Chapter 47: Lodging (Monday, seeking recommendations and collections)

  As soon as Pang Gang came out of the yamen gate, seven or eight soldiers immediately came to greet him. The leader, a tall and robust man with a terrifying scar on his face, saluted and asked: "Sir, it's getting late now, shall we find an inn to rest first?"

  "Alright, let's find an inn to stay for the night!" Pang Gang nodded in agreement and looked up at the sky again. It was already around 4-6 pm, so it was impossible to rush back to Wanghai Castle now. They could only find an inn to stay overnight and set off early tomorrow morning.

  "Cuckoo... cuckoo..."

  A loud growl came from his stomach, and Pang Gang suddenly realized that he had not eaten for a whole day. Today was just the cup of tea he had at Wei Tongnian's place earlier, and he was already starving with his belly stuck to his back. Looking around at the seven or eight soldiers holding war horses next to him, their red swan feather war cloaks and cotton armor were stained white by the heavy snow, but they still stood upright. Thinking that they had also accompanied him on this arduous journey to Qingzhou, and had not eaten a single grain of rice all day, he couldn't help feeling a little guilty. But his face broke out into a hearty smile as he said: "Today, I've made a small fortune, let's go have a good meal to celebrate! Today, we'll eat our fill!"

  "Thank you for your kindness, sir!"

  Although the military order was strict in Pang Gang's team, the soldiers who were already exhausted and hungry couldn't help but show a joyful smile on their faces as soon as they heard that they could have a full meal.

  Pang Gang took the reins from Xiao Qi's hands and mounted his horse, shouting "Forward!" The red warhorse immediately galloped forward with powerful hooves, followed closely by several soldiers on horseback.

  Fusheng Inn is a well-known inn in Qingzhou Prefecture, covering an area of nearly ten acres. On ordinary days, it's bustling with people coming and going. Even now that winter has arrived, the inn still has nearly half of its rooms occupied by guests. Due to the heavy snowfall yesterday that hasn't stopped until now, some merchants who were supposed to be on the road have been forced to stay in the inn. The main hall is packed with people drinking and passing the time, and the shopkeeper is busy running around non-stop.

  At this time, in a corner of the hall, four men with weathered faces wearing rough linen clothes sat, their table only had two small dishes, peanuts and broad beans, to go with wine. They slowly drank from bowls of turbid liquor that was hard to swallow. At first glance, these few were obviously at the bottom of society, belonging to the boatmen's guild. However, the fierce aura that occasionally flashed out from their bodies made people feel a little frightened, to the point where a strange phenomenon appeared: although the hall was almost full, the tables around them remained empty.

  These men have been drinking silently, but their eyes kept drifting towards another table not far away. There were only three guests at that table: an old man in a green robe who looked like a merchant, and a young man in his early twenties wearing a plain-colored silk jacket. On their table were several small dishes of sauced beef, drunken duck, pig's ears and so on, but there was a hint of unease hidden on their faces.

  After taking a sip of wine, the young man said in a low voice: "Uncle Kui, what should we do? Those villains have already set their sights on us."

  The merchant-like old man said with a serious expression: "Young master, these thieves are likely to be up to no good. Since we've already been targeted, it's absolutely impossible for us to leave the city now, otherwise our lives will be in danger!"

  "What can be done? We have already made an appointment with the Sun family to deliver on the fifth day of next month. If we are late, we will lose a lot of money. At this time, Ji Bao Zhai cannot afford any setbacks."

  "What's the use?" The old man said with a bitter face: "Losing money is better than losing one's life."

  The young man gritted his teeth and said, "Don't we still have seven or eight brothers? They are also carrying knives, guns, clubs, I don't believe that so many of us can't beat these few thieves!"

  The old man was startled and hastily stopped him, "Young master, don't be rash. Not to mention that we still don't know if these thieves have any accomplices, just relying on these few thieves is not something our rough-handed subordinates can handle. We're still okay in Qingzhou City, but once we leave the city, I'm afraid our lives will be in danger!"

  "Alas!" The young man sighed with a hint of resentment, "What kind of world is this, where even doing business is so difficult!"

  Just as the young and old men were discussing in a low voice, several fierce big men sitting in the corner were also talking in a low voice. One of the big men asked the leader, a man with a scar on his face, about 41 years old: "Big brother, it seems that the kid has discovered us, what should we do? Should we continue to follow him?"

  The leader of the Han people snorted disdainfully: "What's there to be afraid of? If they don't come out of the city, we'll just keep them stuck here. As long as they can't deliver on time, our mission from the employer is also considered complete. And if they dare to come out of the city after eating leopard gallbladders... Ha! We won't let go of the meat that's been delivered right to our mouths, so we're not in a hurry!"

  The big Han said with some reluctance: "But if we don't get out of the city, we'll lose a lot of foreign money!"

  The leader of the Han people scolded in a low voice: "Foolish, you wooden brain won't think about it, can you stay here for a lifetime? They will have a day to go out, and when that time comes, we will follow up and get rid of them."

  A man stretched out his scarlet tongue and licked his lips, somewhat short of breath, and said fiercely: "Damn it, we've been poor for a long time. After doing this job, I'll find a dozen Qing dynasty prostitutes to comb their hair when I return to Yangzhou!"

  "Hahaha..."

  A group of big men all smiled, and a companion chimed in: "Little knife, can you handle a dozen Qing troops? If not, let me help you out!"

  From ancient times to the present, there has never been a man who would admit defeat in such matters. "Get out, get out!" The man said ill-temperedly: "I don't know how powerful I am, what use is it for you little kid to help?"

  Just as the Han people were thinking about good things, a horseshoe sound came from outside, and soon the big gate of the hall was pushed open. A snowstorm accompanied by cold wind drifted in, and the guests who were having dinner were all caught off guard. Many people involuntarily shivered with the cold wind, which led to several curses.

  These few curses were quickly stifled like a chicken with its neck wrung, as the sound of heavy footsteps came from outside and seven or eight fully armed soldiers marched in. The soldiers entered the hall, hand on the hilt of their swords at their waists, standing at attention, followed by an officer wearing the standard-issue Ming dynasty military uniform.

  After the officer entered the hall, he shook off the snowflakes on his body and tidied up his appearance, revealing his face. The officer was about twenty years old, tall and slender, with a hint of unspoken majesty and heroic spirit on his somewhat delicate face. This was Peng Gang, who had come to the inn to stay.

  "A low voice sounded: 'Little Er!'"

  "Ah, here you are! The little waiter hurried over to Pang Gang and asked with a bow: "Sir, are you dining or staying at the inn? What would you like to eat?"

  Pang Gang said faintly: "Hurry up and have someone take the horses outside to the stable for care, then serve us some food. Bring out whatever good dishes you have, and bring a small jar of fine wine too. The official and his men are all hungry! Also, prepare a few guest rooms for us later, we'll rest after dinner."

  "Don't worry, General. I guarantee everything will be taken care of." The waiter smiled and said to Pang Gang before loudly singing, "A jar of good wine and a table of good food are coming right up!"

  Pang Gang gave a few orders to Xiao Er, then looked around and walked over to the empty seat next to the several men sitting in the corner. His eyes quickly scanned the four men's bodies, and he paused for a moment, his stern gaze lingering on them for a while. At this time, the seven or eight soldiers also arrived at Pang Gang's side and stood still, their eyes fixed intently on the several men.

  Pang Gang and the others didn't think much of it at first, but the several men who had been glaring menacingly in the hall suddenly felt that the officer's gaze was like lightning, piercing straight into their hearts. A chill ran down their spines. The man who had originally boasted about going to Yangzhou to take revenge on behalf of a dozen Qing dynasty officials suddenly broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead. Looking around at his companions, including the leader, they all hastily lowered their heads and began drinking wine, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Fortunately, Pang Gang just glanced at them and sat down beside them, seven or eight people sitting at two tables.

  Thanks for the rewards from Leng Yue Qing Feng 1985, Crazy Man Yuan Zhang, I love Lv Feng Xian, Shen Bu Shi ** Tong Xie!