She deliberately acted mediocre, greedy and lustful in front of him, and her speech and behavior were also a bit deliberate. Many words were said after thinking, which was very different from last year.
"They are getting closer to each other outside recently."
Liu Jin, who stood silently behind Zhu Biao, said softly: "Most of them are children of the wife clan of the mother clan. They often gather together in restaurants to have fun drinking and throwing pots. Sometimes they also go hunting in the mountains and forests outside the city."
Zhu Biao narrowed his eyes and said, "Including those who will attack the king in the future?"
Liu Jin knew clearly that his Highness was asking about Deng Zhen, the eldest son of Duke Wei, Feng Shi, the eldest son of Duke Song, and Feng Cheng, Duke of Ying, the nephew of Duke Song who had ascended the throne.
Liu Jin replied: "The servants seem to have some sense of proportion, especially the Duke of Ying rarely shows up. He only goes to banquets and drinks when he can't avoid it, and he never goes hunting with them."
When Zhu Biao heard this, he knew something in his heart. This was why he begged for the three of them to be released from the palace, just to see who would come forward.
After all, there are only so many positions under the command of the Prince's East Palace, and it is not easy to surrender if you want to, so it is not difficult to understand that some people want to settle for the second best. After all, all the princes are the sons of the founder of the country, and they will definitely be in the future. Just the vassal king.
Instead of being at the end of the line in the East Palace, it is better to rely on the prince who is closer to him. In the future, the family can also live neutrally in the court. Zhu Biao believes that there should be many people who have this idea.
After thinking for a while, Zhu Biao turned around and went straight to the Ministry of Industry. Since the past two years, the Ministry of Industry has been concentrating on studying the coal he requested and sending people to search for various mineral resources all over the world.
Having enough food and clothing is the biggest wish of the people at the bottom, and it is also the first problem that Zhu Biao needs to solve. At present, the Ming Dynasty is vast and sparsely populated, and the food problem is more limited by natural and man-made disasters than by land annexation in the late dynasty.
Therefore, the Ming Dynasty was not so eager for high-yield grains, not to mention that those crops were found as finished products. The lessons of Nan Ju and Bei Zhi also need to be considered. The sweet potatoes and corns of later generations should be finished products after several generations of improvement and selection.
The biggest problem for the people, especially those in the north, is that it is difficult to survive the winter. After the forced promotion of cotton in recent years by Lao Zhu, the yield has increased a lot, but the price after being shipped to the north is not low. The poor people still have to wear cotton. Wearing cotton clothes.
Not to mention coal and charcoal that only wealthy families can afford, so Zhu Biao has been asking the Ministry of Industry to produce low-cost and low-cost coal. It has to be said that the Ministry of Industry still has capable people.
The results were obtained after just a few months of research, but the price is still relatively expensive, but it is relatively cheap. Poor people may be able to buy some, but they will only burn some when they can't stand it in the cold winter. They deserve it. Those who are frozen remain frozen.
So the research continued. Now two years later, he received news on his way back to Beijing from Shaanxi and Gansu that it was successful and he had developed coal that cost only ten cents to manufacture.
Zhu Biao calculated that if mass production is carried out, the cost can be reduced further. After all, in today's era, the cost of using labor is extremely low, and some people who want to find a job can't find one.
All the way to the Ministry of Works, Zhu Biao walked in a hurry, but no one came forward to see him and talk. They all stepped aside and bowed, and Zhu Biao nodded slightly and passed.
The minister of the Ministry of Industry greeted him in front of the gate of the Yamen of the Ministry of Industry. After saying a few words, they walked into a workshop together. The inside was filled with smoke and dust, and the ground was covered with broken cinders. The Minister of the Ministry of Industry felt a little embarrassed next to Zhu Biao. He said: "It's really a bit messy here. Your Highness might as well wait for a while and order someone to clean it up."
Zhu Biao looked around and said casually: "It's okay, but when developing coal, you need to pay attention to ventilation. Always be careful, otherwise you will be killed if you pass out due to coal poisoning."
The Minister of Works immediately nodded and said: "Don't worry, Your Highness, I and others are paying attention."
Walking into a room, several craftsmen were kneeling on the ground waiting. There were several large baskets of coal in front of them, and behind them was a stove: "I'm waiting to pay my respects to the prince, the prince Qianqiu!"
Zhu Biao nodded and said with a smile: "Two years of hard work have not been in vain. As long as this coal is as good as you promised, I will not be stingy in rewarding you."
Among them, the leader, an old man with gray hair and gray hair but a strong body, kowtowed and said: "You guys will never dare to deceive me. Please test it, the prince."
The Minister of Industry and Industry waved his hand and said: "Put it in the stove and let His Highness see the effect."
After a few people responded, they got up and got busy. Since they had already prepared to add coal to the fire, bursts of steam soon began to steam. The red coal cakes stood firm in the blazing flames, and the effect was remarkable.
But it's not a big deal. After all, coal has such an effect. Zhu Biao is only concerned about its cost, how long it can burn, and whether it can be burned by poor people.
Liu Jin picked up a piece of coal from the ground. Zhu Biao saw that there were many small holes in the middle, presumably for better lighting of the fire. The appearance was not neat at all, it was dark and rough.
The minister of the Ministry of Industry on the side began to introduce the manufacturing method. The craftsmen rubbed their hands unconsciously and waited. The main materials of this coal are raw coal, yellow mud, charcoal powder and some other convoluted things.
Zhu Biao listened for a while and then waved his hand and said: "Why is the cost so cheap?"
The Minister of the Ministry of Industry stopped talking helplessly. It was not easy for him to memorize so many convoluted names of materials, so he consulted many Taoist priests who knew how to make alchemy, thinking that he could still tell allusions when asked by His Highness.
Who would have thought that His Highness did not ask at all and could only answer honestly: "Because the raw coal used does not need to be of high quality in lumps. Crushed cinders can also be used. Those are useless things, so the cost is extremely low."
When Zhu Biao heard this, a smile appeared on his face. Regardless of his dirty hands, he picked up a piece of dark coal and weighed it: "Have you ever tested the coal poison? It's not serious. It needs ventilation."
"this……"
Everyone in the room looked at each other, and the Ministry of Industry Minister said: "This has never been tried, but after so long of development, no one has been found to be poisoned by coal. It is expected that as long as there is normal ventilation, it should be fine."
Zhu Biao ordered: "In the future, whatever the Ministry of Industry develops, as long as it is for human use, it must be tested more. Some livestock can be used for testing, just in case."
Naturally, no one would refute Zhu Biao's words, and they all agreed. Zhu Biao said to Liu Jin on the side: "Pack some and take them away. I would like to ask your Majesty to take a look."
The Minister of the Ministry of Industry hurriedly said: "This coal is crudely made and is really not suitable for supplying it to your Majesty. If Your Highness needs it, I will immediately order someone to make a batch of good ones."
Zhu Biao waved his hand and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, it is meant to be sold to the people. Practicality comes first, and the rest is trivial."
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