"Tch~, I have no idea, haven't you? Who told you that coal can only be used to burn cement?" Li Min said with a look of disdain. In later generations, coal was called the food of industry, whether in terms of people's livelihood or industry.

It is one of the most widely used energy sources. Compared with charcoal and the most primitive firewood, its advantages cannot be explained clearly in one or two sentences.

"Oh? From what Liu Lang said, you seem to know the other uses of this coal. Tell us about it quickly!" Yan Bei is also very concerned about making money. After hearing Li Min's words, he immediately asked first

.Others also looked at Li Min with curious faces. They all knew that Li Min knew a lot about these messy things, so they didn't have any doubts about Li Min's words.

"Hey, it's easy. I've prepared the things a long time ago. Just wait a moment!" Li Min said and gave instructions to the outside. After a while, several servants brought in two more things. One of them was gray.

It's whirring. It looks similar to charcoal, but the color is lighter. The other one is like a stove, with light yellow flames rising very high.

In the eyes of everyone's doubts, Li Min stepped forward, first picked up the fire tongs beside the stove, reached into the stove and picked up a cylindrical thing with many holes on it. After turning it around in front of everyone's eyes,

Then he said: "Everyone, please see, this is made by me using crushed pebbles and clay. I call it briquettes or briquettes. A piece of briquettes like this is enough for an ordinary family to cook a meal, and it doesn't need to be used."

When the time comes, you can plug the air inlet below tightly to slow down the burning speed of the briquettes. It will not go out overnight, and you can even cook a meal without replacing the briquettes with new ones. It is definitely faster than using charcoal and firewood.

Much stronger..."

Li Min explained the functions of briquettes and showed everyone how to use the briquette stove. This thing has no technical content at all, so as long as you are not stupid or crazy, you can immediately understand what is going on.

"Liu Lang, you...are you planning to let everyone use charcoal to cook?" Li Jingheng stepped forward and looked at the burning briquettes in Li Min's hands, and said with a surprised look on his face. He was really shocked that Li Min dared to think about it.

Qian, if everyone could really use this kind of briquettes, then they would no longer have to worry about not being able to sell the coal.

"Of course, although everyone now uses firewood or charcoal for cooking and boiling water, compared to them, briquettes are cleaner, more efficient, and the price is not high. It may be more expensive than firewood, but it is definitely cheaper than charcoal.

It is cheap, and compared with firewood at the same price, honeycomb briquettes are definitely more resistant to burning, and it is more cost-effective to use honeycomb briquettes, so as long as we put some effort into publicity and promotion, we will definitely make everyone switch to our charcoal.

As fuel.”

Li Min smiled very proudly. When he first started mining coal, he already wanted to produce briquettes. However, because the output of the mine was not large at the time, it was difficult to supply just a few cement plants. Even if he did it, it would not be possible.

Supply of raw materials. Until now, in order to repay the help of brothers, he decided to develop the coal industry. As the leading product to open up the market, briquettes were of course the first to be produced.

"Liu Lang is indeed Liu Lang. He solved this problem in one go!" Yan Bei walked around the coal stove a few times and then said with admiration. Others also agreed and were amazed around the coal stove.

"Liu Lang, you've finished talking about the briquettes, but what is this thing?" Cheng Huailiang picked up the gray things next to him and observed them carefully for a long time without understanding what they were. He just felt that they were similar to coal.

"Oh, this thing is called coke. It is made from coal after certain processing. Although it is inconspicuous, it is a good material for iron-making, and not all pebbles can be used to make coke.

In my several coal mines, at most less than one-fifth of the coal can be used for coking, so its price is much more expensive than coal." Li Min said.

The Tang Dynasty implemented a parallel system of government and private mining in the mining industry, and did not prohibit private mining and smelting. Therefore, the private mining industry developed rapidly. Although it cannot be compared with the powerful government-run mining and smelting industry, it is better than that of the previous dynasty.

Much better, and the development of the private mining industry has also increased the demand for fuel during smelting.

The use of coal as fuel for iron-making has already appeared as early as the Han Dynasty. However, coal contains sulfur and other impurities, which makes the iron produced too brittle. This kind of iron is of little use, so coal is used to make iron.

Iron was not common in the Tang Dynasty. It was not until the Northern Song Dynasty two hundred years later that the use of coal to make iron began to reach a certain scale due to technological advancement.

It became mainstream and is still in use more than a thousand years later. Of course, some people are lucky enough to find natural coke, which can be directly used to make iron. However, there is not much naturally formed coke, which is far from enough for smelting.

usage of.

Li Min brought the emergence of coke hundreds of years ahead of schedule, and as long as the current smelting technology is slightly improved, Datang's steel output will definitely increase exponentially, and steel output is a symbol of a country's strength, so Li Min

This move may seem ordinary, but its significance is so great that it will definitely bring about earth-shaking changes in the entire Tang Dynasty. Unfortunately, no one here can see the significance of the appearance of coke, so after hearing this

When things can be used to make iron, they are just happy that the coal has an additional use, and the coal they produce in the future also has an additional market, and they don't think much about other things.

Li Min had long known that these unlearned guys would definitely not understand the importance of coke, so he was not surprised by their reaction. Of course, he would not waste his words explaining the meaning to these dandies.

, it doesn’t matter if they don’t understand, as long as the people who use it can understand it. He has already asked people to send the coke produced in his mine to the Ministry of Industry, and also gave a ‘ generous gift ’ to his uncle, Shangshu. I heard that

He is already arranging for people to try it out, and the results will surely come out in a while.

The Carboniferous Industry Association has been established, and the market for the coal has been found. Now that everything is ready, people are sent to find those coal mines. Now everyone no longer drinks, everyone simply sits down,

The people and money that each family had to contribute were divided up, and everyone's share was roughly the same. Even Li Xiaojie, who had always been poor, was unwilling to give up such a good opportunity, and shamelessly offered to Li Min, Li Yong and Li Jingheng.

He has collected his share, his debts have been paid off, and the winery's profits are so good. Although the money is now with his wife, if he can seize such a good money-making opportunity, Princess Qinghe will definitely do the same.

Obediently take out the money.

On the second day after the matter was agreed upon, as soon as the city gates of Chang'an City were opened, a group of people came out of the city. A rough calculation showed that there were hundreds of people, and everyone prepared their horses. Among this group of people,

, Cheng Huailiang, Li Jingye, Li Jingheng, Qin Huaiyu, and Yan Bei were all present. The six deacons of the Carboniferous Industry Association, which was established just yesterday, were the only ones not present.

After leaving the city gate, their group walked northeast for a while, and then stopped. Cheng Huailiang and the others called several leaders of the group over, and then asked in a deep voice: "What happened to you yesterday?"

Can you remember them all?"

"Don't worry, Young Master, my subordinates have all taken note of it. We will definitely live up to Young Master's trust and try to find as many coal mines as possible." One of the team leaders stood up and said, they are the trusted servants sent by Cheng Huailiang and others, but now

The prospecting team is affiliated to the Carboniferous Association and is responsible for going to the area designated by Li Min to find minerals. Moreover, they all carry warrants from each government and can mobilize the local manpower and connections of each government at any time.

"Well, remember what King Liang told you, you must inquire more and observe more, and try not to leak the news. If you find a coal mine, come back and report it as soon as possible. You are no longer servants of each government, but belong to the Tang Dynasty Carbon Industry

The prospecting team under the association, the promise made by the association to you is not a joke. If you find a coal mine with mining value, you will immediately get a hundred dollars of funds. Even if it is for your own sake, you must not be lazy!

"Qin Huaiyu also ordered. It was the first time he did such a thing, and he felt a little uneasy, so he couldn't help but give instructions repeatedly.

"Deacon Qin, please rest assured. All of my subordinates are from their respective houses. They also have wives, children, and children at home. Even if it is not for themselves, they will try their best to find a few mines for the sake of their family members!" A discerning team leader immediately said,

He no longer called Qin Huaiyu his son, but directly addressed Qin Huaiyu's position in the association, which made Qin Huaiyu very satisfied after hearing this.

Next, Li Jingye and others also came forward and said a few words, with similar meanings. Anyway, they were asked to search for as much ore as possible. Then they personally toasted a bowl of farewell wine to the first batch of subordinates of the Carboniferous Association.

Only then did they get on their horses and go on their way.

Watching the prospecting team leaving on horseback, Cheng Huailiang and the others heaved a sigh of relief. They have been busy since they made the decision to prospect yesterday. They even didn't even sleep last night. All five of them are now full of eyes.

Bloodshot.

"Well~, I'm finally done with my work. Let's all go back and catch up on some sleep!" Li Jingye stretched and yawned. The energy he had just worked so hard immediately collapsed. The tiredness on his face could no longer be concealed, and he was weak.

said.

"Hmm~" Yawning is contagious. Yan Bei also stretched his body immediately, then smiled and said: "We can rest now, but Liu Lang will be miserable. He was killed by his mother and concubine so early in the morning.

I called you, but you don’t know what’s going on?”

"It's not just Liuyang. Brother Ke originally wanted to come and have a look today, but he was called by Concubine Yang. It seems that his brother was asked to visit someone alone." Qin Huaiyu also said with a tired look. Yesterday when the Carboniferous Industry Association was established,

Li Ke was unable to attend because of something else. When he heard the news today, he immediately ran to Qin Huaiyu, who was closest to his house, to learn about the situation. He heard that these prospecting teams were being sent away today. He originally wanted to come and have a look, but he did not expect that Yang Fei sent

People also called him away.

"Hey, I know about this!" When it comes to being well-informed, no one here can match Cheng Huailiang. "The person they went to visit is not simple, and if Liu Lang goes, something very interesting will definitely happen.

Things." When Cheng Huailiang said this, the smile on his face looked very strange.

PS: Because I have to take an exam with my wife tomorrow and won’t be back until the day after tomorrow, I will update it in the afternoon tomorrow. Laoyu hasn’t saved the manuscript, so it’s all coded now, so I don’t know how much I can code tomorrow. I’ll try to code two chapters. I can’t let you support me.

Laoyu's book friends were disappointed.
Chapter completed!