Chapter 200
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In the past few years, Changle rarely entered the palace, and as a grandmother, Zhangsun Wu Fei only saw her grandson a few times throughout the year. Nevertheless, she genuinely adored him.
Today, Su Che happened to stay overnight in the palace, and Zhangsun Wu Fei had specially kept him in her sleeping chambers, which proved quite challenging.
Listening to her, Li Er couldn’t help but burst into hearty laughter. Then, he pointed to the rolled-up paper in Zhangsun Wu Fei’s hand and asked, “And what’s this?”
“This? Su Che brought it into the palace. According to him, it’s a world map hand-drawn by Su Li.”
Li Er was shocked and curiously took the map from Zhangsun Wu Fei’s hand. When he unfolded it, he was utterly dumbfounded. The map’s level of detail far exceeded his imagination.
What shocked him even more was that on this map, the Great Tang only occupied a tiny piece of land about the size of a palm.
“What? Despite annexing everything around the Great Tang, it turns out the Tang Empire only holds a fraction of this world, merely a small corner of an iceberg?”
Li Er was utterly stunned, and suddenly, an emotion he hadn’t felt in a long time surged within him.
Throughout history, people from various regions have never found enough land to satisfy their needs. In agricultural societies, there was always a shortage of land, and as territories expanded, people tirelessly cultivated the land wherever it reached.
As the ruler, Li Er had an almost obsessive desire for territory. After integrating the northwest into his realm, he believed he had achieved significant martial success in his lifetime. Most of the surrounding territories of the Tang Dynasty consisted of vast mountain ranges stretching for thousands of miles or inhospitable places unfit for human habitation. In his eyes, the Tang Dynasty had expanded to its maximum extent.
However, when Li Er saw the world map drawn by Su Li, he felt as if he had been living in a small world. Was the Tang Dynasty’s territory truly vast? Were there no more places to conquer? This idea was preposterous!
In the eyes of the world, the Tang Dynasty was confined to a corner. Li Er’s ambition was reignited, and he was determined not to allow any country larger than the Tang Dynasty to exist. He had no doubts about the map’s authenticity, especially since he had a detailed topographical map of the Tang Dynasty in the palace that was regularly updated.
Su Li’s world map perfectly matched Li Er’s impression of the Tang Dynasty, making it unlikely that other places on the map were false. Given Su Li’s character, he had no reason to create a fake map to deceive anyone.
Despite these thoughts, Li Er felt disheartened. He recalled hearing that Su Li had organized a fleet to set sail, an event he initially regarded indifferently. He had understood that Su Li had no ambitions for power, and they could coexist peacefully as long as Su Li wasn’t provoked.
Li Er lay still, contemplating his thoughts. However, as he held the map, he couldn’t maintain his composure. He couldn’t help but wonder about the purpose of Su Li sending a fleet to sea. freewebnøvel.com
“I heard that Su Li dispatched a fleet to sea not too long ago,” Li Er hesitated, expressing concern.
Seeing his demeanor, Zhangsun Wu Fei sighed. “Your Highness, there’s no need for secrecy. Even if you don’t consider Su Li a subject, he is your son-in-law. You can openly discuss matters with him.”
Li Er’s expression turned slightly unpleasant, and he attempted to speak but remained silent.
“Su Che has already informed me. Su Li sent people to sea because Su Che invented something innovative but lacked a crucial component. Su Li’s fleet is assisting Su Che in finding that component,” Zhangsun Wu Fei explained with a chuckle. “A few days ago, didn’t the Princess’s residence open a coal mine in Meridian State? It’s the kind of dark, burnable stone that Su Che needs.”
Li Er’s agitation gradually subsided, and he adopted a somewhat stern tone as he commented, “That couple indulges their child excessively! They’re spending money on their child’s whims.”
Zhangsun Wu Fei, however, was enthusiastic about Su Che’s invention. He responded with satisfaction, “Don’t underestimate Su Che! He told me that if his invention could be mass-produced, the Tang Dynasty might not need oxen and horses to transport goods in the future.”
Li Er maintained his stern expression and replied angrily, “Children often talk nonsense. You believe that…”
Despite dismissing Su Che’s words as youthful enthusiasm, Li Er couldn’t shake his intrigue about the coal mine. Meridian State held great significance in the rise of the Tang Dynasty, and Li Er had a strong presence there.
The coal mine in the Princess’s residence didn’t escape Li Er’s attention. He understood the properties of coal. It burned efficiently and for a long time. However, coal was abundant everywhere, making the effort to mine it seem unnecessary.
Coal was mainly used in regions with open-air coal mines. Su Li’s coal mine, though initially intended for Su Che’s project, soon produced a substantial quantity. Su Li invested heavily in transportation, and soon thousands of pounds of coal reached Changan City.
Initially, Li Er thought this venture might not be profitable due to the high transportation costs. Setting a reasonable price seemed challenging, and if it was too high, most people wouldn’t afford it. However, he was astonished by the outcome.
People initially resisted using coal because it was more expensive than wood charcoal. However, they soon realized that coal burned much longer and was more cost-effective. Coal quickly found its way into countless households.
Su Li had once again addressed a fundamental need, providing coal for heating. Rumors of Prince Yongle’s blessings spread among the common folk.
The popularity of coal caused wood charcoal production to decline, and those in the charcoal business had to innovate. Some introduced “fragrant charcoal” made from aromatic woods, catering to wealthier families, and it unexpectedly became a luxury item.
Wood charcoal, which should have faded from the market, regained popularity among the affluent. This unexpected development surprised everyone.
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