My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Liang Cheng understood now.

The books were cooked.

"Can you estimate the scale of the discrepancy?"

"Based on a reasonable projection, the actual output over the last two years is at least fifty percent higher than what’s on the books. Material costs are inflated by thirty percent, and I’m afraid more than half the wages have been skimmed."

Just then, Li Mu came in and reported softly, "Senior Brother, I’ve finished the investigation. It’s just as you suspected. The mining operations are extremely hazardous, with countless deaths and injuries every year."

Liang Cheng’s mind was made up.

The Martial Arts Academy and the City Lord’s Mansion had sent him here, promised him great rewards, and given him the power of life and death, all so he could excise this cancer.

’If I try to keep the peace and play both sides, I’ll probably end up pleasing no one. I’d lose the trust of the Martial Arts Academy, and the loss would far outweigh the gain.’

’Mayflies vie to be first; the Martial Dao is a path of conflict!’

"Zhao Yuan."

"Here!"

"Take thirty Steward Disciples and follow me to the mines. Li Mu, you’ll take the rest of the men and stay here at the Guardian Station. Guard the ledgers. As for Captain Chen of the Martial Preparation Hall, I’ve sent him to patrol the surrounding mine tunnels to prevent any sabotage."

"Yes, sir!"

...

「East Mountain Main Mine Area, Mine Tunnel Three.」

This was one of the richest veins in the Dongshan Mine, managed by the Lin Family as Chief Stewards. No fewer than three hundred miners entered and exited each day. When Liang Cheng and his team arrived, a dozen or so ox-carts were being loaded with ore outside the tunnel. A foreman saw Liang Cheng and hurried over to greet him.

"I wasn’t aware of the Town Guardian’s arrival. What are your orders?"

"This Town Guardian has received an anonymous tip about illegal mining in this area. I’m here to conduct a safety inspection and clean up this mess. As of now, this tunnel is sealed. All personnel are to withdraw. Work will resume only after a full audit is complete."

The foreman’s expression changed. "Town Guardian, you can’t! We can’t afford to delay production at the mine. A single day’s shutdown means enormous losses..."

But Liang Cheng was unmoved. "Delayed production is a minor issue; safety is a major one. Effective immediately, we will be conducting a massive safety inspection across all the town’s mining areas. Any mine with potential hazards will be shut down for rectification."

With a wave of his hand, his Personal Guard quickly sealed the tunnel entrance and dispersed the miners. The news spread like wildfire through the Dongshan Mine, stirring up unrest.

In less than half an incense stick’s time, Lin Chong rushed over. The smile was gone from his face, his gaze icy and cold.

"Town Guardian Liang, your methods are as swift as thunder. I am impressed," he said. "However, the mine’s production is tied to the livelihoods of several thousand people. Could you perhaps grant us a three-day grace period for the Lin Family to conduct its own inspection and rectification? After three days, the Lin Family will surely give you a satisfactory explanation."

"It is precisely because the matter is so important that this Town Guardian must personally oversee it."

Liang Cheng’s tone was calm.

"If Young Master Lin feels this is improper, you are welcome to enter the tunnel with me to inspect it. If the conditions inside meet safety regulations, I will lift the seal immediately."

Lin Chong was at a loss for words.

He knew better than anyone what the conditions inside were like. In the rush to mine more, and faster, the support structures were flimsy, the ventilation was poor, and the risk of collapse was extremely high.

’If he really investigates, this can’t possibly be swept under the rug as ’meeting safety regulations.’’

He could only take a deep breath and try to dissuade him again. "Town Guardian Liang, everything is negotiable. The Lin Family is willing to cede another five percent of the profits as funding for your rectification efforts..."

Liang Cheng cut him off directly. "This Town Guardian is rectifying safety, not seeking profit. Young Master Lin, please leave. Once the audit is complete, I will naturally give the Lin Family an explanation."

Lin Chong stared at him for several seconds before finally turning and leaving.

His eyes were grim.

...

However, that afternoon, several hundred miners suddenly gathered outside Mine Tunnel Three. Their leader was a scar-faced man with a booming voice.

"The Town Guardian sealed the mine! We have no work! What are we supposed to eat and drink? And we still haven’t been paid for last month! He has to give us an explanation!"

"Yeah! Pay us our wages!"

"We’re not leaving until we get paid!"

The crowd surged, gradually pushing against the line of Personal Guards. Zhao Yuan gripped the hilt of his saber and looked to Liang Cheng. Liang Cheng stepped out from a makeshift awning, his gaze falling upon the scar-faced man.

A chill went down the scar-faced man’s spine. Before he could speak, Liang Cheng suddenly raised his hand, and a Personal Guard dragged out the Steward who supervised Mine Tunnel Three.

"Is he a miner from Tunnel Three?"

The Steward, looking haggard and terrified, glanced at the scar-faced man and shook his head. "I’ve never seen him before."

In the next instant, Liang Cheng raised his hand and made a grasping motion. The scar-faced man was instantly wrapped in True Qi. Three ingots of official silver were pulled from his robes, and he was lifted into the air.

"A miner at Dongshan Mine makes no more than two taels a month. Where did you get these thirty taels of official silver?"

"Inciting a riot is punishable by death."

The man’s face turned deathly pale, and he opened his mouth to beg for mercy. But Liang Cheng pointed a finger, and a blast of True Qi shot out. A bloody hole appeared on the scar-faced man’s forehead. His face frozen in disbelief, he collapsed to the ground, dead.

The crowd fell instantly silent.

Only then did Liang Cheng speak. "Zhao Yuan, bring me the ledgers."

Zhao Yuan opened a ledger, and Liang Cheng pointed to a page. "The roster for the west passage miners of Tunnel Three. The pay records are all here, marked as received. You say you weren’t paid last month. Are you saying the Lin Family withheld your wages?"

Everyone trembled, not daring to speak.

"Is there anyone else who wasn’t paid? Step forward and say so."

Not a single person stepped forward.

Liang Cheng’s face remained cold. "From this day forward, the Guardian Station will establish a public account. All miners’ wages will be paid out directly from the Guardian Station, settled every ten days, with no delays. As for old, unpaid wages, anyone with solid proof can register at the station within three days. I, this Town Guardian, will personally collect what you are owed."

A stir went through the crowd.

Someone muttered, "Is he for real?"

"The Town Guardian is paying us himself?"

Liang Cheng pointed to the mine’s Steward again. "After investigation, it was found that this man has skimmed a total of one thousand four hundred taels in wages over three years, causing the ruin and death of seven miners’ families."

"Effective immediately, all ’assistance fees’ are abolished. Miners’ wages will be paid directly from the Guardian Station’s public account. Anyone who has had their wages skimmed or has been bullied can come to the Guardian Station to seek justice."

"This man was corrupt, broke the law, and skimmed wages. He deserves to be executed!"

In the next moment, a head fell to the ground.

"From this day forward, as long as I, this Town Guardian, am at Dongshan Mine, no one will be allowed to cause trouble."

The crowd fell silent again. Some eyes flickered with uncertainty, some faces showed excitement, and still others were filled with worry. The Lin Family were the local tyrants. Could this Town Guardian truly stand up to them?

...

That night, the Lin Family sent an invitation.

The meeting place was set just outside Mine Tunnel Three. When Liang Cheng arrived, Lin Yue was already waiting for him in the open space, his hands clasped behind his back.

Lin Yue was a man in his fifties. He was lean, but his frame was large and solid. He turned to face Liang Cheng. "Town Guardian Liang, quite the impressive methods."

"Patriarch Lin, surely you didn’t invite me all the way out here just to praise me."

Lin Yue smiled. "It’s a good thing for a young man to be full of sharp vigor, but the waters of Dongshan Mine run deeper than you imagine. You’re just here to complete a mission for the Martial Arts Academy. Why be so aggressive?"

"I am merely upholding the law, auditing the books, and stabilizing production. Patriarch Lin, you should understand better than I that safe mining is of the utmost importance."

"I understand. Of course, I understand. But some things can’t be done just by understanding them. I invited Town Guardian Liang here today because I’d like to ask for a few pointers. If you win, then from now on, you set the official rules for Dongshan Mine."

"And if I lose?"

"Then I ask that you quietly serve out your three years here and cause no more trouble. All of your benefits will be guaranteed, not a single bit reduced."

As he spoke, Lin Yue’s entire body began to glow with a grayish-black luster, and the faint texture of rock began to appear on the surface of his skin.

"Well?"

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