Chapter 711

Could it be because these nefarious lurkers in the dark are all good at studying?

They accept new things and turn them into means with such speed that one can't help but admire.

Chen Wuji covered his mouth and nose and strolled around the courtyard.

"It turned out to be rather complicated."

He initially thought Yu Ren had simply soaked Yellow Talisman in A Furong, but after looking around he realized it wasn't that simple.

Besides A Furong, they also added several substances that enhance its medicinal effect, as well as some herbs that truly cure illness.

The whole process requires repeated soaking, drying, and fumigation.

"Fortunately this bunch of brats don't know papermaking, otherwise they'd surely have added it straight in." Chen Wuji sighed after seeing this.

"Wushuang, interrogate these brats thoroughly! If they don't cough up something useful, chop them up and feed them to the dogs!" Chen Wuji ordered coldly.

When doing legitimate work they shrink back, but when doing evil they're full of zeal, their imaginations run wild, and they exhaust every means of research.

People in this world really do seem to be inherently divided into good and evil.

Chen Wushuang asked: "Family Head, really chop them up and feed them to the dogs?"

"General Chen, there's no need to quibble over these details." Xu Zengyi said with a light laugh.

"The lord's meaning is to pry open their mouths, obtain useful information, and have them die. As for the rest, whether to feed them to dogs or cats, or simply kill them, the general can decide entirely on his own."

Chen Wushuang put on a stern face, glanced at Chen Wuji, and said in a muffled voice: "We, as the Personal Guard, must carry out the lord's orders completely and without omission; this is what Elder Shi has repeatedly demanded, and we dare not be careless!"

He just bluntly threw Xu Zengyi's words back at him.

"This time, listen to Mr. Xu and don't mind my exaggerated words." Chen Wuji said.

This brat Chen Wushuang actually gave him a lesson called "Speak Prudently, Act Cautiously."

"Yes!" Chen Wushuang took the order and left.

Xu Zengyi laughed and shook his head: "Talking too much again!"

"What the sir explained is exactly my meaning; this kid is just too stubborn." Chen Wuji said.

……

The affairs of Wu'an City were quickly settled.

The next day, Chen Wuyi also came racing back from Jingbian County, with strings of heads hanging on his warhorse.

He reeked of blood and came to report to Chen Wuji.

"Family Head, the rebel leaders of Jingbian and Yong'an Counties have all been executed; above the county magistrate level, all households were confiscated, yielding fifty thousand taels of gold and silver, plus some grain—here is the detailed list."

Just after a brief nap, Chen Wuji rose from the couch and exclaimed: "The magistrates of the two counties actually have this much family wealth?"

Chen Wuyi's words were somewhat vague; Chen Wuji thought the gold and silver etc. converted to fifty thousand taels of silver, but upon seeing the list he immediately lost his composure.

Twelve hundred thousand taels of gold, forty‑three taels of silver, and besides that several hundred catties of unmelted scattered gold.

That is, gold ore.

"Does Jingbian County have gold mines?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Yes!" Chen Wuyi said, "The Deputy General left some personnel to temporarily take over the gold mine; as for how to handle it next, please instruct us, Family Head."

Chen Wuji instantly became excited.

Damn it, a gold mine!

"Immediately send a fast horse back to Hezhou to summon Chen Qun!" Chen Wuji ordered after a moment's thought.

"Right, and bring along Yuan Jinshi and Licentiate Yuan on the way!"

Such a huge strategic resource as a gold mine cannot be taken lightly; it needs a dedicated office to manage it.

"Family Head, the gold mine is of vital importance; although Yuan Jinshi and Licentiate Yuan handle affairs efficiently, they are still young and inexperienced—would putting them in charge be too rash?" Chen Li asked.

Chen Wuji grinned so wide he couldn't close his mouth, waved his hand and said: "Elder Shi has misunderstood; I wouldn't dare entrust such a major matter to them lightly—I'm just bringing those two kids along for the ride."

"Those two kids have been clamoring to go into battle and kill the enemy; when we fought Lu Ping'an before, the combat intensity was too high and they're too young to adapt. Songzhou will likely be our final battle in Nan Jun, which is actually perfect for them to gain experience."

The perseverance of those two half‑grown kids, Yuan Jinshi and Licentiate Yuan, actually impresses Chen Wuji.

Having grown up in hardship, their frail bodies harbor a spirit that would rather die than yield.

But ultimately their age is a limiting factor; a real battlefield with actual swords and spears isn't something they can just step onto.

During the Qingzhou period, Chen Wuji observed them a bit and still sent them back.

Those two kids are fine, but we can't let a moment of soft‑heartedness end up costing them their lives.

"I see, so you want Chen Qun to take overall charge of this?" Chen Li asked.

"Indeed, that is the intention." Chen Wuji nodded.

"Take Zhao Gouer as the chief and Chen Qun as the deputy to establish the Jingbian Training Officer, tasked specifically with the Jingbian gold mine."

Chen Wuji's core forces are still mainly Chen clan members, but this sort of matter cannot be left entirely to the clan; some checks and balances are still needed.

"Elder Shi asked about this—do you have any recommended candidates?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Li shook his head: "I don't have anyone to recommend, but since this matter is of great importance and involves deep connections, I'm just asking out of caution. Chen Qun is steady in his work; letting him handle it would indeed be a good choice, and he should be able to cooperate with Zhao Gouer."

"But then, with that arrangement, Wu'an, Jingbian, and the three counties would again lack a person in charge."

Chen Wuji said: "Zhao Gouer stations troops here; he's merely a sword hanging over the heads of petty troublemakers. The real work still needs to be done by Cui Yun and the like. Cui Yun has a good reputation and sufficient ability; let him temporarily administer the three counties."

At this point, Chen Wuji looked toward Chen Wuyi, "Right, Wuyi, how many people were ransacked in Peaceful Border and Yong'an counties? Later send people to hand over to Cui Yun, let him arrange these people to do two years of forced labor."

"Family Head, none!"

"None?"

"Indeed none, the magistrates of these two counties had already moved their families to Zhongyuan. When the Deputy General led people there, they had already gathered several thousand Young Strongmen from the clan, forming a strict formation to await; the Deputy General fought them, killed them all, and failed to take any prisoners." Chen Wuyi said.

Chen Wuji felt a bit dazed, "Both counties are like this?"

"Yes, they were originally relatives, the magistrates were bought from Yu Ren."

Chen Wuji pondered briefly, "So they are actually not Heavenly Duke Cult followers, just to guard the gold mine? But if merely to guard the gold mine, wouldn't this be like saying there's no silver here worth three hundred taels?"

"Report to the Family Head, they are indeed not followers of the Heavenly Duke Cult. After the war ended, there were a few survivors; the Deputy General interrogated them a little, and they, from top to bottom of their clan, nobody believed in the Heavenly Lord, nor had anyone taken Talisman Water." Chen Wuyi said.

"Their attitude towards Yu Ren's orders is also outwardly obey but inwardly defy; whether the common people want to believe or not, they also don't really pay attention, neither advising nor stopping, merely putting on a show when Yu Ren sends people over."

Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, "It seems they're afraid that if they come to see me once, they won't be able to leave."