After Xiao Yeyang came back from Xintunwei, Daohua mentioned the oil issue to him.

Xiao Yeyang looked surprised: "Petroleum? Are you talking about stone paint? I have seen this thing in books. It is oil and water that can be ignited for lighting. Does Xiliang also have this thing?"

Daohua nodded quickly: "Lifu knows where it is, let him take us to see it."

Xiao Yeyang still attaches great importance to oil, because he has seen from military books the deeds of people using oil to attack the enemy with fire. If oil is really so useful, then Xiliang's defense capabilities can be improved a lot.

However, he did not agree with Daohua to go together.

Daohua shook Xiao Yeyang's arm: "There is nothing going on at home now. It's too boring for me to stay at home all the time. Just take me with you."

Xiao Yeyang went to ask Gu Jian and heard that Gu Jian said that Daohua was in good health and could go out for a walk properly, so he agreed to take her with him.

Later, Xiao Yeyang called Wang Lifu to Xiao Mansion and carefully inquired about the location where he encountered the oil. He learned that it was a bit far away from Ganzhou City, so he made some preparations before taking Daohua out.

In late October, the temperature in Xiliang is already very low.

In the carriage, Dao Hua huddled in Xiao Yeyang's arms, holding a hand warmer in her hand.

Seeing her like this, Xiao Yeyang couldn't help but said: "You are so afraid of the cold and you come out, aren't you asking for trouble?"

Most of Daohua's face was buried in the fox fur scarf: "I just want to go out for a walk."

After a day's journey, when it was getting dark, Daohua and his party arrived at the black water ditch that Wang Lifu had mentioned.

"It's really a black ditch!"

A gully less than one meter wide was filled with thick black oil. The pungent oil level made Daohua dare not get too close and could only watch from a distance.

Xiao Yeyang put the head of the torch into the oil, stirred it, and then let people ignite it.

"Boom~"

Huge flames suddenly burst out.

When Defu saw it, he said excitedly: "A torch dyed with petroleum will illuminate much more strongly."

Daohua took over: "Petroleum water is indestructible. It can not only be used for lighting, but also for lubricating axles to reduce friction. It has many uses."

Master Wang also came this time and was standing not far away. When he heard Daohua's words, he thought to himself, this Mrs. Xiao is really knowledgeable and talented.

She discovered cement, and she discovered this oil. She is really Mr. Xiao’s virtuous wife.

Xiao Yeyang looked at the black water ditch and was already thinking about how to use petroleum fire to attack the enemy.

"Bring the oil drums here and see how much oil can be pumped out."

Daohua added: "Oil has emerged here, and there must be a large amount of storage underground."

Seeing Daohua covering her nose, Xiao Yeyang ordered Bu Gan to pump oil, and asked Defu to send someone to look around, and then led Daohua towards the tent that had been set up.

"Hoo~"

Away from the black water ditch, Daohua immediately took a few deep breaths.

After she became pregnant, she had no adverse reactions, but she was quite sensitive to smells. A little bad smell would make her nauseated.

Meilan Meiju has led the people to tidy up the tent, and the charcoal basin has been lit.

Daohua entered the tent, took off her cloak, and sat in front of the charcoal pot to drink the hot tea handed over by Xiao Yeyang. When she saw Mei Lan and Mei Ju starting to prepare dinner, she said:

"Be more prepared. I am able to find oil thanks to that little guy Lifu. I will send a copy to him and Mr. Wang later."

When Mei Lan handed the food box to Master Wang and explained the reason, Master Wang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and touched Wang Lifu's head: "You little guy is really lucky."

Looking at the blazing fire in the distance caused by the oil, he could also think of the role of this oil in the battlefield.

After dinner, Xiao Yeyang and Daohua walked outside the tent for a while.

At this time, Defu ran over happily.

"Master, madam, our people just discovered that there is oil emerging from the other side of the mountain."

Xiao Yeyang and Daohua were very happy when they heard this.

Daohua smiled and said: "It seems that there are quite a lot of oil reserves here. We can dig more oil wells to extract oil."

Xiao Yeyang: "I will discuss this matter with Master Wang. Don't worry about it. I will go back with you to rest."

The next day, Daohua woke up from her warm bed and heard Gandang outside the tent reporting to Xiao Yeyang.

"Master, the oil barrels we brought are all full. Once the oil in the black water ditch is exhausted, new oil will automatically emerge."

"However, the oil output speed is a bit slow."

"After Master Wang saw it, he said that we can dig a few oil wells like salt wells and actively exploit the oil underground."

Xiao Yeyang nodded: "Leave the matter of digging the well to Master Wang. Now you go back to Qianganzhou City and dispatch a thousand soldiers to garrison here."

When Xiao Yeyang returned to the tent after explaining the matter, Daohua had already gotten up and washed up.

After breakfast, Xiao Yeyang thought it was a rare trip, so he took Daohua around for a walk.

Daohua was sitting on the horse, and Xiao Yeyang was holding the horse. Although the scenery was not very good, both of them were very happy.

After a thousand soldiers came to set up camp, Xiao Yeyang ordered everything, leaving Master Wang here to watch, and then returned to Ganzhou City with Daohua.

.....

As soon as the two returned home, the secret guard came over with a flying pigeon letter: "Master, this is the news just sent from the Xintun Guard."

When Daohua saw Xiao Yeyang reading the note, her face suddenly darkened, and she couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong?"

Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua: "The eldest brother learned from the drunk Hong Zhong that Wei Hongcai has been living on empty wages since he took over as the commander of the capital."

"There are nine guard posts in Xiliang, and each guard post has frontier troops stationed there. But as far as I know, the number of frontier troops in each guard post has not reached the standard. Only the Ganzhou guard has a shortage of 10,000 people. But the imperial court

The military pay issued every year is sufficient."

As he spoke, he snorted.

"Over the years, Wei Hongcai embezzled a lot of money, amounting to hundreds of thousands of taels."

Daohua was not surprised by this matter, but she was a little worried about Yan Wenxiu's safety: "My eldest brother just went to Xintunwei not long ago, and now he starts to investigate Wei Hongcai. Isn't it a bit risky?"

Xiao Yeyang thought for a while and said: "I will reply to my elder brother later and ask him to pay attention."

In November, after building five oil wells, Mr. Wang returned to Ganzhou City.

Knowing that dozens of barrels of oil could be mined every day, Xiao Yeyang first gave in and Gandang transported a batch to Ganzhou City for storage, while the others were sent to twelve military towns.

At the same time, Xiao Yeyang gave the emperor another discount, preparing to exchange oil and the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion for a batch of ordnance.

......

Royal Palace.

The emperor handed Xiao Yeyang's book to Wu Jingyi.

Wu Jingyi was very surprised to see that there was oil in Xiliang.

As the commander-in-chief of the country's troops, he has a good understanding of armaments and supplies. He has long known and used oil and fire to attack and defend the enemy.

Unfortunately, there are very few places that produce oil. He also sent people to look for it, but they couldn't find it.

Thinking of the financial constraints of the Fifth Army Protectorate over the years, Wu Jingyi immediately prepared to complain and bargain with the emperor to see if Xiao Yeyang could provide oil free of charge. However, before he could speak, the emperor spoke first.

"Over in Xiliang, the imperial court did not give much support. Originally, the replacement of ordnance should be a matter of the imperial court. Now that Yeyang is willing to exchange for oil, you can transfer a batch to him as appropriate."

"Oil cannot be extinguished with water, and the oil returned can be used for the navy."
Chapter completed!