Chapter 182: Ownerless Mine
If we can get food, at the very least, we can save the people in the city, and at the most, we can defend the borders and consolidate the country. That achievement is greater than the sky.
Of course he will do his best to protect the Huo family!
"This county magistrate agrees! Tell me how to get food?" Bai Yi asked anxiously, his chest heaving violently.
Sang Ning smiled confidently, her almond-shaped eyes bright and sparkling.
At this moment, people ignored her age, appearance, and even gender.
She seemed like a commander who had experienced many battles and had a deep understanding of the world, making everyone look up and listen.
But there is always someone who spoils the fun at this critical moment.
"County Magistrate Bai, you should first understand what it means to do your best," Huo Changan said.
"Even if someone from the imperial court comes, even if the emperor issues an order, you must help us escape."
Bai Yi stood up in shock: "You want me to disobey your orders? Treason?"
Xu Wude buried his head deeply under the table, regretting that he had not left.
Is this something a common man like him can listen to?
Shrink up so no one can see it.
"I was just making an analogy; it might not happen. But the court is rotten, the emperor's situation is unclear, and treacherous ministers are in power. I'm also worried that someone might use the emperor to control the princes and forge an imperial decree.
Everyone in the world knows that my father and the emperor had a close friendship since childhood, and they had been at peace with each other for decades. Why did they turn against each other overnight?
Huo Changan's voice sounded a little strange, and a hint of red appeared at the corners of his eyes.
He was actually a little out of control at the moment and shouldn't have revealed so much to Bai Yi.
After calming down his fluctuating emotions, he continued, "Marquis Bai, I just want to say that our Huo family has been wronged, and now only the old, the young, the sick and the disabled are left. Based on your understanding of the emperor, will he kill them all?
It is right for you to be loyal to His Majesty, but be careful not to become a knife in the hands of treacherous villains!"
Bai Yi was speechless.
The Huo family was wronged, and many people would think so, including his uncle Beigong Ting!
But no one dared to bring it to light.
After all, it was the emperor's order, and all the court officials who pleaded for mercy were implicated, and everyone in the capital was in danger.
Now that the Huo family has been exiled, what kind of trouble can a group of women, children, and the disabled Huo Silang cause?
Even if the Huo family really rebelled, the emperor would not kill them all out of kindness and long-term friendship.
so……
"You're probably overthinking it. Since there was no decree then, how can we..."
"County Magistrate Bai, I know you are a man of integrity, and this may not happen.
But if we go back a few months, who would have believed that my Boyang Marquis Mansion would collapse overnight?
So, we were really scared.
Now, we have to prepare for a rainy day. If that day really comes, I won't ask you to disobey the emperor's order. You just need to secretly escort the Huo family out of Liangzhou. Once you leave Liangzhou, everything will have nothing to do with you."
Huo Changan's words were sincere and heartfelt.
Although he made other arrangements, he still felt worried.
Just want to make sure everything is safe.
In fact, even if Bai Yi agreed, he still felt it was not enough, inappropriate, and uneasy.
This is a natural concern for family members.
"Okay, I promise."
As expected, Bai Yi agreed.
A person who is dedicated to the people has a sense of justice in his heart, so it is reasonable for him to agree.
"Okay, then let's talk about how to get food." Sang Ning clapped his hands and said immediately.
The couple transitioned seamlessly, and Bai Yi couldn't even adapt.
For this matter, businessman Xu Wude has to be used, and he has to listen carefully.
But……
"Where's Fatty?"
Sang Ning was so focused on listening to Huo Changan's speech that he didn't even notice that someone was missing from his side.
"Under the table." Ding San, who was acting as a stick behind Bai Yi, said.
Oh my God, there is no big table in their house, how did he squeeze himself in?
Sang Ning bent down, grabbed Xu Wude's clothes and pulled him out.
"What are you doing?"
"I, I didn't hear anything."
"Cut off your ears and I'll believe you." Bai Yi said grimly.
Upon hearing this, Ding San slammed a dagger on the table.
Xu Wude: “…”
Madam Sang, you really didn’t call me in here to trick me?
"Alright, sit down and listen carefully. You and County Magistrate Bai are now on the same page."
Bai Yi: “…”
Why does this sound so wrong?
"Let me ask you first, what is the biggest problem that the entire Northwest has faced over the years?"
The biggest problem?
Bai Yi: "I can't eat."
Ding San: "Western Liao is watching us covetously."
Xu Wude: "I can't have children."
Everyone looked at Xu Wude.
Wu De's neck stiffened. "What's wrong? Was I wrong? Not only are there few children, but even if they are born, they are difficult to raise. Those who can grow up are lucky.
When I go to other places for business, I see families with five, six, seven, or eight children. But here in Liangzhou, even three is rare!"
Yes, that’s quite right.
The women in Liangzhou were exhausted too early, and they lacked food and clothing, so how could they give birth to so many children?
Or maybe the conditions here are too harsh.
The Northwest faces many problems!
Sang Ning was helpless and didn't ask any more questions, and went straight to the point.
"The threats to people's lives are, first, the lack of food and, second, the extreme cold of winter.
I'll make something that solves both problems at once."
She took out a drawing of an object.
"This is called a stove. It can be used for cooking, boiling water, and heating. It's usually made of iron, but can also be made of wood or mud. Besides the iron ones, mud stoves are practically free."
She pointed to a round object with many holes and said, "This is called honeycomb coal. If you put it in the furnace, it will stay burning all night long. It is more durable than charcoal.
We can produce it in large quantities and exchange it for food in other cities. Winter is approaching, and I believe that people living in the west and the north will need it."
Bai Yi was quite anxious, and as soon as Sang Ning finished speaking, he immediately snatched the drawings.
"This clay stove has no cost, and the honeycomb coal has no cost either?" His voice was shaking with excitement.
"Impossible! What could possibly burn that long? It must be more valuable than charcoal! They wouldn't be willing to exchange it, right?"
Anyone can mine an ownerless mine. Now, the only cost is labor.
There are plenty of people in the military camp anyway.
Let’s get through the current difficulties first, and don’t think too far ahead about who will take over the coal mine in the future.
Sang Ning continued to explain: "There is a kind of black stone on the mountain, which is the main raw material for making honeycomb coal. The good quality ones are selected and then mixed with yellow mud, lime, sawdust, etc. to make usable honeycomb coal.
However, it will also emit a slight poison when burning. As long as you don't close the doors and windows tightly, you will be fine. This is actually the same as burning charcoal.
I have read about the ratio of making honeycomb coal in a book before.
Your task is to send people to dig up the black stones, sort them and transport them down the mountain."
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