"Silvery white? Could there really be mercury inside!"
Everyone's bodies trembled, and then they had to admire Liang Xiao's foresight!
"No wonder Marquis Anguo asked us to prepare a large amount of sulfur blocks, sulfur powder, and 'activated carbon,' to guard against excessive mercury!"
Ding Wuyi's troops were able to come prepared, not only with regular preparations but also with props suggested by Liang Xiao and some notes for treasure hunting.
Sulfur and "activated carbon" were important props among them, ready at any time!
Liang Xiao showed no sign of complacency, but instead asked, "Are there many raw eggs stored outside?"
Ding Wuyi nodded, "According to your instructions, they've been supplied in large quantities, enough for detoxification! Raw eggs are usually sent from Yanzhou, so it's considered as troop replenishment."
Liang Xiao was finally relieved and quickly ordered the three Shadow Guards who had entered the cave, "You three, go out, swallow one to three fresh, clean raw eggs, and then notify the Shadow Guards to transport as much sulfur powder and bellows as possible inside!"
The "activated carbon" that Liang Xiao had improvised here was much more practical than charcoal, but its adsorption effect was not as good as real activated carbon. He couldn't guarantee that this "activated carbon" could completely absorb the mercury volatilized into the air.
And mercury is odorless...
No one found Liang Xiao troublesome; instead, they admired his composure even more and were grateful for his concern.
With treasure before them, an ordinary person would have rushed in impulsively to seize it!
But Liang Xiao was concerned about everyone's safety!
Including Ding Wuyi, everyone held their breath and waited.
"Second Young Master Liang, is that river really a mercury river? If it is, will the sulfur blocks and sulfur powder we prepared be enough..." Ding Wuyi worriedly asked.
Liang Xiao shook his head, "The river inside is very clear. Duke Ding, don't forget that the fierce tiger river suddenly dried up. I suspect that the water from the fierce tiger river flowed into the inside for some reason through some passage, washing away the mercury. For example, the fierce tiger river's water has been seeping in for years..."
Ding Wuyi suddenly realized!
Even if this year was dry and the fierce tiger river dried up, it was unreasonable that the river on the northwest side, which was also a branch of the Tianjiang River, had not dried up!
After a moment, three Shadow Guards entered with a group of Shadow Guards, each pushing a cart of sulfur blocks and sulfur powder, and twenty people carrying bellows.
Liang Xiao asked the three Shadow Guards, "In which direction are those gold bricks placed? Is there any possibility of them rolling or falling into the river?"
One Shadow Guard replied, "Reporting to Marquis! You can see them upon entering the exit, in the corner to the front right, all gold bricks! The river is on the left, and both sides have relatively low terrain, with the highest terrain in the middle! Unless someone deliberately throws such heavy gold bricks into the water, or an earthquake changes the terrain, the gold will not move an inch!" 138 Reading Network
The other two echoed, "The situation is accurate!"
Liang Xiao asked again, "Have you discovered any other mechanisms or facilities?"
"No!" The three shook their heads simultaneously.
Liang Xiao was finally satisfied and immediately ordered the three Shadow Guards to rest.
The three were anxious, "Marquis Anguo! We also wish to earn merit..."
Shadow Guards are loyal to the royal family and have all the necessary treatment. Their need for wealth is not great, but there is still healthy competition within the Shadow Guards. Seeing so much gold, the three were in their prime for merit by carrying it, so how could they bear to fall behind at this time!
Liang Xiao comforted them, "You three bravely entered the cave at the risk of your lives, your loyalty and courage are commendable, and you have already earned great merit."
Only then were the three satisfied, thanked him, and withdrew.
Liang Xiao immediately ordered, "Fill some sulfur powder into the bellows and directly blow the air, spraying all the way to neutralize the mercury. Do not ignite it! Return when you hear my command!"
The crowd dared not be careless and followed suit. Forty people, in pairs, wearing gas masks, and coated with a layer of sulfur powder, entered the passage one after another, advancing in the dark, spraying sulfur powder along the way.
"That's enough!"
Only when Liang Xiao outside gave the order did these Shadow Guards return along the same route.
Liang Xiao immediately had these Shadow Guards go outside to eat raw eggs and be rewarded, then replaced them with others holding the depleted bellows to continue blowing air at the cave entrance.
After a moment, Liang Xiao ordered them to stop blowing, "Let it air out for a while."
Ding Wuyi approached the cave. Even with a gas mask, he could smell the pungent scent of sulfur in the air.
The crowd did not understand his intentions but had absolute faith in Liang Xiao's caution and waited patiently.
Liang Xiao narrated the subsequent entry into the passage to the crowd on the spot. Everyone listened attentively, afraid of missing any crucial information.
After two quarters of an hour, some Shadow Guards were already impatient, looking at Liang Xiao expectantly, waiting for his order.
Even Ding Wuyi couldn't hold back and asked, "Second Young Master Liang, can we go in now?"
Liang Xiao shook his head, asked everyone to stay away from the cave, and personally fetched three torches.
Liang Xiao's strange behavior made everyone even more confused!
He saw Liang Xiao approach the cave entrance and throw three torches one after another deep into the passage, then flee from the entrance.
Everything was calm!
Liang Xiao did not relax his vigilance. He fetched three more torches, personally walked into the passage, and after seeing the way ahead by the torchlight, threw three new torches forward one after another, then fled back to Ding Wuyi's side.
As everyone was in doubt, a bright light suddenly erupted from inside the passage, followed by a rumbling sound!
"What's going on?"
The Shadow Guards gasped in shock, and even Ding Wuyi was startled and quickly pulled Liang Xiao towards the cave entrance!
"Dust explosion," Liang Xiao explained, "the sulfur powder sprayed earlier was to neutralize the gaseous mercury inside, but there must have been excess sulfur powder diffused inside. Once it encounters fire, it's likely to cause an explosion. That's why I let it ventilate first, then ignite it to deal with the potential dust explosion beforehand."
Everyone sighed in admiration, and more than half of the Shadow Guards bowed on the spot, "Marquis Anguo is a divine calculator!"
"Marquis Anguo, actually, we are not afraid of hardships and can go in and transport directly under the mercury..." some Shadow Guards said excitedly.
Ding Wuyi marveled, and then said with a wry smile, "Don't you yet understand Second Young Master Liang's intentions?"
Liang Xiao said sternly, "You are all the reliance of the Son of Heaven, and naturally the reliance of Daqian. How can you be sacrificed arbitrarily? When conditions permit, of course, we should save as many as possible! The treasure is inside and won't run away. Yanzhou is the territory of Daqian, guarded by the General of Cavalry, so there is no fear of any rebels trying to seize it."
The Shadow Guards trembled, and many of them had tears in their eyes.
They were more special than suicide squads, trained and ideologically conditioned from childhood to live for "their lord," ready to go through fire and water without hesitation!
And now, someone, just like their lord, cherished their lives?
Invisibly, Liang Xiao gained the sincere respect of the Shadow Guards present, no longer just awe!
Even Ding Wuyi was completely convinced by Liang Xiao. As for Liang Xiao's shameless behavior exposed in the past, it was no longer important.
While the cave was airing out, everyone listened to Liang Xiao's further guidance. After another quarter of an hour, everyone lit torches and entered the passage.
Ding Wuyi, worried about Liang Xiao's safety, repeatedly asked him to stay at the rear.
Everyone gradually emerged from the end of the passage. By the torchlight, they looked at the scene before them and almost suffocated.
Even Liang Xiao's whole body trembled!
In the corner to the front right, gold bricks, about six inches long, three inches wide, and about one inch thick, were piled up like mountains!!