Chapter 688: The Northern Alliance Pact

Liu Zheng did not waste words.

The stove was small.

But the matter was of great importance.

A tiny stove would influence the grand plan for the development of the entire Liaodong.

First, he wanted to leverage the coal industry of Jinzhou.

Second, he wanted to guarantee the heating problem for the pioneers in Liaodong.

Next, he demonstrated the method of making honeycomb coal to the Prince of Jin.

Half coal dust, half clay.

Then, add water in a ratio of 1.8 to 2, and stir evenly. Then, take out the honeycomb coal mold that Wei Tiezhu brought this time, which is the coal ball machine, and press it hard onto the mixed coal. Repeat the pressing six or seven times, then lift the coal ball machine, find an empty space, open the machine, and a complete honeycomb coal is produced.

This is the production process.

In fact, there was already sun-dried honeycomb coal nearby.

At this moment, the Prince of Jin opened the stove, and Liu Zheng picked up a piece with tongs, crushed the previous piece into powder, and then placed this piece on top.

Then, the air vent was opened.

A blue flame surged straight up from the honeycomb.

Under the dumbfounded gaze of the Prince of Jin.

This piece of honeycomb coal, made of half coal dust and half clay, actually emitted astonishing heat.

"This..."

The Prince of Jin was truly stunned.

Dirt!

Even dirt can be ignited?

What kind of strange thing is this?

Moreover, this coal dust is not in the same league as coal. It is inherently very cheap; on this land of Jinzhou, coal dust can be seen almost everywhere, and some people who farm or dig in the mountains can easily dig out coal seams and coal dust.

However, firstly, because if this coal dust is ignited alone, it consumes too quickly.

Secondly, because the heat is insufficient.

In people's eyes, this coal dust might not even be as convenient as some straw.

But now...

"This, this, this..."

The three of Liu Zheng looked at each other and smiled.

Waiting to see the reaction of the Prince of Jin.

Sure enough.

The Prince of Jin excitedly flipped up, picked up a goblet of wine nearby, and without further hesitation, performed a grand salute: "With Master Liu here, it is I who have been negligent these days. No more words, I shall punish myself with three cups!"

Then, gulp, gulp, gulp, three cups went down.

So the great master was right by his side.

He had actually doubted whether Liu Zheng could succeed in developing Liaodong!

With this stove, why worry about the cold and hardship of Liaodong?

Why worry about the high or low price of coal?

Great talent!

With such great talent, the future of Liaodong is promising!

The next day.

A series of bombshell news.

Spread from the Prince of Jin's mansion.

First, effective immediately, Jinzhou and Liangzhou will reach a strategic cooperative relationship to jointly seek the sustainable development of both provinces. Yintan City will provide technical support to Jinzhou in industry, manufacturing, and agriculture. Jinzhou will invest huge funds, and Qingzhou will naturally participate in this cooperation as well. Coupled with the land of Liaodong, it was later called the "Northern Alliance Pact," which also meant that starting from Liangzhou and heading east, the industrial development path with northern cities as the main body began.

Second, the two sides jointly established the first joint-stock company of the Longyan Dynasty, the Liang-Jin Bank. The word "bank" appeared for the first time in the Longyan Dynasty, but the emergence of banks would inevitably replace the previous money shops and bill shops. More importantly, banks began to absorb idle private funds and provide "interest"! This major reform caused an uproar throughout Longyan. It also made those people with spare money excited, holding cash and waiting to see.

Third, the two sides will jointly develop Jinzhou's resources, with a focus on coal resources. Likewise, Liangzhou and Jinzhou also jointly established the first joint-stock resource development company in the history of the Longyan Dynasty: Longxing Coal Industry.

Fourth, the two sides will launch the Liang-Jin Talent Exchange Program.

Fifth, Jinzhou will invest 20 million gold into the Liaodong Economic Special Zone!

These news items spread.

The entire Longyan was in an uproar.

Who could have imagined.

It had been less than a month.

Vice Minister Liu had actually dragged the Prince of Jin, who never participated in world disputes, into the water?

And these few people were playing such a big game all of a sudden.

The New Aristocracy.

Suddenly, it became the focus of people's attention.

Qin Zhangfeng looked quietly at Alimu in front of him.

Alimu said excitedly: "Does General Qin know that this Mughal Empire has always been ambitious! They want to take back the Putu Dynasty! This time, Aurangzeb has directly dispatched 100,000 troops; it seems he is determined to take advantage of the chaos!"

"Hmm."

Qin Zhangfeng chuckled, noncommittal.

He wanted to know what exactly this Alimu was plotting.

"General Qin, we can absolutely swallow up this army of one hundred thousand!"

A light of ambition erupted in Alimu's eyes.

Qin Zhangfeng even drew a sharp breath.

People said the Khan of the Kokand Khanate had immense ambition; seeing him today, it was truly so.

The Mughal Empire, what kind of empire was that?

In the Mesopotamia region, ordinary people dared not provoke them. Especially after this Aurangzeb took power, he was even more of a fanatical warmonger. Whoever didn't listen, he would fight. By now, he had practically conquered the entire India. A mere Kokand Khanate actually dared to set its sights on the Mughal army?

Something was wrong.

Qin Zhangfeng felt something was wrong.

What exactly did he want to do?

Deliberately provoke hatred between the Mughal and Longyan?

That was indeed very possible. The Kokand Khanate had always been such a double-dealing character.

And then, profit from it?

But...

In this way, what kind of benefits could he obtain?

Qin Zhangfeng's mind raced with ten thousand thoughts in an instant.

Yet on his face, he laughed it off: "One hundred thousand troops, no need, no need... How about this, let's stay here for the night and talk again tomorrow, how about that?"

Alimu was overjoyed in his heart.

As expected.

He was still tempted!

Following that, he didn't say anything else and just kept urging him to drink.

Fifty thousand troops camped for the night.

When Qin Zhangfeng returned to his own tent, a group of cadet generals was already waiting there.

Only then did Qin Zhangfeng wipe his face, looked around at this group of newborn calves, and chuckled: "I heard from that fellow Feng Zhen that you are all sharp as tacks. Tell me, what exactly is this Alimu planning? Whoever can say it, I will make him the vanguard general!"

The group of youths was incomparably excited.

"General, this Alimu must be trying to provoke hatred between us and the Mughal! His heart is punishable!"

A cadet general stepped out to speak.

Qin Zhangfeng nodded.

Zou Sheng, however, shook his head: "But things shouldn't be that simple. The Kokand Khanate has at most one hundred thousand troops. If they join forces with us this time and provoke the Mughal, once we return to Longyan, who will protect them?"

The others also frowned.

Qin Zhangfeng smiled slightly, not saying a word.

To be a general, to be a commander, one must have the perspective to oversee the big picture.

If the vision of this group of "Military Academy" students was only placed on the stark contrast between these two countries, then it would be too disappointing for him.

This war that might happen.

It involved the entire Mesopotamia region.

"General, this subordinate believes that the Kokand Khanate's intent is not in the wine, but in the dry land water sources!"

Just at this moment.

Zhai Shiqing stepped out.

Qin Zhangfeng couldn't help but have his eyes light up as he listened.