Chapter 884

Chang'an City.

Great Ming Palace.

Qin Mu actually didn't care much about what plans Great Tang had in Siam.

In his view, playing these little tricks could at most earn a temporary advantage.

What Qin Mu had been striving to manage was the grand trend. Once the grand trend arrived, it would be unstoppable, and all small gains would have to be spat out to make way for it.

Unfortunately, the Great Tang side could never see through this.

They were always spinning around small gains, so naturally, they could not compete with Great Qin.

At this moment, Qin Mu had called Shen Wansan to the Imperial Study to inquire about some commercial matters.

"Shen Wansan, the cotton in the Western Regions has already been harvested. Have you transported it to Liaodong to prepare winter cotton clothes and quilts for the soldiers?"

This was a serious matter, and Shen Wansan dared not be careless.

He bowed solemnly and replied.

"Your Majesty, your subject has already transported half of the cotton to Liaodong. The remaining half is kept in Chang'an to be woven into cotton cloth.

Recently, many court officials have come to me, hoping to use back-door channels to buy some cotton. However, I have refused them all, prioritizing the supply for the soldiers on the northern border; the nobles will have to wait a while longer!" Qin Mu nodded, expressing his approval of Shen Wansan's approach.

The bad habits of the nobles were all spoiled into existence.

They wanted priority for everything good. Over time, they felt it was only natural that they should enjoy privileges.

Once the nobles formed a privileged class, how would that be any different from Great Tang?

"Well done. You've taken such good care of Qi Jiguang; has he shown any appreciation?"

"Yes!"

A cunning smile appeared on Shen Wansan's face.

"Qi Jiguang was grateful to me and gave me some extra coal to transport back to Chang'an. But Your Majesty, I don't quite understand, this coal can't be burned, so what is the point of transporting it back to Chang'an?" Shen Wansan saying coal couldn't be burned was a narrow view.

It was just that ordinary people couldn't burn it in their homes.

But in blacksmith shops, using specially made furnaces, it could still be burned.

The main issue was that burning coal was too dangerous, often suffocating people in their rooms. Therefore, the people were afraid and no one dared to burn coal easily.

Even now, it was widely believed among the people that coal could not be burned. Only burning firewood and charcoal was considered the safest.

"Who says coal can't be burned?"

Qin Mu had been prepared for this and had already placed a cast-iron furnace in the Imperial Study.

It was still a long way from winter, so the furnace was just sitting there, unlit.

"Come and take a look at this furnace."

Shen Wansan curiously leaned over and discovered that the furnace was tightly covered with an iron plate. Once lit, all the smoke would be discharged through the chimney.

"Your Majesty, can coal be burned in a furnace like this?"

Qin Mu's intention right now was to have Shen Wansan start working on this matter.

Mass-produce this kind of furnace that could burn coal.

When winter came, the people would have a new way to keep warm.

With a furnace in the house, they could make hot pot, roast sweet potatoes, and do other delicious things easily. It would soon become a trend and improve the people's livelihood.

"That's right, this furnace is cast specifically for burning coal. The deadly smoke from coal is completely discharged through the chimney, so those fatal accidents will no longer happen." Shen Wansan was a businessman; with a little calculation, he knew how popular this item would be once it hit the market and how large the profits would be.

He said pleasantly surprised: "Your Majesty, in this way, just casting these iron furnaces alone could support tens of thousands of blacksmiths!

Great Qin's grand strategy for artisans can get a good start from this!"

That was exactly Qin Mu's goal.

Cultivate artisans, and give them work to do and money to earn. Only then could the entire industrial development be driven.

Now, there was cotton, and large quantities of cotton cloth would soon be on the market.