Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 2207 New lobbyist
Wang Chuyi thought for a moment, and said: "If you don't enter the tiger's den, you won't catch the tiger's cub. Although this matter is risky, it is unlikely that Zhang Tianbo will cause trouble - what benefit can he gain by hacking me?"

Peng Shouan also thought about it: Lianyang and other places are already controlled by the Australians, and there is no news of the officers and soldiers counterattacking. Zhang Tianbo set a trap and Wang Chuyi has nowhere to go to receive the reward. Instead, he will be retaliated by the Australians—he He is a well-rooted local person, and it is impossible to send the whole family in with him.

However, he didn't say "no problem" in this matter, but only said "the risk is very high"-if this Tianbo's brain twitches, he can't afford to be blamed.

Although the county magistrate Wang judged that the risk was not high, to be cautious, he sent someone to scout around Ershilipu in advance to confirm that there was nothing unusual before officially agreeing.

Therefore, Zhang Tianbo and Wang Chuyi met at Tianwang Temple on the agreed day.Zhang Tianbo asked that Wang Chuyi must come by himself, and he could only bring ten people to the meeting.Wang Chuyi agreed to all of them.

On the same day, Wang Chuyi and Peng Shouan arrived at the temple and waited from Si to noon, but there was no sign of Zhang Tianbo.The security squad leader was a little guilty, and kept sending people out to investigate the situation.Wang Chuyi was also a little impatient—could it be that his plan had been leaked and Zhang Tianbo wouldn't be fooled by it?

Peng Shouan was much calmer. He said that Zhang Tianbo's absence meant that there was no danger.The reason why he didn't show up was to observe in secret to see if County Magistrate Wang was actually fulfilling the contract, so as to prove the sincerity of the other party.

"...This is also an old routine." Peng Shouan sat in front of the incense table in the main hall, and said, "These gangsters have a lot of minds. Being late for the recruiting is just a piece of cake, and they make all kinds of unimaginable demands. It was nothing more than a test of Shangguan's sincerity in recruiting. When Xiaguan was an official in Lianghu, he was ordered by Shangfeng to recruit a big thief. Everything was settled, but when he came to the city to be appeased, the big thief Lai lives in a village five miles outside the city, and he said he wants to eat, so he asked the county to bring it to him."

"Oh? Eat?" Wang Chuyi became interested, "He came to Decheng, what food can't be eaten, why should he eat it on the road?"

"It's just a show of Joe." Peng Shouan said with a smile, "I wasn't surprised at the time, and immediately asked someone to prepare meals. Unexpectedly, he sent another person over, saying that he didn't want any fish banquets, but he wanted a bowl of duck." Tongue-wrapped wontons..."

"The duck tongues are mostly bones, and you can only eat a piece of skin. How can you wrap wontons?" Wang Chuyi was a little unconvinced, "Even if you can barely pick it out, how many duck tongues are enough?"

"It's not much, just a hundred or ten duck tongues." Peng Shouan wrote lightly, "The lower official knew what he meant, so he understood that he asked the servants to search everywhere, bought more than 100 ducks, slaughtered them, removed their tongues, and deboned them. He insisted on wrapping a bowl of wontons with the duck tongue, and made a broth out of the duck, simmered and sent it away.”

Wang Chuyi was stunned, he was born in poverty, never thought that the government would recruit robbers, and there is such a big battle, such a rich man!
"...This bowl of wontons was sent over, and the thief ate three of them in a row, and immediately put down the bowl. He took off his shirt, put on shackles and went to the city to be caressed." Peng Shouan talked about the past, showing a complacent expression, "Later, the lower official asked him why he wanted to eat such a bowl of wontons, and he said that if this requirement was not met, the government would be dishonest, and he would flee back to the cottage immediately..."

Wang Chuyi didn't say a word, but felt extremely disgusted in his heart.Although murder and arson have been the norm since ancient times, but the government would rather spend so much energy and money on appeasement of these bandits and villains than on the good people.

"It's not a small expense." Wang Chuyi asked.

"Of course the expenses are indispensable." Peng Shouan said, "It's just that the big households in the county are unlucky. It's the subordinates in the yamen who have benefited and ate ducks for several days in a row!"

As they talked like this, they saw that the sun had already passed the mid-heaven, and it was almost past noon.Wang Chuyi was about to ask if he should wait any longer, but the guards outside came in to report: "Zhang Tianbo has arrived at the gate of the temple, please see the county magistrate."

Wang Chuyi lifted his spirits, and Lao Peng, an official, was really polite. He asked, "How many people did he bring?"

"Single."

"Are there any abnormalities around?"

The security squad leader reported: "I just checked it with a telescope, and there is nothing unusual!"

"Okay, let him in."

Just about to get up to greet him, Peng Shouan tugged his sleeves and said in a low voice: "County magistrate, if the play is to be performed, it must be very similar..."

Wang Chu nodded: "I know."

Both parties had the idea of ​​"acting", and this "recruitment" was full of a classical atmosphere.Zhang Tianbo is also wearing shackles and chains, with his hair in a bun, like a criminal prisoner.As soon as he entered the main hall of Tianwang Temple, he knelt down and said "guilty".Wang Chuyi also had to release the shackles himself, and admonished him.Zhang Tianbo was naturally "tearful of gratitude" and expressed his willingness to "serve Da Song loyally".

After recruiting security, the group returned to the county seat.Peng Shouan went directly to him to talk about recruiting Feng Haijiao and Sun Dabiao.Firstly, time waits for no one, and secondly, it can also take advantage of Zhang Tianbo's heart—this kind of sudden recruitment will inevitably make people suspicious.

After Zhang Tianbo heard the old boss's words, he immediately showed a embarrassed expression, and said, "Master Peng! This Feng Haijiao and Sun Dabiao are indeed younger brothers. But they are both heroes of the green forest, and they are also powerful. The younger ones go It’s okay to lobby, whether they can make them surrender to the Song Dynasty is not a small thing that dares to guarantee the ticket.”

"I don't want you to guarantee it." Peng Shouan knew what he meant. Since ancient times, recruitment has been a kind of sale, and both parties have to bid their own price, and then it is a long process of bargaining.Since Zhang Tianbo went to lobby, he had to have a condition to bring with him.

This condition is hard to say, firstly, the Australians are different from the Ming government, and secondly, they can be regarded as "unprecedented".It is a difficult problem to make them believe in the right conditions for this recruitment.

He and Wang Chuyi discussed again and again, and decided to follow the real recruiting process, first offer a low price, let the bandit leader believe it, and gradually counter-offer.Although it takes time to come and go, it is more real.It is easy for the bandit leader to lose his vigilance.

"The county magistrate said that as long as they are willing to be caressed, the county will forgive their past crimes and preserve all their property. The lives and properties of their brothers will also be protected. In addition, they will be appointed as the local guardians—just The teams in their hands will be disbanded."

This condition can be regarded as moderate. According to the past practice, it is not harsh, nor can it be called preferential treatment.Zhang Tianbo immediately said: "That's it, I just go for a walk!"

"You are going to lobby on this trip, and you must act quietly without making a fuss. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" Zhang Tianbo responded.

"This is a reward of fifty silver dollars from the county magistrate, first to give you a home - after the matter is completed, there will be many rewards."

"Thank you, master, for cultivating!" Zhang Tianbo had a flattered expression on his face, and immediately knelt down and kowtowed, regardless of the "Australian etiquette".

Zhang Tianbo didn't stop, went to Li Shuangkuai first, kowtowed to thank his master for his care, and gave another generous gift.When Li Shuang soon heard that he had become a "captain", he frowned slightly, and said, "I really don't understand this job in Australia. But since I have entrusted you, I have to make a show. Australians are so anxious to ask for help." When you come out of the mountain, could it be that there is something important for you to do?"

"Master Zu is really clever." Zhang Tianbo nodded and said, "The Australians want me to recruit Sun and Feng."

"No wonder you're in such a hurry," Li Shuangkui closed his eyes and smiled, "In Yangshan County, in terms of friendship, only you can do this."

"Master is right." Zhang Tianbo was a little proud. "The Australians are very urgent about this matter - I want to leave immediately. I think this is a serious matter, and I want to discuss it with Master."

Li Shuang quickly said: "This matter is your own business. You want me to do something. If you can do it, let the Australians do it. If you can't, just try to prevaricate it."

Zhang Tianbo said with a smile: "Although I have a foreign surname, I have worshiped the master after all. The so-called master and apprentice are like father and son. This matter is quite big. If there is a mistake, I can't afford to offend both sides. I have to ask the master Ancestor helped me feel the pulse."

Li Shuangkui pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice: "Are you sincerely wanting to serve the Australians, or are you just dealing with the moment and want to have a long-term plan? You should think carefully about this question, and don't rush to answer."

Zhang Tianbo thought for a moment, then whispered: "Master! As our servants, no matter who will be the county magistrate, as long as they don't hinder the brothers from making a fortune, they will naturally serve with heart - it doesn't matter if it's Ming Dynasty or Song Dynasty. .”

"You're slippery!" Li Shuangkuai coughed twice in his throat, and spit out a mouthful of phlegm, "Before I became an official, I thought about stepping on two boats."

"The master laughed, it's not the disciple's cunning, it's the disciple who thinks so. Anyway, no matter the Ming Dynasty or the Song Dynasty, there must be someone to handle the errands, right?"

"That's good, but the Australians are newcomers, and they haven't shown their true nature. I heard that they are very rude to us people who eat yamen, and killed many people. Besides, which of our quick-handed catchers is clean? What are you doing now? Naturally, they have to work hard when they are on errands, but they also work too hard—beware that they will turn their faces and deny people in the future."

"Yes, I would like to follow the teachings of the master." Zhang Tianbo nodded.

"You go to your two brothers, don't act as the captain of the detective, and don't hold the idea of ​​working for the Australians. Just treat the brothers as reunited, and when you arrive at their place, you brothers should discuss this matter first-- ―Whether the Australian’s recruitment is true or not, you three should discuss it properly first, and you don’t have to be afraid of anything.” Li Shuang said leisurely, “Australians are different from us, you have to be on guard... "
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Next update: Volume 411 - Guangzhou Governance Chapter [-]

(End of this chapter)