Chapter Fifty-Five: The Deal

At the mouth of a small pass beneath Wolf Fang Fortress, Hu San stood at the forefront, commanding three squads of spearmen and three squads of broadsword-wielders—six full divisions in total—blocking the path.

Soon, the rhythmic pounding of hooves echoed through the air. The first to catch Hu San’s eye was a troop of forty or fifty cavalrymen, each a seasoned warrior tasked with scouting ahead. As the dust raised by their arrival settled, a convoy of dozens of pitch-black wagons appeared, surrounded by vigilant soldiers who watched the surroundings with keen alertness.

Everything was reminiscent of Hu San’s previous encounters; the arrangement seemed to mark the presence of a Grand Bend merchant caravan.

A knight clad in scarlet robes reined his horse forward from among the group. Facing the bandits blocking the road, he spoke in a deep voice, “Who are you? How dare you hinder the progress of the Grand Bend merchant caravan? Are you unaware this is the territory of Wolfheart Fortress?”

“Haha, greetings, chivalrous sir,” Hu San stepped forward, parting his men, and cupped his hands respectfully. “My name is Hu San. I am the commander of Wolfheart Fortress, stationed here at Wolf Fang Fortress under the orders of the chief.”

“Today, upon hearing news that your caravan would be passing through, I came personally to welcome you. If you would honor me, I invite you to enter the fortress for a meeting.”

With these words, Hu San signaled for his men to present his commander’s token. The leading knight took the token, examined it, then summoned another man from his party. After inspecting it, the latter nodded and whispered a few words, seemingly confirming its authenticity.

Yet the knight remained cautious, issuing further orders. Soon, two bandits emerged from behind. The knight nodded toward Hu San, and the two bandits glanced at him before nodding vigorously, as if pounding garlic—clearly they recognized him.

“Isn’t that Liu Chang and Ge Dan? Why aren’t they at Wolfheart Fortress, and what are they doing here?” Zhao Feng, standing beside Hu San, murmured, immediately recognizing the pair.

A flash of realization crossed Hu San’s eyes. He thought to himself, “They must be guides sent by the chief. This will save me much trouble.”

“With their testimony, the caravan should no longer doubt my authenticity.”

As expected, the leading knight’s expression shifted; though his face remained stern, the wariness in his demeanor vanished. He said, “So you are Commander Hu. Thank you for your hospitality. However, we are under orders to proceed to Wolfheart Fortress and cannot afford delays. If we have caused offense, I ask for your forgiveness.”

“Haha, there’s no need for such formality,” Hu San licked his lips, paying no heed to the knight’s polite refusal. He smiled, “I know your purpose here. My invitation isn’t merely to offer hospitality—I wish to discuss a lucrative business with you.”

“Brothers, bring forth our token of sincerity.”

At his command, a team of bandits emerged from the flank, each pair carrying a chest, placing them before the caravan.

When the chests were opened, under the pale sunlight, gold shimmered brightly. The sight drew gasps not only from the merchants, but even from Hu San’s own men.

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Clearly, the contents were utterly captivating. Upon closer look, the chests were brimming with gold.

“By the chief’s order, I am stationed at Wolf Fang Fortress as part of Wolfheart Mountain’s forces, granted the authority to act at my discretion. In other words, handing your goods to me is equivalent to giving them to the chief himself. I will take full responsibility, and you need not concern yourselves further.”

“Moreover, I don’t intend to take everything, nor will I ask for it for free. I trust you never expected payment from Wolfheart Fortress, but if you grant me a portion, I will not hesitate to reward you generously. These riches will be yours alone—so long as neither of us speaks of it, who will know of their existence?”

“Who among you is in charge? This matter requires but a word. If you wish to earn a risk-free bonus, I welcome you with open arms. If not, consider this conversation forgotten. Should you wish to rest, my hospitality awaits; if you prefer to depart, I shall not hinder you.”

Hu San first stunned the caravan with chests of gold, ensuring they would listen, then laid out his purpose and terms.

According to his reasoning, as long as the person overseeing the weapon transport harbored a hint of greed, they would not refuse such a transaction.

Of course, if these weapons were donated freely to Wolfheart Fortress, and no one forced the matter, it would be to the chief’s great benefit, and Hu San’s words would be in vain. Yet if that were the case, Hu San would accept his loss with resignation.

The leading knight paused in surprise, then his expression changed. He dismounted and strode back to the wagon convoy, stopping at the central carriage and bowing his head in consultation.

Soon, he returned, accompanied by a middle-aged man in a purple robe. This man wore a longsword at his waist, his stride confident, his gaze sharp and fierce—a presence that radiated an aura of blood and iron, marking him as a formidable warrior.

“You know what the caravan is transporting?” The middle-aged man’s eyes narrowed upon seeing Hu San’s youth, but his composure remained unshaken.

“If I didn’t know, why would I be stationed at Wolf Fang Fortress? Sir, if you are interested, let us discuss matters within the fortress. While I lack many things, gold and silver are not among them.”

Hu San’s gaze flickered; he sensed he had won his gamble.

Though the man’s bearing was fierce, he was not a cultivator of great power, likely on par with Hu San. Judging by his age, his abilities, and the cargo, Hu San quickly deduced his status.

If his guess was correct, the man was part of the Grand Bend military, and likely an officer who had not achieved much success.

Otherwise, in such times of trial, a true warrior would not have fallen to the task of transporting arms for bandits.

As for Hu San’s claim of plentiful gold and silver, it was not empty boasting.

After days of sweeping raids, Hu San had gathered not only ample supplies and manpower, but also vast quantities of gold and silver.

These bandits were veteran criminals, accumulated over many years, with considerable wealth. In the Qilian Mountains, only precious metals could be stored for long without spoiling, so Hu San’s acquisition was a natural outcome.

Combined with Wolf Fang Fortress’s previous reserves and Hu San’s personal assets, he had enough to buy the loyalty of a disgruntled officer.

As expected, the middle-aged man’s brows twitched, and his calm expression gave way to a hint of a smile.

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“Commander Hu is indeed a clever man. As it happens, we have traveled a long distance and are weary. If we proceed directly to Wolfheart Fortress, it may be disrespectful to the chief. Therefore, we shall rest at Wolf Fang Fortress for the night, and, once refreshed, continue our journey tomorrow.”

“Haha! Welcome, my friends!” Hu San was overjoyed and personally led the way. The middle-aged officer wasted no time with pretense, quickly arranging his men before leading the caravan to the base of Wolf Fang Mountain.

Aside from a handful left to guard the cargo, the officer brought the caravan’s key members up the mountain, granting Hu San a measure of respect.

Within the grand hall atop Wolf Fang Fortress, Hu San arranged for the others to dine, with Zhao Feng and his companions in attendance, while Hu San himself hosted the officer privately.

At this point, the middle-aged man introduced himself, “My surname is Shi. I serve as a commander in the Grand Bend military, much like yourself. If you don’t mind, you may address me as Commander Shi.”

Hu San nodded, filled the man’s cup, and smiled, “Brother, your rank is not to be compared with mine. We are but humble folk in the mountains, unfit for esteemed company. Forgive my rustic ways.”

“Come, after your arduous journey, let us drink to wash away the dust.”

Raising his cup, Hu San drained it in one go.

Though Commander Shi was not fond of bandit leaders, the prospect of business and Hu San’s youth prompted him to treat him with respect. He drank a sip, though he did not finish the cup.

Hu San paid no mind, refilling their cups but refraining from toasting again.

After a brief silence, he spoke, “Brother, you seem straightforward, so I’ll be direct. How many weapons are you transporting to Wolfheart Fortress, and how many can you leave with me? Please state your numbers, and as for payment, we can discuss terms.”

Commander Shi drank his cup in one draught, then pondered, “Since you speak plainly, I shall do the same. To be honest, under orders from Grand Bend, I am escorting five thousand spears, four thousand broadswords, two thousand suits of armor, one thousand strongbows, five thousand iron arrows, and several specialty weapons.”

“To leave everything with you is impossible, but if you are sincere, I can spare two thousand spears, one thousand broadswords, five hundred armor suits, three hundred strongbows, one thousand iron arrows, and a third of the specialty weapons.”

“As for price: one tael of silver per spear, five for each broadsword, ten for each armor suit, ten for each strongbow. If you purchase everything, I’ll throw in the iron arrows.”

Hu San calculated, then said in a deep voice, “That totals fifteen thousand taels of silver. If converted to gold, that would be one thousand five hundred taels?”

“Oh!” Commander Shi showed genuine surprise, studying Hu San for a moment. He shook his head, “Commander Hu, you are truly remarkable—not only so young and already a commander, but also skilled in calculation. Rare, indeed.”