Chapter 755: So It's You
The Huanglong Mountain Prison welcomed another batch of new labor reform prisoners.
It was Wang Chenggong and his two thousand subordinates.
At the ancient fortress of Wangjia Fork, they had been terrified into surrender by the cannons and muskets, then readily handed over to Shi Jian, who claimed them with the pretext, "I need them to build the Dragon Gate Fortress."
Regional Commander Luo Xi escorted them to Yan'an. After a brief inspection by Governor Chen Qiyu of Yansui, they were marched towards Huanglong Mountain.
The unknown filled all two thousand with unease. They constantly worried that the government troops would slaughter them all, or work them to death with arduous labor.
Among these two thousand, many were already plotting to escape or rebel again.
“Once we're inside Huanglong Mountain, there should be plenty of chances to escape,” a subordinate whispered into Wang Chenggong's ear. “I’ve long heard of Huanglong Mountain’s formidable reputation. It’s so high and densely forested, crisscrossed with ravines. If we scatter and hide in there, the government troops won’t find us even if they send ten or twenty thousand men.”
Wang Chenggong nodded. “I've also heard that Huanglong Mountain is an excellent place for rebels to gather. I can't believe these government soldiers are actually escorting us right into it—they’re practically delivering fish to water. Everyone, wait for my signal. When you hear my call, dive straight into the forest, scatter, and hide. Once the government troops pull back, I'll rally everyone again.”
His subordinate exclaimed, “Understood!”
It wasn’t long before all the bandits had received their orders, poised and ready, awaiting only their leader's command to scatter.
Just then, a subordinate cried out, “Brother! Look! There’s a strange cave up ahead!”
Wang Chenggong peered forward. Indeed, a peculiar cave appeared before them—long and round... and a gray concrete road passed straight through it, leading to the other side.
Above the cave entrance, a line of characters read: "Huangqiu Terrace Tunnel."
Most of the bandits were illiterate and couldn’t read the five characters, but Wang Chenggong recognized them. He mused inwardly, “Not a cave, but a tunnel? What does 'tunnel' mean?”
He decided to ask.
He turned to one of the musketeers escorting them. “Brother, what do these two characters for 'tunnel' mean? Why isn’t it called a cave?” he inquired.
The musketeer chuckled. “Caves are natural formations. Tunnels, on the other hand, are dug.”
Wang Chenggong gasped, utterly astonished. “Dug?”
He glanced back at the tunnel, able to see through it from one end to the other... long, terrifyingly massive. This thing was dug? How the hell was that possible?
The musketeer pointed skyward. “It was dug by the immortals in the heavens!” Then he tapped his chest. “Look, it’s that immortal right there, Dao Xuan Tian Zun.”
Wang Chenggong was speechless.
It sounded utterly absurd. To believe or not to believe? Naturally, his first instinct was disbelief.
The group passed through the tunnel, officially entering Huanglong Mountain.
Wang Chenggong and his men held their breath, brimming with anticipation.
However, the moment their eyes landed on Huanglong Mountain, they were utterly dumbfounded.
They had imagined a wild, remote place, tall mountains and dense forests. Instead, as far as the eye could see, winding concrete roads stretched deep into the mountains, and everywhere they looked, there was a bus stop here, an observation post there.
Walking deeper into the mountains, it felt more bustling than even the regions of northern Shaanxi.
A subordinate sidled closer. “Brother, something’s off about this place,” he murmured.
Wang Chenggong nodded. “Yes, something is definitely off. The legendary Huanglong Mountain is supposed to be a formidable, ominous place, perfect for setting up a bandit hideout. But this mountain... uh...”
The subordinate pressed, “Should we still try to escape?”
Wang Chenggong scoffed. “How can we escape? This whole area is crisscrossed with official roads. Where would you even hide?”
His subordinate fell silent.
Wang Chenggong declared, “No rush. Let’s keep going. I refuse to believe there’s no place to hide in Huanglong Mountain.”
So, the group pressed on.
They walked and walked, slowly, step by step...
They walked for what felt like an age. Ahead, the terrain grew more complex, and the concrete road plunged into a valley. From the outside, nothing within the valley was visible, only dense mountains and forests, making it appear exceptionally secluded.
Wang Chenggong’s eyes lit up. “Listen up, everyone! This valley clearly looks like a perfect hiding spot. Once we’re inside, find a densely wooded area and scatter. I guarantee these musketeers won’t be able to round us all up!”
His subordinates chorused, “Alright!”
Every man gathered his resolve, ready to make a break for it...
However, the instant they stepped into the valley’s mouth, a collective gasp escaped their lips.
The valley wasn’t filled with wild trees and rocks as they’d imagined. Instead, it was a bustling little town nestled in the mountains.
Blocks of houses lined the town, all neat, uniform, square concrete structures, arranged in perfect, orderly rows.
Large groups of people bustled among these dwellings...
This was certainly no place to escape!
The surge of resolve that had filled Wang Chenggong’s men abruptly dissipated.
Two thousand men, two thousand blank faces, stared dumbfounded at the mountain town, utterly bewildered.
“Go on in,” the musketeer in charge of the escort chuckled. “This is where you’ll be staying for a while. Many years, in fact. You’d best get used to it quickly.”
Wang Chenggong, still harboring doubts, slowly entered the valley.
At the valley entrance, a sign was conspicuously hung. Wang Chenggong focused his gaze: it read "Thirty-Two Labor Reform Valley."
Wang Chenggong broke into a cold sweat. “There are many more valleys like this?” he stammered.
“Of course!” the musketeer chirped. “There are over a hundred thousand labor reform prisoners in Huanglong Mountain now, engaged in all sorts of different tasks, so they definitely need to be managed separately. There are hundreds of valleys just like this, scattered throughout Huanglong Mountain, each with its own labor reform industry. This Thirty-Two Labor Reform Valley is the closest to Yan'an Prefecture, so its main work currently involves road construction and reclaiming barren land from the mountains.”
Wang Chenggong’s jaw dropped. “Over a hundred thousand men!”
The musketeer concluded, “Once you’re in the valley, my mission is complete. If you have any questions, just ask the old-timers inside.”
Wang Chenggong could only gape.
Wang Chenggong ultimately led his men obediently into the Labor Reform Valley. The moment they stepped inside, a sharp whistle pierced the air.
He turned to see a group of men dressed in cotton clothes. From the quality of their garments, they appeared to be men of means, yet their unarmed state and their presence in this valley made it clear they were labor reform prisoners, just like him.
One of the prisoners whistled at Wang Chenggong. “Well, well, fresh meat! Where are you from?” he drawled.
Wang Chenggong, with a hint of pride, announced, “Wang Chenggong of Hengshan.”
The whistling prisoner grinned. “So it’s Wang Chenggong of Hengshan! What an honor, what an honor! I’ve long admired your name! Hahaha, what a coincidence—I’m also from Hengshan. Later, I joined Wang Jiayin’s forces. My moniker in the jianghu was ‘Flying Rat’!”
Wang Chenggong stared, utterly aghast. “You’re the Flying Rat? I... I heard of your exploits even before I joined the rebellion! The leader of the Flying Rat bandits, renowned throughout Hengshan, who, with a butcher’s knife, killed eighteen officials in one uprising, rallying a hundred at his call!”
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