Chapter 609 - Chapter 609:1 Want to Meet Them
Chapter 609:1 Want to Meet Them
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
After eating his fill, Tiger Might began to explain to Su Ying what had happened during this period of time.
“That fellow Cheng Ming was the one who discovered the mine first.”
After Su Ying and Xiao Jin returned to the Chu State, Chu Yun and the rest had always adhered to Su Ying’s governance philosophy. They felt that if they wanted the people of the northern wilderness to live a stable life, the first priority was to ensure everyone could fill their stomachs.
Only when one’s stomach was filled could he engage in thinking and other tasks.
So even after Su Ying left, Chu Yun would still get Cheng Ming to bring people to continue developing wasteland and increase the amount of arable land. This would then ensure there were sufficient food crops.
“The mine was discovered when they were developing the wasteland. The amount of iron ore is likely to be substantial. They didn’t have to dig very deep before seeing scattered ore pellets. Laymen who did not know about such things would not be able to recognize them.” However, Cheng Ming had dabbled in this area before and the realization hit him at once with a glance.
“After Cheng Ming discovered it, he didn’t dare to delay and immediately told Chu Yun about it the moment he came back.”
That could be a whole mountain of iron ore. It was an extremely precious resource for any kingdom that existed on land. Chu Yun was afraid that other people might find out, so he waited until it was dark before going there to confirm with Cheng Ming. Eventually, they were sure that it was indeed an iron ore mine.
In this era, the mining technology was very primitive. After he had confirmed it again, Chu Yun then gathered a few people who knew about mining know-how for a discussion. However, news of the discovery of iron ore mines in the northern wilderness was leaked by someone. As soon as they started mining, people came to cause trouble.
At first, they thought that these were just people in the northern wilderness who were greedy to take over the mine. However, after they captured the people and interrogated them, they found out that the people who came to make trouble were not only from the Jin State but also from the Nan State.
This also made them realize the gravity of the matter.
In the past, when Su Ying was still around, they had also faced off against the Nan State’s troops, but the situation back then was quite different. If the people of these two kingdoms joined forces to grab this iron ore mine, the Sky Alpha City inhabitants might not be their match.
“A few days ago, the Nan State sent someone to pass a message saying that they wanted a negotiation on the mine with all three parties. Chu Yun thought about it and decided that he wanted to see what the other parties had to say, so he went. To our shock, these thieving dogs actually tried to kill Chu Yun.” When he recalled this part, Tiger Might was so angry that he gritted his teeth.
Those people had mistakenly thought that Chu Yun was the City Lord of Sky Alpha City. They felt that it was only a matter of time before they killed Chu Yun and broke through the city gates.
“Fortunately, we were doubly prepared. We risked our lives and managed to save Chu Yun, but we also lost many people.”
Su Ying’s face remained emotionless all the while as she listened. After Tiger Might finished his tale, she then asked, “How many people did these two kingdoms send over?”
“Each kingdom has about two to three thousand people.”
In total, there were four to five thousand people. It was not difficult to gather sufficient fighting forces in Sky Alpha City to deal with this group of four to five thousand people. However, Chu Yun was worried about the two kingdoms that stood behind these two teams.
If the armies of these two kingdoms came here and insisted on taking over this iron ore mine, the Sky Alpha City inhabitants would indeed have problems resisting them.
This was also the reason Chu Yun did not fall out completely with them up till now.
“Are you guys able to ascertain how much iron ore can be mined from that mountain?”
Tiger Might’s thick bushy eyebrows knitted tightly. “No, we can’t be sure. I only know that it’s an ore mine in the mountain, but I don’t know exactly how much ore is in there.”
“If you guys can’t be sure, then those people from the two kingdoms definitely can’t be sure too. Do you think they will send tens of thousands of troops to the northern wilderness if they can’t determine how many mines there are here?”
Su Ying pointed at the map on the table. “The Nan State may be closer to the northern wilderness, but what about the Jin State? If tens of thousands of people come out from the border, how much food will they have to eat, and how long will their journey take? If the money consumed during this period has already exceeded the value this iron ore mine can bring them, do you think they will still send so many people to carry out this loss-making business?”
Tiger Might was puzzled. “Then what City Lord means is…”
Su Ying slowly stood up. “Give them a chance to live.”
Tiger Might was even more puzzled.
“If they are willing to leave within three days, I will not pursue the matter that happened earlier. After all, if we go to war, there will be death casualties. However, if I still see them in my territory after three days, then they can’t blame me for not showing them any courtesy.”
Since they were bound to become enemies sooner or later, then she would wait and see whose fists were tougher. Those people dared to come and snatch her things because they did not take Sky Alpha City seriously at all. If Su Ying’s group were to give in this time, what would happen if they discovered a gold or silver mine in the northern wilderness in the future?
“Tell me what is going on at the other side. Then get two people to lead the way for me. I want to go to the mine to take a look.”
“Yes, City Lord.”
After Tiger Might explained to Su Ying about those people from the two kingdoms setting up camp, he got ready to follow Su Ying out of the city.
“City Lord, let me bring you there.” When he saw that they were about to leave, Qiao Yang hurried over.
Su Ying gave a slight nod and went out of the city with the two brothers.
The location of the ore mine was quite a distance away from Sky Alpha City.
According to Tiger Might, the mine was surrounded by the three factions right now.
Besides the Jin State’s people and people from the Nan State, the rest were their own people.
After passing through the dense forest, Tiger Might brought Su Ying to the place where they had set up camp.
“Boss, you’re here.”
One of the guys in the camp walked over to greet Tiger Might, but when he caught sight of Su Ying right behind Tiger Might, he was so shocked that he froze on the spot.
When Qiao Yang saw this, he stepped forward and kicked his butt. “Brat, what are you looking at? Do you think you’re qualified to stare at the City Lord like that?”
After being kicked, that guy came back to his senses and knelt on the ground. “City Lord… Greetings, City Lord. It’s great that City Lord is back.”
As soon as he uttered these words, the people in the camp behind him rushed out in a swarm.
As they gazed upon the living Su Ying in front of them, they were so excited that all of them knelt on the ground.
“Greetings, City Lord.”
Su Ying could tell that the joy they were showing so effusively appeared genuine. It seemed that these bandits and mercenaries really regarded Sky Alpha City as their home now.
“All of you may rise.”
“Yes, City Lord.”
Su Ying’s arrival made the gloomy atmosphere in the campsite much more relaxed.
Previously, when they thought that they had to go up against two kingdoms, they hadn’t felt very confident. However, after seeing Su Ying today, they felt that they would definitely win!
“Did anything unusual happen today?” Su Ying asked as she followed them into the camp.
“City Lord, I saw that the Nan State sent people to the mine to check again today, but we chased them away as soon as they arrived.”
“Who are the people in charge of the campsites of these two kingdoms?”
Tiger Might shook his head. “We’re not sure yet.”
They did not even know if these people were sent directly by the kingdoms or sent by certain factions within these kingdoms.
“Go. Send someone to tell their leaders that I want to meet them..”