Lu Bu: My wife comes from two thousand years later

Although Lu Bu spoke with great confidence, Zhang Mo did not take his promise to heart at all. He would be leaving in more than half a year. Seven years, not to mention in ancient times when there were no mobile phones, even in modern times, long-distance relationships are basically doomed. If he could really wait for seven years, the sun would definitely rise from the west.

Two months passed in a flash, and coal had been mined and put on the market in large quantities. However, in just half a month, Zhang's coal balls swept through the kitchens of the middle and upper class people in Jinyang like a hurricane, causing those who made a living by selling firewood and charcoal to curse Zhang's coal balls several times a day and still feel unsatisfied.

However, because the population was small in ancient times, even if all the middle and upper class families in Jinyang used coal, their income was still limited. Cheap commodities like coal could not be transported over long distances, and could not be sold anywhere except in a few counties around Jinyang.

But Zhang Mo originally had no intention of relying on a coal mine to support his troops. The reason why he chose to open a mine in the first place was, firstly, to obtain a large amount of energy to steam and cook papermaking raw materials, and secondly, of course, to make coke to make steel.

Zhang Mo had previously improved the papermaking technique. The paper she made was basically the same quality as the modern paper, except that it was not bleached and had a yellowish color. She referred to the papermaking technology of the Tang and Song dynasties. In addition to changing the raw materials for papermaking, she also added plant mucus as a sizing agent, called "paper medicine", to make the paper pulp uniform and the texture of the paper produced finer.

The papermaking process is actually not difficult, the difficult part is the steaming and pulping.

Without modern machines, the raw materials had to be soaked for more than three months and then steamed for seven or eight days. If mass-produced, the energy consumed would be enormous. I'm afraid that within a year, the two mountains behind Zhuangzi would be cut down.

Not to mention pounding the pulp, which is extremely labor-intensive.

These two items alone show how high the cost of papermaking is. Therefore, although paper was invented a long time ago, it has been difficult to popularize.

If coal is available, it is not difficult to cook by building a large boiler. The key is to beat the pulp.

To achieve mass production and reduce papermaking costs, the only way is to liberate labor. Zhang Mo had previously thought of a large water wheel and a continuous pestle. A large water wheel can drive several water pestles at the same time, pounding day and night. Large-scale and efficient production of paper will no longer be a dream.

In her previous life, she had visited the Yellow River waterwheel and had a general understanding of its structure. Moreover, as far as she knew, there was actually a eunuch in Luoyang who had built a waterwheel, but it was only used to sprinkle water on the ground. Based on her understanding of waterwheels, and referring to the waterwheel, she should be able to find a carpenter to study it and make it.

Once paper was mass-produced, printing became possible.

Forget about movable type printing. It would be difficult to make movable type without lead. The key is that there is no pinyin. There are so many Chinese characters that it would be dizzying just to classify and search. Perhaps the time it takes for an engraver to carve out the template is enough to make a set of movable type.

The idea is simple, but it is not so easy to do, especially the waterwheel. At least the model must be made and tested successfully first.

This technical work cannot be completed in a day or two, but the construction of the earth building cannot be delayed. If it is not built quickly, the safety of the manor will not be guaranteed.

One day, Zhang Mo was surveying the foundation of a tulou with her craftsmen when she saw Wang Ding rushing over. He shouted from a distance, "Sister, this is terrible! This is terrible! Father knows about our coal mining and is furious at home. He wants you to go back quickly."

Zhang Mo put down the ruler and said to Foreman Zhao, "Take them to measure first. I'll leave the drawings here. We can discuss it later."

Wang Ding pulled her back, his face filled with anxiety. "What should I do? I've never seen my father so angry since I was a child. Are you sure you can convince him?"

Zhang Mo patted the dust off her clothes and said, "I have already thought of a solution, but..."

Wang Ding said anxiously, "But what? Hurry up and tell me!"

She waved her hand and whispered something in Wang Ding's ear for a while, finally saying, "After all, there are differences between relatives. I can't say this, but as for you, even if your adoptive father is angry, at most he will beat you up, and your brother can only suffer a little physical pain."

Wang Ding said nonchalantly, "That's nothing. I've been through so much, and I've been beaten up enough times. As long as I don't close the coal mine, I'll be fine even if it means losing some skin."

"That's good! You'll follow my instructions later."

Wang Ding patted his chest and said, "No problem!"

The brother and sister discussed the strategy against the "enemy" and went back to the city for training.

…………

In the study, the two men knelt below with their heads lowered and their eyes downcast, while Wang Yun stood above them, trembling with anger.

"You two are really going to piss me off to death. My Wang family has been in officialdom for generations, a family of officials. How could we have produced such unfilial descendants like you who are obsessed with money?"

Hiring workers to dig coal, building manors, and recruiting refugees to open up wasteland. If it were just that, he would not be angry. The most shameful thing was that the two of them actually bought a shop in Jinyang. His disappointing son not only sold goods in the shop, but even asked relatives and friends to promote it.

If a former colleague had not told him today that the third son of the Wang family was selling coal briquettes, he would still be kept in the dark.

He pointed at Wang Ding and said, "Especially you! You've brought shame upon our Wang family. Hurry and close that coal shop for me, or don't blame me for not caring about the bond between father and son."

The status of merchants in the Han Dynasty was very low. During the reigns of successive emperors, whenever there was a war, merchants, criminals and sons-in-law who married into the family were definitely the first to be sent to the border to fight.

Wang Yun could allow Wang Ding to walk his birds, fight cocks, fly hawks and ride horses, but he absolutely did not allow him to do business.

"Father can punish me if he wants, but the coal business must not stop." Wang Ding acted like a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water.

"you--"

Wang Yun fell backwards and almost passed out.

From childhood to adulthood, in order to make this child study hard, he had beaten him with countless sticks, but the child had a stubborn temper and no matter how he was beaten, he would just give up. He couldn't really beat him to death, and he really couldn't discipline him, so he just let him be. Fortunately, his Wang family had a good background, and although Ding'er was naughty, he would not do anything to disgrace the family.

As if thinking of something, Wang Yun turned to look at Zhang Mo and angrily said, "Did you and Ding'er do this together? He has only known how to have fun. How can he understand business? Is it you? You have been sick every other day recently. Your father is still worried about your health, but you didn't expect that you were faking illness to go out and do this? Daughter, you really let your father down."

In his heart, Zhang Mo was like a piece of peerless jade. As long as it was carefully carved, it would be able to stun the world in the future. That was why he asked her to become Lu Zhi's apprentice and learn all the skills that an aristocratic woman should know. He even agreed when she wanted to practice martial arts.

But this piece of beautiful jade has now been stained by the filth of the world and has become the most despised businessman in the world. If he presents it to a noble person in the future and someone uncovers this past, wouldn't he lose face?

Zhang Mo bowed her head and admitted, "I was the one who dragged my third brother into this. I am willing to accept any punishment, but I only ask my adoptive father not to let me shut down the coal mine."

"You evil creature..."

Wang Yun was furious and picked up a bamboo stick nearby to whip Zhang Mo. Wang Ding was quick-witted and stretched out his arm to block Zhang Mo, and was whipped hard.

He touched his aching arm and looked up at Wang Yun. "Don't blame my sister for this. If father wants to beat me, just beat me. You've been beating me often since mother passed away, so this time won't be a big deal."

Looking at this face that was almost identical to his beloved wife's, Wang Yun's raised right hand fell powerlessly. After a long moment, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You two should close that shop, and I will not pursue this matter further."

Closing the shop? That's impossible!

Zhang Mo bowed and said calmly, "Before I close the shop, may I ask my adoptive father a question?"

Without waiting for his answer, he asked directly, "Why does godfather want to be an official?"

Wang Yun snorted coldly, "What does this have to do with you closing your shop?"

Knowing that he wouldn't answer in his anger, Zhang Mo continued, "My adoptive father served as an official because he wanted to share His Majesty's worries and work for the well-being of the people. I, your daughter, do the same by selling coal."

"Nonsense! How can such a lowly thing be compared with being an official?" Wang Yun said angrily, waving his sleeves.

Zhang Mo said firmly, "Why not? The men my daughter hired to dig coal were all refugees from outside the city. They were either burdened by their families or too old. Not only were the landlords unwilling to hire them, but the government was also unable to provide them with jobs. If my daughter hadn't sold them coal to work, they and their families, numbering in the thousands, would have starved to death outside the city long ago!"

She straightened her knees and continued, "I'm sure my foster father hasn't forgotten the Yellow Turban Rebellion of last year. They were good people, so why would they risk their lives to rebel when they could enjoy a good life? The farmland is barren, and the government won't reduce taxes. They could starve or freeze to death at any moment. If there were more people like my daughter, digging coal, who could earn a living even in natural disasters and even if the crops fail, why would they risk their lives to rebel? Isn't this just to relieve Your Majesty's worries and work for the people's well-being?"

Wang Yun's anger gradually subsided. He frowned and thought about what she said. It seemed to make some sense, but he also felt something was wrong.

Zhang Mo glanced up and saw that his expression had improved a little. She breathed a sigh of relief and continued with awe, "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. If the people can't even survive, can your Majesty's boat still move forward? Furthermore, Mencius once said, 'The people are the most important, the country is second, and the monarch is the least important.' I do all this for the people's sake, to provide them with a livelihood."

"Rich families have thousands of acres of fertile land, people to help them farm, warm quilts and cotton clothes in winter, stoves to keep warm, and hot meals and soup. How could they ever suffer from lack of food and clothing? All I do is to earn some money from the rich to help the poor."

She paused for a moment, and when she spoke again, her originally righteous tone gradually became tinged with sadness. "Before I met my adoptive father, my family traveled thousands of miles to the imperial capital to survive. On the way, people kept dying of starvation, disease, being beaten to death while trying to steal food, or being used as food by others. We thought we would be saved when we reached Sishui Pass, but the soldiers, seeking merit, treated us like thieves and killed us at will. Mother..."

Zhang Mo choked up as she recalled the experience she had just experienced when she traveled through time. "My mother was trampled to death by a horse, my father was beheaded and his body was mutilated, and I was thrown into a mass grave, barely surviving by eating insects."

It was the first time that Wang Yun heard her talk about the past. Although he knew that her family members died while fleeing famine, he did not expect it to be like this, and he could not help but be moved.

"Back then, if there was a job in the village, we wouldn't have to leave. For ordinary people, as long as there was a glimmer of hope for survival, they wouldn't risk their lives to cause chaos."

Her low voice was filled with self-abasement. "My adoptive father thinks merchants are lowly, but I was originally a refugee. No matter how beautiful I am or how knowledgeable I am, I am not worthy of being friends with those high-ranking nobles. In front of them, I am a pariah. No matter how I pretend, it can't change my identity as the adopted daughter of the royal family, just an actress."

"If that's the case, why should my daughter still try to curry favor with the noble? I simply want to use what my adoptive father and Mr. Lu have taught me, to do my best to relieve His Majesty's worries and give those struggling on the brink of death a chance to survive. Please, adoptive father, don't let me shut down the coal mine."