Chapter 0008 is both affordable and practical
Li Kuan likes money, but he is not the kind of person who would take advantage of a situation for financial gain
Before Li Kuan could finish speaking, Fang Xuanling suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "I think I understand now. Could it be that this small tin can is meant to allow the honeycomb coal to come into contact with air when needed? When in use, it should be opened to let the honeycomb coal burn fully; when not in use, it should be covered to minimize combustion of the honeycomb coal. This way, the honeycomb coal can become more durable."
In the Tai Chi Hall, Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling stared wide-eyed as Li Kuan used a fire stick to ignite the kindling wood shavings, and soon the honeycomb coal stove began to warm up
Placed with the mountain dwellers, it is certainly not a small amount. They are very convenient in chopping firewood and have no need to use honeycomb coal
Therefore, upon hearing Li Kuan's words, his first reaction was wastefulness
For honeycomb coal to enter every household, it must possess the attributes of being inexpensive and easy to use; otherwise, no matter how good it is, it will be of no use
Thirty thousand guan were obtained from the sale of the coal mine, and the Changsun family believed they had sold it at a good price. If someone wishes to buy those coal mines again in a few days, I estimate that even His Highness the King of Chu may not be willing to sell for three hundred thousand guan
In a typical household, if one is simply cooking, three briquettes of coal per day would be sufficient, and for those who are more economical, two briquettes may suffice
Li Kuan resolved the matter that Fang Xuanling had been troubled by recently, and naturally, he did not hesitate to offer a few words of praise
Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling quickly understood, "So, this honeycomb coal and honeycomb coal stove are indeed good things, very suitable for every household. By the way, is the price of this honeycomb coal expensive?"
Having listened to Li Kuan's words just now, they have gained a basic understanding of the situation regarding honeycomb coal. Now, it remains to be seen whether the facts align with what Li Kuan has stated
There was no smile on Li Shimin's face, yet he felt a wave of satisfaction in his heart
According to what you said, isn't the honeycomb coal burning continuously, which would be quite wasteful
Your Majesty, the cost of this honeycomb coal is very low. An ordinary craftsman can process two thousand pieces in a day. Considering the personnel involved in mining and crushing at the coal mine, the average output per person can exceed five hundred pieces. Therefore, I believe that a price of one wen for five pieces of honeycomb coal is a relatively appropriate price
Fang Xuanling silently calculated an account in his mind
"Little iron piece? Are you referring to this object? What is its purpose?" Li Shimin observed that the entire stove had a round piece of iron sheet located at one of its sides.
Li Shimin: "Is it merely for warmth, or does it also include cooking for two meals a day?"
Your Majesty, when using a honeycomb coal stove for the first time, it is necessary to use a small amount of charcoal or other flammable materials to help ignite the honeycomb coal. After that, you only need to replace the honeycomb coal one by one after it has burned out
In his childhood, Li Kuan also used honeycomb coal, a cheap commodity that, even during Li Kuan's time travel, was still in use in many rural areas.
Li Kuan: "In this kind of weather, if one stays at home all day, heating consumes quite a lot of coal, probably around six or seven honeycomb coals; if one uses it sparingly, three or four would suffice"
Nature is not excluded. In fact, using this coal stove, it often serves the dual purpose of heating and cooking. Placing an iron pot filled with water on top does not hinder heating while also allowing for water to be boiled. Similarly, it is quite convenient for stewing or cooking food.
Looking at the expressions of Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling, it seems that there is an intention to promote honeycomb coal on a large scale. Naturally, Li Kuan must seriously introduce the advantages of honeycomb coal.
Your Majesty, outsiders have many misunderstandings about His Highness the King of Chu. Even I, in the past, did not fully comprehend His Highness's intelligence. The coal mines outside the city began to be exploited during the previous Sui dynasty, but it is only now that His Highness the King of Chu has truly realized their potential. This is a genuine transformation of waste into treasure, benefiting both the nation and the people
Truly deserving of the title of a prime minister throughout the ages
Two meals a day, you read that correctly
As soon as Li Shimin's words were spoken, Li Kuan seemed to see countless copper coins flowing towards the Chu Wang Mansion, inexhaustible and never-ending
Xuanling, you should stop praising him, otherwise who knows what unreliable things he might do again. The urgent task is to immediately increase the production of honeycomb coal, so that the people of Chang'an can use honeycomb coal in the shortest time possible
Li Kuan placed his hands on the increasingly red coal briquettes, responding to Li Shimin's questions at a leisurely pace while subtly flattering him.
The saying "to work at sunrise and rest at sunset" implies that for ordinary people, there is no concept of lunch.
A typical stove, if it continues to burn without being extinguished, will certainly waste materials, and the waste may even exceed the amount used. However, Your Majesty, have you noticed that my honeycomb coal stove has a distinct feature compared to ordinary stoves
If the weather is not cold, how many briquettes does an average household need in a day
"One coin for five? Your Highness the King of Chu, for an ordinary family of five like this, how many honeycomb coals do you think they would need in such weather?"
Fang Xuanling had already devised a plan in his mind; it seemed that there was a way to cope with this late spring chill. At this moment, he began to focus on more long-term matters.
Where is it different? Aside from the slightly odd shape, I can't see much difference from the carbon furnace," Li Shimin said, walking around the honeycomb coal stove and looking at Li Kuan with a hint of confusion.
During this period, Chang'an City and the Guanzhong region are in urgent need of heating materials. If affordable honeycomb coal becomes available, it could at least resolve a significant portion of the issue
Fang Xuanling looked at Li Kuan with a hint of nervousness, fearing to hear a very high number
Your Majesty, you have hit the nail on the head
This Kuan'er has finally accomplished something of significance. However, Wuji has misjudged this time, as have all the noble families in the entire city of Chang'an
There is not much difference, but do you see this small metal piece?
However, for the people in Chang'an City, whether it is for purchasing firewood or charcoal, the monthly expenses exceed a mere dozen wen. Now, with honeycomb coal being both convenient and inexpensive, there is no reason for it not to be popular
Fang Xuanling smiled as he glanced at Li Kuan
Indeed, the brilliance lies here. Li Kuan displayed a smile that conformed to societal expectations, stating, "Earlier, when I explained carbon toxicity, I mentioned the principle of combustion. If the burning object cannot come into sufficient contact with the air, it will burn inadequately, or even not at all..."
If it is two or three pieces a day, it would only cost half a wen, which amounts to just over ten wen in a month
In the Tang Dynasty and indeed in most feudal dynasties, ordinary commoners typically had two meals a day
Li Shimin can be considered a frugal emperor, at least in his early years.
The various items sold by one's own royal residence, still hoping that the mines outside the city will turn into mountains of gold and silver, in order to buy back those items.
At most, during the busy farming season, we only have slightly thicker meals for breakfast and dinner.