Chapter 85

The miners took each furnace as their home, and many of them would leave after a few months. How many owners would consider them too much? The miners were also used to making do, laying some grass and padding a layer of cloth as a bed, squatting to eat, and forming a circle to gamble when idle, drinking if they lost, and then lying down to sleep. Even the older and more mature ones kept their money close to their bodies, resting whenever they could to conserve their strength. This life was not one of hardship, but it was certainly not enjoyable either. In essence, they were a group of machines making money for others, with a status not much better than slaves, standing like a herd of sheep.

The living quarters of the He Yusheng ironworks were well-planned, with rows of rooms built from stone and blue bricks. Stones were abundant in the mountains, and as long as there was enough silver and manpower, such houses could be built very quickly. In just over ten days, more than twenty rows of houses were built, each row containing five rooms, and each room was spacious enough to accommodate twenty people. According to Zhang Han's specifications, each room was to have five bunk beds, north and south, and the design of the beds was shown to the carpenters. Each bed was built to be sturdy and comfortable for two people.

The previous houses, though made of thatch, did not provide adequate shelter from the wind and rain, and everyone slept on the ground, which was not only uncomfortable but also a waste of space. The current houses were solid and sturdy, and with ten such beds in each room, it was not too crowded. Cabinets could also be built, with each person having a square storage space. Zhang Han even had hinges and locks bought so that each person could lock up their personal belongings.

Meals were taken outside. Each row of five rooms had a large gap between them, and in front of each room, a long table and two rows of benches were built. Ten people could sit opposite each other to eat, with bowls, chopsticks, and dishes placed on the table, which was much better than squatting on the ground with a large bowl.

Currently, there were about six hundred people at the mine, but the completed houses, tables, and beds were only about half of what was needed. There was still a lot of work to be done, including plastering the walls and building more tables, chairs, and beds. Since there was no work to be done outside, everyone was busy inside, with a dozen carpenters leading hundreds of people as helpers. The work was limited, and it was mostly just a way to pass the time.

If the miners had any complaints about this place, it was the many rules. There were specific regulations for eating, sleeping, and going out. Meals were served at fixed times, and sleeping was also regulated. Every night, Cai Jiu would patrol the area. Those who were dissatisfied could leave the next day with their belongings, but it seemed not worth leaving over such minor constraints, and most people could endure it.

"Someone from Huang Village said there's going to be a fight."

When Zhang Han left, many miners watched him closely. People stood under the eaves, and many of them showed signs of worry in their eyes.

The last time the nearby villagers caused trouble, the miners were indifferent. But over the past twenty days, they had started to receive their wages, and the treatment was unprecedentedly good. When the topic of the conflict between the owner and other mines came up, the miners were much more concerned.

"Fight? If they don't knock some sense into those people, they'll never settle down."

The speaker was Sun Yao, a miner from Lingqiu, not yet thirty, and a bachelor. He naturally hoped for the biggest possible conflict.

"Sun Heizi, you can't even say a decent word," a thin young man named Tang Wangzong laughed and scolded him. "If the owner loses, where will we find such a good place to work?"

"What can we do about it?" Sun Yao said. "I'm comfortable here and even told my family that I'd find a wife with the money I earn. Do you think I'm not worried?"

"With your bad luck, you'll lose whatever you earn. Besides, how much can we earn from the furnace? Marrying a wife? You're just dreaming."

Tang Wangzong's words caused a burst of laughter among the miners. This place was indeed good, and the promised wages were high, and they were already receiving a good amount. But who knew what the future held?

"If it were another mine, we could just leave if we lost," Sun Yao said gloomily. "But I really don't want to leave this place."

His words resonated with others. Finding work as a miner was not easy. Other mines had poor living conditions and food, especially the Han family's mine, where the food was almost like pig feed, the work was heavy, and there was not always work available. The Han family paid low wages and had a group of cruel overseers who frequently beat the miners. These were bitter memories, and a place like the current ironworks was hard to find.

"I hope our owner can resolve this," Tang Wangzong, an optimist, said with a smile. "I think our owner has the right stuff. Who knows, he might even defeat the Han family."

At this moment, a black-faced miner in his forties came over, lifted his head, and entered the house, where he began to pack his belongings.

"What are you doing, Han Lao Liu?" Sun Yao sneered, his face full of disdain. "What's the point of making a show? Trying to scare us?"

Han Lao Liu was a relative of the Han family. Though he was a miner, he was known for his petty thefts and other disgraceful deeds, and the miners looked down on him. He usually worked at the Han family's mine and had been beaten several times by Han Tong's men, the worst time leaving him rolling on the ground and losing several teeth. If not for this, Cai Jiu would not have used him, thinking he had no choice but to come here and was not a spy.

"There's no point in staying here," Han Lao Liu said gloomily. "I just heard that the owner has invited the county magistrate and Li Dayong to mediate. Do you think I don't know what kind of person Han Tong is? If you stand up to him, he suspects you have a strong background and treats you with more respect. But if you invite mediators, he knows you don't have much more to offer and will take advantage of you. Just wait, in a few days, the Han family will come and tear down the new furnace. It takes at least two months to set up a furnace, and if they tear it down, you won't be able to smelt iron at all!"

Han Lao Liu spoke with spittle flying, his mouth full of gaps where he had lost several teeth, making him look both pitiful and ridiculous.

But his words were not something to laugh about. Upon reflection, the Han family was indeed as he described, bullying the weak and relying on their power. If the owner were to be suppressed, the furnace would indeed not be able to be set up.

Such things were common in the Ming Dynasty. Even with official permits, iron furnaces could not be established due to the pressure from local gentry and large landowners. Frequent fights would break out, and even if you were a capable person, you would be overwhelmed by these local bullies, ultimately having to leave in disappointment.

"I'm leaving first. You guys wait for news," Han Lao Liu said, deciding that the mine would not be able to operate and that staying here would be a waste of time. He might as well find a new master and start over. Sun Yao and the others were reluctant to leave, hesitating, while Han Lao Liu sneered and left with his belongings.

"Ah..." Sun Yao and Tang Wangzong sat on the ground, sighing together.

Han Lao Liu walked out of the ironworks with a cheerful stride, his clothes already half-wet, and his bedding almost soaked through. He realized he had acted rashly and considered turning back, but he felt it would be embarrassing, especially after his bold words.

"Old Liu, wait a moment."

Just as Han Lao Liu was about to leave, Liang Xing and Wang Yong appeared from the side of the gate. Liang Xing had a wet grass root in his mouth, indicating he had been hiding there for some time. Seeing Han Lao Liu's surprised face, Liang Xing and Wang Yong exchanged a smile.

...

After Han Lao Liu turned around, Liang Xing said to Wang Yong, "Can this guy be trusted?"

Wang Yong looked puzzled but spoke clearly, "We're not relying on him alone, and this isn't an urgent matter. We can slowly find more people. If we succeed, we can also remove the Han family's spies here. It's a win-win situation. The owner has arranged this very well, and we just need to follow his instructions."

"What do we do next?"

"I'll have Yang Tou send a few more capable people over," Wang Yong said with a smile, his puzzled look fading. "This kind of thing, as the owner says, requires professionalism. Don't worry about it. Just manage your guards well and don't let another Yang Sijun or Wen Zhongfa happen."

"You're poking at my sore spot."

Liang Xing looked depressed, scolding Wang Yong, "You're just taking advantage of working with Yang Qiu. If you were there, you might have run away too."

Wang Yong said without a hint of guilt, "We're just quick-witted. The tasks the owner gives us are suitable. If we were to fight with bandits, I'm not cut out for that."

"You're just a smooth talker."

"Right," Wang Yong said. "Actually, Wen Zhongfa and Yang Sijun are good materials. They've been with the owner for a long time and have worked hard to learn to read. We're short on hands, so why don't you talk to the owner about transferring them here?"

"No way," Liang Xing shook his head. "The owner said that deserting the battlefield is not something to be easily forgiven. If we don't punish these people, everyone will run away next time. If anyone runs away again, they will be dismissed. There's no easy way out."

Wang Yong whistled, "We're lucky we're not border troops, or we'd be beheaded for running away."

Liang Xing glared at him, "What do you think? Wen Zhongfa and the others have had their wages stopped and have been in confinement for so long that they're almost dried up. Now they're in daily training at the silver vault, suffering terribly without any pay. If they don't want to be dismissed, they have to endure. Now they know how powerful the owner is and regret it deeply, but there's no such thing as a regret pill. They just have to endure."

Wang Yong looked puzzled again, smiling, "I'm fully committed to the owner and won't slack off."

Liang Xing looked at him, said nothing, and nodded slightly.

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Checking the screen words every day when uploading is very annoying...

It would be better to just ** it.

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