Chapter 1490: Refugees

The weather is fair in the port cities occupied by Longyan.

Due to the influence of a cold front, the temperature dropped sharply after several heavy rainfalls.

Fortunately, Liu Zheng had made preparations long before the arrival of the cold winter.

He had coal, which no one locally wanted, mined from the East India region and transported to Longyan Port.

Added to this was the indoor smokeless heater Liu Zheng developed based on a stove, which was essentially a traditional coal stove.

The only difference was that when Liu Zheng manufactured the stove, he used red clay for the stove core; this type of soil is extremely heat-resistant and has exceptionally excellent heat retention properties.

Originally, the most traditional stoves only had a core, with no protective measures on the outer layer.

This would lead to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by coal combustion.

Although Liu Zheng had improved the process and manufactured anthracite, that alone was not enough.

Anthracite is not truly smokeless; it just has lower volatility and produces fewer harmful substances.

But they still exist, so Liu Zheng improved the stove again.

He used airtight steel to make a sturdy outer wall, and to ensure it was foolproof, Liu Zheng even adopted an ancient but never-outdated production method.

Wax sealing!

The airtightness of the entire stove wall was raised to a new level.

This was to ensure the rate of heat and smoke loss.

At the same time, one side of the stove was designed as a heat conduction port; the heat generated by the stove's combustion would enter the heat conduction port along with the smoke produced.

It would then follow the heat conduction port into a heated brick bed (kang) also made of iron to dissipate heat.

The smoke produced by the stove's combustion would then travel outdoors along iron pipes on the heated brick bed.

This formed a heat cycle, increasing the temperature.

"This is all that can be done for now." Liu Zheng sighed and added a piece of coal to the stove.

Although the cold wind outside was biting and many people had already added extra layers of clothing, Liu Zheng was dressed quite thinly inside the room.

He was replicating the kind of water-heating stove he knew from his previous life, but current technology and designs could not achieve it.

That kind of stove has water pipes set within the stove walls, and the heat of the entire stove is supplied through a water-based heat cycle.

The greatest advantage of this type of water-heating stove is that even when the fire goes out, the residual heat can last for a long time.

It is a pity, however, that the material problem has not yet been solved; the water pipes must be of a type that does not easily corrode, and it also requires circulation.

Although the world has now experienced the Industrial Revolution, there have been no breakthroughs in existing materials.

Only the craftsmanship has improved.

Therefore, Liu Zheng is eager to research electricity to accelerate his industrial level.

Things like the Steam Engine have too low an efficiency; even the most advanced Steam Engine in Longyan does not have a significant gap in efficiency compared to the Steam Engines of Britain in the most core aspects.

Although the Yinzhou ships are recognized as the strongest warships in the world, they are not yet so far out of reach.

At this moment, a dusty general walked in.

He was wearing a military overcoat; although it was late autumn, the temperature outside made him feel as if winter had arrived.

But now, upon entering the room, the warm heat hit him, instantly giving him the feeling of bathing in a spring breeze.

Liu Zheng glanced at him and asked, "What is the matter?"

The general bowed slightly and then said, "A large number of Austria refugees have appeared around the city. Chief Councilor, should we let them enter the city?"

Liu Zheng pondered for a moment, feeling very strange.

Their Longyan army had not gone to full-scale war with Austria, at most just a standoff, and the current situation within Austria was still considered stable.

There should not be a large number of refugees.

Where did these Austria refugees come from?

According to the situation in Austria, although this winter is tight, it is not impossible to get by, so there should not be

so many refugees appearing.

"Send someone to investigate what has happened in Austria recently and why so many refugees have appeared."

……

The capital of Austria, Vienna.

Bang!

An intelligence report sent to Vienna overnight was slammed heavily onto the table.

"Can someone tell me what is going on!"

The angry roar of Weikeduo filled the entire Upper House, and the faces of every Austria official were extremely ugly.

Weikeduo's gaze, filled with murderous intent, coldly swept over everyone in the Upper House chamber.

They lowered their heads one by one, not daring to meet Weikeduo's gaze.

After several minutes of silence, someone broke the stillness.

"General, we cannot be blamed for this matter."..

Weikeduo laughed in extreme anger: "You are all Councilors of Austria, and the entire Austria is in our hands now. Now that such a big thing has happened, the responsibility is not on us!"

"Could it be on those refugees!"

The Councilor who spoke had a livid complexion; he opened his mouth, but in the end, he fell silent.

There was no council meeting scheduled for today, but it was because of this urgent report in the morning.

Weikeduo ordered an emergency council meeting to be convened.

"Weikeduo, we also just received the news and are not very clear about how these refugees appeared."

Another Duke said in a deep voice.

He looked at Weikeduo with cold eyes: "However, what is certain is that these refugees only appeared after the Crusaders entered Austria."

Upon hearing this conjecture, the furious expression on Victor's face suddenly froze.

"However, there is currently no direct evidence indicating a direct connection to the Holy Cross Army; everything requires investigation."

"Fine... investigate then."

Weikeduo slumped into his chair; regardless of the investigation's outcome, he had already guessed the most likely scenario.

He only hoped that everything would turn out differently than he had guessed.

Meanwhile, outside the city of Longyan Port.

This place was under the unified jurisdiction of the Longyan Army, even though these people were all refugees from Austria.

However, the Longyan Army did not drive them away, but instead set up temporary tents on the outskirts of the city.

They provided these refugees with simple shelter.

They distributed food and told them that as long as they obeyed the laws of Longyan and followed the systems of Longyan, they would be allowed to enter the city once the investigation was clear.

Upon hearing this, the refugees erupted into cheers.

Yet among these refugees, a girl wearing a drab brown linen garment was strangely quiet; although her face was weary from long-term travel and even a bit dirty, she was currently eating a mouthful of a food from her hometown that had been distributed by Longyan—a steamed bun.

The white, plump steamed bun formed a sharp contrast with her dirty little hands.

Her eyes were exceptionally lively, and as she watched the Longyan Soldiers who were busy managing order, her gaze was filled with anticipation.

After finishing the steamed bun in her hand, she swallowed her saliva and looked at those Longyan Soldiers, feeling somewhat conflicted, but ultimately she gathered what little courage she had and trotted over.

She lifted her skirt slightly to bow, and the Longyan Soldier looked at this girl who seemed a little different.

"Hello, may I ask..."

This Austrian is actually quite polite, the Longyan Soldier thought to himself.

"What is the matter?"

"Is the current controller of this port a Longyan merchant named Liu Sheng?"