Chapter 167: He Wan County Has Coal Mines

Appearing before Duan Wu was the long‑unseen Li Yao.

"Good kid!" Duan Wu sprang up, grabbed Li Yao's arm, and kept eyeing the official robes he wore. "I heard the Fairy say that you previously followed His Majesty back to the Royal City and achieved many great deeds—helping His Majesty first wipe out Lao An and then defeat Si Tu Wei, after which His Majesty appointed you as the Qingyou Platform Court Marshal! That's amazing!"

Duan Wu and Li Yao grew up together, and later both became officers of Xi Tun Guan.

Now that his childhood friend has become His Majesty's right‑hand, he feels genuine joy for him.

Li Yao smiled, "You're impressive too, handling a big case for His Majesty; that merit isn't any less than mine."

"By the way, why are you here?" Duan Wu said excitedly, "When I finish the business at hand, we'll drink until we're drunk tonight!"

"Tonight probably won't work; His Majesty ordered me to bring people from Qingyou Platform to interrogate those Xiao clan nobles…"

"Not taking them back to the Royal City for investigation?"

"Yes, to prevent other princes and nobles from interfering with the case. His Majesty wants to use this chance to thoroughly reorganize Daxuan from the bottom up."

"Then… what about Imperial Censor Xue?"

"I came this time for two reasons: first, to handle the Xiao nobles' involvement; second, for Xue. His Majesty ordered me to search the intelligence gathered at Qingyou Platform for any information about him, and deliver it if found."

"Found anything?"

"Mm." Li Yao nodded, patted Duan Wu's shoulder, "Have lunch first. This is what His Majesty asked me to give you, and also gives us a chance to meet. I still need to report to His Majesty."

"Hehehe, fine! Safe travels, Lord Li!" Duan Wu grinned broadly.

Li Yao was left both amused and embarrassed by the "Lord Li" remark; he gave Duan Wu's shoulder a punch before leaving.

——

Inside a room of the County Office.

Xiao Qidi and Ning Jingli listened together to Li Yao's report.

Li Yao said, "According to the intelligence previously gathered at Qingyou Platform, the Imperial Censor has served for eighteen years, and his household is poor: an elderly mother, a wife, and a son. He never took concubines. The mother and wife often weave cloth to sell and supplement the family income; the son farms and has not entered official service."

"Additionally, I have verified each item, and also found from the Imperial Censor's residence the bribes the Longyuan Governor has given him over the years."

He then ordered his subordinates to bring in a wicker basket.

Inside the basket were a pile of crafts as black as ink, shimmering with a jade‑like luster.

There were ornaments, hairpins, and some jade pendants and similar accessories.

Xiao Qidi picked one up, examined it, and said, "The craftsmanship is decent; though not as fine as true jade, it's still a relatively valuable trinket. Since his household is poor and relies on his mother and wife's supplement, why didn't he sell these?"

Li Yao replied, "I asked his wife; she said she doesn't know where these items came from, but he forbids her from using them."

"That's all?" Xiao Qidi said, a bit incredulous.

Just a He Wan County Magistrate has confiscated so many assets; what he turned over to the Longyuan Governor would only be greater.

And the gifts the Longyuan Governor gave the Imperial Censor—could they be this meager?

"Yes, that's all," Li Yao said with a complicated expression. "In my humble opinion, if he hadn't been involved in the Longyuan Governor case, Lord Xue could be considered an incorruptible official."

Xiao Qidi fell into contemplation.

"Huh? Isn't this just coal stone?" Ning Jingli held a black ornament, looked at it, and exclaimed, "I thought it was some kind of black jade."

"Fairy, this is coal essence," Li Yao explained, "a specialty of the He Wan County area. Coal stones are common here, but among thousands of them you can find a piece of coal essence, though it's still far inferior to jade."

Ning Jingli slapped her forehead, "Ah! I remember now—you guys at this time still haven't discovered the true use of coal mines!"

According to historical records, using coal as fuel and industrial energy only began in the dynasty that followed the fall of the Daxuan dynasty.

Since the Daxuan dynasty has not yet been reestablished, it means that most people of this era are unaware of the proper way to use coal.

That is also the key reason bronze implements are widely used in this period.

Bronze smelting only requires temperatures of one to two thousand degrees, achievable with charcoal, whereas iron smelting needs higher heat that only coal can provide.

Therefore, without mastering coal combustion, ironware is hard to produce; even crude pig iron is a rare item.

"What use?" Xiao Qidi asked hurriedly.

"As fuel for iron smelting!" Ning Jingli's eyes brightened.

She then explained the crucial difference between bronze smelting and iron smelting.

Xiao Qidi said in surprise, "So does that mean Yu Guo is already using coal to smelt iron?"

"No, no, no," Ning Jingli continued, "Yu Guo has only pushed charcoal combustion efficiency to its limit, barely reaching the threshold for coal burning. Coupled with Yu Guo's abundant iron ore, its army can generally equip pig‑iron gear, and with its unique forging techniques it can produce some fine iron weapons, but to spread usage further, coal is still required!"

"Moreover, coal, like oil, will become a very important industrial energy source in the future; beyond iron smelting, it has countless massive applications."

"Since He Wan County is rich in coal, it must not be wasted!"

Hearing this, Xiao Qidi felt immensely excited.

That means, once Yu Guo is seized to obtain abundant iron ore and combined with the local coal resources, Daxuan will surely achieve breakthrough development in metal smelting in the future.

Moreover, Ning Jingli can impart advanced technologies and tools from two thousand years later to aid the breakthrough.

"Attendants, bring the Imperial Censor here." Xiao Qidi ordered.

Soon, Lord Xue, dressed in prison garb with bronze shackles on his hands and feet, staggered into the room.

He had only been away a few days, yet Lord Xue seemed a decade older.

His already speckled hair had turned completely gray, his cheeks and eye sockets were sunken, looking almost like a skull.

"Sinner… I bow before His Majesty…" Lord Xue knelt on both knees.

"Lift your head," Xiao Qidi pointed to the nearby wicker basket, "Do you recognize these?"

Lord Xue trembled as he raised his head; upon seeing the coal‑essence crafts, his face filled with terror, and he hurriedly kowtowed, "Sinner… I recognize them; these are the bribes the former Longyuan Governor has given me over the years. Sinner… damned!"

"I ask you," Xiao Qidi said gravely, "With the salary of an Imperial Censor, isn't it enough for your family's expenses? Why must your mother and wife still weave cloth to sell for supplemental income?"

Lord Xue lowered his head, not answering immediately, seeming to hesitate.

"His Majesty asked you a question, yet you still won't answer honestly?" Li Yao said deliberately, "Is there something hidden in your heart?"

Lord Xue took a deep breath, then slowly spoke, "Sinner… since assuming the post of Imperial Censor, I have devoted most of my salary to aid the impoverished…"

Li Yao asked again, "Then why didn't you say so just now?"

Lord Xue replied, "This guilty official knows that the mistakes I have committed are unforgivable, and I have accepted the certain death that follows. I… do not wish His Majesty to mistakenly think… mistakenly think that I still hope to use such matters to gain His Majesty's mercy, to eke out survival… so I hesitated."

Xiao Qidi said slowly, "Then tell me, why didn't you sell the items that the Longyuan Governor gave you? They may not be rare treasures, but he sends them every year, and they should be equivalent to the salary you receive each year."

Lord Xue clenched his back teeth in secret, his voice tinged with sorrow and anger, "Those are all the bribes he gave this guilty official, all… filthy things! I truly do not wish to use them!"

"Why didn't you throw them away?" Li Yao asked.

Lord Xue's eyes showed a bitter smile, "Perhaps Lord Li and His Majesty would not believe me if I said it… I keep those items hoping that one day, when I am no longer restrained, no longer have any reservations, I can hand them over to the court as evidence of the Longyuan Governor's bribery…"

He did not explicitly state what constraints or reservations he was under.

But now, Xiao Qidi was already clear that the Xiao noble families behind him were the mountain pressing down on Lord Xue.

"His Majesty, if any part of what this guilty official says is false, then let my whole family be struck by thunder and lightning and meet a terrible end!" Lord Xue kowtowed again.

Xiao Qidi felt rather moved; a person who begged until death not to involve his family now dares to swear by his family—what reason could there be for him to doubt?

"Do you still wish to become an official?" Xiao Qidi softened his tone and asked.

Lord Xue was startled, "How could this guilty official dare such a wish? I… only wish to atone with my death!"

Xiao Qidi smiled, "Death is easy; atonement is not. I will have you spend the rest of your life atoning. Are you willing?"

Lord Xue was completely bewildered, slowly raising his head, his eyes full of shock.

Li Yao spoke, "His Majesty is giving you a chance to live; won't you thank him?"

"His Majesty… this guilty official…" Lord Xue stammered, "I… thank His Majesty for the mercy of not being killed!"

Xiao Qidi nodded slightly, "The He Wan County Office has been cleared out; lacking a group of officials who can manage it, I decide to demote you to He Wan County Magistrate. If you fail to govern, I will still have your head taken."

"His Majesty…" Lord Xue's mouth trembled, old tears streaming, he kowtowed heavily several times, "I remember!"

Xiao Qidi gave Li Yao a signal.

Li Yao hurried away, and a short while later returned leading three people.

"Lord Xue, take a look—who is this?" Li Yao shouted.

Lord Xue hurriedly looked up, his aged eyes widening and trembling, "Mother… wife… son! You… how did you come here?!"

The three hurried to his side, knelt on the ground and embraced him, weeping bitterly.

Li Yao explained, "All of this is His Majesty's arrangement. Before today's interrogation, His Majesty had already decided how to deal with you, and ordered me to bring your relatives here together. Lord Xue, I hope you will not betray His Majesty's intentions in the future."

At that moment, Lord Xue could no longer hold back, kneeling on the ground and wailing loudly.

"Spend some time catching up with your family," Xiao Qidi said as he stood, "I won't disturb you. When you are ready, grant me the appointment as County Magistrate; many matters await you."

"Yes! His Majesty!" Lord Xue bowed heavily.

Afterwards, Xiao Qidi, Ning Jinli, and Li Yao went to the back courtyard of the County Office.

This time Li Yao also brought intelligence concerning Yu Guo.

Since Xiao Qidi had assigned him to take over Qingyou Platform and changed his duties to investigate the affairs of other nations, he selected personnel and covertly infiltrated Yu Guo.

Up to now, he has roughly grasped Yu Guo's conscription situation and troop movements.

He also drew a map of Yu Guo, showing it to Xiao Qidi while explaining.

Yu Guo's territory is the smallest among the seven major vassal states of Zhong Yuan; aside from the Capital Royal City, it has only three commanderies, each governing just four counties.

Its fortresses, checkpoint cities, and main garrison areas have all been marked on the map.

"Yu Guo has now assembled about three hundred thousand troops and will reach outside Daxuan Xi Tun Pass in roughly seven days," Li Yao said, pointing to several locations, "These spots are still recruiting soldiers and horses, likely able to add another one hundred to one hundred fifty thousand. This time Yu Guo has poured out all its reserves."

Xiao Qidi said lightly, "The Daxuan army in Lin Xian Cheng is also ready. Duan Wu, who has been in He Wan County these past few days, must be on the verge of exploding and surely hopes to lead troops to launch a major campaign against Yu Guo."

Li Yao recalled the moment he saw Duan Wu in the County Office study earlier, his face full of resentment, and almost couldn't suppress a laugh.

Xiao Qidi thought briefly and instructed, "Li Yao, you and your men remain in He Wan County to guard those Xiao nobles. It is not yet time to kill them; during their detention, no one may have any contact with them."

"Yes, His Majesty."

Li Yao then took his leave.

Ning Jinli took Xiao Qidi's hand and said, "The people of He Wan County have been exploited for so many years; should we compensate them?"

Xiao Qidi replied softly, "That is natural."

Ning Jinli then mentioned the assets previously taken from the He Wan County Magistrate's household; after all, they were plundered from the people, and suggested returning them to the populace.

It should be noted that the gold alone amounts to over four tons, which in modern times could sell for three billion.

Xiao Qidi pondered, "Based on the investigations of recent days, about forty percent of the He Wan County Magistrate's assets were extorted from local residents, thirty percent from exploited outsiders and from human‑trafficking activities, and another thirty percent were embezzled military and civil funds issued by the court. Returning all of it in full would be extremely difficult."

Ning Jinli replied without hesitation, "Then put it all into the Daxuan state treasury?"

"No need," Xiao Qidi shook his head, "The property seized from the Longyuan Governor's family is several times the He Wan County Magistrate's wealth. Later I will also confiscate the aunt and uncle's private stores, and it will surely fill the treasury."

Ning Jinli let out a snort of laughter, "You wouldn't be thinking of giving it to me, would you?"

Xiao Qidi said earnestly, "Giving it to you is the best solution. Rather than spending time and effort returning those assets, you could use them to build factories, then supply the produced goods to the people. Compared with silver, the various items your world can provide are far more useful to the populace; they can improve their lives and aid development and construction, something no amount of silver can purchase."

"Oh, so you've been waiting for me here," Ning Jinli poked Xiao Qidi's cheek, "Fine, let's do it that way."

It was now past noon; Ning Jinli did not linger, and through the Time‑Space Gate inside the County Office returned to Xinghan City, because at two o'clock in the afternoon her oil‑processing plant was to officially commence operations, and a opening ceremony would be held at the plant.

The oil mine near Lin Xian Cheng can now preliminarily provide a stable supply of crude oil; the current output is still low, but it can be put into production.

Meanwhile, in the top‑floor office of the Ning Group building.

The corporate secretary reported to Ning Yao the news that Ning Jinli would, two hours later, hold an opening ceremony for the oil‑processing plant.

Ning Yao, holding a makeup mirror, applied lipstick while asking, "Has the arrangement for the reporters been completed?"

The secretary said everything had been arranged properly and they would arrive on time.

"Good, I should set off as well." Ning Yao put down the mirror, a cold smile curling the crimson corner of her mouth, "This time, Ning Jinli must go to prison."