In the flickering firelight, all the gold bricks, long since covered in dust, still reflected a dazzling golden sheen that blinded the onlookers.
"This..."
The normally unflinching shadow guards, who dispatched lives without a blink, found their hands, holding torches, trembling violently.
Even Ding Wu Yi's sturdy frame shook, nearly sending him lunging towards the mountains of gold bricks!
Liang Xiao was also ecstatic, but quickly regained his composure. He observed their surroundings and reminded everyone to open their Vajra Umbrellas, just in case.
There was only one river here, and indeed, there were traces of silvery liquid along its banks!
Liang Xiao's heart leaped, secretly thankful for their thorough preparations.
Had they blundered in carelessly, they might have had the gold bricks but no lives to spend them! A simple mercury poisoning could easily claim the lives of anyone who entered this place.
"As expected, a portion of the Fierce Tiger River's water has flowed in from outside, diluting the mercury here. Some mercury remains at the riverbed, and a small amount has been carried to the banks, continuing to volatilize."
Liang Xiao sighed, ordering the shadow guards to bring over the sulfur blocks and pile them along the riverbank, forming a barrier to prevent further mercury poisoning.
After the shadow guards complied, under the arrangement of Liang Xiao and Ding Wu Yi, they cautiously searched for hidden mechanisms and detected traps such as quicksand pits and sinkholes.
As expected, directly in the path closest to the gold bricks, there was a large quicksand pit. When the shadow guards tapped it with their shovels, they discovered it was lined with numerous sharp knives, sharpened stakes, and a pile of snake bones...
Liang Xiao and Ding Wu Yi exchanged a knowing glance.
The ancient Xiongnu King Heluof had fled in haste, truly unable to set up too many traps, but this mercury river and the stone gate mechanism outside were enough to kill countless infiltrators.
As for the snake bones below, it was clear that venomous snakes had been placed in the quicksand pit; the snakes had starved to death hundreds of years ago.
Especially the stone gate, which was likely the only entrance to the cave. The surrounding mountain walls were incredibly thick stone, and excavating them would be a time-consuming endeavor.
Moreover, this place was indeed quite hidden. If it hadn't been for the accidental dryness of the Fierce Tiger River attracting Liang Xiao's attention, no one would have ever discovered it. Even the shadow guards would have taken years for a thorough search!
But now, all this wealth belonged to the Great Gan Dynasty!
"Hmm... indeed, only gold bricks." Ding Wu Yi's tone was hard to discern, whether it was ecstatic or "disappointed."
Prosperity for antiques, gold for chaos!
Gold is very dense, over nineteen tons per cubic meter. Converted to the Great Gan Dynasty's "jin," it's nearly forty thousand jin!
Just these gold bricks, with their similar specifications, if pure enough, each weighing over four jin.
Liang Xiao looked at the volume of the gold bricks and made a preliminary estimate: this gold, it was likely truly millions of jin, or tens of millions of liang!
Cheers erupted from the shadow guards in the cave: "Heaven bless our lord! Heaven bless Great Gan!"
As shadow guards who had served the emperor their entire lives, enjoying a life of comfort, the over a hundred shadow guards present did not become greedy or mutinous at the sight of the treasure. Instead, they cried out in joy, some even with tears streaming down their faces. Though their masks concealed their expressions, their choked sobs were audible.
Witnessing this, Liang Xiao couldn't help but sigh.
No wonder the imperial power of the Great Gan Dynasty had remained relatively stable throughout the ages. With such a specially trained and continuously inherited force, ordinary officials would not dare to rebel casually.
Despite their overwhelming joy, everyone maintained sufficient rationality, continuing to follow Liang Xiao's orders to probe for surrounding traps.
Liang Xiao even forbade anyone from touching the gold, for fear of any poisons or dangerous pathogens that might have been applied to them. He couldn't exactly explain the concept of "germs" to the shadow guards at this moment.
After repeated probing, everyone finally confirmed their safety. Ding Wu Yi then discussed the matter of transporting the gold with Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao said gravely, "We need to immediately send someone to notify the General of Cavalry in the northern part of Yan Province to dispatch a large army to guard and assist in the transport. Simultaneously, we must inform His Majesty in the capital! Also, have the shadow guards bring clean water from outside to rinse these gold bricks, ensuring they are clean and free of poison before counting. We will transport them after the General of Cavalry arrives! Absolute secrecy is paramount!"
Ding Wu Yi nodded, "Only let our shadow guards handle the transport, cover it with black cloth when sending it out. To avoid further complications, even the Feathered Forest Army must not see it!"
Liang Xiao deeply agreed.
Although the Feathered Forest Army obeyed the Son of Heaven, their loyalty and capabilities were far inferior to the emperor's shadow guard army. It was possible that members of noble families had infiltrated their ranks. Liang Xiao's elder brother, Liang Feng, had often been obstructed by certain individuals in the Feathered Forest Army!
If those noble families knew that Xiao Qing had come into a fortune, and that Liang Xiao had found it, it would certainly not be a good thing...
Jian Qin Wan stood guard outside the cave, filled with anxiety.
She had always disliked talking to strangers, but earlier, she couldn't help but inquire about Liang Xiao's situation from a passing shadow guard.
The only response she received was, "Marquis An Guo is safe, please do not worry, Madam!" which left Jian Qin Wan feeling flustered.
At this moment, Jian Qin Wan peered into the distance, her eyes straining, only to see Liang Xiao emerge with his men. He finally removed his gas mask.
Only then did Jian Qin Wan secretly heave a sigh of relief and remove her own gas mask.
But soon, Jian Qin Wan noticed something unusual.
Liang Xiao wore a smile, the shadow guards' eyes were filled with tears, and even Ding Wu Yi's face bore distinct tear tracks.
What was going on?
As a martial artist, the reputation of this Senior Ding was, of course, well-known.
Despite Ding Wu Yi's usual stoic expression, he was in reality a ruthless killer, responsible for thousands, if not tens of thousands, of lives over the decades, most of whom were rebels within the Great Gan Dynasty...
This flower-picking thief hadn't cried, but Senior Ding had?
"Bodhisattva, I am safe. I apologize for making you worry."
Hearing Liang Xiao's gentle laughter, Jian Qin Wan quickly averted her gaze, "Who was worried about you!"
Liang Xiao blinked, "Did those shadow guards lie to me?"
Jian Qin Wan's breath hitched. She looked at the group of shadow guards in the distance.
Seeing them smiling at Liang Xiao and herself, Jian Qin Wan's face instantly flushed red, and she shot them an embarrassed, annoyed glance.
It seemed these normally taciturn scoundrels had told the flower-picking thief about her anxious wait outside the cave!
Liang Xiao didn't press the issue further and maintained a distance from Jian Qin Wan for the time being.
His outer garment might have residual mercury on it.
"Why are they all crying?" Jian Qin Wan asked softly.
"Tears of joy, it's quite normal," Liang Xiao replied without hesitation.
To avoid suspicion, it was inconvenient for him to reveal the wealth inside, even though Jian Qin Wan was unlikely to leak it.
After all, this treasure belonged to the state, essentially Xiao Qing's future private treasury.
"Then why didn't you cry?" Jian Qin Wan huffed.
Liang Xiao couldn't help but laugh and cry, "I am extremely happy, because the treasure inside will allow me to retire sooner and enjoy a peaceful life with you all."
"Oh..."
Jian Qin Wan responded woodenly, then suddenly remembered something, her pretty face blushing, her heart in turmoil.
You all?
"You, you, you, don't you dare say such things suddenly..." Jian Qin Wan stammered, symbolically covering her ears.
"Oh, apologies. I got carried away in my joy. Please spare me, my lady."
Jian Qin Wan was both shy and annoyed, daring not to engage with Liang Xiao any further.
Liang Xiao and his entourage thus remained stationed here with the shadow guards and Feathered Forest Army, awaiting Lu Yi's troops.
With only the few thousand people present, it was absolutely impossible to transport millions of jin of gold!
It would require a large number of personnel, numerous sturdy vehicles, and possibly multiple trips for transport and protection.
A day later, Xiao Qing received Ye Cheng Xiu, the captain of the shadow guards, who had ridden back at breakneck speed from the northern part of Yan Province.
"My Lord! With the assistance of Marquis An Guo, we have finally found the treasure! It is indeed all gold, and only gold!" The fatigue on Ye Cheng Xiu's face vanished, and tears streamed down his face!
Xiao Qing and Ning Xue Jun shot to their feet.
It was found with Liang Xiao's help??
Xiao Qing suppressed his inner excitement, his voice trembling slightly, "What is the exact amount?"
"Each gold brick weighs over four jin. We, five hundred shadow guards, counted them together, and precisely one million bricks in total!!"