Chapter 40: News of the Iron Mine (Seeking Recommendations and Bookmarks)

  Seeing Li Xianzheng about to enter, Pang Gang smiled and said: "Old Master Li, you've come at just the right time, I have something to ask you."

  Seeing Pang Gang still being so polite, Li Xian bowed his hands and smiled bitterly: "Sir is being too kind to a humble man like me, I'm just an old man on the verge of death, not worthy of such a title."

  "Haha! Come on, come on!" Pang Gang smiled and asked Li Xian to sit down by the fire pit before saying: "Li Lao Bo, in these days when I was ordered to suppress bandits, everything in the fortress has been running smoothly thanks to your efforts. Therefore, I want to promote you to a higher position, what do you think?"

  "What? The Dictionary of Vulgar Taste!" Even Li Xian, who had lived for over fifty years, couldn't help but shudder at the sound of this phrase.

  "Sir, are you saying that you want to let Xiao Lao'er take on the role of Zhuan Dian? Are you not framing Xiao Lao'er?" At this point, Li Xian's voice was even trembling.

  "This official is framing you." Pang Gang lost his smile and said: "This official has long since said that anyone with talent who is willing to work for Wang Hai Fortress will not be treated unfairly by this official. Now the fortress is in need of people, your appointment as the head of the granary is well-deserved."

  "Thank you, sir! Thank you for your kindness to this old man!" He was so excited that his whole body trembled, and he shakily got up and knelt down in front of Pang Gang.

  Pang Gang smiled and accepted his arrangement, only then did he help him up. Li Xian's performance in recent days had been under his watchful eye; although this old man was illiterate, he was naturally a talented person for managing logistics and miscellaneous tasks. The work assigned to him by Pang Gang, whether it was digging canals, organizing military households to open up wasteland or guarding the rear, he did with great orderliness. Moreover, as one of the earliest followers, Pang Gang would not mistreat him.

  What Pang Gang did not expect was that as soon as he became the chief of this small position, there would be such a big reaction. This kind of reaction was beyond Pang Gang's expectation.

  "Isn't he just a low-ranking official? No need to get so worked up, right?" At first, Pang Gang was slightly startled, but then he recalled his own behavior when he had just become a hundred-household head and felt reassured. In the imperial hierarchy of China, becoming an official meant bringing honor to one's ancestors and entering a higher social class; otherwise, the legend of "Fan Jinzhong" wouldn't have been passed down for so many years.

  Pang Gang's heart also relaxed at this point, he gestured to Li Xian to sit down, then smiled and said: "Now I should address you as Li Zhendian, in the future when speaking with me, you can also refer to yourself as 'your subordinate'."

  "Yes, yes, yes......" Li Xian somewhat hesitantly replied, "Your Excellency, I have come this time to report something."

  "Oh? What's going on?" Pang Gang asked somewhat nonchalantly at first, "It just so happens that I also have some things to discuss with you."

  At this time, Li Xian had recovered from the madness of being an official and said somewhat urgently: "Your Excellency, good news! I... your humble servant has discovered an iron mine on the mountain next to Wangjia Village!"

  "What!" Li Xian's voice was not loud, but it fell on his ears like a thunderbolt.

  Pang Gang stood up somewhat flustered and grabbed Li Xian's shoulder, loudly asking: "Iron ore! You said iron ore was discovered in Wangjiatun!"

  Pang Gang's voice was so loud that it startled Li Xian, who stuttered and said: "Yes, on the day you went to suppress the bandits, there was a soldier in this fortress who had a distant relative in Wangjia Village. One day, he went up the mountain to cut firewood and picked up several pieces of black stones. After showing them to others, it turned out that they were iron ore. That distant relative secretly told the soldier, and the soldier told me. I felt that this was a matter of great importance, so I came to report to you, sir. Please make a decision!"

  Pang Gang hesitated for a moment before asking: "Does anyone else know about this?"

  Li Xian shook his head, "This matter is also unknown to me, but according to my estimation, not many people will know about it in the short term. However, after a long time, it may be difficult to keep it confidential."

  Pang Gang nodded, this distant relative can tell the distant relatives of Wanghai Building today, and tomorrow he can tell the neighbors next door. If they don't act quickly, that iron mine will be swallowed up by the hungry wolves who come with the wind.

  Pang Gang's deliberation didn't last long before he made a decision, "Li Juan, immediately call your husband in, I have something for him to do."

  "Yes!" Li Xian knew that Pang Gang had already made a decision, and he responded with a single word before immediately leaving.

  After a while, Li Yuan appeared in Pang Gang's living room.

  "Director Li, now I have an important matter that needs to be handled by you. You must ensure it is done properly and efficiently. Can you do it?"

  "Don't worry, sir. I will not let you down and will definitely do a good job for you!" Li Yuan had been staying in Wang Hai Castle for several months, every day either training soldiers or doing chores, watching Da Zhuang and Wang Zhi lead people to suppress bandits and come back with a proud look on their faces, although he didn't say anything but was extremely envious in his heart. Now that he heard the adult had something for him to do, his spirit immediately lifted up.

  Pang Gang said seriously: "You little guy, don't rush to agree. This matter is extremely important. It can be said that it's a matter of life and death for Wang Hai Fortress in the future. If you can't do it, tell me early and I'll send someone else."

  "Don't peek at people through the door crack, I ask myself what task haven't I done with all my heart since following you, sir. Why don't you trust me?" Li Yuan's expression was very wronged.

  "That's good!" Pang Gang smiled, "A small mountain next to Wangjiatun has discovered an iron mine. Take advantage of the fact that this news hasn't spread yet, and immediately lead 100 soldiers to rush to that small mountain and surround it. No one is allowed to extract ore from there again. I will send Hua Zan Dian with the blacksmiths to go there later. You must remember, Wangjiatun is our Ling Shan Wei's territory, we can't let others have it, do you understand?"

  "What if someone else were to force their way in?"

  "Want a fight?" A stern look appeared on Pang Gang's face, and he spat out from between his teeth: "If they want to play tough, can't you be tough too?"

  "Yes, I obey!" Li Yuan understood Pang Gang's determination after seeing his expression, and after respectfully saluting him, he left.

  Pang Gang gazed at Li Yuan's departing figure, his fingernails unconsciously digging into the palm of his hand as he muttered to himself: "This iron mine is a must-have for me!"

  Now, Pang Gang's demand for resources is really urgent. If he had this mine in hand, Pang Gang could have people smelt out a large amount of pig iron, and then use the mutated "Modern Military Encyclopedia" to exchange for a large number of weapons and armor. At that time, as long as the food supply can keep up, Pang Gang can recruit more soldiers with an open mind. In his heart, he must have at least 10,000 elite soldiers to have the ability to protect himself in this chaotic world. After having the ability to protect himself, he can send people to explore tungsten mines and exchange for more advanced flintlock guns, artillery, and even warships for his army.

  Occupying this mine now is the first step in making oneself stronger, anyone who stands in front of you is your enemy!