"Sir, how about we light a fire? It'd warm up the lads passing by."
Chu Mu was strolling about when an old corvée laborer cautiously approached, pleading.
"Alright."
Chu Mu glanced at the elderly man before pointing to the tree where he often sat.
"There's still some firewood piled up over there. Take it and light it."
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"
The old laborer nodded and bowed repeatedly, as if Chu Mu had done some great act of kindness.
Chu Mu waved his hand, saying no more.
Within the bounds of what was permitted, he didn't mind offering these laborers some small conveniences.
But that was all—only within the allowed limits. Anything more, he wouldn't do.
As for using his position to lord over these wretched souls, flaunting his authority to feel important, such tasteless behavior was beneath him.
"I wonder if they'll make it through this winter."
Chu Mu watched the busy laborers. If he recalled correctly, the ones under his charge had been conscripted at the end of summer. By the usual six-month corvée term, if they could survive this winter, they'd be able to return home safely.
Barring any surprises, for the next two years, they wouldn't have to serve again and could live their simple lives in peace.
"Let's hope so…"
Chu Mu let out a long breath, surveying the snow-covered mine before silently returning to sit by the fire.
The old laborer who'd just come by seemed to have added a few more logs to the pile. The bonfire roared, its heat surging, banishing the chill entirely.
Chu Mu shifted his body, finding a comfortable spot to lean back, then pulled out a book from his chest and began reading it page by page.
The morning passed by in this manner.
At mealtime, a few laborers gathered around the fire, wolfing down their rock-hard cornbread.
Compared to the laborers' unchanging fare, the inspectors' meals were naturally far more substantial.
Five dishes and a soup, all-you-can-eat, for just three coppers—practically a giveaway.
"Mu, how can you eat so much?"
Chu Mu was shoveling food into his mouth when Xu Yuan, sitting nearby, couldn't help but mutter.
"It's not that much."
Chu Mu glanced at his meal. With his long-term martial training, his appetite seemed to grow by the day.
But eating a lot meant growing stronger.
In just over a month, he'd visibly bulked up. The frail frame of his predecessor was nearly a thing of the past.
"Oh, by the way, come to my place for dinner tonight. I've got something for you."
Chu Mu took another bite, suddenly looking up.
"Sure, but what's up?"
"Sparring!"
Chu Mu swallowed his food. "Spar with me!"
Xu Yuan hurriedly explained, "I've never trained in martial arts…"
"No problem."
Chu Mu waved it off. "Who doesn't know how to swing a stick?"
"Alright then."
Xu Yuan agreed, still restlessly looking around while eating.
Chu Mu sighed helplessly. "Just eat your food. What are you looking at?"
Xu Yuan hurriedly pointed outside the mess hall. "No, Mu, look! Someone died again!"
"Someone died?"
Chu Mu froze, following Xu Yuan's gaze. A few bodies wrapped in straw mats were piled together, starkly conspicuous.
"Probably another accident somewhere."
Chu Mu glanced over, then looked away, continuing to eat.
In this mine, accidents and deaths happened every few days—nothing unusual.
"I'm gonna check it out."
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Xu Yuan tossed out the words and jogged off.
Before long, he came panting back, sidling up to Chu Mu with a mysterious air. "Mu, they froze to death. There's frost on the bodies!"
Chu Mu's heart tightened. He instinctively looked outside again, noticing another straw mat had been laid over the pile of corpses.
"No way, right?"
Chu Mu frowned, clearly skeptical.
The snow had only started falling a day or two ago. Could laborers really have frozen to death so quickly?
"I'm telling you, I saw it with my own eyes. There's definitely frost…" Xu Yuan insisted.
"I'll go take a look…"
Chu Mu stood, but just as he set down his bowl and chopsticks, urgent shouts rang out from outside the mess hall.
"Third and Fourth Squads, get out here!"
"Assemble now!"
"What's going on?"
"They won't even let us eat in peace!"
"I just got my food, haven't even taken a bite!"
With those shouts, the mess hall erupted into chaos.
Chu Mu paused, his steps unbroken. He called to Xu Yuan and quickly strode toward the exit.
"Both captains are here!"
As soon as they stepped outside, Xu Yuan whispered urgently at Chu Mu's side.
Chu Mu glanced at the two captains standing outside, shouting orders, his face clouded with doubt.
The inspection post had only two captain positions, so naturally, there were just two captains.
From what he knew, they had separate duties—one oversaw the mine, the other guarded the town.
Seeing even one of them was rare, yet today, both had shown up together?
If it were just squad leaders, the inspectors would've been buzzing with questions. But with both captains present, few dared to joke around.
One by one, they obediently gathered in front of the mess hall, then followed one of the captains down the mountain.
At the base, dozens of inspectors were already waiting. As the group approached, a squad leader stepped forward, exchanged a few words with the captain, and led his men to join the ranks.
With this development, the already murmuring group grew even noisier, everyone whispering and clearly at a loss.
"Mu, something feels off. We're heading out of town!"
"What the hell is going on?"
"No idea."
Chu Mu shook his head, then, as if struck by a thought, turned to Xu Yuan. "Don't wander off. Stick with me!"
"Don't worry, Mu."
Xu Yuan, visibly nervous, shed his usual lively demeanor and stayed close to Chu Mu.
As the group left Nanshan Town, the clamor quieted abruptly. Chu Mu looked ahead and saw, at the road's junction, a figure in ornate armor and a cloak, surrounded by several riders, standing out starkly.
This figure was clearly the reason for the sudden silence.
To ordinary inspectors, a captain was already lofty. But the county lieutenant of Qinghe County, the thousand-man commander of the inspection post, Li Jinghong, was unquestionably the heavens above them all.
"Spread the word to the men, let them know what's happening."
"Let's move!"
Captain He Ping jogged up to Li Jinghong, who waved dismissively, lightly tugged the reins, and rode past him.
"Yes, sir!"
He Ping saluted, then turned to the inspectors, issuing a command. The group set off again.
But now, with the thousand-man commander's order, the renewed clamor among the ranks carried the reason for this commotion to every inspector's ears.
…
*(End of Chapter)*