Chapter 416 "For the Country and the People"

"This is the manager's barracks. According to regulations, outsiders are not allowed to enter. Have they all obtained permission from the branch office?" Although Zheng Ming stepped aside, he still asked.

"Hey, you said you are my friend, how can you be considered an outsider? Why, can't you trust Uncle Deng?"

"How could that be? But these guys look very nice, they don't look like people from the county."

"We are from out of town." The leader said, his accent did not sound like the local accent.

"Yes, yes... they are friends from out of town." Uncle Deng patted him on the shoulder, "Don't worry, they have obtained the permit, otherwise they will not be able to enter the mining area gate. There are guards guarding it."

"Can you show me the license?"

"They are all being kept at the guard post at the gate so as not to lose them. I said you kid, stop asking around and go into the back room to pour tea for everyone. I bought a few good dishes today." Uncle Deng said half-voiced Suddenly he got high, "Wait a minute, where are you going to get dressed?"

"I'll go to the guard post and see. It's stipulated that you must carry this thing with you. I'll help you hold it so you won't lose it. Whether you're entering the mine or the barracks, you need permission—"

The voice of his colleagues stopped suddenly.

Huo Ying felt his blood rushing back. He saw a sharp knife coming out of Zheng Ming's back, the head of the knife reflecting the dim light of blood. The leader held him tightly to his chest, causing his whole body to twitch slightly, but he couldn't make a sound.

"Master Chai, this..."

"He was too long-winded and we were pressed for time."

"Oh, what a pity." Uncle Deng shook his head, turned around and walked towards the house, "Mr. Huo, are you still there?"

Huo Ying, a scholar who had never seen such a scene before, took two steps back and sat down on the ground, "You, you..."

It wasn't until everyone entered the house that he noticed that these people all had weapons on their waists.

"Don't panic, they are all our own people, sent by the imperial court." Uncle Deng stretched out his hand to pull him up and comforted him kindly, "You should know that Princess Guangping has rebelled, right?"

"I..." Huo Ying didn't know what to do for a moment. Taking over the government office of Baisha County and replacing it with the affairs branch was indeed suspected of treason, but everyone should happily accept this, right? At least none of the locals applauded.

He remembered that Uncle Deng also participated in the celebration.

"I heard Zheng Ming say that you are a scholar, right? Scholars naturally hate rebellion, but they don't dare to speak out about it." Uncle Deng took the key to the warehouse from the wall and threw it into his hand, "Me too I know you have great ambitions in your heart, and you are always talking about serving the country and the people when you drink. Now the opportunity has come."

"A... chance?" he said blankly.

"Crack down on rebellion and help the imperial court and the Privy Council. Isn't this a good time to demonstrate our service to the country and the people? Baisha Mine provides the iron materials needed for Jinxia City. If we can interrupt its production, it will be a great achievement." Deng The uncle paused, "Of course you don't need to be afraid of the retaliation of the rebels. After doing this, they will escort you and me out of Shenzhou and settle in Shangyuan City. If I become a rich man, you can also be granted a title in Gyeonggi Province." "Official Dangdang."

"Really?" Huo Ying asked subconsciously.

"Of course, they have sent my whole family there. If you help Uncle Deng, they will also promise to treat you in this way."

While the two were talking, the dozen or so people in the room had neatly changed into uniforms, the style of which was exactly the same as that of Jinxia's army.

Obviously this group of people came prepared.

The panic gradually receded, and Huo Ying suddenly realized something. Uncle Deng was not the only one who decided to serve the court. For example, there are usually five to six gatekeepers at the gate. They can come in quietly, but they must have someone inside to respond.

Going to Gyeonggi to be an official... To be honest, this temptation was infinite for him. If he hadn't always failed to pass the Jinshi examination, he would not have settled for the next best thing and chosen to apply for the job at the Secretariat. He originally thought that he could flex his muscles in the General Administration, but he didn't expect to be sent to Baisha County in the end. Huo Ying thought that walking away might be a good choice.

Besides, could he refuse?

The tip of the knife that pierced Zheng Ming's back was still lingering in his mind.

"Are you done talking?" The middle-aged man known as Mr. Chai said expressionlessly, "We have to hurry up."

"Give me some time - only he knows how to open the warehouse."

Huo Ying turned his head and looked at the other party, "Is what Uncle Deng said true? Can I go to Gyeonggi and become an official?"

The leader touched his arms and threw a bamboo tube to his chest.

He opened the lid of the cylinder. In addition to a roll of gold leaf stuffed inside, there was also an appointment and dismissal document - the official title and name columns were empty, but the seal had been stamped. "The specific official position depends on your contribution."

The answer is self-evident.

Huo Ying took a deep breath and put the bamboo tube into his arms, "What do you need from me?"

"Open the warehouse, we need to take out a few things."

"Only mining tools are stored there. Destroying them would have little impact on mine production."

"But there is gunpowder in these tools, isn't there?" Uncle Deng said with a grin.

…

The Baisha Mine was pitch black at night. In order to avoid being discovered by the guards, the group did not even hold up torches and relied on the dim moonlight to identify their direction.

The warehouse is just to the west of the yard. It is an old two-story brick building with no windows on all sides. The only entrance and exit is a huge sliding iron door.

As he was on his way, Uncle Deng's words kept lingering in Huo Ying's mind.

There was only one way to interrupt production in the mines with gunpowder - they wanted to blow up the mines and completely seal off the entrance to the mines.

It will take more than a decade to reopen these channels.

In terms of effect alone, this approach can be regarded as a permanent solution.

But they seem to have not considered one problem.

What should Baisha County do?

This county was established because of the Baisha Mine. Many residents living in the county have been miners for generations. They have been tied to the mine for almost their entire lives. If the mine is gone, can Baisha County still survive independently?

The answer is probably no.

These more than 8,000 people have to leave their hometowns because of this.

The problem is, apart from Jinxia City, who else is willing to take in so many refugees? Moreover, if Princess Guangping fails and is killed, it is a question whether Jinxia City can still maintain the current practice.

The warehouse has arrived.

Huo Ying took out the key and hesitated, "Do we have to use gunpowder? If the mine is destroyed, what will happen to the thousands of residents in Baisha Mine?"

"What are you talking about? What we are doing now is to fight against treason! Without the stability of the country, how can we have peace for individuals!" Uncle Deng frowned and said, "This matter will be recorded in the history books in the future. Don't you want to leave your name in the book?"

"We are all working for Daqi, and the people of the world will benefit in the end." Lord Chai added in a deep voice behind him, "You should be able to tell which is more important, thousands of people or millions of people."

"I... know."

Huo Ying inserted the key into the keyhole and rotated it four times in sequence-this special secret lock requires four bolts to be opened continuously before the iron door can slide to one side.

With a slight click, the iron door moved slowly, revealing a thin gap between it and the wall.

"Help me push it-this door is too heavy, I can't open it alone."

Immediately, three or four people approached the door and worked together.

At this moment, Huo Ying suddenly pushed Uncle Deng back, causing him to collide with Lord Chai, and he turned the key to the wrong angle, causing the last bolt to be lowered again.

There was only a dull bang, and the sliding iron door suddenly stopped.

At this time, the gap between the door and the wall was just enough for him to pass sideways.

Huo Ying pressed against the wall and squeezed in desperately. The middle-aged man also lifted Uncle Deng and drew his sword to stab him.

With a numbness in his waist, he finally passed through the gap in the door and fell to the ground in the warehouse.