The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 47

[47. Chapter 47 Cornucopia]

Thinking of the Little Ice Age, Fang Jifan felt emotional. Such extreme weather, not to mention the chill caused by the extreme weather, and the consequent reduction in food production, were all factors that led to the demise of the Ming Dynasty. One of the inducements.

At this time, as if he was afraid that Fang Jifan would be afraid of the cold, Deng Jian hurriedly brought a hand stove over. This hand stove was made of copper and burned with charcoal. Deng Jian smiled and said: “This is the charcoal that Manager Yang bought this morning. It has been so popular lately.” The price of carbon has skyrocketed. There is a price but no market. Young master, you don’t know. This pound of carbon now costs more than 40 yuan. But even so, the carbon in the capital is not something you can just buy. Manager Yang still has to pay for it. I ordered that this charcoal should only be burned by the young master. Don’t let the young master get cold.”

“Forty dollars!” Fang Jifan was shocked: “It’s only a pound, they might as well grab it!”

But then, Fang Jifan’s eyes widened. A flash of light flashed through his eyes.

The price of charcoal remains high for a reason. On the one hand, it is not easy to make charcoal. In this era, most people want to keep warm. Rich people burn charcoal, while the poor and humble can only burn firewood. Although it is difficult to make charcoal, It is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but because it burns more fully and does not produce too much smoke, it is very popular among wealthy households. But firewood is different. Once it is burned, it will be filled with smoke immediately, and it requires poor people to go out of the city to harvest it. It seems cheap, but in fact it takes a lot of effort.

So… no one uses anthracite for heating in this day and age?

Fang Jifan thought of anthracite.

Anthracite is different from ordinary coal. Ordinary coal produces a lot of smoke, and because there are too many impurities and high sulfur content, it is like poisonous smoke when burned. In later generations, the honeycomb briquettes and briquettes commonly used by people were actually It needs to be refined, commonly known as coal washing. It’s just that in this era, coal washing is too technically difficult and almost impossible to do.

The reason why the ancients did not use raw coal on a large scale is precisely because of this reason.

However, anthracite is different. Anthracite has extremely low sulfur content. Although it has a high ignition point, this is not a problem. The most important thing is that it burns colorless and smokeless, and burns for a long time. It is an excellent fuel to keep out the cold.

However, anthracite will also volatilize some deadly gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Fortunately, the content is not high. After certain processing, most of it will be washed away. Moreover, buildings in this era are not sealed environments, so anthracite coal has In fact, gas, like burning charcoal, does little harm to the human body.

The main reason why charcoal is expensive is that it requires a lot of labor and manpower, but unlike anthracite, as long as it can be mined, it can be continuously supplied to the entire capital.

Of course, this is not important. What is important is that Fang Jifan remembered that the main production area of anthracite is in Shanxi, and in this capital… there seems to be only one production area, and this place…

is rich!

Fang Jifan suddenly became excited and said quickly: “Deng Jian, Xishan, Xishan, do you know where it is? Go and find out whose land it is, hurry up!”

Deng Jian was already used to the young master making noises every now and then, but He just thought about it and said: “Xishan? The little one in Xishan knows that it is the land of Shouning Hou and Jianchang Bo. Everyone in the capital knows about this. When their brothers were granted titles, there was no land near the suburbs of the capital. , His Majesty gave the Xishan area to Shouning Hou and Jianchang Bo. For this reason, Shouning Hou and Jianchang Bo went to the palace to cry, saying that others gave them fertile farmland, but their Zhang family only gave them a barren mountain. They have no choice but to hang themselves and die cleanly. In fact, His Majesty is really reluctant to reward them with the best imperial palace, but fortunately, Xishan occupies a huge area, with a radius of more than ten miles…”

These two are again Someone named Zhang!

Suddenly, Fang Jifan felt a little embarrassed. According to the tempers of these two people, if he wanted to buy Xishan, they would have to open his mouth. Damn it, these two guys also defrauded our Fang family of 30,000 yuan. Two pieces of silver!

But Fang Jifan immediately thought that Xishan was where the mineral vein was located. Regarding this, Fang Jifan’s memory would never be wrong. This anthracite is a treasure. No matter what, this mountain must be bought.

After all, millions of households inside and outside Gyeonggi Province need heating. In such extreme weather, whoever can control the fuel is equivalent to owning a cornucopia.

“Let’s go!” Fang Jifan greeted Deng Jian.

Deng Jian said excitedly: “Master, Master, what are you doing?”

“Go to the accounting office!” Fang Jifan said without hesitation, time is money, it’s money.

Fang Jifan rushed to the accounting room. Fang Jifan searched and found almost all the treasures in the accounting room. The transaction must be completed as soon as possible. Don’t drag a cart full of cash. It would be too inconvenient for the transaction. Therefore, Fang Jifan still felt that the treasure money was not enough, so he glanced at several land deeds, accepted them all, and rushed out of Fang’s house as fast as he could.

Deng Jian’s face was so frightened that when he saw Fang Jifan like this, he didn’t have time to call for help, so he chased him out like crazy.

In fact, Shouning Hou’s Mansion is not far from Nanhe’s Mansion, but compared to Nanhe’s Mansion, Shouning Hou’s Mansion is more impressive. Shouning Hou and Jianchang Bo, the Zhang brothers, are the brothers of the current queen. , and the relationship between Queen Zhang and Emperor Hongzhi was extremely harmonious. Naturally, the brothers of the Zhang family also became more and more prosperous.

As soon as Fang Jifan arrived at the gate of the Marquis Mansion, he stepped forward without letting Deng Jian inform him.

This was naturally stopped by the disciples, and Fang Jifan said sternly: “I want to see Uncle Zhang, go and report it quickly.”

The good brothers of the Zhang family got up extra early today. They are brothers, and they usually They are tired of being together, but everyone in the capital knows that the Zhang family brothers are notoriously stingy. They are not only stingy to others, but also to themselves. For example, today’s breakfast is just a bowl of thin food. Porridge, the two of them panted thinly and drank it in one gulp.

After Zhang Heling finished eating, he touched his belly happily: “Look, Yanling, drinking porridge is good for the body. I feel more and more that this porridge water is really a thing that prolongs life. Come on, do you want to drink half a bowl more?” ?”

Zhang Yanling thought for a moment, shook his head and said: “Forget it, it’s too wasteful, save some money and have some left for lunch.”

Zhang Heling smiled and said, “That’s right, you have to be diligent and frugal with your family…”

The two brothers looked at each other. Smiling, at this moment, the disciple came in and said: “Two gentlemen, Uncle Nan and…”

“No!” When Zhang Heling heard Uncle Nan He, he immediately looked very annoyed. The old guy came to the door several times, and every time he asked for money. Humph, the money his brother had defrauded by his own skills, he had to go back if he wanted to? Not to mention Uncle Nan He, even if the King of Heaven comes, he won’t be able to take away even a single cent of the thirty thousand taels of silver.

Want to come and cause trouble?

Humph, I don’t want to ask about Queen Zhang’s status in the palace today, and who our brothers are to Queen Zhang.

“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry…” Zhang Yanling advised: “Brother, save some energy, otherwise you will be hungry again later.”

Zhang Heling felt that this made sense, so he twirled his beard under his chin and looked sideways at the door.

There was no one in the house that Zhang Heling could get used to. Anyway, no matter who he was, he felt that he was wasting his food.

The disciple said, “It’s not Uncle Nan He, it’s Uncle Nan He’s son, Fang Jifan, a famous prodigal son.”

Upon hearing the word prodigal son, Zhang Heling glanced at Zhang Yanling, and Zhang Yanling was thoughtful.

“Meet?” Zhang Yanling asked tentatively.

Zhang Heling was silent for a moment thoughtfully, and then said: “I heard that this kid has a brain disease. If you don’t see him, he will be so angry that he kicks down the door. This is a waste. Then… let’s meet him.” He said to the door: “Go, Call him in, and please remove the tea in front of us so that no one can see us drinking tea, lest he wants to ask for tea.”

So the disciple quickly removed the tea, and then led Fang Jifan in.

Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling each looked at the rafters, shaking their legs as if they had not seen Fang Jifan.

Fang Jifan came in with a smile and said: “My nephew Fang Jifan, I have heard about the names of these two uncles for a long time, so I came here to pay my respects.”

“Oh.” Zhang Heling only glanced at Fang Jifan: “Would you like tea?”

Fang Jifan said: “No, no need. “

Zhang Heling breathed a sigh of relief: “You’re right not to drink. Drinking too much tea will damage your kidneys.”

“…” Fang Jifan took a deep breath and said straight to the point: “My nephew has nothing to do and he is here to buy land. Yes, Xishan… I wonder if the two uncles have any impressions? “

I thought Fang Jifan was here to seek justice. Anyway, the two brothers had already thought about it. They wanted money and their lives. Who knew they were here to buy… land… …

Zhang Heling looked at Fang Jifan suspiciously: “This…this Xishan… Xishan is a good place, with mountains and water, um…right, this…”

(End of Chapter)