Chapter 29: Hematite!

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Fortunately, Zhao Mang had made preparations before entering the stronghold. The first several carts in the convoy were loaded with genuine grain.

As expected, the gatekeeper who came out to inspect the convoy checked only the first two grain carts and did not investigate any further. He then led everyone toward the gate.

When the procession had made it halfway inside, someone on the battlement noticed something amiss. He had seen Zhao Mang before. He had once followed Zhang Mo into Zhao Mang’s residence, and now he spotted Zhao Mang among the members of the convoy.

This was clearly suspicious.

He immediately pointed at Zhao Mang and shouted, “Stop! Close the gate! That man isn’t with the Zhang family!”

The guards on the battlement instantly fell into confusion. Meanwhile, the guards stationed at the gate immediately began closing it.

Seeing this, Zhao Mang no longer hesitated. He made his decision at once and shouted, “Brothers, charge!”

With that, he used his strength to jam one of the massive gates in place.

“Wang Wu, block the other one!”

“Don’t let them close it!”

Behind the gate, the guards straining to shut it cursed inwardly. How could one man hold the gate in place by himself? There were so many of them, yet they could not push it even an inch.

Someone even swore aloud.

“Damn it! How can this man be so strong?”

In an instant, cries of battle rang throughout the mining camp.

The men behind Zhao Mang streamed inside. In barely any time at all, the entire force had broken into the mine.

The Zhang family’s guards, however, arrived one after another, far too late. Compared with the discipline of an army, they were woefully inferior.

That was why the situation became completely one-sided. The disorderly guards were no match for the frontier troops.

And these frontier troops were not ordinary frontier troops.

They were an iron army personally trained by Zhao Mang with all his heart and effort.

Against the Zhang family’s guards, they possessed an overwhelming advantage.

The displaced people who had been laboring inside the mine quickly hid themselves when they saw what was happening. The old men shielded the children and women behind them, terrified that they would be dragged into the conflict.

However, after seeing that Zhao Mang’s men were targeting only the guards, some of the stronger old men grabbed their shovels and charged forward as well.

Once every member of the force had entered the mining camp, Zhao Mang and Wang Wu were finally free to join the battle.

In less than fifteen minutes, the battle had already reached its conclusion.

Every one of the Zhang family’s guards who resisted was cut down by Zhao Mang and his men. Their heads were severed as proof of military merit, while those who offered no resistance were taken prisoner.

The new recruits had already gained considerable combat experience through these two battles. They now fought eagerly for the chance to claim the enemy’s heads.

Gone was the timid hesitation they had shown during their first battle. In its place was nothing but an intense desire for reward money.

Moreover, both battles had gone extraordinarily smoothly.

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After the battle ended, Zhao Mang gave his orders.

“Li Dabing, bring out all the laborers from the mine.”

“Xiao Han, hurry to the frontier army camp and inform Brigade Commander Zhao of what happened!”

“Wang Mazi, report our casualties.”

The men acknowledged their orders and swiftly got to work, each of them looking every inch a seasoned officer.

After a short while, Wang Mazi came to Zhao Mang.

“Captain, seven of our men were wounded, but none suffered serious injuries. Most of the wounded are new recruits who recently joined the force.”

Upon hearing the report, Zhao Mang frowned.

It had been such a simple battle, yet so many men had been injured. Clearly, their training would have to be intensified.

“Have them clean up the battlefield, then assemble at once. We’re leaving this place.”

Meanwhile, the elderly, women, and children from outside the mine gathered around Zhao Mang, complaining about the Zhang family’s guards.

“Great General of Justice! You have finally come to save us!”

“We were common folk from Guazhou. After Guazhou was seized by the Tibetan bandits, we wandered all the way to Shazhou!”

“But they never treated us like human beings!”

“Before we could even settle down in Shazhou, the Zhang family forcibly brought us here to mine for them!”

“Please, Great General of Justice, stand up for us!”

Zhao Mang calmly watched as they spoke over one another and began to think.

Why was this counterfeit bandit lair guarded only by the Zhang family’s men? Why had the household troops taken no part in it?

Could they have been trying to avoid suspicion, unwilling to tarnish their own reputation?

But before he arrived, it seemed no one had noticed anything unusual.

The people before him continued pleading desperately. Some had even fallen to their knees.

Zhao Mang felt as though he had two heads and four arms, with problems coming at him from every direction.

He was perfectly capable of charging into battle and killing enemies. He understood a little about schemes and stratagems as well. But managing displaced civilians and administering the rear was entirely outside his expertise.

The only solution he could think of was to uproot the Zhang family completely, seize their assets, and redistribute their farmland.

But that was not something that could be accomplished overnight.

For now, he had no choice but to make them a promise he could not yet fulfill.

“You need not behave like this. I will report everything that happened here, and an appropriate solution will certainly be arranged.”

“For the time being, come with me to the camp where I am stationed.”

Zhao Mang had not yet finished speaking when a soldier suddenly ran out of the mine. In his hand was a dark-red stone. He hurried over to Zhao Mang and said, “Captain Zhao, look. This is the ore they were mining.”

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“I cannot tell what kind of ore it is.”

Zhao Mang took the stone from the soldier and examined it carefully.

It was dark red, with a faint metallic sheen. Its entire surface was covered in scale-like patterns.

Zhao Mang immediately recalled the information he had once found in the database.

This was hematite!

The Zhang family had actually dared to detain displaced civilians here and mine iron ore in secret.

Who were they planning to sell it to?

A thought suddenly occurred to Zhao Mang.

No wonder!

No wonder they had kept the operation so well hidden. They had even established a complete chain of secrecy that involved the household troops.

Given the circumstances, the profits involved were surely enough to tempt anyone.

Zhao Mang was no exception.

He had originally been unable to think of a way to resettle these displaced people or recruit the able-bodied among them as a reserve source of soldiers.

Now that he had discovered this hematite mine, he had found his answer.

The reason Li Shiwu had not dared to mine the hematite openly was surely that he feared offending certain people whose interests were involved.

Or perhaps he had been secretly engaged in some disgraceful dealings.

Now that he knew about the hematite mine, Zhao Mang could have Jiang Wan step forward and help him resettle the displaced people. As an administrator, she would certainly have more solutions than he did.

And with the hematite in hand, she would probably also have a way to obtain the mining rights.

This was an enormous business opportunity.

Who could possibly remain unmoved by it?

…

At that moment, inside the household troops’ camp, Li Shiwu angrily flung the brush in his hand at the face of a young soldier.

“What did you say?”

“The frontier army sent men to suppress the bandits at Qianmang Mountain?”

“How long ago did this happen? Why am I only hearing about it now?”

The young soldier below him trembled. It was not his fault—he had only just learned of the matter himself.

He could only reply helplessly, “I do not know why, but the frontier army issued the order yesterday.”

“Perhaps news of the surviving bandits at Qianmang Mountain has already been circulating for quite some time.”

Li Shiwu paced back and forth.

Then a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

“Have they set out yet?”

The soldier standing below answered, “I am not entirely sure.”

“Not sure? Then go find out.”

The young soldier hurriedly turned and prepared to leave.

But after he had taken only two steps, Li Shiwu’s furious voice rang out behind him.

“Forget investigating. Send men to muster the troops and suppress the bandits immediately.”

“As long as we settle this before they arrive, we can prevent all the trouble that might follow!”

“That useless Zhang family! They need to be eliminated!”

…