“Yes, the hill dozens of zhang away has black stones and soil. When the wind blows, the black ash comes.”
Erkui said helplessly, “And that ditch over there has black water too. We haven’t bathed in days.”
“Is the hill made of stones like this?”
Jin Feng suddenly picked up a walnut-sized stone from the ground and asked.
“Yes, exactly this kind.”
Erkui said, “Brother Liang had us dig these from the mountain for the trebuchets. Someone brought one in. Sir, give it to me, I’ll throw it away.”
“Don’t throw it, this is treasure!”
Jin Feng smiled and said, “Heishuigou, so this is Heishuigou.”
“Sir?”
Erkui looked at Jin Feng with some worry.
Could the gentleman have been frightened silly by the bandits?
Calling a dirty stone treasure?
Not just Erkui, but Guan Xiaorou, who was supporting Tang Xiaobei into the room, also felt something was off with Jin Feng.
But seeing his expression, he didn’t seem deranged, so she asked curiously, “Husband, what is this?”
“As long as these stones appear, dig a little deeper and you’ll find coal.”
Jin Feng said excitedly, “That ditch with black water is very likely stained by coal.”
The hill Erkui mentioned was probably a shallow coal mine, possibly even an open-pit one. Rainwater seeping down would gather in the stream at the foot of the hill, naturally turning the water black.
“Coal?”
Guan Xiaorou and Tang Xiaobei were both shocked.
They knew Jin Feng had been searching for coal.
But in Dakang, large-scale coal mining and use hadn’t spread yet, so it had to be bought from far away.
Every cart of coal delivered to Xihewan cost several times more than charcoal.
Yet even so, Jin Feng kept increasing coal purchases.
If Heishuigou had coal, it would save a huge sum in future.
“Where’s that hill you mentioned? Take me there now!”
Jin Feng was thrilled, too impatient to settle Guan Xiaorou and the others, and pulled Erkui outside.
Erkui had no choice but to grab a torch and lead Jin Feng to the small hill.
Jin Feng took the torch, not minding the dirt, and lay on the ground examining closely.
He studied the ground for a full ten minutes before standing up again.
By then, his hands, face, and clothes were all filthy.
But a delighted smile appeared on Jin Feng’s face.
He was certain this hill was definitely a coal mine, and the coal quality was excellent.
The smelting workshop had struggled to develop, with coal shortage being the biggest issue.
Now with this mine, Jin Feng wouldn’t worry about coal for at least several years.
And in a few years, even Jin Feng didn’t know how large Jinchuan Chamber and Zhenyuan Escort Bureau would grow.
“Erkui, in the middle of the night, why bring the gentleman to this dirty place?”
Zhang Liang finished arrangements and went to the small castle tower, only learning Jin Feng was at the black hill, so he hurried over.
“Brother Liang, don’t blame him, I wanted to come.”
The coal discovery had lifted much of the gloom in Jin Feng’s heart, and he explained with a smile, “This place may be dirty, but treasure is buried underground.”
“What treasure?”
“Coal!”
“Sir, you must be mistaken?” Zhang Liang said, “The stove in the castle tower is built with these stones. If they were coal, they’d have burned long ago.”
“These stones won’t burn, of course, but dig through this layer, and coal is below.”
Jin Feng said confidently.
Coal was the foundation of industry. In his previous life, he had studied it specifically; he couldn’t be wrong.
“If so, this is truly a treasure land!”
Zhang Liang was overjoyed, “Then Heishuigou must be secured!”
He had heard Mancang say Jin Feng spent huge sums buying coal, yet it was never enough.
The two talked more on the black hill and were about to head down when faint hoofbeats sounded in the distance.
“Why is there a cavalry unit?”
Zhang Liang narrowed his eyes, looking afar.
But it was deep night; though moonlight helped, only shadows of the horse team were visible, not who they were.
For safety, Zhang Liang raised his hand and fired a signal arrow.
On the castle tower, the old soldiers immediately responded.
Erkui was about to extinguish the torch when a sharp whistle came from the opposite side.
“Sir, Brother Liang, it’s a signal arrow!”
Erkui smiled and said, “Our own people.”
“Let’s go down and see who it is.”
Jin Feng and the three followed the path back to the castle tower.
Qing Mulang and others, hearing the commotion, came out too.
Soon, the horse team arrived.
Tiechu jumped off before his horse fully stopped.
Seeing Jin Feng and the others safe, Tiechui and the old and female soldiers behind him all sighed in relief.
But Jin Feng’s face and body were covered in black ash, looking dirtier than a beggar in the county seat who hadn’t bathed in three years.
Someone usually so clean now in this state made Tiechui feel terrible.
“Sir, you… how…”
Tiechui slapped his own face, “Sir, we arrived late and let you suffer!”
“This has nothing to do with you, can’t blame you.”
Jin Feng asked, “By the way, why are you here?”
“A hunter named Han Feng went to the village to report, saying sir was ambushed by bandits. The village head immediately had me bring the horse team.”
Tiechui said, “Not just us, nearly all the village men came, though they might arrive in the second half of the night.”
“Han Feng?” Jin Feng was stunned.
“Sir, Han Feng is my brother; we hunt in the mountains together.”
Tang Fei, standing behind, said, “He probably feared we couldn’t beat the bandits, so he went to Xihewan to report.”
“I see,” Jin Feng realised, “Then we must thank Brother Han Feng properly later.”
Though they had already dealt with the bandits, his effort to report was still a favour.
“Sir, what exactly happened?”
Tiechui asked, puzzled.
Han Feng had said there were over 150 bandits, which had already shocked Tiechui.
But arriving at the battlefield, he realised Han Feng had understated.
Excluding those killed on the mountain, just the bound bandits exceeded 200, far more than the 150 Han Feng mentioned.
Though he hadn’t witnessed the fight, from the traces, Tiechui could imagine its intensity.
He couldn’t fathom how Jin Feng, with so few people, won and captured so many.
Zhang Liang also turned to look.
He was curious too but hadn’t had time to ask earlier.
“Let me explain…”
Old Hei recounted the events with great animation.
Leaving Tiechui and Zhang Liang stunned.
“Sir, Old Hei isn’t joking with us, is there really a weapon that blinds people instantly?”
Tiechui found it hard to believe.
“Of course, it’s this!”
Old Hei pulled a bamboo tube from his chest and waved it proudly.
He had grabbed it from the box during retreat.
“Let me see!”
Tiechui reached for it, but Jin Feng took it first.
“We’ll study this back home. Tiechui, perfect timing, I have a task for you.”
“Sir, speak, anything.”
Old Hei quickly straightened up.
“Take men immediately to Jinchuan county seat, watch all city gates outside. If anyone tries to enter at night, capture them for me!”
