Chapter Thirty-Three Arrival at Ling Shan Garrison

  Pang Gang rode his horse along the desolate little path, where the cold wind howled and few people were seen on the road. The occasional gusts of wind made the surrounding wilderness even more bleak.

  Lingshan Wei and Wanghai Fortress are only more than 20 miles apart. Pang Gang led 120 soldiers, originally it would take less than two hours to reach Lingshanwei, but due to the heavy burden of the young men carrying the luggage, they were forced to slow down their speed, taking nearly three hours to arrive at their destination.

  "This bit of silver can buy some wine to comfort the brothers, everyone has worked hard in this cold and frozen land." Pang Gang quietly slipped a piece of broken silver into the hand of the city official.

  "Thank you, sir, for the reward. I'll thank my brothers on your behalf." A dark and thin little flag bearer with a smiling face and flower-like eyes took over the scattered silver coins and immediately welcomed Pang Gang and his group into the city gate.

  When Pang Gang reported his identity and handed over a small piece of silver weighing three coins, the little flag at the gate didn't even check his waist token and immediately opened the city gate to let him in. This situation couldn't help but furrow Pang Gang's brow.

  Inside the grand hall of Qianhu Fu, Ling Shanwei's charcoal fire burned bright red, keeping the cold outside. Bin Shiqian, Qi Wuming and seven or eight other hundred officials were chatting with a military officer in the great hall.

  Bin Shiqian, with a smile on his face, bowed to the military officer sitting at the top and said: "Lord Hao, you have traveled far this time, it's really hard work. Although due to the urgent military situation, we were unable to set up a banquet to welcome you, but I guarantee that on the day of our triumphant return, we will definitely make up for this wine table."

  The officer sitting in the front row was about forty years old, wearing a blue five-product flying bear suit, with thick hands and feet, and a purple copper-colored face with a weathered look, looking more like an old farmer. This man's name is Hao Dayong, he is one of the deputy thousand households sent by Song Xinghe, the commander-in-chief of Qingzhou, to supervise this bandit-suppressing operation, and also the highest commanding officer in this action.

  Hao Da waved his hand and said in a loud, careless tone: "Forget the wine and dinner, as officials, our top priority is to be loyal to the emperor and share the worries of our superiors. As long as we can eliminate this group of bandits, it's better than attending ten banquets, don't you all agree?"

  "That's right, that's right! Lord Hao is absolutely right!" Bin Shi Qian and others nodded in agreement.

  Hao Dazhu's voice paused slightly, and he asked: "Is everyone's horse and luggage ready?"

  "Sir, we have prepared 480 troops and three days' worth of rations. We are only waiting for the arrival of the troops from Wang Hai's fortress before we can set out immediately."

  Hao Da asked with some curiosity after listening: "Pang Gang? Is that the same hundred households who was simultaneously valued by both Commander and Prefect, and exceptionally promoted?"

  "Reporting back to Your Excellency, it is indeed that Pang Gang." Qi Wuming replied with a bow.

  "Oh, in that case, this official wants to meet this Mr. Pang Baihu." Hao Da used stretched out his big hand and stroked his short beard, showing some curiosity.

  "Gentlemen, Wang Haibao and his troops have arrived outside the city with hundreds of horses. I was sent to report this." A soldier rushed into the great hall to make the announcement.

  "Haha, speak of Cao Cao and he arrives! Everyone, let's go out to welcome the distant arrival of Pang Baihu." Deputy Commander Hao Da said after finishing speaking, leading the way out of the main hall.

  Pang Gang, who was waiting outside the door, saw a group of military officers coming out and hurriedly stepped forward to meet Bin Shi Qian, Qi Wu Ming and others. However, he found that the one walking in front of the hundred officials was actually a fifth-grade military officer wearing a flying bear suit. Pang Gang's heart skipped a beat, stopped his pace, and hastily bowed loudly: "Your subordinate, Haibao Fortress Hundred Officials Pang Gang, receives the order of Commander-in-Chief, and has brought 120 elite soldiers from the fortress to await your instructions, sirs!"

  Hao Dazhong laughed loudly and helped Pang Gang up, saying with a half-joking and half-serious tone: "Hahaha... you must be the famous Pang Baihu of Wanghai Fort! I've long admired your great name. I am Hao Dazhong, Deputy Commander of Qingzhou, sent by Commander-in-Chief to supervise this bandit-suppressing operation. Due to the sudden outbreak, I only arrived this morning and didn't have time to inform you all. I hope you won't mind, Pang Baihu!"

  Pang Gang felt relieved in his heart, how could this campaign against the bandits not have an official sitting in command? The Qingzhou government sending someone was a natural move. His mind quickly turned over, but he said without hesitation: "Your subordinate dares not, it is our honor to have Lord Hao personally sit in command, and we will surely destroy the bandit lair on Dog's Tooth Mountain."

  "Good, good... As expected, you have a discerning eye, no wonder Commander Zhang praises you to the skies!"

  Hao Da praised him while scanning the soldiers standing behind Pang Gang with an unintentional glance, but his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and a strange light shot out from his small eyes. Behind Pang Gang stood four square arrays of soldiers, each one spirited and majestic in their armor, which was surprisingly all made of lock-plate armor, a type that only military officers above the rank of hundred households were allowed to wear in the Ming dynasty. Of course, it wasn't that ordinary soldiers weren't allowed to wear lock-plate armor, but rather that its high cost made it unaffordable even for border troops, so how did Pang Gang manage to equip over a hundred soldiers with such fine armor in such a short time?

  And I have some understanding of Haodaiyong in Wanghaibao, it is an abandoned fort, from Panggang's self-recommendation to lead people to rebuild the fort, it has not been four months yet, where did he recruit so many garrison troops?

  It wasn't just Hao Da who was subdued, but also Bin Shi Qian and Qi Wu Ming were suppressed by the soldiers brought by Pang Gang. They found that half of these soldiers were holding long guns, which was nothing unusual, but how could there be so many people carrying bird guns? Didn't they fear hurting themselves?

  Pang Gang didn't care about the gazes of others, he clearly knew that doing things in a high-profile manner and being low-key as a person was a principle. It was necessary to show off his abilities at the right time. He quickly rose from a small soldier to the position of hundred households, attracting countless jealous glances. Sometimes, appropriately showing off one's martial power could make some short-sighted people weigh their actions carefully before making decisions about him.

  Zhi Wuming, this straightforward man, didn't think as much as others did. After Pang Gang and Hao Dazui finished their greetings, he walked up with big strides, patted Pang Gang's shoulder and laughed: "Pang younger brother, it's been several months since we last saw each other. I didn't expect you to make such a big stir, scaring us old brothers. This time is good, now that you're here, we can definitely eliminate those bandits completely."

  Pang Gang also smiled: "Brother Qi is being polite, with Hao Qianhu and the other brothers here, where would I need to take action? My role is just to cheer them on from the sidelines."

  "Haha... Younger brother, you're too polite. You've come at just the right time. We were just discussing how to take down Dog Tooth Mountain. Now that you're here, why don't you give us some ideas?"

  After Pang Gang and the other officers paid their respects, Bin Shi Qian ordered someone to take the horses led by Pang Gang to rest in front of the barracks, while he himself followed Qi Wu Ming Da and the other officers to welcome Pang Gang into the main hall.

  After entering the hall, Hao Da immediately ordered someone to slap a map onto the table, which was a topographic map of Qingzhou.

  Thank you chiu-hui, yi jian piao 123, shu you 120525024132178, duan le de tie gui for the reward! Thank you everyone!