Chapter Sixteen: Gathering at Qi's Marketplace

  The boss indeed has ambitions beyond this place!

  Irina involuntarily exclaimed in her heart.

  Since entering Tongjia Fort, as Irina got to know more about the place, she felt that inexplicable flutter in her heart growing stronger.

  It's hard to imagine that with Tang's personality, why she would willingly stay in the desolate and isolated Duanhun Gorge for several years.

  Isn't it that he had already judged that President Yuan had the idea of ascending to the throne, so he thought of a way to use President Yuan's power to start another fire in Duanhun Gorge? The ultimate goal is to wait for President Yuan's downfall and return to heaven?

  If it's really like this, then the heart of the man in front of me is too deep and cunning!

  "Boss, based on the current personnel and strength of Tieqi Alliance, if we want to confront Xinjiang Governor Ming directly, I'm afraid it's difficult to achieve anything." Irina probed sideways to test Tang Dynasty's bottom line.

  "We don't have enough people, let's openly recruit! I have channels to buy weapons and ammunition!" Tang Chao said with confidence: "Tangjia Fortress is now lacking in everything, except for money. Irina, don't forget that President Yuan's secret vault is in my hands!"

  "Now is the critical moment for President Yuan to ascend to the throne, won't President Yuan send someone to take away the gold reserves in the treasury?" Irina asked solemnly.

  "Take it away? Heh heh, that also requires my approval." Tang Dynasty shook his head and said, "Without my consent, not even a fly can fly into the Tang Family Fortress."

  "Boss, when can we get into Dehua City?" Irina asked excitedly.

  "Are you going to rebel?" Tang Dynasty smiled and shook his head, "No, no, no, I won't challenge Yang Zengxin for the time being. First, take down Ruqiang and Yanzhou, these two places rich in mineral resources, then march south, control the entire southern Xinjiang, and then go north to Hami, and incidentally control Xingxing Gorge, this is what I want to get most now."

  Seeing Irina's disappointed face, Tang Chao explained with a smile: "Irina, eating is one mouthful at a time, no one can eat to become fat in one mouthful. Yang Zengxin has been operating in Xinjiang for a long time and has deep roots. The relationships are complex. To stand firm in Xinjiang, the key issue is how to handle the relationship with the eight kings of Huijiang. The problem of Huijiang cannot be solved by military force alone, it requires 30% military, 30% politics and 40% economy."

  "Uh-huh." Irina nodded slightly and said in a hushed tone: "Actually, I also know the truth that 'haste makes waste'. But when I saw the Tang family's fortress with so many heavy cannons, machine guns, and this airship demonstrating such powerful aerial combat capabilities, I couldn't help but think that one day, I could lead a formidable army, openly and honorably storm into Di Hua City, to avenge my family of thirty-four mouths, and offer sacrifices to the spirits of my parents in heaven."

  "Irina, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were a woman with a story. Tang Dynasty gazed at Irina with an expression of admiration and appreciation, "Living among bandits, surrounded by a group of rough and bold big shots every day, yet able to remain unsoiled and keep that one pure part in your heart, this is not something any ordinary woman can do. Irina, I wonder if Tang Mou has the qualifications to hear you tell your story?"

  "You're my boss, of course you have the right." Irina gave Tang Chao a flirtatious glance.

  "Irina, it's just the two of us now, a lonely man and a lonely woman in one room. Don't tempt me, or I really will have lustful thoughts!" Tang Chao said with a half-joking, half-serious smile.

  Irina sashayed over to Tang Chao, her beautiful big eyes fixed intently on his, puckered up and blew a kiss at him, giggling in a soft voice: "Boss, I think you have a dirty mind but no guts."

  She was teased by her, and Tang Dynasty couldn't help but throw the steering wheel in his hand, wrapped his arms around Irina's slender waist, and suddenly lowered his head to kiss her extremely sexy and tempting red lips.

  "Hehehe!" Irina giggled nonstop, cleverly turning her face away, causing Tang's big mouth to land on empty air.

  She kissed Tang Chao's face lightly, then propped her hands on his chest and struggled out of his arms, pulling away from him.

  "Boss, you're so bad, trying to take advantage of me." Irina gazed at Tang Chao with a flirtatious look in her eyes, her expression and demeanor exactly like those of a lovesick girl teasing her lover.

  In his heart, he silently cursed the little demon, Tang Dynasty had just thought about whether to take a real move on the pretty girl in front of him, when at this time, the airship had already arrived above Cang Long Ridge.

  "Hmph! I'll let you off the hook for now." Tang Chao glared at Irina with a scowl, swallowing hard several times in frustration. After taking several deep breaths to calm down the irritation in his heart, he focused on piloting the airship, carefully controlling its descent while searching for a suitable temporary landing site.

  Irina apparently didn't plan to let Tang Chao off so easily, she smiled and came over to his side, hugging his right arm, and said in a flirtatious tone: "Boss, don't be angry, I also gave you a little reward just now!"

  The airship was descending, and Tang Dynasty didn't dare to be distracted at this time. So he didn't pay much attention to Irina, but focused on controlling the airship to steadily and slowly descend onto the open space in the center of the Iron Rider Alliance's headquarters that might be a training ground.

  As the airship drew closer to the ground, the Iron Legion's sentry at the general camp quickly observed the gigantic monster that suddenly appeared in the sky.

  In the sentinel's shouting cry, the whole mountain stronghold began to become chaotic.

  Fortunately, Mu Haitao appeared in time and used his whip to severely punish the few stunned observation sentries, only then was he able to control the situation with loud shouts.

  At this time, Mu Hailin and other leaders of the Iron Cavalry Alliance who were discussing relocation matters in the conference hall also came to the training ground in the middle of the mountain stronghold.

  The airship landed slowly, the cabin door opened, and the gangway was lowered.

  The Tang Dynasty's figure did not appear, but instead shouted through a loudspeaker: "Old Mu, please invite all the leaders of the Iron Rider Alliance who are responsible for fighting to come to the airship. I'll take you to observe the terrain around Canglong Ridge from the sky."

  "Yes! Boss." Mu Hailin shouted loudly, "Brothers, the boss has given an order. Let's take a ride on the flying boat and have a taste of the divine addiction."

  "Thank you boss!"

  "Thank you boss!"

  “……”

  The gang leaders had long heard that Mu Haolin, the big boss of the Tang Dynasty, was a mysterious and unparalleled figure in the world. Now they finally have the opportunity to get close to this mysterious big boss, and they are naturally a little excited.

  A batch of high-ranking officials rushed to the airship, scrambling and chaotic. Mu Hailin couldn't help but feel a flush on his face, feeling that he had lost face in front of his boss. He let out a loud shout: "Everyone, stand still! Look at yourselves, you're all military leaders, don't you know what discipline is? Alright, with Tie Mu as the lead soldier, assemble! Attention! At ease. Right face, forward march. Report!"

  "One, two, three, four...... fourteen, fifteen."

  Mu Hairong's face slightly cleared, and he ran to the side of the two-meter-tall team leader Timur, stood at attention, and then loudly shouted: "All present, attention! Dress right, dress! Attention! Right turn, quick march!"

  Under the leadership of Mu Hailin, this "tourist group" composed of Iron Riders' big heads marched in step and boarded the airship "Tang Family Fort No. 1" one after another.

  This airship was designed with the consideration that it would serve as Tang's temporary Air Force One in the next two years. Therefore, the airship is not only equipped with a guard cabin and an armory, but also has a dedicated reception room and office.

  The reception room is quite spacious, with an area of nearly thirty square meters, a sofa and tea table are all available, and it can accommodate twenty-four people to hold meetings at the same time.

  Irina acted as a temporary hostess and arranged for Mu Hailin and others to sit on the sofa in the guest room.

  With the mighty Mu Haolin having previously unleashed his fury, not a single one of these Iron Riders' leaders dared to be careless or presumptuous. Each and every one of them sat properly in their own seats, eyes fixed ahead, sitting upright.

  Tang Chao stood at the entrance of the driver's cabin, looking at the military bearing displayed by these Iron Riders' backbone members, and was somewhat surprised.

  Although Tang Dynasty had heard from Mu Hailin that the Iron Cavalry Alliance conducted regular cavalry training every day, he still did not expect that these Iron Cavalry Alliance heroes, known as bandits by others, were actually a paramilitary force.

  No wonder the Xinjiang Governor Yang Zengxin has been keeping an eye on Tieqi Alliance. Tang Chao muttered to himself, as a government official, no one dared to ignore the existence of such an uncontrollable militarized civilian armed force within their jurisdiction.

  Mu Haolin stepped forward and stood at attention in front of Tang, saying loudly: "Boss, except for Master Cao Mingli who went to Di Hua, my second brother Mu Haiwei is guarding the Tang family fortress. All the leaders of the Iron Rider Alliance have been ordered to gather here, please instruct!"

  Tang Chao returned a military salute, indicating that Mu Hailin should take his seat, then walked to the European-style leather sofa in front of the main seat and stood still, his eyes scanning the faces of the Iron Rider Alliance leaders with a stern gaze.

  "I am Tang Dynasty, welcome everyone to take 'Tang Family Fort No. 1'." Tang Dynasty gave a warm and friendly smile to the crowd, "Suddenly inviting all of you up here, I think, there must be questions in your minds. Now I don't plan to give you an answer, after the airship takes off, I believe someone among you will find the answer."

  After finishing speaking, Tang Chao called Mu Hailin to his side, whispered a few words in his ear, then walked into the driver's cabin, closed the door and left Irina in the passenger cabin.

  Soon, Tangjiabao No. 1 slowly rose into the air.

  The airship first flew around Qinglong Ridge for two laps, then flew towards Duanhun Gorge. After circling over Tangjia Fort once, Tang drove the airship to patrol and inspect within the existing territory of Tangjia Fort.

  Newcomer on the road, collect!!