Once I am accidentally caught,
, then it is most likely an abyss.”
"It would be fine if we go to the Japanese country now, but even in the Japanese country, it is not necessarily that Zhu Ying cannot intervene. His group of British merchants and merchants have a lot of overseas trade. If the Japanese country is really conquered, the silver going in and out will probably pass through his hands."
If you think about it carefully, there must be some calculation behind Zhu Ying's decision to settle the Japanese vassalage so easily. With Zhu Ying's temperament, he would never make a loss-making business.
With this thought, Zhu Di probably understood the key to dividing the Japanese country.
There must have been plans for that coveted silver mine, and maybe the land was divided with the silver land as the midpoint.
The three kings fight together, and no one can monopolize it.
Although Zhu Di felt that he was not weak in commanding the army, Zhu Fan was not someone to be trifled with, not to mention his seventh brother, Qi King Zhu Shu.
The seventh brother Zhu Shu took control of Qingzhou and went out to Kaiping to defend against the barbarians.
Peiping is close to Kaiping, which is where Tangshan later became.
Zhu Shu also participated in the various expeditions outside the Great Wall. Although he acted violently, he made many achievements and made many contributions in the war.
One party can still suppress it, but if the two parties add up, Zhu Di will lose control.
There is no need to think too much. With Zhu Ying's methods, he will definitely make arrangements from afar to suppress himself with the two kings in order to seize the silver and give back to the Ming Dynasty.
"It seems that we must find a way to improve our relationship with Zhu Ying."
While thinking, Zhu Di saw the door wall of the backyard and immediately had an idea.
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 many years. How are you doing in Peiping?"
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 him with her in the first place, so Concubine Ning was naturally very familiar with it.
At that time, the Ming Dynasty had not yet begun to be founded, Zhu Yuanzhang was not the strongest and most powerful, Chen Youliang and Zhang Shicheng were still there.
That year, Xu Yihua had just been born.
Xu Da's remarried wife was Xie Zaixing's second daughter and Zhu Wenzheng's sister-in-law. Zhu Yuanzhang made the decision and was married to Xu Da.
At that time, all the wives and children were living with Queen Ma, including Concubine Ning.
Xu Yihua has been smart and smart since she was a child, and is loved by everyone.
It was not until the ninth year of Hongwu that she was conferred the title of Princess Yan, and then she moved out of the palace.
He followed Zhu Di to Fengyang and has been living in Peiping ever since.
Looking at Xu Yihua, Concubine Ning sighed greatly.
"Your Majesty, everything is well with Yihua. Your Majesty is worried about you." Xu Yihua replied softly.
There was a strong charcoal fire inside the house, and the sky was full of wind and snow outside.
Looking out the window, Concubine Ning began to talk about the past.
Xu Yihua just sat quietly next to Concubine Ning, listening carefully.
I don't know how long it took for Concubine Ning to regain her composure.
"Look at me. As I get older, I always like to reminisce about the past. Don't think I'm verbose."
Xu Yihua said: "What are you talking about? This is what Yihua likes to hear. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed. Now things are different and people are different."
Speaking of this, Xu Yihua couldn't help but choked up.
When he was a child, Xu Yihua's biological mother, Xie, died early. Because of her arrogant and jealous nature, her words and deeds, and her disrespectful behavior, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered her to be executed with a stick.
There is also some connection between this and offending Queen Ma.
So when she was very young, Xu Yihua was brought up by Queen Ma——