Volume 1, Chapter 26: Declining a Cushy Job for the Sake of Alchemy

"Although I have not been in the stronghold for long, I am well aware of what the 'ticket office' entails," Li Shandao replied.

The ticket office was where hostages were guarded.

"While the position at the ticket office is a comfortable one, there are two reasons I cannot accept. First, it inevitably involves the elderly, the weak, women, and children. As a man, my heart aches at the sight, and I have no stomach for such work. Second, I did not join Wagang to seek an easy life; I came to follow Eldest Brother and Master Shan to achieve something great! What could possibly be accomplished while guarding a ticket office?" Li Shandao stood tall, his chest puffed out, and spoke with fervor. "Because of Eldest Brother's kindness, I dare not accept."

Shan Xiongxin clapped and praised him: "Well said! I have no patience for that ticket office business either." He turned to Xu Shiji and added, "Eldest Brother, it is rare to find someone with such ambition as Li Erlang. Since he does not wish to go to the ticket office, find him another post!"

The ticket office was indeed a lucrative post. Even though Xu Shiji already knew Li Shandao was different from the others in the stronghold, he was still surprised by his polite refusal.

He followed up on Shan Xiongxin's words: "Erlang, since you do not wish to go to the ticket office, which hall would you like to join?"

Wagang Stronghold had many halls. Generally, they could be divided into three categories: political, economic, and military. The political and economic halls handled documentation, grain storage, armaments, craftsmanship, the old camp, the brothel camp, and external affairs. The military halls focused on raiding, garrisoning, patrolling, stationing troops, and intelligence gathering. Li Shandao now had a general understanding of these.

Without hesitation, he replied: "Eldest Brother, to be honest, I do not want a position in any of those halls."

"You don't want any of them?" Xu Shiji asked in surprise. "Then what do you want? Could it be you only wish to go out on raids?"

"To answer Eldest Brother, that is exactly it!"

Xu Shiji and Shan Xiongxin exchanged a glance.

Shan Xiongxin stroked his beard and said: "You, Erlang, are truly different from the rest. Although you can get a thirty percent share of the spoils from these raids, it is, after all, licking blood off the edge of a blade. You might return empty-handed after all the toil. For instance, if it weren't for your strategy during our last boat raid, we might have returned with nothing. And then there was..." His expression turned bitter as he slapped the table and cursed, "Those scoundrels!" He continued, "My branch's men encountered that thief Qin Qiong in Dongping, and out of two hundred, almost none survived. Erlang, of all the capable people in the stronghold, none are willing to take on the duty of raiding. Why are you so eager?"

"If one wants to achieve something great, one must have men to command. And how does one get men to use? There is only one way: true gold is forged in the fire. Through real combat, one can temper men who are capable. And how does one engage in real combat? Eldest Brother, Master Shan, I don't need to explain that, do I? In our stronghold, it is by going on raids. Therefore, while others avoid it, I rush toward it."

Shan Xiongxin laughed: "You, Erlang, you make raiding sound like a fine profession."

Xu Shiji nodded and said: "If anyone else in the stronghold heard you say this, they would likely laugh at your foolishness."

"Does Eldest Brother also think my idea is foolish?"

Xu Shiji said: "Raiding is hard and dangerous, but it is indeed the best way to forge useful men. Erlang, weren't you and Chounu forged during that last boat raid? Your logic may seem foolish, but it is actually the smartest approach."

"Does Eldest Brother grant my request?"

Xu Shiji replied: "You do not want a comfortable job and instead ask for the arduous task of raiding—how could I refuse?"

Li Shandao was overjoyed and bowed: "Thank you, Eldest Brother!"

Xu Shiji mused for a moment and said: "These past few days, both our main stronghold and the branch have some major tasks to handle. However, Erlang, the share of the spoils from the last raid has not yet been distributed to you and Chounu. According to the mountain rules, you cannot leave the mountain for now; that is one reason. Furthermore, you have just begun to organize and drill your troops; if I send you off the mountain now, wouldn't it interrupt your training? That is the second reason. Therefore, in my view, wouldn't it be better to wait a while before I give you this raiding assignment?"

Shan Xiongxin added: "Erlang, the rule that one cannot go raiding again until the previous spoils are distributed is actually out of Zhai Gong's benevolence. Think about it: if we went on another raid before receiving our share, and were killed in the process, wouldn't we lose both our lives and our wealth? That is why Zhai Gong has this rule."

"I understand Zhai Gong's benevolence. Master Shan, Eldest Brother, you can assign the raiding duty whenever you see fit, as long as you do not forget about it," Li Shandao said with a smile.

Shan Xiongxin chuckled: "You are always hanging around Eldest Brother; even if he wanted to forget, he couldn't."

Li Shandao could not help but laugh along.

After chatting a while longer, Xu Shiji went to pay his respects to Xu Gai. Shan Xiongxin and Li Shandao followed. In front of Li Shandao, Xu Shiji explained that he did not wish to accept the post at the ticket office. Once Xu Gai understood the reasons, he too was amazed by Li Shandao's choices and perspective, praising him repeatedly. Xu Shiji's younger brother, Xu Shiguan, sat to the side, watching him with curiosity. After sitting for a while, Li Shandao took his leave.

Xu Shiji had already issued an order for Liu Hu'er to take a team to the Fenghuang Island branch to fetch the drums, horns, and weaponry for Li Shandao.

Fenghuang Island was close to Mount Dapei, but the round trip still took half a day.

Back in the valley, Li Shandao shared his achievements from meeting Xu Shiji with Wang Xuda, Chen Jing'er, and Luo Zhong, glossing over his refusal of the ticket office post.

When they heard that they were not only receiving drums but also bows, crossbows, arrows, spears, swords, and armor, they were overjoyed.

Wang Xuda said repeatedly: "With Erlang as our commander and the support of Eldest Brother Xu, we are truly blessed!"

By dusk, Liu Hu'er arrived at the valley entrance, leading twenty or thirty men pushing a dozen carts along the mountain path with a creaking sound.

Li Shandao had been alerted by Jiao Yanlang, who was on guard at the valley entrance, and had come out to meet them.

Upon meeting, Li Shandao bowed repeatedly: "Thank you for your trouble, Brother! To make such a trip to the branch in the rain just for my small matter."

"Erlang, come and see. Look at these weapons and gear I've brought you. Are you satisfied? If not, I can exchange them for you."

As the tarps covering the carts were lifted, Li Shandao, led by Liu Hu'er, inspected them one by one.

The spears and swords were the most numerous, filling half the carts.

As for the bows and crossbows, true to Xu Shiji's promise, there were ten longbows for infantry and two handheld crossbows. There were also thirty spare bowstrings. Most of the arrows were military-grade with steel tips, along with a few bamboo and wooden ones.

Among the weaponry, shields and armor were the fewest: five shields and one set of armor—a Mingguang (Bright Light) suit.

Li Shandao touched the armor; it felt cold against his skin. He lifted the helmet; it was heavy. Under the gloomy evening rain, the surface of the armor emitted a faint, cold metallic luster. With the helmet included, the set likely weighed several dozen pounds. He imagined fighting in it—not just wearing the armor, but also wielding a sword, spear, or lance. Li Shandao could not help but worry if his own strength would be enough.

No wonder Xu Shiji drilled his strength without fail every morning!

The drums Li Shandao had requested were in one of the rear carts. After seeing the weapons, he was less interested in the three sets of drums and the three extra horns Xu Shiji had provided, only giving them a cursory glance.

There were three or four more carts at the end. What was in them?

Li Shandao stepped over quickly and saw that one cart was filled with tools: flint, whetstones, shovels, hammers, axes, saws, chisels, and sickles. The final few carts were filled with rice, flour, wine, meat, salt, and oil.

After seeing everything, Li Shandao turned to Liu Hu'er and bowed again: "It really was too much trouble for you, Brother! I wanted to show my gratitude, but you are a man of honor and would not accept, which leaves me not knowing how to thank you!"

"Erlang, do you really want to thank me?"

Li Shandao said earnestly: "My heart is sincere; how could it be fake?"

Liu Hu'er laughed: "If you really want to thank me, that's easy."

"Oh?"

Liu Hu'er pointed to a cart in front and said: "Just give me what is in that cart."

Following his finger, he was pointing to the cart containing the Mingguang armor!

Wang Xuda, Gao Chounu, and the others, who had been following Li Shandao and were just as happy, all turned pale. Wang Xuda looked as if a piece of his flesh had been carved out, and he gasped in dismay.

Li Shandao laughed, took Liu Hu'er by the hand, and walked toward that cart, saying: "It's just one set of armor. If you like it, Brother, why not take it? Never mind just this one; choose whatever you like from these dozen carts, and I will gladly give it to you!"