HCB Chapter 269 Coal Transportation Company
Chapter 269 Coal Transportation Company
Ying Wuyou shared his ideas about selling coal and honeycomb briquettes with the King of Qin. The King sat quietly on his throne, listening attentively to every word Ying Wuyou spoke. At the end, he nodded slightly, indicating his deep agreement with Ying Wuyou's words. In fact, Ying Wuyou had previously reminded the King of Qin of the importance of coal mines and their immense potential value on several occasions.
After these repeated reminders, the King of Qin gradually understood a crucial point: as time went on, coal mines were highly likely to become as indispensable to people's daily lives as salt is to modern times. Therefore, the existence of coal mines must never be known to anyone else, to avoid unnecessary trouble or even conflict. Furthermore, the sales channels for coal needed careful planning; it must not be allowed to flow directly into the free market, as that would lead to a loss of control. After much deliberation, he concluded that only by firmly controlling coal within the hands of the imperial court could the interests of the nation be ensured, while also better managing and allocating this precious resource to maximize its potential.
The following morning, sunlight streamed through the clouds onto the majestic palace. During the morning court session, the King of Qin surveyed the room and spoke calmly: "My esteemed ministers, yesterday General Meng Tian discovered a rich coal mine. This coal can be ignited and burned continuously, releasing a large amount of heat energy for heating. Based on this, I wish to establish a special Coal Transportation Bureau to be fully responsible for all matters related to coal mining, transportation, and trading."
As soon as the words were spoken, a murmur arose in the court. Among them, a minister asked curiously, "May I ask Your Majesty, what exactly is this so-called 'coal'?"
Faced with the crowd's doubts, the King of Qin smiled slightly and then instructed his attendants to bring several pieces of shiny black coal to show everyone. He then ordered the coal to be lit on the spot. Flames instantly rose, and as the coal burned fiercely, a scorching heat quickly spread. Several ministers near the fire were the first to truly feel the warmth, their faces showing surprise and admiration.
Suddenly, as if smelling the scent of money, someone excitedly asked, "Your Majesty, what price do you intend to set for this coal?"
The majestic and imposing King of Qin narrowed his eyes slightly and replied slowly, "Let's not rush to set a price. After the Coal Transportation Bureau is officially established, everything will be left to the Coal Transportation Bureau to weigh and consider and finally determine the price."
At this moment, Wang Wan, unable to contain her curiosity and anticipation, quickly cupped her hands and asked, "Your Majesty, do you have someone in mind to take charge of the Coal Transport Bureau?"
Wang Wan's question caused a sensation, instantly capturing the attention of all the officials in the court. While in-depth research on coal itself could be temporarily set aside, everyone knew that the soon-to-be-established Coal Transportation Bureau was an extremely lucrative position. It was easy to guess that the profits from coal would be staggering. Whoever was fortunate enough to secure this position would reap unimaginable rewards!
The King of Qin glanced at the eager faces of his ministers below, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said softly, "My dear ministers, why don't you tell me, who do you think is suitable to take on this important task?"
King Qin's seemingly casual remark ignited a powder keg, instantly transforming the entire court into a hubbub of activity. Almost everyone yearned to seize this rare opportunity, especially the officials eager for promotion, who were itching to step forward and volunteer. However, they also knew that such a direct expression of their intentions might be inappropriate, so they could only ponder silently, anxiously waiting for someone else to speak first.
As everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, Li Si pondered for a moment before calmly stepping out of the ranks. His steps were steady, his expression solemn yet respectful. He bowed deeply before the King of Qin, then straightened up and said, “Your Majesty, I believe this matter concerns the very foundation of the state and is of paramount importance. We must not act rashly or draw hasty conclusions. In my humble opinion, we should first instruct all departments to compile and submit a detailed list of candidates as soon as possible. This list can then serve as a reference for Your Majesty to personally review and carefully consider, ultimately making the wisest and most prudent decision. After all, only Your Majesty can weigh the pros and cons and grasp the overall situation in such a crucial matter!”
The King of Qin narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on the minister before him, a man known for his meticulous and flawless work. The King naturally held Li Si in extremely high regard and trusted him implicitly. He recalled their first meeting; the man's words had been like a wake-up call, deeply impressing the then-young King, who felt as if he had suddenly found a kindred spirit. Since then, through years of shared trials and tribulations as ruler and minister, the King knew that Li Si harbored a deep desire to ascend to the position of Prime Minister and realize his ambitions. He himself had once intended to fulfill Li Si's wish.
However, things took an unexpected turn. When the King of Qin learned that Li Si had dared to alter the imperial edict, his initial admiration and trust in him vanished instantly. Now, every time the King of Qin looked at Li Si, he felt an involuntary sense of disgust. But none of the many civil and military officials in the court noticed the hatred in the King's eyes; instead, they all echoed, "What Minister Li says is absolutely right, and perfectly reasonable!"
The King of Qin surveyed his imposing court with a gaze that seemed to see through everything. After a moment, he slowly spoke, "I already have a suitable candidate in mind. I think Ying Wuyou is very suitable." As soon as he finished speaking, the entire court fell into a deathly silence, followed by a commotion and gasps of surprise.
The ministers exchanged bewildered glances, their faces showing disbelief. They knew that Ying Wuyou was merely a princess, and although she might occasionally come up with some novel ideas, the affairs under the Coal Transport Bureau were of paramount importance and carried immense responsibility. For a moment, everyone was speechless with shock at the King of Qin's decision.
Seeing this, Wang Wan hurriedly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, Princess Jiayang is indeed exceptionally intelligent and insightful, but this matter concerns the national economy and the people's livelihood, and has far-reaching implications. Moreover, since ancient times, there has never been a precedent of a woman holding an official position; this action is truly contrary to common sense!"