"Yeah, I left the palace at the age of six and only two years ago did my father sent five thousand personal troops to the DongBin during the troubled times. They haven't been truly trained, and the Family Guards of Cheng still treats me as the young master who hasn't grown up yet. They are sincere, but I can't truly command them."
"No worries, you're so outstanding. Take your time and give them the chance to recognize you."
"It seems like they are more willing to accept you. These days, as soon as you speak, even Cheng Shan changes to calling me 'Young Master.'"
"You're not happy about that? Feeling jealous? Well, recognizing me is like recognizing you. Without you, how could I teach them those things? Please believe, I am your support!"
"Yeah, Xaingbei, you are my support! We are one."
"Exactly! We will always be the closest partner !"
"Oh, but can't we be more than just partners ?" Cheng Mo felt a sense of loss hearing that Xiangbei always placed them within the boundaries of partner or fellow soldiers.
"Alright, don't rush into thinking about those irrelevant things now. We are still young; let's focus on the present."
"Too young? Too small? Where am I small? If you don't hurry, your mom will marry you off to that old man Qiao."
"What are you mumbling about? Do you still want to move forward?" Xiangbei couldn't make out what Chengmo was saying, but seeing his unwilling expression, it wasn't hard to guess. He amusingly interrupted his random thoughts.
"Never mind, I won't tell you. Come on, I'll show you the treasures." Chengmo led Xiangbei forward for hundreds of meters before turning right into an artificially excavated passage, lit on both sides by oil lamps.
"In fact, under these black mountains, there are many passages. Some lead to the sea, while others are completely sealed. They have created many interconnected tunnels like these, serving different purposes for various Guard camps and workshops. But sometimes, they accidentally excavate valuable mineral deposits. Look at the walls on both sides."
As Xiangbei observed the walls by the oil lamp, he heard a continuous tinkling sound from ahead. Following the noise, he ran forward until he encountered a kaleidoscopic spectacle.
This is a crystal cave formed during a volcanic eruption. The molten magma stopped here for some unknown reason, gradually melting the enveloped layers of quartzite, which fused into the colorful crystals you see now, creating a large mine. Beneath the massive white crystal pillars, magnetized water has been here for millions of years. People are excavating brightly colored crystal ore from the other side of the tunnel.
"These are Cheng Yu's engineering troops. They usually handle mining, and there are also coal and iron in several other tunnels. Nearly all my livelihoods and workshops are managed by the Sea Department and Uncle Zhong. Some of these crystals are made into colored glaze, while others are processed into jewelry. Do you like them?"
"Well, let's first collect some absolutely transparent large crystal pieces for Cheng Dian. I want him to make something."
"Don't you like the vibrant colors?" Chengmo was a bit surprised by Xiangbei's reaction to these gemstones.
"I like them. There are so many here, and they won't run away. Let's collect the transparent ones first, I want to surprise you." After confirming the volcanic geology, Xiangbei was curious about what kind of minerals would appear, but having fainted for a few days, she was still a bit worried about falling asleep again. Although there was no issue examining the spatial environment, expanding the boundaries or exploring underground was still quite challenging, so he dared not use mental power for the time being.
"You're right; our things aren't going anywhere here. Later, let's go to the store and pick out some good ones." The two emerged from another passage in the cave, arriving at another bay north of the hills. Several wooden walkways extended into the sea, and a dozen ships of various styles, some obviously cargo vessels, were docked. Engineer troops were busy loading and unloading something.
"Are these all yours? What are they transporting?" Xiangbei felt the need to redefine the guards of Cheng, this was not just a guard but a well-organized military force.
"They are transporting coal and a small amount of iron ore. The coal seams here are thick, but the yield of gold and iron stones is minimal, and the quality is not good. These ships were a gift from my maternal grandfather. In the previous dynasty, the Southern King was famous for building ships that could navigate the South Seas. Because of this, even through dynastic changes, no one dared to propose subjugating the Barbarins, but it came at the cost of sacrificing my mother."
"Events are unpredictable. No one is willing to sacrifice their own child. They didn't want it either. Otherwise, they wouldn't treat you so well. People in high positions bear greater responsibilities, and there are often no other choices. As you grow up, you'll have your own friends, with Big Brother Qiao and us. You won't be so lonely anymore."
"Thank you, Xiangbei. I'm just talking in front of you. Whether or not I have friends, as long as I have you, I won't be lonely. You are my only confidence."