Wang Chuyi thought for a moment and said: "If you don't enter the tiger's den, you can't catch the tiger's cubs. Although there are risks in this matter, it is unlikely that Zhang Tianbo will cause trouble - if he hacks me, what benefits can he gain?"
Peng Shouan thought the same thing: Lianyang and other places were already under the control of the Australians, and there was no news of counterattacks by the officers and soldiers. Zhang Tianbo set a trap for Wang Chuyi and had no place to collect the reward. Instead, he would suffer revenge from the Australians - he He is a well-established local person, so it is impossible for him to send his entire family there.
However, he did not say "no problem" in this matter, but only said "the risk is very high" - if this Tianbo's brain was twitching, he could not afford to suffer.
Although County Magistrate Wang judged that the risk was not high, for the sake of caution, he still sent people to conduct a reconnaissance around Ershilipu in advance. After confirming that there was nothing abnormal, he formally agreed.
So, Zhang Tianbo and Wang Chuyi met at Tianwang Temple on the appointed day. Zhang Tianbo requested that Wang Chuyi must come alone and could only bring ten people to the meeting. Wang Chuyi agreed to them all.
That day Wang Chuyi and Peng Shouan arrived at the temple. From Si time until noon, Zhang Tianbo was nowhere to be seen. The guard squad leader felt guilty and kept sending people out to inquire about the situation. Wang Chuyi was also a little upset - could it be that his plan had been leaked and Zhang Tianbo wouldn't be fooled?
Peng Shou'an was much calmer. He said that Zhang Tianbo's absence showed that there was no danger. The reason why he didn't show up was simply to observe in secret to see if County Magistrate Wang was actually fulfilling the contract, in order to prove the other party's sincerity.
"...This is also an old routine." Peng Shou'an sat in front of the incense table in the main hall and said, "These gangsters are very evil. Being late when recruiting people is just a piece of cake, and they also make all kinds of unbelievable requests. . It was nothing more than testing Shangguan's sincerity in recruiting him. When Xiaguan was an official in Lianghu, he was ordered by Shangfeng to recruit a big thief. Everything had been agreed upon, but when it came time for him to enter the city to be cared for, the big thief turned up. Lai was staying in a village five miles outside the city. He said he wanted to eat and asked the county to send him food."
"Oh? Eat?" Wang Chuyi became interested, "He came to the city, what kind of food can't he eat? Why should he eat on the way?"
"It's just showing off to Qiao." Peng Shou'an said with a smile, "Xiaguan was not surprised at that time and immediately asked someone to prepare a meal. Unexpectedly, he sent another person over and said that he didn't want any fish or meat for the banquet. He wanted to eat a bowl of duck. Tongue-wrapped wontons…”
"Duck tongues are mostly bones and can only be eaten as a piece of skin. How can you wrap wontons?" Wang Chuyi was a little unconvinced. "Even if you can barely pick them off and wrap them, how much duck tongue is enough?"
"Not many, just a hundred or so duck tongues." Peng Shou'an wrote lightly. "The lower official knew what he meant, so he asked the servants to search everywhere, bought more than a hundred ducks, slaughtered them, took out the tongues and deboned them. , I just used the duck tongue to wrap a bowl of wontons, and then used the duck to make soup stock, simmered it, and sent it out."
Wang Chuyi said at first glance that he was born in a poor family, and he never thought that the government would recruit bandits and have such a big battle, and his hands would be so rich!
"... This bowl of wontons was sent over. The thief ate three of them in a row and immediately put down the bowl. He took off his shirt, put on shackles and chains, and went to the city to be cared for." Peng Shouan couldn't help but show a proud look when he talked about the past. "Later when the official asked him why he wanted to eat such a bowl of wontons, he said that if this request could not be met, the government would not be sincere, and he would immediately flee back to the village..."
Wang Chuyi didn't say anything, but he felt extremely upset in his heart. Although murder and arson have been the norm since ancient times, the government would rather spend so much effort and financial resources on recruiting these robbers and villains than spend a little thought and money on good people. It is no wonder that the Ming Dynasty was full of wars and bandits.
"Isn't this a small expense?" Wang Chuyi asked.
"Of course the expenses are inevitable." Peng Shou'an said, "It's just the big households in the county that are unlucky. But the subordinates in the yamen have benefited from it and have been eating duck for several days in a row!"
As they talked like this, they saw that the sun had passed the zenith and noon was almost over. Wang Chuyi was about to ask if he should wait any longer, but the guard outside came in and reported: "Zhang Tianbo has arrived at the temple gate and asks to see the county magistrate."
Wang Chuyi perked up. Lao Peng, an official, really had some skills. He asked, "How many people did he bring?"
"Single."
"Is there anything unusual around here?"
The guard squad leader reported: "I just looked through the binoculars and there is nothing abnormal!"
"Okay, invite him in."
Just as he was about to stand up to greet him, Peng Shou'an tugged on his sleeve and whispered: "County Magistrate, if the play has to be performed, it must be very similar..."
Wang Chu nodded: "I know."
Both sides had the idea of "acting", so this "recruitment" was full of classical atmosphere. Zhang Tianbo is also wearing shackles and chains, with his hair spread out in a bun, like a prisoner. As soon as he entered the main hall of Tianwang Temple, he knelt down and said "guilty". Wang Chuyi also had to open the shackles and release the locks himself, and gave him a warning. Zhang Tianbo was naturally "grateful" and expressed his willingness to "serve the Song Dynasty with all his loyalty."
After the recruitment was completed, the group returned to the county seat. Peng Shou'an went to him directly to talk about recruiting Feng Haijiao and Sun Dabiao. Firstly, time waits for no one, and secondly, it can also be used to press Zhang Tianbo's heart - this kind of sudden recruitment will inevitably make people suspicious.
After hearing what his old boss said, Zhang Tianbo suddenly showed a troubled expression on his face and said: "Master Peng! Feng Haijiao and Sun Dabiao are indeed the younger brothers. But they are both heroes of the forest, and they are also powerful. Go ahead, little one. There is no harm in lobbying, but whether we can get them to surrender to the Song Dynasty is not a matter of small guarantee."
"Why should I give you a guarantee?" Peng Shou'an knew what he meant. Since ancient times, recruitment has been a kind of transaction. Both parties have to make their own bids, and then there is a long bargaining process. Even if Zhang Tianbo goes to lobby, he must have conditions to bring him with him.
This condition is hard to say. Firstly, the political system of Australia is different from that of the Ming Dynasty. Secondly, it can be regarded as "unprecedented". It is a difficult problem to give them the right recruitment conditions and make them believe it.
He and Wang Chuyi discussed it again and again and decided to follow the real recruitment process and offer a low price first, so that the bandit leader would believe it and gradually make counter-offers. 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 cared for, the county will forgive them their past sins and their family property will be preserved. The lives and property of their brothers will also be protected. In addition, they will be appointed as the local security chief - just The teams in their hands will all be disbanded.”
This condition is considered average. According to past practice, it is not harsh, nor can it be said to be preferential treatment. Zhang Tianbo immediately said: "That's it, I just want to go for a walk!"
"You are going to lobby on this trip. You have to do it quietly and don't make any noise. Do you understand?"
"I understand, little one!" Zhang Tianbo responded.
"This is the county magistrate's reward of fifty silver dollars. He will give you a home first - and there will be many rewards after you succeed."
"Thank you for your cultivation!" Zhang Tianbo looked flattered and ignored "Australian etiquette" and immediately knelt down and kowtowed.
Zhang Tianbo didn't stop and went to Li Shuangkuai's place first, kowtowed to thank his master for taking care of him, and gave him a generous gift. Li Shuang soon heard that he had become the "captain" and frowned slightly, saying: "I really don't understand this Australian errand. But since I have appointed you, I have to make a show of it. The Australians are so anxious to do it." When you come out of the mountain, is it possible that there is something important you need to do?"
"Master is really clever." Zhang Tianbo nodded and said, "The Australians want me to recruit Sun and Feng."
"No wonder you are so anxious," Li Shuangqi closed his eyes and smiled, "In Yangshan County, in terms of friendship, you are the only one who can do this."
"Master is right." Zhang Tianbo said with some pride, "The Australians are very urgent about this matter - they want me to leave immediately. I think this matter is heavy, and I want to discuss it with Master."
Li Shuang said quickly: "This matter is your own business. What do you want me to do? If you can do it, let the Australians do it. If you can't do it, just find a way to deal with it."
Zhang Tianbo smiled and said: "Although I have a foreign surname, I am still a person who has worshiped a master. The so-called master and apprentice are like father and son. This is a big deal. If something goes wrong, I can't afford to offend both parties. I still have to ask for a master. Zu, please help me take a pulse."
Li Shuangkui pondered for a moment and whispered: "Are you sincerely willing to serve the Australians, or are you just dealing with the immediate situation and want to have a long-term plan? You should think carefully about this and don't answer hastily."
Zhang Tianbo thought for a moment and whispered: "Master! We are the errands. No matter who becomes the county magistrate, as long as it does not hinder the brothers from getting rich, they will naturally be errands with all their heart. It doesn't matter whether it is the Ming Dynasty or the Song Dynasty. .”
"You're really naughty!" Li Shuangkuai coughed twice in his throat and spit out a mouthful of phlegm. "You haven't even become an official yet, but you're trying to do two things."
"Master is laughing, it's not that his disciple is naughty, but that's what he thinks. Anyway, no matter whether it's the Ming Dynasty or the Song Dynasty, someone has to be on duty, right?"
"That's a good thing, but the Australians have just arrived and their true nature has not yet been revealed. I heard that they were very rude to those of us who were eating from the yamen and killed many of them. Besides, which one of our quick-hand catchers has a clean butt? What are you doing now? Naturally, they have to serve as errands, but they also take it too seriously - be careful that they turn their backs and deny you in the future."
"Yes, I will follow my master's teachings." Zhang Tianbo nodded.
"You go to your two brothers, not as a detective captain, and don't have the idea of serving the Australians. Just treat it as a reunion of brothers. When you get to them, you brothers will discuss the matter carefully with each other - ―Whether the recruitment of the Australians is true or false, you three have discussed it properly first, so you don’t have to be afraid of anything." Li Shuangqi said leisurely, "Australians are different from us, you have to be careful... "
-------------------------------------------------- ---
Next update: Volume 7 - Guangzhou Governance Chapter 411
