When describing beautiful scenery in China, the phrase "green hills and clear waters" (*shan qing shui xiu*) is often used. Pang Zi had no interest in literature. As a rural man from the Hebei plain, in his view, mountainous areas that looked like green hills and clear waters from afar meant extremely barren land. To relax, Pang Zi climbed up the back mountain along the rugged path trodden by people. The soil on the mountain presented a nutrient-free pale yellow, either forming a hard shell as hard as stone or like powder, causing dust to fly with one step. Rugged mountainous areas have this kind of land. With Pang Zi's poor farming experience, he also knew that the soil on the mountain could only be called "raw land," which required a long time of fertilization and repeated cultivation to grow crops. under the current circumstances, it was simply not suitable for planting crops. Not to mention that places with soil here were the minority; more were various miscellaneous trees growing with difficulty in exposed rock crevices.

And this large piece of barren mountain forest was Pang Zi's territory. Within a radius of thirty *li*, four small villages without even village names were scattered. This was the entire range from which Pang Zi's mountain stronghold could regularly collect tribute. Further away were some larger towns, but there were teams organized by wealthy households there, so the difficulty of going there to sponge off others was too great.

Pang Zi stood on the back mountain, looking at this "green hill," only feeling waves of twitching in his heart. He once thought he was a very lucky person, whether in Beijing during the Gengzi year (1900), following Uncle Jing Tingbin, or later raising his own banner to work alone. Every time he encountered danger, he could escape death. But thinking carefully, his life was going downhill day by day. From fighting with the armies of various countries in the capital, to fighting the Beiyang Army across Hebei, and then to escorting in Nangong County. His scope of activity was getting smaller and smaller, and the ending was getting worse and worse. In this uninhabited poor mountain gully before his eyes, with less than forty subordinates in total, and more than five hundred common people who regarded him as a bandit. This was everything Pang Zi had now. And being able to get these was already extremely lucky.

The second leader of this mountain stronghold was a Boxer brother Pang Zi knew when he was in the capital. Their friendship was not very deep. It was just that they had some contact later. In desperation, Pang Zi had to defect there to avoid the limelight. After arriving at the mountain stronghold, Pang Zi immediately saw greed in the eyes of the stronghold leader. Although Pang Zi was down and out, the eight brothers following him had twelve horses after all, and everyone had long and short guns. For bandits, this was a great wealth.

The big leader of the stronghold didn't understand Pang Zi at all; he just saw that he was young and came in distress. Although he wanted to attack Pang Zi, he wanted to get the consent of the second leader. This negligence gave Pang Zi time to think. Pang Zi knew he couldn't wait any longer. He took his brothers and cleanly staged a "Fire-merge Wang Lun" (seizing power by killing the leader). Although the strength of Pang Zi and his brothers couldn't deal with the Beiyang Army, it was more than enough to deal with a group of bandits. Nine people killed their way into the hall and easily finished off the big leader. The second leader was also very sensible; he simply took his own people to "forsake darkness for light" and destroyed the big leader's subordinates together with Pang Zi.

The second leader now became the big leader, and he recruited Pang Zi as his son-in-law. Pang Zi had nowhere to go at the time and had to stay in the mountain stronghold temporarily. But Pang Zi knew very well that either there would be a second internal strife, or he would leave quickly after the limelight passed. But the new big leader had bad luck. Not long after taking charge, he accidentally fell and was seriously injured. After returning, he handed the stronghold to his son and died not long after.

The planned internal strife broke out immediately in front of the mourning hall. As the saying goes, a girl faces outward (sides with her husband); Pang Zi's wife was indeed on Pang Zi's side. She revealed her own brother's plan to Pang Zi, and Pang Zi won easily. This time he didn't kill anyone, just drove away his several "in-laws" and the people of their faction. Pang Zi finally occupied the mountain stronghold. After these two internal strifes, the stronghold, which originally had more than forty people, only had twenty or so left. Four of them were Pang Zi and his brothers. The remaining dozen people were old and weak with nowhere to go. Their purpose in being bandits was simply to get a meal, completely unfit for heavy responsibility. Pang Zi had nowhere to go himself, so he simply became a "bandit" temporarily.

After gazing at the mountain forest for a while, Pang Zi sat on a stone and began to calculate. While thinking, he heard light footsteps. There were not many people on the mountain; just listening to these footsteps, he knew it was Pang Zi's "wife" Gu Liangyu coming.

"Master, what are you thinking about?" Gu Liangyu was dead set on Pang Zi; wherever Pang Zi went, she couldn't help following him.

Pang Zi had no feelings for this "wife" of his. He agreed to marry her at the time only because he had to. But Gu Liangyu stood on Pang Zi's side during the second internal strife, and Pang Zi couldn't ignore this kindness. Moreover, although Gu Liangyu had rough hands and big feet, her appearance was also regular, so Pang Zi tolerated her existence. Patting the stone beside him, Pang Zi said, "Sit."

Hearing Pang Zi say this, Gu Liangyu leaped to Pang Zi's side like a fawn and sat close to him. "Master, I see you have been thinking about things recently. What are you thinking about?"

Pang Zi replied casually, "I remembered that a gentleman told me a lot of things before, but after a long time, I forgot a lot of things."

"Have I heard of that person?" Gu Liangyu asked.

Hearing this, Pang Zi immediately became unhappy in his heart. This was one of the reasons why Pang Zi didn't like Gu Liangyu very much: mountain people had no knowledge and liked to ask blindly about everything. Gu Liangyu didn't think about it; how could she have heard the names of Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua?

"You haven't seen them; both of them are Southerners." Pang Zi was unwilling to haggle with his wife after all; he explained with maximum patience.

"Master, what did they tell you? To make you miss them so much."

"The methods of raising earthworms, raising chickens and pigs were taught to me by them."

Hearing Pang Zi mention this, Gu Liangyu immediately became excited. "Master, your method is really amazing. With this method, people in several villages admire it very much. At least a few hundred more chickens can be produced this year."

Pang Zi was really desperate about his wife's knowledge. When he was in Nangong County last year, he often ate hundreds of chickens a day. The few hundred chickens in these few fart-small villages counted for nothing in Pang Zi's eyes. If Chen Tianhua was still there, presumably these villages would not just have these few hundred more chickens; there would definitely be more.

The emotion in his heart was immediately expressed in action. Pang Zi pushed Gu Liangyu outward, not letting her lean on his shoulder. Gu Liangyu was also used to Pang Zi's performance. She wasn't angry, just continued to ask, "Then where does this gentleman live?"

"He seems to have gone to Shanghai."

"Where is Shanghai?"

"Shanghai is thousands of *li* away from here; how do I know where it is!" Pang Zi said grumpily.

"So far?" Gu Liangyu actually didn't know how far thousands of *li* was at all. She asked tentatively, "How much farther than to your hometown?"

Pang Zi wiped his face with his hand. What he didn't want to mention most was the matter of returning to Nangong County not long ago, and Gu Liangyu really brought up the pot that wasn't boiling.

After the beginning of spring, Pang Zi, who had hidden for a winter, could finally come out of the mountain. He didn't want to be a bandit at all, so he took his brothers back to Nangong County. When he returned to Gaojiazhai in Nangong County, what he saw was ruins. Some people began to rebuild their homes on the ruins. At that time, the Peasant Association organized everyone to evacuate Gaojiazhai, and the folks took away everything they could take. When the Beiyang Army burned the village to vent their anger, they only burned the houses. The richer the households, the greater the loss; the losses of common people's families with thatched roof houses were very limited. Pang Zi's home was completely burned. Seeing Pang Zi actually had the face to come back, the extremely wealthy households immediately surrounded Pang Zi and cursed.

And other common people also watched coldly. Seeing his family's courtyard burned to white ground, Pang Zi was already unhappy in his heart; how could he listen to such a torrent of abuse? The wealthy households intentionally or unintentionally revealed a lot of news in their curses. Whose family was kidnapped by Beiyang for ransom, who sued the official to report Pang Zi.

Pang Zi still remembered that he was completely disappointed with these wealthy households, but other common people had received a lot of favors from him anyway. He called the ordinary people together and swore to everyone that as long as these people supported him, Pang Zi would absolutely not disappoint the folks. Pang Zi even swore that as long as everyone gave Pang Zi another chance, he would distribute the clan fields to everyone. The final result was that Pang Zi was disappointed. Many people looked at Pang Zi with contemptuous eyes, turned and left without listening to what Pang Zi said. Pang Zi grabbed the people from the Peasant Association, hoping they could help explain to the people. Pang Zi saw with his own eyes that the Peasant Association's breeding farm was also being restored. Some people had already started working there again.

Peasant Association member Jing Side answered simply, "If Mr. Chen vouches for you, I might be able to say something. Mr. Chen hasn't come back, so I can't say anything." These words pushed Pang Zi to a desperate situation. He never expected that as a local, his credit in the eyes of the folks was not as good as an outsider who had been here for less than a year. These people ate his food and drank his drinks back then; was this eating and drinking for free?

Hearing that Pang Zi actually shouted to distribute clan fields, those wealthy households were even more furious. But after all, Pang Zi was with several brothers riding horses and carrying guns, so they didn't dare to provoke him head-on. They immediately forced Pang Zi to pay money to redeem those kidnapped by the Beiyang Army.

Naturally, Pang Zi wouldn't think of paying for those who were extorted. His heart was full of those who reported him. On that day, Pang Zi went to find the graves of those brothers who died in battle. At that time, the Beiyang Army killed hundreds of brothers, and they were unwilling to spend effort to bury them. They found some laborers to dig pits casually and buried the bodies. Some brothers were captured alive and later taken to the county town to be killed.

Finding the burial place of the brothers in Gaojiazhai, Pang Zi didn't stay at all. That night, he went to the home of a small landlord named Zhao more than ten *li* away, and with his brothers, wiped out the whole family of fifteen. Taking these fifteen heads, Pang Zi ran to the brothers' graves and cried loudly. But this case was really too big. Pang Zi had to leave Nangong County. He had nowhere to go, so he had to return to the mountain stronghold temporarily.

This experience let Pang Zi know, recalling the angry and disgusted eyes of both the poor and the rich in the township, Pang Zi actually knew very clearly that unless he could have a powerful team to make the locals thoroughly convinced and absolutely not be driven away by any force. Otherwise, he would never think of returning to Gaojiazhai in Nangong County in his life. But he only had this few people in his hands now, unable even to take care of himself, where would he have the strength to deal with others? Of the eight brothers who followed Pang Zi back to Gaojiazhai, on the way back to the Taihang Mountain stronghold, three left without saying goodbye, and two bid farewell to Pang Zi. Only three brothers were left following Pang Zi.

For Gu Liangyu, following Pang Zi to Nangong County in Xingtai was already the farthest road she had traveled in her life. She didn't know how far thousands of *li* was, so she could only compare it with this long journey. And this long journey was also a desperate long journey for Pang Zi. What he didn't want to mention most was this matter. Pang Zi didn't leave his native place; he was homeless.

After being silent for a long time, Gu Liangyu asked again, "Master, it's also very good for us to stay in this mountain stronghold. You are so knowledgeable and capable. As long as you manage it well, this mountain stronghold will definitely prosper. We will have many babies, and when they grow up, they will inherit this stronghold."

Listening to Gu Liangyu's vision for the future, although Pang Zi felt some comfort, he didn't believe he would have such a future at all.

Maybe I should go find Mr. Chen Tianhua? Pang Zi thought. Chen Tianhua would definitely have a way. Or go find Wu Xingchen? No, it should be said that anyone following Chen Ke would have a way.

Just thinking about the future whereabouts, he saw someone running over in a hurry. looking closely, it was one of Pang Zi's brothers, Qian Yujie. He ran close panting, "Brother Pang, something happened. That guy Gu Liangsheng ran over to grab territory with us?"

"What? Did they fight to our mountain stronghold here?" Pang Zi asked anxiously.

Qian Yujie replied, "No, just now people from the village came over and said that Gu Liangsheng took people to the village and wanted those villages to pay tribute to them in the future. The common people in the village refused, and Gu Liangsheng beat and injured the people in the village. Brother, you have to go and see quickly."

Pang Zi hurried to the mountain stronghold. He suddenly regretted it. If he hadn't been benevolent and spared Gu Liangsheng at that time, but cut the weeds and dug up the roots cleanly, it would have been fine. But thinking again, Gu Liangyu was kind to him after all. At that time, no matter what, he couldn't lay such a heavy hand. Even this time, if it wasn't to the point where he had to kill, Pang Zi couldn't kill Gu Liangsheng. This was not only to give Gu Liangyu an explanation; if Pang Zi was so cruel and merciless in doing things, what would his subordinates think?

Entering the mountain stronghold, he saw a young man covering his head with his hands. His forehead and face were stained with blood; it seemed the injury was not light. Seeing Pang Zi, the young man shouted, "King Pang, you have to make the decision for us. Our tribute to you is already not light. Now another batch comes; is this trying to force us to death?"

Pang Zi felt a burst of disgust in his heart after hearing this. He himself had no intention of being a bandit at all. The so-called tribute was also set by the previous stronghold leader. Since Pang Zi became the stronghold leader, not only did he not demand tribute, but he also helped these mountain people build chicken farms. Although this was Pang Zi's behavior out of boredom, no matter what, Pang Zi thought he was kind to the people. Looking at the appearance of these people, a thought suddenly arose in Pang Zi's heart. Someone coming to grab territory was not bad; he might as well take the opportunity to leave the mountain stronghold. Originally, Pang Zi had no will to be a bandit; he was purely here for refuge. Although he caused quite a stir this time, Pang Zi already knew that the Beiyang Army was no longer wanting him everywhere. He could run to Shandong to find Wu Xingchen, or simply go to Shanghai to find Chen Tianhua and Chen Ke.

What Chen Ke said to him before was exactly before Pang Zi was ambitious and prepared to do a big career. Pang Zi still remembered Chen Ke's words clearly: "If making a small trouble, Brother Pang, you can make trouble casually. Anyway, if you make trouble, the government will send people to arrest and kill you and your brothers. The end is definitely death. So any trouble is fine." At that time, Pang Zi was furious. But the result of the matter was exactly the same as Chen Ke's prediction. Before Pang Zi had time to rebel, the government put a hat of rebellion on Pang Zi.

Pang Zi also remembered that Chen Ke said another remark: "If Brother Pang makes a big trouble, in the end, it still has to be revolution." Pang Zi wanted to see what Chen Ke had done up to now. If Chen Ke really started a revolution as he said, then Pang Zi would simply defect to Chen Ke. Small fights and troubles mean death; it's just dying early or late. Making things big, making it into a revolution is at most death too, so it's better to make it big.

Thinking of this, Pang Zi was preparing to tell the villager in front of him that he didn't care about this matter, and then he would leave with his brothers. But looking at the anxious villager in front of him, Pang Zi seemed to see the eyes of the disaster victims looking at Chen Tianhua when Chen Tianhua evacuated them. They were all the same panicked, anxious, and help-seeking eyes. And what Pang Zi chose at that time was to completely ignore this appearance, while Chen Tianhua was completely different. He led the members of the Peasant Association to persist until the people were completely evacuated before leaving. Pang Zi asked Chen Tianhua at that time why he fought so hard. Chen Tianhua's answer was simple: "Our People's Party cannot let the common people suffer losses."

If he washed his hands of it now as before, Pang Zi knew very well what the consequences would be. In the future, he should never think of returning to this poor and remote place again. When the mountain people here mentioned Pang Zi, they would only ignore or simply ridicule him. Also retreating, Pang Zi could no longer be accepted by the people of his hometown in Nangong County. But Chen Tianhua was not forgotten and rejected by everyone. At least those members of the Peasant Association were still willing to believe in Chen Tianhua and support Chen Tianhua. And these people ruthlessly abandoned Pang Zi.

Pang Zi had to admit that Chen Tianhua was more responsible than himself. In Nangong County, Chen Tianhua seemed to integrate into the life of Nangong County easily. Pang Zi once reflected on where this difference lay. He only figured it out a bit later. Chen Tianhua made friends with everyone through labor that let everyone live a good life together. And Pang Zi himself wanted to stand out, so when Pang Zi was successful, everyone just didn't speak. When Pang Zi suffered disaster, no one supported him.