Nowadays, due to the need to improve iron-making technology, a large amount of coke needs to be used to replace expensive charcoal.
So Su Chen decided to give himself the title of Coal Boss first.
By the way, we got all kinds of coal stoves, briquettes, and briquettes.
Taking advantage of the winter to promote it is also a good way to save money.
Li Shimin followed to Si'er's room and saw a coal stove with a long iron pipe as a chimney.
"That's right, there's really no smoke at all, and it's quite warm."
Li Shimin said, reaching out and patting the iron pipe.
"Hiss, it's so hot!"
"There's a fire burning down there, Your Majesty..."
Empress Changsun hurriedly grabbed Li Er's hand and looked at it. Fortunately, it was not burned.
"It's okay, I didn't expect it to be so hot when it's so far away from the fire."
"The stove is good, let Su Chen bring more."
Si'er curled her lips and said: "Dad, Brother Su Chen said that if you want it, you have to pay for it yourself, and he will use this to sell it to build the railway!"
Queen Changsun looked at Li Shimin's defeat and laughed: "It seems that Su Chen is quite resentful of you!"
"Hmph! How much is this thing worth? Can his railway be repaired without me?"
Li Er shook his sleeves angrily and went back to work.
…
The next morning, it started to snow. Li Shimin changed into regular clothes and prepared to go to Sujiazhuang in the snow.
Qing Qing knew that if he didn't go to find Su Chen, that boy would definitely not take the initiative to come to Chang'an.
"Um?
How many of you are here to enjoy the snow?"
As soon as they left the city gate, they saw Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji and others waiting at the city gate.
"I'd better go with His Majesty and ask for more information. What the Protector said this time is really unbelievable."
"Okay, get in the car quickly and stop standing in the snow."
Just as everyone was about to get on the carriage, Li Shimin suddenly said: "Keming, you don't have to go."
Du Ruhui was stunned: "Your Majesty, minister..."
"The senior officials from the three provinces cannot all be away from the Yamen. Ke Ming stayed behind just in case something urgent happens."
Li Shimin said, urging the carriage to get on the road quickly.
Du Ruhui was left standing alone in the snow at the city gate!
Humph! If I let you go, you will definitely give Su Chen a helping hand. You should just stay in the city honestly!
Just after leaving Chang'an City, a fast horse overtook Li Shimin and others from behind and headed towards Sujiazhuang.
"The Junyi courier seems to be sending urgent documents to Su Chen. Is there something else going on in the Northern Sanzhous?"
Wei Zheng frowned and said.
"This guy's work started but ended at the end. The overall situation in Haizhou is not stable, so he shouldn't have come back so early."
Li Shimin said and ordered the driver to speed up.
"Boy, I just saw that Junyi sent you urgent documents, but something happened in Beisanzhou?"
Li Er asked hurriedly as soon as he met him.
"Your Majesty, please take a seat. Sirs, please take a seat. It is indeed an urgent document sent by Liu Mo, but it is not a bad thing."
Hearing what Su Chen said, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
While making tea for Li Er, Su Chen asked, "Your Majesty is here at my humble residence. What orders do you have?"
"You still have the guts to say that you told half of the matter yesterday and ran away on your own, and I have to come to you personally. You, the Protector of the Country, are so proud!"
If other ministers heard what Li Er said, they would probably be scared to death, but Su Chen would not accept his trick.
"Your Majesty, you were the one who kicked the humble minister out of the hall yesterday!"
"I want you to go see the Queen first, and then go back to discuss matters. It would be best for you to disappear as soon as you leave the Zichen Palace!"
Su Chen said helplessly: "I am stupid and have misunderstood His Majesty's meaning!"
You are the emperor, everything you say is right.
"As long as you admit your mistake, I won't punish you."
"As for the railway you mentioned, I have discussed it with all the ministers and will not approve it!"
Su Chen said indifferently: "Oh, I know it, so I won't mention it anymore."
Um?
Everyone looked at Su Chen: Why don't you try harder?
Maybe your majesty will be able to relax!
"Your Majesty braved the snow to come to the humble residence, and it was a hard journey!"
"First have a sip of tea, take a rest, and take a look at the snow scenery. Look, the snow is getting heavier and heavier."
Li Shimin looked at Su Chen suspiciously: Something's wrong with this kid today!
Afterwards, everyone chatted for a while, and Su Chen did not mention anything about the railway.
Now it's Li Shimin and others' turn to be anxious. This is what we came here for today. Why don't you mention it?
Li Shimin glared at Changsun Wuji: Look at the bad idea you gave me!
I need to give him a show of strength first, and then I can take the initiative.
What should we do now?
Changsun Wuji looked depressed and whispered to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, he is retreating in order to advance. Let's waste him for a while first."
Li Shimin glared at Changsun Wuji: Damn it, even if this is the case, I can't waste time with him, I have to find a way quickly.
Seeing Li Shimin's anxiety, Fang Xuanling said, "Duke Protector, didn't you say yesterday that trains and railways are of great importance to the Tang Dynasty? If you elaborate more, I didn't understand what I heard yesterday."
Su Chen smiled: "It's useless to talk too much about that. If I don't come up with something real and just talk nonsense, His Majesty and everyone here probably won't agree."
Li Shimin frowned: "Didn't you say that it will take several months to build that train?"
"Yes, it will probably take half a year to complete, but I'm going to make a small, experimental steam engine first."
Su Chen said, pointing to the coffee table in front of Li Er: "As long as it is that big, let you first see how a cart without a horse can run."
Li Er and others' eyes lit up, you guys should have told me about this earlier!
"What kind of machine does your little guy have? When can you show it to me?"
"The craftsmen are working on it and we hope to finish it before the end of the year."
An experimental steam engine is much simpler than a steam engine locomotive.
"Well, I and the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty will open their eyes."
Li Er is in a happy mood. It's just the past few days. I'm waiting!
This guy is surprisingly easy to talk to today.
In fact, Su Chen did this partly to improve his persuasiveness.
On the other hand, in this winter, the ground is frozen hard, so even if we want to build roads, we can't start construction!
It would be better to waste less words and wait until the emperors and ministers of the Tang Dynasty saw the steam engine, then it would be easier to talk.
It is estimated that Li Er will not be willing to build the railway by then.
Seeing that today's goal was achieved, Li Er told Su Chen to prepare lunch. He must have a big meal today!
Su Chen sighed and said: "Your Majesty, it's still early for lunch, let's talk about the Dashi Kingdom?"
“Big food country?
What's there to say about being thousands of miles away from the Tang Dynasty..."
Li Shimin was halfway through speaking when he suddenly changed his words and asked:
"Is the locust plague in the North really caused by the Food Country?"
Su Chen took out a letter: "This has just been sent by Liu Mo, the governor of Haizhou. Your Majesty, please take a look for yourself!"
