Chapter Thirty-Four: Another Ambush (Monday, Seeking Recommendations)

  After entering the hall, everyone sat down one after another. Hao Da sat well and looked at Pang Gang with a meaningful smile: "Pang Baihu, just now the official asked about you to all colleagues, didn't expect that you really couldn't help but think, as soon as he mentioned you, you came. It's good that you came, you also talk about how to respond to the enemy."

  "What did all of you gentlemen say?" Pang Gang asked back without answering.

  "The distance between Yuga Mountain and Ling Mountain Wei is less than 50 miles, according to the scouts' report last night, there are nearly 500 bandits, while our Wei can only dispatch more than 400 soldiers. Even if we add the elite troops brought by Pang Baihu, we have just over 500 people, which is equivalent to the number of bandits, so this battle will be quite difficult.

  Hao Dazhong's mood was not good, after arriving at Ling Mountain Wei, he found that the situation of the Wei was worse than he had imagined. Yesterday, he inspected the troops gathered in the Wei and found that although they were all young and strong, they lacked training and had no desire to fight, which made him frown.

  It wasn't until just now when he saw the 120 elite soldiers brought by Pang Gang that he slightly relaxed."

  "General Pang, I've heard that Commander Hao has always held you in high esteem since we were in Qingzhou. Today, would you be so kind as to enlighten me, so that I and others can gain some insight?" Just then, a hundred-man officer who had been standing behind General Hao spoke up, but the words sounded somewhat sarcastic to General Pang's ears.

  Pang Gang shook his head, "This official is a rough man, whatever you say to beat the humble job will be beaten. I think thieves are still thieves, our great Ming officials and soldiers will naturally flee when they see the wind."

  The hundred households' face showed a look of disdain, "Pang Gang's words are wrong, the bandits may not be able to withstand a single blow, but we must still be careful, otherwise it will be like last time when we attacked Wangjia Village."

  Pang Gang was furious in his heart. Although he had benefited greatly from the last battle of Wangjiatun and thus sat on the position of a hundred households, this battle was indeed a shame for Lingshanwei。 As a hundred households under Lingshanwei, Pang Gang's words were clearly a veiled sarcasm, saying that he was climbing up by relying on his brother's corpse!

  Pang Gang's eyes narrowed in anger, his right hand grasped the hilt of his sword, and he coldly asked: "This gentleman looks unfamiliar, may I ask your honorable surname and name?"

  Seeing Shangguan's anger, Wang Zhi and Hei Tie behind Pang Gang also glared at him angrily.

  "This hundred households, not showing any weakness, met Pang Gang's gaze head-on, sneering and saying: 'This official is Qingzhou hundred households Hei Tie, a low-ranking officer, it's only natural that Hundred Households Pang doesn't recognize this official.'"

  "Oh, it seems that Hei Da Ren has some insightful views on eliminating the bandits in Quanya Mountain. I wonder if he can share them with Pang Mou?"

  "It's an honor I don't dare to accept. Since ancient times, the way of war has always been 'to win with both regular and irregular forces'. In my humble opinion as a low-ranking official, we should first send out scouts at night to cut off the enemy's ears and eyes, and then our main force can march in openly and easily win the battle. With one battle, the fate of the world will be decided."

  "Oh, so Lord Hei is still confident, then why ask me! Lord Hao, I have something to attend to and will take my leave!" With a hint of anger in his heart, Pang Gang didn't want to suffer this kind of humiliation here. He cupped his hands towards Lord Hao and turned around to leave the great hall, but several hundred officials from the Ling Shan Guard wouldn't let him go and stopped him together.

  Hao Da glared at Hei Tie with a scolding expression and shouted: "Hei Bai Hu, as an officer of the Ming army, is this how you treat your comrades?! Apologize to Lord Pang at once!"

  A sharp glint flashed in Hei Tie's eyes, and with a stiff smile, he said to Pang Gang: "Lord Pang, please don't take offense. I'm a rough man, and my words just now were quite rude. I hope you can forgive me!"

  Pang Gang snorted and sat down beside him. After this incident, the atmosphere in the hall became awkward, and soon everyone dispersed hastily.

  After finishing lunch, Hao Da waved his big hand and the various departments set off quickly. Several teams of people and horses rushed out in a hurry.

  Pang Gang led his troops in the center of the formation, and what surprised him was that Hei Tie was actually the leader of the Night Raiders under Hao Da's command. He led more than 30 Night Raiders on horseback to scout ahead, and soon dozens of them returned one after another to report on the situation ahead, making the officers walking in the middle familiar with the situation ahead. This discovery made Pang Gang somewhat surprised, this Hei Tie who always looked gloomy and spoke in a strange tone was actually quite skilled at military operations.

  Hao Da came to Ling Shan Wei, of course, would not come empty-handed. In addition to bringing the Black Iron team, he also brought a team of more than 30 family servants, and these servants were all riding horses. This discovery made Pang Gang extremely envious. In his Wang Hai Fortress, apart from a few inferior horses he had bought at a high price and the Pi Hong horse sent by Song Zhihui last time, there was not even one mule among his subordinates, and even the logistics supplies had to rely on the logistics soldiers to carry on their backs. This discovery also made Pang Gang think that in the future, he must get a batch of horses to build a cavalry team of his own.

  It was already mid-October, with a biting wind and freezing temperatures. The soldiers of Ling Shan Wei had been marching for less than half an hour when they began to complain bitterly. Especially after marching for more than an hour, the sky started to snow heavily, and the road surface became slippery. Even Hao Dazhuang's servants couldn't take it anymore, so they dismounted their horses and proceeded slowly on foot. The wind hit them head-on, making their faces feel like they were being cut by a knife. Everyone began to curse.

  Looking at the lazy appearance of the soldiers, some officers couldn't help but ask Hao Da to order them to set up camp on the spot and wait for the snow to stop before marching again.

  Hao Da's face sank, his right hand holding the whip pointed at Pang Gang and the soldiers behind him: "You look at Commander Pang's troops and horses, then look at your own soldiers. I'm embarrassed for you. Coming from the same Wei camp, why is there such a huge difference!"

  It was only then that the officers realized that Pang Gang had also dismounted and was walking with the soldiers from Wang Hai Fortress, while these hundred men were still in strict military formation, their marching column not having scattered.

  The officers, feeling ashamed, also spoke up: "Sir, the soldiers we brought are naturally inferior to those brought by General Pang, but they are thinly dressed and we fear they cannot withstand the wind and frost!"

  Hao Dazhuang waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "These are not what this official is concerned about. Military orders are like mountains, if you can't arrive at Quanyashan to set up camp before the hour of You today, all the generals will be punished." When he said this, Hao Dazhuang's face relaxed slightly, "Of course, this official is not someone who doesn't understand reason. Pass down the order, if we take down Quanyashan, this official will heavily reward you and all the soldiers."

  The officers had no choice but to lead the way, and under the temptation of heavy rewards, the soldiers quickened their pace. The army of nearly six hundred men did not arrive at the foot of Dog Tooth Mountain until late in the afternoon. Hao Da ordered them to set up camp near a small hill to prepare for attacking the bandit stronghold the next day. Just then, the snow in the sky suddenly stopped falling, and this coincidence surprised everyone.

  At the order, all the soldiers suddenly became noisy and disorderly, those who were sitting sat down, those who were resting rested, and they all mixed together in confusion.

  At this time, the difference between the two armies began to show. The troops from Lingshanwei were like a beehive, running wildly all over the mountain, some gathering firewood, others setting up tents, and some hiding in the dells to avoid the wind, completely without any discipline.

  On the other hand, the 220 soldiers brought by Pang Gong to Wanghai Castle, except for the 100 logistics soldiers who started building tents, the remaining 120 soldiers were led by Dazhuang and Wang Zhi, although they were also scattered to rest, some drinking water, some talking, but still surprisingly in order.

  At this time, Hao Da led Pang Gang, Bin Shi Qian and Qi Wu Ming, among other military officers, to stand on a small hill overlooking the terrain of Dog Tooth Mountain. Suddenly, a horseshoe sound came from the foot of the mountain, and more than a dozen night guards rushed forward from the front. The night guard at the front shouted loudly, "Sir! Sir! Enemy attack! Bandits are rushing down the mountain!"

  As soon as the night watchman's voice fell, a shrill shout rose from behind them, and under the surging crowd, a shrill shout came: "Brothers, kill the government soldiers!"

  Soon a group of thieves appeared before everyone.

  Everyone was shocked, and Bin Shi Qian and others were furious, "These damned bandits, do they want to catch us off guard like Wang Jia Tun did before? Bastards, since the bandits are in such a hurry to come and die, let's grant their wish!"

  "Get ready for battle!"

  "Form up in ranks!"

  At the foot of the mountain, the officers' scolding voices and the soldiers' hurried footsteps rang out one after another!

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