Seizing the Opportunity
If we're talking about people in ordinary professions who are good at holding their breath, fishermen, who frequently work with water, would undoubtedly be number one, followed by hunters.
Most hunters have to trek through mountains and rivers, so their bodies not only need to have long breaths, but they also need to hold their breath during the hunt to avoid disturbing the herd. It is not surprising that there are hunters who are good at holding their breath.
"I need someone who can hold their breath for fifteen minutes!"
There are plenty of experienced fishermen who can hold their breath for three to five minutes, but holding it for longer requires a great deal of natural talent.
Upon hearing the standard uttered by the King of King of Huainan, all four fell silent.
People can hold their breath for a long time, but not to this extent.
Even Gao Yaocai, who was an expert in swimming, rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
Wang Deli opened his mouth, but after calculating for a moment, he realized that he might very well spit out his mouth and become a corpse.
Zhang Changgong and Lady Yourong exchanged a glance, feeling that the King of Huainan's demands were too high.
"I'll give it a try!"
In the end, it was Zhang Changgong who stepped forward.
"If you don't have the ability, don't force yourself, lest you lose your life and your treasure," the King of King of Huainan said. "If you have the ability to hold your breath for fifteen minutes, then go and hold your breath in the bucket for fifteen minutes first!"
The King of Huainan pointed to Zhang Xuezhou, who was holding his breath.
The death of one or two people is a minor matter, but the loss of a demon treasure is a matter that will cause a lot of trouble.
When Li Shang, who was guarding Zijin Mountain, whispered something in his ear, the King of Huainan couldn't help but glance at Zhang Changgong, signaling him to test his head in water first, lest he throw away another 'human medicine'.
"No problem!"
Zhang Changgong took a deep breath, and when a soldier came over with a bucket of water, he buried his head in the bucket.
"Anything else you want to try?"
The King of Huainan asked the other three people, who all shook their heads, and even Lady Yourong remained silent.
The purpose of this matter is still unknown, but the hurdle of holding one's breath is enough to stop most people.
"King of Huainan, didn't you say you've gathered all the talents in the world here? How come you can't even find someone who can hold their breath?" King of Jiangdu complained.
"If you can be patient, I'll send someone back to Shouchun City to make arrangements, and I guarantee I'll bring you a hundred men skilled in swimming," said the King of Huainan.
"This is ridiculous! With all this back and forth and hiring people, it could easily take two days," the King of Jiangdu complained.
"It's already quite good that I found anyone on this construction site," the King of Huainan said helplessly. "At least there's someone willing to try!"
"Father, I can hold my breath, but my cultivation hasn't reached the Divine Ability yet!"
"Qian'er, go over there and see if there's anything good to eat. Find some edible food for your father!"
After Crown Prince Liu Qian recommended himself again, the King of Huainan sent him to find ingredients.
"Men, it's almost time! Pull Dongfang Shuo's head out!"
After some bickering at the camp, Zhang Xuezhou had finished soaking in the water.
"Reward!"
Seeing that Zhang Xuezhou was alright, the King of Huainan kept his promise and had ten strings of cash brought out.
"This is quite a lot of gold. Should I arrange for someone to deliver it to the city for you?"
One string of cash weighs several kilograms, while ten strings of cash weigh tens of kilograms.
Seeing Zhang Xuezhou's disheveled and wet appearance, Tian You couldn't help but ask him a question.
"I am ill and have no one to care for me. I fear I will not be able to keep this money after it is sent back to the city," Zhang Xuezhou said, bowing. "I hope Your Majesty can grant me two personal servants!"
"You certainly know how to talk!"
The King of Huainan never expected that his reward of ten thousand gold pieces would require him to bring others along.
But this isn't a big deal.
As long as the water mansion is worthwhile, the King of Huainan would be happy to give Zhang Xuezhou Zhang Xuezhou only a few personal servants, but also a dozen beautiful women.
Moreover, Zhang Xuezhou also possesses official documents from the imperial court. If the journey requires cooperation from various regions, the King of Huainan would indeed be obligated to provide assistance to the best of his ability.
"I agree to this matter, but it will have to wait until the underwater palace is excavated," the King of King of Huainan said after some thought.
"Could I borrow one or two people for a while?" Zhang Xuezhou asked. "Just those laborers who just arrived will do, preferably women. Women are more meticulous and won't forget to manage the money!"
Zhang Xuezhou spoke very quickly. He could still see the departing figures of Lady Yourong and the others, and he quickly chimed in, asking the Prince of King of Huainan for help.
"Fine!"
The King of Huainan nodded in agreement.
He waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to call the man back.
"Whoever is strong, meticulous, and good at math will follow you for a while," said the King of Huainan.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhang Xuezhou bowed and thanked him.
He bowed deeply, keeping his head extremely low, not wanting to look directly at Lady Yourong, lest he provoke something.
"Your Majesty, this demonic treasure sinks extremely slowly into the body; it takes a quarter of an hour to descend from the river surface into the underwater palace. Now that we've dug down eight zhang (approximately 33 meters), the time required to enter will be halved!"
Seeing Zhang Changgong's head begin to shake while submerged in the bucket of water, Zhang Xuezhou knew that the other man was losing steam and wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer.
He couldn't help but do some calculations, and then mentioned the relevant time to the King of Huainan.
"Father, your son..."
"Qian'er, this pig's trotter is a bit cold. Your father wants it hot. Could you go and heat it up for me?"
Crown Prince Liu Qian returned with the ingredients and offered himself again, but was once again turned away.
However, Liu Qian's repeated self-recommendations did speed up the process for the King of Huainan slightly.
He glanced at Zhang Changgong, who was holding his breath and on the verge of a countdown, and ordered his men to retrieve the man's head.
"Has it been a quarter of an hour?" Zhang Changgong asked groggily.
"He held his breath for 140 breaths, which is less than yours. He's a bit delirious right now. Can he enter the underwater palace?" the King of Huainan asked.
"Absolutely no problem," Zhang Xuezhou said. "I wouldn't joke around with my precious treasure. If this treasure really gets buried in the ground, it won't be easy to find again!"
"Fine, let's give it a try!"
The King of Huainan nodded, indicating that Zhang Changgong could use the treasure to verify the matter of the Water Palace.
If Zhang Changgong goes in to verify and comes out safely, Crown Prince Liu Qian can come and go as he pleases without any problem, and the King of Jiangdu will most likely be able to stay put as well.
He waved his hand, and Li Shang, who was skilled in alchemy and medicine making, strode forward. After massaging Zhang Changgong several times, Zhang Changgong was fully awake.
Li Shang entrusted Zhang Changgong with some matters, which caused Zhang Changgong's expression, who was holding a feather, to change.
He didn't immediately understand how he managed to get a feather into the rocky soil at the bottom of the river, but he did understand why a stone was tied to him and he was submerged.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to fight to the death, but I beg you to grant me my freedom!"
Zhang Changgong's face was ashen, but in just a few seconds he looked like a warrior heading towards death.
Rather than be forced to work until he dies, he was indeed willing to fight to the death, which was something that was mentioned when several neighbors recommended him.
"May!"
The King of Huainan glanced at Zhang Changgong, then at Lady Yourong and the others who were obediently holding the 10,000 taels of gold.
When his gaze swept over Crown Prince Liu Qian, who was hurriedly leaving to heat up the pig's trotters, he quickly agreed to Zhang Changgong's request.
The group left the campsite by the Huai River.
After walking about 400 meters, you will reach the embankment of the Huai River.
Compared to the previous mudflats, this place is now a large river embankment formed by piles of sand and gravel, as if it had been formed by a flood.
The Huai River changed its course in this area as a result; the water flow above the riverbed changed direction, but the amount of water seeping into the riverbed remained the same.
Many people dug to a depth of eight zhang (approximately 33 meters), and the accumulated water was also eight zhang deep, turning the area into a deep pool.
When work begins during the day, skilled water workers are needed to draw water out, and then hundreds of people are needed to continuously scoop water to ensure that the water below does not affect the excavation and construction. In addition, it is necessary to continuously excavate outwards to ensure that more people can participate in the excavation of this area.
At this time, people were constantly scooping water at the construction site, and others were using ropes to pull out piles of sand and gravel dug from the riverbed.
Although they worked together fairly well, the deep water was still as tall as a person, making it extremely difficult for the migrant workers to work below.
"Take him there!"
The King of Huainan pointed to Zhang Changgong had more than twenty catties of stones tied to his body.
As soon as the opponent, clutching the demonic feather of the Peacock Great Wisdom King, fell, the two soldiers immediately pushed him underwater, nearly as tall as a person.