Outside the Wang family compound, Gao Feng arrived as promised, with only one accompanying guard.
On the one hand, the Wang family sent the eldest son out to welcome him warmly, on the other hand, the Wang family compound was heavily guarded. The black muzzle of the machine gun on the Wubao was facing the gate, which felt a bit like a Hongmen Banquet.
Gao Feng chuckled disdainfully and pretended not to notice that he entered the Wang family through the front door openly. Even if the Wang family had ten nerves, they would not dare to do anything to him. These big families are very protective of their bodies.
Gao Feng strode into the Wang Family Courtyard as if entering Wang Village, which made Mr. Wang, who was observing him secretly, frown slightly.
Wang Bodao met Gao Feng in the guest room. After exchanging a few polite words, the guests and hosts sat down to watch tea, and then there were all kinds of red tape.
Gao Feng knew that this was the old guy trying to intimidate him, using these rituals to show his old Wang family's heritage, and he had done some homework on the Wang family.
The surname Wang is derived from the surname Ji, which is a true emperor's surname. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is the first wealthy family in the whole of China;
However, since Yiguan migrated to the south in the late Western Jin Dynasty, the Wang family has only branches in the north. Among the eight families in Hedong, there is no Wang family. The Wang family in Wang Village does not know which branch it branched off from.
Gao Feng had already set his sights on this place after he came to Wang Village. He planned to establish a base in Wang Village and then spread to surrounding villages. He didn't have much time to play around with these wealthy families;
There are only two options waiting for the Wang family and the Zhang family. One is to reduce rent and interest, and the other depends on whether they have colluded with the Japanese, to be determined!
The Wang family is trying to find out the details of the Eighth Route Army, and Gao Feng is trying to find out the pulse of the Wang family, each one feeling his own.
After three rounds of tea, all the polite things that should be done were done, and Wang Bodao started to get back to the topic:
"Battlemaster Gao, a member of Wangcun's farming and studying family, has never participated in the world's disputes for hundreds of years. This is why Wangcun can still continue to this day after experiencing troubled times;
Now that the bandits have entered and the mountains and rivers are broken, people with lofty ideals such as Battalion Commander Gao have stood up to resist the invaders. Our Wang family also has feelings for family and country. We are willing to support your army with five thousand silver dollars as military resources. I just hope that Wang Village can be far away from the war and complete the mission. I am adhering to the spirit of boxing taught by my ancestors..."
Gao Feng finally understood Wang Bodao's misty words. He only meant one thing. His old Wang family also supported the fight against the Japanese, but they did not want to fight the Japanese in Wangcun, so they were willing to pay a price of 5,000 yuan for this.
The Wang family still looked down upon the Eighth Route Army. With 5,000 silver dollars, it was not as good as Old Li Tou from Liu Town.
Gao Feng did not talk nonsense to Wang Bo and said directly:
"Zhongcai once said after the Lushan Conference:
If a war breaks out, no matter who is in the country, whether it is north or south, old or young, everyone has the responsibility to defend the land and resist the war, and everyone should be determined to sacrifice everything.
Since the Wang family has been a long-established family for thousands of years, they naturally understand the truth. All the people in the world are the king's land, and those who are on the shore of the land are the king's ministers.
Wangcun is not a place outside the law. Everyone in Wangcun is responsible for defending the land and resisting the war. Those who have money will contribute money and those who have strength will contribute;
Our Eighth Route Army established a base in Wangcun to carry out anti-Japanese and national salvation. This is a righteous cause and no one can stop it. This is not within the scope of discussion!
I came here today to discuss the reduction of rent and interest with Mr. Wang. You, the Wang family, can follow the instructions of your ancestors and not send anyone to participate in the war, but you must contribute money and effort. Reducing rent and interest is your contribution to the war of resistance;
Of course, it doesn't matter if you don't want to contribute, then your Wang family will have to send people, and the direct descendants of the Wang family will send people to participate in the training of the militia company. "
Wang Bodao was dumbfounded on the spot. He did not expect that the Eighth Route Army spoke and acted so tyrannically, and that there was no room for negotiation on the fight against the Japanese in Wangcun;
And it also slapped a big label on it. If the Wang family continued to persist, it would be the great cause of the war against racial discrimination. This was something the Wang family still didn't dare to do.
"Battle Commander Gao, I would like to know what this policy of reducing rent and interest rates is like?"
Wang Bodao is also a person who has seen the world. He decided to first understand the rent and interest reduction policy before making a decision. If it is not too excessive, he can consider it. It is just spending money to avoid disasters.
It is a no-brainer to send direct descendants to participate in militia training. There are only a few direct descendants of the old Wang family, and they are very valuable. How can they get involved with a bunch of mud-legged people?
Besides, as long as the Wang family didn't send any of their children to join the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese would be able to explain it later if they were held accountable. At worst, they would have to pay more. The most important thing the Wang family didn't lack was money.
“The policy of reducing rents and interest rates is a policy formulated by the Eighth Route Army during the special period of the Anti-Japanese War to benefit the country and the people. It adheres to the principle that if you have money, give money, and if you have strength, you can’t let the villagers go to fight the Japanese without enough to eat!
Land rent cannot exceed 50%, and private loan interest cannot exceed 20%. The excess amount will not be recognized by the Eighth Route Army local government;
In addition, 10% of public grain must be paid to the Eighth Route Army local government every year..."
Gao Feng briefly introduced the policies of the Eighth Route Army to Wang Bodao. Before he, the head of the family, could speak, Wang Zimo, the eldest son of the Wang family who was standing by, couldn't help but jumped out to speak. In his opinion, this simply gave the Wang family no way to survive;
In the past, when the government was here, they didn't dare to be so shameless towards the Wang family. The devils only allowed 50% of the payment, and they passed it all on to those mud-legged people.
"Battle Commander Gao, what if we, the Wang family, don't agree?"
He was still a young man and spoke irritably, but Wang Bodao, who had always been calm, did not stop him. This may also be the old fox's throwing stones.
"This is an anti-Japanese policy, and everyone must abide by it. It is everyone's responsibility to resist Japan and save the nation. Failure to implement it will be punished as a crime of undermining the war of resistance."
Gao Feng said coldly.
"Just with your dozens of men and guns?"
Wang Zimo asked disdainfully.
"We have wiped out all the Japanese and puppet troops in Black Spring Town, and not a single one is left. Since you know that I am the battalion commander, there must be more than just these dozens of people and guns;
Mr. Wang, is this the attitude of your Wang family? "
Gao Feng's words had already made Wang Bodao feel a strong murderous aura, which made him shiver for no reason. These were troubled times. The hundreds of famous nursing homes in the Wang family compound could scare Xiaoxiao, but he would not dare to fight against the Eighth Route Army. !
He has basically found out the Eighth Route Army's background. It is nothing more than giving up some benefits and leaving 40% of the profits to the Wang family. It does not tie up the Wang family to fight the Japanese together. It is not unacceptable, but...
"Captain Gao, please calm down. The dog is young and energetic. He verbally contradicted the commander. Don't blame him!
I have something unclear and I would like to ask your Excellency. The Wang family relies on the land for a living. The current national crisis is facing us. The rent reduction and interest rate reduction advocated by your army are not unacceptable. Let me think about it for a few days and I will definitely give Battalion Commander Gao an answer.
I just want to know if a family like the Zhang family, which mainly operates the salt industry, has a corresponding policy for the army? "
Gao Feng thought for a while and said:
“Private salt is prohibited, public salt must pay a 20% salt tax to the local government, and the price of salt must be controlled within a reasonable range;
In the base areas of the Eighth Route Army, we have the ability and confidence to make salt affordable for the people! "
A meaningful smile appeared on Wang Bodao's face. He suddenly had unlimited expectations that the Eighth Route Army had banned the Zhang family's private salt. The foundation of the Zhang family was private salt.
