Over the past six months, coal mines have been continuously mined and a large amount of coal has been stored.
In addition to using it in blacksmith workshops and other production workshops, Zhao Muyun asked coal miners to produce honeycomb coal, which would be used for heating when autumn and winter came.
Therefore, just after the beginning of autumn, Yanzhou sent a large amount of honeycomb coal to Shuozhou, Yin, Xia and Wei states.
You should know that in the winter in Shuozhou, the temperature can drop to minus 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. Compared with the more cold-resistant Beidi people, the Dayin people cannot withstand such cold weather.
Not to mention war, if there is no heating, it is common for people to freeze to death.
Now with honeycomb coal for heating, the number of soldiers and civilians freezing to death has been greatly reduced.
Of course, Zhao Muyun also emphasized that when burning coal for heating indoors, one must pay attention to ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
"in addition!"
A sly glint flashed in Zhao Muyun's eyes. "Let Zhao Wen 'inadvertently' reveal something. Just say that the Shuozhou Army has been able to hold out until now thanks to some of my fantastic ideas and the weapons I created to defend the city."
"It's a pity that the materials are hard to find, and the craftsmen have all been killed or injured."
He wanted to show weakness and throw bait to King Jin.
A few days later, in Lan Gu County.
This small town in Xinzhou suddenly became lively.
The soldiers on both sides were clearly divided and the atmosphere was subtle.
Zhao Wen arrived as scheduled with more than ten guards and several large carts.
The King of Jin sent a shrewd civil servant and an arrogant military general.
The trade negotiations began with tense and tentative steps.
Zhao Wen kept Zhao Muyun's instructions in mind and behaved like an official of the Military Governor's Office who was struggling for survival. He seemed helpless against the many restrictions and price pressures imposed by the King of Jin.
But they refused to give up on key materials such as sulfur and saltpeter, and were even willing to exchange all the "honeycomb coal" and sheepskins they brought for a premium.
When the honeycomb coal was ignited, the red coal balls emitted a warm flame. The people on King Jin's side couldn't help but stretch out their hands to warm themselves by the fire and feel the warmth.
They immediately understood what this black thing meant in winter.
During the negotiations, Zhao Wen deliberately sighed and complained that being a civil servant was not easy and he missed the days when Zhao Muyun was around.
He also accidentally let slip a few words about how difficult it is to make a "noising iron lump", and how it requires "fine iron" and "skilled craftsmen".
Then he seemed to realize that he had said something wrong and quickly shut up.
The speaker is "unintentional", but the listener is intentional.
The civil servants and military officers on the side of King Jin exchanged glances and were secretly moved.
In the end, the first trade transaction went unexpectedly smoothly.
Shuozhou used "honeycomb coal", sheepskin, and fine salt to exchange for a batch of urgently needed medicinal materials and a considerable amount of sulfur and saltpeter, and even a small amount of old grain "generously" donated by the King of Jin.
Although the King of Jin was short of food supplies, he thought it was a good deal to exchange some old grain for liquor and to gather information.
Zhao Wen accepted it without hesitation and returned to Shuozhou with the supplies after expressing his gratitude profusely.
The news that Shuozhou relied on "Zhao Muyun's ingenuity" to manufacture city defense weapons but now lacked craftsmen and materials was quickly reported to King Jin.
“It is indeed so!”
Prince Jin clapped his hands, believing he had discovered the truth. "Zhao Muyun is indeed dead! Shuozhou is only surviving on a small legacy! Although that weapon is good, it is difficult to replicate!"
His vigilance towards Shuozhou suddenly dropped significantly, but his greed rose again: "If I could get those ingenious blueprints and craftsmen..."
He wrote another letter to Han Zhong, with a much more cordial tone.
They expressed their willingness to increase trade and even provide more iron materials and craftsmen.
But he hoped that Shuozhou could "share" some experience in making city defense weapons so as to jointly expel the Tartars.
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