Author: Tianjibai

This cold iron mine near Baihua Valley is an extremely strange existence.

From the outside, the area near the mining area is just an ordinary-looking barren mountain wilderness.

Standing outside the mining area, you can't feel much temperature change, and it is very consistent with the temperature in the four seasons outside.

But as you go deeper into the mining area, the temperature becomes colder.

At first it was just like an ordinary winter, but as it got deeper it got so cold that even when you pee you could instantly freeze it into icicles. At the deepest point it was even colder and biting, just by staying in this area.

If it is longer, it will freeze people to death.

As the source of cold, cold iron brings a more chilling experience to people.

Many miners have to mine ore in such an environment, and the progress will be slow.

Outside the Han Iron Mine, in the mining camp.

Early in the morning, many miners gathered together to welcome their new manager.

This kind of situation is not uncommon. It happens almost every three months. If it takes longer, the manager will be changed every six months at most. It is rare for someone to stay longer.

And every time there is a new manager, it is also the time when these miners are most nervous.

If the new manager doesn't take care of things well and just says that everything should follow the old rules, then they will be sad but still able to survive.

But if the new manager is dishonest and deprives them of food and fuel, it will really kill people.

Therefore, at this time, many miners are praying in their hearts that the new manager should at best be a good person, and at the worst, have similar character to the previous one.

While many miners were gathering in the square of the mining area camp to wait, Qiao Mo, the former chief steward of Hantie Mine and an elite disciple, was handing over tasks to Lin Lin.

After checking Lin Lin's identity certificate and management certificate, he showed joy on his face and complained to Lin Lin: "Junior brother Lin, you are here. Senior brother, I have not wanted to work for a long time. As a result, I have never found anyone willing to come and take over."

We were in the same class, but it ended up being delayed for three more months."

"After leaving this desolate mining area, senior brother, I can go find a job in a prosperous place. When the time comes, I can eat local delicacies and listen to plays and stories in my arms. It will be much more exciting than staying in this cold mining area."

Lin Lin's mind automatically filtered out all the other party's complaints, and after he finished speaking, he started to ask about the work process of the cold iron mine with a smile.

Qiao Mo felt good for this junior brother who was willing to listen to his complaints and showed no signs of impatience. At this time, he was willing to introduce the details of the cold iron mine to him in detail.

"Junior brother, look at the miners divided into two groups in the camp square."

Qiao Zhou pointed at the miners.

Lin Lin looked around and saw that the total number of miners in the two groups was about 5,000, and they were all equally slovenly.

His face and body were dirty, but his body seemed to have strong muscles.

The only difference between the two groups of miners is that one group of miners wear iron chains and shackles on their hands and feet, while the other group of miners does not have these shackles.

"Those who are in chains are criminals, traitors, and lowly beings such as purchased slaves."

"Those who are not shackled are miners recruited from various places. There are two mining tunnels in Hantie Mine, and usually the two groups mine ore separately."

Qiao Mo explained the identities of these two groups of miners.

Then he started talking about the division of labor: "The working hours of Hantie Mine are five hours. Counting the one hour's rest time in the middle, it is almost from dawn to dusk. These miners will work in two and work for two and a half hours.

When digging in the mine, I alternate two and a half hours to transport the ore."

Then, Qiao Mo pointed to the many supervisors wearing the uniforms of Baihua Valley's outer disciples who were maintaining order in the camp square outside, and introduced: "In the mining area, it is usually the outer disciples who manage these miners."

There are two promotion routes for the outer disciples of Baihua Valley.

The first is that when you reach an age and feel that your martial arts have not made much progress, you can choose to leave the martial arts and start your own business.

As long as these outer disciples are willing to pass on various information to the sect and pay a certain amount of taxes and fees to the sect according to the size of their property, they can act under the banner of the sect and receive certain protection from the sect.

Another promotion route is that as you get older and your martial arts skills improve, you can apply to the sect to become an outer deacon disciple.

Outer deacon disciples can also perform various tasks like elite disciples and earn contributions to the sect. When their years are up, they can also apply to learn the superior martial arts of the sect, and even be promoted to the rank of outer deacon elder.

And now these Han Iron Mine supervisors are the disciples of the outer sect deacons.

Although working as an errand here can earn more sect contributions than other outer sect deacon disciples, it is much lower than that of elite disciples.

After a pause, Qiao Mo continued to introduce: "We elite disciples still have to focus on entering the country with martial arts. On weekdays, we only need to ensure that the mine can operate smoothly and suppress miners who may cause riots and those who may invade the mine to steal the ore.

Just the enemy."

"Of course, this place is too close to the sect, and there are basically no enemies stupid enough to invade here, so the place where you usually need to put in a little effort is to suppress the miners."

"Those outer deacons can handle a few dozen or so rioting miners, but they won't be enough to face more enemies."

"So during the day when the miners are mining, junior fellow apprentices can find a place in the mining area that is a little less cold to practice martial arts. If you really feel uncomfortable with the cold, you can stay outside most of the time, only for an hour or two.

Just go in and patrol once or twice to prevent problems."

Lin Lin nodded to express understanding.

The sect's biggest purpose in letting elite disciples come here to serve as stewards is to use the elite disciples' at least second-rate, mid-to-upper level combat power to suppress the miners below.

As for the specific management and operation of other mines, other outer sect deacons and disciples will handle it.

After thinking about it, Qiao Mo thought about what he needed to add, and said: "As long as you can ensure that you pay enough cold iron ore to the sect every month, Junior Brother Lin, you can decide the mine matter with one word.

But remember not to steal cold iron ore, otherwise if you are discovered by the sect, you may have to go to the law enforcement hall."

At this point, Qiao Mo became softer and only said with his lips: "The cold iron gold stone is a material that the sect is focused on. Among the miners and supervisors in this mine, there are many disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall who are undercover. Please don't ask for it, junior brother."

Breaking the commandments.”

This last sentence is a heart-to-heart talk.

Although Lin Lin didn't have these evil thoughts, he still felt the other party's kindness, cupped his hands and thanked him: "Thank you, senior brother, for your advice."

The handover ends here.

Qiao Zhou took Lin Lin to the camp square and announced Lin Lin's new manager status to all the miners and supervisors.

Thanks to readers Yao, Pork Guy A73, and Yue Mingyi for their tips
Chapter completed!