The coal miners had worked their entire lives and had never heard of something like this.
Meals included.
And on top of that, three taels of silver a month.
What kind of coal miners were these supposed to be? Their income was already catching up to an oil seller in the county town.
This new owner…
He was not trying to scam them, was he?
One of the braver miners stepped forward.
"Steward sir… what you just said… it is real, right? We… we cannot afford to be tricked."
The Third Steward replied calmly,
"If a single word I said is false, may the next son I father be born without an anus."
The miners erupted instantly.
"That is a vicious oath! Then it must be true!"
Li Dao Xuan sucked in a sharp breath.
"You bastard. You cannot even have another son. This oath sounds sincere, but only technically."
Of course, aside from Li Dao Xuan and the Third Madam, nobody else knew that Thirty-Two had already become a eunuch long ago. To the miners, that oath was rock-solid proof.
Cheers exploded across the pit.
"So good!"
"The new master is benevolent!"
"A good household!"
Off to the side, Feng Jun clicked his tongue in amazement.
Money really was the ultimate cheat code. One announcement, one heavy splash of silver, and these miners instantly transformed from numb and lifeless into glowing with energy. If the Li household truly paid out three taels a month, their loyalty would hit maximum immediately.
If the county ever tried to take the mine back…
These miners would probably riot on the spot.
That thought made Feng Jun uneasy.
But then he reconsidered. If the Li household could be this generous to the lowest laborers, they would not be stingy with taxes. As long as taxes were paid, the mine staying in their hands was not really a problem.
His heart settled.
At that moment, Gao Yiye jumped out of the carriage again.
Her dirty little hands had already been wiped clean by Qiu Ju. Dong Xue had even folded her blackened sleeves inward so the stains could not be seen. Only her skirt was still hopelessly black.
She pointed at the narrow, pitch-black road leading from the county town to Jinshui Gully.
"Lord Feng, Dao Xuan Tianzun wishes to widen this road and pave it into a smooth cement road. Please post a public notice and recruit more laborers. It is only four or five li to the county town. It should not take long, right?"
Feng Jun nodded.
"As long as wages are paid, labor will not be an issue."
Gao Yiye nodded again, then pointed at the crude shacks near the mine.
"Tianzun says these will not do. They cannot withstand wind or rain. If the workers fall ill, how pitiful would that be? Recruit more laborers and build proper dormitories for the miners. Clean, neat cement housing."
Feng Jun replied automatically,
"As long as wages are paid—"
Gao Yiye then turned to the miners themselves.
"Pay attention to safety while mining. Tianzun will arrange for helmets, protective clothing, cotton gloves, better tools, and cooling drinks in summer…"
She rattled off benefits nonstop. The miners were completely stunned.
Were they still the lowest class of coal diggers?
Gao Yiye clapped her hands.
"From now on, do not call yourselves coal diggers. You are coal mine workers. Come, sing with me."
She raised her voice.
"We workers have strength—hey! We workers have strength—"
Qiu Ju and Dong Xue somehow produced two small hand drums from the carriage and started beating along.
The miners exchanged looks.
The tune was catchy.
It felt powerful.
If the lady boss wanted them to sing, then sing they would.
More than a hundred miners sang together, voices echoing through the valley.
"Working day and night, building tall halls, laying rails and digging mines, reshaping the world—hey—"
Feng Jun blinked.
"What is this song? Why do I feel like singing along? I am not even a worker."
Thirty-Two laughed loudly and grabbed Feng Jun's arm.
"Lord Feng, let us not get involved. How about returning to the county for a few drinks? I have a jar of fine Wuliangye."
Feng Jun's eyes lit up.
"What kind of wine is that? I have never heard of it."
Thirty-Two lowered his voice mysteriously.
"Fragrant beyond belief. You will understand after one sip."
Feng Jun laughed.
"Then I must try it."
Far away, in the capital.
Inside the Imperial Study.
The young Chongzhen Emperor, Zhu Youjian, was reviewing memorials as usual.
This was only his third year on the throne, yet he already looked as if he had ruled for thirty. The sharpness and ambition were gone, replaced by exhaustion, like someone carrying invisible shackles.
He picked up a memorial from Shaanxi.
It reported that the Grain Transport Commissioner Hong Chengchou had won consecutive victories at Hancheng and Yichuan, defeating Wang Zuogua, Zhang Shusheng, Ji San'er, Wang Hu, Lang Si, Yi Zhang Qing, Lue Di Hu, Hun Jiang Long, and Wang Jiayin.
Zhu Youjian's spirits soared, as if boarding a jet engine.
"Who is this Hong Chengchou, to be so capable?"
The chief eunuch Cao Huachun answered softly,
"He was a jinshi of the forty-fourth year of Wanli, first appointed to the Ministry of Justice. He served there for six years, then rose to Education Commissioner of Zhejiang, selecting many outstanding talents. Later he became Left Vice Commissioner of the Zhejiang Administration Commission, and in the seventh year of Tianqi, he was promoted to Shaanxi Grain Transport Vice Commissioner."
"He rose quickly," the emperor said.
"He possesses genuine talent," Cao Huachun replied.
Zhu Youjian nodded. Shaanxi was in ruins, yet this man achieved continuous victories. Clearly both civil and military talent.
He was considering what reward to grant when a young eunuch rushed in.
"Your Majesty, bad news! The Yan Sui Governor, Zhang Mengjing, has suddenly died."
Zhu Youjian frowned.
"What happened? Was he not in good health?"
The eunuch answered bitterly.
"He died of anger. Months ago, when the frontier armies were ordered to defend the capital, the Yan Sui commander Wu Zimian withheld rations, extorted bribes from soldiers unwilling to march, and sold military horses. Zhang Mengjing learned of this and died in fury."
The emperor's face darkened instantly, as if riding a freefall drop.
"Outrageous! Arrest him immediately!"
Cao Huachun lowered his voice.
"He cannot be arrested yet. Two frontier armies have already mutinied. If Wu Zimian is seized now, knowing death is certain, he will rebel outright. That would make a third mutiny."
Zhu Youjian clutched his chest, barely catching his breath. For a moment, it seemed he might follow Zhang Mengjing into death by rage.
After a long pause, he steadied himself.
"Appoint Hong Chengchou as Governor of Yan Sui to replace Zhang Mengjing. Once the northern enemy retreats, we will deal with Wu Zimian."