He said: "Master Suo, this is a fool, it will be very inconvenient for her to go back. Besides, we have to guard against extraneous problems."
This sentence reminded Thorpe that if he was sent back and caused trouble again, he would have nothing to do with it. Immediately he said: "In that case, go ahead and pack your luggage and move it here. The rent payment must also be settled, so as not to be left behind."
Lin Ming immediately agreed and took the escort to handle everything one by one. Thorpe asked her to pack up a cabin in the back cabin and let her rest for the night. We'll make arrangements tomorrow.
"Watch it tonight." Thorpe whispered.
"Yes." The escort understood.
The next day was planned to be a staff trip in Zhaoqing, so Thorpe asked Lin Ming to find a reliable ship for Su Ai, and then send an experienced escort to take her back to Guangzhou.
However, the escort asked around the passing ships at the pier, but none of them were willing to take Su Ai into the water. The escort was surprised and hurried back to Lin Ming. Lin Ming was an old man in the world. After a moment's thought, he understood that there was someone behind this prostitute. This person had considerable power and was bound to win over Su Ai.
Lin Ming was secretly surprised who was so bold. There were really not many people on the ground in Guangdong who dared to confront the Jinyiwei. Even high-ranking officials such as governors, counselors, and political counselors had a "muddling along" attitude towards them. They would never Will get angry with them over a woman. If we say that the local urban foxes and social rats are the most "aware of current affairs", it is not their style to stand up to the official "power".
Surprised as a surprise, serious things still have to be done. Fortunately, it was not his own initiative to save people. Otherwise, the comment of "causing trouble" would fall on my head.
He went to Thorpe and roughly said:
"...I'll first go find some acquaintances in the government office to inquire about the situation," Lin Ming said, "The two chiefs should be more careful."
Thorpe nodded: "Go and inquire. I want to come to the pier of Zhaoqing Fucheng. Bad guys don't dare to do anything in broad daylight. I just ask the escorts to be more careful."
Lin Ming left the boat and landed, entering Zhaoqing City. He had acquaintances in both the government and county government offices, so he decided to go to the county government office first. Fuguo County is generally responsible for the public security on the ground in Fucheng. If there is any news, the leader of Kuaiban and Master Xing Ming will definitely know.
He went to the teahouse in front of the county government office and found the head of the fast class without any trouble.
"Master Shi, I know about this, and I was just thinking about whether I should talk to you." The surname of the fast class leader was He. A wizened old man in his fifties, but his eyes were shining brightly. He squinted his eyes and half leaned on the rattan couch, holding a tea cup in his hand, "I've heard a long time ago that Mr. Shi is a suave man and the most compassionate. But this woman named Su is also an old lady. What's the benefit? You Do you have to do good deeds by bad people? The most difficult debt to repay is the debt of romance."
Lin Ming smiled and said: "I don't have this idea, and I don't dare to do it! Who do you think this Miss Su is?"
"who is it?"
"Mrs. Ru, the imperial censor of Guangdong, Gao Shunqin!"
Captain He held the teacup, thought for a moment, and said: "Master Shi, please stop joking. How can Mrs. Ru, the supervisor, come to this pier to sing? I know her details. She is originally from Liu Dahu's family here. Young lady, when did you become the high-ranking minister's wife again?"
"You only know one, but not the other." Lin Ming then told the story of the future. He lied again, "Master Gao and I have some kind of kindness. Although his whereabouts are unknown now, he is still an official of the court. His wife Ru has fallen into this situation. It would be too unloyal for me to stand by and watch."
Leader He nodded: "Master Shi is right. It's just that you can't afford to offend this god!" He leaned down, and the apprentice next to him quickly helped him up.
Lin Ming said: "Where did you get the immortal? How dare you call the wind and rain on this pier? This is a clear sign that I don't take you seriously..."
Lao He smiled: "Master Shi, please don't irritate me. I won't fight with you. When your Jinyiwei brand is shown, everyone will be afraid. Ghosts and ghosts will worry, up and down this Xijiang River, no matter which way it is." All good men must give this brand three points - even the county magistrate and the Futai master are not willing to tangle with you. But this time is no better than before -" He coughed a few times and spit in the spit box given by his apprentice. , "Someone asked me to come and talk to you. Now that you are here, you also ask me to take a few steps less..."
The other party's condition is simple: hand over Su Ai immediately.
"...The other party said that as long as you hand over the person, the past will not be mentioned, and he will give you another three hundred taels of silver to make a friend..."
Lin Ming said: "What if I don't make friends with you?"
Captain He smiled: "He didn't say anything about that. But I think it's not a good thing..."
"Lao He, please stop playing riddles for me. Tell me where you got this god from. I can also think about whether I can make this friend."
Leader He nodded: "As the saying goes, when a scholar meets a soldier, it's hard to explain why. You and I have been friends for many years. To put it bluntly, you are a general."
A mere general, if it had been a decade or so earlier in the peacetime, Lin Ming would not have paid any attention to genuine military generals such as guerrillas and generals - military attachés were worthless. However, in recent years, military turmoil has continued in various places, and the Miao and Yao ethnic groups in Guangdong and Guangxi have also rioted and rioted from time to time. The originally low-status army has become the object of flattery and reliance of local officials. It has gradually become arrogant and domineering. Coupled with the lack of food and pay, it is impossible to restrain military discipline. Since the end of the Apocalypse, it has been common for soldiers to riot and beat or even kill court officials. Most of the civil officials involved were severely punished, but military generals were rarely severely punished.
Lin Ming knew that if a dispute really broke out, Xiong Wencan would definitely put all the shit on his head - not to mention the close relationship, just a "radical subordinate" would never be able to reap any good results if it was reported to the court. Furthermore, if we really have to go head-to-head, the other party is a local soldier. He can pull out dozens of people with a single shout. There are only a dozen people on his side, so he will definitely suffer a loss.
Seeing hesitation on his face, Captain He said: "Master Shi, you are loyal and a good friend. He is a good man. But as the old saying goes: a good man does not suffer immediate losses. These Qiu Ba gang are not good people, and the one named Cao is even more so. He was a ruthless character: Was Boss Ding who used to set up the pole on the pier ruthless? His whole family of more than 40 people was rushed into the house with his soldiers in the middle of the night and slaughtered alive - all of them died, including his hundreds of disciples and grandchildren. I didn’t even dare to fart..."
"Master Xiong didn't say anything?" Lin Ming frowned, "I didn't expect Zhaoqing to be like this!"
"Now it is no better than before. Ever since Mr. Wang lost all his troops on Hainan Island, Mr. Xiong has been fighting for him with the few remaining troops. He is a scholar with not much food and incomplete pay. With that, What attracts the hearts of this Qiu Ba gang? If he dares to say the word 'military discipline' more, his subordinates will start making noises, and his position as governor will be unstable..."
"Let me go back and think about it." Lin Ming was in a dilemma now. He is not a stand-up person. In the past, he would have immediately handed over money to others, but now it was the Australians' will to rescue Su Ai, and he could not make the decision himself. Because of the Australian temperament, he would probably be unwilling to hand over Su Ai. If he overstated the situation as too dangerous, he would be afraid that Thorpe and others would suspect that he was guilty of something fishy and would deliberately exaggerate.
"Go and think about it." Captain He cleared his throat, "Master Cao said: If he doesn't send the woman back to the temple before the watch tonight, he will have no choice but to bring his brothers to get her. Tonight If the city gate is closed, it will not cause any trouble to the adults in the city..."
Lin Ming returned to the ship and quickly asked the escort to find Thorpe and others. Unexpectedly, they didn't know where they went. Several escorts went out to search for them for a whole day but couldn't find them. By the time they returned, it was already dusk. Lin Ming quickly told the news he had inquired about:
"...The two chiefs don't know. Now Qiu Ba is the most powerful on the ground. It's probably impossible to rely on the government. We need to pay attention quickly." He looked at the sky, "There is not much time until the watch is released. "
Cummings sneered: "Okay, here we go, let them have a taste of what a machine gun is..."
"Using a machine gun saves effort, but our staff trip is over." Thorp touched his chin and said with a wry smile, "It seems that doing good can't be done casually."
Cummings' face was a little confused, because he was the one who started this incident, and he immediately said: "How about I bring a gun to see that Mr. Cao and shoot him directly."
"I'm afraid that Mr. Cao's face is not that easy to see. Besides, it's easy for you to kill him with one shot. If his Paoze brothers start to make trouble, we have to use machine guns to clear the way. This trip will also be a waste..."
From a cost-benefit perspective, handing over Su Ai is obviously the best choice. Not only can this staff trip continue, but you can also get three hundred taels of silver for free. Su Ai was of little use to them either: she was neither an important source of information nor a key figure. It is pitiable to be reduced to a prostitute, but there are thousands of women in this world who are more pitiful than her, and the Senate may not be able to save them.
But this cannot be done. This is not just a matter of morality. Thorpe thought to himself that he was very aware of the groupthink of the Senate. He could do anything except "losing status". The Senate has a heart of glass. If I make the decision to hand over to others at this time, although the rationalists seem to be the best choice to maximize interests, they will definitely be sprayed by the "majority".
However, Thorpe was really unwilling to give up his advice and travel. When he was in a dilemma, suddenly the voices outside became louder and noisier. An escort suddenly poked his head in, with a nervous look on his face: "Sir, there are many people on the pier. It seems that the people who come here are not good-natured."
Lin Ming's heart tightened, and he quickly said: "Don't act rashly, I'll go out and talk to them!"
When the situation came to an end, Thorpe calmed down and said, "What can you say to them? Hand over Su Ai?" He waved his hand, "Open the box! Get the machine gun! The machine gunner goes up to the stern and prepares to press on the roof! "(To be continued)
