Chapter 148: Mining Coal! Arriving at the Lair? (6K) (Ch 148)

【March, the twelfth year of Jingping.】
【The missionaries from Rome were sent back.】
【certainly.】
【Behind him.】
[Of course, there were scouts from the Yu Army following them secretly. ]
[“Although.”]
[“There are monks helping to search for information.”]
“But the source of this critical information.”
“You can’t rely entirely on others.”
[“It is necessary to verify and analyze from multiple angles.”]
【Chen Huaixin is still very cautious about this.】
【Even if.】
【According to his judgment.】
【Then Rome would not be particularly powerful. 】
[But you can despise the enemy strategically, but you must pay attention to him tactically! ]
[Otherwise, even if we have the advantage in technology, we may still fail! ]
[He doesn’t want to be forced to retreat step by step by the opponent even though he has the advantage! ]
【”but.”】
【“For now.”】
[“It is enough to collect information first.”]
[“As for the rest, don’t worry too early.”]
[“Who said Rome is too far away!”]
【Chen Huaixin no longer worried too much.】
【because.】
【In his opinion.】
【In a short time.】
[Then it is impossible for the Roman expeditionary force to appear in front of Dayu. ]
[Except for the generals who were training with great anticipation. ]
【Others should still do what they are supposed to do.】
[The Prime Minister approached Chen Huaixin after retiring from court.]
【”His Majesty.”】
【“About the matter of the Southwest Officials.”】
[“Their positions after their return have been arranged.”]
“Do you want to summon them?”
[The Prime Minister spoke.]
【After the fact of the reform of the native system. 】
[It has been five years since the first batch of officials went to the southwest.]
[In the middle of last year, he had discussed with His Majesty the arrangements for these officials. Now that he was ready to call them back, he naturally had to ask His Majesty whether he wanted to meet with them.]
【”after all.”】
【”His Majesty.”】
[“But we are prepared to make them benchmarks.”]
[“After being stimulated, officials will actively go to the grassroots level and stay there for several years.”]
[“Then naturally, this first batch of officials must be treated specially.”]
[The Prime Minister thought so in his heart.]
【The power of benchmarks. 】
[This happened during the snowstorm in the tenth year of Jingping.]
[Your Majesty has already shown it to him.]
[At that time, it affected almost all civilians, but now it affects officials in the court! ]
【He has the same idea as Chen Huaixin. 】
[We are not afraid of officials becoming officials just to climb the career ladder.]
[Because they were bound by the performance evaluation system, if they wanted to be promoted, they had to benefit the people and make achievements recognized by the court.]
[But if officials choose to muddle through after passing the imperial examinations, and their annual goal is to achieve the minimum requirements of the examination system, then this will be a hidden danger for Dayu! ]
[“After setting this benchmark, officials who are striving to climb the career ladder will turn their attention to the remote and wild areas. Staying there for a few years will lead to promotions that are much easier than working hard to pass the exams!”]
[This is the signal sent by the Prime Minister after setting a benchmark.]
[After Chen Huaixin read the memorial in his hand and learned about the Prime Minister’s arrangement of their positions, he nodded without objection: “Promoted from the bottom to the middle level, the future assessment and promotion opportunities will be slightly biased towards them. This is indeed the reward they deserve.”]
[“As for the face-to-face meeting… let’s just meet them.”]
[If it were the next few batches, there would naturally be no such benefits. After all, being received by the emperor was considered a political achievement for low- and middle-level officials.]
[The first batch of officials who were responsible for the reform of the natives and returned to the officialdom did a pretty good job. They have made achievements, and His Majesty cannot turn a blind eye to them! ]
[When this news reached the tanned officials in the southwest, their faces were immediately filled with excitement.]
[“Recall Chang’an!”]
【“Promotion!”】
[“Meet His Majesty!”]
[“The imperial court has indeed not forgotten us!”]
[“We…will definitely not let His Majesty down!”]
…
[Same month.]
【Under the guidance of Chen Huaixin. 】
[The coal factory that Ji Changxi is in charge of has increased its coal mining.]
[The new method also significantly improved the quality of coal. ]
[But they still haven’t met Ji Changxi’s requirements! ]
【“It must be because of the machine.”】
【”because.”】
[“This machine has only been out for less than half a month.”]
[“There should be some problems, right?”]
[Students from research and technical schools report their views.]
[Ji Changxi is a human after all, not a deity. ]
[She is not only responsible for the school’s teaching, but also for the independence of the new medical school. As for the Dayu Research Institute and the shipyard, she is also indispensable.]
[Now there is another coal mine. Even if she can put other things aside for the time being, she still needs a lot of manpower to help her speed up the progress.]
[The student who graduated from the Research and Technology School and happened to be studying mechanics was naturally transferred from the Ministry of Industry to the coal factory temporarily.]
[As for the Minister of Industry? Of course he didn’t dare to have any opinions! ]
[“Our Ministry of Industry still needs the help of His Highness Ji Changxi occasionally.”]
【“This kind of thing.”】
[“How could I refuse!”]
[The Minister of Industry knows very well what is most important. ]
[He personally sent the mechanical students in the Ministry of Industry to the coal factory, and these students had no objection to working under Ji Changxi.]
【even.】
[They are more excited than working in the Ministry of Industry! ]
[Because whether you want to study or get promoted in the future, working under Ji Changxi is naturally the best choice! ]
【but.】
【When Ji Changxi inspected them. 】
[The excitement in their hearts suddenly disappeared.]
[The only thing left is the panic of being randomly checked by the teacher! ]
【Especially.】
【Inspecting.】
【The machine used to improve the quality of coal. 】
[The students in charge of this matter answered in an especially nervous voice.]
[After hearing their words, Ji Changxi frowned: “Should? You have only graduated from school for less than a year, and you studied mechanical knowledge, and you actually use such ambiguous words?”]
[“If you are not sure whether it is the machine that is the problem, then take it apart and check it one place at a time. Do you still need me to teach you again?!”]
【Ji Changxi’s voice was very stern.】
[This made those students tremble even more! ]
[“Because this was made according to the design drawings of your Majesty and teacher…”]
[“What’s wrong with our design? Our design will never go wrong? When I was in school, I remember saying it many times that even authority is not always right, and we must always question it!”]
[The last two sentences Ji Changxi said were what Chen Huaixin had repeated many times when he taught her.]
[For her, who was not used to this stubborn world, this naturally left a deep impression on her, and made her regard these two sentences as the motto of the research and technical school. ]
[And now these students’ answers naturally made her very angry. ]
[“You’ve been away from school for less than a year, and you’ve already forgotten everything you learned? Do you want me to arrange for you to go back to school and study for another year?!” Ji Changxi glanced at the students.]
[These students’ faces turned pale immediately. If they were thrown back to school after graduation, they would not only lose face, but their future path would also be even more tortuous! ]
【”teacher!”】
[“Please give us three days!”]
“We must find out what the problem is!”
[A student immediately spoke up to assure him.]
[Ji Changxi didn’t say anything. She just glanced at these students and then turned and left.]
[These students also knew Ji Changxi’s character and knew that she was giving them a chance. This made them feel relieved, but also made them more nervous.]
[“If we can’t find the problem within three days, we’re doomed!”]
[The students looked at each other and rushed towards the machine.]
[Ji Changxi, who left, was not really angry. She was just dissatisfied with these students who forgot what they learned in school after leaving! ]
[“If this is the case, what is the point of school?”]
[“There’s nothing we can do about it. After leaving school, their lives are no longer just about studying. Other things will occupy their minds.”]
【Chen Huaixin’s voice sounded at this time.】
[He came to the coal factory to visit Ji Changxi and to see how the progress was. As for Ji Changxi’s criticism of the students just now, he naturally did not show up, otherwise those students would have been really scared.]
[“No wonder you allowed me to let some students with good abilities stay in school instead of forcibly assigning them to other places in order to have more talents in the officialdom.”]
[Ji Changxi suddenly understood. When she wanted to let some students stay at graduation, Chen Huaixin would support her instead of opposing it. Otherwise, if they all left the school, the imparting and development of knowledge would have to start all over again! ]
[“The students who stay in school are responsible for studying more profound knowledge, while the students outside are responsible for transforming this knowledge into practical applications.”]
[“There is no difference between the two.”]
【“Because they are all indispensable.”】
【Chen Huaixin smiled.】
【He did not continue the topic.】
[Instead, he observed the coal factory that Ji Changxi was in charge of. ]
[“You seem to have recruited a lot of new workers recently?”]
[“Because even though the coal quality has not been raised to my requirements, the output has indeed increased a lot compared to before, so naturally more people are needed.”]
[“Recruitment at the coal plant should be going smoothly, right?”]
[“Many people around here know that the coal mine’s benefits and treatment have been improved. It is of course quite easy to recruit people now.”]
【A smile appeared on Ji Changxi’s face. 】
[Although the only thing that could be affected was the area around the coal plant, she was naturally happy that it could make some people live better than before.]
【Chen Huaixin also smiled a little more.】
【And when discussed. 】
【Then there is the dilemma of improving the quality of coal. 】
【Chen Huaixin suddenly thought of something: “There is another possibility. The coal that can be mined in this coal mine is relatively common. If we can mine better coal, it should be easier to improve its quality.”】
[Most of the coal mines in Yu Country today were discovered and mined in the previous period, and the high-quality coal mines that Chen Huaixin knew about had not been fully discovered.]
[“Some are in Jiangxi, and some… happen to be on the grassland!”]
…
In the Golden Palace.
Regarding Chen Huaixin’s decision to release the missionaries.
Many generals held opposing views.
“Even if.”
“Then Rome.”
“Perhaps not as powerful as Yu Country.”
“But even though there was more time to prepare, I shortened it myself.”
“For a war between powerful nations, this is not a good decision.”
These generals thought so.
After all, the Buddhist monks are already on their way to Rome to explore. It won’t be too late to let the people go back after they bring back the news and complete preparations for Rome.
Even those generals who supported the idea found it difficult to find reasons to refute it.
But Wang Qianhe knew very well that Chen Huaixin deliberately shortened the time!
Because of him in the deduction.
Already thirty-eight years old!
Even though they are still in their prime, no one knows how long it will take for a real collision to occur in such a long-distance war!
“If you say.”
“It will take 20 to 30 years.”
“Dayu and Rome just met.”
“The emperor at that time… might not still be Chen Huaixin!”
Wang Qianhe thought in his heart.
After fifty.
Even if he dies suddenly.
It’s all normal.
Even though Chen Huaixin in the deduction had never given up his daily exercise and looked very strong, accidents could not be prevented even by immortals!
“so.”
“In order to provide it to the newcomers of Yu Country.”
“Able to actively fight and expand abroad.”
“He’s…really a little anxious now!”
Wang Qianhe shook his head.
Although Chen Huaixin does not believe in immortality, as he grows older, he no longer has time to wait for things that take a long time to accomplish!
certainly.
It’s possible.
Rome’s expeditionary force was stationed in a country not far from the Western Regions.
That would only take a few short years.
It will allow the two superpowers to collide.
But no one knows the specific situation.
Naturally, Chen Huaixin could only use his own method to shorten the time faster!
“Time…”
Wang Qianhe sighed.
And among the princesses not far away.
Ji Changling looked at Ji Changxi and said, “I didn’t expect that you would be so strict when performing your duties as a teacher, Fourth Sister. It’s a good thing that your daughter is with Third Sister, otherwise she would definitely be afraid of you!”
“Won’t.”
Ji Changxi’s tone was calm.
Although the future daughter only appeared a few times in the deduction, she knew very well that her daughter was almost exactly the same as herself when she was a child!
Such strict teaching will only make her remember it deeply and will never make her feel resentful!
And this.
It also brought a hint of anticipation to her face.
“A daughter with the same personality as mine.”
“Wait until I grow up.”
“Surely, we can push that research path… into the distant future, right?!”
…
[April, the twelfth year of Jingping.]
【Chen Huaixin summoned the Prime Minister and the six ministers to discuss the matter of the grassland coal mine.】
[“The current coal output of our country.”]
[“In fact, it is impossible to satisfy the people.”]
【“Especially in winter.”】
[“Even if it’s made of wool.”]
[“But we still can’t leave coal!”]
【Chen Huaixin looked at the data collected by the Ministry of Revenue.】
[Those cities in the south are relatively safe. Since wool products were introduced, there have been almost no cases of people freezing to death.]
[But the cities in the north cannot do that! ]
[Or coal.]
[Or cut down trees.]
[Only these two can ensure that winter will not be so cold. ]
【“The trees that were cut down.”】
[“Many hilltops have been left empty.”]
[“But we can’t stop people from cutting down trees.”]
[“Because they do this to survive!”]
【Wool products and firewood.】
【Only in this way can the people get through the cold winter more comfortably. 】
[If you want to increase the output of coal and lower the price of coal, you must increase the output of coal in Yu Country! ]
[“Jiangxi’s coal needs to be mined, and the grassland’s coal cannot be left out either.”]
[“Especially.”]
“Because of the wool.”
【“I am between Dayu and the grassland.”】
【“There are multiple stable transportation channels.”】
[“This will reduce the cost of coal transportation by a lot.”]
【Chen Huaixin expressed his views. 】
[Of course the Prime Minister and the six ministers would not refuse. ]
【because.】
【They all know.】
[Heating is the biggest problem in Yuguo every year! 】
【Especially the recent winter seems to be getting colder. 】
[Unless all the people are moved to the south, we have to find a way to deal with this matter! ]
【”but.”】
“The land of grassland.”
【“We want to mine in large quantities.”】
[“It should require a lot of manpower, right?”]
【The Prime Minister expressed his concerns.】
[Today, the grasslands have occupied a large amount of manpower in order to raise sheep, and they cannot suspend this matter because wool is too important! ]
[Not only can it make the people no longer fear the cold winter, but the profits it brings are only slightly lower than sea trade! ]
【”and.”】
【“That’s because.”】
[“The wool was not sold to the surrounding countries.”]
[“Otherwise, the revenue would probably surpass that of maritime trade!”]
[The Minister of Revenue also chimed in.]
[He now understood more deeply why His Majesty had directly dispatched a large-scale army to encircle and suppress all the tribes on the grassland. It was not only because they harassed the border of Yu Kingdom, but also for the huge profits of wool! ]
[And with the implementation of the sheep-raising policy, some of the remaining tribes have slowly lost the ability to harass and plunder, and can only rely on Yuguo to survive! ]
[Now that His Majesty has suddenly proposed to mine the grasslands for coal, he certainly won’t object, but he also doesn’t want the shortage of manpower to affect the current sheep policy! ]
【And this time. 】
[Before Chen Huaixin could speak.]
[The Minister of War said first: “Lack of manpower? Then why not do it like when we built the road?”]
【Hearing this.】
[The Prime Minister and other ministers were stunned.]
[They suddenly recalled that when Yuguo was building the cement road, due to the lack of personnel, His Majesty directly sent troops to the Jiaozhi area to capture the locals! ]
[This even laid a certain foundation for the future suppression of the rebellion in the southwest! ]
【“The grassland today.”】
[“But it’s not all peaceful yet.”]
[“Except for the area occupied by my country, which is used to raise sheep.”]
[“There are still many places.”]
[“There are still rebellious forces that do not respect our Yu country!”]
[The Minister of War describes the situation on the grassland.]
【no way.】
[The grassland is really too big. ]
[They could only send soldiers to guard the place, spread the culture of Yuguo, and raise sheep.]
[As for those rebel forces, they are not like the grassland tribes of the past, gathering together in large groups, but are instead dispersing in twos and threes.]
[To the stationed Yu army, the disturbance caused by this small force is more like a mosquito, annoying but impossible to eliminate. ]
[Usually they don’t take the initiative to attack because it doesn’t make much sense, and staying in defense will bring more benefits. ]
[Now that His Majesty is planning to mine grassland coal, it would be a good opportunity to capture those people one by one and take them to the coal mines, allowing them to mine for Dayu! ]
[“Although we can’t catch a lot at once, as long as we catch a batch today and another batch tomorrow, it should give those guys a big shock.”]
【The Minister of War expressed his thoughts.】
[The Prime Minister and others did not intend to object. ]
【Anyway.】
【Those people.】
[They are not citizens of Yu Country. ]
[They don’t consider whether this is inhumane! ]
[Chen Huaixin naturally acquiesced to this idea: “Then let the Minister of War take charge of this matter.”]
[“Your Majesty, obey your order!”]
[The Minister of War looked excited.]
[Because this means that they can take the initiative to fight external wars again! ]
[Even if the opponent is weak, having a battle is better than doing nothing! ]
[“Just think of it as training for a war with Rome!”]
…
[Same month.]
【The monk who reached the farthest country in the Western Regions. 】
[After spending more than half a year. ]
[He stopped again.]
【because.】
【In this strange country. 】
【He saw many people wearing black robes.】
【This dress. 】
【It’s like. 】
[The missionaries he had seen in the Western Regions! ]
【“Little monk.”】
[“Could it be that we have arrived at their lair?”]