Chapter 11: Discovery of Hematite ()

The two horses moved forward slowly.

These were two tall horses, with their hair shiny and shiny. The nostrils that were breathing were neighing from time to time. The four hooves stepped firmly on the ground, pulling the carriage behind them.

Two horses and one cart, the cart is also very atmospheric. It is all made of willow wood, with beautiful patterns carved on it, and the roof is a small flag flying in the wind.

Above the shaft, a burly man was waving the long horse whip in his hand.

Behind the carriage were seven or eight middle-aged strong men wearing ordinary robes, but the viciousness in their eyes made people absolutely afraid to look at them. Some were carrying knives, while others carried bows and arrows.

This is not like a servant, it is simply a small army.

As he turned around, suddenly, "Wow." The big man on the shaft of the carriage tightened the reins and stopped the horse from moving forward.

"Feng Qi, why don't you leave?"

"Master, there is a body on the road ahead."

"It's so disappointing, why do you meet a dead person when you go out?" With dissatisfied words, the curtain of the carriage was lifted up, and an old man with a strong expression walked off the carriage.

This man looks about forty years old, with a thin figure, thin face and black hair. He has a pair of triangular small eyes, a sparse beard under his jaw, a well-textured robe and a melon-skin hat on his head.

"Master, you are out." Feng Qi said respectfully, quickly putting down the small pedal of the carriage.

Mr. Liu and Liu Ziren are the landlords of Dingxi. They have thousands of acres of fertile land under their name. The courtyard in their home is deep and there are many wives and concubines.

Jiangnan has always been a major grain-producing area, and the grain returns are very high. However, in recent years, there have been continuous famines. Since the Yellow River flooded ten years ago, hundreds of thousands of people along the coast were regarded as refugees. It was not until last year that Prime Minister Tuotuo organized civilians to repair the river. However, when the farmers repaired the river, they actually dug out stone men with one eye, and there was also an engraved on the back: The stone men had one eye, which inspired the rebellion of the Yellow River in the world. Han Shantong and Liu Futong revolted.

The Huaihe River Basin here has experienced severe plagues and droughts. Many tenant farmers have reduced their rents and cannot collect their land rents. Some tenant farmers even went to join the rebel army.

This has nothing to do with yourself. As long as you plant your own land, you have to pay the rent for yourself. This is a natural thing. This time, you go back to Dingxi from Xinghua City to collect the rent. If you don’t pay the rent, then use your daughter and wife to pay off the debt.

If you have something more beautiful, leave it for yourself. If you have something ugly, you can sell it directly to other landlords in Xinghua City.

Therefore, I specially brought all the servants in my family. With this team of people here, which tenant dared not pay the rent obediently?

Liu Ziren got out of the car and took a look from a distance. He was wearing an official uniform, with the bow and arrow and sword around his waist still there. He was obviously an official officer, so why was he killed here?

Did the rebels come here?

"Go up and take a look." Liu Ziren and Feng Qi said.

"Yes, master." Feng Qi followed Liu Ziren and had done everything over the years, collecting rent, beating, robbing people, and even killing people. Naturally, he was not afraid of a corpse. He was Liu Ziren's loyal lackey.

When I walked forward, there were countless small holes all over the body, and blood was still oozing out. There was a large pool of blood on the neck, and my head had already flew to the side.

He kicked his head with his feet, turned it over, his eyes wide open, and obviously he was dying with his eyes open.

Feng Qida was surprised. This person himself knew Qiu Yi from Baiju Salt Field!

"Master, it's Qiu Yi." Feng Qi came over and said.

Qiu Yi and Liu Ziren from Baiju Salt Field were also shocked. The one who died was actually a Mongolian.

Qiu Yi himself knows this. He is usually a ruthless and brave man. He has superb martial arts skills, especially when he draws a bow and shoots an arrow. He has always been able to shoot arrows without any mistakes. The ordinary people are no match for him at all. Why was he killed here?

"Master, the blood has not dried yet. It seems that the person has not gone far. Do we want it?" Feng Qi said.

"Forget it, let Liu Zi return to Xinghua to report a letter and let those officials deal with it. Those who can kill Qiu Yi must be good at it. If you go, you may suffer a loss." Liu Ziren said.

Joke, those officials are all smiling and only know how to make money from their own pockets. They collect their own filial piety money without any sensation, but they all delay their work. These subordinates are supported by themselves. If there is an accident, they will definitely not get any compensation. I will not do anything about compensation, Mr. Liu.

"Liuzi, go back and report a letter to the county master."

"Yes." One of the people from several big men turned around and walked towards the road ahead.

"Go around and we will continue to collect the rent." Liu Ziren said as he got on the carriage.

"Hell!" Feng Qi pulled the reins of the horse, waved the whip, drove around the body, and walked forward as if nothing had happened.

In the woods, several people breathed a sigh of relief.

Very dangerous!

If those burly men entered the woods, they would have no weapons and would have exhausted gunpowder and would not be able to escape, so they would be in danger at that time.

Zhang Yang suddenly felt the softness in his palm and looked down.

"I'm sorry." At some point, my hands were held together with Liu Ruohan's.

Liu Ruohan's face turned red, and his hands were let go, but his palms were still warm.

When he ran into the woods just now, Zhang Yang was worried that Liu Ruohan would not run fast, so he didn't think too much, so he took her hand and ran into the woods.

The two looked at each other and saw a hint of panic in each other's eyes. Unconsciously, they felt like they were bound by life and death.

Could it be that I really fell in love with Ruohan?

Brother Shicheng, you helped me avenge me. From now on, Ruohan is willing to accompany you at the end of the world.

"Brother, look at what this is." A voice interrupted the two of them's longing.

Zhang Yang looked down and Shi Xin was holding a black waist card in his hand, shaking it around.

"Passive waist card?" Zhang Yang recognized it.

This waist card was naturally what Shi Xin came from Qiu Yi just now. He didn't let the waist knife take it, but Shi Xin refused to let go, so he pulled off the waist card hanging on the belt.

With the waist-branded brand, if you go to various places to sell fine salt, you no longer have to worry about being strictly investigated by the city gate guards, and no longer have to use official salt as a cover. You can wear your own special jacket and fill it with salt bags. When you look up the waist-brand, you can go in with a swagger.

"Where are these bamboo tubes?" Li Bosheng asked.

Zhang Yang took it and took a look. This time, in order to achieve better results, he had a little too much gunpowder. One of the bamboo tubes had deep cracks, so it was obviously impossible to use them anymore.

Zhang Yang frowned deeply. The strength of bamboo is too low. It can only be solved by using it as a musket. If you want to protect yourself in this troubled times, it is impossible to do without a suitable weapon.

Suddenly, his eyes stopped in Li Bosheng's palm, holding a dark red stone there.

"What is that in your hand?" Zhang Yang asked.

"As I was running just now, I kicked a stone and tripped. When I saw that the stone was very strange in color, it should be a piece of ochre. I went back and tried to refine something. You know, I like to refine alchemy..."

Zhang Yang held it in his hand and observed it carefully.

The surface of this stone is scale-shaped and covered with cherry-red streaks. The luster is a bit dim, but the dark red color attracted Zhang Yang's entire attention.

Isn't this hematite?

"There are also underground here." Liu Ruohan bent down and picked up a stone on the ground, with the same color.

"Brother Shicheng, is there anything special about this stone?"

Of course, with this stone, I can refine iron, with iron, I can build a gun, with a gun, in this chaotic world, I have the ability to protect myself, and maybe I will achieve something even more.
Chapter completed!