I traveled back to the Qin Dynasty, and the First Emperor begged me to become his empress.

Chapter 173 Coal Mine

In the tranquil and peaceful village, before the morning sun had fully bathed the earth, Ying Wuyou was immersed in a sweet dream. However, a sudden burst of noise shattered the peace; it turned out that the villagers had already risen early to begin their work. The noise grew louder and louder, eventually waking Ying Wuyou from his slumber.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes, slowly sat up in bed, stretched, and then got dressed and washed up. Once everything was ready, Ying Wuyou immediately got to work. First, she began to arrange for the guards who had passed yesterday's competition.

After careful consideration, Ying Wuyou decided to divide the guards into several groups. One group had a particularly arduous task—they needed to infiltrate the wool-buying merchants' caravans. This group would venture deep into the Xiongnu and Donghu territories, carrying the crucial mission of delivering vital intelligence. However, this mission was fraught with danger; if their identities were exposed, death would likely be their only fate. Therefore, before setting off, these men had to undergo the most rigorous training to ensure their success.

Besides the intelligence-gathering team, another group of guards was assigned to various mining areas to carry out covert surveillance. The Qin Dynasty's mineral resources are crucial to the nation's development. Especially with the establishment of economic zones, these valuable minerals are highly likely to become targets of covetousness from other countries. Therefore, sending people to closely monitor each mine and guard against the malicious intentions of other nations is of paramount importance.

Finally, Ying Wuyou wanted to place a small group of guards by Xiang Yu's side. This mission was extremely demanding, requiring not only agility but also a sharp and quick mind to handle various complex situations. Therefore, the training of these personnel could not be neglected; only those who underwent careful training and performed exceptionally well were qualified to be dispatched for such a crucial mission.

After careful consideration, Ying Wuyou had a clear understanding of the general direction of their next move. He summoned Zhou Xun and gave him instructions: "Zhou Xun, you now need to conduct a detailed investigation into the specific family circumstances and personal situations of these guards. Once you have a comprehensive understanding, distribute them evenly among the four groups according to their personalities and characteristics. At the same time, make proper arrangements for their accommodation and daily meals. As for other related matters, I will plan and deploy them in a few days."

Upon hearing the order, Zhou Xun immediately replied respectfully, "Your subordinate will obey the princess's command!"

Immediately afterward, Ying Wuyou seemed to remember something and asked, "Yesterday you went to the palace to deliver a message. Did the whole process go smoothly?"

Zhou Xun hurriedly reported, "Your Highness, His Majesty was initially quite anxious, but after hearing my detailed report, he was relieved. In addition, my subordinates have also promptly notified the Chaohua Palace. Everything is progressing very smoothly."

Ying Wuyou nodded slightly in satisfaction and praised, "Hmm, you did a very good job this time. If there's nothing else, you may leave now and get to work on arranging all the matters concerning this group of guards."

Zhou Xun clasped his hands in a fist salute, bowed, and said, "This subordinate takes his leave." After saying this, he turned and left.

Before long, while Ying Wuyou was still wandering around the manor, a guard rushed over to report: "Princess, General Meng has arrived here!"

Upon hearing of Meng Tian's visit, Ying Wuyou was momentarily surprised, but she quickly regained her composure and gracefully walked towards the reception hall. As she entered, she saw Meng Tian already standing respectfully before her. Upon seeing her, he immediately clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Your Highness, I apologize for disturbing you! Yesterday, the King instructed me of a matter, but due to the urgency of the situation, I was unable to discuss it with Your Highness. Therefore, I rushed here early this morning. I hope I have caused Your Highness any disturbance?"

Ying Wuyou nodded slightly, her delicate eyebrows raised, and said slowly, "It's alright, General Meng, there's no need for such formality. But may I ask what urgent matter could be so pressing?"

Meng Tian glanced around, his eyes flickering with a hint of apprehension. Ying Wuyou understood immediately, realizing that his words should not be overheard by others. She turned to the guards and maids in the courtyard and loudly ordered, "You may all leave for now. No one may enter this courtyard without my permission."

Everyone understood and responded in unison before turning and leaving the courtyard. The guards, being highly trained, quickly and silently dispersed to various corners of the courtyard, dutifully guarding the gate.

After everyone had left, leaving only the two of them in the courtyard, Ying Wuyou spoke again: "Now that there is no one else, General Meng, please speak freely."

Meng Tian took a deep breath and lowered his voice, saying, "Your Highness, the King has ordered me to select a group of prisoners from the prison and send them to work in the mines to dig for ore. However, the King did not elaborate on this matter, but only instructed me to discuss the specifics with Your Highness."

Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou understood and said, "It's like this..." Then Ying Wuyou gave Meng Tian a general account of the coal mining project.

After listening, Meng Tian understood and nodded, saying, "This subordinate understands, but where is this location?"

Ying Wuyou said slowly, "Chun Gu County has a coal mine of considerable size."

Meng Tian nodded slightly upon hearing this and said, "If that's the case, this county is relatively close to our Xianyang city, which would be quite convenient for escorting those criminals to the coal mines."

Ying Wuyou replied with a smile, "I am truly grateful for General Meng's help this time. However, I still need some time to compile and organize the necessary technology and specific operating methods for coal mining. Once I have finished, I will send it to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, I hope that you will select suitable prisoners to ensure that the subsequent work can proceed smoothly."

Meng Tian nodded solemnly and replied, "Very well, in that case, I shall take my leave for now."

Ying Wuyou politely returned the greeting, saying, "General Meng, please go ahead." After saying this, Meng Tian respectfully bowed, then turned and walked away.

Once Meng Tian's figure disappeared from sight, Ying Wuyou turned and walked towards the courtyard where Xu Fu and the others lived. As he stepped into the courtyard, he immediately saw many alchemists busily washing wool.

The clumps of wool, originally dirty and tangled, were being repeatedly rubbed and washed in clean water. However, because the wool was so heavily soiled and disorganized, the entire washing process was exceptionally difficult and laborious, and the people responsible for this task looked extremely exhausted. Seeing this, Ying Wuyou frowned and slowly stepped forward.

At this moment, Xu Fu, with his sharp eyes, spotted Ying Wuyou's arrival first and hurriedly ran forward to greet him. Ying Wuyou asked, "I wonder if any finished yarn products have been made yet?"