Chapter 31: Shock in the Imperial Court

"Is there anything else?" To be able to turn the black earth of Hell Mountain into burnable briquettes was already astonishing, and yet Long Chen claimed there was more.

Di Luoxi was curious—what else could there be?

Long Chen brought out a small jar from his room, filled with a thick, black substance that emitted a pungent odor.

Di Luoxi quickly pinched her nose, and Xuan Yi asked, "Little Dragon, what is this?"

Long Chen replied, "This is coal tar, condensed during the drying process of coal."

Qingyue frowned as she observed, asking, "What is it used for?"

Long Chen lifted the jar. "Let us go outside."

Once outside the Ministry of Works, they reached an open space beyond the palace. Long Chen took a stick, smeared the coal tar onto several pieces of wood, and ignited them with a tinderbox.

The coal tar produced dense black smoke, setting the wood ablaze.

"This is better than fire oil. On the battlefield, if thrown onto an enemy, it will burn through clothing, armor, and flesh alike."

Long Chen sealed the jar.

"In other words, the coal from Hell Mountain can be used not only as fuel, but also refined into weapons?"

Di Luoxi finally understood.

"Precisely. The coal from Hell Mountain is sufficient for Daughter City to use for centuries, and the coal tar refined from it can become a formidable tool for both defense and attack."

Long Chen instructed others to carefully store the jar, as this would become a divine weapon for Eastern Zhou.

There was also refined sulfur, which would prove useful in the future, though Long Chen said nothing of it.

"Little Dragon, you are amazing. The position of Minister of Works ought to be yours!"

Di Luoxi wrapped her arm around Long Chen's shoulder, displaying affectionate intimacy.

Zhang Qian, who had been eating and sleeping with Long Chen—sharing even mundane routines—felt a knot in her heart. But seeing Di Luoxi so close to Long Chen, that knot finally dissolved completely.

After all, even the princess was linking arms with Long Chen—what did it matter for herself?

"Thank you, Princess."

"Tomorrow at court, we will bring the briquettes and silence those ministers once and for all."

Di Luoxi was delighted.

Long Chen's appointment as Minister of Works was advantageous for the growth of Di Luoxi's own power. All four princesses vied for the position of Empress, each cultivating their own faction, and now Long Chen had become Di Luoxi's secret weapon.

...

The next morning at court.

The Empress sat upon the phoenix throne, with civil and military officials arrayed in two rows.

The eldest and second princess stood among the civil officials, while Di Luoxi stood with the generals. The third princess was absent, having gone north to guard the frontier.

Long Chen took his place among the civil officials. Minister of Revenue Jing Heng glanced sidelong at Long Chen, feeling discontent.

Minister of War Bai Qiulian looked indifferent, while Minister of Personnel Baili Bing nodded slightly to Long Chen.

"Let us begin court. What matters require deliberation?" The Empress, resplendent in her phoenix robes, radiated dignity and majesty.

"Your Majesty, Shangguan Wei of Southern Liang is recruiting and training new troops en masse, reportedly targeting Linjiang City for attack. I suggest we reinforce Linjiang's defenses," reported Wang Wei, Vice Minister of War, stepping forward.

Southern Liang had failed to assassinate Long Chen with spies, losing many agents who had been entrenched for decades. Li Chengdao was furious, ordering Shangguan Wei to intensify training and retake Linjiang at all costs.

The Empress decreed, "Approved."

Wang Wei returned to his place.

Di Luoxi stepped forward and bowed. "Mother, the Ministry of Personnel once proposed that if Long Cheng'en could solve Daughter City's fuel problem, he could be appointed Minister of Works. Now, Long Cheng'en has resolved it."

Her words caused a stir in the court.

"Solved? A problem that has plagued us for decades?"

"Impossible! Successive Ministers of Works failed to resolve this—how could a eunuch do so?"

"Let us see. If the princess claims it is done, Long Cheng'en must provide proof."

Most ministers still doubted, their murmurs filling the hall.

Minister of Revenue Jing Heng sneered, "Luoxi overestimates this little eunuch. The firewood problem has persisted for years, never solved—how could he settle it in just a few days?"

Di Luoxi disliked Jing Heng and ignored his sarcasm, addressing the Empress: "Mother, Long Cheng'en used unique techniques to turn the black earth of Hell Mountain into briquettes, which are more effective than wood."

Her words only provoked more ridicule and dissent.

"Hell Mountain's black earth? That stuff is poisonous!"

"I heard the Ministry of Works did dig up earth from Hell Mountain—so it was true."

"The Ministry of Justice uses Hell Mountain to dispose of the most heinous criminals, and Long Cheng'en wants us to use its black earth—what does that mean?"

"Only the lowliest would use black earth for warmth. I would never."

A fresh wave of protests and objections swept through the court. The ministers believed coal was toxic and fit only for commoners, unworthy of their noble status.

But the Empress said, "Is it better than wood? Bring it here."

Di Luoxi beckoned, and officials from the Ministry of Works carried in several coal stoves, their briquettes glowing red-hot.

Other officials, seeing the stoves, covered their mouths and moved away. The poisonous smoke from Hell Mountain had burned for over a century—everyone knew coal was dangerous.

Di Luoxi placed a kettle atop one stove and said, "Mother, this coal, after Long Cheng'en's treatment, has become non-toxic briquettes with greater heat than wood."

"Most importantly, according to Long Cheng'en's calculations, Hell Mountain's coal is enough for five hundred years of use."

The officials were astounded.

Five hundred years?

Minister of War Bai Qiulian, holding her nose, approached and examined the stove—there was indeed no poisonous smoke.

"How did you achieve this?" asked Minister of Personnel Baili Bing.

Long Chen replied, "It is a state secret. Minister Bai only needs to know that these briquettes are unique to our land—harmless and safe."

Long Chen was unsure whether Southern Liang or other regions possessed coal; if so, the refining technique must not be disclosed.

Vice Minister of War Wang Wei said, "Everyone knows black earth is toxic. If Manager Long cannot reveal the refining process, who dares use it?"

Some ministers nodded in agreement.

Long Chen looked at Wang Wei in confusion and asked, "Vice Minister Wang, if I reveal it and Southern Liang or Western Xia learn it, would that not aid our enemies?"

Wang Wei was left speechless.

The Empress descended from the phoenix throne, personally inspected the stove and briquettes—the water boiled quickly.

"Excellent. Long Cheng'en has rendered another great service; the post of Minister of Works is well deserved."

With the Empress's decree, the ministers could not object further.

At this moment, Minister of Revenue Jing Heng opposed, "Your Majesty, there were two tasks. Long Cheng'en has completed only one; he cannot yet assume the post."

Minister of War Bai Qiulian added, "Indeed, the second task is to build fortifications in the northern border, which remains unfinished."

The Empress looked at Long Chen and said, "Well... Since it was a wager, let us wait until the fortifications are complete."

Long Chen bowed, "I obey your command."

With coal, the ash could serve as cement for construction; building fortifications would be effortless.

"Very well. Long Cheng'en will be responsible. The Ministry of Works shall begin excavating Hell Mountain, replacing firewood with coal."

The Empress was pleased. Though the ministers still harbored doubts, they could not oppose.