"If you want to find coal, there are three ways: looking at the stone, the soil, and the plants."

Xu Xiake couldn't find coal mountains in the northern mountains, so he came to search for them in the southern mountains.

Xu Xiake also brought a few disciples to teach them their experiences, which could improve their life skills level.

"Sir, what do you mean by looking at stone, soil, and grass and trees?"

"First, look at the stones, that is, look at the types of rocks. If it is counting stones, there may be coal. If it is bluestone or sand, then give up."

"The second thing is to look at the soil. If there are black seedlings on the soil, you can check whether they are mineral seedlings. Therefore, the easiest way to find coal is to look at the color of the soil and find black seedlings."

"Third, looking at plants and trees, the land where coal does not grow plants and trees is most obvious in the south. There is no grass and trees in the mountains and there is coal under it."

Xu Xiake briefly explained several simple ways to find coal, so that the disciples can remember it.

Xu Xiake has discovered sixth-level iron ore and four-level copper ore, which is of great help to Xia Village in producing weapons and minting coins.

In order to increase the resources for smelting and heating, Zhang Hua asked Xu Xiake to look for coal mountains in the nearby mountains.

Xu Xiake has been wandering around the mountains and forests for more than ten days.

"Sir, there seems to be black seedlings there!"

One of Xu Xiake's disciples suddenly screamed in excitement.

Xu Xiake immediately took the other disciples to investigate and found the mine seedlings.

"Ding! A fifth-level coal mine is found in your territory."

Zhang Hua, who was in charge of internal affairs in the village, received a reminder that there was an additional coal mine in the resource point in Xia Village.

"It seems that a primary coal mining plant can be built locally. Coal mining is a chore and is prone to landslides. Prisoners are given priority, and prisoners will go to dig coal."

Zhang Hua immediately organized people to meet with Xu Xiake, select a site and build a primary coal mining plant.

Coal is a good thing, which can be heated and smelted. As early as the Han Dynasty, coal was used to keep warm. In the Song Dynasty, coke was widely used to smelting iron, and the smelting efficiency was greatly improved.

The excavation of coal is not only for the purpose of winter, but also to increase pig iron production.

Zhang Hua farmed with peace of mind, while after harvesting grain, various forces on the eastern plains fought hard while the weather was clear and cool.

The salt merchants Zhang Shicheng and Zhang Shide brothers led the salt people in Jiangnan at the end of the Yuan Dynasty to occupy more than 20 villages. By monopolizing the nearby salt production, they became one of the richest forces.

The Zhang Shicheng and Zhang Shide brothers are very business-minded, so they can control one side.

However, the wealthy Zhang Shicheng's power was targeted by some cruel people around him.

The most ferocious one is the Huang Taiji power.

After Huang Taiji conquered Xu Chu's fort, he began to plan to eliminate Zhang Shicheng.

The salt pond occupied by Zhang Shicheng is really too tempting.

In order to eliminate Zhang Shicheng, Huang Taiji sent three thousand troops and four thousand local brave men.

Seven thousand soldiers gathered together, and it was already vast and endless.

Zhang Shicheng built a fort on the border with Huang Taiji as a bridgehead to curb Huang Taiji's military attack.

Zhang Shicheng personally took charge of the fortress, and his brother Zhang Shide led his troops to array outside the fortress and fought against the city.

Dozens of "Zhang" flags with Zhang Shicheng's forces are waving.

"This guy Huang Taiji dares to ask me to surrender. I really think that Zhang Shicheng is afraid of him!"

Zhang Shicheng and several promoted generals looked around the earthen wall of the dock.

Huang Taiji issued an ultimatum a few days ago, demanding that Zhang Shicheng submit and promised to be the lord of the Eight Banners of the Han people.

Zhang Shicheng and Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang were not afraid of trouble. When they heard that Huang Taiji was going to surrender, they were furious and killed the envoy and actively prepared for the war with Zhang Shide.

"Huang Taiji is here!"

The fort defenders exclaimed, and Zhang Shicheng looked into the distance and saw a black line appearing on the horizon.

The cavalry of Zhengbai Banner opened the way in front with a spear in his hand, and the five-clawed green dragon white-backed flag with its teeth and claws was clattering, making a murderous intent!

This is the elite cavalry that defeated the Ming army in the Battle of Sarhu at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the peak Eight Banners!

Huang Taiji led them to sweep the plains, conquering countless battles, and their level was improved, making them even more brave.

In addition to the Zhengbai Banner, there were also the Inlaid Yellow Banner Niulu leading the Inlaid Yellow Banner cavalry to invade and strengthen Huang Taiji's military power.

Behind are loosely formed minions.

These minions were cannon fodder troops under Huang Taiji's command, and they used their lives to fill the trenches.

The real main force is Huang Taiji's Eight Banners Cavalry.

"Array!"

Zhang Shide shouted loudly and ordered the cavalry to run through the passage between the square formations.

The Eight Banners Army came to the bottom of the fort built by the Yanmin and confronted Zhang Shide, and was in a state of terror.

Huang Taiji, the Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty, came to the formation like stars arching the moon, surrounded by the Eight Banners cavalry.

"This group of salt people fight against the city and can get support from the fort. Are you sure to defeat this group of salt people?"

Huang Taiji looked at Niulu with the yellow flag.

"Don't worry, Master Beile, I, Oboi, will definitely break through the enemy's formation!"

The Yellow Flag Niulu Oboi had a low status at this time, but he was loyal to Huang Taiji and acted as a pioneer.

Huang Taiji nodded and waved his hand to indicate that the Zhengbai Banner cavalry used a sabre to drive a group of archers to press towards Zhang Shide's infantry formation.

"Shoot the arrow!"

The vicious Niu Lu urged the archers to shoot arrows. Hundreds of arrows flew out and fell into Zhang Shide's square formation like locusts. Salt people were constantly killed by arrows.

"Strike back, shoot arrows!"

Zhang Shide pointed his spear diagonally in front of him, and the Yanmin led his bow and fired a volley, shooting Huang Taiji's servants.

Huang Taiji had no expression on his face.

Only the death of the direct Eight Banners will make Huang Taiji feel heartbroken. As for these servants, they are just cannon fodder, and there is no difference between them and livestock, and they can be recruited at any time.

One general succeeds and thousands of bones are woven.

Huang Taiji has experienced battles of all sizes and knows that some losses are inevitable.

Archers on both sides shoot at each other, each with losses.

The locust-like servants pushed the wooden shield chariot composed of two layers of wooden boards, two layers of sand and two layers of quilts to cover the advancement of the Eight Banners heavy infantry equipped with heavy armor.

The Yanmin's bow and arrow were blocked by the wooden shield chariot and he was in panic.

"The morale of the other party has been shaken. The yellow flag is inlaid with me to break the formation!"

The burly general Obai held a spear of more than 100 spears and commanded three hundred cavalrymen in front of the yellow flags, and the pigs advanced rapidly!

The three hundred cavalrymen inlaid yellow flags jogged in small steps, then gradually increased their speed, raised the rolling sand and dust, and the spears in the front row of cavalry flattened them, raiding the southwest corner of Zhang Shide's square formation!

"kill!"

After entering a hundred steps, Oboi suddenly shouted, and the three hundred cavalrymen's war horses broke out, with their horses fast and their iron hooves rushing, and their speed rose sharply!

This is the legion talent of the Eight Banners Army’s Yellow Banners!

The Eight Banners seem to be a military branch, but in fact they have eight different talents, and each banner corresponds to a talent!

The archers in Yan Village misjudged the explosion speed of the Yellow Flag cavalry, and the falling arrow rain was thrown away by the Yellow Flag cavalry who suddenly burst and accelerated.

Bang!

The impact force of the Yellow Banner Cavalry reached its peak in the last hundred steps. The Eight Banners Cavalry in the front row was equipped with heavy armor. The spear easily tore the shields and armor of the Yancun sword and shield soldiers with the terrible impact force brought by the pig's sudden advance. The spear penetrated the Yancun sword and shield soldiers like a piercing through the Yancun sword and shield soldiers without any effort.

Aobai stabbed more than a dozen soldiers in Yan Village, and rushed forward with cavalrymen in the Yellow Banner, breaking through Zhang Shide's formation!

The wooden shield chariot in the rear protected the arrival of heavy armored infantry and harvested the soldiers of Yan Village who were scattered by Obai.

"hiss……"

Zhang Shicheng and the rest of the Yan Village watched the battle on the stone wall of the dockyard. Seeing Oboi directly penetrated Zhang Shide's square formation, he couldn't help but be afraid.
Chapter completed!