Early the next morning, Pang Gang led a group of soldiers and headed for Crescent Mountain under the leadership of Old Man Jiang. The road was rugged and difficult to walk along the way. Although it was only more than thirty miles away, they kept walking for a month.
It took a long time to reach the destination.
Crescent Mountain is as its name suggests. A winding arc makes the whole mountain look like a crescent moon. There is also a small mountain village called Yueya Village at the foot of this mountain. Old man Jiang led everyone to the small mountain village.
, this is a very small mountain village with only a dozen households in the whole village. When Pang Gang and his party arrived at the small mountain village, several children playing at the entrance of the village followed them curiously and laughed.
As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the village, before taking a breath, the impatient Pang Gang urged Old Man Jiang to take them to the foot of the mountain. Old Man Jiang had no choice but to accompany everyone to the foot of the mountain, while Pang Gang and everyone kept searching on the ground.
After a while, Pang Gang found a piece of black ore on the ground that was larger than the tungsten ore he picked up yesterday. Pang Gang took out the ore he found yesterday and compared it. The two were almost identical. Pang Gang took advantage of others.
He accidentally walked to a remote corner and took out the mutated "Encyclopedia of Modern Weapons" and took a look at the ore. When he saw the words "50 tungsten ore, do you want to absorb it?", almost all the cells in his body were exhausted.
Boil.
He knew that the tungsten mine he was looking for was here. He immediately returned to the team and said to Old Man Jiang: "Old man, are there many stone mountains like this?"
Old Man Jiang shook his head and said: "There are not many such stones on the mountain. If you want to find these stones, you have to look for them slowly."
Pang Congo said decisively: "We can't look for it slowly. I will send people here immediately to mine this kind of ore. The ore must be mined in the shortest possible time."
After finding the ore, Pang Gang did not stay long, but returned to Laizhou with his troops without stopping. After returning to Laizhou, he first found Wei Jiang.
"Wei Tongzhi, I discovered a mine thirty miles east of the city. This mountain produces a kind of ore. I want to mine the ore there. Do you have the talent to mine the ore?"
"Let me tell you, Beizhi doesn't have any talents in this field." Wei Jiang showed a troubled look on his face, and then said: "But Beizhi has heard that there are some craftsmen in Laizhou City who are experienced in mining. You
If you want to mine these ores, you can find them and let them mine the ores for you, but if you want to mine, you have to get the approval of the prefect, after all..."
Wei Jiang did not continue, but Pang Gang understood what he meant. After all, Shu Feisong was the prefect of Laizhou. Although Pang Gang was the general in charge of the defense of the three states, he could not interfere too much in civil affairs, otherwise he would not be able to get a copy of the ginseng book.
alright.
"Don't worry about this, I will tell Governor Shu." Pang Gang waved his hand and said in a very firm tone. He would never let go of the tungsten mine that he had finally found. He would not let anyone stop him on the road.
He hesitated to brush him off, but according to Pang Gang's estimation, Shu Feisong would definitely not offend him for such trivial matters.
Sure enough, when Pang Gang approached Shu Feisong and talked about it, Shu Feisong nodded in agreement without hesitation. Obviously these ores were of great use to Pang Gang, but for Shu Feisong, they could neither be eaten nor spent.
The ore is no different from a pile of useless broken rocks, so why bother being a villain in vain?
After staying in Laizhou for two days and arranging some matters, Pang Gang set off again, but this time his purpose was not to visit Qingzhou, but to drive to Dengzhou, the easternmost part of his defense zone. Since it was a rare trip this time,
, then let’s go to Dengzhou to have a look.
Pang Gang was riding on the horse, letting the morning sun shine lazily on his body. He felt a fresh smell all over his body, which also made him feel that his brain was extra clear. Sitting on the horse
Pang Gang recalled what he had learned about Dengzhou when he came here.
Dengzhou is located at the easternmost edge of the Shandong Peninsula. Its geographical location is very important. Therefore, the imperial court specially set up Weihai Guards and stationed heavy troops in Dengzhou to protect Shandong from invasion from the sea. During the Ming Dynasty, a navy was even established
, but since the middle of the Ming Dynasty, Dengzhou, like the guard posts in various parts of the Ming Dynasty, has been de-armed and the Weihai Guard has almost become an empty shell. The military households in the guard post have also fled and scattered, almost existing in name only.
.
"Alas! There is a long way to go!" Thinking of what he had learned about Dengzhou, Pang Gang couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He didn't know how hard it would be to really bring Dengzhou under his command.
Since there was no urgent matter for Pang Gang and others to go to Dengzhou this time, they also slowed down their march and did not arrive outside Dengzhou city until the next day.
Lu Yingzhi, the prefect of Dengzhou, and Wang Zhong, the commander of Dengzhou, had already received the news that Pang Gang was coming. They went out to meet Pang Gang outside the city of Dengzhou together. After a while of polite greetings, Pang Gang ordered the sergeant to wait outside the city.
He set up camp and followed Wang Zhong and Lu Yingzhi into the city with more than a hundred soldiers.
After entering the city, Pang Gang was a little surprised to find that Dengzhou City was actually quite prosperous, not far behind Qingzhou. After entering the city, Pang Gang took a closer look and found that the people here were much better dressed and mentally compared to Laizhou.
, there are not so many beggars and homeless people on the streets.
Pang Gang entered the magistrate's yamen along with Lu Yingzhi, the prefect of Dengzhou, and Wang Zhong, the commander and prefect. They invited Pang Gang to take the seat of honor. Pang Gang did not refuse and sat down directly.
After the maid served tea and everyone had finished greetings, the commander Wang Zhongcai said with a hint of apology: "Mr. Pangda, a few days ago, I also received news that there were rioters in Laizhou, but I was unable to send troops to rescue. I am really ashamed.
ah."
"Yes! Sir, our armaments in Dengzhou are not much better than those in Laizhou." Lu Yingzhi also helped: "If we want to help Laizhou, we really have more than enough ambition but not enough power."
Pang Gang frowned as soon as he heard this. The two of them sang and sang in unison about what they wanted to do. He gave himself eye drops as soon as he came in.
Thinking of this, Pang Gang raised his head and looked at the two people slowly. Lu Yingzhi, the prefect of Dengzhou, was quite talented. The long beard under his chin made him look elegant, but there was no flash in his eyes.
There was a hint of cunning. The commander, Tongzhi Wangzhong, was a typical military general, with a tall build and short beard, but his goldfish eyes made him look a little funny.
The two accompanied Pang Gang in the hall, talking indifferent words. Listening to the strange words of the two, Pang Gang couldn't help but feel an unknown secret fire rising in his heart. Moreover, Pang Gang saw it in their eyes.
A kind of strange look. Although this look was just fleeting, it was unfortunately caught by Pang Gang. Pang Gang called this look disdainful. After reading the meaning in their eyes, Pang Gang
The look on his face gradually became serious.
He said calmly: "Of course I won't blame you two, but I have been ordered to inspect the defense of the three states. I have a heavy responsibility and I have to make a trip. I wonder how Wang Tongzhi can teach me?"
Wang Zhongyi cupped his hands and said: "Sir, I don't dare to hide my humble position. Even though the city of Dengzhou is quite prosperous, it is actually just superficial. Due to the insufficient salary and silver allocated by the Ministry of War in Dengzhou in recent years, and the Weihai Guards are in name only, most of the soldiers now are
He is old, weak, sick and disabled, and is on the verge of collapse."
Looking at the regret and anger on Wang Zhong's face, and then looking at Lu Yingzhi who had been sitting on a chair drinking tea by himself, Pang Gang sneered in his heart. Although this Wang Zhong looked quite
It's vulgar, but it's not a fuel-efficient lamp. When you see Shangguan coming, you keep complaining. Do you want to win sympathy? There is also Lu Yingzhi, the prefect of Dengzhou, who just sang a harmony with him. It seems that the relationship between the two people is not good.
It's simple.
Pang Gang seemed to have not heard Wang Zhong's words and still asked: "Wang Tongzhi, although you have your difficulties, there are some necessary things that must be done according to my responsibilities. As a Dengzhou Tongzhi, Weihai
Weihaiwei is also under your jurisdiction, so be it, you make preparations today, and tomorrow you will accompany me to inspect Weihaiwei!"
When Wang Zhong heard this, he immediately showed an anxious look on his face and shouted hurriedly: "Sir... no... there is no need to be so anxious. Weihaiwei is located in a remote place and the road is not easy to walk. Why not let
I have given you Weihaiwei's account book and military registration book to review, what do you think?"
"Well!" When Pang Gang heard this, his face suddenly darkened, and he said solemnly: "Didn't you just say that due to lack of pay and silver, the armaments of Weihaiwei and Dengzhou were slack? I will go and see with my own eyes how this can happen.
Relaxation method. What, it doesn’t work?”
"Of course! Of course!" Wang Zhong's face turned bitter, and he glanced at Lu Yingzhi secretly, but Lu Yingzhi seemed not to notice, and just drank the tea in his hand.
Seeing Wang Zhong's face turning slightly pale, Pang Gang continued: "Also, at one o'clock tomorrow, I will inspect the Dengzhou garrison at the school grounds. I want to see if the Dengzhou garrison can still survive now.
Take up the responsibility of guarding the border for the Emperor!"
"this....."
"Well, is there any problem?" Pang Gang's sharp eyes immediately glanced at Wang Zhong.
The eyes that were like lightning made Wang Zhong feel a little restless, and he swallowed back what he was about to say.
After Pang Gang finished saying these words, he immediately stood up and strode out the door regardless of Wang Zhong and Lu Yingzhi's attempts to stay.
Seeing Pang Gang striding out, Lu Yingzhi and Wang Zhong couldn't help but froze and stared at each other.
The king couldn't help complaining: "Master Lu, you have made a mistake. General Dingyuan has such a hot temper. Tomorrow when he inspects the guard post and the garrison, he will definitely reprimand me. Then I will
It’s troublesome.”
"What are you afraid of?" Wang Zhong glared at him, "A kid with a yellow mouth, if we don't give him a slap in the face today, he won't know how to ride on us in the future, and how can we continue our business in the future?"