Chapter 356: This Man Must Not Be Arrested

The coal miners had never heard of such generosity in their entire lives—not just free meals but three extra taels of silver! Damn, were they even coal miners anymore? They might as well be oil merchants from the county town.

Is this new boss trying to trick us?

A bolder coal miner stepped forward. “Steward Thirty-Two, sir… Is what you just said… true? We… we’re not ones for being fooled.”

Thirty-Two replied, “If even half my word is false, may the next son I bear be born without an anus!”

The coal miners brightened immediately. “Such a vicious oath must be real!”

Yet Li Daoxuan frowned incredulously. This man can’t possibly father another son, can he? That oath sounds earnest but rings hollow.

But no one apart from Li Daoxuan and Third Lady knew Thirty-Two was already a eunuch. The miners took his pledge to heart. Cheers erupted: “Incredible! What a generous new Dong Weng!”

“The new Dong Weng comes from a kind-hearted family!”

Feng Jun quietly sighed nearby: So this is the power of money. By throwing silver around, he’s already lifted these miners from apathy to spirited joy! If the Li Family fulfills its promises, their loyalty will be absolute. If I ever try reclaiming this mine for the crown, they’ll revolt.

The thought unsettled him, though another followed: Since the Li Family treats penniless miners so well, they’ll surely not balk at taxes… As long as duties are paid, the empire loses nothing letting them operate.

Reassured, he calmed down.

Suddenly, Gao Yiye emerged from the carriage. Her grimy hands had been wiped clean by Qiu Ju; her sooty sleeves were meticulously folded inward by Dong Xue. The soiled hem of her skirt, however, remained hopelessly stained.

She stepped out and gestured toward the narrow, coal-black highway linking the county to Jinshuigou. “Lord Feng, the Deity wishes to widen this path into a smooth cement road. Please issue a notice to hire more porters. Complete this cement road swiftly. It’s barely five miles to the county—couldn’t it be built in days?”

Feng Jun answered, “With generous wages, porters will flock here.”

Gao Yiye turned toward the miners’ shanty settlement. “The Deity says these shacks can’t withstand wind or rain! Imagine how workers suffer when sick? Assign men to build them a dormitory—clean, orderly cement houses.”

Feng Jun smiled patiently, “With wages secured…”

Gao Yiye faced the miners. “Work safely from now on! The Deity will arrange helmets, safety garments, cotton gloves, better tools… and cool refreshments in summer.”

As she rattled off benefits, the coal miners gaped in disbelief. Are we still society’s dregs?

Gao Yiye declared, “Don’t call yourselves coal miners anymore. From now on, you are coal miners.

Come, sing with me:

We miners are dauntless, hey! We miners are strong…”

Surprisingly, Qiu Ju and Dong Xue pulled small hand drums from the carriage and beat a rhythm while Gao Yiye sang:

Working daily without rest,

Raising tall mansions, digging mines true,

Changing the world—making it new… A-hey!

Feng Jun muttered, “That tune… Why am I tempted to sing? I’m no miner!”

Thirty-Two laughed and clapped Lord Feng’s shoulder. “Let’s leave the fun behind, Lord Feng. Join me in the county for drinks? I’ve a jar of fine Wuliangye.”

Feng Jun’s eyes gleamed. “Wuliangye? I’ve never heard of it!”

Thirty-Two winked mysteriously. “Smells divine. One sip and you’ll understand!”

Feng Jun beamed. “Then I must oblige!”

——

Imperial Study, Capital

The young Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian sat as usual, reviewing decrees.

Three years into his reign, he already moved like a monarch exhausted by thirty—his once-sharp spirit crushed beneath unseen weights.

He picked up a dispatch from Shaanxi:

Hong Chengchou, Shaanxi Grain Transport Supervisor, triumphs in Hancheng and Yichuan!

Successively defeats bandit leaders–

Wang Zuogua! Zhang Shusheng! Ji San’er! Wang Hu! Little Honglang! Yizhangqing! Luedihu! Hunjianglong! Wang Jiayin!…

Zhu Youjian’s eyes snapped open, rushing with pride like strapped to an aircraft.

“Who is this Hong Chengchou? How is he so formidable?”

The high-ranking eunuch Cao Huachun leaned in. “A scholar from the 44th year of Wanli’s reign. Began as clerk in Jiangxi’s criminal bureau, rose through ranks over six years. Promoted to Education Inspector of Zhejiang in Year Two of Tianqi—renowned for spotting genius. Imperial court prized his selections. Made Councillor of Zhejiang’s civil administration two years later. By Year Seven of Tianqi, Shaanxi tasked him with grain supervision.”

Zhu Youjian marveled, “Such rapid rise?”

Cao Huachun nodded. “He’s truly gifted.”

Reading Hong’s victories anew, Zhu Youjian privately applauded. Shaanxi drowns in chaos, yet he wins battle after battle—brilliant tactician, scholar and warrior merged!

He pondered fitting rewards.

Sudden commotion broke his thoughts.

A young eunuch scurried in, panic-stricken. “Your Majesty! Dire news! Provincial Governor Zhang Mengjing of Yansui… has perished!”

Zhu Youjian stiffened. “How? His health was sound!”

The eunuch’s expression twisted. “Angry—to death, Your Majesty. Months ago, when Five Troop Divisions marched toward the capital to Serve Wang, General Wu Zimian of Yansui’s division hoarded soldiers’ rations. He extorted silver from those unwilling to serve, sold military horses secretly. Governor Zhang learned this and died overwhelmed by grief and rage.”

Zhu Youjian slammed the desk, his mood plummeting like riding a tower-drop machine.

“Outrageous! Such insolence! Arrest and execute him at once!”

Cao Huachun murmured urgently, “Don’t, Your Majesty! Among those forces marching to Serve Wang, two units have already mutinied. Order Wu Zimian arrested now and he, knowing death awaits him, will inevitably rebel—making mutiny number three! The consequences would be disastrous…”

Zhu Youjian clutched his chest, breathless—almost following Zhang Mengjing to heaven with fury.

Half a minute passed before he recovered. Voice hollow with exhaustion, he commanded,

“Appoint Hong Chengchou as Provincial Governor of Yansui, replacing Zhang Mengjing. As for Wu Zimian… once the Jurchens retreat… deal with him.”