Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Superior Jingyan Salt? The Deadly Thousand-Pound Boulder!

Lv Wen and his entourage were immaculately dressed, a stark contrast to the miners who were carefully walking along the cave walls.

If one looked closely, they would notice that the miners, upon seeing the officials, hid a sense of disgust and aversion beneath their fearful expressions.

"Lord Chu, please walk this way."

After walking for about half a quarter of an hour, more than ten intersections appeared ahead.

Inside each intersection was a mine pit.

"This path leads to the A Pit," Lv Wen continued to explain.

Compared to the main passage earlier, the mine tunnel was narrower, with shelves fixed on the cave walls, seemingly to prevent collapses.

As they proceeded, the clanging sounds grew louder and louder.

After walking for another half-quarter of an hour, their view suddenly opened up.

A spacious cave appeared, filled with miners excavating, and a few overseers.

"Everyone, thank you for your hard work," Zhou Xun said amiably, walking up to one miner.

"My lord," the overseers quickly bowed.

The miners froze for a moment before also following suit to bow.

"This is Chief Clerk Chu, responsible for overseeing the extraction at our Jingyan Salt Mine. If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to voice them now."

The miners looked at each other before lowering their heads.

They had their thoughts, but who dared to speak up?

Without the promise of a reward, they could very well bring great trouble upon themselves.

Chu Ming scanned the surroundings calmly, reading the expressions of the dozens of miners.

He didn’t ask any questions; these were just formalities, the answers were already reflected on the miners’ faces.

Oppression, exploitation.

"Lord Chu, let us proceed to the next mine pit."

Consequently, the group exited the A Pit and proceeded to the B Pit, where the situation was quite similar.

After inspecting the two pits, Chu Ming had formed a rough idea in his mind.

There are many methods to increase the production of Jingyan Salt, such as improving miners’ excavation tools, as the current crude pickaxes are too inefficient.

Secondly, the current method of transporting salt out of the mine, by manual labor, is far too primitive.

Replacing it with machinery, like cable cars, would certainly dramatically increase transport speed.

Finally, the extraction of Jingyan Salt, which does not occur inside the mine but in specialized refineries outside the cave, Chu Ming had not inspected this but could assume the refining process was also outdated.

Apart from increasing production, aspects such as the pit environment, safety factors, etc., all need improvement.

Yet, Chu Ming was very aware that there is a vast difference between ideas and reality.

He held the position of a newly appointed Chief Clerk and initiating large-scale reforms was virtually impossible.

County Magistrate of Jingyan County Lv Wen and County Magistrate Zhou Xun had managed this place for years, would they really heed his advice?

Would those behind Jingyan allow him to make such moves?

Therefore, to change the current situation, the first step would be to uproot the old system.

Since arriving at Jingyan County yesterday and seeing these miners today, Chu Ming was already convinced there were issues with County Magistrate of Jingyan County Lv Wen and County Magistrate Zhou Xun.

Locating these issues would require his investigation.

As the group exited the B Pit, Lv Wen and Zhou Xun remained respectful.

"Lord Chu, this way please, let’s take a look at the C Pit."

C Pit! Collapse!

As Lv Wen spoke these words, a gleam flickered deep within his eyes.

Chu Ming nodded.

Before they could take a few steps, a knife-wielding constable approached.

"My lord, the Ren Pit has revealed high-grade Jingyan Salt."

The speaker said with a slight tone of surprise, head bowed.

"High-grade Jingyan Salt?" Hearing this, Lv Wen and Zhou Xun paused in place.

Jingyan Salt was categorized into upper, middle, and lower grades, with most of the salt in the mines being of a lower grade, middle-grade being rare, and high-grade having not been extracted in years.

Immediately, the two were overjoyed.

High-grade Jingyan Salt, supplied exclusively to the Imperial Family!

Discovering high-grade Jingyan Salt was tantamount to achieving great merit!

"Lord Chu truly is a blessing to Jingyan County; upon arriving at the mine, we discover high-grade Jingyan Salt!" Zhou Xun exclaimed in admiration.

"Lord Chu, shall we go to the Ren Pit first?" Lv Wen asked excitedly.

By now, both had put aside the idea of the C Pit collapse.

"Alright," Chu Ming nodded once more.

"What is your name?" Lv Wen asked the reporting constable, "Lead the way for Lord Chu."

"Subordinate Shen Yi," Shen Yi replied, eyes showing a fleeting complex emotion.

The Ren Pit was where his younger brother Tie Zheng had dug a tomb for these wicked officials!

It was also where his younger brother Tie Zheng would soon find his resting place...

The group hurried, and just as they reached the main passage, another Arresting Captain appeared.

"Lord Lv, Lord Zhou, there is an urgent case at the County Yamen that requires your immediate attention."

Seeing him, Lv Wen and Zhou Xun had a subtle change in their expressions.

"What urgent case, don’t you see Lord Chu is here? Running around in haste, what decorum is this!"

Zhou Xun rebuked harshly.

The Arresting Captain, half-kneeling, was a bit bewildered.

This wasn’t what was planned.

This Arresting Captain was arranged by Lv Wen and Zhou Xun in advance.

The urgent case was a pretense, an excuse to avoid entering the C Pit.

The C Pit had the highest risk of collapsing, and they didn’t wish to accompany Chu Ming to his grave.

But now, with the discovery of high-grade Jingyan Salt in the Ren Pit, the plan was naturally set aside.

"My lord..." The Arresting Captain looked at Lv Wen and Zhou Xun, filled with confusion.

"Why are you still standing around, with nothing to do?!" Zhou Xun scolded again.

"Subordinate..."

"Hmph!" Lv Wen flicked his sleeve and walked past, bowing slightly to Chu Ming, "Lord Chu, shall we go?"

Chu Ming glanced at Shen Yi, who led the way, then at the bewildered Arresting Captain, forming some theories in his mind.

Today’s tour of the pits was far from uneventful.

The C Pit was problematic, and the Ren Pit probably was as well.

A collapse?

Under the coverage of the Sword Gourd Spirit, the C Pit was on the verge of collapsing.

"Lord Lv, Lord Zhou, discovering top-grade Jingyan salt is good news, but it can’t be known by too many people. Please ask the two Lords to have the miners inside the mine head outside first."

There are over thirty miners in the C Pit, and if they continue to dig, the possibility of collapse is very high.

If I’ve guessed correctly, the true target of this collapse was him, it was just interrupted by the sudden discovery of top-grade Jingyan salt.

The thirty miners inside are innocent and cannot end up like the villagers of Dahe Village, losing their lives in vain because of him.

What he can do is ensure all the miners inside the mine go out.

"Lord Chu has thought it through." Lv Wen praised, "You, clear out all the miners except for those in Ren Pit."

"Yes." Several constables left upon receiving the order.

After giving the instructions, the group entered the Ren Pit passageway.

As Chu Ming entered the pit, the Sword Gourd Spirit spread out, checking the condition of the Ren Pit.

Compared to C Pit, the structure here is relatively stable, and it shouldn’t collapse anytime soon.

A moment later, the front opened up, with over a dozen miners working inside to mine salt.

"Where is the top-grade Jingyan salt?" Lv Wen impatiently asked.

"This way, my lord." Shen Yi pointed to a deeper part of the pit wall.

There, in dim light, one could barely see a narrow passageway, accommodating only one person going in and out.

"Why haven’t they dug it out?" Lv Wen inquired.

"Without your command, my humble self dares not let miners dig rashly." Shen Yi spoke with his head lowered.

But just as he lowered his head, Chu Ming caught a fleeting look in his eyes.

Amongst the miners, one black-faced man seemed timid and was with several miners in a dark corner, unnoticed.

However, that man just shared a momentary eye contact with the constable Shen Yi.

"Lord Chu, shall we mine it?" Lv Wen looked at Chu Ming.

"Let’s mine it." Chu Ming said indifferently.

"Yes." Shen Yi bowed, issuing an order to the dim corner: "Who will go?"

"My lord, I’ll go."

Tie Zheng stepped forward, seeming eager to volunteer.

"You go." Shen Yi turned his back to Chu Ming and the others, exchanging yet another quick glance.

But under the coverage of Sword Gourd Spirit, how could their actions escape Chu Ming’s eyes?

Tie Zheng took an iron pick and crawled into the tight passage, while Shen Yi suppressed his internal grief and bowed to Lv Wen, then pointed to the other miners, saying, "Lord, shall we clear these people out too?"

"Clear them out."

"Anyone who talks nonsense will be fined two months’ wages."

"Yes."

Time passed, the torches hanging on the cave walls flickered, and the light fell on Lv Wen and Zhou Xun’s faces, tense yet joyful.

"Why have they not come out after so long?" Lv Wen asked impatiently.

"Go in and see." Zhou Xun pointed at Shen Yi.

"Yes." Shen Yi complied.

"Your name is Shen Yi, right? Bring out the top-grade Jingyan salt, and there will be a reward." Lv Wen said.

"Thank you, Lord." Shen Yi bowed in salute, crawling into the narrow passage.

Reward?

Chu Ming’s eyes flickered; they are unlikely to receive any reward.

Beyond the narrow passage, there’s a hidden chamber.

The miner inside wasn’t mining; he was... struggling to push a huge boulder.

But it seemed his strength wasn’t enough, the boulder never budging.

Without making a sound, he continued to use Sword Gourd Spirit to observe.

Constable Shen Yi crawled through the passage, said nothing, and directly went to Tie Zheng’s side, the two exerting combined effort to move the boulder.

Rumble...

The boulder rolled, yet it only made an extremely soft sound.

On the ground, several layers of thick dry grass were laid, and at the end of the grass was a two yards high fault.

"Brother, it’s about time; you should go."

The boulder was pushed to the edge of the fault, Tie Zheng’s eyes reddened.

"Xiaozheng..."

Shen Yi looked at Tie Zheng, his face full of bitter anger.

"Brother, don’t persuade me anymore. Those corrupt officials killed my parents; they deserve to die!"

"If not for dad and mom, I would’ve died long ago!"

"All those corrupt officials are down the tunnel today; the opportunity is only once!"

"If I can’t avenge my father or right my mother’s wrongs, I am unworthy as their son!"

Tie Zheng clenched his fists, but his voice suddenly turned sorrowful, "Brother... this world is vast, I hope you will go see it for me."

The two hugged heavily, Shen Yi held back his heartbreaking pain and crawled into an extremely hidden passage.

That passage led outside, a path to safety.

Everything inside the cave, the dialogue and actions of the two, were monitored by Chu Ming.

The boulder, if pushed even a bit more, would fall into the fault.

A two yards high fault, thousands of pounds of boulder, once dropped, the whole pit will inevitably collapse.

Clearly, the two had planned this long ago.

One lives, one dies.

Revenge and justice?

From their words, Chu Ming could quickly ascertain, their target wasn’t him, but the whole group.

Or perhaps, the officials of Jingyan County.

Chu Ming remained silent, looked around, and pictured the scene of the collapse in his mind.

Then, he calculated the safest corner.

"Two Lords, has the Ren Pit ever had top-grade Jingyan salt before?"

Chu Ming pretended to move around casually, slowly approaching that safe corner.

Collapse he does not fear, but his current identity needs careful attention.

Utilizing the safe corner to dodge the collapse, much safer.

Meng Zhen accompanied him closely.

As for Jin Yu, he remained silent from start to finish, as if everything happening had nothing to do with him.

Regardless, wherever Chu Ming went, he followed.

"Ren Pit hasn’t discovered it before, but A Pit has in the past."