Being able to turn the black soil of Hell Mountain into combustible briquettes was already shocking, and Long Chen actually said there was something there.
Di Luoxi was very curious about what it was.
Long Chen took out a small jar from the room. Inside was a dark, sticky substance that gave off a somewhat pungent smell.
Di Luoxi quickly covered her nose, and Xuan Yi asked: "Xiao Longlong, what are you doing?"
Long Chen said: "This is the coal tar that condenses when drying coal."
Qingyue frowned and asked, "What's the use?"
Long Chen held the jar and said, "Let's go outside."
After leaving the Ministry of Industry and arriving at the open space outside the palace, Long Chen took out a stick, smeared coal tar on a few pieces of wood, and then lit it with a fire stick.
The coal tar emitted thick black smoke and burned the wood.
"This stuff is better than kerosene. If you throw it on the battlefield, it will stick to the enemy's body and burn through their armor, skin and flesh."
Long Chen sealed the jar.
"In other words, the coal from Hell Mountain can not only be used as firewood, but can also be refined into weapons?"
Di Luoxi finally understood.
"Yes, that's it. The coal in Hell Mountain is enough for our daughter city to use for hundreds of years, and the coal tar extracted can also be used as a weapon to defend and attack the city."
Long Chen asked someone to put the jar away carefully, as this thing would become a magical weapon in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.
In fact, there is also refined sulfur, which will be of great use in the future, Long Chen didn't mention it.
"Xiao Longlong, you are so awesome, you should be the Minister of the Ministry of Industry!"
Di Luoxi put her arms around Long Chen's shoulders, looking very affectionate.
Zhang Qian and Long Chen have been eating, sleeping, going to the toilet and bathing together these days, and she feels a little uncomfortable in her heart.
Seeing Di Luoxi and Long Chen so close, the knot in Zhang Qian's heart finally completely melted away.
Anyway, the princess is still side by side with Long Chen, so what does she have?
"Thank you princess."
"Tomorrow, we will bring briquettes to the meeting to silence those ministers completely."
Di Luoxi was very happy.
Long Chen becoming the Minister of the Ministry of Industry will also be beneficial to the development of Emperor Luo Xi's own power.
The four princesses are all vying for the position of empress, and each is cultivating their own power. Long Chen has now become Di Luoxi's trump card.
....
Early morning the next day.
The empress sat on the phoenix chair, and the civil and military officials stood in two groups.
The eldest princess and the second princess were standing in the civil service train, and Di Luoxi was standing in the military general's train. The third princess was not in the court, she had gone to the north to guard the border.
Long Chen stood on the civil service train. Jing Heng, the Minister of Revenue, glanced at Long Chen sideways and felt very unhappy.
Bai Qiulian, the Minister of the Ministry of War, looked dull, and Baili Bing, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, nodded slightly to Long Chen.
"Let's go to court. Is there anything that needs to be discussed?"
The empress is wearing a phoenix robe and looks majestic and luxurious.
"Your Majesty, Nanliang Shangguanwei is recruiting new soldiers for training. It is said that the goal is to attack Linjiang City. Wei Chen suggested strengthening Linjiang City's defenses."
Wang Wei, the Minister of War, was the first to come out and report.
Nan Liang failed to send spies to assassinate Long Chen, and also poached many chess pieces that had been lurking for decades. Li Chengdao was very angry and ordered Shangguan Wei to step up training of troops and must retake Linjiang City.
The empress said: "Yes!"
Wang Wei, the Minister of War, returned to the train.
Di Luoxi came out and paid homage: "Mother, the Ministry of Civil Affairs proposed that if Long Chengen could solve the firewood problem in my daughter's city, he could serve as Minister of the Ministry of Industry. Now Long Chengen has solved the problem."
As soon as this statement came out, there was a commotion in the court.
"Solved? The problem that has troubled us for decades has been solved?"
"How is it possible that a problem that several ministers of the Ministry of Industry have been unable to solve was actually solved by a eunuch?"
"Let's take a look. The princess said it was solved, so let Long Chengen come up with practical solutions."
Listening to the discussions of the ministers in the DPRK and China, most of them still didn't believe it.
Jing Heng, the Minister of Household Affairs, sneered and said: "Luo Xi thinks highly of this little eunuch. The problem of burning firewood has been going on for many years and it has never been solved. He has completely solved it in just a few days?"
Di Luoxi hated Jing Heng and ignored his sarcasm, but said to the empress: "Mother, Long Cheng'en used unique techniques to turn the black soil of Hell Mountain into briquettes, which is better than firewood."
After hearing Di Luoxi's words, there was more criticism and ridicule in the court.
"The black soil of Hell Mountain? That stuff is poisonous."
"I had long heard that the Ministry of Industry went to Hell Mountain to dig soil, but I didn't expect it to be true."
"The Ministry of Punishment regards Hell Mountain as a place to deal with the most heinous criminals. Long Chengen actually gave us the black soil. What does this mean?"
"Only untouchables use black soil to heat their bodies. I definitely don't use it."
There was another burst of criticism and protest from the ministers of the DPRK and China. They felt that coal was poisonous and was used by untouchables. They had high status and should not use coal.
The empress said, "Is it better than firewood? Let's take a look."
Di Luoxi waved, and officials from the Ministry of Industry immediately came in carrying several coal stoves, with the briquettes inside burning red.
When other officials saw the coal stove coming in, they covered their mouths and noses and dispersed.
The poisonous smoke of Hell Mountain has been burning for hundreds of years, and everyone knows that the coal is poisonous.
Di Luoxi put a kettle on it and said: "Mother, after Long Chengen's treatment, this coal has turned into non-toxic briquettes, and it has more heat and is easier to use than firewood."
"The most important thing is that according to Long Chengen's estimation, the coal in Hell Mountain is enough for us to use for 500 years."
The officials in the court were shocked by Di Luoxi's words.
Enough to last 500 years?
Bai Qiulian, Minister of the Ministry of War, walked over and looked at the coal stove, holding his nose. There was indeed no poisonous smoke coming out.
"How did you do it?"
Baili Bing, the official minister, asked.
Long Chen said: "This is the secret of our dynasty. Shangshu Bai only needs to know that the briquettes are unique to our dynasty and are non-toxic and harmless."
Long Chen was not sure whether there would be coal in Nanliang and other places. If they did, the coal refining technology could not be passed on to others.
Wang Wei, the Minister of War, said: "Everyone knows that black soil is poisonous. If Chief Long cannot tell us the refining technology, who would dare to use this black soil?"
Some of the other ministers nodded in agreement, thinking this was the truth.
Long Chen looked at Wang Wei doubtfully and asked: "Wang Shilang, if I speak out and be imitated by Nanliang Xixia, wouldn't I be endangering the enemy?"
Wang Wei was speechless.
The empress got down from the phoenix chair and personally checked the coal stove and the briquettes. The water had been boiling very quickly.
"Well, Long Cheng'en has made great achievements again, and he deserves the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry."
The empress spoke, but the ministers in the court could not say anything else.
At this time, Jing Heng, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, objected: "Your Majesty, there were two tasks at the beginning. Long Chengen only completed one, so he cannot serve as the Minister of the Ministry of Works immediately."
Bai Qiulian, Minister of the Ministry of War, also said: "Yes, there is still a task to build a city in the north, which has not yet been completed."
The empress looked at Long Chen and said: "This...since it is a bet, let's wait until the construction of the city is completed."
Long Chen bowed and said, "I obey your order."
With coal, coal ash can also be used as a raw material for cement, making it easy to build cities.
"Okay, Long Chengen will be in charge. The Ministry of Industry will immediately dig up Hell Mountain and replace firewood with coal."
The empress was very happy. Although the ministers in the court were still suspicious, they could not object.
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