The convoy rolled away, day and night.

Ten days later, a group of dusty servants came to Nanyang, lived in the rented villa in the house, Qin Huaidao did not take a rest, inspected cement manufacturing and other matters, put forward some rectification opinions and requirements, and told the recent purchase of a large amount of grain to be shipped to Qinjiazhuang for backup.

Rest in the villa for two days, the team recovered and continued to hurry, go to Nanzheng, Hanzhong, arrive at Mian County, Mian County is not big, indeed traffic fortress, to the north can take the Qishan Road to Tianshui, to the south can take the Golden Bull Road, through the later generations of Guangyuan, Jianmen, Zitong, Mianyang to Chengdu, the Tang Dynasty called Yizhou.

The salt mine presented by the old man Song of Shu is in Guangyuan, nearly 1,000 kilometers away from Chengdu, the road is difficult, the mining cost is huge, although the area is large and the ore content is high, but it is a bit chicken for the old man Song, so he did not hesitate to give it to Qin Huaidao.

However, Guangyuan is about 200 kilometers away from Mianxian County on the official road, and there is a Ningqiang County in the middle, and the official road along the way is barely passable for vehicles, and it is not difficult to walk.

A few days later, the convoy came to Guangyuan, the Tang Dynasty called Lizhou, is a medium-sized city, living tens of thousands of households, because of the official road, the city looks quite prosperous, the team did not cause a sensation after entering the city, the same size of the convoy we have long seen how much is not strange.

The group stayed at an inn, ate a few things and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, Qin Huaidao got up for breakfast, and as soon as he sat down, Su Dingfang hurried over: "Young master, I have inquired clearly, the governor of Lizhou is surnamed Wu, and his name is Wu Shi Tong, but secondly, the female Wu Mei entered the palace and became a talented person." ”

"Oh?"

Qin Huaidao's face changed, this name is so famous, it's hard to know it, but Qin Huaidao really didn't know that his father was the governor of Lizhou, but it had nothing to do with him, he thought about it and said: "This time we are traveling in a private capacity, don't alarm the officials, after breakfast, you go to find the stronghold of the old man Song's family in Lizhou, they have such a big business, and they often run this line, there must be a stronghold in Lizhou." ”

"Understood." Su Dingfang agreed.

The two of them ate something, Qin Huaidao went back to the room and waited for the news, and it didn't take long for Su Dingfang to lead a middle-aged man in, the other party already knew who he wanted to see, and bowed down when he entered the door and said: "Song Li, the shopkeeper of the Song family stationed in Lizhou has seen the Duke of Protector." ”

"Shopkeeper Song is polite, the official came here this time to see the salt mine."

"The matter of the salt mine has been told by Song Lao, and it has been given to the Protector of the Kingdom, which was previously managed by the grass people, and if the Protector of the Kingdom has anything to ask, the grass people know everything."

"Tell me about the recent situation."

Song Li didn't dare to slack off, organized the language and replied seriously: "Back to the protector of the country, after the salt mine was given out, the family no longer mined, it has been abandoned for a long time, it is said that some local people secretly went in to mine at night, and the grass people sent people to squat for a period of time, but it was unsuccessful, and the official did not find any clues for a period of time, and reported to the family, and the family let the grass people send people to be stationed for a long time to ensure that they were not stolen, and they are still there." ”

"I'm tired." Qin Huaidao said politely.

"Don't dare, since it was given to the Protector, it should be taken care of, in case it is destroyed, the family has no face when the Protector comes to receive it, and now the Protector is coming, why don't you go to the yamen to handle the transfer and change?"

"That's what I mean, Dingfang, follow and go through the relevant procedures, and go up the mountain together to see after it's done, does Shopkeeper Song have time?" Qin Huaidao asked quietly.

"Yes, it is an honor for the grass people to lead the way for the Protector." Shopkeeper Song hurriedly said.

Qin Huaidao waved his hand.

Su Dingfang and Shopkeeper Song left and went straight to the yamen to go through the formalities.

The procedures are not difficult, just change it, change the title deed, change the new title deed to the name of the Protectorate Mansion, invalidate the old title deed, and the county government backup for future inspection.

After going through the formalities, Su Dingfang and Song returned to the inn, Qin Huaidao left the convoy, took fifty members of the village protection team to accompany him, and after leaving the city, he went south along the official road, and rode for about half an hour, and a small road appeared in front of him, and the lower road led to the direction of the valley.

The valley was densely wooded, the ground was full of traces left by wheels, obviously there had been no less mining in the past, the team had gone some distance, and the front suddenly opened up, it was a hillside, overgrown with weeds, there was not a single big tree, the view was good, and a gust of mountain wind came out, and it was extremely cool.

About 100 meters ahead of the hillside is a huge pit, a shed is built next to the pit, there are four people to meet it, staring at everyone vigilantly, Song Li is worried about misunderstanding, and quickly goes up and says, "It's me." ”

"Good shopkeeper." The four of them hurriedly saluted.

"From today onwards, you don't have to stay here anymore, and you have other arrangements to go back."

"Thank you, shopkeeper." The four of them were overjoyed, and they were tired of staying in this deserted mountain for a long time.

Song Li waved his hand to step aside, turned to look at Qin Huai and said, "Protector Gong, the salt mine is under this sinkhole, and it is difficult to mine, but the content is not low, and there are few impurities. ”

Qin Huaidao came to the edge of the pit to observe, more than thirty meters deep, there is a rope ladder to go down, hemp rope and wood are bundled, fixed on the stone wall, it is not safe to look at, and asked: "Shopkeeper Song, you in the past."

How are we mined? ”

"Hui Guogong asked, in the past, people went down to mine, the cave inside is very large, and there is an underground river, people mine directly below, and after refining, a basket is carried up, and food and accommodation are in it."

There is no machinery, pure primitive mining, artificial back, and walking the rope ladder, once it rains, it is easy to slide down, thirty meters is enough to fall to death, Qin Huaidao looked at the rope ladder under the hard stones, and I don't know if anyone has fallen to death, I don't have to ask the exit, and think of the mining method.

The primitive mining method must not be used, and long-term mining must be done in one step.

After pondering for a moment, Qin Huaidao looked at Shopkeeper Song: "Shopkeeper Song, this official needs to build at least ten thatched huts nearby, and it will be completed in two days, the cost is not a problem, it may be completed?" ”

"There is no shortage of craftsmen in Lizhou, you can do it well in one day and one night, you want it so urgently, the salary is indeed higher, but it is not too high, two percent more than usual, usually craftsmen are ten wen a day, you can give twelve wen, you need a hundred gong, one thousand two hundred wen, as for the material, there is no shortage of clay, weeds and wood on site." The shopkeeper Song is the head snake of Lizhou, and he is clear about business matters.

Qin Huaidao knew very well that if he wanted the horse to run, he had to give him enough forage, and said with a smile: "The official will give you three pieces of silver, no matter what you do, the official will see ten thatched houses after a day and a night." ”

"No problem, it's done." When the shopkeeper Song heard that there was still a profit, he agreed.

"In addition, the food, salt, oil, sauce and vinegar and other daily necessities needed by the three hundred people for three months are also brought to the official at the market price, and then ten carpenters are found to bring tools over, and the carpenter's wages are paid twice as usual, and then the workers who were mined at the beginning are called, and they want a hundred people, which is not enough to think of other ways, and the official will give you ten rewards of silver after the matter is completed."

"Thank you for the reward of the Protector of the Kingdom, the grass people will do it, the grain is easy to manage, the business name is there, and there is no shortage of carpenters and mining workers, all in place within two hours." Steward Song swore and said, don't talk about rewarding silver, you have to do it if you don't reward silver, otherwise the family can't explain, not to mention that you will work for half a year on the top of the silver reward.

"Find another one who can cook, let him bring some helpers over to be responsible for the food and drink of 300 people every day, and the materials are counted separately, no matter how many people he has, as long as he can do a good job, is the salary enough for ten times a month?"

"Enough, enough, Shiguan can find someone with good craftsmanship to come over, and the grass people will definitely do it." After Song Li finished speaking, seeing that Qin Huaidao had nothing else to explain, he hurried away with the four people in charge of guarding.

"My lord, what shall we do?" Su Dingfang asked.

"Leave a team of guards, and the other four teams each find a direction, and clear all the beasts within fifty miles of the vicinity for me, in case the beasts come out at night to hurt people, and bring back meat to eat."

"Obey." Su Dingfang clenched his fists and quickly went to arrange.

The team that came over was personally trained by Qin Huaidao, and carefully selected by Xue Rengui, all of them were the elite of the elite, everyone did a lot of hunting and killing beasts when they were training in Chashan, they had work in their hands, they had courage in their hearts, and their eyes lit up when they heard about hunting, and they left one after another.

Su Dingfang didn't know why, and was a little surprised that everyone behaved, you must know that the beasts in the mountains can hurt people, but he didn't ask, worried that Qin Huaidao was safe and didn't leave.

Qin Huaidao didn't explain, and observed the terrain around the big pit, while calculating the mining method.

The rope ladder back is definitely not good, it is too dangerous, and you have to think of another way.