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Chapter 211 Denial
Zhu Yu didn't care much about Zhu Cheng's gaze, and she knew why he was unhappy at the moment. Anyway, her goal was achieved. It would be a bit unreasonable to care about the attitude of the person being schemed at this time.

So she bowed to Zhu Cheng and saluted respectfully.

As the saying goes, don't hit a smiling person. No matter how unhappy Zhu Ben was, seeing how polite she was to him, he didn't feel like complaining. After all, he was a man who cared about his reputation, so he nodded to Zhu Yu, and looked at Lu Qing, who had also changed his appearance, with some surprise.

Several people mounted their horses and set off, galloping all the way. Before the sun climbed up to the branches, they had already arrived at the wasteland where the canal was being built.

From a distance, there was a bustling scene of work ahead. Not only were there the craftsmen organized by Ding Qian, but many people from the surrounding areas were also actively participating. Some jumped into the ditch to help chisel stones and dig soil, while others stood by the pit and used baskets to pass the soil one by one and transport it to other places. It seemed that they had been busy for a while, and now they all looked sweaty.

There were also some women and old ladies nearby, carrying water and some flatbreads in baskets to feed the busy family members and craftsmen here.

It had been a long time since Zhu Cheng had gone out incognito for an inspection. Now, looking at the scene before him, he felt extremely gratified. Seeing the people working so hard, he felt that he was doing a good job as the King of Shuo.

As his mood improved, his sullen expression softened. Looking at Lu Qing and Zhu Yu, the two meritorious people who helped bring this great event to Shuo Country, they also had a bit more relief on their faces.

They got off their horses, tied them in the woods nearby, and walked over on foot. Zhu Cheng looked at the busy crowd around him as he walked. As he walked, his brows, which had just relaxed for a short while, slowly frowned again.

"Why are all the people helping out here elderly?" He murmured to Lu Qing beside him in some surprise, "Those over there are clearly teenagers.

This is outrageous! Where have all the strong men gone to do such hard work? How can they hide away and be lazy, leaving the old and the young to suffer here?

When Zhu Cheng said this, the confusion in his expression was genuine and not pretended.

As a vassal king of the Shuo Kingdom, his ideas were deeply rooted. Since those young men and young men were regarded as people who could accomplish great things, they should naturally be at the forefront and take on the hardest work. In any case, there was no reason to let the elderly and children suffer here.

Lu Qing noticed Zhu Cheng's reaction, glanced at Zhu Yu beside him, and slightly moved aside, giving her the seat next to Zhu Cheng.

"Father, we came here all the way and we saw and heard some things along the way." Zhu Yu said to Zhu Cheng, while quietly slowing down his pace.

Zhu Cheng heard that Zhu Yu clearly had something to say to him, so he stood up as well. The few of them stood at a distance from the craftsmen. Zhu Yu told Zhu Cheng about what they had heard along the way since they arrived in Shuo Country.

Upon hearing that many young and middle-aged people disappeared inexplicably in the territory of Shuo State, Zhu Cheng was confused at first, and then his brows gradually twisted into knots.

When he heard that weapons suspected to be made by the Shuo State were found on the border between the Jie State and the Jin State, as well as in the territory of the Lan State, his face became even gloomier.

"How dare these people! They actually left Shuo State secretly for their own selfish interests and went to other vassal states to privately manufacture weapons!" He was out on patrol in disguise, so even though he was furious, he had to lower his voice so as not to alarm the craftsmen and people digging canals not far away. "I'm afraid this matter is not that simple," Zhu Yu shook his head at him, "I'm afraid the black iron mine in Shuo State has been stolen.

Because among those privately made weapons, a considerable portion are made of black iron."

Upon hearing her words, Zhu Cheng's eyes suddenly widened.

"Nonsense! This is absolutely impossible!" He waved his hand in disbelief, "Black Iron is so important, would I be so careless as to dispose of it casually?
I've always had special personnel stationed there to guard the Wutie Mine. Even just seeing them watching over me doesn't reassure me, so I've even instructed the Pang family to conduct regular inspections to ensure nothing goes wrong. No one can get close, let alone steal anything! "

It would have been better if he didn't say it. After he said it so confidently, Zhu Yu and Lu Qing made a judgment in their hearts.

It seems that the Pang family is indeed involved in this matter, which is consistent with their previous speculation. However, it is still unclear what the Pang family has done, who they are colluding with, and for what purpose.

Zhu Yu's expression became increasingly serious.

As the King of Jin Kingdom, Lu Qing had never set foot in the territory of Shuo Kingdom in the past, so he was naturally not very clear about the things here, but Zhu Yu had some understanding of it over the years.

Zhu Cheng is a man of integrity. Back then, the Pang family supported him in inheriting the throne of the vassal king. In order to repay the favor, he has been very kind to the Pang family over the years. Not only did he allow the Pang family to expand their business with the help of King Xiaoyao, he even allowed them to intervene in the annual purchase of weapons from the Jin Kingdom to the Shuo Kingdom.

According to convention, such matters naturally require a written petition to choose who will undertake the task, but the Pang family is very prestigious after all. In the first few years, Zhu Cheng would just go through the motions, but later on, he was basically too lazy to even go through the motions, which was almost equivalent to putting the task directly on the Pang family.

Therefore, the Pang family was like the royal merchants of the world in Shuo State. They were the only ones who did not care about the bones with little meat, but they did not care about the fat meat that they wanted to eat but could not get into their mouths.

Therefore, if there were anyone in Shuo who should be most devoted in wishing for the long-lasting peace of King Shuo, it would be the Pang family.

However, in this world, people have always been ashamed but not satisfied. Even if they have made a fortune, when faced with the temptation of greater benefits, they still cannot help but be tempted and even take action.

What if someone promised the Pang family more benefits and greater temptations?

Given the Pang family's usual style, it would probably be difficult to refuse.

The question now is, who could have promised the Pang family such great benefits and temptations that would allow this group of vested interests to take such a huge risk and betray Zhu Cheng?