Chapter 120 The big shot is actually... a baby...
Coal, known in ancient times as "stone coal" or "stone charcoal," has been documented as early as the Han and Tang dynasties. However, because it is a mineral deposit with a highly regional nature, many people consider it a legend, and not everyone is aware of its uses.
But coincidentally, Di Qing was from Xihe in Fenzhou.
This place was later known as Fenyang City in Shanxi Province, home to the famous Huoxi Coalfield. Di Qing's home was not near the coalfield, but he grew up hearing about it. Sometimes, during the coldest winters, when there was no firewood at home, his elder brother would go to town to buy some to fill the stove, start a fire for cooking, and keep the whole family warm.
Therefore, when Di Qing heard the soldiers mention "black burning stones," he immediately understood what they were. Since bringing Yunzhou into Song territory was already within his grasp, he simply handed the reins over to his subordinates and personally went to the legendary village to investigate.
Di Qing had a feeling that discovering coal might be more valuable and make the Emperor and the Crown Prince happier than recapturing Yunzhou.
He left without hesitation.
The village where the suspected coal was discovered was located in Huai'ren County, under the jurisdiction of Yunzhou. It had no name or surname, but because the majority of the villagers had the surname Wu, outsiders called it "Wu Family Village." Di Qing, riding a descendant of a fine steed stolen from the north, arrived in a flurry of activity, taking only one night.
Although the soldiers who came to provide relief were prepared, they were still excited when they saw Di Qing arrive in person at the village entrance: "General, we did not expect you to come in person."
Di Qing stretched out the back of his hand, interrupting the corporal's excited words: "Where is the coal? Take me there quickly."
"Yes, sir!" the sergeant replied immediately. He called over a soldier and gave him a few instructions. The soldier hurriedly left, but returned a while later with an old man trailing behind him: "This is Old Man Wu from the village. He's here to give us directions."
Old Wu looked like an ordinary farmer, no different from the villagers Di Qing had known in his childhood. He had dark, thin skin, his face and hands were lined with wrinkles, and his back was hunched.
But Di Qing's wariness did not lessen. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist and asked the squad leader, "Who is this man?"
The corporal opened his mouth: "He's from the village..."
But Old Wu interrupted them. They heard him speak a long string of words in his heavily accented dialect. The sergeant and the soldier were bewildered. Only Di Qing, because his hometown was nearby, managed to understand a little through a combination of guesswork and deduction.
Old Man Wu explained that he was a native farmer from Wujia Village. Last year, his family was blessed with the birth of a new baby, but then suffered a devastating disaster. The already scarce food rations were all confiscated by the government, forcing the whole family to go hungry. His wife couldn't produce any breast milk, and his grandson nearly starved to death.
Fortunately, a young woman named Apu came to their village and gave them potatoes to help them through the winter. So, when the villagers discussed a counterattack on the town, his eldest son also went with them, carrying a sickle. The old man himself, hearing that the Song army was interested in coal, volunteered to give directions.
When Di Qing heard Old Man Wu clearly say "Miss Apu," he knew that the possibility of this man being a spy or harboring malicious intentions was almost zero. The Song Dynasty's relief efforts and the Yunzhou rebellion were both sudden events; the Liao Dynasty could not have known about them in advance, much less have been so idle as to plant spies in remote rural areas.
As for him being a fanatical Liao patron? That's even more impossible. The Song Dynasty's 10,000 elite troops are still within Yunzhou. If their commander went somewhere and disappeared without a trace, the Song army, now a defeated force, could truly wipe out an entire village overnight. Ordinary farmers wouldn't gamble with their entire family's lives.
Di Qing blinked, revealing the tattoo under his eyelids; the bluish-purple tattooed characters were fully displayed on his face.
“Lead the way,” he said.
Di Qing knew that his appearance was particularly intimidating; when training the army, as long as he showed this expression, no one would dare to act recklessly. He wasn't intentionally trying to scare people; he was just used to being cautious.
Sure enough, Old Wu shuddered, and then huddled up like a quail as he led the way. His neck seemed to have springs in it; he would turn his head to look at Di Qing every now and then, and shrink back every time he turned his head.
The sergeant whispered, "The general still has to step in to make them behave immediately."
When they heard about the coal, they wanted to find someone to give them directions. Old Wu was the first to volunteer, glaring at all the other eager individuals. It was clear he wasn't someone to be trifled with in the village. Yet, when he saw Di Qing, he was like a mouse before a cat, not daring to utter a sound.
Old Wu led the man to a hillside near the village and pointed down: "General, this is it."
"Ah, this..."
Even the corporal and the soldiers, who had seen open-pit coalfields before, gasped in surprise. What should have been loess soil was instead a bare, gray-black expanse, devoid of any life. Could this really be used as firewood? they couldn't help but wonder.
But Di Qing's gaze remained unwavering. He jumped down before Old Man Wu, grabbed a handful of coal dust from the exposed coalfield, and brought it to his nose to sniff. Then, holding the handful of dust, he went to a distant earthen slope, took out a tinderbox from his waist, and brought it to the handful of dust.
"Sizzle—"
With a barely audible sound, bright yellow flames gushed out from the black debris, illuminating the faces of the group.
Di Qing raised an eyebrow: "It really is coal."
After saying that, he turned to leave, but found that Old Wu's eyes were glued to the tinderbox at his waist. When their eyes met, he quickly shrank back and gave an awkward smile.
Di Qing also curled the corners of his mouth slightly: Old Man Wu's manner reminded him of his neighbors from his youth. He took a tinderbox from his waist and handed it to Old Man Wu: "You can only light a fire a few times, so use it sparingly."
Old Wu was overjoyed, as if struck by a windfall, and immediately began to express his gratitude profusely. He was so happy that his gums almost showed, but then, as if remembering something, his smile froze on his face: "General, here...we won't be forced into corvée labor, will we?"
His face was filled with regret; the enthusiasm he had felt upon receiving the tinderbox, eager to boast to the villagers, had vanished without a trace. He should have never told the Song Dynasty officials about the coal…
"No," Di Qing said.
"Huh?" Old Wu froze.
"But you'll probably get hired to do work, the kind that pays you."
Di Qing was overjoyed, though he maintained a calm facade; he was already restless. He left hastily without saying much to Old Man Wu. The sergeant and his soldiers followed closely behind. On the way back, the sergeant complained somewhat discontentedly, "Why is that old man so suspicious? He judges a gentleman by his own petty standards!"
This is an idiom that the sergeant learned from the "Seeking Knowledge" newspaper, and today he finally knows how to use it.
Di Qing paused for a moment: "That person is right. Only the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince pay wages for their work."
During his time as a general, he encountered all sorts of soldiers. They came from diverse backgrounds. Some came from coastal areas and could only do endless hard labor drying salt. Others came from areas where the local specialty, fragrant mushrooms, was distributed among the villagers as tribute, forcing them to climb cliffs to harvest them… Old Wu's worries were not unfounded.
The premise is that their lord is not the crown prince.
His Highness the Crown Prince was the kindest person Di Qing had ever met who treated the common people. Strangely, he had never actually ventured into the countryside. When promoting cotton, his concern was whether the cotton-carding and cotton-weaving workers could afford it, causing his mentor, Mei Yaochen, to miss an opportunity to write the famous line, "Ten fingers never touch the mud, yet they live in grand mansions." As for potatoes, needless to say, the abundant harvest within the Song Dynasty even benefited Yunzhou, hundreds of miles away.
If he were to mine coal, would the things that Old Man Wu was worried about happen?
Di Qing shook his head.
The sergeant suddenly realized, "Oh, right."
He was also from the countryside, and only came to Bianjing to join the army to make a living when he couldn't make ends meet. It's just that life has been too good these past few years; he's well-fed, clothed, and even has access to education, so he's completely forgotten what life was like before. Alas, it's truly regrettable.
The sergeant shook his head: "So, General, what do we do next? Should we go and rejoin the main force?"
Di Qing gave him a look of exasperation: "What's the rush? Let me inform Bianjing about the coal situation."
Di Qing was always known for his calm, cautious, and stern demeanor when leading and commanding his troops. Only the rising intonation at the end of this sentence revealed his current elation.
——
When Fusu received Di Qing's message, he also had another unopened letter in his hand—a state letter from Yelü Zongzhen, the emperor of Liao, delivered by the Honglu Temple.
The Liao Kingdom reacted faster than Fusu and others had anticipated. Although still suffering from the snow disaster, the Liao emperor had already heard of the changes in Yunzhou. He did not send troops, but instead sent a letter of condemnation.
Fusu held the two letters together in his hands and looked up at the Emperor: "Which one would you like to read first?"
Since the message from Di Qing wasn't urgent military news, it was most likely good news. And what about the Liao state's letter? It's obvious it was filled with condemnation. Moreover, given the Liao rulers' and officials' limited education, they couldn't have learned the Song people's elegance and subtlety; what's commonly called "indirect insults" would likely be quite blunt and unpleasant.
The official stroked his beard and pondered for a moment: "Let's look at the Liao Kingdom's letter of state first."
Fusu then opened the Liao Dynasty's letter and handed it to the emperor. He glanced at it briefly; the handwriting... was very poor, even less neat than his own when he was just eight years old.
He muttered to himself: Uh, could it be that the Liao emperor wrote it himself?
The Emperor unfolded the official letter and began to examine it carefully from beginning to end. As he studied it, his eyebrows drooped and his lips tightened. Finally, he gripped the letter tightly and let out a long sigh.
"well……"
Fusu's eyebrows shot up: What could have made the Emperor make such an expression? Curious, he stood on tiptoe and grabbed the Emperor's arm, trying to find out.
The emperor, with a frown, tossed the letter to him: "Su'er, read it yourself..."
Fusu began to read it carefully. As he read, his expression grew strange. As expected, the Liao emperor's letter did indeed condemn the Song army for taking the opportunity to "invade" Yunzhou. However, it was neither as harsh and direct as Fusu had imagined, nor was it filled with empty rhetoric like later diplomatic statements.
Instead, he spoke in the tone of an elder brother, angrily rebuking his "younger brother" for betraying him, disregarding family ties, and causing trouble on the frontier. "Are we, brothers, who have lived peacefully together for decades, really going to have a tragic end like the story of Zheng Bo defeating Duan at Yan?" he asked. "As the elder brother, I simply cannot bear it."
Fusu's lips twitched as he watched.
He wasn't wrong; the tone and the handwriting were indeed written by Emperor Yelü Zongzhen of Liao.
However, Fusu finally understood why Emperor Renzong made that expression. It wasn't that he was troubled by the false and non-existent "brotherly affection," but rather by the decades of peace since the Treaty of Chanyuan, as mentioned in the letter.
Although the Treaty of Chanyuan was not a glorious treaty, and the Song Dynasty was at a disadvantage, promising annual tribute...
"But in the past few decades, there has indeed been no war on the Liao-Song border, has there?" Fusu said softly.
Emperor Renzong sighed deeply: "Yes."
The Liao Dynasty, powerful in the north, was like a sleeping slumbering bed. However, in terms of keeping its promises, it was an excellent neighbor. At least, it made a peace agreement and truly refrained from harassing the southern border. Unlike the northern neighbors of the Han Dynasty, who would sign agreements, maintain peace, and then continue their border raids.
Fusu was not a native of the Song Dynasty, so he naturally felt that the return of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun was a matter of course. But for Emperor Renzong and many of his contemporaries, several decades was half a lifetime, or even a lifetime. To break this stable balance required extremely strong willpower and the courage to take a desperate gamble.
"That move was really ruthless," Fusu muttered.
"Hmm?" Emperor Renzong snapped out of his reverie: "Su'er, who did you say?"
"My uncle!"
The Emperor was Emperor Zhenzong's only son, and Fusu originally had no maternal uncle. However, considering that in the official letter just now, the Liao Emperor repeatedly referred to him as "younger brother," Emperor Renzong quickly understood.
Hahahahahahahahaha!
After Emperor Renzong finished laughing, he patted Fusu's clever head reassuringly: "Su'er, don't worry, your father was just expressing his feelings for a moment."
He silently reflected on his negligence: How could he have shown his wavering side to his son? What if he thought he, as his father, was weak? No!
To reassure Fusu, Emperor Renzong even took the initiative to counter the move: "This letter does not mention the Liao state or itself at all. Although it ends with a threat and compares itself to Duke Zheng, it does not even mention a specific date. It is just empty talk."
If they really wanted to take back Yunzhou, shouldn't they have said something like, "You'll see next year"?
The fact that they've resorted to playing the emotional card only proves one thing.
"At this moment, the Liao Kingdom is probably struggling to cope and unable to muster any resources. Last year's unsuccessful campaign against the Dangxiang has indeed severely weakened them."
Fusu nodded repeatedly: "That's what I think too."
Emperor Renzong said exactly what he wanted to say. He thought his father had softened and hesitated when faced with the letter, and wanted to explain the pros and cons. Little did he know that his father knew exactly what was going on.
It's truly a pity that decades of peace were gone so suddenly. But the Liao Kingdom wasn't entirely as pitiful as the letter portrayed.
"Father, do you still remember what happened in the third year of the Qingli era?"
In the second year of the Qingli era, the Song army and the Western Xia were locked in a prolonged stalemate in the northwest, while the Liao Dynasty stood by and watched. However, that year, the Western Xia made an outrageous demand, insisting that the Song Dynasty increase its annual tribute, or they would side with the Western Xia. The Song Dynasty dispatched Fu Bi as an envoy, who negotiated a price acceptable to both sides, thus bringing the matter to a close.
It was because of this great achievement that Fu Bi was not immediately demoted and sent out of the capital after the failure of the new policies. Instead, after Fu Su and Emperor Renzong reached an agreement, his official career was given a chance to continue.
Fusu remembered this part very well.
But the Emperor's focus was completely off track. He looked at his eldest son with surprise and said, "So, Su'er, you could remember things back then, and you remember them so well... Why did you hide it from me?"
When it came to concealing his talents and refusing the Crown Prince's request, Fusu was always the one who felt guilty and in the wrong. His dark eyes darted around, avoiding eye contact with the Emperor. But he himself felt that he was being too deliberate, so he coughed lightly, lowered his head, and forcibly changed the subject.
"Your Majesty, let's see what General Di wrote."
The official had a smile playing on his lips, neither nodding nor shaking his head, intending to see how long his son planned to keep up the act. He waited and waited, but nothing else came, only Su'er's exclamation.
"What!"
Fusu stared wide-eyed at the contents of the letter: "An open-pit coal mine? General Di discovered an open-pit coal mine?"
It's true that Yunzhou, also known as Datong, has coal mines, but Fusu didn't expect them to discover them as soon as they entered the prefecture. It was already quite an achievement that they managed to sweep through the territory completely on their first attempt. Anyway, the coal mines were there; they weren't going to grow legs and run away. At worst, they could send people to explore them once the situation stabilized.
Who knew General Di truly took his words to heart? And what he discovered was an open-pit coal mine with virtually zero mining costs! How is that any different from a gold mine?
Fusu's bright pupils gleamed with a light that seemed to signify good fortune.
He took a deep breath and continued reading: "The finely ground powder is specially prepared and placed in a bag for the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince to examine."
Put it in a bag?
Fusu, half-believing and half-doubting, poured the contents of the torn envelope down, and sure enough, a handful of black powder appeared in his hand. It was different from the coal Fusu had ever seen; it was grayish and looked as if it hadn't been filtered or washed.
The Emperor also realized something was amiss: Su'er wasn't just pretending to change the subject; she was genuinely shocked by Di Qing's letter.
What is this?
"Perhaps it's coal."
Fusu didn't give a definitive answer. Instead, he rubbed some charcoal powder into the candle wick and sprinkled it on the flame. In no time, the flame at the wick burned even brighter, and even showed signs of changing color.
Fusu was unaware that his and Di Qing's inspection actions were almost identical. Therefore, they were both completely certain that what Di Qing had discovered was indeed coal.
He was beaming with relief and joy: "General Di has indeed done a good job."
But the emperor was completely bewildered: he had heard of coal before. But wasn't it just a substitute for firewood? Was it really worth Su'er being so happy about?
He said he urgently needed his son to answer his questions.
"Well... for now, yes, it can be used as firewood for cooking."
However, in the later industrial era, it became one of the most important fuels for steam engines, and can be called the lifeblood of industry.
But the Emperor misunderstood Fusu's meaning: Now? Doesn't that mean there's still a future?
Thinking back on everything that's happened, wasn't everything manipulated by Su'er to achieve unexpected results? Could it be...?
The official's eyes lit up: "Su'er, do you have a plan?"
Fusu choked slightly: aside from using it as firewood, he really couldn't think of any other good solution. They had coal, but without the help of a steam engine, it seemed they could only live a life of poverty despite their precious resources.
But the Emperor's earnest gaze was too fervent, and his own past achievements were too impressive; all of these now became a heavy burden on Fusu's shoulders, a burden that weighed heavily on him.
He rested his chin on his hand and began to rack his brains. And then, he actually came up with an idea: "I've got it!"
“But Your Majesty…” Fusu hesitated after having found a solution: “I’m afraid I’ll have to go there in person to discuss this plan.”
"What do you mean... you're going to Yunzhou?"
After receiving his son's affirmative answer, the emperor was so frightened that he stood up straight from his chair: "Su'er, why did you go there in person? Couldn't you have just written a letter of divorce? You and I both know that Minister Di is a capable man."
"But I need to personally inspect the coal before I can decide what to do with it. General Di can't possibly give me his sensory vision, can he?"
“However!” Fusu quickly said, “Once this item is made, it will greatly benefit the Song Dynasty and the recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures! I can guarantee that.”
The Emperor sighed softly, “Su’er, the more you talk about the benefits, the more it makes me sound like a foolish ruler who disregards the well-being of the nation and only cares about his personal feelings if I don’t let you go.”
But what father would send his eight-year-old son to the front lines, to risk his life in unfamiliar territory?
Thinking of this, he even gave a wry smile.
Fusu also fell silent.
After a long silence, he finally said, "Your Majesty, but I want to go."
"Moreover, as you know, General Di is a reliable person, and he will protect me well."
-
Old Wu heard that a big shot was coming to the village.
This was something he overheard from casual conversations among the Song soldiers, and also something he observed himself. The village, which originally had only a few dozen inhabitants, had grown to over a hundred after the arrival of the Song general and the discovery of the coalfield. But recently, the number had increased even further; they had even cordoned off nearby villages.
If it's not because someone even more important than the general is coming, what else could it be?
Thanks to his feat of obtaining a tinderbox from the general, Old Wu instantly became the most prominent person in the village. Even the village head had to treat him with deference. Of course, Old Wu didn't want to relinquish the opportunity to be in the limelight, or let anyone else in the village get there first.
However, Old Man Wu knew that this wasn't something he could decide on his own. It depended on the Song army, and even the will of that important figure.
He thought anxiously, "Based on the merit of giving directions to the soldiers the first time, I should still have a chance to meet them again, right?"
But opportunities cannot be seized by wishful thinking alone; they are reserved for those who are prepared. Old Wu kept this in mind, getting up before dawn every day and not going to sleep until late at night, afraid that if he slept, someone else would steal the opportunity.
Winter mornings are always cold, so Old Man Wu would sit on the ridge with a charcoal stove, waiting patiently. One day, he was shivering from the cold and was about to head home when he suddenly heard the neighing of horses in the distance.
Old Wu immediately felt warm again.
He stood on the high ridge and looked down. As the sky began to lighten, he saw General Di, whom he rarely saw, hurrying towards the village entrance with his men.
A very important person must be here!
Old Man Wu thought to himself.
He craned his neck to look towards the village entrance, and after what seemed like an eternity, his neck began to ache. Then, another large group of people approached. They numbered several hundred, and their imposing presence and aura far surpassed that of General Di's arrival.
That imposing figure filled Old Man Wu with envy. This only fueled his curiosity: who was this important person? Could he be even more intimidating than the tall, burly, and imposing General Di?
After a while, General Di and his men finally moved. Were they welcoming them? Old Man Wu couldn't see clearly. All his eyes were fixed on the horses in the very center.
...Uh, how did a little baby suddenly appear in the middle?!
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Author's Note: [Dog head holding a rose] Day 2 of a successful six-day streak.
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