The situation of the peasants was much more serious than Luo Lan had imagined.

First, they hardly have any meat and can't get enough energy. Second, there is not much charcoal in the countryside, and once it runs out, it will be difficult to heat up.

If it doesn't survive this winter, Phuket may collapse, and not only people, but also wheat will be in great danger.

In the village chief's stone house, Luo Lan talked to many farmers for a long time, and they really didn't know about the farmers' market, and they didn't even know which province they belonged to.

In this era, the countryside was too isolated, and it was difficult to develop the agricultural economy.

Luo Lan also knew that it was difficult to develop the agricultural economy, but he didn't expect that this winter would be so cold, which directly cut off the opportunity for development.

Charles is probably also anxious, now it is not a question of developing the agricultural economy, but how to solve the problem of wintering.

"Everyone is waiting for news at home, this prince will never let everyone suffer from the cold!"

When it was dark, Luo Lan left. He picked up speed and headed south.

The winter night was even more bitterly cold, and the horses were shivering, and the hot sweat that had just come out immediately became cold.

After a night of rapid travel, the people were very tired, and finally arrived at a small town at dawn.

It is said to be a town, but it is just a large village converted from a large village, and it is also lifeless, and there are not a few people in sight.

But Luo Lan saw the agricultural market.

Right in the middle of the town, what was once the lord's residence was converted into a market, and the castle behind the market was inhabited by local government officials.

It's a pity that this market is completely devoid of merchants and customers, and it looks desolate.

Luo Lan frowned, he realized that the planned economy had left the market economy behind, and with the impact of this cold winter, the agricultural market was almost scrapped.

Luo Lan felt a pain in her flesh, but now was not the time to think about the agricultural market.

He entered the castle and met with the town's officials.

The officials also huddled in a ball, not wanting to move, and several cages of charcoal were burning, making the castle a little warmer.

"Where's Charles?" Luo Lan asked, he couldn't run around, he had to find Charles immediately.

"Earl Charles has gone to the beach, he only arrived here yesterday by the north, and he should be back to Phuket City."

The official's words made Luo Lan breathe a sigh of relief, and finally got lucky.

Luo Lan didn't talk nonsense and took people to the beach.

There is also a large fishing village by the sea, there are many fishermen, and there are more than a dozen fishing boats docked at the ferry.

Luo Lan saw Charles walking anxiously at the ferry from a distance, this usually expressionless diplomat was like an ant on a hot pot.

Behind him, there were several officials, all of whom had been promoted through the provincial system, and they were also very anxious at this time, and kept talking to the workers at the ferry.

The workers were workers in the Bee Coal Factory, and they arrived here with a boatload of Bee Coal, but they didn't know what to do next.

Because the market economy did not do well, the coal did not enter the trade market smoothly, and almost all the ships carrying coal waited for instructions at various ferries, but no one gave them instructions.

Luo Lan arrived on horseback, making the officials and workers all show joy.

Charles was the most surprised, he never expected Luo Lan to go south in the harsh winter.

"Your Highness, why are you here?" Charles breathed a sigh of relief as if he had found the backbone.

Luo Lan dismounted and said, "I knew that the south was in big trouble, but fortunately I came." He looked at the workers at the ferry, "How long have you been here?" ”

"It's been almost seven days, and they said that no one went to the market to buy goods, and they didn't have the money to pay for the bee coal, so we had to hang it here." The worker said depressedly, referring to the local officials.

And the official behind Charles hurriedly explained: "Your Highness, we really don't have any money, the treasury is only a little bit, and the construction of the market has been used up." Now that the weather is getting colder and colder, no one goes out, who will buy bee coal, and we can't collect commercial taxes at all, because there are no merchants. ”

Both sides are reasonable, and Luo Lan is not to blame.

He motioned for everyone to be quiet, and then asked Charles, "Charles, how do you think you should spend the winter?" ”

Charles pointed to the boat: "I can only borrow the merchant's nest bee coal first, and send people to the villages as soon as possible, it will be too late." ”

This is the only way to survive this winter by allowing farmers to use bee coal, otherwise it will cause widespread disaster.

Luo Lan is the majority shareholder of the coal factory, and he has the right to decide on this matter, and he can borrow it first.

But instead of agreeing immediately, he fell into deep thought.

Everyone looked at him, and the atmosphere became inexplicably tense.

In the strong wind by the sea, Luo Lan thought about it for a long time, and finally rejected Charles's proposal.

"It's too late, the roads in the south are so bad that only horses can walk, and horses can't carry a lot of bee coal, and many local governments don't even have horses, and when we transport the coal, the farmers are freezing to death."

Everyone's faces changed and they realized the seriousness of the problem.

Charles took a deep breath and said, "Your Highness, I know it's too late, but at least I can let the farmers by the sea and the river use the bee coal first, please give the order." ”

"We can't rush it, we need a better plan."

Luo Lan took a breath of hot air, nest bee coal must be used, but how to maximize the utilization rate of nest bee coal?

Luo Lan threw this question to everyone, and both officials and workers thought about it.

Charles calmed down and spoke in the silence of everyone: "Take the town as a unit, only transport the bee coal to each town, and let the town officials notify the villagers to collect the bee coal." ”

"This is good!" The officials and workers at the scene were amazed, and although this method required the villagers to leave their houses and avoid cold, it would greatly reduce the pressure on the government to transport them.

As long as the villagers go to the town, they can receive the nest bee coal for the winter.

Luo Lan also thought it was good, but he still didn't agree.

When he stopped in the village yesterday, he found that the houses of the villagers were dilapidated and old, and almost every house was leaking. Such a house requires a huge amount of bee coal, and the effect is not good.

The production of bee coal in the West Coast Special Industrial Zone is limited, and it cannot afford to be consumed by 200,000 farmers.

Luo Lan paced worriedly, and suddenly swept to the noble castle not far away from the corner of his eye.

The castle was tall and luxurious, built by previous lords. Now the lords are gone, leaving behind empty castles and their dwellings.

Luo Lan had a flash of inspiration and laughed heartily.

Everyone looked at each other, and Charles asked, "Your Highness, have you thought of a good solution?" ”

"There must be a lot of castles or buildings like that, right?" Luo Lan pointed to the castle and asked, everyone nodded, saying that there are many places, the previous lord was a vampire, and his life was very luxurious, so the castle was naturally indispensable.

"Okay, Charles, immediately notify the local governments, receive the bee coal, transport it to the castle and the intact buildings, and then inform the farmers to bring food and water to the castle to warm themselves collectively."