Li Xun was preparing to snatch the mine. He had absolute confidence that no one else would be able to snatch it from him. In his own fief, other than the emperor and his two fathers, no one else could. And the emperor and his two fathers did not need to snatch it from him. If there was a need, they could just call him.
He was now thinking about how to develop the mine. It was easy to mine, but difficult to sell. Some people did not even know about it.
Zhang Xiaobao was familiar with this. He pondered for a moment and said, "You can only own the cloudstone mine, but you can't monopolize the copper mine. The Imperial Court is short of copper now. Once you mine the copper, you can sell it directly to your uncle, the Emperor. He will only charge you a mining fee and environmental damage fee.
It's a small amount of money, but you have to take it. However, you can't make money from it. Just think of it as organizing people to work for your uncle for free. You're not afraid of being greedy, but you don't know what you should be greedy and what you shouldn't be greedy. This copper mine is a basic natural resource that society needs. It can't be reproduced.
It's a livelihood for people. Not to mention your status, even the Zhang Family and the Wang Family can't take this money. Cloudstones are another thing. There's no need to worry about it. It's like sugar and salt. No matter how high the price of sugar is, no one will say anything, especially the Imperial Court. However, if you want to monopolize salt and raise the price, you can only wait for death.
Cloudstones are a luxury. Even if you don't have them, you won't die. It's enough for you to use them to make money. Mine them first, then transport them to the capital. Build a beautiful house for your uncle with them. It's best if it's done before winter. I'll provide the furniture and heating inside.
I'll also give you a beautiful big fish tank and some ornamental fish that are equally rare in Lu Zhou's place. Let your uncle use them during the winter. When spring comes tomorrow, your marble will be worth a lot of money. You should thank me. "
Li Xun nodded. He could not help but admire this idea. However, after thinking about it, he said, "Cloudstones are worth a lot of money, but aren't your glass fish tank and ornamental fish worth more? Also, what's the heating device? Is it a kang? "
"Can a kang work? Heating? You'll know in the future. It's very convenient. There's coal in Hua Yuan County. I'll give you a few thermometers as well. You can give them to your uncle. Try to keep the temperature in the room at 23 to 27 degrees Celsius. "
Zhang Xiaobao finally understood why the master was not willing to teach his disciple. Once the disciple was smart, it would not be easy to fool him.
Li Xun did not fully understand, but he agreed. Since Zhang Xiaobao said so, then his family must have a way. He would just do as he said. When Li Xun turned around, he saw the house again. He thought about how the wheels were not afraid of bumps and how the house could move back and forth. He had a lot of thoughts.
"Xiao Bao, Xiao Bei's house …"
"You want to steal my younger siblings' house? No, absolutely not. My family is going to offer the method to the higher-ups. You won't get a share. " As soon as Zhang Xiaobao heard Li Xun's question, he understood. He quickly explained his thoughts, not letting Li Xun take advantage of the situation.
"I'm not robbing you. I'm just asking if you can make one. I want one too." Li Xun was indeed going to take the technology and make a few more for his family. Or, if someone had a child at home, it would be too tacky for others to give gold and silver. He would give a house.
"If you want to make it into a car, wheels are fine, but a house is not. That thing is too big. Unless you want to make the car as big as the house. Let's go, let's go boating."
Zhang Xiaobao agreed to a portion of it and followed the group to Lake Tai.
As Li Xun followed, he said to Zhang Xiaobao, "Xiao Bao, do you have any new things in your family? Let me see them. I might be able to use them. You must tell me if you have any. "
"Don't worry. I'll tell you everything as long as it can be mass produced. I'll give you a share when I do business." Zhang Xiaobao made the horse run faster to get rid of Li Xun.
When the team arrived at Lake Tai, it was already evening. Li Xun circled the lake and caught a few fish. Unfortunately, crabs were not available in this season, so he could only eat fish and prawns.
Everyone ate a big meal. Zhang Zhong was in a good mood as he learned a lot of things. Li Xun was also happy. There were two mines. Even if he could only take one in the end, it would be good. The Military Registrar and the others were also relaxed. The matter was settled.
Li Xun drank some wine and was a little confused. When it was dark, he wanted to find Zhang Xiaobao to discuss ways to make money. He did not care about others and stood up to find Zhang Xiaobao. However, before he reached the place, he realized something was wrong. Why was it so bright?
"How many candles must be lit? It's so bright. Aiya, it's still near the house. Xiao Bao wants to kill the younger siblings. This won't do. I have to go and take a look."
Li Xun did not feel anything when he was sitting and drinking. Now that he stood up, the alcohol rushed to his head. In a daze, he saw a house. It was bright. At this time, he was in a state where he was intoxicated but not drunk. He knew that too many candles were not good for the younger siblings.
When he got closer and was sobered up by the cold wind, he finally realized that things were not as he thought. He saw Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan guarding the front of the house. They were playing with the younger siblings and looking at the candles in the house.
Eh? That's strange. When did such candles appear?
When he got closer, Li Xun finally realized that it was not a candle. It was something bright inside a glass. It was a new thing that could replace candles.
"Xiao Bao, what did you say during the day? You're hiding the good stuff, aren't you? Why is it so bright? Give me a hundred of them. I'll hang them at home. "
Li Xun rubbed his face with his hands and poured some water on his face from the basin for the younger children's handkerchiefs. When he woke up, he stood in front of Zhang Xiaobao and questioned him. He knew that he should not scare the child.
"It can't be mass produced yet. Last night, two were broken. It's not even enough for 24 hours. It's useless even if I give it to you. It's an experiment now. This is the house. The experiment at home is also at the same time. That place is different from here.
Let's see how long it can last. When it's done, we will definitely not leave you out. Especially this generator. Look, it's something that the people over there use. We can sell it cheaper. It's 1,000 strings of coins. It's not expensive.
Zhang Xiaobao was not lying. The lifespan of light bulbs was too short. It could not be used at all. It was not like when he and Wang Juan were together. Glass was cheap. Here, it was a luxury. The light bulbs were going to be sold for 50 strings of coins. After people bought them, they would use them for a few hours. If they broke, it would be over.
He had to find a way to make it last longer. Compared to candles, at least the lifespan of the light bulbs could be exchanged for the price of candles at the same time.
The reason why the generator was so cheap was that the light bulb technology was in his hands. If the conditions were met, Zhang Xiaobao could even give away the generator for free. For example, he could buy a hundred light bulbs at a time.
While Zhang Xiaobao was talking, the light bulb on the second floor of the house went out. The four little guys found that the light was not right. They turned to look at their own house together and saw that the light on the second floor was out. They were anxious. They pulled Wang Juan there and called her sister. Their little hands pointed to the second floor.
Zhang Xiaobao quickly changed the light bulbs. Li Xun also believed Zhang Xiaobao's words and said, "It's really easy to break. Then we have to study it quickly. It's a good thing. It's bright, really bright. The fire is wrapped in the glass. There's no need to add oil, and there's no need to be afraid of wind. If the whole house is lit, there won't be any difference between night and day."
Zhang Xiaobao changed the light bulbs. The second floor was bright again. The four little guys smiled happily and turned to continue playing. Li Xun could see that the little guys could not go in, but they definitely would not allow their house to be dark.
He squatted down and pulled one of the little guys over. He kissed him hard on the face and said, "You guys enjoy yourselves. The good things are all given to you first. There's no such treatment in the palace."
*****
After staying in Lake Tai for a night, they rushed back after dawn. Seeing that they had all left, the county magistrate of Taihu County sat on the shaft of the carriage and looked at the sky. He sighed and said to himself, "Gone, they're all gone. It's finally quiet. Mines, money, and floating clouds, they're all floating clouds."
"Master, there's still Qingfeng." A person who was an advisor came over and said.
The county magistrate put his hand on the advisor's face and pushed him. "Go away. What Qingfeng? They're all gone. "
No one in Zhang Xiaobao's entourage cared about the thoughts of a county magistrate, nor did they have the leisure to experience the county magistrate's philosophical thoughts. They continued on their journey at a leisurely pace. After walking for three days, they still did not return to the manor.
They did not go back, but some people had already arrived. They were the people who came down from the dock.
On the fourth night after leaving the dock, many carriages came to the yamen of Shuzhou Prefecture. Of course, the guards did not dare to stop them and directly let them in.
Old Man Yuanzhi's family was also temporarily arranged to stay in the prefecture. However, there was no one in the prefecture, not even a caretaker. The only people who could breathe were the yamen runners outside.
After asking around, they found out that everyone had gone elsewhere. The old man who accompanied Old Man Yuanzhi said, "Don't worry about them. Just don't go to their main house. We can look around and see if they have made anything new. I found that every few days, they make something new."
At this time, a yamen runner who was guarding the gate came over and said to the old man who just spoke, "Master Bi, I don't know what's going on these days. As soon as it gets dark, one of the courtyards in the governor's house will light up. Sometimes, it will light up for a long time. Sometimes, it will light up for a while and then stop.
Is it haunted? Master, why don't you and this … this master take a rest outside? Otherwise, if something happens, it will be hard for me to explain. "
"Oh? Is there such a thing? Okay, what haunted? Can his house be haunted? Yuanzhi, come with me. Arrange for your family to stay here. Send as many servants to my house as possible. The Zhang family has things that not everyone can see. "
When Old Man Pi heard that it was haunted, he did not believe it at all. Which ghost was tired of living and came to the Zhang Family and Wang Family to make trouble? He said something to Old Man Yuanzhi and led the way to the courtyard that the yamen runner just mentioned.
It was just the two of them. The others were not going to follow, not even the guards. When the two old men came to the courtyard, they saw that it was lit up in different places.
Old Man Pi looked carefully at the ground and said in surprise, "This is the courtyard where the four youngest children of the Zhang Family and Wang Family play. There should be a house in front. It seems that it has been put on wheels and taken away. And the ground …"
"Long Ze, wait, what did you just say? The house has been put on wheels and taken away? What house can be taken away? " If Old Man Yuanzhi did not know what kind of person Bi Gou was, he would really think that he was possessed by a ghost. It was the first time he heard that a house was put on wheels and taken away.
"Yuanzhi does not believe it. It is the house of the four little kids. It is so high and has three floors. Only one house costs a lot of money. What is the point of putting on wheels and taking away? That house can be used as a boat in the water. Even if it is pressed into the water, the children inside can hold on for a long time.
And the ground, it was not marble in the past. I don't know where they found so many marble stones. I think it can only be seen in this courtyard. It is beautiful, especially when it is illuminated by the light. Good, it is a pity that the people are not here. Otherwise, I must ask carefully. "
Old Man Pi explained to Old Man Yuanzhi. He could understand the other party's thoughts. If he did not see it with his own eyes, no one would believe it.
Sure enough, Old Man Yuanzhi did not believe it. He said on the side, "Is there no marble stones in Zhang Zhong's main hall?"
"That depends on whether there is anything left after the courtyard is paved. If there is, and it is enough to pave the main hall, then there will be some in the main hall. Otherwise, there won't be any. Their family gave the best things to the four children. Let's go and see what that shiny thing is."
Old Man Pi explained again. He stepped on the marble ground and felt that the feeling under his feet was really different.
When the two people approached the shiny thing, they found that there were a total of 20 such things, and six of them were broken.
"What is this? A candle? An oil lamp? They have been gone for several days. There should not be anyone coming in to add oil. It is even more impossible for a candle to burn for such a long time. It is strange. "
Old Man Pi looked at the light bulbs. When he turned his head to talk to Old Man Yuanzhi, he suddenly found that the surroundings were so dark. When he turned his head to look at the light bulbs again, his eyes were shaking uncomfortably.
Fortunately, for the two of them, the light bulbs were not hung up high. Old Man Yuanzhi had just reached the place and had to be polite, so he did not touch them. Old Man Pi did not care about being polite or not. If he was polite to the Zhang family, then he would never be able to get anything good.
"Let me pick one and see what it is." Old Man Pi said as he reached out to pick one of the light bulbs. He thought that it was a gourd. As soon as his hand touched the light bulbs, he retracted his hand.
"Hot. How did this happen? My hand is so hot. Look, where does it connect to?" Old Man Pi blew twice on his scalded fingers. As he spoke, he followed the line that connected the light bulbs to other places. His feet also followed the light bulbs.
As they walked, the two of them arrived in front of a few large windmills that were rotating at the side.
Under the windmills, the two of them saw something that could not be seen clearly turning. When the windmills turned, this thing turned. When the windmills stopped, this thing also stopped.
After looking for a while, Old Man Yuanzhi finally found the connection and said, "When the windmills stop, it is dark. When the windmills turn, it is bright. Does this have something to do with the windmills?"
"Yes, yes, that is it. Yuanzhi, you don't know. Look here. Obviously, you can use your feet to pedal, but now you are riding on the windmills. The Zhang family is lazy. If they can use wind and water, they will definitely not use animals. If they can use animals, they will definitely not use people.
I know how to do this. Watch me. Stop this place that connects to the windmills and then take it down. Okay, that side is out, right? Next, I will go up and pedal. "
Old Man Pi picked up a connecting shaft. This way, the generator could not rely on the rotation of the windmills to provide power. Old Man Pi went up to the generator, put his foot on the pedal, grabbed the handle, and began to pedal. When he pedal, that place lit up again.
When he stopped, it was dark. This time, without needing to say anything, Old Man Yuanzhi understood what was going on. It turned out that it was really related to the windmills, but he could not figure out the reason behind it.
Old Man Pi was the same. He put back the connecting shaft of the windmills. After the lights were back on, he sat there and rested his chin on his hand. "Why? The windmills turn and light up, and the windmills stop. Could it be that a windmill with this thing can replace candles? "
The more he thought about it, the more surprised Old Man Pi was. If it was true, then as long as the wind was blowing steadily and there was water next to it, candles and oil lamps would no longer be needed. Moreover, this thing with something inside the glass was much brighter than candles.
If it was placed in a hall, just one would be brighter than more than ten candles. How much money would be saved? How much oil would be saved? If this oil was given to people to eat, how many families would benefit?
Besides, this thing was not afraid of wind and did not have oil fumes. Apart from the discomfort of looking at it directly, it was much better than candles and oil lamps.
What Old Man Pi could think of, Old Man Yuanzhi could also think of. He also knew that this thing that could light up was a layer of glass.
"Long Ze, the Tang Empire is lucky to have this thing. We should write a report immediately. I will go back now." Old Man Yuanzhi looked very calm just now, but after thinking of the application of this thing, he became excited and was about to go back.
"Yuanzhi, you can't. Everything will have to wait until the Zhang family comes back. If you write a report now and send it to them, then this thing will be the last thing the Zhang family has. Don't expect other things to come out in the future. You should know that the Zhang family makes a good thing every few days."
When Old Man Pi saw that Old Man Yuanzhi was going to write a report, he quickly stopped him. If he really wrote it and sent it to them, then it would be terrible. After interacting with the Zhang family so much, he knew what kind of people the Zhang family was. If they negotiated with him, then sometimes it would be an exchange of interests, sometimes it would be an exchange of power, and sometimes it would not be an exchange of anything. As long as they talked nicely and it did not have a big impact on the income of the Zhang Family and Wang Family, then the technology would be handed over.
For example, if it was really related to the fate of the country and the people's livelihood, then the first thing to do was to send it to them. If such people were angered because of Yuanzhi's excitement, then they should not expect their family to produce anything in the future. Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs would not work.
After Old Man Pi stopped Old Man Yuanzhi and told him this, Old Man Yuanzhi also stopped. He also understood that this was indeed the case. If he were in Old Man Pi's shoes, he would also be angry.
What did it mean that all under the sky was the land of the king, and all on the shore of the land were the king's subjects?
That was a lie. The land of the king was conquered. For example, the big island that the Zhang family found was the land of the Tang Empire. In fact, it had nothing to do with the Tang Empire at all. They did not send troops to occupy it. They just wanted the gold mine, copper mine, and grain there.
"I understand. The Zhang Family and Wang Family are not lacking in righteousness, but we can't use righteousness to suppress them. This thing will definitely be used to make money. Ordinary people will not use it."
Old Man Yuanzhi sighed and did not leave. He stood beside the lamp and watched it shine.
"Ordinary people have no use for candles. Oil lamps are only lit when there are special circumstances. How can they afford it? Let alone this. How much did the thing just now cost? Can the common people afford it? It's only used by the rich.
Besides, there's nothing wrong with the Zhang family making money. You'll know when they come back. It's not bad to eat, but they will never throw away a table full of food that they can't finish. They wear good clothes, but they will never stop wearing them after wearing them once.
Apart from the four little ones who did not care about money, their family rarely wasted money. In other words, most of the money they earned was not used on themselves. Look at Sanshui County, Huayuan County, Yaozhou, Lu Zhou, and now the people of Shuzhou.
Most of the time, the Zhang and Wang families had to fork out their own money to pay for the roads and water conservancy projects. They rarely reported anything to the authorities. Moreover, no one reported anything to them. Whenever a disaster struck a place, they would secretly transport things to that place. When they arrived at that place, they would use the imperial court's name to give it to the victims.
They also paid for the things the imperial court built. Other rich families flaunt their wealth, but you can't see the Zhang Family and Wang Family at all. This is the true definition of a rich family. The sea does not show off its depth, but it surges; the mountain does not show off its height, but it is majestic. The Zhang Family and Wang Family are like this. If they earn money, so be it.
Old Man Pi summed up the Zhang Family and Wang Family. It was true. The two families were never like other people who used the name of giving porridge outside a certain city. If the Zhang Family and Wang Family really wanted to help the common people in a certain place, they would definitely open a business there. Then, they would use the business as an excuse to build roads and water conservancy projects, and so on.
This required manpower. Other people were giving alms on the surface, but the Zhang Family and Wang Family were helping the common people find things to do. They were not on the same level at all.
Old Man Yuanzhi used to think that he knew the Zhang Family and Wang Family well. On the way, he also heard some things about the Zhang Family and Wang Family from Old Man Pi. The main thing was that there were too many things to do, so he did not talk about it.
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