Delong

Chapter 102 The Golden Cone Walk (13)

"I don't know where Brother Zhou got this golden cone?"

It was still in the afternoon, but hot wine and hot dishes were suddenly placed on the Juyi Hall. Zhang Xing thought that it was probably the boss of the Mangshan Chieftain who was the key to the golden cone plan...in fact, it was indeed...at this time finally I can't stand it anymore.

"I haven't seen it with my own eyes before." Boss Zhou chuckled, still in his original rough state. "But I couldn't hold back my temper after the Zhengmai became perfect, and I started to travel north and south. I met a life-and-death confidant in Huainan before, and I did hear some stories from him..."

"That's right." The boss on the building rubbed his chubby face, still feeling a little uneasy. "However, if you want to know the origin of this, you have to be a real person in the Jianghuai area..."

"My life-and-death acquaintance with Zhou Yi is naturally a real big shot." Boss Zhou laughed jokingly. "As far as I know, only three or four of these golden cones were sent out after breaking the sky, and this one is only four or five... Each of them is a first-class big shot and hero. Brother Zhang said it was from the upper left of the Huaihe River. The boss gave it to him, I thought the origin was very appropriate, plus his previous words and attitude made it difficult to find fault, only this statement was missing, so I nodded and admitted it as a guarantee."

"I think so too." Now Boss Lou could only nod his head.

Having said that, after drinking two glasses of wine, Boss Lou looked at another person, but it was Boss Han who had taken the initiative to speak out for the idlers.

When Boss Han saw this, he just cupped his hands and smiled wryly: "Now, if I don't tell you, you wouldn't believe it...Actually, I am an old member of the Jinzhu master's family, and I was ordered here...But It’s just that I’m here under orders, there’s no words from above, I just saw Jin Cone, and I figured out that I should come forward myself, that’s all.”

Boss Lou heard this and didn't know what to say.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yi came to ask at this time instead: "What is the origin of Boss Lou? He has such a foundation in the Jianghuai area, and now it happens to be directly involved with this Mangdang Mountain, and Mangdang Mountain almost kills the forces in Huaibei." Swept together together, why do you think that you are the only one on the mountain who communicates with others, and you are the only one who knows the obstacles?"

Boss Lou laughed awkwardly: "It's because I underestimated him, and I underestimated you all. In fact, it's because I'm separated by a layer, and I don't know the real foundation and influence of that person... It's not so much that I am the relationship between that person, It's better to say that we have a closer relationship with Second Master Zuo, and this time, Uncle Zuo ordered us to come here to do this business, and Uncle Zuo really has a golden awl there."

Only then did Zhang Xing realize that only Boss Han was Chen Ling's direct confidant.

Others, including Boss Lou and Boss Zhou, are all indirectly influenced and controlled...and this is more in line with the current situation.

You must know that the Zhongli Chen family is a powerful person in Jianghuai, and now Chen Ling, who is in charge of the family, is also there, and the family training is also very similar. There is no need to deliberately do collusion in the cottage, how complicated it is. At the same time, he also lost grades. He just needs to hold the pawns in his hands firmly and take care of these tyrants from the overall situation... When it is necessary, it should be his fault, of course it is his fault.

From the current point of view, it is obvious that the three Zuo brothers who are a grade lower than Chen Ling are the ones who are really working hard to handle this matter. It is due to the success of this generation, that is, the cultivation base of the second child and the official position of the third child suddenly emerged. Although the airs are big, no matter in terms of foundation or strategy, it will inevitably fall out of the pattern and level.

It's just that I really don't know now, what is Zuo's purpose in doing this?But Zuo's main profit market, that is, the Whale Gang itself, is what they eat, and they are directly related to their interests, and they have opinions on what they do.

Besides, what does this have to do with him, Zhang Zirong?

In the current situation, everyone has their own cognition and level, which is suitable for Mr. Zhang to deceive and fish in troubled waters.

Just as he was thinking about it, the boss over there suddenly came to raise his glass and smiled at Zhang Xinglai: "Master Zhang, we are the only ones along the way!"

Zhang Xing could only raise his glass with a wry smile: "It's just a messenger!"

"The one who delivers the letter is the true confidant." Boss Zhao, who had been silent all this time, interrupted suddenly, but took the opportunity to put down his wine glass, and responded angrily. "Everyone, I can trust Boss Zhou, Boss Lou, and Boss Han. Since these three are all here as guarantees, I am willing to do this business. It's just that a few of them are talking left and right, as if Playing charades like playing charades, don’t you look down on us? If you want to do business, you should learn how the three Zhang brothers have done business just now, right?”

"Master Zhao, I'm sorry, this is how it happened." Boss Han hurriedly said. "Although Mr. Zhang came here with the token of my benefactor, he is only here to ensure that the business will not be suppressed by the Longgang Army Brigade. The business itself is mostly the meaning of Boss Zuo, which is also related to Boss Lou. This is right here... Therefore, it really doesn't matter if you know the name of my benefactor or not."

Boss Zhao just sneered and shook his head: "I just think we don't deserve to know."

At the beginning, Boss Wang, the 'neighbor' who had met Zhang Xing in advance, also came to challenge Zhang Xing with a smile, but he pointed at Zhang Xing: "Actually, it doesn't matter whether we are worthy or not, because now Boss Zhou and Boss Lou are included. , the four bosses are all going to do this business, why don't we go? It's just Mr. Zhang, you have worked so hard to send a message, and you didn't hesitate to annex one person. Leading the team to fight a battle personally, but don't want to know who is the big banker who dares to suppress the Longgang army?"

"Of course I want to know." Zhang Xing responded straightforwardly. "But I want to solidify our Master Zuo's orders, so that I won't be able to open my mouth when I go back to see Master Zuo... Everyone, I know that you still want to inquire about the authenticity of the information in private, but can you establish a way? When Sending troops? Our Master Zuo asked me to come here because of an emergency, and if it is too late, the convoy will be completely untouchable after passing Longgang!"

"How many more days are left?" Boss Wang wanted to say a few words, but Boss Zhou at the top suddenly spoke coldly, forcing the former to shut up immediately.

"The day after tomorrow, the next day or two days." Zhang Xing blurted out.

"In such a hurry?"

"If you're not in a hurry, you don't need to come in such a hurry with the golden cone." Zhang Xing replied earnestly. "I've figured it out, the only time I can do it is after the convoy passes through Linhuan County and before it reaches Chengfu County by the Guoshui River... It's too early, we can't reach it, and it's too late, let's not talk about people crossing the Weishui from Chengfu , Longgang's army is right in front of us, and there is no way to grab it... that is, during the two days from the 23rd to the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, we need to send troops quickly."

"Boss Zuo or Brother Zhang, do you have any plans?" Zhou Yi continued to ask with a frown.

"Our Master Zuo didn't say anything, but I have a saying in my family that we will immediately mobilize troops tomorrow and go to Jishan first... While walking, the bosses will go to Huanshui to inquire about the news. If you think our Master Zuo has no intention of harming you , then stopped for a moment, Jishan gathered the masters of Xu's family, and rushed over directly; if you think that our left master is not trustworthy, or if there are other obstacles on the road, it does not prevent you from stopping at Jishan, or directly go south and continue to look for it. Trouble with the fleet." Zhang Xing spoke smoothly, as if he had really thought about it long ago.

"It makes sense." Zhou Yi nodded. "Brother Zhang is very thoughtful... But there is one more thing. There are still a few wild people from the east on the Yutou mountain... There are quite a few hard-headed ones, and they have nothing to do with Jianghuai. I'm afraid it's not good. Convince them with a golden cone."

"As long as troops are sent out, they can't be left alone in the brigade." Boss Zhao said in a muffled voice.

"Boss Zhou is afraid that they won't send troops." Boss Wang couldn't complain.

"About this matter." Zhang Xing suddenly raised his head. "To be honest, Boss Zhou, my uncle Zuo specially sent me here, and there is a saying... In my resume, the relationship between Luolongtan experience and Xu Dalang in the East Realm is not fake, and the brothers who are with me are also from the East Realm. This time, I saw with my own eyes an acquaintance from the Eastern Territory around the fleet, calling Du Pozhen to go over from the mountain to inquire about the situation... It is for this reason that this rich and noble job fell on me... Come and see A few masters ago, I already asked my brother from the east to find Du Pozhen and go to the Immortal Cave."

"It's all right now!" Boss Lou sighed. "The masters of the Zuo family are really proper, clever and thorough!"

"Isn't it proper and wise to be under the old benefactor Han?" Boss Zhao continued to say it sullenly.

"Okay." Zhou Yi stood up suddenly. "I'll make a decision... If anyone disagrees, say it on the spot."

While the others were still hesitating, Zhang Xing suddenly got up and made a gesture of obeying orders, which also attracted several other bosses to stand up one after another.

"Opportunities are rare. The uncles of Zuo's family and the one from Huai Shang rewarded us with food, and brothers Zhang worked so hard to repay us. We really can't delay... We have to do what we have to do, otherwise how will we make a fortune?" Zhou Yi twitched his beard seriously. speaking. "Brother Zhang will go to Du Pozhen in private later, and we will post a post together to explain clearly to the people in Yutou Mountain. We will force them to send troops tomorrow! We will not wait after the deadline! The plan to send troops will be in accordance with Zhang's plan." The two-dimensional method that my brother said! As for anyone who has doubts, I understand, and I will inquire as I go... As for the name of that person, Xiao Zhao, don’t worry. Say it face to face! In short, thousands of words, I just hope that the big guy will make a fortune with me this year, and not be poor next year!"

When everyone heard the last word, it was obvious that they still had some reactions and thoughts.

But at this moment, Zhang Xing took the lead in shouting: "Follow Boss Zhou, let's make a fortune together this year!"

The others had no choice but to work together, and shouted: "Follow Boss Zhou, let's make a fortune this year!"

After shouting this sentence, Zhang Xing suddenly took the initiative to applaud again, making his palms red, forcing the rest of the people to applaud together while looking sideways. Pai is not desirable, but his chest and belly are protruding, and he is arrogant for a while.

So far, Zhang Xing finally passed the court, and resorted to the golden awl plan that he made a sudden decision, and it was a great success... It can only be said that his judgment was not wrong when he came, and he was in a mess, with his own thoughts. The ghostly Mangdang Mountain is ten times easier to deal with than Chen Ling's.

But the matter is not over yet, he still has a huge hole to fill, and it is the only hard hole on this trip... Moreover, he really used this incident as a pretext to bid farewell to the bosses, and turned around to go first.

Back in the Immortal Cave, he called Chef Fan to come over and serve some hot wine, and then set the fire on the slate to slowly roast the meat. After eating three sticks of roast meat and five or six glasses of ice wine, Du Pozhen's old face that had experienced many vicissitudes finally followed Qin's. Bao appeared in front of Zhang Xing together.

Seeing this person coming, Zhang Xing immediately came to look at Cook Fan who was eating on the opposite side: "Third master, it's hard work for you to check the wind, Boss Du is my close brother's friendship, if you want to say something, if you are overheard, you will silence it words."

Cook Fan was taken aback for a moment, so he could only rub his hands together, picked up a bowl of jerky, and walked out while chewing. He walked seventy or eighty steps, and saw Qin Er standing still at the 34th step in the middle , just sat down to eat jerky.

On the other side, watching the people around him walk cleanly, Du Pozhen sat down calmly, shaking his head with emotion:
"Desperate Saburo, desperate Saburo...Zhang Sanlang, you and Qin Erlang are so brave!"

"Boss Du is truly courageous. He dared to go that day and come today!" Zhang Xing stretched out his hand as an invitation. "And drink two cups of hot wine, so as not to delay the discussion later."

"Alright." Du Pozhen took the wine, poured it for himself, drank five or six glasses of wine, and chewed seven or eight pieces of meat, then put down his hands and looked at the other party quietly.

"Smart people don't speak in secret." Zhang Xing thought for a while and spoke directly. "Food on the Huanshui River is of great importance, and there is absolutely no chance of disaster. I was ordered to lure people from Mangdang Mountain to cross the Huanshui River, and throw themselves into the army's trap. I want Boss Du to help me."

"Then I won't say dark words." Du Pozhen sat in front of the stone slab and responded calmly. "Even if Zhang Sanlang uttered 1 great truths today, I would not agree."

"If you don't agree, you will face life and death?"

"Between officials and bandits, life and death are relative, that's the fundamental truth." Du Pozhen's face remained unchanged. "On the contrary, we are less honest with each other."

"Boss Du." Zhang Xing thought about it for a while, and then spoke seriously. "It's a rare encounter between us. We have such a close friendship, so don't talk nonsense to each other. You tell your interests, and I will share my knowledge. Whether it succeeds or not, we can decide... How about it?"

"If I hadn't seen the encounter that day, I would not have come here." Du Pozhen stretched out his hand in response. "Zhang Sanlang will speak first."

"The first one is the origin of this grain." Zhang Xing said clearly. "The tax in Jiangdong is half higher than that in the east... This time the food is not transshipped in time to make up for it, but it is really insufficient and has to be delayed until today. It is because our patrol team has worked so hard to keep the people out of the way as much as possible." They were collected from rich families... Once they are robbed, Jiangdong may have to pay taxes, and he may starve to death by then."

Du Pozhen's complexion turned black, and he was silent for a long time before opening his mouth: "It's because the imperial court exploited too much."

"I know." Zhang Xing nodded calmly.

"You know?" Du Pozhen sneered.

"I know!" Zhang Xing nodded seriously again.

Du Pozhen was finally silent.

"Secondly, the real big bandit leaders on the mountain all have roots. Boss Lou is a member of the Whale Gang Zuo family; Boss Zhou is an old friend of Yingyang Zhonglang General Chen Ling on Longgang; Boss Han is simply Chen Ling. Ling's subordinates...Chen Ling regards Jianghuai tyrants and Mangdangshan bandits as his own private property, and the Whale Gang also wants to take advantage of the bandits' power...What you think is black may be white, and what you think is white may be black... …In the Juyi Hall, almost all of them are local tyrants who have been around for decades or hundreds of years, and the so-called heroes who are ready to take their money and leave, and you are the real bandits who came from the east." Zhang Xing continued speak.

"I know." It was Du Pozhen's turn to say this calmly.

But this time, Zhang Xing did not ask like the other party. Instead, he picked up his chopsticks and tapped on the slate, jingling for a while: "Since you know that they are all fake and bad, why do you still follow them?"

"Because of being poor, because of being hungry, because of being down and out." Du Pozhen twisted his neck, stared at the other party seriously, and said slowly. "Because my brothers are as poor, as hungry, and as destitute as I am... Zhang Sanlang once told me that he was destitute, but he must have never been as destitute as I am... When I was young, my family was in desperation. In the wilderness, the sky is the quilt, the ground is the mat, and the hungry go to steal the sheep from my friend’s house, one after another, but he just doesn’t see it, and finally his aunt finds out and sues the government, forcing us to flee to other places together , When I go to other places, I will be more confident when I go to steal other people’s sheep, because I can’t let the brothers who ran away because of me be as hungry as me...Zhang Sanlang, let me ask you, all my brothers are poor today It's time to sneak over from the east to beg for work. Now that you have official food in front of you, you are very reasonable. How can I not steal it for my brother to eat? Besides, it is a step back. Said, if we don’t steal government food, do we still want us to steal sheep from poor people?”

Zhang Xing was silent for a long time, so that Qin Bao looked back several times.

Gradually, Du Pozhen became a little impatient.

But in the end, he had a bold plan in mind before, and Zhang Xing, who was more determined after Juyi Hall today, made up his mind and slowly asked a key question: "Who is your brother?"

Du Pozhen was stunned for a moment, then quickly came to his senses, and bowed his head in response: "Of course it's my own two or three hundred brothers... But Zhang Sanlang, even though you are an official, I recognize you as half a brother."

"This is my luck." Zhang Xing was determined. "But now, you just want to find a way out for your brother, right? You don't care about other things? Because you're already so poor that you don't care about other things, right? The tens of thousands of people on Mount Mangdang are not your loyalty where, isn't it?"

"Yes... both." Du Po sighed, and then spoke with difficulty. "But Zhang Sanlang, no matter what, I have to be polite and loyal to my brothers. They are waiting for me to give them a way to survive, but you don't give them a way to survive."

"Then if I give you a big way to survive, and let you bring tens of thousands of brothers, can you still behave and show loyalty to them?" Zhang Xing suddenly asked something inexplicable.

"What do you mean?" Du Pozhen frowned slightly.

"If, I can think of a way to promote you to replace Zuo's family and start Huanshuikou's business, would you be willing to take it?" Zhang Xing's eyes sparkled, and he said a word of earth-shattering words lightly.

"How..." Du Pozhen wanted to question, but immediately thought of the other party's identity and background, but remained silent, and simply nodded after a while. "I think so."

"It's not that simple." This time, it was Zhang Xing's turn to shake his head. "First of all, you have to cooperate with me and do this...Secondly, you have to wait for me and the inspector to take advantage of the opportunity to dispose of the Zuo brothers after the year...Finally, after you have mastered the Whale Gang, you have to take over the Mangdang Mountain gang. The idlers who were scattered and fled, try to gather them up and take care of them... If things are done well, it will be a good thing to kill three birds with one stone. You will end up with a big life, and I will end up with even this irrelevant bandit on Mangdang Mountain. .”

Du Pozhen thought for a moment, neither shaking his head nor nodding his head: "If there is such a future, why can't my brothers stop stealing sheep, why can't I accompany you to do this... This is a small business and a big business to find a way for the brothers to survive. It’s just a difference; secondly, since I recognize you as a half-brother, and you say this again, why can’t I gamble with you? It’s just the last one..."

"How about the last one?" Zhang Xing answered with a frown.

"Is the last one a bit difficult?" Du Pozhen asked seriously. "The Long Whale Gang originally had more than ten thousand trackers, but suddenly there are thousands of idlers...can they support them?"

Zhang Xing finally raised his head and laughed: "Brother Du has never done such a big business, has he?"

"It's true that he came from a humble background." Du Pozhen said without any anger. "And a lifetime of lowliness."

"Then let me say it!" Zhang Xing lay down on the blood-stained leopard skin behind him, took out his chopsticks and tapped on the stone board in front, and immediately felt like he was pointing the country on the keyboard back then. "There are two things in this world. One is to make the pancakes bigger... This is quite difficult, and I don't have a clue yet, so let's not talk about it for now; the other is to divide the pancakes... Logically speaking , everyone has leftovers, and they can save them for other things, but in fact, the people above would rather eat one bite and throw away a hundred, or pile up the pancakes for fun, and force the people below One bite for ten people."

"This is the truth." Du Pozhen was filled with emotion.

"Those who farm the land can't get enough to eat; those who raise silkworms can't wear silk; those who build houses have no place to stand; those who forge iron have no good pots in their homes... This has been the case since ancient times." Zhang Xingben wanted to make a long speech, but he just said He said a few words, but felt bored, so he could only shake his head. "Do you know how you showed your flaws last time? Because those deacons are all popular and sweet, and they are used to being pampered. How can they have calloused hands and wounds like yours?"

"I understand." Du Pozhen suddenly understood. "You want to say that the profit of the Long Whale Gang is enough to support more than half of the people, but they are all eaten by the helmsmen, deacons, guardians, and gang leaders themselves... So, as long as I become the leader of the Long Whale Gang, I can Treat the gang members with the same rules and loyalty as I do to my own brothers now, and I will be able to support them...isn't it?"

"Yes." Zhang Xing nodded softly.

"That's the case." Du Pozhen stood up suddenly, and cupped his hands in front of the stone slab. "Brother Zhang San please take our other brothers for a ride!"

Zhang Xing seemed to be relieved, he sat paralyzed in his seat for seven or eight breaths before he got up, and then suddenly jumped onto the big stone slab, raised one hand, and roared loudly in the Immortal Cave, startling everyone in the cave Look, Chef Fan doesn't even eat meat:

"Since that's the case, please Boss Du and you brothers, just follow me, Zhang San, and make a fortune in the new year!"

PS: Happy New Year to everyone!
Thanks to the Second Battalion Commander for Shangmeng and Master Wang for the reward!
Happy New Year to everyone again!Good night.

(End of this chapter)