"Brother Pang, what exactly should we do?" asked Liu Yongfu, standing beside Pang Zi. Liu Yongfu was one of the four old brothers who still continued to follow Pang Zi. Pang Zi turned his head to look at Liu Yongfu, only to see that this old brother also had a depressed look. Pang Zi's heart skipped a beat. On the way back to the stronghold from Nangong County, the other brothers who left without saying goodbye or bid farewell all had this look on their faces at that time. It was a look of hopelessness for the future.

"What do you think we should do?" Pang Zi asked subconsciously.

Liu Yongfu looked at Pang Zi strangely. "Brother Pang, you are the boss in this stronghold; you have to make a decision for the brothers."

Pang Zi knew he had to make a decision for the brothers, but he now found that he had only one thought: there could be no fewer brothers following him. If these four brothers were gone too, Pang Zi himself would be abandoned in this mountain stronghold, with enemies outside and useless old and weak people inside. This was no different from taking Pang Zi's life.

Having reached such a desperate state, Pang Zi simply threw caution to the wind. "Brothers, I have long wanted to tell you what's in my heart, but I couldn't lose face before. Now that this matter has come up today, I have to say it. I, Pang Zi, have always felt that people walking in the Jianghu must stress loyalty, so no matter what business I do, I want the brothers following me to live well. Now I see I was wrong. Fearing death ends in death anyway. Back in Nangong County, if we had listened to Mr. Chen's words, instead of scattering silver everywhere, we had engaged in the Peasant Association with Mr. Chen, we wouldn't have fallen into this state today no matter what. If we had run when the Beiyang Army came, we wouldn't have ended up like this. I was wrong before, and I can't be wrong again in the future. I feel that maintaining such a mountain stronghold is useless. I don't want to be a bandit at all, just temporarily avoiding the limelight here. Now since those people are fighting back, then I will leave. Brothers willing to follow me, we will go to Shandong to find Big Brother Wu Xingchen together. If you are not willing to follow me, I will give travel expenses now. The green mountains do not change, the green water flows forever; we will still be brothers when we meet in the future."

The people in the mountain stronghold never expected Pang Zi to make such a decision. Before Pang Zi's few brothers could speak, the mountain people rushed over anxiously and grabbed Pang Zi's arm. "King Pang, you can't leave."

"Why?" Pang Zi was very strange. Being treated as a bandit, he only heard that the common people were happy when bandits wanted to leave; he had never seen anyone not letting bandits leave.

The mountain people said anxiously, "King Pang, leading this stronghold, at least you never increase the amount of tribute. Moreover, you are willing to go to the village to teach us the business of raising chickens. If you leave, and people like Gu Liangsheng come back, our days will be even harder."

Pang Zi asked strangely, "So what if he comes? Isn't the tribute still the same?"

An old bandit interjected and explained, "King Pang, you don't know the rules in these mountains. When the stronghold changes the master, generally a 'Sitting Stronghold Fee' must be collected again. The previous master relied on you to conquer the stronghold, so he didn't collect it. You didn't collect it when you became the master. But if this Gu Liangsheng becomes the master of this stronghold, he will definitely collect it."

Liu Yongfu interjected, "Since we are all leaving, what does it have to do with us whether the Sitting Stronghold Fee is collected or not in the future?"

The mountain people knew Liu Yongfu's reasoning was correct, but they simply didn't want Pang Zi to leave. In desperation, the mountain people knelt down to Pang Zi. "King Pang, you can't leave. Our village has nothing originally and can't stand the tossing. If you are here, at least you can protect everyone. If you are not here, isn't this making us suffer?"

Pang Zi never knew before that bandits collecting tribute had such particulars. Looking at the excited and fearful expressions of the mountain people, although Pang Zi had sympathy, he was still unwilling to risk his life for these people. He pulled the mountain people up, preparing to tell them that he had made up his mind. But he heard the old bandit beside him say, "Master, we don't want you to leave either. Look at my age; I don't have many years to live. But I am not willing to end it myself. After following you, the Master is benevolent and takes good care of the brothers. But that Gu Liangsheng never treated us as people of their Gu family. If you leave, we will suffer."

After all, everyone had lived in peace for these few months. Hearing the old bandit say this, Pang Zi couldn't help explaining, "Old brother, what am I staying in this mountain for? I didn't want to be a bandit originally, and I can't be a bandit staying here."

"King Pang, you are a capable person. Since you are unwilling to be a bandit, we will follow you to do some legitimate business. But if that Gu Liangsheng takes charge of this stronghold, we will absolutely not have a good life."

The mountain people also hurriedly said, "King Pang, people in our village say you don't look like someone sitting in a stronghold at all. Since this is the case, I think King Pang, you shouldn't leave either. Our village provides for you every year. You form a horse team to run cargo. We have few people in the mountains and don't understand the ways of those people outside the mountains. You are originally from outside the mountains. Running mountain goods makes a lot of money."

Hearing these people talking back and forth, actually hoping Pang Zi would run an escort agency (*zou biao*), Pang Zi only found it very ridiculous. Last time running an escort agency in Nangong County, Pang Zi suffered a great loss, and the whole army was almost wiped out. He barely saved his life. Running an escort agency again, heaven knows what the outcome would be.

Pang Zi said, "I appreciate everyone's kindness, but I have decided to leave."

Seeing that Pang Zi was really not playing tricks, the old bandit said seriously, "King Pang, if you insist on leaving, we won't stop you. Just beg you to destroy Gu Liangsheng and those people, giving us a way to live. Otherwise, if they return to this stronghold, we are really dead."

Pang Zi decided to leave precisely because he didn't want to risk his life for others. If he still had the mind to fight Gu Liangsheng, why would he need to leave? But on second thought, Pang Zi felt very unwilling. He wasn't nostalgic for the life of a bandit leader in this stronghold. What Pang Zi felt depressed about was that everywhere he went, the final result was actually being driven away alive, never able to return. Was he really fated to clash with everything? The balance in Pang Zi's heart wavered between wanting to fight for breath and not wanting to risk his life for others.

How exactly to choose, Pang Zi really wasn't clear. Raising his head to look around, Pang Zi's gaze couldn't help falling on his "wife" Gu Liangyu. The reason he felt this matter was troublesome was because of Gu Liangyu's existence. If he wanted to drive Gu Liangsheng away, the goal couldn't be achieved in once or twice. To solve the problem, he had to cut the weeds and dig up the roots. But with Gu Liangyu here, Pang Zi really couldn't lay such a heavy hand. Weighing left and right, Pang Zi still decided to walk away.

At this time, Liu Yongfu said, "Brother Pang, we even dared to fight the Beiyang Army back then. What is Gu Liangsheng? Didn't we beat him to pieces back then too? If you hadn't let them off, the grass on their graves would be tall. We don't need to fight big either, just go over and teach them a lesson. They won't have the guts to come and cause trouble again. It won't be too late to leave then."

Pang Zi was originally depressed and beating a retreat in his heart, naturally wanting to avoid any trouble. But hearing Liu Yongfu say this, Pang Zi felt it was very appropriate. "Let's do it this way."

Once the determination was made, Pang Zi's brain became much more flexible. He first asked the mountain people and a few people to go back to scout for news. The mountain people asked excitedly, "King Pang, when will you arrive at our village?"

"You go first; I'll call the men and horses and arrive shortly." Pang Zi ordered.

Hearing about fighting, and fighting the former defeated opponent Gu Liangsheng, everyone in the stronghold was quite confident. "Master, this time we must teach that kid Gu Liangsheng a good lesson." Besides the three old brothers following him, eight younger subordinates were added, forming a team of twelve people. Gu Liangyu insisted on going with them; it seemed she was very worried about her brother. Pang Zi didn't really want Gu Liangsheng's life anyway, and Gu Liangyu's attitude was very firm, so he tacitly agreed.

Pang Zi, his few old brothers, and Gu Liangyu rode horses, while the other eight people walked. The group went towards the village. Near the village entrance, Pang Zi asked people to stop. According to the agreement, those who went first would come to report news. Pang Zi was much more cautious now; for unreliable news, Pang Zi dared not believe it at all. The villagers didn't look like they were lying, but in case the villagers lied, Pang Zi absolutely couldn't bear such a loss.

After waiting for a while, he saw the original villager running out happily. "King Pang, we have already caught Gu Liangsheng?"

"What?" Everyone who heard this couldn't believe it. Just now he was beaten with blood all over his head and face; in this moment, Gu Liangsheng was caught. Could this be some trap?

Pang Zi hurriedly sent Liu Yongfu in to have a look. Liu Yongfu soon returned to report that what the villager said was absolutely correct. Gu Liangsheng was indeed caught. Only then did Pang Zi and the others enter the village. At the head of the village, four people were bound with ropes. The leader was indeed Gu Liangsheng. It seemed the villagers were very impolite to Gu Liangsheng. Not long after being caught, Gu Liangsheng had been beaten with injuries all over his face. At this time, there were still villagers holding sticks and beating Gu Liangsheng and others randomly.

"What exactly happened?" Even seeing it with his own eyes, Pang Zi still didn't understand.

The old bandit who came back with the villagers laughed, "Master, after we came back this time, knowing you were coming soon, our courage was much stronger. Seeing that kid Gu Liangsheng, this brother couldn't hold back for a moment and went up to beat him directly. Other common people also followed up to beat him. Look, that kid Gu Liangsheng was caught by everyone."

It seemed the villagers were very happy to be able to solve Gu Liangsheng so easily. Seeing Pang Zi appear again, everyone immediately gathered around. "King Pang, you have to let us treat you to a meal."

Pang Zi hurriedly refused, "Folks, no need to eat. Last time you already gave chickens; this time no need for everyone to spend money."

But the villagers were enthusiastic one by one; they dragged and pulled, insisting that Pang Zi and others stay in the village for a meal. Pang Zi and the three old brothers looked down on the food in the mountains. Although the few of them didn't want to eat, how could those bandits from the stronghold resist the temptation of eating? Smelling the aroma of roast chicken, their legs trembled. Pang Zi looked at the pitiful eyes of those bandits one by one. Although he cursed these people for being spineless in his heart, he was unwilling to disappoint these people too much. Anyway, Pang Zi was going to leave too, so he agreed.

Building house walls in the mountains was not like adobe walls or brick walls on the plains, but walls built with stones. The family hosting them seemed to be a wealthy household too, actually having three rooms. In the main room, Pang Zi, his wife Gu Liangyu, and three old brothers sat at one table. The other eight bandits from the stronghold set up a table in the side room. Pang Zi had no heart to eat or drink at all. Gu Liangyu kept urging Pang Zi to come forward and release her brother. The other brothers saw Pang Zi and his wife arguing and were unwilling to move their chopsticks. On the contrary, the bandits next door ate freely. The mountain people treated them well, actually having wine. Only shouting and guessing fingers (*drinking games*) could be heard from next door, very lively.

"Master, are you going to release him or not?" Gu Liangyu loved her brother after all; she was forcing Pang Zi to take a stand again. "Let my brother apologize to you properly, teach him a lesson, and it will be fine. Why make it so stiff?"

Hearing this, the face of the villager sitting with them immediately became very nervous. Pang Zi wished Gu Liangsheng would suffer more; how could he easily give the word. Seeing Pang Zi not speaking, the villager sitting with them hurriedly came up to propose a toast.

Gu Liangyu had already blocked toasts several times. Seeing the villager still relentless, she couldn't bear it anymore. She snatched the wine cup from the villager's hand and splashed a cup of wine directly on the villager's face. The villager screamed subconsciously, turned around, and ran out of the room. Seeing no one in the way, Gu Liangyu grabbed Pang Zi's arm again. "Master, are you releasing him or not?"

Pang Zi secretly laughed in his heart that this villager was making a fuss over a trifle, and was extremely annoyed by his wife's behavior. He was just about to say release the person after eating. But he felt something was very wrong in his heart. Was being splashed with a cup of wine on the face worth such a fuss? Turning to look at another villager accompanying the drinking, he saw his face turning slightly pale, his shoulders stiff, actually also afraid.

Pushing his wife away, Pang Zi stood up and pulled out the pistol at his waist. "Brothers, grab your weapons." The three old brothers had all experienced tests of life and death. Although they didn't know why Pang Zi did this, they didn't hesitate and also pulled out the pistols at their waists.

Kicking open the room door, Pang Zi glanced outside. He saw people faintly hiding behind the stone wall outside this courtyard. After the three brothers pulled out their guns, they had already subdued the common person left in the room. Pang Zi stepped forward and asked, "What did you put in the wine for us?"

"King Pang, we didn't put anything!" The villager was so scared his voice trembled.

"Put nothing? Good, come, drink this cup of wine for me." After speaking, Pang Zi picked up a wine cup on the table.

The villager stared at the wine cup in horror. He said repeatedly, "I don't drink alcohol, I can't drink alcohol."

"As long as this cup of wine is not poisoned, drinking one cup won't hurt." Pang Zi grinned hideously and extended the wine cup to the villager.

Unknown where the villager got the strength, he exerted force suddenly and actually broke free from the people holding him down on both sides. Then the villager rushed towards the gate. Pang Zi was prepared; he punched the villager on the temple, knocking the villager unconscious on the ground instantly.

"Watch him!" Pang Zi said to the brothers. seeing the brothers had already torn a piece of cloth and tied up the fallen common person. With a hostage in hand, Pang Zi shouted outside, "Which hero is outside? Announce your name."

At this time, there was completely no movement next door. Presumably, those bandits who ate and drank gluttonously had been put down by the poison in the wine cups. Pang Zi felt extremely fortunate. If it weren't for his fierce eating and drinking back then, his old brothers simply looking down on these meals, plus his wife constantly making trouble. Once they drank the wine, they would probably have died here now.

After a long time, someone outside shouted, "King Pang, we are local common people. Not heroes from anywhere."

"Then what exactly do you want to do?" Pang Zi shouted.

The person outside shouted, "We don't want anything; we just want the lives of these bandits. King Pang, I heard you are preparing to leave. We don't want to block your way either. As long as you swear never to return, we will let you go."

"Bullshit." Liu Yongfu knew he had escaped death. Hearing the people outside actually ask them to swear never to return, he immediately cursed back, "What kind of things are you? When did our Brother Pang ever mistreat you? He even taught you to raise earthworms and chickens. He never touched your property either. You know you can't touch us now, that's why you say pretty words. Who knows what evil thoughts you have!"

These words were scolded righteously, and there was no immediate answer from outside. After a while, the person outside continued to shout, "Since you became the leader of this stronghold, how do we know what you think? Moreover, these bandits owe us so much, and they are your subordinates now; we had no choice either. Since the bandits have been put down by us now, we don't want to cause any more casualties. As long as King Pang you leave honestly, we will absolutely not make a move."

Pang Zi looked at the brothers. Although the brothers were burning with anger one by one, there were nervous looks on their faces. Although Pang Zi and his group brought long and short guns, the other bandits also had local guns. Pang Zi had never investigated how many guns the villagers had. If they really fought, although the villagers would certainly have casualties, Pang Zi and his group would definitely not end up well.

But delaying too long would be useless. Pang Zi shouted outside, "Letting us go, that is also acceptable. But since you know I want to leave this mountain stronghold, besides horses, I have to return to the stronghold to get some travel expenses and clothes. Otherwise, how do we leave?"

"You still want horses and travel expenses? It's good enough to leave you a life!" Someone outside shouted.

Pang Zi felt he absolutely couldn't lose in momentum at this time, plus Pang Zi had never offended the villagers. He asked the three brothers to watch the captive and his wife, and Pang Zi himself strode out of the house door.