Chapter 258 - 159: Traitors and Rebels (Part 3)

I’ve heard that Zhao Zun sent them to protect her; Han Lei felt a warmth rise in her heart.

She laughed and said, "Mr. Xiao, you’ve come at the right time. I’m just short of manpower."

Xiao Zhengfei nodded and cupped his hands, saying, "Whatever the Princess Consort needs, feel free to instruct."

"Alright, let’s talk while we eat."

Everyone here is an ally, so Han Lei spoke openly, while ordering a lavish meal from the system and placing it on the table.

Seeing Han Lei conjure food out of thin air, aside from Mr. Liu who looked astonished, everyone else was already used to it.

Mr. Liu wanted to ask where Han Lei got the food, but seeing everyone’s familiarity, he thought better than to make a fuss.

Once everyone was seated, Han Lei reiterated the plan. Xiao Zhengfei and the four trusted aides were secretly amazed, yet quite excited.

Not until the moon was high in the sky did Han Lei, exhausted, return to the inn where she originally stayed.

Everyone else stayed at the Youjia Inn.

Because, starting tomorrow, the trusted aides and the brothers of the large squad will begin their own plan.

Meanwhile, Han Lei’s task is to make sure the clothing store opens successfully during these few days.

... I’m the lazy divider ...

The Yin Mountain between Yong’an City and the Turkic Grassland is marked on Han Lei’s mining map, indicating abundant coal mines.

While Zhao Zun supervised the fortress construction, he sent messages to the City Lords of Yong’an City and Ling’an City.

Zhao Zun ordered them to release all prisoners, have them supervised by soldiers from the Yong’an City Military Camp, and send them to Yin Mountain to mine coal.

Let them contribute their labor value for the development of Canzhou.

Because Beiguan has been troubled by war year after year, life’s not easy for the common people.

Thus, most prisoners held in these two cities are ones who, unable to afford food, resorted to robbery, not true villains.

Zhao Zun, in his capacity as King of Canzhou, ordered labor in exchange for meals. If these prisoners work well, they can be freed from imprisonment, become regular citizens, and live a better life.

After the order was issued, prisoners in the jails of both cities were ecstatic.

The scorching May sun burned down on the coal mining site at the foot of Yin Mountain.

The air was filled with the scent of coal dust mixed with the smell of sweat, a bit suffocating.

Yet, under such dusty, harsh conditions, the prisoners rolled up their sleeves and worked with enthusiasm.

Every prisoner tried hard to perform, hoping to gain their freedom sooner.

The sound of shovels clashing against coal, heavy breaths, and the occasional shout merged into a bustling and noisy scene.

However, among this busy crowd, three individuals appeared particularly conspicuous.

They lazily loafed around, their shovel movements extremely slow, their eyes occasionally scanning around, seeming to be searching for an opportunity.

If you looked closely, you’d see them disheveled and filthy, indistinguishable from the other prisoners.

But without revealing, one would be shocked to find out.

Amongst the three, two were former marshals and commanders of Beiguan, and one was none other than the missing Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Zhang Shiyang.

Under orders from Emperor Jing, Zhang Shiyang led the Ministry of Industry to Beiguan to assist in building defenses against foreign enemies.

But these officials from the Capital City, pampered and privileged, mostly couldn’t ride horses. When they took carriages into Canzhou, they perfectly missed the Jingzhou Army returning home at the Yong’an City intersection.

Thus, they were unaware that Beiguan’s battle crisis had been resolved and that Beiguan garrison was now under Zhao Zun’s command.

By the time they arrived at Yong’an City by carriage, they saw Zhao Zun, who had been stripped of his military power by Emperor Jing, once again command the Beiguan garrison, and immediately detected something unusual.

They jumped and accused Zhao Zun of being treasonous, a rebel.

They clamored like the Imperial Army, insisting they would report to the emperor, asking him to send troops to punish Zhao Zun.

Report back?

Zhao Zun would never let them go back to report.

Canzhou was developing, and Zhao Zun wasn’t maintaining idle people; he packed them all up and sent them here to mine coal, including those wounded Imperial Army.

"Mr. Cao, we’re working hard here every day. When will this end? Do you think if we just keep working, we really might have a chance to escape?"

Minister Zhang Shiyang wiped his forehead with his sleeve, hesitantly asking Cao Xiong in a low voice.

He was disheveled, his face stained with coal dust, his voice unbearably weary, but his eyes sneaky, spying on Gou Sheng in the distance.

Gou Sheng and another soldier who had dealt with Han Lei were sent by Zhao Zun to oversee the prisoners mining coal here.

Zhao Zun warned them that now they were monitors, and if they dared speak ill of the Princess Consort again, they’d be demoted from monitors to toil alongside prisoners mining coal.

In the distance, Gou Sheng was swaggering back and forth with an M16 automatic rifle, supervising the prisoners working.

Cao Xiong impatiently responded to Zhang Shiyang, "Why rush?"

His shovel dug a few times carelessly, eyes constantly scanning around, then gestured with his mouth towards Gou Sheng.

"Did you see the weapon in that soldier’s hand?"

Zhang Shiyang nodded, "I saw it."

Cao Xiong swallowed hard, somewhat fearful as he spoke, "That’s called a gun, stronger than bows and arrows. Several of my men and those Imperial Army were wounded by that weapon. If we could seize that weapon..."

"Hiss!"

Upon hearing, Zhang Shiyang drew in a breath of cold air.