"I wonder where Brother Zhou found this golden cone?"
It was still afternoon, but hot wine and hot dishes were suddenly served in the Juyi Hall. The boss of Mangshan Chief Building, who was previously considered by Zhang Xing to be the key to the Golden Cone Plan... actually was indeed... at this time, he finally I can't bear it anymore.
"I've never seen it with my own eyes before." Boss Zhou chuckled, still in his original rough manner. "But after I attained the Great Perfection of the True Meridian, I couldn't control my temper and started traveling around. I met a life-and-death confidant in Huainan before, and I did hear him tell some stories about it..."
"That's right." The boss of the building rubbed his fair and fat face, still feeling a little uneasy. "But if you want to know the origin of this, you have to be a real person in the Jianghuai area..."
"My Zhou Yi's life-and-death friend is naturally a real big shot." Boss Zhou smiled jokingly. "As far as I know, only three or four of these golden cones were sent out. Including this one, it's only four or five... Each of them is a first-class big shot and a hero. Brother Zhang said that they were from the upper left corner of the Huaihe River. The boss gave it to him. I thought the origin was very appropriate and correct. In addition, his previous words and attitude made it hard to fault. The only thing missing was this statement, so I nodded and accepted it as a guarantee."
"I think so too." At this moment, Boss Lou could only nod.
Having said that, after drinking two glasses of wine, Boss Lou looked at someone again, but it was Boss Han who had taken the initiative to consider the idlers before.
Seeing this, Boss Han just cupped his hands and smiled bitterly: "Now, if I don't tell you, you won't believe it... In fact, I am an old member of the Golden Cone Master's family, and I was ordered to be here... But also I was just here under orders, and there was no verbal explanation from above. I just saw the golden cone and knew that I should probably come forward on my own, that's all."
When Boss Lou heard this, he didn't know what to say.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Yi came to ask at this time: "What is the origin of Boss Lou? He has such a foundation in the Jianghuai area, and now it happens to be directly involved with Mangdang Mountain, and Mangdang Mountain has almost eliminated all the power in Huaibei." We are all swept together, why do you think you are the only one on the mountain who has fellowship with others, and you are the only one who knows the obstacles involved?"
Boss Lou laughed in embarrassment: "I underestimated him and you all. In fact, it's because I'm separated by a layer and don't know the true foundation and influence of that person... It's not so much that I am the one, but that It would be better to say that we have a closer relationship with Second Master Zuo. This time, Uncle Zuo also ordered us to come here to do this business, and Uncle Zuo actually has a golden awl there."
Only then did Zhang Xing realize that only Boss Han was Chen Ling's direct confidant.
Others, including people like Boss Lou and Boss Zhou, have indirect influence and control... and this is more in line with the current situation.
You must know that the Zhongli Chen family is a powerful figure in Jianghuai, and the current head of the family, Chen Ling, is also at that level. The family training and other similar things are very similar. There is no need to deliberately do any collusion in the village, how complicated it is. At the same time, he has also lost his level. He only needs to hold on to the soldiers in his hands and take advantage of the overall situation to control the situation of these powerful people... When necessary, it will be his pot, and naturally it will be his pot.
From the current point of view, the three brothers of the Zuo family who are really working hard to operate this matter are obviously one level lower than Chen Ling. The three brothers of the Zuo family are also black and white, and they are also sitting on the ground, but those three brothers are nothing more than It is because of the success of this generation, that is, the cultivation of the second child and the official position of the third child suddenly appeared. Although the airs are big, both in terms of foundation and strategy, the pattern and level have inevitably fallen behind.
But, I really don’t know now, what is Zuo’s purpose in doing this? But Zuo's main profit maker, that is, the Whale Gang, is the one who eats the rice. They are directly interested in it and have opinions on every operation.
Moreover, what does this have to do with Zhang Zirong?
In the current situation, everyone has their own understanding and level, which is suitable for Mr. Zhang to deceive and fish in troubled waters.
Just as he was thinking about it, the boss over there suddenly came to raise a glass and smiled at Zhang Xinglai: "Master Zhang, we are from the same group!"
Zhang Xing could only smile bitterly and raise his glass: "He's just a messenger!"
"The one who delivers the letter is the true confidant." Boss Zhao, who had been silent until now, suddenly interrupted, but took the opportunity to put down his wine glass and angrily responded. "Everyone, I can trust Boss Zhou, Boss Lou, and Boss Han. Since these three people have come to guarantee, I am also willing to do this business. It's just that a few people are talking about it. It seems that It’s like playing riddles, doesn’t it look like you’re looking down on us? Since you want to do business, you should learn from the business spirit of Brother Zhang just now, right?”
"Forgive me, Mr. Zhao, that's what happened." Boss Han quickly responded. "Although Mr. Zhang has brought my benefactor's token, he is just here to ensure that this business will not be overtaken by the Longgang Army Brigade. The business itself is more about Boss Zuo. This is also different from Boss Lou. This is the right place... Therefore, it doesn't matter whether I know the name of my benefactor or not."
Boss Zhao just sneered and shook his head: "I just think we don't deserve to know."
And the 'neighbor' Wang Boss who had met Zhang Xing in advance also came to provoke him with a smile, but he targeted Zhang Xing: "Actually, it doesn't matter whether we are worthy or not, because now Boss Zhou and Boss Lou are included. , the four bosses all want to do this business, how can we not go? It’s just you, Mr. Zhang, who worked so hard to send a message, and you didn’t hesitate to fight with one person. After working hard in court, you became Beidi’s partner, and then you have I personally lead the team to fight, but I don’t want to know who the big banker is who dares to suppress Longgang’s army?”
"Of course I want to know." Zhang Xing responded simply. "But I want to solidify the instructions of our Uncle Zuo, so that I can save myself from being unable to speak to him when I go back to see him... Everyone, I know you still want to find out the authenticity of the information privately, but can you establish a way? When? Send troops? Our Master Zuo asked me to come here because the matter is urgent. Once it is too late, the convoy will be completely untouchable after crossing Longgang!"
"How many more days do we have the chance?" Boss Wang was still thinking of saying a few words, but Boss Zhou at the top suddenly spoke coldly, forcing the former to shut up immediately.
"The day after tomorrow, there will be two days of opportunity." Zhang Xing blurted out.
"So urgent?"
"If there was no rush, there would be no need for brothers to come in such a hurry with the golden awl." Zhang Xing responded sincerely. "I have calculated that the only chance to take action is after the convoy passes through Linhuan County and before arriving at Chengfu County on the bank of Wo River... If it is early, we will not be able to reach it. If it is too late, we will not say that people are crossing Wo River from Chengfu. , Longgang’s army is right in front of us, and there is no way to grab it...that is, from the 23rd to the 24th of the twelfth lunar month the day after tomorrow, we need to send troops quickly."
"Boss Zuo or Brother Zhang, do you have any plans?" Zhou Yi continued to ask, frowning.
"Our Master Zuo didn't say anything, but I have a saying in my family that we will mobilize the troops immediately tomorrow and go to Jishan first... As we go, the bosses will go to Huanshui to inquire about the news. If you feel that our Master Zuo has no intention of harming you, , without stopping for a moment, Jishan gathered the Xu family members and pounced directly; and if they felt that our master Zuo was not trustworthy, or there were other problems on the road, it would not prevent them from stopping in Jishan, or going south directly and continuing to search. The fleet is in trouble." Zhang Xing spoke smoothly, as if he had really considered it for a long time.
"It makes sense." Zhou Yi nodded. "Brother Zhang has thought carefully...but there is one more thing. There are some wild gangsters from the Eastern Territory over at Yutou Mountain...there are quite a few hard-headed ones among them, and they have nothing to do with Jianghuai. I'm afraid it won't be good. Convince them with a golden awl.”
"As long as we send troops, we can't help them in the brigade." Boss Zhao said in a muffled voice.
"Boss Zhou is just afraid that they won't send troops." Boss Wang complained helplessly.
"About this matter." Zhang Xing suddenly raised his head. "To be fair to Boss Zhou, my uncle Zuo sent me here specifically, so he has a reason... In my resume, the relationship between Luolongtan experience and Xu Dalang from the East is not fake, and the brothers who are traveling with me are also from the East. This time I even saw an acquaintance from the Eastern Territory around the fleet, called Du Po Zhen, who came from the mountains to inquire about the situation... It was for this reason that this rich and powerful job fell to me... Come and see me Some of the uncles have already asked my brother from the Eastern Region to find Du Po Formation and go to the Immortal Cave."
"That's all right!" Boss Lou sighed. "The gentlemen of the Zuo family are really appropriate, smart and thoughtful!"
"Isn't it true that Gaoming is still under the old Han benefactor?" Boss Zhao continued to say in a dull voice.
"Okay." Zhou Yi suddenly stood up. "I will decide the result... If anyone is dissatisfied, he will tell you on the spot."
While the others were still hesitant, Zhang Xing suddenly stood up and made a gesture of obeying orders, which also caused several other bosses to stand up one after another.
"This opportunity is rare. The uncles of the Zuo family and the man from Huaishang are rewarded with the food, and Brother Zhang has come to repay the hard work. We really can't afford to delay... We have to take action when it's time to do it, otherwise how can we make a fortune?" Zhou Yi twirled his beard seriously. Let’s talk. "Brother Zhang will go to see Du Po Zhen privately later, and we will post together to make it clear to the people in Yutou Mountain that we will force them to send troops tomorrow at first light and darkest time! No waiting after the deadline! The plan to send out troops will be as per Zhang's plan. Let’s do the best of both worlds that brother said! As for anyone who has doubts, I understand. Just inquire as we go... As for that person’s name, Xiao Zhao, don’t be anxious. When we get to Jishan, I will discuss it with you bosses. Say it to your face! In short, I have thousands of words to say, I just want you all to follow me and make a fortune this year and no longer be poor next year!"
After everyone heard the end, they obviously still had some reactions and thoughts.
But at this moment, Zhang Xing took the lead and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Follow Boss Zhou, and we will make a fortune together this year!"
The others had no choice but to work together and shouted: "Follow Boss Zhou and let's make a fortune together this year!"
After shouting this sentence, Zhang Xing suddenly took the initiative to applaud again, so that his palms turned red, forcing the other people to look at him sideways and clap along with him, which made Boss Zhou feel embarrassed for a moment, and kept saying what Brother Zhang did in the family. It's not advisable to be a faction, but with a proud chest and belly, it's a moment of pride.
At this point, Zhang Xing finally passed the court and used the golden cone plan that he suddenly made, and it was a great success... It can only be said that his judgment when he came was not wrong. The ghostly Mangdang Mountain is ten times easier to deal with than Chen Ling's.
But the matter is not over yet, he still has a huge hole to fill, the only hard hole in this trip... Moreover, in the name of this incident, he said goodbye to the bosses in a grand manner and turned around to go first.
Returning to the Immortal Cave, he asked Chef Fan to come over and put some hot wine on the table, and then set up a fire on the stone slab to slowly roast the meat. After eating three strips of barbecue and five or six glasses of ice wine, Du Po Zhen's old face that had experienced many vicissitudes of life finally followed the Qin Dynasty. Bao appeared in front of Zhang Xing together.
Seeing this person coming, Zhang Xing immediately came to see Chef Fan who was eating across the street: "Third Master, please go and look after me. Boss Du is my closest brother. If someone overhears you, you will be silenced." words."
Chef Fan was stunned for a moment, and could only rub his hands, picked up a bowl of dried meat, and walked out while chewing. He walked seventy or eighty steps, and saw Qin Er walking thirty-four steps in the middle. The position was settled, and then he sat down to eat dried meat.
On the other side, watching the people around him leave, Du Pozhen calmly sat down and shook his head with emotion:
"Desperate Sanlang, Desperate Sanlang...Zhang Sanlang, you and Qin Erlang are so brave!"
"Boss Du is truly courageous. He dared to go that day and come today!" Zhang Xing extended his hand to invite. "Let's drink two glasses of hot wine, so as not to delay our discussion later."
"That's fine." Du Pozhen took the wine and poured it for himself. After eating five or six glasses of wine and chewing seven or eight pieces of meat, he put down his hand and looked at the other party quietly.
"People of the Ming Dynasty don't tell secret words." Zhang Xing thought for a while and spoke directly. "Food on the Huanshui River is of great importance. It is extremely dangerous. I was ordered to lead the people from Mangdang Mountain across the Huanshui River and threw themselves into the official army's trap. I want Mr. Du to help me."
"Then I won't tell you secret words." Du Pozhen sat in front of the stone slab and responded calmly. "Even if Zhang Sanlang tells you ten thousand truths today, I can't agree to it."
"If you don't agree, will it mean life and death?"
"Between officials and bandits, life and death are the fundamental truth." Du Pozhen's expression remained unchanged. "On the contrary, there are fewer of us being honest with each other."
"Boss Du." Zhang Xing thought for a moment and said it seriously. "It's a rare opportunity for us to have such an acquaintance, so don't talk nonsense each other. You tell me your pros and cons, and I will tell you what I know, and then we can argue about success or failure... How about?"
"If it weren't for the chance encounter that day and the congeniality, I wouldn't have come." Du Po Zhen stretched out his hand in front of him. "Zhang Sanlang will speak first."
"The first one is the origin of this food." Zhang Xing spoke clearly. "The taxes in Jiangdong are half higher than those in the east... This time the grain is not made up by transshipment, but it is so insufficient that it has to be postponed until today. It is because our patrol team has worked so hard to not disturb the people as much as possible. Collect everything from wealthy families... Once they are robbed, Jiangdong will probably have to pay taxes, and then the land will probably be starved."
Du Pozhen's face turned dark and he was silent for a long time before he spoke: "This is obviously too much exploitation by the imperial court."
"I know." Zhang Xing nodded calmly.
"You know?" Du Pozhen sneered.
"I know!" Zhang Xing nodded seriously again.
Du Pozhen finally fell silent.
"Secondly, the real big bandit leaders on the mountain all have strong foundations. Boss Lou is a member of the Zuo clan of the Whale Gang; Boss Zhou is an old friend of Chen Ling, the general of Yingyang Zhonglang in Longgang; Boss Han is simply Chen Ling. Ling's subordinates... Chen Ling regards the powerful Jianghuai and Mangdangshan gangsters as his private property, and the Whale Gang also wants to use the power of the gangsters to respect themselves... What you think is black may be white, and what you think is white may be black... ...In Juyi Hall, almost all of them are local tycoons who have been around for decades or hundreds of years and so-called heroes who are ready to take away their property and leave. You are the only ones from the east who are real bandits." Zhang Xing continued to come. speak.
"I know." It was Du Pozhen's turn to say this calmly.
But this time, Zhang Xing did not pursue the question like the other party did. Instead, he picked up his chopsticks and knocked them on the stone slab, making a clanging sound: "Since you know that they are all fake and bad, why do you still follow them?"
"Because of poverty, because of hunger, because of downfall." Du Pozhen twisted his neck, stared at the other party carefully, and spoke slowly. "Because my brothers are as poor, as hungry, and as downtrodden as me...Zhang Sanlang once told me that he has been downtrodden before, but he must never have been as downtrodden as me...When I was a boy, my family was in poverty, and I was so poor. In the wild, the sky was a quilt and the ground was a mat. When I was hungry, I stole one of my friend's sheep, one after another, but he could only do it without seeing it. Finally, his aunt found out and sued the police, forcing us to flee together to other places. , when I go to other places, I feel more confident when I steal other people's sheep, because I can't let my brothers who ran away from home for me be as hungry as me... Zhang Sanlang, let me ask you, all my brothers are poor today It's time to sneak out from the East to beg for a living. Now that you have official food, you are very reasonable. How can I not steal it for my brother to eat? Besides, it's just a step back. Tell me, if we don’t steal government food, do we still have to steal sheep from poor families?”
Zhang Xing was silent for a long time, so that Qin Bao looked back several times.
Gradually, Du Po Zhen became impatient.
But finally, having had a bold plan in mind, Zhang Xing, who was even more determined after gathering at the Yitang today, made up his mind and slowly asked a key question: "Who is your brother?"
Du Pozhen was startled for a moment, then quickly came to his senses, and bowed his head in response: "Of course it's my two or three hundred brothers... But Zhang Sanlang, even though you are an official, I recognize you as half a brother."
"This is my blessing." Zhang Xing was determined. "But now, you just want to find a way for your brothers to survive, right, and don't care about anything else? Because you are so poor that you don't care about anything else, right? The tens of thousands of people on Mangdang Mountain are not your loyalty. Where is it, isn’t it?”
"Yes...all." Du Pozhen sighed, and then spoke with difficulty. "But Zhang Sanlang, no matter what, I must enforce rules and loyalty to my brothers. They are waiting for me to give them a way to survive, and you don't give them a way to survive."
"Then if I give you a big way to survive and let you bring tens of thousands of brothers, can you still follow the rules and show loyalty to them?" Zhang Xing suddenly asked an inexplicable question.
"What do you mean?" Du Pozhen frowned slightly.
"If I can think of a way to promote you to replace the Zuo family and do the Huanshuikou business, would you be willing to take it?" Zhang Xing's eyes were bright and he said something earth-shattering.
"How..." Du Pozhen wanted to question, but then thought of the other party's identity and background, but fell silent, and simply nodded after a moment. "I think it's okay."
"Things are not that simple." This time, it was Zhang Xing's turn to shake his head. "First of all, you have to cooperate with me and do this... Secondly, you have to wait until the inspection and I take advantage of the opportunity to deal with the Zuo brothers after the year... Finally, you have to control the Whale Gang on Mangdang Mountain. The idle men who have been scattered and fled should be collected and raised as much as possible... When things are done, it will be a good thing that kills three birds with one stone. You will end up with a big life, and I will end up with this unrelated bandit idle man on Mangdang Mountain who can be worthy of the conscience of heaven and earth. .”
Du Pozhen thought for a moment, neither shaking his head nor nodding: "If we can have this future and prevent brothers from stealing sheep, why can't I accompany you to do this... This is a small business to find a way for brothers to survive. Big business It’s just a difference; secondly, since I recognize you as half a brother, and you say this, why can’t I take a gamble with you? Just the last one..."
"How about the last one?" Zhang Xing frowned.
"Is the last one a bit difficult?" Du Pozhen asked seriously. "The Long Whale Gang originally had more than ten thousand trackers, but suddenly there are thousands more idlers... can they support them?"
Zhang Xing finally raised his head and laughed: "Brother Du has never done such a big business, right?"
"You are indeed from a humble background." Du Pozhen said one thing without getting angry at all. "And it's been a lifetime of lowliness."
"Then let me tell you!" Zhang Xing lay down on the blood-stained leopard skin behind him, took out his chopsticks and tapped on the stone slab in front of him. He immediately felt like he was pointing out the country on the keyboard. "Everything in this world is nothing more than two things. One is to make the pie bigger... This thing is quite difficult, and I don't have a clue yet, so I won't talk about it for now; the other is to divide the pie... Logically speaking , everyone has enough leftovers to do other things, but the reality is that the people at the top would rather eat one bite and throw away a hundred, or pile up the pancakes for fun instead of eating them, but force the people below to do so. One bite for ten people.”
"That's true." Du Pozhen said with emotion.
"Those who work on the land don't have enough to eat; those who raise silkworms don't have silk to wear; those who build houses don't have a place to stand; those who make blacksmiths don't have a good pot at home... This has been the case since ancient times." Zhang Xing originally wanted to talk at length, but he just said After a few words, I felt bored and could only shake my head. "Do you know how you exposed your flaw last time? Because those deacons are all well-liked and well-off, how can they still be like you with calloused hands and wounds on all ten fingers?"
"I understand." Du Pozhen suddenly responded. "You want to say that the profits of the Long Whale Gang are enough to support half of the people, but they are all eaten by the helmsmen, deacons, guardians and the gang leaders themselves... So, as long as I become the leader of the Long Whale Gang, I can still I think to everyone in the gang that if I follow the rules and show loyalty to my brothers, I will be able to support them... right?"
"Yes." Zhang Xing nodded softly.
"That's it." Du Pozhen suddenly stood up and held his hands in front of the stone slab. "Brother Zhang, please give us other brothers a ride!"
Zhang Xing felt relieved and sat paralyzed for seven or eight breaths before he got up. Then he suddenly jumped up on the big stone slab and roared loudly in the Immortal Cave, shocking everyone in the cave to look:
"In that case, I would like to ask Mr. Du and all the brothers to follow me, Zhang San, for the time being and make a fortune in the New Year!"
ps: Happy New Year to everyone!
Thanks to the second battalion commander Shangmeng and Mr. Wang for the reward!
Happy New Year to everyone again! Good night.
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