Chapter 166: Madaha

"It's difficult. Digging up a few pieces of ore in three days is no problem, but to actually start mining, I'm afraid these people and equipment aren't enough." Zheng Tian was saying this for Xiaoliuzi and the others to hear. "Since ancient times, mining has never relied on manual digging. Without mechanical equipment, we won't have any output even if we dig until next year."

The workers nearby, who were clearing away dirt and rocks, slowed down their pace upon hearing this, and those who considered themselves well-acquainted with Zheng Tian and his group spoke up.

"We have equipment, Brother Tian, Boss Mu. I saw with my own eyes that the foreigners have equipment, it's just that there's no road, so they can't get it up here."

Several people chimed in, saying they had indeed seen excavators and the like parked somewhere at the foot of the mountain.

Once Xiaoliuzi heard that others had reported the news first, he was terrified that Liu Mu would think he was useless, so he raised his voice, "It's true, the foreigners brought a lot of big stuff. As long as we can open up a road, we can get it up here to use. We even recruited several operators who can drive excavators. Hey, you there, aren't you able to drive one?"

Several workers among the group immediately responded, saying that they had come along specifically to be drivers.

Zheng Tian glanced down, a glimmer of light in his eyes. He had an idea, but he hesitated. "Boss, what do you think?"

"Stop digging, it's a waste of effort," Liu Mu waved her hand, pointing down the mountain. "Go find Pastor Kamp to get some oil, burn that forest at the foot of the mountain, and tell him it's to open a road, otherwise the work can't get done!"

"Burn, burn the forest?"

Having experienced the Ten-Day Burning, many ordinary people were terrified at the sight of fire, and some would even rather eat raw food than use fire.

Now that they were being asked to set fire to the forest, they were still somewhat fearful.

"That's right, burn the forest and get the equipment in. If you want to be rich, build roads first!"

Liu Mu made the final decision on the spot. Niu Feng immediately called for Xiaoliuzi to lead the way, taking seven or eight workers down the mountain.

The remaining people were arranged by Zheng Tian. "Everyone grab your tools. Brother Jia, you take half the men to clear the boundary along the east side. Wu Hao, you take half to the west side. You all know what to do regarding what needs to be cut and where trenches need to be dug, right?"

"We know!" The two of them had at least that much experience, and they immediately sprang into action.

Liu Mu and Zheng Tian were left at the site. The latter looked at the former, who was standing on top of a rock, wondering what she was thinking.

After conspiring with Heitao A for a long while, a smile gradually rose to the corners of Liu Mu's mouth.

"A good place. Look, Zheng Tian, if we build a few guard posts over there and station troops over there, we won't need many to keep this mine completely secure!"

The mine and two other mountain ranges enclosed a valley with sloping terrain; there was a river with a significant flow at the bottom, but it was generally flat.

"Right now the rain is intermittent, but once it truly stops, there should be more usable space below. When that time comes, we'll build a railway out to transport the ore. If the rain doesn't stop, we'll take the waterway, first using small boats to transport it to the estuary, then using steamships. A round trip will take at most a week."

A week seems long, but for shipping, it's already very fast, more than enough to supply a Steel Mill.

This is the benefit of being close. In the past, importing a ship took at least four months, and details had to be negotiated and contracts signed at least a year in advance. Another benefit is that there won't be any trouble with payments for the time being.

Just waiting for that Pastor gentleman to help out a bit more to get the Mine up and running...

Of course, Liu Mu wasn't getting it for free; it was she and her people who were putting in the hard work on-site.

Having dug the firebreak in advance, the forest reflected red in the night with the help of accelerants. The Mutated Animals in the nearby mountains were startled away, but the workers, though afraid of fire, were in the mood to hunt the Mutated Animals, hoping to eat a bite of meat.

The great fire alarmed Pastor Kamp. This pastor, who was very serious in both appearance and personality, stood in the distance and prayed all night, which showed his piety.

Yet, this pious believer did not raise any objections to Liu Mu's actions. When the fire gradually died out, he didn't even say a word of greeting and drove away directly.

As daylight broke, Liu Mu glanced at the departing vintage car and suddenly said to Xiaoliuzi, who had also stayed up all night, "There's an abandoned town twenty-some kilometers ahead. Go there to recruit workers. Liuzi, stop playing with that broken hand of yours, get going. Recruit anyone you see, and if they won't come, use this."

She extended two fingers and curled the other three, gesturing the shape of 'truth' to Xiaoliuzi.

"Got it, I'm best at recruiting. Boss, just watch!" Upon hearing Zheng Tian and the others call Liu Mu 'Boss', Xiaoliuzi changed his form of address immediately. Although he didn't know why, he felt that calling her that would give him a brighter future.

On the land of China, of course, the local people with strong wrists are more reliable. If he didn't follow a Chinese person who showed the bearing of a Foreman after only one day, was he supposed to go curry favor with that foreign monk who only knew how to hide in the house and chant scriptures?

He, Xiaoliuzi, was not someone so lacking in judgment. Of course, he didn't forget to emphasize, "My hand is already better, really, Boss, you are the best, it doesn't hurt at all now!" It was just a little bit itchy.

His thumb was held high, for fear that Liu Mu would think his praise wasn't sincere enough.

"Go on, get a vehicle and take a few people with you."

Liu Mu waved her hand, feeling absolutely nothing about the fact that the Great Master Flower should have successfully completed its Parasitism.

After lunch, the fire was completely extinguished, and the workers began to clear the forest. This step was to clear the plant roots beneath the ground; if left alone, this forest could recover as it was in just a few days.

As for Liu Mu, someone brought her a table and chairs, someone set up a sunshade, Ma Dajie made her specialty snacks, and even opened a cola for her.

"You haven't slept all day and night, just get some sleep, leave the rest to Little Zheng and the others."

When Ma Dajie said this, there was a thin, clean-shaven young man standing beside her. He had been introduced before; he was her son who worked as a translator for Pastor Kamp, and his name was... Madaha.

Upon hearing this name, Liu Mu spat out a mouthful of cola, but Ma Dajie explained that this name sounded more like a foreigner's, and as for his original name, Madaha was clearly more repulsed by it and adamantly forbade his mother from saying it.

"Thanks, Xiao Ha, you sit down too," Liu Mu pointed to another chair, which was clearly prepared by Ma Dajie for her son. "Let's talk about the construction schedule."

There was nothing to talk about regarding the construction schedule; everything was under Liu Mu's control. As for what she wanted to know, Madaha kept a straight face—it went without saying who he was imitating.

"I won't say anything about Pastor Kamp, you don't need to ask me."

Ma Dajie was already used to her son's stubborn and foul temper, and she immediately slapped him on the shoulder. "You child, what are you saying? Your Sister Mu already said she's talking about the project. If you finish early, you'll have more face in front of Pastor Kamp, won't you? Speak properly!"

"I don't need to!" Madaha was very arrogant, but he sat down anyway, awkwardly turning his back to Liu Mu and pretending to be focused on watching the site clearing in the distance.