Upon witnessing the bronze ingot, a series of metallic clinks echoed around Copper Mountain as the crowd eagerly set to work, breaking apart the tin ore. Without Han Cheng needing to say much, everyone was brimming with energy, smashing the stones with full force. They were eager to gather as much tin ore as possible and return to the tribe quickly to share the good news.
Seeing the tribe members' joy upon receiving the tin ore made their hearts swell with happiness, sweeter than tasting honey. Fueled by this anticipation, it took them three days to extract nearly a thousand pounds of tin ore.
Han Cheng, too, kept himself busy. While the others mined tin, he wandered the area with a stone pickaxe and a bone shovel, tapping and digging small pits here and there. He wasn't planting trees to prevent soil erosion; instead, he was assessing the tin deposit's size.
The results were encouraging. Even after digging pits almost a hundred meters away from the initial discovery point, he still found layers of tin ore beneath the soil.
Han Cheng decided not to dig further. The quantity of tin ore they had already uncovered was more than sufficient for the Green Sparrow Tribe's needs. Even if the tribe's population were to increase tenfold, the confirmed tin deposits would still meet their demands.
Another reason he didn't explore further was because the deeper he dug, the deeper the tin ore lay. The current pits were already over a meter deep before he reached the tin. If he continued to investigate, he might end up digging a full-on mineshaft, which wasn't something he was keen on.
Who would have thought that the plundering Flying Snake Tribe was sitting on such a treasure trove? Their territory boasted a vast cave and copper and tin deposits. Despite occupying such a prime location, they lived primitively, wielding wooden sticks and stones, roaming around causing trouble—truly a case of "sitting on a mountain of treasure yet living in poverty."
As the saying goes, a fine horse needs a discerning eye. If it weren't for meeting someone like himself, a talent scout, the copper and tin mines around Flying Snake Tribe might have continued to languish, unknown and unexploited by the slaves for years to come.
For a while now, Han Cheng had been walking with an exaggerated, confident strut, feeling like he was above everyone else. But his lofty demeanor came crashing down—literally. The heavens themselves seemed to disapprove, bringing down a heavy autumn rain that smacked him straight into the mud.
Autumn rains bring a chill. Han Cheng wasn't particularly worried about the cold; the muddy roads were his biggest concern. The rain had softened the ground, making every step treacherous and slippery. Walking became a muddy mess, with shoe soles getting sucked right off and, worse yet, unexpected slips that could result in a painful fall or even an awkward split.
Han Cheng wasn't the only one who had experienced such high-difficulty maneuvers; the large mud stain on his backside proved his struggle. Walking was a challenge in this kind of weather, let alone for those carrying heavy stones.
Since making a trip to Copper Mountain was no easy task, Han Cheng decided to make the most of it. He instructed everyone capable, including the deer, to carry as much ore as possible. Even the dogs weren't spared—he loaded them up with seven or eight pounds of stones each before letting them off.
This approach wasn't wrong; however, it meant that the people, deer, and dogs were heavily burdened, especially during the rain, making their journey even more grueling.
"Build a city! Build a city! Let's establish a new settlement near Copper Mountain!"
After another hard slip that left him in the mud, Han Cheng, the revered 'Great Divine Son,' couldn't be bothered to clean off the dirt from his backside. He grabbed the fallen carrying pole, hefted it over his shoulder, and continued trudging forward, gritting his teeth and stewing with determination.
As he walked, he made up his mind. They could establish a residential area near Copper Mountain to set up a dedicated site for metal smelting. This would eliminate the need for the frustratingly heavy transportation of raw ore. Refined copper and tin would be much easier to move than unprocessed rocks.
Han Cheng was deeply frustrated by the current logistics, but despite his annoyance, he knew that building a settlement near Copper Mountain was not just a passing thought—it was a necessity. Bronze was a versatile material that had once given rise to a flourishing Bronze Age civilization. Once discovered, such a powerful resource was destined to play a significant role.
In the future, various bronze tools and artifacts will become increasingly integral to daily life, with their impact becoming increasingly significant. Establishing a settlement in this strategic location would make it easier to smell bronze and forge bronze tools, ensuring a stable and efficient supply.
As for guarding Copper Mountain and the tin mines from other tribes, that wasn't a pressing concern for now. According to Han Cheng, no other nearby tribes had yet figured out how to forge bronze. Given this situation, even if Copper Mountain and its tin mines were left unguarded in plain view, passersby wouldn't pay them any mind. They had no idea of the potential hidden in these stones.
Even if another tribe settled in the area, they would likely end up like the former Flying Snake Tribe. After experiencing the ominous effects of drinking the sparkling waters of the region—which had led to mysterious deaths—they would view Copper Mountain with fear and reverence, treating it like a forbidden land.
This was similar to how Han Cheng had not stationed guards at the Salt Mountain. Apart from the Green Sparrow Tribe, no one knew that those seemingly ordinary rocky hills contained such valuable resources. Even if someone did discover it, they wouldn't have the immediate ability to extract salt, copper, or tin.
However, this was not the most critical issue. The most crucial point was that if any other tribe dared to wander around Copper Mountain or the salt mountain and start poking around, Han Cheng, who had already claimed ownership of these resources, would happily dispatch the strong warriors of the Green Sparrow Tribe. They would round up the intruders and fulfill their deepest wishes in a display of his magnanimity.
Once captured, these trespassers would be made into slaves of the Green Sparrow Tribe. They would be put to work boiling salt and smelting metals until their heads ached from the sheer monotony of the labor.
Yes, even though Han Cheng had been slipping in the mud, struggling with the weight of heavy ores, and repeatedly falling on his backside, his resolve was ironclad. He was audacious and bold, looking down on anyone who might challenge him and almost daring others to cause trouble.