After noon, the rain gradually subsided. The three thousand Ming army rested at the foot of Zishan Mountain for a long time and finally regained some strength. After eating something hastily, Chang Yu ordered to break camp and leave the mountain.
The horse bandits in Tianwang Village now have a new identity, but the logistics staff who are willing to serve this army are grateful, and even have an unexpected joy. The officers and soldiers did not confiscate their money and food, and even said that as long as they behave well , after this battle not only will they be released back to the mountain, but they will also be rewarded with silver.
The horse thieves headed by Yuan Wentian were naturally overjoyed, but some people secretly muttered, "Don't you want us to go into battle to kill the Tatars..."
Although the mountain road was slippery, it was still wide. However, after walking for more than ten miles, it became increasingly narrow and steep. Many places could only be passed by a horse. If troops were deployed here, it would be easy to defend but difficult to attack.
After a few more miles, the mountain road became slightly wider at dusk. From a high position, I could see many villages faintly hidden among the surrounding valleys and hillsides, and there were many people there!
They must be the people outside Qingzhou City who have taken refuge in the mountains. Chang Yu saw from a distance that most of the refugees had built temporary huts in the woods or under rocks, with the whole family nesting inside.
Seeing a large group of soldiers and horses suddenly appearing in the mountains, these people were immediately panicked. They were about to flee one after another, but were calmed down by the former army: We are the guards of the capital going to Qingzhou for reinforcements. Don't panic when passing by.
The bold ones watch from a distance, while the timid ones quickly hide in the mountains and forests. Just kidding, what kind of good things are officers and soldiers?
Chang Yu stood on the ridge and looked at the refugees scattered for miles around. He couldn't help but frown and whispered: "Why are they all crowded together?"
"The mountains are infested with horse thieves, it's safer if we have more people together," Li Muchian said casually. Chang Yu suddenly realized, and asked someone to call Yuan Wentian: "How many people can live in your village?"
Yuan Wentian understood what the little eunuch meant: "Sir, we can't accommodate so many, five hundred is enough."
"You have a false reputation as a member of the Heavenly King Village. Isn't there a saying that I am the greatest Heavenly King?" Chang Yu teased. Yuan Wentian scratched his head and said, "It's just a den of thieves. You're trying to bluff people. Do you want to let this happen?" The refugees are going to the cottage.”
Chang Yu nodded: "Most of them are not fully clothed and have no food to eat. They are exposed to wind and rain, and many of them are old and weak. They look too pitiful. The leader of Yuan Dazhai is kind enough to give them some shelter. Your village above can accommodate five hundred people below." Aren’t there still some villages? Let’s arrange as many as we can.”
Yuan Wentian didn't dare to say anything, so he nodded and left.
Since we had met the refugees entering the mountain, it must not be too far from the mountain exit. I called the guide and asked if there was still about ten miles to go. Chang Yu guessed that it would be dark.
I also asked about the terrain near the mountain pass. Orion was not very familiar with this place. On the contrary, Yuan Wentian's people were more familiar with it. He probably described to Chang Yu that the mountain pass was not very steep and narrow, but it was densely forested and full of thorns, making it difficult for large armies to come and go. It is very convenient, and there is no wide place within several miles of the mountain pass to accommodate an army to rest.
This gave Chang Yu a headache. If the Qing army found the mountain pass to be too wide to defend, and there was no wide valley within a few miles of the entrance, it would be difficult to accommodate troops. He couldn't just hold it in here, or rush out of the mountain directly. He had to observe and wait first. And move.
When we were in trouble, some nearby mountain people pointed out the way. There was a small mountain road to the east about three miles away from the mountain pass. Although the mountain road was narrow, a few miles further east there was a wide mountain col with a mountain stream (later Qingzhou). Wangfu Valley Rafting Park)
Chang Yu was overjoyed when he heard this. After looking at the sky, he ordered the team to speed up the march and found a few nearby mountain people as guides to lead the way to find the mountain col.
Just like this, we walked for more than ten miles, one step at a time, one step at a time. When it was almost dark, I was still two or three ways away from the mountain pass. Sure enough, I found a mountain road on the east side. I followed the mountain people and walked there. After walking a few hundred meters, it suddenly became clear. A large mountain col with thousands of people has flat terrain and mountain streams.
The soldiers couldn't help cheering and ran straight to the mountain stream regardless of the slipperiness. Chang Yu found a clean stone and sat down. Chen Suole scooped a pot of stream water for him. It was cool and sweet in the mouth.
Yuan Wentian started to get busy with a kind of horse boy, setting up a stove in the mountain col to make rice and lighting mosquito repellent everywhere. He was very diligent and attentive in his busy work. Li Muchian was very happy and praised the little eunuch repeatedly. : "The factory supervisor is really blessed with good fortune, and he can find treasures in the mountains."
Moreover, Chang Yu was also happy: "It's all the credit of Kuang Ren and Hu Zi."
Kuang Ren and Duan Wuhu grinned widely.
At this time, the sky was getting dark and things could still be seen. Chang Yu walked to the stream, washed his face, jumped up on a boulder and looked around. The trees were lush and the gurgling stream was a good place to escape the summer heat.
The soldiers were tired all the way, playing in the stream or lying on the stone slabs to rest. In addition to making fires and cooking, Yuan Wentian's men were also ordered to cut wood and build straw huts. Chang Yu planned to rest here tonight in case it rained again in the evening.
"If there is no war, this would be a good place for sightseeing." Li Muxian especially likes the rocks beside the stream, which are smooth and smooth for sitting and lying down.
"If there was no war, the Taoist priest would not have the chance to come here." Qiao Sanxiu turned around and smiled, and Li Muchian was startled: "It makes sense."
Chang Yu lay on the big bluestone and stared at the sky in a daze. Several shirtless soldiers were playing in the water next to him. Suddenly a soldier ouched and said that his foot was pricked by a stone. He reached out and fished out a piece of sea bowl size from the water. The stone was very heavy, but it turned out to be a golden stone. Several people nearby exclaimed: "A golden stone!"
The soldier laughed and said, "If only it was really their gold, I would be rich for the rest of my life." He threw the stone aside and the others continued to play in the water.
Chang Yu's heart moved. He stood up and picked up the stone and looked at it carefully. At this time, Li Muchian also came over and said, "Could it be horseshoe gold?"
"Oh, the Taoist priest also knows about this thing?" Chang Yu was actually eighty-nine percent sure that the thing he was talking about was nugget gold (referring to naturally formed gold nuggets) because he was lucky enough to have seen the real thing in his previous life.
Li Muxian took it and looked at it carefully: "I have never heard of this thing before, but it seems to be similar." As he spoke, people gathered around him. Many people had never heard of this thing. At this time, they heard that it was They were all amazed by a priceless treasure that contained the essence of heaven and earth.
"It is indeed that gold nugget." Chang Yu chuckled, but he never thought that there was such a treasure in this mountain stream.
"This thing is a natural treasure. It only appears when you meet an extraordinary person. The factory governor is a genius who has never been born in the Ming Dynasty. Seriously... Pindao just said that the factory governor's lucky star is shining brightly and he picked up the treasure in the mountain... Tsk, tsk, tsk, Pindao He's leaking the secret again." Li Muxian started to talk again, and the soldiers nearby were stunned by what he said, but Chang Yu laughed and bent over: "You are so proud of what our family does, but it's not our family. The discovery was made by this brother." He pointed to the soldier who pricked his foot.
The soldier was stunned for a moment, but he was very clever. He picked up the golden dog-headed man and brought it to Chang Yu with both hands: "The rare treasure in this world should be regarded as a great talent like the factory supervisor. Even ordinary people can't recognize this." "This treasure is a treasure recognized by the Factory Governor's keen eyes... This treasure should belong to the Factory Governor."
Chang Yu laughed and pushed the gold nugget to the soldier: "Don't imitate the Taoist priest's glib talk. If you discover this thing, it will be yours!"
No, no, no, the soldier shook his head vigorously: "You can't take it if you are a small one. If you do, you won't be able to enjoy it..."
Chang Yu thought about it. It was a crime to cherish a jade. It might not be a good thing to keep this thing in his hands, so he said: "How about I keep this thing for you and then return to Beijing and present it to the emperor for your reward."
The soldier was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly. There was no promotion or reward for gold and stone.
A rare treasure rushed out of the mountain stream, which made the soldiers excited. They rushed to see and play with it first. Although Chang Yu was also surprised, he was not as exaggerated as them. Natural gold such as nugget gold can only be found but not found in Shandong. It is reasonable to encounter it within the territory.
Shandong is the province with the largest gold output in China. The most famous Linglong Gold Mine in later generations is located in Linglong Mountain in Zhaoyuan, but it has not yet been opened.
