Chapter 356: This Man Cannot Be Arrested
The coal miners had truly never heard of such good fortune in their lives. Not only were meals provided, but there was an additional three taels of silver in wages. What kind of coal miners were they? This was comparable to the income of an oil seller in the county town!
This new boss... he couldn't be trying to fool us, could he?
A bolder coal miner stepped forward. "Steward San, what you just said... it can't be true, can it? We... we can't afford to be deceived."
Steward San declared, "If a single word I've spoken is false, may my next son be born without an anus."
The coal miners rejoiced. "Such a venomous oath, it must be true then!"
Hearing this, Li Daoxuan gasped, nearly choking on his pineapple bun. "You old fox, you can't possibly have any more sons, can you? That oath, while genuine, doesn't quite carry the weight you think it does."
However, besides Li Daoxuan and Mrs. San, no one else knew that San Shier was already a eunuch. The coal miners deeply believed his "venomous oath," and a chorus of cheers erupted: "Wonderful! The new master is wonderful!"
"The new master is a benevolent man!"
Official Feng watched from the side, sighing with admiration: *Money truly is powerful. He throws it around, instantly transforming these numb, listless coal miners into beaming, energetic men. As long as the Li family isn't making empty promises and truly delivers on the three taels of silver in wages, these coal miners' loyalty to the Li family will immediately skyrocket. If I ever wanted to reclaim this coal mine for government management in the future, these miners would probably revolt.*
But then, he reconsidered. *Since the Li family is so generous even to these impoverished coal miners, they surely wouldn't be stingy about paying a bit of tax, would they? As long as they're willing to pay taxes, it doesn't really matter if the coal mine remains in their hands; it won't count as national resources being illegally occupied.*
With that thought, he felt greatly relieved!
Just then, Gao Yiye bounded out of the carriage again. Qiu Ju had already wiped her grimy little hands clean, and Dong Xue had neatly tucked in the parts of her sleeves stained black, making them invisible. Only her dirty skirt couldn't be fixed, still noticeably soiled.
Stepping out of the carriage, she pointed at the dark, narrow official road leading from the county town to Jingshui Ditch. "Official Feng, the Heavenly Lord wishes to widen this road and pave it with smooth cement. Please issue a public notice and recruit more laborers to build this cement road as quickly as possible. From here to the county town, it's only four or five li. It shouldn't take too many days, should it?"
Official Feng replied, "As long as the wages are sufficient, labor won't be a problem."
Gao Yiye nodded, then looked towards the cluster of huts where the coal miners lived. "The Heavenly Lord says, living like this isn't acceptable! It can't withstand any wind or rain. If the workers get wet and fall ill, how pitiful would that be? Assemble some laborers to build dormitories for the coal miners – clean, tidy cement houses."
Official Feng reiterated, "As long as the wages are sufficient..."
Gao Yiye then turned to the miners. "When you're digging, be mindful of safety. Later, the Heavenly Lord will arrange for people to bring you safety helmets, safety suits, cotton gloves, better mining tools, and in the summer, you'll receive cooling drinks..."
She rattled off a long list of benefits, leaving all the coal miners with bewildered expressions. *Are we still the lowest-tier coal miners in society?*
Gao Yiye announced, "From now on, don't call yourselves 'coal diggers.' You are 'coal miners'! Come, sing along with me: 'Our workers have strength, hey, our workers have strength...'"
Qiu Ju and Dong Xue surprisingly pulled out two small hand drums from the carriage and began to accompany Gao Yiye.
The coal miners listened, *Hmm? This song is quite catchy, and it feels very powerful! Since the boss's wife has spoken, it must be right to sing along.*
Over a hundred coal miners joined Gao Yiye in song: "Every day, every month, we work hard, building tall buildings, laying railroads and coal mines, transforming the world into something new... Hey, hey..."
Official Feng mused, "What kind of song is this? Why do I even feel like singing along? I'm clearly not a worker."
San Shier burst into laughter, taking Official Feng's hand. "Official Feng, let's not get involved in that. How about we head back to the county town for a couple of drinks? I have a jar of excellent Wuliangye."
Official Feng's spirits lifted. "Wuliangye? What kind of liquor is that? I've never even heard of it."
San Shier said mysteriously, "It's wonderfully fragrant, hehehe. One taste and you'll understand."
Official Feng was delighted. "Oh? Then I must try it."
In the capital city, the Imperial Study.
The young Chongzhen Emperor, Zhu Youjian, was reviewing memorials as usual.
This was already his third year on the throne, yet Zhu Youjian felt as though he had reigned for thirty. He was no longer full of youthful vigor or sharp ambition, as if burdened by heavy shackles, appearing somewhat listless and dispirited.
He casually picked up a memorial and flipped it open. It was from Shaanxi, reporting that the Shaanxi Grain Intendant, Hong Chengchou, had decisively defeated rebel forces in Hancheng and Yichuan. He had successively vanquished Wang Zuogua, Zhang Shusheng, Ji San'er, Wang Hu, Xiao Honglang, Yizhang Qing, Lüedi Hu, Hunjiang Long, and Wang Jiayin...
Zhu Youjian's spirits soared, his mood like he'd boarded a jet plane.
"Who is this Grain Intendant Hong Chengchou? How can he be so formidable?"
Chief Eunuch Cao Huachun quietly explained, "This man passed the imperial examinations in the 44th year of Wanli's reign, initially serving as a principal in the Ministry of Justice's Jiangxi Bureau, then as a supernumerary, and later a director. He served in the Ministry of Justice for six years. In the second year of Tianqi, he was promoted to Assistant Surveillance Commissioner of Zhejiang, valued by the court for his exceptional talent and ability to identify gifted individuals. Two years later, he was promoted to Vice Administrative Commissioner of the Two Zhe Provinces. In the seventh year of Tianqi, he became the Shaanxi Grain Intendant."
Zhu Youjian mused, "He rose through the ranks so quickly?"
Cao Huachun whispered, "He possesses genuine talent and knowledge."
Zhu Youjian nodded, glancing again at the man's military achievements. He secretly marveled that Shaanxi was in utter chaos, yet this man was winning battle after battle. He truly seemed capable, a master of both literary and martial arts.
He was contemplating what rewards to bestow upon him.
Suddenly, a junior eunuch rushed in, exclaiming, "Your Majesty, terrible news! The Yansui Governor, Zhang Mengjing, has suddenly died!"
Zhu Youjian asked, "Hmm? What happened? Wasn't he in good health?"
The eunuch's face was pale. "Zhang Mengjing died of sheer rage. Several months ago, the five frontier generals came to the capital to defend the emperor. Wu Zimian, the Yansui Regional Commander under Zhang Mengjing, embezzled military provisions, extorted bribes from soldiers unwilling to join the imperial guard, and illegally sold military horses. Upon learning of this, Zhang Mengjing was so distraught that he died."
Zhu Youjian instantly erupted in fury, his mood plummeting like he'd boarded a freefall ride.
"Outrageous! Such reckless behavior! Immediately apprehend him for judgment!"
Cao Huachun quietly interjected, "Your Majesty, he cannot be arrested. Two units of the imperial defense army have already mutinied. If an order is given to apprehend Wu Zimian now, he will know death is certain and might go all out, causing a third mutiny in the imperial defense army. The impact would be extremely negative..."
Zhu Youjian clutched his chest, struggling to breathe, nearly following Zhang Mengjing to the grave out of sheer indignation.
After a long moment, he recovered, stating grimly, "Appoint Hong Chengchou as the Yansui Governor, to take over Zhang Mengjing's position. After the Manchu forces retreat, then bring Wu Zimian to me for justice."
/.zero points]/
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