Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

Why have Xiao Hongyun and Ye Tingxiu changed so much during this campaign to suppress bandits?

In the past, when they saw Zhou Qingfeng doing well, they would think of slandering him, undermining him, being jealous, and hoping that Zhou Qingfeng would suffer a great misfortune.

This is what people from the lower classes think and do—it's incredibly low-level and utterly ridiculous.

However, the two of them went through a lot, and time and experience allowed their thinking to mature rapidly.

They knew that only by working together and supporting each other could Zhou Qingfeng prosper, and so would they.

For example, in this bandit suppression campaign, Zhou Qingfeng was rewarded for his meritorious service, and they will also be rewarded for their meritorious service, so everyone will benefit.

Instead, they made things difficult for Zhou Qingfeng, trying every means to make his bandit suppression efforts fail, and they didn't get any benefit either.

This is what genius is all about. Although they came from humble backgrounds, they were growing rapidly in all aspects.

This is the world.

A genius is bound to be surrounded by other geniuses.

A fool is surrounded by fools.

Birds of a feather flock together.

There are three, six, and nine classes, with clear distinctions between them.

Whether we admit it or not.

It exists here and cannot be erased.

The only thing you can do is face yourself squarely, try every means to improve yourself, get rid of those idiots around you, until those idiots can't even see your back anymore, leaving those idiots to continue living a pathetic life at the bottom.

Even if they insult you, slander you, curse you, or are jealous of you.

But what's the point? By then, you're already standing at a height they can't even see. Looking down from that height, you can't even see these lowly ants.

Xiao Hongyun said, "I can't understand why he is so amazing at the same age, while I am far inferior to him."

Ye Tingxiu said, "My master said to observe him closely, learn from him, and surpass him."

Xiao Hongyun nodded slightly: "Senior Ye is right. There are indeed many things we can learn from Old Zhou. Only by learning from his strengths can we have a chance to surpass him in the future. Otherwise, we will always be left behind."

Ye Tingxiu hummed in agreement.

Zhou Qingfeng used the pretext of checking the employee roster to uncover the problem.

Taking advantage of the situation, they directly seized control of the mine.

The punishment was also shown to the head steward to his subordinates, to show them who was in charge now.

Then, they used food they didn't eat to win over the hearts of these mining slaves.

With a combination of force and flexibility, he completely took control of the mine in less than half an hour.

Jin Wei and his men cleaned up a clean mine shed for Zhou Qingfeng to live and work in.

Ye Tingxiu and Xiao Hongyun gathered here to discuss the next steps with Zhou Qingfeng.

Zhou Qingfeng spread out the map and said calmly, "We'll soon find out who the bandits' informants are. I've already given instructions to Jin Wei to be on high alert and to increase manpower to patrol the mine's entrances and exits."

Xiao Hongyun said, "What do you mean? If we're going to follow the clues, why are we being so vigilant? Doesn't that just make it harder for our spies to sneak out and report back?"

Ye Tingxiu said, "I don't understand. Please explain."

Zhou Qingfeng glanced at Ye Tingxiu and said calmly, "Not just anyone can be an informant."

"He must have keen observation skills and a quick mind; at the very least, he must be someone with a little bit of cleverness."

"If we relax our guard and allow our informants to leave the mine easily, they will inevitably become suspicious and suspect that something is amiss."

"But under heavy martial law, if an informant manages to slip out, he will be smug and head straight to the bandits' hideout to deliver the message, without noticing whether anyone is following him."

At this point, Zhou Qingfeng fell silent, though he had more to say.

The informant will give the thieves false information, making them think that they are just conducting a routine inspection and will leave soon. This will make the thieves feel lucky and careless.

Once you know the exact location of the bandit's hideout, the decision of whether to attack and how to attack rests entirely in your hands.

In short, never underestimate an unknown enemy.

When a fierce tiger pounces on a rabbit, it uses all its strength.

Since we're going to take action, we must do so with the force of a thunderbolt, uprooting the enemy completely and leaving no one alive.

Xiao Hongyun frowned in thought, then suddenly woke up, slammed the fan in his hand, and clapped his hands with the fan: "Old Zhou, I understand. You're not fighting a war, you're fighting for people's hearts, it's a psychological game."

Ye Tingxiu seemed to be deep in thought. He didn't understand, but he could learn to do it and one day he would understand the true meaning.

At this moment, Jin Wei led the 'washed face' Steward Lian into the mine shed.

Then Jin Wei kicked Steward Lian in the knee.

The head steward, soaking wet, knelt on the ground and said fearfully, "General Qiu..."

Zhou Qingfeng put a finger to his lips to signal Steward Lian not to speak, and then said, "Look me in the eyes, think it through before you speak. Even if you're making up a lie, please make it believable so that I can believe it."

"Because I usually only give people one chance, so you'd better cherish it."

“Once I find out you’re lying, you won’t have a second chance to speak.”

Even the head steward looked at Zhou Qingfeng with fear on his face. He felt an indescribable aura from this young man, a kind of confidence and presence that comes from years of holding a high position.

In front of this boy, I felt as if I were naked, completely exposed.

This indescribable aura made the lie he was about to tell turn into the truth: "General Qiu, I'll talk, I'll talk, all 155 people escaped."

Zhou Qingfeng walked slowly to Steward Lian, bent down and grabbed his chin: "Why did you run away?"

Yes, why run away?

Although the lives of miners were dirty and exhausting, they at least had food and drink to survive.

But once they escaped the mine, they found themselves surrounded by demons and monsters, facing a near-certain death.

Running away is too inhumane.

Steward Lian raised his hands and explained nervously, "Because there is a band of bandits nearby called Zhuxian Village. They teach mortals cultivation for free. As long as you join them, you can become a cultivator."

"These 155 people went to Zhuxian Village. They escaped into the deep mountains while transporting ore."

“I led the mine protection team to chase after them, but I didn’t dare to go any further than the entrance to Huwei Ridge.”

"Because there are great demons and many monsters in Tiger Might Ridge."

"Moreover, the forest is dense and the terrain is complex."

“Once they run inside, it’s very difficult to find them. I can only bring them back.”

Zhou Qingfeng said calmly, "Why not report it?"

The head steward said, "I dare not. If it is reported, I, the deputy head steward, the guards, and the mine protection team will all be held accountable. I just want to delay and report every month that ten or so miners have been killed by demons and monsters."

"If we repeat this process, this matter will be over by next year."

Zhou Qingfeng released his grip on Steward Lian's chin and said calmly, "I'll give you some time. You think you can really get away with this? Jin Wei, take him away and detain him in secret until he is dealt with."

The head steward said excitedly, "What I said is true, I didn't lie to you, Chief Steward Qiu."

"Let's go, Steward Lian. Whether it's true or false, Chief Qiu will decide for himself. Don't waste your breath." Jin Wei grabbed Steward Lian by the back of his collar and dragged him out, ordering the bandit-suppression soldiers waiting outside to take Steward Lian away and secretly imprison him.

Then Jin Wei returned to the mine shed to await orders.

Zhou Qingfeng said, "Go, secretly capture two miners and ask them to see if what Manager Lian said is true or false."

Jin Wei glanced around the mine shed and, seeing no one else inside, said, "Commander-in-Chief, do you suspect that Steward Lian is lying?"

Zhou Qingfeng said calmly, "Even if what he said is true, it needs to be verified from multiple perspectives. After all, many people die in the fight against bandits. It's not like playing house where you lose and have to start over. There's no room for carelessness. Go ahead."

Upon hearing this, Jin Wei immediately bowed, clasped his hands in greeting, and left as ordered.