At Xin Jia's residence.
"Ancient texts record that stone carbon is black all over. If ignited with burning grass, smoke rises and flames burst forth."
Xin Jia stroked his beard. When he first arrived in Chaoge, he had spent more than half a month gambling on stones outside the city before discovering this substance.
"Yes, yes! This stone gives off heat. At first, everyone only intended to use it for ornaments!"
Huang Ming spoke excitedly. What a heat-producing stone meant went without saying.
In fact, coal had first been used to make ornaments. It was easy to polish and work with, had a glossy sheen, and looked quite beautiful.
Coal ornaments had been discovered at a Neolithic site in Shenyang, and even in modern times, coal carvings could still be bought in Shanxi.
The Dugu clan was said to have used a seal made from jet-and an imperial seal at that. That instantly raised its prestige several notches.
Xin Jia picked up a piece of stone carbon and hefted it a few times, discovering that it weighed a good three or four jin.
"Are there plentiful deposits of stone carbon?"
This was his greatest concern. His Majesty had ordered the various feudal lords to send in Flower and Stone Transport shipments to find new mineral deposits, allowing the Northern Tribes to settle down through mining, gradually form villages, and fully integrate into Great Shang. But if the deposits were insufficient, that goal would be difficult to achieve.
"Plentiful! Very plentiful! Following your guidance, Lord Xin, the protector-general discovered an entirely black mountain. Stone carbon covers its slopes, and much of it lies exposed. The wind sends it rolling downhill. Even without mining, we can gather plenty!"
The Northwest Protectorate covered the lands north of Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Outer Mongolia.