Having operated for over a hundred years, Sitong Trading Company was deeply involved in all trades and industries, naturally maintaining their own escort service to transport goods. What was currently traveling on the official road was a convoy flying the Sitong Trading Company banner.

At Pang Xiao’s command, the men who had been drilling with him for many days charged like tigers descending a mountain, roaring as they rushed toward those large carts and wooden chests.

The escort masters from Sitong Trading Company were battle-hardened veterans, but unfortunately they encountered not ordinary road brothers, but a group of rough men who followed military orders.

These men, whose blood boiled with excitement at the sight of treasure chests, now had eyes only for those carriages and boxes—how could they care about anything else?

Therefore, before the Sitong escort masters could exchange a few coded words, the troops had already killed their way forward, using sheer force to overwhelm this group of escorts beyond resistance. In the blink of an eye, they were bound like a string of zongzi.

Pang Xiao crossed his arms and watched as the group of escorts and workers had their mouths stuffed with rags and were all dragged into the forest, each tied to a large tree back to back.

Another group went to inspect the goods on the carriages.

“Wow! It’s silk! And porcelain too!” The crowd exclaimed in delighted surprise.

Word spread quickly, and soon all thousand men who had come knew they had struck it rich.

Pang Xiao said, “These bandits are quite clever—transporting stolen goods while daring to fly the Sitong Trading Company flag, even daring to impersonate them!”

The crowd exchanged glances. Actually, they all suspected in their hearts that what they had robbed might truly belong to Sitong Trading Company.

But since His Highness chose to give such orders, he must have his reasons. At worst, if something went wrong, there would be someone tall to take the blame. If they acted high and mighty now, did that mean they didn’t want their wages?

Therefore, no one expressed any doubts at this time.

Pang Xiao had long anticipated this reaction from the crowd and wasn’t surprised at all. “Come, throw away the banners and transport these things back to camp. Since we don’t know where this gang of bandits robbed these from, presumably we couldn’t get answers even if we asked. So let these serve as our brothers’ interest from bandit suppression!”

“Good! Good!” Everyone cheered loudly and obediently went to drive the carts back to the Pingnan Army camp, their enthusiasm unprecedented.

Huzi whispered in Pang Xiao’s ear, “Your Highness, what about this group of people?”

Pang Xiao turned back and looked at the escort masters and workers who were bound tightly, then smiled, “Let’s go, no need to worry about them for now.”

Huzi immediately agreed without doubt or further thought, mounting his horse and leaving with Pang Xiao, leaving only the Sitong Trading Company group at the original location, desperately making muffled cries. Being tied here, they were ninety-nine percent certain to become wolf food. Who would have thought this group of Pingnan Army would be so ruthless—not only robbing their goods but also leaving them there to fend for themselves!

This method of killing to silence witnesses while keeping one’s hands clean could only be conceived by that demon Pang Zhixi!

When Pang Xiao’s group returned to the Pingnan Army camp, they immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Those who had maintained a wait-and-see attitude, wanting to see whether Pang Xiao could actually obtain silver, saw that they had actually returned driving six or seven horse carts, each one fully loaded.

Pang Xiao didn’t delay and immediately ordered people to distribute the brought-back goods on the spot to the thousand men who had gone out today, offsetting their wages. The remainder was distributed according to battalions, but each battalion had a few people who received nothing because they were all on Pang Xiao’s blacklist.

No one could have imagined that among so many troublemakers that day, Pang Xiao would actually know exactly who was who!

This scared cold sweats from those who had intended to fish in troubled waters.

It seemed Prince Zhongshun’s formidable reputation was indeed no mere rumor. To cause trouble under his nose, one truly needed to weigh one’s own worth carefully.

Watching those around them receive silk or porcelain—items worth even more than their wages—while everyone else was cheerful and laughing, these initial troublemakers could only stare with wide eyes.

They were all beginning to regret. They had clearly taken the lead, even risking being resented by Prince Zhongshun, but when it came time to reap benefits, they themselves chose to retreat.

They all wanted to slap themselves several times—why had they made such a foolish choice!

After the crowd had mostly finished distributing the goods, Pang Xiao ordered someone to spread a military command, ordering the thousand men who had just gone with him to assemble immediately.

By this time, the sky had darkened, and everyone held torches. The drill ground was brightly lit.

Pang Xiao slowly walked through the crowd, speaking loudly, “Just now, I received a scout’s report. The bandits have kidnapped a large number of civilians. Can our Pingnan Army ignore such a thing?”

“We cannot, we cannot!” Although the crowd didn’t understand what Pang Xiao intended to do, having received their wages today, they all deeply trusted His Highness in their hearts. Therefore, whatever he said, everyone naturally believed.

Pang Xiao immediately said, “We hot-blooded men—if not to protect the people’s safety, who would suffer here? Brothers, are you all willing to follow me to rescue those civilian people!”

“We are willing to follow Your Highness!” everyone shouted in unison.

“Good!” Pang Xiao said, “Since that’s the case, everyone depart immediately!”

“Yes!”

The group immediately prepared for departure, leaving the Pingnan Army camp with great momentum, making those who hadn’t received wages and those who initially hadn’t followed His Highness out extremely envious. Who knew what benefits this outing would bring!