Border Cook

"And the mountains over there are places that even hunters won't go to. If there is actually a large flat land over there that can be used for them to mine iron ore and smelt iron tools, outsiders will not be able to detect it at all."

"Of course, these are just guesses. First, we need to confirm whether there is really a cave here, and whether this is really the entrance or exit of the cave."

"Yeah." Xiao Luoan nodded heavily.

If we can find clues here, we can follow the clues and find solid evidence.

This place is located halfway up the mountain, and the forest of steles can be seen from afar. Ordinary people would never get close to it.

If this place is used as the entrance and exit, it can indeed conceal one's identity.

I just don’t know, if there are caves and tunnels here, how many caves and tunnels there are in the entire Meiling Mountain?
As the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three burrows.

Could it be that the entire Meiling Mountain has long been riddled with holes and densely packed with tunnels, so the mine has remained undiscovered for many years?
If that's the case, then Ruan Zhiheng is really too cunning...

Just as Xiao Luoan was daydreaming, there was movement in the forest of steles in the distance.

There was a creaking sound, as if a heavy stone was pushed away, and then a faint light appeared, which came from far away, from dark to bright, and came out from the tombstone that was pushed away.

It was the light of torches and lanterns, and behind the light were tall figures, and there were people complaining bitterly.

"What are you doing all this in the middle of the night? Can't you just send it out tomorrow morning?"

"What do you know? I got a message in the evening saying that someone will go into the mountain to check tomorrow. I don't know how long it will take. If this thing is left in the cave, won't it get smelly?"

"That's right. They usually eat, drink, defecate and urinate in the cave. Now someone comes to check, and even the coolies are stuffed in. The smell is getting worse. If we don't get rid of these corpses, where can we stay?"

"But if we bury it nearby, aren't we afraid that it will be seen by those who come to investigate tomorrow?"

"What are you afraid of? The tombstone is ready. We have piled up a grave mound and erected a tombstone. Everyone can see that the grave was buried in the mountain. Even if it is from the government, can they just dig up someone's grave?"

"That is to say, hey, don't talk so much nonsense to him. To call him a coward is to compliment him!"

"Anyway, I've told you the ugly truth in advance. If you keep talking here, I will bury you too. Do you believe it?"

After these harsh words were spoken, the others dared not say another word. After placing the torches and lanterns, they took shovels and began to dig the hole diligently.

There were many rocks on the mountain and the soil was thin, so it took some time to dig. The people didn't waste any effort. They just threw the corpse into the shallow pit and started looking for stones nearby to pile on top.

Since the purpose is to conceal one's identity with a grave, then this kind of grave made of stones will appear the most realistic.

After dealing with a relatively intact grave, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and stayed there for a while before picking up lanterns and torches and walking back.

Before a few people went in, they pushed one of the two tombstones that were touched very smoothly back with force. After a while, the squeaking sound was heard again.

The tombstone that was originally embedded in the mountain wall slowly opened, revealing a pitch-black hole.

A group of people holding torches and lanterns entered one after another, and then the tombstone at the entrance of the cave slowly closed until it was completely merged with the stone wall, and there was nothing unusual looking from the outside.

Such a scene made Lu Qiyan and others open their eyes wide.

Although they had already guessed the general situation, what they saw with their own eyes was a completely different scene.

"It's getting late. The Third Prince needs to hurry back to avoid Ruan Zhiheng's suspicion. Tomorrow, according to the agreement, we will continue to come here to check Meiling, focusing on the hidden places to see if there are any new discoveries."

Lu Qiyan exhaled and said, "We also need to investigate the missing persons and the number of forced laborers. Also, the Third Prince needs to find a way to get some explosives."

"What do you need explosives for?" Xiao Luoan was puzzled.

"Knock the mountain to scare the tiger." Lu Qiyan said. When you find a cockroach, the whole house may be full of cockroaches.

They found an entrance and exit that was so hidden. One could imagine the caves and secret passages in Meiling Mountain.

It would be very difficult to thoroughly find the locations of all the secret passages.

In this case, it would be better to make a warning to scare the tigers so that those hiding in the caves and secret passages will come out on their own initiative.

"I understand." Xiao Luoan understood, "I will immediately arrange for someone to do it and also go find reinforcements immediately."

Now that the mountain has been knocked down, he must be able to defend himself when the wild beasts come out.

"In addition, the Third Prince should pay more attention to the official road that passes through the mountains just now." Lu Qiyan reminded.

Official way?

What's wrong with that road?

Xiao Luoan frowned slightly.

But after a moment, he figured out the key, "Commander Lu, rest assured, I will have someone to watch over it."

"This is all I can do. From now on it's up to the Third Prince himself." Lu Qiyan said as he led Fang Baosheng and Wu Jin out.

Before setting off, Fan Honghui asked him to pass by Meiling and come here to take a look, and didn't say anything else.

Then he just needs to stop there.

But Xiao Luoan was already very satisfied, and was even more grateful to Lu Qiyan, "Thank you Commander Lu for your guidance."

And it is the most critical point of guidance.

It gave him a direction to work towards when he was confused and clueless.

"You are too polite, Third Prince." Lu Qiyan said with a smile, "If possible, Third Prince must give the Wen family a severe blow this time."

"Of course." Xiao Luoan responded with a smile.

The group returned along the same route with Wu Jin.

With the experience of exploring the route the first time, it was relatively easy to go back as we were familiar with the route.

By the time the group left Meiling Mountain, the stars in the sky had become dim.

Not daring to stay for too long, the four of them immediately rode their horses at full speed and returned home.

When Xia Mingyue woke up, Lu Qiyan had already returned to the room and was lying beside her with a calm face, as if nothing had happened last night.

Seeing that Lu Qiyan seemed to be asleep at this time, Xia Mingyue didn't want to wake him up, so she got up quietly.

But before she could sit up completely, Lu Qiyan hugged her in his arms.

"It's still early, you can sleep a little longer, madam." Lu Qiyan didn't open his eyes and spoke unclearly, looking a bit like a child.

"If you are so sleepy, won't people laugh at you for not getting up at noon?" Xia Mingyue pinched Lu Qiyan's nose.

"I am a patient, so it is natural for me to sleep more. As for my wife, since she is taking care of the patient, she doesn't get enough rest at night, so it is reasonable for her to feel sleepy in the morning. No one can say anything." Lu Qiyan smiled and took Xia Mingyue's hand in his palm. (End of this chapter)