Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 517 - 457: Bandit Suppression (Part 2)

Where’s He Jian? Su Jingchen should have sent He Jian to pick her up, so where did He Jian go?

Yu Xiaolian had a bad feeling, "Go back, quickly!"

As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Yu Xiaolian eagerly leapt off. The back courtyard of the county government was brightly lit, with small groups of people hurriedly weaving through the yard.

"Where’s the master?" Yu Xiaolian randomly grabbed a maid and asked.

"Madam, the master is in the western wing!"

The western wing was where the men resided; could it be that Cao Gen was still in danger?

Yu Xiaolian sprinted towards the western wing, her steps urgent.

There were noticeably more people here, including several doctors accompanied by attendants.

"When did a gang of bandits gather over by Wuyuan Mountain? Had the County Magistrate’s servant not been injured today, I would’ve never known there was a band of bandits over there," an elderly doctor with graying beard remarked as he stroked his beard.

Another attendant, seemingly young, quickly chimed in, "I know about those bandits. My father-in-law’s family used to live over by Wuyuan. Ever since the County Magistrate built a cement factory near Wuyuan Mountain, the bandits have stayed idle, probably because they couldn’t find anything to loot in the mountains anymore."

"How many bandits are there?" Yu Xiaolian asked as she approached, catching the attendant’s words.

The attendant recognized Yu Xiaolian; during the charity clinics hosted by the county government, nearly all the doctors in the county came to treat the common people’s illnesses. The attendant had often visited the county government during those times. Though he’d never spoken to Yu Xiaolian, he had seen her from afar and knew she was the County Magistrate Su’s wife.

"Madam, there weren’t that many bandits initially, just twenty or thirty people, but now there are about a hundred and eighty. Most of them are villagers from around Wuyuan Mountain who lost hope while alive and chose a crooked path, went up the mountain, and became bandits," the attendant explained, mentioning that his uncle’s cousin had also gone up Wuyuan Mountain to become a bandit.

Yu Xiaolian frowned. Wuyuan Mountain was a barren and rocky mountain where not even grass could grow; why would anyone choose it as a bandit hideout? Could there be more to the mountain, maybe some hidden secrets?

Just as Yu Xiaolian was about to inquire further with the attendant, Su Jingchen emerged from within the house.

"How is Cao Gen?" She had overheard the elderly doctor say that Cao Gen was just injured and knew he wasn’t in mortal danger. That’s why she hadn’t rushed into the house immediately.

"His wounds are many, but none are fatal; it’s just that he’s lost a lot of blood and is quite weak. I’m afraid he’ll need an extended period of recovery," Su Jingchen replied.

After speaking, Su Jingchen looked towards the attendant and asked, "Considering Wuyuan Mountain is practically barren, how do they manage the water supply while living there?"

Su Jingchen had overheard the conversation between Yu Xiaolian and the attendant inside the house, prompting him to come out.

The attendant recalled his father-in-law’s words and said, "I’ve heard there’s a clear spring inside the mountain, continuously flowing from underground, and the water is warm. During droughts, when there isn’t any water to drink, many went up the mountain and became bandits just to get a sip of that water."

"Warm water?" Yu Xiaolian was surprised.

Could it be hot spring water?

Drinkable hot spring water must be alkaline, which is quite rare.

"Yes, it’s said that the water remains warm year-round, like there’s fire burning underground," the attendant scratched his head, puzzled about how hot water could emerge from the ground.

"Not fire, magma."

Hot springs form due to magma within the Earth’s crust or as a result of volcanic eruptions. In regions with extinct volcanoes or elevated land from the earth’s crust movement, molten magma that hasn’t cooled releases substantial heat energy. Such concentrated heat can heat nearby porous water-bearing rock layers, leading to hot water and steam. However, it’s usually sulfate springs, while potable alkaline springs are rare.

The other formation process involves surface water permeating into the ground and cycling, forming underground water layers.

Rainwater reaches the ground and infiltrates deeply into water-bearing layers within the crust. Heated by geothermal energy, this deep underground water becomes hot. Often, this hot water contains gases like carbon dioxide. When the temperature rises and the path is blocked by dense, impermeable rock layers, pressure builds. This pressure transforms the hot water and steam into a high-pressure state, surging upwards when encountering cracks.