The emperor put down the pen in his hand and focused his attention on the coals in the box on the table.

When Li Jiuzhou saw that he was interested, his heart was slightly moved. If the emperor could recognize coal, the subsequent sales would not be a problem.

The emperor smiled and shook his head, pushing the box aside, "Isn't this charcoal? In this way, this thing is just for heating."

Coal was called charcoal in ancient times.

Li Jiuzhou ignored it, and the ancients had already discovered coal.

In fact, the working people in ancient times knew coal very early and developed and utilized it.

Long before Chinese characters were created and invented, coal was discovered and utilized by the Chinese people.

In ancient times, people called coal Shinichi, Carboniferous, Graphite, Black Gold Stone, Black Dan, etc.

The ancients first used coal for carving.

Of course, the combustibility of coal has also been discovered.

People take charcoal from the mountain to smelve the iron from the mountain for use in the surrounding areas.

Although it is known that it can burn, coal has much more than that.

Moreover, it has not been used on a large scale among the people.

Li Jiuzhou introduced to the emperor again: "Yes, it is charcoal, which can not only be used for carving and heating, but also made into fertilizer, can generate electricity, can..."

Halfway through, he suddenly stopped.

Realizing that it was obviously inappropriate for me to talk about industrial society in the agricultural society, Li Jiuzhou thought about it and said: "If it can be used in large quantities among the people, it can solve the problem of large-scale cutting of trees. A big tree will be difficult to make a journey in a few years. If it continues to cut down like this, it will eventually dry up."

The emperor looked at the coal in the box and sighed: "Although Li Qing is thinking about the people, I don't think it's very practical. Carboniferous is expensive, so how can ordinary people afford it?"

"I have mined a lot outside the border." Li Jiuzhou glanced at him and said, "It is enough to supply the people of Chang'an."

"Then try the effect first." After the emperor said that, he ordered people to bring a brazier.

So they lit coal in the brazier.

A small box of coal has lasted for a long time and has burned for a long time, but the fire has not stopped.

"It's indeed durable." The emperor exclaimed.

Gao Lishi also smiled and said, "Autumn is coming soon, and winter is not far away. In the future, this thing can be used to keep warm in the harem."

The emperor nodded and said, "That's exactly what it is."

Li Jiuzhou convinced the emperor and sent a carriage of coal to the palace.

There were well-informed ministers who heard that Li Jiuzhou had transported the best charcoal from Shuofang, and it was easier to use than firewood, so they went to the mansion to find Li Jiuzhou to buy it.

Li Jiuzhou's price is one hundred coins per stone.

In the Tang Dynasty, one stone was equivalent to about a hundred kilograms, and one kilogram was only one qian, which was about the same price as the food.

However, the coal output is much higher than that of grain.

In the large open-pit coal mine in Jiuyuan, you can make money by digging out the coal and transporting it to Chang'an.

There is no cost at all, that is, it only takes more time to ship on the road.

The noble people think this price is not expensive and buy it one after another.

Li Jiuzhou then started a business and asked the nobles in the capital to make reservations, first pay the deposit, and then quickly sent a letter to Jiuyuan, and transported the coal according to the scheduled quantity.

The dignitaries and nobles in the capital like to follow the trend. One of them takes the lead, and others are not willing to fall behind.

Within a few days, a lot of deposits were collected.

Old man Zhang counted the money happily and said with a smile: "Businessmen can make money the most. You are a businessman now, but the money you earn as a businessman is to expand military capital, which is different from other businessmen."

Li Jiuzhou smiled and said, "If you make money, you will naturally have to spend it. Otherwise, what will you do if you earn so much money? At present, the most lacking of military supplies in the court is military supplies. If I make a lot of money with these coals, the Shuofang Army will no longer have to worry about military salaries in the future."

Old Man Zhang agreed: "The court has always respected agriculture and suppressed commerce. I am still wondering why you chose this business. It seems that you have a long view."

Li Jiuzhou said lightly: "No matter what business you do, if you make money, it will eventually be used by the people. I will expand the money I earn and will eventually be for the sake of the people of the world."

Old Man Zhang was a little confused, but seemed to understand it, and said, "You are preventing problems before they happen."

Li Jiuzhou thought that the methods of doing business in his previous life seemed to be quite practical in ancient times. Although he had never liked businessmen very much, business in this era was not valued like agriculture, but he was still happy to see that he could make money.

So he said, "When the troops are strong, you can raise your head when you return to the capital, and you don't have to worry about anyone."

Old Man Zhang laughed, took a sip of wine and said, "There are people in this world that you will be afraid of."

Li Jiuzhou rolled his eyes and thought to himself that he was not invincible in the world. What's so funny about this?

Then Yang Guozhong's power in the court was obviously much greater than himself.

Although the Shuofang Army was powerful, if we were to consider the number of people and equipment at this time, it was still a little worse than An Lushan.

Before you gain power, you must be patient.

He lowered his head and thought for a while, and said, "I don't know how the army is training there. Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi have trained all the generals."

Old man Zhang felt that Li Jiuzhou in front of him seemed to be much more mature than him, extremely calm and thoughtful, so he smiled and said, "It should be no problem, you don't have to worry."

"That's natural." Although Li Jiuzhou said this, he was still a little worried.

"You are the only one who can do business in the palace." Old Man Zhang suddenly thought of something and frowned, "If the court could allocate some military pay, it would be great."

Li Jiuzhou didn't want the court to support him any longer. He was stunned and then said with a wry smile: "If the court wants to allocate military pay, how can other military governors be less? Besides, there is no war in Shuofang. Even in the Western Regions, military pay may not be more than other places."

Old Man Zhang looked at him, nodded and said, "Speaking of this, the Nanzhao war is now tight, and there is the place where money and food are the most needed."

Li Jiuzhou sighed: "It's a pity that I can't help much."

Li Mi will eventually die in Nanzhao, which is something he cannot change.

Time travel is not omnipotent. When I see many things in front of me, but I can do nothing, I can only watch it, and Li Jiuzhou feels a little bit of pain.

At dusk, the prince who hadn't seen him for a long time finally came quietly along the back door.

After the last time, the prince was much more cautious in the capital. This time he waited until no one was around to visit Li Jiuzhou again.

He did not choose to visit Li Jiuzhou as soon as he returned to Beijing because he was afraid of attracting attention.

As soon as he entered the room, the prince first exchanged greetings and then said the subject: "I heard that you started a business in Shuofang?"

Li Jiuzhou was a little surprised: "Is the news spread so quickly?"

The prince stumbled for a long time and said, "Not only do I know, many officials in the court are talking about you selling silk and charcoal at the border."

"Ah? Is there anything wrong with this?" Li Jiuzhou felt that doing business was a very fulfilling thing and did not understand the prince's expression.

"If you make money, you will naturally be jealous." The prince reminded carefully.

Li Jiuzhou swallowed and turned his attention to the prince: "Does the court prohibit business?"

The prince nodded and said, "Especially when high-ranking officials are doing business, it will take not long for the memorial to impeach you to the emperor. At this time, the saint has not reacted yet and has not blamed you more. Once someone else is fanning the flames, I am worried that it will be detrimental to you."

Li Jiuzhou laughed and said, "It turns out that the prince is here to remind this matter, so don't worry. What I do is for the people, and the money I earn is also used on the people. Now the people in Shuofang are getting better and better. Isn't that a good thing?"

The prince said, "I know all of what you said. I know you are a good person, but you are always on guard against others, especially Yang Guozhong."

Li Jiuzhou looked at him with some surprise. He mentioned Yang Guozhong, and then he realized that Yang Guozhong had not taken any action these days, which was not clear.

Li Jiuzhou thought for a while and said, "Why is Yang Guozhong so low-key recently?"

The prince sighed: "You have not been in the capital for a long time, and I probably don't know some things. At this time, the court had become a competition for favor between him and An Lushan."

Li Jiuzhou paused and remembered An Lushan, who had not considered it for a long time.

Isn’t An Lushan at the border? How could he compete for favor with Yang Guozhong?

The prince saw his doubts and continued, "The saint sent people to summon An Lushan repeatedly. I guess An Lushan will not take long to be summoned to the capital."

I originally thought that the capital city was full of joy for a long time, but who knows how long this seemingly wonderful situation can last?

After thinking about it again, it was reasonable for the emperor to summon An Lushan to the capital to check and balance Yang Guozhong.

"An Lushan is a big trouble with his troops, but he probably won't come to the capital easily and leave the border alone."

"No," the prince nodded, "An Lushan did not want to abandon the territory he managed, and expected that once he came to the capital and left his sphere of influence, it would be difficult for Yang Guozhong to fight against him, so he naturally made excuses to refuse."

"It would be great if he could deceive him to the capital and remove his military power." Li Jiuzhou muttered.

Although his voice was extremely small, the prince still heard it and said, "It's not easy."

Li Jiuzhou looked at the prince and whispered: "An Lushan's power is getting stronger and stronger, so you must be careful."

The prince said, "So, I came here this time to tell Li Qing that it is a great time to be the governor of Shuofang now. As long as you can develop the Shuofang army to a time when it is enough to compete with An Lushan, you will no longer have to be afraid of An Lushan."

Li Jiuzhou blinked: "I'm already in business, but it will take some time."

"I have heard of what you have done there. I hope you can grow and grow as soon as possible. Those who are An Lushan and Yang Guozhong will rebel at any time." The prince looked into the distance, full of worries.
Chapter completed!