Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 2205 The Middleman

Send someone to say it, and the bandit leader will come and caress. This kind of thing can only happen to Song Jiang in "Water Margin".Recruitment activities in reality are much more complicated.It often takes a long time for the middleman to negotiate with you and me-similar to doing business, after all, this is a matter of the life of the bandit leader.If the robbers were not in a desperate situation, the negotiations would have lasted for a long time.

The Ming court recruited Zheng Zhilong from the first time he was caressed in 1626 to 1628.It took more than three years, during which there were many iterations, and the negotiations were interrupted several times.In the end, the negotiation was successful because Zheng Zhilong had a strong willingness to caress him, and Xiong Wencan also showed enough "sincerity" to basically meet Zheng's request.

Now that Wang Chuyi wanted to recruit security, he naturally had to show "sincerity", otherwise the other party would never believe it.

"It's hard to find this lobbyist," Wang Chuyi wondered.This "lobbyist" not only has great responsibilities, but also has the ability to adapt to changing situations. He must also have considerable sympathy with Sun Dabiao and Feng Haijiao, and be able to speak up.

At the beginning, Cai Ji, the Zhangquan Sea Patroller who was in the middle of recruiting Zheng Zhilong, was kind to Zheng Zhilong when he was the magistrate.Now they can't think of such a person.

"The most suitable candidate is Zhang Tianbo, but he has scared away." Peng Shouan said, "Go to him, and he probably won't come out. But the students still have one candidate."

Peng Shouan said: There is a retired old official in the local area, named Li Shuangkuai, who was originally a Kuaiban arrester in Yangshan County. He resigned and returned home more than ten years ago, and now lives in the countryside.In terms of seniority, Zhang Tianbo should be his disciple.

"...In previous years, when Li Shuang was about to celebrate his birthday, Zhang Tianbo would also go to pay his respects and give him a water gift. We asked him to come forward to find Zhang Tianbo, and Zhang Tianbo would definitely show up." Peng Shouan suggested, "Master, please try to appease him first. Zhang Tianbo, promise Qian Qiang, lure him with a generous reward, and let him become a lobbyist..."

Wang Chuyi laughed loudly, and slapped Peng Shouan on the shoulder: "You really have it! No wonder everyone says that scholars have bad water in their stomachs! Let's do it like this!"

Peng Shouan's shoulder was almost dislocated by his slap, and with this indecent "praise", he felt MMP in his heart, and couldn't help showing a smile on his face, saying: "The county magistrate has praised me. The students are just saying a few words, How to proceed will be decided by the county magistrate.”

Wang Chu nodded and said: "Why don't the chief say you are a treasure, that's right! Let's do it like this!" After saying that, he immediately arranged for everyone to act separately.The squadron leader of the National Army sent someone to investigate the bandit's lair, and also found someone to be a guide to find the old squad leader.

Li Shuangkuai's residence is actually five or six miles outside Beicheng.When the Yao people rioted, he took his family and hid in the city. After the Australians rescued him, he returned home.

He has worked as a team leader in the county government for many years and has quite a lot of savings.They bought a lot of land outside the city - the Yao people's rebellion is nothing more than burning houses and looting things, and they can't take away the land.Back home this time, the family saw that the house was dilapidated and all the money was gone, and they couldn't help feeling sad.Li Shuangkuai was still calm, and ordered his family to dig out all the agricultural tools, utensils, and money buried in the ground, and temporarily built a few sheds to barely settle down.

One day, he was watching his family hoeing and working in the garden. The local Pai Jia came to him and said, "A team of soldiers has come from the county, and sent some officials over", and wanted to ask him for questions.

Li Shuangkuai was a little surprised. He had been away from the yamen for more than ten years. Although there were many old acquaintances in the county yamen, his family had nothing to do with the yamen. What was the purpose of this Australian's sudden visit?

He said, "I'll be here right away," while beating the dust off his body slowly.

The subordinate's mind was very quick, and before he finished patting the dirt on his clothes, he had already guessed that the sudden visit of the Australians was probably related to Zhang Tianbo.

Zhang Tianbo is one of the famous "Three Hegemons" in the county.It seems that the Australians are not willing to let him go!
Walking into the main room, there were indeed three Australian "official servants" standing there.After a few polite words on both sides, the visitor introduced himself, but he was the newly appointed magistrate of Yangshan County by Australians.

Li Shuang quickly heard this, and quickly fell to his knees: "It turns out that the county magistrate arrived, and the little people did not greet him from afar. Forgive me, forgive me."

In order to express sincerity, Wang Chuyi personally led the search team this time. Seeing that the old man was so respectful, he couldn't help being polite and helped him up with his own hands.

After the guests and hosts were seated, Li Shuangkuai said some clichés such as "the master came to the humble house, and the young ones are in awe and fear". Wang Chuyi thought that the old man was just "afraid of officials", so he was overly polite.However, Lu Dabang, the County Squadron Leader of the National Army and Chief of the County Security Section, who was following behind him, felt that although this person made a faint and timid appearance, he was clearly a formidable character when he looked at people from the corner of his eyes.

This old guy is dishonest!Lu Dabang thought secretly.It seems that it is not an easy character to deal with, and it is estimated that it will take a lot of energy.

Who knows, this is not the case when we talk about it next.Li Shuangkuai is an old team leader with a lot of experience in the world, and he knows that since the magistrate of the Australians came to visit, he can never be fooled easily.Moreover, he heard that Australians are extremely disgusted with subordinate staff, and they must be punished wherever they go, killing them and arresting them.Although I have already retired, it is better to be more sensible.

When Wang Chuyi asked about Zhang Tianbo, Li Shuangkuai was delighted and said, "Zhang Tianbo is my grandson—my son's apprentice."

Li Shuangkuai talked about the past: When Li Shuangkuai resigned, he passed on the position of head arrester to his son as a rule. Unexpectedly, his son died of the epidemic within a few years after becoming head arrester.This position was passed on to Zhang Tianbo, his son's apprentice.

Zhang Tianbo is no younger than his son, and his apprenticeship is nothing more than his fancy for this position.Li Shuangkuai also had no intention of letting his grandson do the job of arresting the police again. After his son died, he sold the job of arresting the head to Zhang Tianbo for 50 taels of silver.

"After he became a policeman, does he still have contact with you?"

"After Zhang Tianbo became a headhunter, my family has always been very polite because he has been regarded as a 'favor of knowing you' with him. He will come to visit every year and festival; when the old man celebrates his birthday, he also comes to pay his respects as usual, drink a few glasses of water and wine. Let's go." Li Shuangkuai didn't hide it—it couldn't be hidden in the first place: just ask in the village and you'll know.

In fact, things are not so simple. Although no one in Li Shuangkuai's family is engaged in the business of catching fast, but Li Shuangkuai relies on his familiarity in the yamen, and Zhang Tianbo is his disciple and grandson, so he often "eats tea" for others. Talking about weights", and Zhang Tianbo were in cahoots.As for Zhang Tianbo's actions, he is naturally clear, but to this old subordinate, it is nothing - isn't being a subordinate just for money!

Li Shuangkuai was very afraid that County Magistrate Wang would mention these things—to be honest, it would be very difficult for him to break up with Zhang Tianbo, and he really had a heart disease, and if he really wanted to pursue it, it would be difficult for him to slip through it himself.

Fortunately, Wang Chuyi didn't delve too deeply into this, but said, "Since you are familiar with Zhang Tianbo, our county government also entrusts you with a message: Right now the county is full of waste, internal and external chaos, and law and order urgently need to be rectified. He is the original head arrester in Yangshan, as long as he is willing to come out to do things, we will not be to blame for the past."

Li Shuang quickly wondered: "Master, I don't know where Zhang Tianbo is now..."

"As long as you have the heart to look for it, are you afraid you won't find it?" Wang Chu said, "I'll give you three days, and I'll send someone to wait for the reply early in the morning on the fourth day."

No matter how Li Shuangkuai argued that he had no contact with Zhang Tianbo, Wang Chuyi refused to let go, and Li Shuangkuai had no choice but to agree.

After seeing off Wang Chuyi, Li Shuangkuai walked around in his yard several times.Some doubts: He heard that Australians have always disliked subordinates, and after entering the city, they cleaned up the three classes and six houses.Why did he suddenly think of using his brother again?

Naturally, the current situation in the county is chaotic and the law and order are not good. The county magistrate sent by the Australians is eager to seek treatment. It is not too strange to invite the old policeman from the previous dynasty to sit in charge.

However, the cunning old head catcher still smelled something bad from it.

"Could it be a trap?"

However, after thinking about it, he couldn't figure out what was the point of Australians setting up such a trap for themselves—he was just an ordinary old man now.Zhang Tianbo lost his official status as a headhunter, so he is actually worthless.There is absolutely no reason for the Australians to work hard.

"Forget it!" He thought, anyway, this matter has nothing to do with him, since the Australians are looking for Zhang Tianbo, just help them find it!Otherwise, he would not be able to confess after three days.

He really didn't tell a lie just now, he really didn't know Zhang Tianbo's whereabouts - he definitely wasn't hiding at home, he must have taken refuge with a friend and hid.

The subordinate staff had the most friends, but most of them were wine and meat friends, and they seldom made heart-to-heart friends because of their interests.Li Shuangkuai thought to himself, the person who dares to keep him at this time is either Sun Dabiao or Feng Haijiao.Not to mention that they are brothers of the opposite sex who are married to Jinlan, even if they are not sworn brothers, these two have to protect his safety-otherwise it will be a loss.

The problem is just looking for it like this. Although I have friendship with Sun Dabiao and Feng Haijiao, most of them are unwilling to admit the current situation.

After much deliberation, he decided to let Zhang Tianbo's family members come forward.

Zhang Tianbo hid in the bandit's den, and his wife and children naturally hid too.However, they were not in the bandit dens of these two families.

Since ancient times, bachelors have many eyes, and Zhang Tianbo is no exception.Even though he and Sun Dabiao and Feng Haijiao are sworn brothers to Jinlan, he still has to guard against these two sworn brothers—the righteousness of the rivers and lakes is never worth real money.He has been a headhunter all these years, and he has had a lot of black-hearted money, and his family has also earned a huge savings. If this brother becomes black-hearted, if he is given a "one-pot", wouldn't it be a disaster?In line with the three caves of the cunning rabbit, Zhang Tianbo entrusted his family to Li Shuangkuai before hiding.Li Shuang quickly didn't dare to take them in at home—there was no place for them, so he arranged the whole family in the village where his brother Xin Laonan lived.

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Next update: Volume 409 - Guangzhou Governance Chapter [-]

(End of this chapter)