Chapter 137: Working Like a Horse (asking for monthly tickets)
"There is a cave behind this mountain. There may be some clues inside. Send someone to dig it up." Zhao Yuanxi pointed in a direction.
Mi Qi didn't understand why, but still responded, "Yes!"
Seeing the Queen Mother coming out, the prisoners knelt down with hope in their eyes.
Zhao Yuanxi's smile became much more genuine. "They saved you and me today, and they didn't take advantage of the chaos to escape. How do you think we should reward them?"
Mi Qi followed and thought for a moment before answering, "Since you have been meritorious in saving the emperor, those not facing death penalty can be exempted from forced labor, and those facing death penalty can have their sentences commuted to ten years. However, I still need to report this matter to the king."
"Okay, then I'll wait for your good news."
Everyone cheered.
Those who wanted to take advantage of the chaos to escape but were caught, as well as the prisoners who were tempted by money to attack Zhao Yuanxi and others, all looked pale and regretted it deeply.
Zhao Yuanxi added, "Now that the iron mining order here is gone, you must send someone over here sooner rather than later, and also replace the guards for me."
Mi Qi asked carefully, "Does the Queen Mother have a suitable candidate?"
What happened today was all due to his failure to judge people, and he also caused the Queen Mother to fall into danger, which almost made him ashamed to see the Queen Mother.
He was wondering if there was any way to make amends.
Since this is where the Queen Mother will often visit, it would be most appropriate to arrange people around her here. It would be a favor to just give her an iron order.
Zhao Yuanxi was stunned. "You ask me?"
This is the management right of a large iron mine, which is equivalent to a gold mountain in her hands. The reason why You Caitie is so crazy is that she doesn't want to lose this cash cow.
Zhao Yuanxi couldn't help but feel tempted. Just because the ironware produced here couldn't be sold privately didn't mean it couldn't be sold. If it was in the hands of her people, it would mean she would have a stable supply channel, and it would be more convenient to do things.
But she was a little embarrassed about the choice of person.
"If the Queen Mother can't figure it out, then—"
"Wait, who said I couldn't think of it, Zhang Han! Zhang Han! Come here!" Zhao Yuanxi shouted.
Zhang Han was being bandaged by the mute old man when he heard the Queen Mother calling him. He quickly put on his clothes and said, "Queen Mother, what do you want?"
Zhao Yuanxi smiled with his eyes curved, "I found a new job for you!"
Zhang Han was the last one to become the Shaofu of Qin State, so it shouldn't be difficult for him to become an iron mining officer now.
She pulled Zhang Han aside and began to praise him, "This man is both civil and military, brave and resourceful... He is also loyal to the Qin State and will certainly not let Changping Jun down."
Zhang Han was praised so much by the Queen Mother that his face instantly turned red to his ears. Is he really that good?
Mi Qi couldn't help but laugh and said, "The one recommended by the Queen Mother must be a talented person."
In the battle just now, he saw with his own eyes the ability of this man. He was indeed more than qualified to be a mining officer. This man was also the Queen Mother's personal guard and had an official position and title. Although his rank was not high, it was still in accordance with the rules.
"I will hand over the seal of the Iron Mining Order to you first. I will send someone to deliver the inauguration document soon. I hope you will be selfless and dedicated to your work and live up to the Queen Mother's expectations." Mi Qi took off the seal from his right Iron Mining Order waist and handed it to Zhang Han.
"Yes! I obey your order!" Zhang Han knelt down and took the seal with both hands, then looked up at the Queen Mother. Seeing that the Queen Mother gave him a thumbs up, he couldn't help but smile.
The guards and supervisors who had committed crimes together with the former iron mining commander were all arrested by Mi Qi and taken back for interrogation. The remaining prisoners were handed over to Zhang Han for handling.
Since the amnesty order from the Supreme Court has not been issued yet, these people cannot leave.
Most of the 128 prisoners will have their sentences reduced, except for those who were taken away for involvement in the incident and those who attempted to escape.
They had finally been given the chance to be pardoned, so how could they risk escaping again? They all stayed and continued to work honestly.
Zhao Yuanxi asked people to put down the people who had been tied up for the riot, and the mute old man began to treat them again.
Zhang Han saw the Queen Mother looking at the old man and explained, "He was originally a doctor hired by the mine. He refused to cooperate with the thieves and was retaliated against. They cut out his tongue and deafened his ears because they were afraid he would reveal their secrets."
The reason why he was kept was simply because he was still useful, otherwise he would not have survived this long.
Zhao Yuanxi suddenly felt that Caitie Ling had died too easily, and he should be allowed to experience the feeling of being torn apart by five horses in this era.
She had just looked through some personnel lists from previous years. Since the Right Iron Mining Commander took office fifteen years ago, the number of prisoners who died in this iron mine each year had increased fivefold. After a lot of effort, someone would finally complete their sentence, but in the end, there would always be various accidents, or the person would be killed for the crime of escaping.
Prisoners have no human rights and the mortality rate is very high. If they escape, they will be whipped at the very least and beheaded at the worst.
Even if you kill them for no reason, as long as you say they wanted to escape, you won't be held responsible at all.
Zhao Yuanxi sighed.
Cheng Kuan timidly stepped forward. Zhang Han glared at him, and he shrank back again, but still knelt on the ground with his head held high. "Empress Dowager, my brothers were all forced to do this by that old villain. Can you spare their lives?"
The people he was referring to were the thugs who were being rescued.
Zhao Yuanxi had no intention of blaming them, otherwise he should have asked Mi Qi to take them away. "Get up! If they serve their sentence well, they will be able to get out naturally when the time comes."
Although we don't blame them, it is impossible to forgive them. We can only blame them for being unlucky.
Cheng Kuan cried with tears and snot, and hurriedly thanked the Queen Mother.
Zhao Yuanxi smiled and said, "You've performed a great service today. Is there anything you want? Your wife and children are with me now. When the amnesty comes, go find them. I'll give you a house so you and your family can live well."
"I..." The slovenly bearded man cried like a child. He kowtowed several times and said, "Your Majesty, I have been so kind to you. I will never be able to repay you even if I work like a slave for the rest of my life!"
Zhao Yuanxi was moved, but didn't dare to move. This man was really honest. After his head was knocked a few times, she felt a severe headache just from the sound.
"Get up! This is what you deserve, but are you really willing to work like a slave for me?" Zhao Yuanxi's thoughts turned and he smiled even more happily.
Cheng Kuanggang was still crying. When the Queen Mother asked him this, tears and snot hung directly on his face. His expression was a little dull. He said dryly, "Of course it's true."
Zhao Yuanxi asked Zhang Han again, "Do you still need anyone?"
Zhang Han understood and replied, "Yes."
Although Changping Jun left some people behind, there were still not enough people. Zhang Han could only recruit some people who were not guilty of serious crimes and were about to be pardoned to serve as temporary guards.
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