Chapter 641: Chapter 413: Inquiry
This time, Xiaomi’s words were clear; without Wei Ziang’s explanation, Xiaomi hurriedly spoke.
"It’s all my fault. It was my first time at the frontier, and I had never seen what the grasslands looked like. I heard my brother mention it twice, and then kept pestering him to take me out to play."
"Initially, I didn’t mean to hide anything. I was just afraid my parents would find out and forbid us from going out, so we snuck out to play for a few days."
Xiaomi spoke with a face full of regret: "If my brother had told me earlier that he couldn’t freely leave the frontier, I wouldn’t have pestered him to take me out."
This is a Chiliarch, an officer who can command a thousand men. To her understanding, it’s akin to a commander.
And the concept of this situation is akin to a major military secret emerging within the country, and the main person privy to this secret sneaking out of the country and losing contact for several days!
In this situation, if it weren’t for the fact that both were the discoverers of the iron ore and had immediately informed General Song, it would have been difficult to resolve.
This is the true reason Xiaomi finally understood after reflecting deeply over recent times.
It can be said that General Song merely ordered a baton beating, which was really a minor warning to serve as a gesture to the high-ranking official from the Capital City.
Wei Ziang also said, "Don’t blame the General. It’s just because I haven’t seen my sister for many years and got carried away, forgetting the military rules."
General Song snorted, "If it weren’t for the fact that the two siblings made significant contributions this time, those hundred strokes of the baton were already merciful."
He emphasized the word ’significant contributions,’ how could Lord Xie not hear it?
Further looking at Wei Ziang, who indeed seemed like he hadn’t recovered from serious injuries, and having inquired General Song previously.
From the time the siblings left the frontier until their return, the news about Shilin hadn’t spread, and fifty thousand soldiers were still stationed around Shilin.
"Alright, alright, General Song, you are too stern. They are just young kids, and being playful is normal."
Lord Xie chuckled and had them sit down; Xiaomi supported Wei Ziang, who merely sat at the edge of the chair.
Seeing this, General Song stepped out to the door and called for someone to bring two soft cushions over.
Once Wei Ziang had the soft cushions and could finally sit more comfortably, they began discussing serious matters.
Upon discovering the iron ore, Wei Ziang had reminded Xiaomi that if the Capital City sent people, they would surely inquire about this matter from them.
The two had already aligned their testimonies, so when Lord Xie asked, Wei Ziang was ’honestly speaking.’
"Not to hide from you, Lord Xie, Xiaomi has had a strong sense of perception since she was young. When she entered Shilin, she felt discomfort faster than us, fortunately, she had her parrot, raised for many years, which helped locate us."
"At the time, Xiaomi also told me she felt discomfort at Shilin and suspected something inside, and some bandits’ testimonies further proved it."
"Just then, Xiaomi and I were free, so we went to search Shilin. Xiaomi could sense the place in Shilin where she felt most uncomfortable, and it was there we discovered the iron ore."
While Wei Ziang explained, Xiaomi nodded beside him, indicating what my brother said is right, what my brother said is true!
General Song also took out a map of Shilin: "Speaking of which, when I learned the news, I forgot to ask and had someone urgently send it to the Capital City. Xiao Wei, Xiaomi, do you still remember where you discovered it?"
General Song did not forget to ask but dared not ask.
This news, the more people know, the greater the risk. After receiving a definite answer from Wei Ziang, he urgently reported it.
Xiaomi appeared troubled: "I can’t remember. I wasn’t feeling well in Shilin. Brother, do you remember?"
General Song secretly rolled his eyes, not feeling well? It’s good for fooling the uninformed Lord Xie.
When he saw Xiaomi in Shilin, she was overly spirited.
Luckily, Lord Xie was looking at the map and didn’t notice General Song’s eyes.
Wei Ziang nodded: "I remember, just around the perimeter where we were trapped."
Speaking, Wei Ziang drew a line on the map.
"Right around here, approximately in the center. Back then, Xiaomi was unwell, resting beside me, and I dug approximately three feet down from here and found the iron ore. However, when we left, we filled the hole back."
Lord Xie wasn’t seeing this map for the first time. Listening to them talk, he thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "How did Officer Wei recognize the iron ore?"
Wei Ziang smiled: "Not to hide from you, Lord, I could not actually identify the freshly mined iron ore, but I had a magnet. I am very sure that what I mined was iron when hardened."
Saying this, Wei Ziang took out a round black stone from his pocket.
This magnet was something Xiaomi found, and both were meticulous not to arouse suspicion; this magnet was specially found by Xiaomi.
Lord Xie, as a high-ranking official, certainly knew what a magnet was and quickly took it to have a look, pulling out a sharp dagger from his pocket.
Honestly, when Lord Xie pulled out the dagger, the three of them were slightly stunned.
A ’clink’ sound echoed, and Lord Xie’s eyes lit up: "Indeed it’s a superb magnet!"
"If this magnet reacts on the ore, it confirms the presence of iron ore."
Lord Xie was a bit excited: "Excellent, Shilin is vast, spanning thousands of miles. If there’s iron ore beneath Shilin, our troops can surely be strengthened many times over!"
Even before arriving, being aware of the matter, knowing it was mostly true, upon true confirmation still induced excitement.
A moment later, Lord Xie returned the magnet to Wei Ziang.
"Such a quality magnet is indeed rare, Officer Wei better keep it well."
Wei Ziang smiled without speaking but seriously stored the magnet.
Lord Xie glanced at the sky and stood up on his own accord: "It’s getting late, and tonight has delayed both of you. Tomorrow morning, I plan to visit Shilin. Would either of you be available to accompany me?"
Wei Ziang naturally nodded affirmatively, indicating he’d accompany at any time.
Before leaving, Lord Xie even had someone send a stalk of ginseng, saying it was for Wei Ziang to recuperate, promising that upon confirmation of iron ore, the Emperor had additional rewards in mind.
It wasn’t until they left the General’s residence that Xiaomi let out a sigh of relief.
"Brother, Lord Xie hasn’t mentioned anything about expanding the frontier."
Wei Ziang helplessly replied, "Even if there is such a plan, he surely won’t let us know."
To him, a small Chiliarch, in Lord Xie’s eyes, he’s merely a minor official. How could they possibly consult him for such major matters?
Xiaomi thought for a moment: "That’s true, he hardly paid attention to me tonight."
Except at the beginning when she explained the reason for leaving the frontier, she hardly had a chance to speak, and it was Lord Xie asking her brother.
Wei Ziang gently exhaled: "It’s better if he didn’t ask you."
Though Xiaomi is clever, she’s too innocent, if Lord Xie were to ask a few more questions, Xiaomi might inadvertently reveal something.