After having their fill, Yan Jin lazily lay on the bed.
Yan Ge wiped his mouth and called out, “Someone, come.”
The soldier outside the door pushed it open and entered. “Yan Caiqing.”
Yan Ge said, “Tidy up this place. Also, please summon Minister Luo Wei to see me.”
The soldier replied, “Reporting to Yan Caiqing, Minister Luo Wei is currently discussing matters with the Grand General. It might…”
Yan Ge interrupted, “They must be discussing about Cuncao Valley. I want to know the progress today. Never mind, I will go and find them myself.”
The soldier hurriedly walked ahead and said, “Let this subordinate guide you.”
On winter nights, the north wind became even colder, blowing past in intermittent bursts, cutting like a knife on the face. The flickering flames in the lantern swayed gently, dimming and brightening, as if they could go out at any moment.
As they neared the General’s study, the guiding soldier loudly called out to the soldier guarding the door, “Quickly inform the General and Minister Luo Wei that Yan Caiqing has arrived.”
After a moment, General Wei Chi and Minister Luo Wei stepped out to greet him.
“Greetings, Yan Caiqing.”
“No need for formalities. Let’s go inside and talk,” Yan Ge waved his hand.
Inside the study were two charcoal braziers burning, warming the room with their red-hot charcoal and giving it a cozy atmosphere.
Once seated, Yan Ge felt that something was amiss. He looked around but was unable to pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
“ Minister Luo Wei, I came here to ask you about Cuncao Valley. Any news from Ah Fei and the others?”
Minister Luo Wei replied, “Reporting to Yan Caiqing. General Lu took over a thousand feet of rope when he went down. Currently, the end of the rope is still in the hands of the soldiers on the cliff. When we tested it by pulling, the other end of the rope remained secure, indicating that it’s still tied to General Lu. It seems General Lu will continue to venture deeper. Tomorrow morning, I will have the soldiers connect another rope to the one already there.”
Yan Ge asked again, “Can they hear us when we shout from above?”
Minister Luo Wei shook his head, “They cannot. However, when we tried pulling the rope several times, there was a response from the other end, so we believe they are still safe.”
“Very well,” Yan Ge asked about another matter, “Have the miners made any discoveries?”
Minister Luo Wei replied, “By the time we returned, they had dug about twenty feet deep and found no minerals. However, there are no plant roots in the soil either, and the miners believe that there is indeed something underground, whether it’s a mineral vein or something else, we can only find out in time.”
General Wei Chi added, “We were just discussing that. Tomorrow, we plan to send more people to dig deeper.”
Yan Ge pondered for a moment, “In that case, General Wei Chi, let’s temporarily establish a small camp in Cuncao Valley. It will allow us to provide timely support when Ah Fei and the others return. Additionally, the soldiers working in the mine can take a break and warm themselves by the fire while enjoying hot tea and soup. The expenses will be recorded under the Emperor’s account.”
Minister Luo Wei and General Wei Chi exchanged smiles.
General Wei Chi spoke loudly, “On behalf of all the soldiers, I thank Yan Caiqing. However, we dare not let the Emperor bear the expenses. These two matters are official duties and should be recorded in the military’s public accounts.”
“Alright,” Yan Ge stood up. “In any case, I appreciate both of your efforts.”
“Please rest assured, Yan Caiqing.” They bid farewell to Yan Ge.
After Yan Ge left, another person suddenly appeared in the study.
“Your Majesty.”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded.
Minister Luo Wei glanced at the tightly closed door and said, “I feel that Yan Caiqing seems to have noticed something.”
General Wei Chi was taken aback, “How could it be? Since entering the study, His Majesty has only had one cup of tea, and I had already hidden the teacup before Yan Caiqing entered.”
A faint smile appeared on Huangfu Yuchen’s face, expressing a sense of pride. “Xiao Ge has sharp instincts and intelligence. He has indeed noticed that something is amiss, but he hasn’t figured out what exactly. In any case, you must keep the matter of my presence here a secret from him.”
“Understood.”
When General Wei Chi and Minister Luo Wei looked up again, Huangfu Yuchen had disappeared.
The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with astonishment. The Emperor’s martial arts were extraordinary, truly awe-inspiring.
Back in the room, Yan Ge found Yan Jin fast asleep on the bed.
Yan Ge didn’t fell sleepy and lightly pinched the plump face with envy and jealousy.
Yan Jin was completely oblivious, shaking his head and continuing to snore, a drool strand at the corner of his mouth.
“Sigh…” Yan Ge shook his head, covered him with the blanket, and sat down at the desk. He picked up a piece of paper pressed by a paperweight and took out a pen he carried with him.
The four soldiers guarding outside remained unmoving in the cold wind, their resolute faces unaffected no matter how much the wind ravaged them.
The door creaked open.
The four soldiers hurriedly saluted, “Yan Caiqing.”
“I’ll be here for a while so you don’t have to salute every time you see me. Inform all the soldiers that they are exempt from saluting me in the future,” Yan Ge said with a smile.
“Thank you, Yan Caiqing.”
Yan Ge handed the letter to one of them, “Immediately have this letter sent to the capital.”
“Understood!”
After freshening up, Yan Ge also lay down on the bed and fell asleep…
When he woke up in the morning and opened the door, the wind was even colder than the day before, howling and roaring, sounding like a whistle.
The soldiers had wrapped themselves in thick cloaks, while Yan Ge still wore a not-too-thick white cotton robe with a white cloak, appearing refreshing and carefree.
After breakfast, he and Minister Luo Wei went to Cuncao Valley together. The camp was already set up, with military tents that could accommodate forty to fifty people. Inside, there were two charcoal braziers and a large stove, ensuring a supply of hot tea.
“Yan Caiqing, Minister Luo Wei.” The soldier guarding the mining site greeted them with a bow as they approached.
To quickly determine if there were any mineral veins underground, the soldiers were digging in four different spots as indicated by the mining expert. The excavated soil was being transported in sturdy baskets using levers.
“How is it down there?” Yan Ge walked to one of the mining sites and looked down. It was more appropriate to call it a mine shaft. Four people were busily digging the soil, loading it into large baskets and using a lever to transport it to the surface.
One of the miners below heard his question and replied with a smile in his voice, “Reporting to Yan Caiqing, we found some reddish-colored soil. It is recorded that ‘In the mountains, there is red clay, and beneath it, there is iron.’ If there is no accident, it is highly likely that there are iron ore deposits here!”
Yan Ge and Minister Luo Wei exchanged excited glances.
Yan Ge whispered to Luo Wei, “I didn’t expect this master to have such knowledge.”
Minister Luo Wei smiled, “These miners can be considered the best experts on mineral veins in the capital. The miner who answered has worked as a minor clerk in the Ministry of Works for over thirty years and is highly familiar with various types of mineral veins. Yan Caiqing, it’s cold outside. Let’s wait inside.”
Yan Ge nodded and announced loudly, “Everyone, work harder! Tonight, I will treat you all to hot pot!”
The soldiers’ emotions immediately surged with joy and they responded, “Yes!”
For two consecutive days, the prospecting work progressed smoothly. The soldiers discovered a small amount of iron ore in the mine, and if they continued digging deeper, they would undoubtedly find more. It was almost certain that there was an iron ore deposit here!
However, three days had passed, and Ah Fei and his team had not returned on time. The soldiers tried pulling the rope upward for about twenty to thirty feet and felt no weight or response on the other end. They didn’t know if Ah Fei had discovered something and voluntarily untied the rope because it wasn’t long enough, or if some other force had cut the rope. To prevent them from being unable to return the same way, the soldiers dared not continue pulling the rope. This strange situation dampened the previously cheerful atmosphere, and the entire camp was filled with gloom.
Minister Luo Wei punched his right fist into his left palm with frustration. “Before they set off, I emphasized that no matter what happens, they must return and report after three days. Even if they encounter great danger, they should be able to ensure at least one person returns to deliver the message given their martial arts skills. This is truly strange! General, Yan Caiqing, what do you think we should do now?”
General Wei Chi spoke in a somber tone, “This is truly strange! We will descend into the valley tomorrow morning , and I will personally take action!”
“No!” Minister Luo Wei hurriedly stopped him. “General Wei Chi, you are the commander of the southwestern garrison, responsible for all military affairs in the southwest region. You have a heavy responsibility. You must not put yourself in danger.”
General Wei Chi’s eyes widened. “I have already lost 1,500 soldiers and horses. Now even the Imperial Guards sent by the Emperor have suffered casualties here. If I don’t thoroughly investigate this matter and explain it to the Emperor, how can I justify it? How can I face the families of the soldiers?”
Minister Luo Wei said solemnly, “General, our Great Han is vast and rich in resources. The surrounding kingdoms see us as a desirable target. Nanrun City is a crucial border defense in the southwest. If Youji Kingdom launches an attack during the time you are absent, won’t the Youji army easily advance given that the camp leader is away? General, please think it through!”
General Wei Chi was not an inexperienced young man after all. He quickly calmed down and nodded slowly. “Minister Wei, your words make sense. In your opinion, what should we do?”
Minister Luo Wei’s expression became serious. “The Emperor sent me here to thoroughly investigate this matter, and I have no excuse to shirk my responsibility. Tomorrow morning, I will personally lead the troops to descend into the valley.”
“I will go with you,” Yan Ge said.
“Absolutely not!” Minister Luo Wei and General Wei Chi’s faces changed simultaneously, and they spoke in unison. Even if the Emperor hadn’t been present, they wouldn’t dare to let him take such risks, let alone now when the Emperor was in the camp. Even if they had ten heads, chopping them off wouldn’t be enough compensation if anything happened to Yan Caiqing.
General Wei Chi had a loud voice, and Minister Wei also yelled. The two voices combined were incredibly loud, catching Yan Ge off guard and his eyelids twitched.
