Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 414 - 385: Prince Jin’s Private Army

Yu Xiaolian was just asking casually, not expecting much from the two guys.

Unexpectedly, Ding Han spoke in a startling manner, "So there really is someone up there!

I thought my mother was lying to me!"

Yu Xiaolian raised an eyebrow, "Your mother told you there were people up there?"

Ding Han looked up, "She did, but I never saw anyone there. Xiaolian sister, your eyes are really sharp!"

Yu Xiaolian reached out to pat Ding Han’s head, telling him to go play with Yu Ziqian, then she went straight into the workshop and called out Zhang out, who was working.

Seeing Yu Xiaolian calling her, Zhang quickly wiped her wet hands on her apron, "Xiaolian, what do you need me for?"

Yu Xiaolian pulled Zhang to a corner where no one was around and quietly asked, "I saw someone on the cliff above our backyard today.

I heard from Ding Han that you’ve also seen people up there. Do you know what these people are doing up there? Why are they living up there?"

Zhang’s expression suddenly became tense, "Xiaolian, if you see something, keep it to yourself, or it could lead to deadly trouble!"

Yu Xiaolian was shocked, "What kind of people are up there?"

Zhang lowered her voice as much as possible, "I suspect... they are Prince Jin’s private soldiers!"

"Ah?" Yu Xiaolian covered her mouth in shock.

She knew from books that Jun Yian had tens of thousands of private soldiers, but she didn’t expect them to be right above her head, no, right above her roof.

She thought Prince Jin’s private soldiers would be in a remote old mountain area, but surprisingly, they were near Luocheng.

But... these private soldiers, who have been on that cliff for years, must need someone to deliver supplies regularly, and the road up there passes right by Taohua Village. How come no one in Taohua Village has ever found it suspicious? Or do they all know and just pretend not to for survival?

Yu Xiaolian voiced her concerns.

Zhang looked at her with a knowing expression, "There are not just paths leading up from our Taohua Village; every village has well-trodden paths. Have you heard of Mountain Entrance Village? No original villagers live there now; they’re all disguised soldiers."

Yu Xiaolian had indeed heard of Mountain Entrance Village because Jiang Haiqiu went there to collect peaches and hawthorns for his family, and when returning, Yu Changhe commented that the residents of that village were different from other villages.

Residents of other villages were enthusiastic about selling their stock when they saw buyers, but the villagers at Mountain Entrance were hostile to outsiders. Jiang Haiqiu didn’t even enter the village’s outskirts.

"How do you know so much?" Yu Xiaolian couldn’t help but ask.

Zhang glanced around to ensure no one was near before continuing, "When my dad was alive, he sneaked up there; he told me!"

"Oh!" Zhang’s father, a hunter in the mountains for years, might have stumbled upon someone transporting goods or seen secluded paths, and out of curiosity, followed to check things out. It made sense.

Zhang continued, "Whose world is this? It hardly matters to us ordinary people. Moreover, the current Emperor is foolish and tyrannical, with yearly tax increases, leaving people neither well-fed nor well-clothed.

We all live on Prince Jin’s domain; supporting him is never wrong, and if he ascends to the throne one day, he might be better than his father."

Yu Xiaolian was surprised to see Zhang’s far-sightedness.

Recalling the story of when the Northern Land border war occurred, people of Great Liang opened the city gates to let Liang Meng troops in, just showed how people had long lost hope and confidence in Great Liang and the Jun Family.

For someone as far from Luocheng as Zhang to have such thoughts, let alone the war-torn border residents.

The common people don’t care about the fall of a country or who rules the land. They just want three meals a day in peace and no more wars or tax increases.

Whoever ensures they live stably, eat well each meal, gains their allegiance.

As for ideas like national honor or personal duty to the country’s fate, they don’t even cross their minds.

Since Zhang knows so much, it seems like Prince Jin hiding soldiers on this mountain isn’t a secret; perhaps the people just tacitly understand but don’t speak of it.

Zhang warned Yu Xiaolian repeatedly, it’s enough to know this, but never report Prince Jin to the Emperor. Prince Jin is the Emperor’s own son, and even if the son errs, the father might just punish him rather than execute him. Even if the Emperor kills Prince Jin, informers like them won’t survive.

Even if Prince Jin’s head rolls, his loyal followers and remaining forces could ruin the informer’s family for generations.

Moreover, Prince Jin’s strongholds aren’t limited to this place on the mountain; they can’t contend with Prince Jin.

And it’s unnecessary to fight against him; it brings them no benefit.

Despite hardships in recent years, grain prices in Yu State are better than in the Northern Land and Southern Border.

Moreover, there are no bandits or robbers committing crimes; this is thanks to Prince Jin’s governance. In other places, unrest is rampant, people are miserable, and cases of people committing suicide due to desperation are numerous.

Yu Xiaolian carefully observed Zhang, feeling she’s more than just a hunter’s daughter.

Theoretically, as someone living in Taohua Village for years, Zhang should be unaware of what the outside world is like, but she not only knows but is articulate about it; it’s unclear where she learned all this.

After promising Zhang repeatedly not to tell anyone about this issue, Yu Xiaolian, laden with thoughts, returned to the bamboo house.

Back on the second floor of the bamboo house, she couldn’t help but take out the binoculars to look at the cliff again. Her family had been living here for over two years, yet today was the first time she learned of this great secret.

She wondered how many villagers knew, whether Qi Lizheng knew?

It seems the cliff must be a restricted area for soldiers; those two soldiers she saw earlier must have sneaked over, as now it was completely silent with no signs of life.

After putting away the binoculars, Yu Xiaolian heard Yu Changhe calling her name from downstairs.

Yu Xiaolian leaned out the window, "Dad, are you calling me?"

Yu Changhe waved at her, "Your Fourth Great Uncle has prepared a feast, and we’re going over to eat later."

Yu Xiaolian acknowledged, already accustomed to the custom of hosting family and friends in advance for happy occasions.

Yu Xiaolian changed her clothes and, with the two little ones, followed Sun to Sun Fourth Uncle’s house in the village.

At Sun Fourth Uncle’s place, the courtyard was full of people. The women had set up tables in the courtyard, busy preparing dishes for tomorrow’s feast.