Chapter 326: The Road to Gold Is Difficult, and There Is a Bloody Incident in the Mine
The September sea breeze is drier, and the green of the South Sea islands is dyed yellow.
Luzon Island has successfully avoided the summer typhoon season. The rain on the island is gradually decreasing. It can be regarded as the most comfortable season. Many fruit trees are full of red fruits.
Chirping...
Several tits are jumping back and forth on the fruit trees. One of them found a caterpillar crawling on the skin of a newly ripe wild fruit. It immediately pecked the caterpillar accurately and swallowed it into its stomach in the blink of an eye.
This is already deep in the island. Since there are no rivers or other water sources nearby, it can be said that there are few people. But under the fruit tree, there was a sudden movement.
"How far are we from the gold mine?"
"Is this gold mining? Why do we look like we are fleeing?"
"Don't talk nonsense, the gold mine is in a place where few people go!"
...
After Wang Shouren and other students from the Imperial College got off the ship, they stayed in Luzon City for only one night, and then followed the large army into the mountains to check the large gold mine found by their Ming Dynasty.
Even the sons of nobles who lived a wealthy life, now sailing across the ocean to this island, naturally wanted to take a good look at the gold mine.
Before setting off, they thought that the people who led them into the mountains carried too many supplies in bamboo baskets, and they didn't take their instructions to heart.
But they were still too young after all, and they didn't expect the gold mine to be so far away from them. This journey took nearly half a month.
Now they have to spend every day in the wild. It's okay to be bitten by mosquitoes. Once they encounter heavy rain, their tents will be leaking and there is nowhere to sleep.
"Let's get out of this forest and walk forward for another day, and we can reach the first gold mining area!" Yu Yuanzan, the commander of the Luzon Guard, acted as the guide for this time and explained to the complaining young masters.
Because there were many thorns along the way, and these spoiled young masters didn't know how to dodge, almost none of the young masters' clothes were intact.
Wang Shouren and other young masters heard that they would soon reach the mining area and see the gold mountain they had dreamed of with their own eyes, and they immediately cheered up and continued on their way.
In fact, there is no second choice now. They have already come here, so there is no reason to turn back. Even if they want to turn back, they need to find the way back.
Fortunately, about an incense stick of time, they walked out of the forest and saw a new terrain.
What appeared in front of them was no longer trees and grass, but a barren mountain area, surrounded by rocks and sparsely growing Manila grass.
Although this kind of Manila grass is grass, it can reach as high as a person's waist. A few mouse deer eating Manila grass in the distance found human traces and fled.
"Finally, we don't have to worry about insects and snakes anymore!"
"Not only insects and snakes, it doesn't look like there are wild animals living here!"
"This place looks very desolate, but I feel an inexplicable sense of security!"
...
Zhang Lun and other noble children of the Duke of Ying's Mansion have never suffered such hardships. Now that they have entered a new safe area, they can't help but relax their nerves.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
At this time, the team walking in the front suddenly took out the gong nervously and knocked it frantically, making a strange sound.
Wang Shouren was at the back of the team. He observed the front at the first time and did not find any danger until he suddenly saw a black shadow on the ground. He looked up and showed a look of shock.
A dark shadow that seemed to cover the sky and the sun hovered over their heads, with wings reaching three meters, a body length of more than one meter, a pair of golden claws and a golden beak, and suddenly let out a hissing sound, as if it was declaring its sovereignty to them.
At the same time, an eagle returned from the forest, with snow-white hair on its head, a pair of black eyes, and a monkey under its claws.
Fortunately, I don’t know whether they already have food or the noise they made worked, this pair of Luzon giant eagles went deep into the mountains.
Obviously, although this place is far away from the forest, they have come to the territory of the king of the sky on this island, but they can’t take it lightly.
Ah...
A soldier carrying a bamboo basket passed through a rift valley, but fell down because of unstable center of gravity. It was not until a few seconds later that the echo of his body landing was heard.
Although they have successfully left the dense forest, the journey has not actually improved because of this. Instead, they are facing a more severe test.
This road is to go to higher places, and the temperature difference between day and night in the mountains is very large. The special areas here require more physical strength, and there is even a risk of losing life at any time.
After walking for most of the day, they have begun to complain, but they have encountered a bigger problem.
"There is really no water source in this area, everyone be patient!"
"If there is no water source, why didn't you say it earlier, and didn't you say it only takes one day to travel?"
"This general has asked you to save water earlier, and I didn't expect you guys to walk so slowly this time!"
...
Yu Yuanzan's lips are dry and peeling. Facing the complaints of the young men who are almost unable to walk due to thirst, he also responded with a lot of anger.
He was born in a military family and became a martial arts champion through the military examination. He first served as a thousand households in the Caoyun Yamen, and then was transferred to Liaodong to fight the Jianzhou Jurchens. This year, he was transferred to Luzon to serve as the commander of the Luzon Guard.
He witnessed the difficulties of starting a business with his own eyes. From the day when Luzon City was built, their Luzon Guards were responsible for looking for mines, and even doubted whether the gold mine existed.
Now they finally found the gold mine after much hardship, and this route has been optimized. As a result, they were complained about bringing this group of young masters who were dragging their feet.
If it weren't for the fact that several of these young masters were descendants of military merits, especially Zhang Lun, who was the grandson of Zhang Mao, the Duke of England, he really wanted to kick this burden.
"Don't complain, everyone. It's true that we drank water too fast today, and we walked too slowly! Now the Jinshan Mine is in front of us. Let's hold on. No matter what, we must see what the Jinshan Mine looks like!" Wang Shouren was also very thirsty, but he took the initiative to stand up and calm everyone's emotions.
Wang Shouren is the son of Wang Hua, the chief wine of the Imperial College, and is also the real Xinjian Earl's son. In addition, he has personal charm, so he has a lot of prestige among these young masters.
Zhang Cang and others stopped complaining and continued to follow the large group on their way silently.
In fact, they all knew very well that Yu Yuanzan and other soldiers had taken good care of them along the way, mainly because the conditions in this mountainous area were too bad.
The roads here were even more difficult to walk on, and there was no water source around, and even no wild fruits to quench thirst, which was a test of everyone's physical strength.
The mountains here were like wrinkles, and it was easy to get lost in them.
"I'm old, and I'm sorry that General Yu had to worry about me this time!" Chen Zheng said in a simple chair, looking very ashamed.
Yu Yuanzan was well versed in the ways of officialdom, and immediately pretended to admire: "The imperial envoy is a person of a hundred gold coins. He didn't need to come in person, but he still insisted on crossing mountains and ridges to check the gold mine, which really made me admire him very much!"
"Your Majesty told me to see it with my own eyes, and I didn't want to disappoint your Majesty's expectations. I had to come this time! Haha... If I wasn't here this time, I don't know how these people would make trouble!" Chen Zheng explained, and then glanced at the group of young masters and added.
Although the journey was indeed very difficult, and the degree of difficulty was far beyond his expectations, he knew that he had to come this time. Not only for the emperor's trust, but also for the entire Chinese people.
The Ming Dynasty mobilized a large number of troops to mine the gold mine this time. This time, the Ming Dynasty allocated funds to open a port and build a city in Luzon. Not only did it send troops to garrison, but it also transported a large amount of materials. The country can be said to have invested a huge amount.
If I, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, have already come to Luzon, and I don't come to this gold mine to take a look in person, I can't explain it to the emperor and the people of the world.
That's why, even though he is already the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, he insists on coming to take a look at the big gold mine related to the construction of Jianzhou and the management of the Yellow River.
Yu Yuanzan also glanced at the young masters, and smiled bitterly and said, "That's right. Fortunately, the imperial envoy is here, otherwise I really can't control these little devils!"
This is indeed the case. No matter how much these young masters complain, they all know that none of them has the ability to challenge Chen Zheng, so they can only continue to move forward.
Although there were discordant voices in the team, they did not interrupt their progress.
It's just that this journey is really not easy. Although there are no lurking insects and snakes, the terrain of this mountainous area is complicated, and a young master accidentally broke his leg.
Because their speed is really too slow, it took them half a day longer than expected, and they didn't arrive at the mining area until the evening of the next day.
A string of lanterns was hung at the gate of the mining area, which had a bit of the flavor of Longmen Inn.
Since the gold mine was discovered here, Lin Yuanyang, the co-governor of Luzon Guard, led a team of people to station here, both to make it a camp and to continue to explore the supply station of the gold mine around.
The emergence of this camp is also a kind of magical oasis in the Gobi Desert.
"Water!"
"Water!"
"We want water!"
...
After finally arriving at the mining area, Zhang Lun and others seemed to have already put the gold mine behind their minds, and seemed to be scrambling to ask for the water they had been thinking about.
"The water is there!"
Before Lin Yuanyang, who had just brought people out to greet him, could react, a young man had already discovered the reservoir in front of him and immediately rushed over.
In this era, humans all lived by rivers, so the world had the Yellow River Civilization, the Indus Civilization, the Mesopotamian Civilization, and the Nile Civilization.
The Biyao Mountain area has many rocks and little water, and is located at an altitude of 1,500. Except for a few small tribes, it is not suitable for large-scale human survival.
It's just that China's manufacturing power is leading the world. They found a dry river bank nearby and then dug a well in the wet land.
This well is connected to the underground water system. Although it is impossible to breed a civilization or a city, it is enough to supply a mining area.
It was this newly dug well that solved the drinking water problem of the camp in one fell swoop, so that the Ming Dynasty could gain a foothold here and become the true king of this area.
"Gugu... It feels so good!"
"This prince is finally alive!"
"It's not easy for us along the way!"
...
After drinking the clear and sweet pool water, the young masters seemed to be recharged, but they couldn't help but sigh.
If it weren't for this accidental experience, they would not have been able to understand the sufferings of the world, especially the people who were forced to leave their homes.
Their emperor may be a tyrant, but everything he has done since he ascended the throne is indeed for the people of the world to live and work in peace and contentment.
"Lin Tongzhi, come... come and see the imperial envoy!" After drinking the water, Yu Yuanzan hurriedly greeted Lin Yuanyang who came out to greet him.
Lin Yuanyang was born as a Yangzhou boatman, a real rough man. Even though he is now the Tongzhi of Luzon Guard, he still upholds the spirit of hard work and takes the initiative to choose to eat and live with the soldiers in this mountainous area.
Chen Zheng waved to Lin Feiyang who came over to greet him, but took the water brought by the entourage, and then gulped it up.
"Imperial Envoy, this is Lin Yuanyang, the Tongzhi of Luzon Guard. Fortunately, he led the miners to find the gold mine this time, and he also led his troops to garrison here!" Yu Yuanzan endured the hunger and thirst and introduced Lin Yuanyang seriously.
Although they were all military commanders who had been registered with the emperor, it would undoubtedly be of great benefit to their careers if they could get the favor of this imperial envoy.
After drinking the water, Chen Zheng smiled and said, "Everyone knows that Lin Tongzhi smashed the fish with his own body that day. When he came here this time, the emperor also mentioned you two! You two should assist Governor Zhang well. As long as you can complete the gold mining this time, your merits will be rewarded by His Majesty!"
"I will do my best and will definitely live up to His Majesty's trust!" Yu Yuanzan and Lin Yuanyang knew that they had a heavy responsibility and expressed their opinions seriously.
Because the sky was already dark, although they had traveled through mountains and rivers to the mining area, they could not see the appearance of the gold mine behind the camp.
Many rows of houses with stone and wood structures have been built here. In the center is a large square, which is located at the mountain pass. The mine behind is a bit mysterious.
A group of people camped here, making it very lively, and soon a bonfire was lit.
Yu Yuanzan brought a lot of supplies this time. In addition to some tools needed for mining, there was a batch of new dry food, and he even brought a few laying hens into the mountains.
The biggest problem in mining here is not how to mine gold, but how to ensure the supply of materials for the people living here. Food is the most troublesome problem.
The next morning, the first ray of golden sunlight fell on the camp.
"Someone is dead!"
Suddenly, a cook in charge of cooking walked out of the house in panic and shouted in fear.
Yu Yuanzan and others soon heard the news. The dead were not the soldiers in the camp, but Zhang Heling, a student of the Imperial Academy who came with the team. Another identity was the younger brother of the current Shufei.