Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 276: Investing in a Coal Mine, Cheng Qin and Two Others Supervise

Xiao Yu bowed slightly and said respectfully and sincerely, "Your Majesty, I have already purchased all the coal mines near Chang'an. These coal mines have enormous potential and will be of great help to the future development of the Tang Dynasty."

"Your Majesty is wise and wise. If you are interested in investing, we are willing to give you 40% of the shares. Young Master Cheng and Young Master Qin will each take 10% for their meritorious service. This 40% share is equivalent to 4,000 taels of silver, and the 10% is 1,000 taels of silver."

Li Shimin narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze revealing a look of contemplation and weighing. After a moment's silence, he said, "I see that this matter does have potential. However, I must consider it carefully, as it concerns the foundation of the country."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Chumo laughed heartily and clasped his fists, saying, "This is a very good proposal. Although I'm not short of money, I'm naturally willing to participate in something that benefits the country and the people. I'll take this 10% stake."

Qin Huaidao bowed slightly and smiled gently: "Thanks to Xiaoyu and Your Majesty's kindness, Huaidao will do his best. I dare not slack off on this 10% stake."

As he was speaking, a furry Bichon Frise came running over happily and jumped next to Yu Yu.

Its round body shook and it deliberately twisted its butt. Its adorable appearance made everyone laugh.

Seeing this, Yuyu reached out and gently touched Bichon's head, then said jokingly with a smile: "Hey, what, you want to invest too? Unfortunately, you don't have that kind of money."

The Bichon Frise seemed to understand Yu Yu's words. It tilted its head, its black bean-like eyes rolled around, and it made a "woohoo" sound from its mouth.

It seemed to be arguing about something, or expressing its dissatisfaction. Its cute appearance made everyone laugh again.

Li Shimin's face was filled with joy. He said loudly, "Hahaha, great! In that case, Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao, I will order you two to take charge of the coal production. You must do your best and do not betray the trust of me and Xiaoyu. You must ensure that the coal mining and coal production processes are orderly and that the miners are safe. If there is any mistake, you two will be held accountable."

Cheng Chumo clasped his fists and accepted the order, saying in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, rest assured. I, Old Cheng, will do my best to ensure that the coal-making business is done properly."

Qin Huaidao also had a firm expression and saluted respectfully: "Your Majesty, I will do my best to serve you, act prudently, and properly manage all matters related to coal production in order to repay your Majesty and Xiaoyu for their kindness."

Li Shimin looked deeply at Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao, and said solemnly, "I have entrusted you two with the management of coal production. This is the primary responsibility. However, I have other considerations. During the coal production process, you must always pay attention to the movements of all parties involved and be wary of those with ulterior motives who may sabotage or attempt to seize the coal for themselves."

"Chu Mo, you can select some strong and reliable men to form a guard team to patrol and guard day and night. Huai Dao, you are meticulous and responsible for communicating and coordinating with the craftsmen and laborers from all sides, recording every detail of the coal-making method, and ensuring that no skill is leaked to others."

"Furthermore, I order you two to come to the palace every five days to report on progress. No matter how big or small, you must tell me the truth. The coal industry is related to the prosperity and decline of the Tang Dynasty. We cannot afford to fail."

Li Shimin waved his hand, his tone steady and full of unquestionable majesty: "Alright, go ahead. I look forward to hearing from you soon, so that this coal can benefit the people of our Tang Dynasty as soon as possible."

Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao responded in unison: "As ordered!"

After saying that, the two of them looked at each other, their eyes filled with determination and resoluteness, then turned around and strode away.

Cheng Chumo walked with bold and vigorous steps, rubbing his hands together as he walked, as if he couldn't wait to show off his skills.

Qin Huaidao stood tall and straight, with steady and orderly steps. As he walked, he was carefully thinking about the many things he would do next.

Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao walked side by side on the road to the coal mine.

Cheng Chumo grinned, his face brimming with excitement, and he was the first to speak: "Haha, Brother Qin, it's great to be able to invest in this coal mine again this time. I'm afraid the winter in our Tang Dynasty will be very different because of this coal."

Qin Huaidao nodded slightly, smiling, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. "Indeed. Thanks to the foresight of the Yuyu family, they brought us in. Do you still remember her perfume and shampoo shop? We only invested a small amount, but we actually made a lot of money."

Cheng Chumo scratched his head and smiled, "How could I not remember? At the time, I thought it was just a girl's toy, but I never imagined it would be so popular. Now, I think this coal mine has a bright future. As long as we manage it diligently, we will surely make great contributions to the Tang Dynasty and make our own pockets fatter."

Qin Huaidao flicked his sleeves lightly, his eyes firm. "Having said that, coal production is no easy task. From mining to processing, every step requires careful planning, and safety cannot be ignored. You and I must be extremely vigilant and make sure nothing goes wrong."

Cheng Chumo patted his chest and said loudly, "Of course. I may not be as cunning as you, but I'll take care of the hard work and the maintenance. With the two of us here, this coal mine will surely prosper."

When they arrived at the coal mine, Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao had just stepped into the mining area when a group of coal miners surrounded them.

One of the workers, a man with gray hair and a weathered face but bright eyes, was the first to speak. "My lords, mining coal here is not easy. Some seams are deep, others shallow. Our tools are barely adequate, but if we had better tools, our efficiency would definitely be greatly improved."

A strong young worker echoed, "Yes, sir. Besides, the ventilation in this mine isn't very good. It makes you dizzy if you stay there for too long. Several of our brothers almost fainted in there before. We need to think carefully about the safety issue."

Another worker rubbed his hands together, his face full of anticipation. "We heard that if the coal is ready, it will give everyone in the city a warm winter, and we'll be motivated to work. I just don't know if we can get paid on time. Our families depend on this income to survive."

Cheng Chumo waved his hand and spoke in a loud voice, which was full of reassuring power: "Alright, alright, everyone's problems will be solved. The emperor sent the two of us to supervise the work, and that means we must handle this coal mine business properly."

"As for the tool problem you mentioned, we'll arrange for someone to buy better ones right away. We'll make sure everyone won't be delayed because of clumsy tools."

Qin Huaidao also stepped forward, smiling and speaking softly, "Fellow workers, underground ventilation is of paramount importance and concerns everyone's safety. We are already discussing ways to improve it and will make arrangements as soon as possible so that everyone can work in a safe environment. Wages will also be paid on time, and we will not owe you a single cent. Everyone, just focus on your work."

When the workers heard this, the worry on their faces gradually disappeared. The gray-haired old worker said excitedly, "With your words, we are relieved. We will use all our strength to dig out this coal properly and will not let the emperor and your two masters down."

The other workers also nodded in agreement, their enthusiasm suddenly rekindled, and they turned around to continue their mining work.