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Chapter 523: Mineral Lode

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    At the entrance of the beautiful mountain village, the sturdy cavalry of Chen Ziang's personal guards scattered out to guard the surroundings.

    The three men in green robes rushed towards the entrance of the village in a hurry, and behind them were dozens of mountain people in ragged clothes.

    "The lower official didn't know the general was here, and he was far away from welcoming him, so he asked the general to make amends."

    The three people in green robes rushed to Chen Ziang who was surrounded by everyone, and hurriedly saluted in fear.

    "I came here uninvited, so why are you guilty?" Chen Ziang smiled and waved his hands.

    Chen Ziang said: "You don't need to panic, I just came here to wander around."

    The three green-robed officials are the lowest-ranking officials in the government affairs government. They were sent to this remote mountain village at the foot of Tongshan Mountain, and they also came to implement the New Deal.

    In the past, the King Banner at the head of the city of Yunxi Prefecture changed. Although some major city battles changed owners, the areas below the villages and towns were still controlled by the local gentry.

    No matter who occupies this area, they have to work hard to build a good relationship with the local gentry in order to win support and stay for a long time.

    Even though the Far Eastern Dynasty has ruled for more than 400 years, what the government can really control is only at the county level.

    In order to further control the vast rural areas where the towns are located and to have direct contact with the people, Chen Ziang bypassed the gentry who controlled the local discourse power and directly sent work teams to station in each village.

    The task of these task forces is not only to publicize the Qinghe Army, but also to implement the New Deal everywhere.

    These task forces are all selected by the government, and they are responsible for implementing the orders of the government, so they are very efficient.

    In doing so, Chen Zi'ang emptied the country gentry who originally held the right to speak, and was able to directly understand public opinion and avoid distortion of the New Deal.

    These three officials in green robes were members of the work team stationed in this small mountain village at the foot of Tongshan Mountain.

    They didn't expect that Chen Ziang, the supreme commander of the Qinghe Army Second Corps, would come here. While they were excited, they were also uneasy, not knowing what Chen Ziang was here for.

    "Also ask the general to move into the village, and I will invite someone to make lunch." A green-robed official invited Chen Ziang into the village.

    "Is there a shortage of food in the village?" Chen Ziang asked.

    "Reporting to the general, the government has allocated 100 bags of grain to us, and we can last for a while."

    "In this case, we will not have lunch in the village."

    Chen Ziang turned his head to Du Jian, the newly appointed captain of the personal guard: "Let the brothers bury the pot to make food, make more, and invite the people in the village to eat together today."

    "No!"

    After Du Jian, the captain of the personal guard, stood up and gave a military salute, he turned his head and delivered the order with big strides.

    "Fathers and folks, I am Chen Zi'ang from the Qinghe Army, and I am here to greet you."

    Chen Ziang saw those mountain folk who were crowded together and staring at this side with trepidation on their faces, and he took the initiative to go forward to say hello.

    The mountain people were simple and honest. Although they were afraid of the murderous soldiers behind Chen Ziang, seeing how amiable Chen Ziang was, they were not so nervous.

    Surrounded by everyone, Chen Ziang stepped into the village, looking at the situation in the village as he walked.

    Most of the houses in the village are made of wood and stone. Although they are dilapidated, they can also provide shelter from the wind and rain. Many mountain people still keep goats in their sheep pens.

    "What is the total population of the village now?" Chen Zi'ang asked a green-robed official.

    The official in green robes hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Reporting to the general, there are altogether fifty-three households in the village, with one hundred and sixty-one people of men, women, old and young."

    "How much land is there?"

    "The surrounding area is barren mountainous land, so there are only fifty acres of land that can be cultivated."

    Seeing that Chen Ziang's complexion did not change, the green-robed official continued.

    "However, everyone in the village hunts and blacksmiths for a living. As long as there is no famine, they can barely maintain food and clothing."

    While Chen Ziang nodded, he stepped towards the outside of a mountain dweller's house, where there was a pile of dark, stone-like things piled up there.

    Chen Ziang squatted down, picked up a piece, felt the heavy weight, and could vaguely see the brown rust.

    "General, this is what makes iron in the village." The green-robed official explained.

    After hearing the words of the green-robed official, Chen Ziang was already sure that this was iron ore.

    "Where did all this come from?" Chen Ziang asked.

      "I picked it up in the ravine behind. I went to have a look. There are several ravines with this thing, but it is covered by vegetation on weekdays, so it is not easy to find."

    Salt and iron are important strategic materials, and the Far Eastern Dynasty also implemented very strict control.

    At the beginning of Chen Ziang's uprising, because of the strict control of the Far Eastern Dynasty, they did not have iron to make weapons, and could only use sharpened wooden sticks and bamboo.

    Now hearing that there are a lot of iron ore in the mountains behind, Chen Ziang also felt that he did not make the trip in vain.

    Because with iron ore, steel can be smelted, and agricultural tools and weapons can be made. It can be said that it will provide great assistance to them.

    "Why didn't the court find this place before?" Chen Ziang was also full of doubts.

    "The imperial court controls the salt and iron, and the village has been making farm tools and selling them in private. Naturally, they dare not speak out, fearing that they will lose their source of income." The green-robed official said.

    "You have made a great contribution this time."

    If Chen Ziang hadn't directly sent a work team to station here this time, he might not have discovered the secret of iron ore production here.

    "Remember the credit for them, and then promote them according to the regulations."

    Chen Ziang gave instructions to the Chief Secretary for Administrative Affairs, Qin An, who followed him.

    "Thank you, General!"

    After hearing this, the three officials in green robes were all excited and hastily expressed their thanks.

    After all, compared to holding important positions in various prefectures and counties, they are now stationed in this remote mountain village, and the conditions are indeed harsh.

    In order to further confirm the iron ore, Chen Ziang specially summoned all the blacksmiths in the village to check in the ravine behind the village.

    When Chen Ziang saw the countless almost open-pit iron mines in the ravine, he almost laughed three times.

    Because there are veins in several valleys, it shows that there are rich iron ore reserves here.

    As long as he has iron ore, he can smelt iron and steel, and make various farm tools, weapons and armor.

    "Send me an order to ask the Guards Banner Regiment to dispatch an infantry banner battalion and a cavalry 1,000-man team to block the surrounding area."

    There is a wealth of iron ore here, which is a treasure. For Chen Ziang and the others, it is too important.

    Therefore, Chen Ziang also immediately asked the Guards Banner Regiment to deploy troops to station here to protect the place and escort the subsequent mining.

    "Director Liang, from now on, this place will be under the control of your Military Supplies Department." Chen Ziang turned his head and said to Liang Guanlin, the Director of Military Supplies.

    "You immediately transfer people to build houses here, and the blacksmiths in the artisan camp also move here. In the future, we will be our weapon production base here."

    After wandering around this small mountain village, Chen Ziang directly decided to upgrade the status of this small mountain village.  (Remember the site URL: www.hlnovel.com
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