"Is the thing you mentioned truly effective in keeping warm?"

Yao Guangxiao asked.

"Of course, it provides longer-lasting and better heating than charcoal."

Liu Wei nodded, "It also makes it easier to smelt copper and iron and make tools."

The heavy snowfall encountered in the clouds was a challenge that Yao Guangxiao and his officials racked their brains to devise ways to keep warm, but they could only barely manage to get through it.

After all, not much charcoal had been prepared, and the firewood was still raw.

Now that they've heard there's a better heating resource than charcoal, they're naturally intrigued.

Although it is located on the southern slope of the Yinshan Mountains, where the towering Yinshan Mountains block the cold air currents from the north, the high latitude of this area means it must still be very cold in winter.

Moreover, it's only early winter now, and it will be at least four or five months before it gets warmer next spring.

Where can this item be found?

Yao Guangxiao's eyes immediately lit up with anticipation.

He is now a military advisor and chief secretary. He and Xue Rengui, who is the military commander of the Marquis's mansion, are one civil and one military.

One was in charge of political affairs, and the other was in charge of military affairs.

The current problem of keeping tens of thousands of people warm is a major challenge.

Although the weather has been sunny these past few days and the winter sun has been somewhat warm, it looks like it will soon turn gloomy and cold, and it might even snow again.

If it snows again, Wuyuan City, located on the lakeside, will have to travel dozens of miles to the foot of Yinshan Mountain to cut firewood.

"We'll settle here for a day or two, and then I'll have the two guards, Guo and Yang, take charge of this matter and lead men to Woye County in Shuofang."

“If you dig down no more than thirty feet there, you’ll find coal.”

Liu Wei was full of confidence.

Later, when Liu Wei was traveling, he visited a huge open-pit coal mine near the ancient city of Guaizi in the northeast of Dengkou County.

Coal trucks haul out the dark coal from the bottom of a coal pit tens of meters deep.

According to the workers, the coal seam was found when they dug down more than ten meters. This huge pit has been dug for many years.

This Dengkou County was Woye County at the end of the Han Dynasty.

The Eastern Han court lost control of the four commanderies of Yunzhong, and Woye County was naturally abolished as well.

"So it turns out that my lord had already made arrangements. Then this humble monk need not worry!"

Yao Guangxiao immediately spread his hands again, "My lord, let's talk about manpower!"

"Preliminary estimates suggest that building the city will require 50,000 people and take two years!"

"If it's about reclaiming wasteland, we should encourage the soldiers of the two governors of Shuofang and Wuyuan, as well as the people of the two prefectures, to work hard."

"We delineate areas and provide standardized guidance."

"The reclaimed land was divided into government-owned land and private land..."

Liu Wei said, "As for the matter of reclaiming wasteland and cultivating the land, I'm sure the strategist has better ideas, so I won't interfere!"

"However, one thing must be done: the straw and dry grass from clearing the land must be burned! Do not let them be buried in the ground."

Later generations of so-called experts forbade the burning of straw, claiming it polluted the environment!

This is how the land has been farmed for thousands of years. A group of people who have never worked the land are lying through their teeth.

Yao Guangxiao exclaimed in surprise, "I never expected that our lord would know about farming!"

“Since ancient times, people have practiced slash-and-burn agriculture. To keep the fields free of pests, the dry grass and straw had to be burned.”

"Burying it in the ground is a practice of those who do not understand farming, and it will definitely not yield a good harvest."

Hearing Yao Guangxiao say this, Liu Wei felt relieved.

Although Yao Guangxiao wanted him to rebel and seize the throne every day, he was never ambiguous about serious matters.

As for road construction!

"First, we will widen the ancient road connecting the three administrative centers of Yunzhong, Jiuyuan, and Linrong, so that at least four carriages can travel side by side."

"In addition, we must ensure that the road surface is flat, using the Qin Straight Road as the standard!"

The Qin Straight Road was a military passage built by General Meng Tian with an army of 300,000 over two years after Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms to prevent the Xiongnu from invading.

It stretches from Xianyang in the south to Jiuyuan City in Wuyuan County in the north.

It stretches for more than 700 kilometers.

If something happens in the Hetao region, one can ride a horse from Xianyang, traveling day and night, and reach Jiuyuan in three days.

It can be described as an ancient highway.

"The first phase of the project is expected to be completed within six months. The second phase will use this as the main road and then extend it to the counties of the three prefectures."

"I want to ensure smooth transportation in all three prefectures and counties, so that horse-drawn carriages can run everywhere."

The ancient road stretches over 400 kilometers from Yunzhong City to Linrong in Shuofang.

It should be able to be completed in six months.

"My lord, regarding manpower..."

Yao Guangxiao knew that road construction was not an easy task and would require a lot of manpower.

How many people do you need?

"There must be at least 50,000 people! Half a year is such a short time, not to mention their food, clothing, and other necessities!"

Yao Guangxiao looked like he was calculating and thrifty.

"Then I'll give you 100,000 men! At most a month's worth of provisions, you'll have to figure out the rest yourself!"

Liu Wei is now "powerful in numbers," but supplies are a major problem.

Prefect Zhang Xun of Yunzhong had 10,000 soldiers, Prefect Liu Du of Wuyuan and Sima Pugu Huaiyu had 4,000 soldiers, and Prefect Zhang Liao of Shuofang and Sima Li Su had 8,000 soldiers.

Liu Wei only prepared half a month's worth of provisions for him, and he was to find the rest himself in the various counties.

Now, Liu Wei needs to be responsible for supplying provisions to 1,600 Xuanjia cavalry and the 4,000 cavalry battalion led by Xue Rengui.

In addition, there were 6,000 auxiliary soldiers serving the Xuanjia Cavalry.

These 6,000 auxiliary soldiers have been settled near Wuliangsuhai Lake, and orders have been given to reclaim wasteland and cultivate land.

Although he now has a population of 4.8 million that can be exchanged for gold coins.

However, the loss of food supplies was also enormous.

Fortunately, after several major battles, they had captured a lot of spoils and were able to be self-sufficient for the time being.

It's not true that the more people who receive benefits, the better; one more person means one more mouth to feed.

Which of the following is not important: clothing, food, housing, and transportation?

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