Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 161 The Western Hills resemble a crouching tortoise!

Does Xishan belong to the water element in the Five Elements theory?

Some of the merchants inside the hall seemed to understand, but most were still completely confused.

Fan Yongdou looked at Li Mingxing with increasing respect and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Appreciate further details."

Receiving the admiring glances and expectant looks from the merchants in the hall, Li Mingxing felt quite pleased with himself. He grinned, his wrinkles crinkling together.

He took a small sip of strong tea before speaking slowly and deliberately.

"Since ancient times, the way of mining coal has always followed the principles of Yin and Yang and the methods of Feng Shui in order to determine the location of the mine."

There can be no room for error in this matter. Zhang Shiyuan, despite his young age, is arrogant and conceited, thinking that he can solve the predicament of Xishan with a few tricks. He is simply ignorant.

The idea that the Western Hills belong to the water element in the Five Elements theory is not some mysterious principle. Since the Jin and Liao dynasties, the capital city has been mining in the Western Hills.

But why do people only scratch the surface and stop there, unwilling to delve deeper?

“Perhaps it’s because our skills aren’t good enough,” Fan Yongdou said after thinking for a moment. “The terrain of Xishan is complex, and the mines can’t be dug very deep, so throughout history, only the surface veins have been mined.”

This is one factor.

Li Mingxing shook his head and said.

"The more important issue is that the shape of the western mountain resembles a tortoise lying on the ground, with a hidden water palace beneath its shell, which is a typical 'hidden dragon drinking from the abyss' image in feng shui!"
"With such feng shui, digging deeper will only cost a few more craftsmen their lives!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Yongdou's eyes widened immediately, and he said in disbelief.

"Is Mr. Li really telling the truth?"

"Ha~"

Li Mingxing let out a cold laugh.

"This is not a claim I made up. You can look up the records of the Xishan mines in the past, and you will know why our ancestors were unwilling to dig deep into the mines."

"It's because our ancestors were well-versed in this principle. The mountains in the northwest (Qian) position of the Western Hills are low-lying, while the mountains in the southeast (Xun) position are towering, forming an embracing shape that traps moisture. According to feng shui principles, if one were to dig too deep rashly, the mine would inevitably suffer from severe water seepage."

But then someone asked a question.

"Sir, what's the problem with the water seepage in this mine? Just find more people to dump it out, and you can still make a considerable profit."

Upon hearing this, Li Mingxing immediately bristled and glared, angrily retorting.

“Zhang Shiyuan is just a greenhorn who doesn’t understand, but do you not understand either? The water seepage in the mine is a minor issue, but it’s extremely difficult to drain. Over time, the ore layer will inevitably loosen, and not only will we not be able to extract much ore, but the craftsmen will also lose their lives!”

His eyes narrowed to slits.

“Zhang Shiyuan can disregard human lives, after all, there are tens of thousands of refugees in Xishan, enough for him to squander. But how can he earn money if this continues?”
The refugees went to the government office to protest. Even if he had connections everywhere, he couldn't openly disregard human life!

For a moment, everyone in the hall fell silent, shocked by Li Mingxing's analysis.

They never imagined that such a small coal mine as Xishan would have so many intricacies.

A moment later, someone said with great joy.

"It's all thanks to Mr. Li's guidance, otherwise we would have really been misled by Zhang Shiyuan."

"This kid is very treacherous."

"I said that everyone in the community calls him a loyal minister who serves the country and the people. How could there be such a kind-hearted person who would scatter money to give those soldiers a good life?"

It seems that Zhang Shiyuan was only interested in getting those soldiers to make money for him; he didn't really care whether they lived or died.

The merchants were deeply moved, feeling that this was the final answer, as it perfectly aligned with their traditional beliefs, and they themselves had always acted in this way.

Aren't soldiers just consumables used to make money?
"The old gentleman's words have enlightened me greatly!"

Fan Yongdou stroked his beard and said with a smile.

"I think this is not right. Why are there thousands or tens of thousands of abandoned coal mines of all sizes on the western mountain? Now I realize that our ancestors must have foreseen this a hundred years ago."

Zhang Shiyuan thought himself exceptionally intelligent, unaware that his unorthodox ways would ultimately backfire on him.

It seems the Xishan workshop is destined to lose everything.

This idea pleased Fan Yongdou greatly. In the previous battle between Zhang Siwei and Xu Xuemo and the other party, they had lost everything. Naturally, the merchants who were under their protection also suffered heavy losses.

Li Mingxing squinted and said, "That Zhang Shiyuan is quite capable and should not be underestimated. Both Grand Secretary Zhang and Minister Xu were harmed by him. Fortunately, our Shanxi merchants have a solid foundation. How can the Zhang family father and son compare with our hundreds of years of accumulation? They are just military households!"

"Absolutely!" Fan Yongdou nodded repeatedly, expressing his gratitude. "Fortunately, the elders had made preparations in advance, otherwise we would have almost fallen into Zhang Shiyuan's trap!"

After the news of Xu Xuemo and Zhang Siwei's downfall spread, Fan Yongdou couldn't sleep well every night until he learned about the old people's plans, at which point he finally felt at ease.

"Whether it is doing business or doing things, one must take a long-term approach. Someone as impatient as Zhang Shiyuan will never achieve anything."

Li Mingxing lectured him.

"However, none of you should be complacent. You should all work together to protect them, and not a single one of them should be left behind!"

Fan Yongdou said with a smile.

"Sir, there's no need to worry. I've already made arrangements. Doesn't Zhang Shiyuan like to run a newspaper?"

"It's just that he's allowed to run a newspaper, but why can't we do it too?"

Xishan Workshop.

evening.

These days, every day when he finishes his shift, a strange man would appear in the western mountains. He would often go around asking the workers questions.

The man looked haggard and disheveled, making him appear more like a madman.

"Don't bother me! If you're late, you'll miss out on the fatty meat. I'll just get you some snacks to go with your drinks!"

Annoyed by his questions, a man pushed the madman to the ground.

With a thud.

Zhang Siwei fell hard to the ground, covered in mud, but he didn't give up and shouted something at the man.

"I am warning you all, don't you understand? Zhang Shiyuan certainly has no good intentions!"

He shouted loudly, attracting the attention of many workers who were finishing their shifts. Upon hearing that this person was making fun of Zhang Shiyuan, the workers' eyes practically spit fire.

However, the workshop has its own rules, and fighting will result in fines.

At this moment, a man pretended not to care and stepped on Zhang Siwei's hand.

"Ah~ my old hand~"

Zhang Siwei let out a scream; the excruciating pain felt like torture.

But the man pretended not to see it, and even ground it down hard before speaking.

"Hey~ what did I step on? It's so soft."

He glanced at it and had an exaggerated expression on his face.

"Oh dear~ old man, why are you lying on the ground? I'm so sorry, my eyesight is really not very good. You look like a scholar, I hope you won't hold a grudge against a country bumpkin like me?"

The man's words immediately drew laughter from the surrounding workers, who treated Zhang Siwei as a jester and made fun of him.

"you!"

Zhang Siwei shakily pulled his hand out; it was already somewhat black and blue, and the muscles on his face were trembling with pain.

The man chuckled and said, "How are you feeling, sir? If you're feeling unwell, I'll take you to the garrison to find the officials. They're kind-hearted and will surely take care of you."

Zhang Siwei's facial muscles twitched, revealing a look of fear, and he scrambled away from the crowd.

He was running while shouting something.

"Utterly shameless! You are all shameless scoundrels!" "Pah!" The man spat. "Poor, pretentious scholars, your affectations are utterly despicable!"

Ignoring the little incident, the man jogged and caught up with the group again. When he saw Zhang Sishu, the "village elder" who turned around and glared at him, he couldn't help but feel a little insecure. He scratched his head and said...

"Elder, please don't be angry. This person is too despicable, so I just wanted to teach him a lesson."

"Stop it!" Zhang Sishu said helplessly, waving his hand. "This is the last time."

Zhang Hangzi chuckled, but couldn't help but ask with some doubt.

"Elder, who exactly is this person? Why are the adults letting him cause trouble all over the workshop?"

Zhang Sishu frowned and said, "I don't know much about him. This man worked as a clerk at the ore factory. I suppose it's because Master Zhang is kind-hearted and didn't want to see the old madman starve to death, so he sent him to Xishan to make a living."

"Hey~"

Zhang Hangzi shook his head helplessly.

"Master Zhang is good in every way, but he is ultimately too kind-hearted. It's really not worth it to give such an ungrateful scoundrel a meal."

"Alright, how could we possibly presume to know about the affairs of adults?"

Zhang Sishu stood with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face as he spoke.

"The Xishan Deyun Society has released another piece of music today. Let's finish our meal early and go take a look."

A glint of light flashed in Zhang Hangzi's eyes.

Zhang Siwei appeared dazed and confused, wandering aimlessly among the Xishan workshops.

He held a small booklet in his hand, and every now and then he would take out his dragon-shaped pen to record his various sights and experiences in the Western Hills.

At first, Zhang Siwei was acting furtively, as if afraid of being discovered. But then he realized that the Imperial Guards who were always with him didn't care whether he kept records or not.

As long as he doesn't enter the mine to disrupt operations or leave Xishan, he is free to roam around.

Zhang Siwei couldn't understand why the other party was so confident. Wasn't he worried that he would discover the secrets of Xishan Workshop?
Aren't you afraid that you might incite the Xishan workers against him?

The more indifferent the other party seemed, the angrier Zhang Siwei became.

He would occasionally look back at the two Imperial Guards who were following him. Seeing them chatting and laughing from afar, he felt as if they were mocking him.

This made Zhang Siwei even angrier. More than being targeted, this ignoring of him made him feel even more infuriated.

"Zhang Shiyuan! Zhang Shiyuan!"

He gritted his teeth, but didn't know how to vent his anger. He turned his head and saw a group of workers walking excitedly toward "Deyun Society" not far away. The smiles on their faces were even more glaring.

As if he had made up his mind, Zhang Siwei also quickly walked in that direction.

Since the establishment of Deyun Society, the workers of Xishan have been able to watch a crosstalk performance every few days.

The Deyunshe Theater has a limited capacity; a little over a thousand people is already the limit.

Therefore, the more than 10,000 workers in Xishan can only take turns, about once every ten days.

Of course, not all workers like to watch crosstalk, so a ticket for this crosstalk show costs about five coins. If you don't want to watch it, you can give your spot to someone else and keep the five coins.

People who enjoy storytelling and crosstalk, people who enjoy looking at erotic pictures, and people who like to receive a stable monthly income.

Most importantly, in Xishan, one can have a house to shelter from the wind and rain, a stable income, and the cost of food, clothing, and daily necessities is much cheaper than outside.

With all these factors combined, even the most unruly refugees were able to settle down in Xishan.

Even subtly, these people have come to regard Xishan as their true home!

On this day, a strange old man appeared at the Nishiyama Tokuyun Society.

Zhang Siwei was not a worker from Xishan. As a clerk in the workshop, he did not receive the five-copper discount.

The workshop is not for frontline workers. People go to Xishan Deyun Society to listen to crosstalk. The ticket price is usually around twenty coins.

If you're not an employee of Xishan Workshop, the ticket price will be around forty coins, and sometimes there are no available tickets even if you have the money.

Zhang Siwei was very poor, and he was cursing as he took out the twenty coins.

Upon entering the theater, he felt it was very crowded. Although the theater was semi-open-air, how could it smell good when a group of rough men gathered together?
Zhang Siwei looked disgusted, but he still endured it and squeezed into the crowd.

He had absolutely no interest in listening to the performances on stage.

At this moment, what was being told on stage was not a crosstalk performance, but a storytelling performance of "The Cases of Judge Dee of the Tang Dynasty" by a storyteller from Beijing. While the storyteller was explaining the story, someone even gave a simple performance on the side.

If you just ask Zhang Yuanhao and Zhu Yinghuai to perform crosstalk, they'll be exhausted.

With the establishment of the Nishiyama Tokuyun Society, it was natural that there could not be just one type of program. From vernacular novels to theatrical performances, it could be said that there was everything, greatly enriching the variety of programs.

Today's rendition of "The Cases of Judge Dee of the Tang Dynasty" is even more captivating.

When the workers heard that this was created by Master Zhang, the founder of Xishan Workshop, they were all filled with anticipation.

With their anticipation at its peak, the storytelling did not disappoint either. Di Renjie's captivating performance further enthralled them, with everyone staring wide-eyed, standing on tiptoe, and shouting "Bravo!" every now and then, afraid of missing a single detail.

But at this very moment, an annoying old man appeared, seemingly asking all sorts of questions.

"Brave man, was this crosstalk performance entertaining?"

The man turned his head and glanced at him with disdain. If it were his former fiery temper, he would have given him a good lesson. But after entering the Xishan Workshop, the men's violent nature had improved a lot.

After all, fighting, brawling, and causing trouble really do result in having your pay docked!
He spoke patiently without turning his head.

"What kind of stupid question is that? Doesn't it look like a man is even here?"

Despite being rebuffed, Zhang Siwei remained defiant, gritting his teeth as he spoke.

"Don't you have a single complaint?"

The man ignored him, but Zhang Siwei spoke more and more urgently.

"All you do all day is eat coarse grain buns and go for days without meat. You go to the mines and risk your lives, working yourself to exhaustion. You think a mere crosstalk performance and some erotic pictures can buy you off?"

A man standing nearby immediately frowned and said angrily.

"You old geezer, the sun is shining so brightly now, yet you don't know how to be grateful. What kind of life did we have back in the countryside?"
They were busy all day long, but they couldn't even fill their stomachs, and in the end, they didn't even have coarse grain buns.

In the Western Hills, everyone was grateful for Master Zhang's kindness. If it weren't for him giving us a way to survive, to put it bluntly, how many of the tens of thousands of people on the Western Hills would have survived?

"Old man, old man"

Zhang Siwei was rendered speechless by this ordinary man, as if all his strength had been drained from him.

He tried asking around the theater, but was met with either being ignored or verbally abused. Someone even slapped him, leaving Zhang Siwei dazed and confused.

In the end, he could only leave Deyun Society in disgrace.

The Imperial Guard captain who had been following Zhang Siwei was happily watching the performance, but he never expected that the old rascal would cause trouble all over the theater.

If Zhang Yunxiu hadn't given instructions, the captains would have beaten this insolent old man to death long ago.

If it weren't for their protection, the other party would have been beaten to death by the enraged workers.

After all that commotion, the play couldn't be watched, and Zhang Siwei left the theater.

The captains were angry, but they held back and silently followed Zhang Siwei.

However, on their way back, the Imperial Guards made a rather unexpected discovery.

This man, a former Grand Secretary of the Imperial Court, did not falter when facing the Emperor. Even after being captured and taken to the Xishan Thousand-Household Office, where he suffered from hunger and was somewhat weak, he remained sharp-tongued.

But Zhang Yunxiu released him and let him wander around the Xishan workshop for several days, but the other party became more and more dejected.

Since leaving the Nishiyama Tokuyun Society, his body has not been as energetic as before, and his back has become increasingly hunched.

　Note 1: The abundance of groundwater in Xishan has persisted into modern times.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)