Five days passed in the fertile fields without Liu Wei realizing it.

In recent days, Yao Guangxiao's 150,000 men, along with a month's worth of provisions, have cost over 1.5 million gold coins.

In addition, Guo Luo spent another 100,000 gold coins on the 10,000 men and their provisions.

The population had already reached 7 million, but after this expenditure, it's just about 5 million left.

It's equivalent to winning the top prize in a lottery.

Just think about that director... sigh!

However, the coal mine in Woye has already begun to take shape.

Guo Luo seems to have found his footing as a coal mine owner.

He and ten other guards distributed the ten thousand people reasonably.

Some were building sheds, some were erecting walls, some were mining coal, some were transporting coal, and some were crushing coal.

On a vacant lot, dark coal chunks, exuding the fresh scent of apples, were piled up like a small mountain.

The once desolate, sandy ground was now blackened by scattered coal slag.

A thousand soldiers from Shuofang County, sent by Zhang Liao, patrolled the area.

One hundred blacksmiths and one hundred carpenters were busy working.

Referring to Liu Wei's blueprints, they worked overnight to create 100 molds and stoves for honeycomb briquettes.

Liu Wei immediately taught Guo Luo how to make honeycomb briquettes.

Coal ash and clay are mixed with water in a certain proportion, and then pressed using molds.

Guo Luo selected 100 people from among 10,000 to specialize in making honeycomb briquettes.

The method is simple and the process is not complicated; 100 people can learn it in no time.

One person can produce more than 500 a day.

Soon, a honeycomb briquette workshop was established near the blacksmith's shop.

A series of facilities, such as work sheds, barracks, horse farms, and workshops, are under construction.

A coal-based energy industrial cluster has quietly emerged.

The coal has been mined, the honeycomb briquettes have been produced, and the stove has been completed.

There were also the first batches of pickaxes, shovels, rakes, hoes, and sickles made by forging iron in a coal-fired furnace...

Carpenters also built tables and chairs based on Liu Wei's designs...

These things must eventually be sold to realize their value.

When tens of thousands of honeycomb briquettes had been made and thousands of stoves had been produced, Liu Wei immediately notified Zhang Liao, Liu Du, and Zhang Xun, the three prefectural governors, to send officials to Woye!

At the same time, they were asked to invite prominent families and influential gentry from various counties and prefectures to come as a group.

The three prefectures and more than ten counties on the Hetao Plain, with a population of over 300,000, and about ten local gentry representatives from each county, suddenly gathered together more than a hundred people.

When Liu Wei led his army to recapture the three counties of Yunzhong, these local gentry were already trembling with fear, afraid that Liu Wei would use them as a scapegoat.

After a month of living in fear, neither the Yinshan Marquis's Mansion nor the Three Prefecture Prefects' Mansions took any action against them. Instead, they encouraged them to engage in business.

As long as you pay taxes on time, don't inflate prices, don't engage in market manipulation, and don't hoard goods for profit, everything will remain the same.

When they received the notices from the various prefectural governments, not knowing why they were to go to Woye, they were immediately panicked.

After explaining his final arrangements to his family during their separation from his loved ones, he followed the officials from the three prefectures to Woye.

The main hall of the yamen (government office) in Woye County has been transformed into a business exchange venue!

Even at the city gate, a banner made of a long strip of cloth was hung, which read: "Warmly welcome distinguished guests who have come to participate in the investment promotion conference in Woye."

Distinguished guest?

Investment attraction?

Welcome us?

The hundreds of gentry who had come to Woye with the officials from the three counties were immediately relieved.

Along the way, he was also thinking about how to spend money to avoid disaster and to please the newly enthroned prince of Hetao.

When they entered the main hall of the county government office, they finally felt relieved.

It turned out that this place not only displayed many items they had never seen before, but also had a lot of melon seeds, wine, and dried fruit.

This is only done when entertaining guests!

Furthermore, although the windows in this hall were wide open, it was warm and cozy inside.

There were hundreds of stoves placed around the room, emitting heat and raising the room temperature instantly.

Before long, these country gentlemen, dressed in thick sheepskin coats and fox furs, were sweating profusely.

It seems that this investment promotion meeting has not yet started; the center of the hall is empty, and the Marquis is nowhere to be seen.

However, the gentry and officials from the three counties immediately took a keen interest in these new items.

Some astute local gentry and officials have already realized that everything here contains enormous business opportunities that will bring about earth-shattering changes to their lives.

They seemed to vaguely understand the Marquis's intention in summoning them.

From initial restraint and worry, they quickly became relaxed and talkative, boldly picking up melon seeds and drinks from the table, and the hall was bustling with noise.

"So this is what investment negotiations are all about! If it was arranged by that Marquis, it truly shows his sincerity."

"It's so warm. I didn't expect there to be three dark balls inside, yet they can burn for so long. They're much more durable than charcoal!"

"I heard this is called coal, and it was dug out by the Marquis nearby. It turns out there's a treasure buried underground here!"

"These farm tools seem quite sturdy; look at the blades, they even have a bluish sheen!"

"What is this? You can actually sit on it! And this is so comfortable! It's so much more comfortable than kneeling on the couch!"

"I never imagined that all of this was done by this prince from Luoyang. He not only drove away the Xiongnu and Xianbei, but also created these things. He's truly a genius!"

"Tsk tsk, the prince of the Han Dynasty is indeed different, his civil and military achievements are extraordinary."

"Of course! If it weren't for the Marquis's recapture of the Hetao region, how could we scholars have become officials? We might still be being bullied by foreign tribes!"

"......"

Just as everyone was talking enthusiastically, three gongs rang out, and a tall, burly man stood out in the center of the hall, drawing everyone's attention.

"Everyone, please be quiet. We invite the Marquis!"

This man was Guo Luo, whom Liu Wei had asked to oversee the sales and investment promotion.

In the future, Guo Luo will be frequently dealing with these people and appearing in public.

Liu Weilong strode out slowly from the side.

Everyone present immediately fell silent.

At this moment, Liu Wei walked at a leisurely pace, his face amiable and full of smiles.

But he exuded a powerful aura, and his eyes shone with a captivating light.

This is the quality that a person in a position of power possesses.

When you hold a high position and thousands of people are willing to serve you, you naturally possess that kind of authority.

Moreover, Liu Wei was a prince of the Han Dynasty, a dignified marquis!

All of these combined were enough to make everyone present extremely nervous.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

The officials of the three prefectures of Shuofang took the lead in kneeling and bowing, and shouted respectfully.

"This humble subject pays respects to Your Excellency!"

Whoosh! A whole bunch of people knelt down in an instant!

Liu Wei felt a slight ripple in his heart when he saw the crowd crawling at his feet.

Throughout history, why has everyone loved to pursue power?

If he weren't a marquis, a prince, or the master of the three counties of the Hetao region, would these people below the stage be kneeling and bowing to him with such respect?

"Get up!"

Liu Wei extended his hand, offering a slight gesture of support, and said calmly.