There were a lot of mounds next to the mine pit, which seemed to be staring at all, but when the old craftsman took off the floating soil on the surface, the dark "stones" below were immediately exposed. Zhang Zong only glanced at it, and didn't even pick it up at all, so he immediately confirmed that it must be coal, because these were all large pieces of coal, and some wood could even be seen turning into textures left by coal.

"It's it! It's it!" Zhang Zong walked over excitedly, picked up a large piece of coal and held it in his hand, not caring about the dyed blackness of his hands.

Coal is known as the food of industrial industries. It is precisely because of the fuel of coal that people use steam and invented the steam engine. Moreover, coal can also be used to refine steel. With the steam engine and steel, the industrial revolution in human history was launched for the first time.

"Brother Shi, this coal doesn't look special?" At this moment, Xue Shao, who was next to him, came over and picked up a small piece of coal and observed it for a while. After rubbing it with his hands, he found the black and gray in one hand. Then he guessed, "It actually faded. Can this coal be used to dye cloth or make ink?"

"I didn't expect you to be quite smart. This thing can be used to make ink, but you didn't guess its biggest function correctly!" Zhang Zong was surprised to see this. Coal can be used to make coal tar, while coal tar can be used to make ink. For example, Zhang Zong's movable type printing requires ink. Of course, the ink formula used now does not contain burnt tar.

"What is its biggest use?" Xue Shao asked curiously.

Zhang Zong was about to answer, but found that the old craftsman who brought them was also eavesdropping with his ears. He immediately closed his mouth, then put down the coal in his hand and said to the old craftsman: "Brother-in-law, since you have heard it just now, I won't hide it from you. This kind of black stone is useful to me. I want to buy your mine, so you can offer a price!"

When the old craftsman heard Zhang Zong say this, his face turned red with excitement, and he immediately thought about the price in his heart. After all, their family was backward and the whole family could only work hard. If they could sell this abandoned mine, they might be able to turn things around.

Seeing the old craftsman's increasingly excited expression, Zhang Zong smiled secretly and immediately said, "Brother-in-law, tell you the truth. This kind of coal appears in large areas. So, except for your mine, if you are willing to dig down, you can definitely dig out coal. If the price you are too outrageous, we may have to buy other places!"

Zhang Zong did not deceive the other party. Although the mine pit in front of him was very large, it was not deep, so it could almost be said to be an open-pit coal mine. In addition, he had known that there were plenty of coal here and there were coal mines everywhere underground. Now that he found the right place, as long as he digs around, he would definitely be able to dig out coal.

Zhang Zong's words suddenly extinguished the old craftsman's passion. Finally, hesitated for a while and then spoke: "How about one hundred guan? My father bought this porcelain clay ore from the court during the Zhenguan period, and spent nearly fifty guan. The copper coins now are not as valuable as the copper coins of the past. Not to mention anything else, the price of rice is more than twice as expensive as that of the past."

"So expensive! Do you have the courage to offer this price for a waste mine?" Xue Shao immediately shouted dissatisfied when he heard this, "Your mine has been abandoned for a long time, it is worthless at all, and the area is not large, and the land cannot grow grain. If this kind of wasteland is placed in the yamen, it doesn't cost any money. As long as you are willing to cultivate it, it's okay to occupy as much as you want!"

The Tang Dynasty was vast and sparsely populated, and there was no shortage of land. Except for the land in big cities such as Chang'an and Luoyang, the land in other places was not very valuable, especially the wasteland. The court would also encourage the people to reclaim it. As long as you reclaim the wasteland and plant it for several consecutive years, the land will belong to you directly.

"This little gentleman, the old man also knows that wasteland is not worth much, but we have many mines here, and you came here to like my mine. The mine is much more expensive than ordinary fields!" The old craftsman also explained with a grievance at this time.

Although his bidding price is a bit higher, it is not particularly high. After all, an ordinary porcelain clay ore now costs dozens of guan, and a top-quality porcelain clay ore cannot be bought at all.

"Okay, one hundred guan is one hundred guan, but you have to do me a favor and ask a few people to go down and dig more coals back, and prepare a few cars. I want to take some coal away!" Zhang Zong suddenly spoke at this time.

Coal is also called black gold, so a coal mine is actually a chicken that can lay golden eggs. Buying a coal mine is actually like picking it up for nothing. Of course, the old craftsman does not suffer any loss. After all, he doesn’t know what coal is for, and the coal mine is worthless in his hands.

Seeing Zhang Zong agreeing, the old craftsman also showed an ecstatic expression and nodded suddenly and said, "Okay! Don't worry, I'll call my sons here now, you can wait here!"

After saying that, the old craftsman turned his head and ran away. He is worthy of being a person who works all year round. Even at such an old age, he runs no slower than a young man. In the blink of an eye, he disappears at the end of the road.

Zhang Zong didn't wait. He quickly found the way to get down the mine. It was actually a downward slope. Then the group went down to the mine. The mine was not too deep, about two meters, but not three meters. Fortunately, there was not much rain here, so there was no water accumulation below. It was just that because it was abandoned all year round, the bottom of the mine was already covered with weeds.

Several guards pulled out their waist knives, and then cleared out a piece of weeds on the ground. At this time, Zhang Zong also saw the black coal ash under the soil at a glance. He borrowed a knife and dug it a few times. When the soil on the surface was turned on, the bottom was covered with black coal. It seemed that the old craftsman did not lie.

After a while, the old craftsman brought a few sons to push the cart and brought tools. Zhang Zong directed them to dig in the direction of the ground he had cleared out. Until a person-high pit was dug, Zhang Zong found that the bottom was still full of coal, so he nodded with confidence. Although he didn't know how to prospect, at least this coal mine should not be a thin layer.

After loading the dug coal into the car, it was already late, so Zhang Zong simply stayed in Baiyao for one night and discussed with the old craftsman the detailed matters of buying a mine. After all, he could not carry so much money with him, and such land changes also require registration at the yamen, and it is definitely not possible to handle it in one or two days.
Chapter completed!