Xin Laonan is naturally not a good person. He is a big thief who specializes in cutting trails. He couldn't stand in the field and fled to Yangshan. Li Shuangkuai returned to his old business at the dock in Yangshan.
Although Yangshan is a small place, it has access to the Lianjiang River. Businessmen who come in and out of Huguang often come here, so the "business" of cutting the path is quite successful.
Xin Laonan had been living under the protection of Li Shuangkuai for several years. As he got older, he gradually felt that his strength was too weak to do this business. He also knew that this business could easily harm his children and grandchildren, so he "washed his hands in a golden basin" and went to Yang. Shan bought some land and became a rich man in a grand manner.
With such a relationship, Li Shuangkuai can naturally entrust Zhang Tianbo's family to him with confidence - speaking of Zhang Tianbo, he also took care of Xin Laonan's "business". .
Li Shuangkuai was an old man in the world, and he was afraid that this was a trap - maybe Kun Thief's spies were waiting outside to keep an eye on him. Then he asked someone to find Jiang Xiaotian. This man was also his brother-in-law, and he and Xin Laonan were in the same business. He had been single-handedly stealing money and killing people on the Lianjiang River at night all year round. He was very skilled in water. After the Australians occupied Yangshan, he hid in Li Shuangkuai's Zhuangzi and worked as a "long-term worker" - in fact, he was "sheltering from the wind".
"Tonight, you quietly go into the water by the river in the village, sneak out of the village, and go to brother Xin Laonan's village." Li Shuangkui whispered, "When you get to brother Xin's village, tell him …”
After some twists and turns, the news that "the new magistrate of Yangshan County in the Song Dynasty wants to invite Zhang Tianbo to come out again" was sent to Dalangwei - just as Li Shuangkuai guessed, Zhang Tianbo was hiding in his brother's house, Dabiao.
Zhang Tianbo was here with Sun Dabiao, eating, drinking and having fun in the village every day to kill time. However, he felt very uneasy in his heart - the news of the Australians' crackdown on the yamen had reached here a long time ago. He had heard a lot about the Australians' treatment of subordinate officials: various tortures to "torture their internal organs", and "everyone in the family was beheaded". Zhang Tianbo had been frightened out of his wits for a long time. Although Sun Dabiao has repeatedly assured that this place is "absolutely safe", he is still depressed and worried that the Australians will come to arrest him - according to the Australian standards of "purge", he will die hundreds of times. Those who have been harmed by him will probably complain to the Australians by now!
At this moment, he received this news. He could trust Li Shuangkuai, the "master", otherwise he would not have entrusted his family to him. However, his trust in Li Shuangkuai does not mean that he trusts the Australians: who knows if the Australians will lure him out and kill him.
After thinking about it, he discussed it with his brother Sun Dabiao.
Sun Dabiao, however, didn't care and said with a smile: "How many years have you been this top catcher?"
"My younger brother took office in the second year of Chongzhen's reign. He has a lot of plans, but it only took more than five years."
"How many enemies are there - enemies with lives?"
Zhang Tianbo raised his head and calculated: "There are quite a few people who have taken advantage of his money and his wife and daughters. There are only four or five people who have been affected by this."
"That's it. You only have four or five lives in your hands. Why are you afraid of him?" Sun Dabiao smiled and said, "Brother, in my village, I have more than ten lives in my hands. At least there are about ten people. . When you count human lives, it’s just a waste of time - even the Yao people who caused the rebellion probably killed more people than you. The Australians have to fight with the officers and soldiers, and also have to guard against the Yao people. After eating, they have to spend a lot of time. To make money from you?"
"Brother is right, but..." Zhang Tianbo was still very worried. He still knew a little about his name as the "Three Hegemons of Yangshan".
"Whether this Australian wants to recruit you as a head catcher is uncertain. But he probably doesn't want to kill you." Sun Dabiao thought for a while and said, "You might as well meet the Australians and see what they have to say. If there is one The road can be cleared, and no matter whether you are a headhunter or not, you can always see the light of day again, and you can save yourself the days of hiding in Tibet."
"Big brother is right. Little brother, just go and see him." Zhang Tianbo actually still had no confidence in his heart, but since Sun Dabiao had stated that he wanted him to "have a try", he didn't have the confidence to say "no". If he offended the bandit leader, it might be a good idea to just tie him up and send him to the Australians.
Immediately, through Li Shuangkuai, the news of his willingness to meet was conveyed to Wang Chuyi.
"Lao Peng, your method is really good." Wang Chuyi smiled after receiving the news, "With this bait, Zhang Tianbo came out as expected."
Peng Shou'an smiled slightly and said, "Everything is under control."
"What's next?"
"The things that come down are left to the lower officials, but it is essential that County Magistrate Wang also comes in to show his solemnity." Peng Shou'an said, "I just want to give Zhang Tianbo a position, so that he can reassure him and let him Become a lobbyist for recruitment."
Wang Chu nodded and said: "Positions are easy to talk about. There are many vacancies in the county. Except for the section chief, I have the power to do things conveniently. Just what name should I give him?"
"He is a head catcher, so naturally he should be used as an arrester. According to his previous position, he is the chief of the county's public security department. However, this is an important position in the county and it is the economic system of the Song Dynasty. Position. Zhang Tianbo can only be regarded as a surrendered member of the Ming Dynasty. He cannot bear such heavy use, so just give him the position of detective captain. Outsiders will not be too surprised when they see it. "
The detective team is a department that temporarily arranges and retains fast-shift personnel after the states and counties recover, and is responsible for some auxiliary public security work. This position is not considered a formal Australian cadre, but it sounds very prestigious.
Peng Shou'an still had one sentence he didn't say: Zhang Tianbo was just a pawn. After the two gangsters Sun and Feng were eliminated in the future, he would naturally be "purged". If he really had to get a very formal position, it would be difficult to clean up afterwards.
Wang Chuyi naturally understood. He nodded and said, "That's good. There are only a few people in the detective team anyway, so I'm sorry he can't make any waves."
"County Magistrate Wang, the fewer people who know about letting him be the captain of the detective team, the better. It's best not to let him officially go on duty." Peng Shou'an said, "As long as he accepts this job, teach him to do his best. We are doing the job of recruiting people." Seeing that Wang Chuyi was a little puzzled, he explained: "Zhang Tianbo is one of the three tyrants of Yangshan, and his reputation among the people is extremely bad. Although this is a fake recruitment, the people don't know it. It's very easy. Corrupting people’s hearts…”
Wang Chuyi suddenly realized and said: "Mr. Peng is right!"
The recruitment matter was carried out in full swing. Under Peng Shou'an's planning and rule, Li Shuangkuai pulled the strings and Peng Shou'an personally took action and met Zhang Tianbo at Li Shuangkuai's home.
Seeing that it was his old boss, Zhang Tianbo couldn't help but believe it a little more - after all, when Peng Shou'an was in power, he had never offended the county magistrate. He could not say that he did his best in his work, but at least he could make the county magistrate get along.
However, no matter Peng Shou'an tried his best to comfort and reassure him, Zhang Tianbo was still a little worried - if it was an ordinary change of dynasty, he would not be so suspicious. In fact, the Australians were "famous" for their methods of dealing with subordinate officials, so he couldn't help but worry. Tianbo didn't believe it.
Peng Shou'an knew that if he couldn't convince him at this point, he might not believe him easily. After much deliberation, Peng Shouan finally convinced Wang Chuyi from the perspective that he was not a "real Kun" but a "fake Kun".
It is said at the moment that although Australians have no good opinion of subordinate officials and have to clean up their subordinates wherever they go, this County Magistrate Wang is not a real man, and he was also a citizen of the Ming Dynasty in the past. He hinted that County Magistrate Wang was dissatisfied with the Australians' militaristic and murderous governance style, and wanted to govern the county with "benevolence". Nowadays, the public security in the county is chaotic and bandits are everywhere. He has no soldiers and generals and is in urgent need of the help of local "village wise men".
These words not only dispelled Zhang Tianbo's suspicion, but also foreshadowed the next recruitment of Ansun and Feng. Peng Shou'an also took great pains.
Sure enough, Peng Shou'an's words reduced Zhang Tianbo's suspicion by seven to eight points. At that moment, he expressed his opinion that he was "willing to defect to the Senate". Peng Shou'an had no choice but to comfort him, saying that "in his prime, he could contribute to the Senate and the people of Sangzi" and "as for the past, the Song Dynasty will let bygones be bygones."
Peng Shou'an also said that County Magistrate Wang did not want him to move his family back to the county seat immediately - he could live wherever he wanted, and he only had to go to the county to work for the magistrate. He was also promised the position of "Detective Captain". As for the wealth he accumulated in the past, he didn't ask anything about it. If a victim of the common people comes to sue him, County Magistrate Wang will help him "get over it."
"...It's just that this suffering owner will have to spend some money. I'm sorry that County Magistrate Wang can't spend it..."
"This little man understands that as long as Mr. Wang is willing to help me, I am willing to entertain myself." Zhang Tianbo expressed his stance hurriedly.
Peng Shou'an said: "In that case, you can settle your household affairs and report to the county government office."
Zhang Tianbo said: "It's easy to arrange small household chores, but I still have some questions. I would like to ask Mr. Wang to answer them in person..."
"This is not difficult. Once you arrive at the county government office..."
"I'm so bold, I want to invite Mr. Wang to meet me at Tianwang Temple in Ershilipu." Zhang Tianbo said, "I wonder if Mr. Wang can deign to do so?"
This time it was difficult to reach Peng Shouan. He knew that this cunning bachelor didn't fully believe in him yet, so he wanted Wang Chuyi to fully express his sincerity.
Peng Shou'an did not dare to agree to this, and immediately said: "Let me report this matter back to the county magistrate and then make a decision."
"This matter will trouble Mr. Peng." Zhang Tianbo bowed to the end and gave Peng Shou'an twenty taels of silver as a gift, which was regarded as his hard work - Peng Shou'an accepted it with a smile.
After returning, Peng Shou'an explained Zhang Tianbo's request and said: "Zhang Tianbo doesn't seem to fully trust us. It's quite risky to just follow his request."
Ershilipu, as the name suggests, is a market twenty miles outside the north gate of Yangshan County. There are many bandit activities here on weekdays, and it is not a peaceful place. Zhang Tianbo made an appointment to meet here, and there was no guarantee that he was not colluding with bandits or Yao people behind the scenes, using this as a trap to trap the county magistrate.
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Next update: Volume 7 - Guangzhou Governance Chapter 410
