My Gold Rush Career Begins in 1984

Chapter 234 Shock
In the Haxionggou gold panning section, which stretches over 3,000 meters, dozens of gold panning teams suffered burnt-out dugouts, destroyed supplies, and many teams even suffered casualties. This situation was even more severe than that of the Qingshan team, at least they wouldn't easily resort to violence.

Jinwang barked. When Zhou Jingming saw people emerging around the mining site, he turned off the water pump and had Peng Yuanchao and others gather their men around the dugouts, distributing firearms to prepare for any eventuality.

Li Guozhu, Zhao Li, and Sun Chenggui, along with their men from the upstream mining site, rushed over in a disheveled state.

When Zhou Jingming saw that several of them had injuries, he quickly went up to them and asked, "What happened?"

"Someone came and vandalized our upstream mining site!"

Li Guozhu clutched his right arm: "I was doing well this morning when suddenly a large group of people carrying weapons rushed out of the woods and started attacking. There were over a hundred of them. When I saw that things were going badly, I quickly led my men to join you and fought off the people blocking our way before we came over."

Zhou Jingming nodded slightly: "How badly was your arm injured?"

“Someone hit me with a wooden stick. I managed to block it with my hand and was still able to move. I wasn’t in serious trouble. But Zhao Li shot that person dead.”

Li Guozhu forced a smile: "The moment the gunshot rang out, the people blocking the way were startled, and that's when we ran out."

Zhou Jingming smiled at Zhao Li, thinking to himself that this demobilized soldier had finally fired the first shot and would be useful in the future.

Just then, the group that had been chasing Li Guozhu also rushed to the mine site in a large force.

The number of gold prospectors surrounding the pincer-shaped mountain pass suddenly surged to more than two hundred. Seeing their angry expressions, Zhou Jingming's heart pounded wildly.

Such a spectacle was something I rarely saw even after years of gold panning in my past life.

It gave him the feeling that he had incurred the wrath of the masses.

He forced himself to remain calm and scanned the people around him: "So many people from different teams must have discussed this beforehand. If they did discuss it, there must be a leader. Who are you? Come out and say something."

After saying that, he waited for a while and, seeing that the gold prospectors did not make any move, he sneered: "What, is it really necessary to fight today? If you want to fight, fine, but you can't fight without a reason. There should be a reason."

Having spent so much time in Haxionggou, I know a thing or two, if not everything. As you all know, none of the people at my mine are afraid of trouble.

We've all come to this desolate wilderness for gold, but life is more important than gold... If you're so capable of gathering so many people, why are you acting like cowards and letting others risk their lives for you? Your lives matter, but others' lives don't?

"Your two hundred-plus people, plus my hundred-plus here, that makes over three hundred. If a fight breaks out, no one will come out unscathed. I suggest you come down here and talk things out. If things can't be resolved through discussion, then it's not too late to fight."

His words were a provocation, a challenge, and a way to make them think twice.

These people are from different groups gathered together; to put it bluntly, they are a mob, and their hearts are not really united.

Sure enough, his words caused a stir in the crowd, though not a big one.

He waited a while longer, and finally someone came out from the crowd.

Along with them came eight or nine other people, all of whom were leaders of their respective teams.

The group stopped about ten meters away from the dugout, shoving each other for a while. The first one to come out spoke up: "We came here to demand an explanation."

"statement?"

Zhou Jingming found it strange: "What do you mean?"

"Were those Kazakh herders you hired to cause trouble yesterday?"

Upon hearing this question, Zhou Jingming immediately understood what was going on with these people.

"You think that I deliberately brought those Kazakh herders to mess with you, otherwise why am I unharmed while your mines were destroyed by them?"

Hearing this question, Zhou Jingming felt a little relieved: "I admit that I knew one of those Kazakh herders last year. But I didn't find him."

As you all saw, the two men they dragged to death behind their horses yesterday—if you want to blame someone, blame those two dead bastards. The leader's sister was assaulted and killed in the mountains a few days ago. They came here yesterday seeking revenge.

We rescued this Kazakh girl last year, so they naturally wouldn't harm us because of that connection.

As for why your mining sites were destroyed, the reason is simple: this is the summer pasture of Kazakh herders. Gold prospectors came and destroyed the grass, and some people wanted to eat meat so they tried to take advantage of the herders, forcing them to change their grazing land.

There are many things that I don't need to explain, you should all know in your hearts. You all know what the people you brought here have done, especially you who are in charge. Only you know best whether you have properly disciplined your subordinates.

Furthermore, some of you yesterday, knowing full well that the herdsmen were not to be trifled with, still acted arrogantly in front of them. Weren't you courting death?
Don't you find it a bit ridiculous to gather so many people here to demand an explanation and shift the blame onto me?

"Alright, I've made things clear. Everyone, disperse. I can pretend what happened today—gathering at my mine—never occurred. Instead of wasting your time, hurry up and rebuild your dugouts, lest you end up without a place to sleep tonight."

"Disperse? You make it sound so easy!"

One of the leaders of the opposing group sneered.

Zhou Jingming raised an eyebrow and looked at him: "What else do you want?"

"What else do you want... You still want the gold you stole from us? Spit it out. Gold Rush Valley isn't just for one person. Everyone who comes here to pan for gold gets a share. Why should you be exploited once?"

His angry words immediately drew agreement from the other gang leaders.

"That's the real reason you're causing trouble at my mine, isn't it?" Zhou Jingming laughed. "You're right, the Gold Rush Valley doesn't belong to me alone, but the rule has always been that whoever takes it first gets it, and whoever is stronger gets to call the shots."

I took those mining sites first. If you want to share them, you can't just take them away without paying any price. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

To put it bluntly, I didn't force you to buy it back then. If you didn't want to spend that gold, you didn't have to go for that mine. There are plenty of places to pan for gold in Xigou. Go find them yourselves.

Or, if you're so capable, why don't you just come and snatch it then?

I've never seen anyone have that kind of guts.

The mine was ceded, and you've been mining for so long, and now you come to settle accounts with me... I've finally given you a chance to get together. Fine, if you want me to give it back, then come on if you dare. If you don't, then get the hell out of here.

It's not that I look down on you, I'm just waiting for you here today. I want to see how you're going to make me vomit it all up..."

As Zhou Jingming spoke, he dragged a wooden stool down, lit a cigarette, and started smoking.

Wu Yang knew how to cooperate, and just then, he shouted, "Mining protection team, grab your weapons..."

Those who received the hunting rifles immediately rushed behind Zhou Jingming and raised their rifles.

Zhou Jingming's group had a lot of people and guns, including not only double-barreled shotguns, but also several Type 56 semi-automatic rifles carried by Wu Yang, Zhao Li, Sun Chenggui, Peng Yuanchao, and others.

This number is not necessarily less than that of the gold prospectors who surrounded them, especially those few Type 56 semi-automatic rifles, which are quite frightening.

With these tools, we can intimidate the entire audience.

And so, the two sides remained deadlocked for quite some time, with no movement taking place.

The gang leaders dared not utter a sound, for no other reason than that the guns held by the men surrounding Zhou Jingming were pointed at them, intentionally or unintentionally.

They had no doubt that if anyone dared to lead the way, they would be shot immediately.

On the small peninsula in the Haiertes River tributary, Zhou Jingming's trick had already been learned by Peng Yuanchao and others, and naturally, it was also passed on to the mine protection team. Whoever stood out was dealt with, which was always the best option.

On the contrary, Zhou Jingming was getting a little impatient: "Didn't you say you wanted to fight? Then come on... don't be a coward!"
For all this time now, after you've delivered the gold to me as agreed, have I ever caused you any trouble?

Also, don't think I don't know that you've been using my name all along. To prevent your mining sites from being taken over, you've been spreading the word early on that I sold you the mining sites. Because of this, many people have given up the idea of ​​taking over your mining sites.

Otherwise, how could you have been mining for gold so peacefully for so long?
To put it bluntly, I'm the one protecting you guys, so don't be so ungrateful.

I'll ask you one more time, are we breaking up or not?

As he said this, Zhou Jingming stood up, picked up the five-six-half bag he was carrying, and glanced at the man who had just told him to spit out the gold.

Upon seeing Zhou Jingming's actions, the man panicked and quickly turned to leave.

Over the past few months, many incidents, both big and small, have occurred in the Haxionggou Gold Rush Valley. Zhou Jingming's fearsome reputation has spread far and wide, and everyone knows that he can say harsh words and do ruthless things.

Moreover, upon closer reflection, Zhou Jingming really can't be blamed for what happened in the valley.

Once that person turned and left, the others didn't dare to linger.

Before long, the more than two hundred people split into more than a dozen groups of varying sizes and left.

Watching them walk away, Zhou Jingming finally breathed a sigh of relief and slumped down on a wooden stump: "Damn it, I finally got through it."

"Brother Zhou, should I go and take care of those troublemakers?" Wu Yang asked in a low voice.

Zhou Jingming shook his head repeatedly: "What's the point of cleaning up? There were already enough casualties yesterday. We can't afford any more accidents. It's good that we didn't start fighting right away today. Otherwise, with more than three hundred people fighting together, things would have gotten out of control... If the higher-ups intervened, none of us would have fared well. We might have to abandon the mine and escape as soon as possible. Let's all be on high alert these next few days."

Anyway, things have finally settled down.

In the following days, normal work resumed at Zhou Jingming's two mining sites.

Meanwhile, the other mining sites sent their workers to Temaike to purchase supplies and resume work at their respective sites.

Zhou Jingming originally planned to cause trouble for Liang Mazi, but after this incident, he had to put it aside for the time being.

He dutifully guarded the mine site every day.

He was worried that the herders would report the matter to higher authorities. They had always been treated well and were locals, so even if they killed or maimed a few people, they wouldn't be held accountable. On the contrary, the gold prospectors in the valley would suffer.

He waited for more than ten days, and only when there was still no movement did Zhou Jingming finally feel relieved.

Batu did come once, bringing over ten or so fat Altay sheep, which he sold to Zhou Jingming at a fair price.

Neither of them mentioned anything else about Nara. He paid the money and left, only telling Zhou Jingming to come see him the next day.

(End of this chapter)