Chenjiayu, security team headquarters.
Meeting hall.
Zhang Tianhe was sitting on the front seat, holding a meeting for everyone.
"Tang Dalong, tell me, how has the recruitment been in recent days?" Zhang Tianhe said.
"Yes, captain, because you are strict in your requirements and would rather lack than overdo it, we have picked and picked, and picked again. At present, we have recruited a total of fifty cavalry and one hundred infantry." Tang Dalong said.
"Well, very good. With these 150 or so people, plus our original 50 or so people, our team has expanded to about 200 people. We still need to continue to recruit. My requirement is to fill up. One hundred cavalry and two hundred infantry, a total of three hundred people." Zhang Tianhe said.
"I know, captain." Tang Dalong said.
"In addition, you and Chen Jia need to strengthen training for all team members, especially the newly recruited team members. After excluding the patrol personnel every day, the remaining people must participate in training without slacking off at all. The gun never leaves the person, and the person never leaves the gun. Stay on high alert," Zhang Tianhe said.
"Yes." Tang Dalong and Chen Jia replied.
"Wang Fugui." Zhang Tianhe shouted.
"Here!" Wang Fugui stood up and replied. Wang Fugui is Mr. Wang, Zhang Tianhe's brother-in-law.
"How much money is there in the account now?" Zhang Tianhe asked.
"If I go back to the captain, I still have a total of three thousand and eighteen taels of silver." Wang Laohao replied.
"Why are there so few? Isn't there more than 20,000 taels?" Zhang Tianhe asked.
"Reporting to the captain, I originally had 28,000 taels of silver," Wang Laohao said, taking out an account book, "I have records of all income and expenditures here. Only Li Sizhe is responsible for building the Chenjiayu base area and repairing the gate. 20,000 taels of silver have been spent to build fortifications, build barracks, training grounds, school military fields, etc. The project is not over yet, and money will continue to be spent. These days, the people in the team eat every day Hey Ma, my brothers have spent another five thousand taels on their salary."
"Yes, I understand." When Zhang Tianhe heard this, he felt a little anxious. As the saying goes, you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are before you become a householder. Seeing that there is no money left in the account, how can you afford so many people and such a huge expense?
"Wu Dalang." Zhang Tianhe shouted again.
"Here," Wu Dalang stood up from his seat with difficulty and saluted Zhang Tianhe, "Captain, please give me instructions."
"It seems that there is no money left in this account. You and Mr. Qin were the ones who contracted to collect the money. How do you think this matter should be handled?" Zhang Tianhe asked.
"Captain, it's not that I shirk responsibility, but this matter is really not easy to handle," Wu Dalang said. "Since the last time the Beard from Qingfeng Village came to sweep up, two more people were killed. Therefore, at that time, everyone was very angry. , Mr. Qin and I went down and collected seven or eight thousand taels of silver without much effort. However, now, firstly, the people really don’t have much money in their hands, and secondly, the farmers have short-sightedness. It seemed at the time that if If we don’t set up a security team, we can’t survive, so everyone is chipping in to help ensure safety.”
"What about now?" Zhang Tianhe asked.
"Now, since we established the security team, we have strengthened our vigilance and preparedness. So far, everything has been safe. Therefore, some people think that the world is already peaceful and there is no need to pay us. There are even some people I feel that the money I handed over last time was a bit too much, and I want to give it back a little," Wu Dalang said, "Er Master Qin and I have always been doing these comforting tasks, but you were too busy and didn't have time to report to you. Therefore, it is not easy to ask them for money at this time."
"Oh? The scar is so healed that it doesn't hurt anymore. Give us some money when we need it. If you don't need it, you won't want to give it to us, right?" When Zhang Tianhe heard this, he was really a little angry, "They don't want to give it to us either. Think about it, what can you do with that little money? It cost more than 20,000 taels just to build the base area. How could this be used if it weren't for everyone's help? What can the calmness in front of you mean? Beard and Meng Bandit said it Just come, who can guarantee that they will never come? Mr. Li from the rice shop with a good harvest, Boss Zhao from the Xilinmen Silk and Satin Shop, Boss Sun who sells Northeast fur goods, and Rich Man Zhu, etc. What did these big families do in the first place? Said?"
"Captain, back then, and now, they didn't want to pay for it," Wu Dalang said, "I shouldn't say anything, if Huzi or the Mongolian bandits really come again, it will be easier to collect more money. "
"Report!" At this moment, that person came in from outside with sweating profusely.
"Who is that? Have you collected any information recently?" Zhang Tianhe said, stood up, poured a bowl of water, and brought it to him.
"Reporting to the captain, last night Qingfeng Village was suddenly attacked by the Mongolian cavalry. More than 500 people were killed. Many of the new weapons they obtained from Tsarist Russia were also robbed. Dibei, the captain of the spear team, was also shot Kill him." The man was really thirsty. He picked up the bowl, drank the water in one breath, and wiped his mouth with his hand. "In addition, because Anwu, the captain of their pistol team, has an old relationship with the Mongolian bandit Bao Laogao. , Feng Delin suspected that An Wu might be a traitor to the Mongolian bandits, and sent guard captain Zhao Wenyuan to kill him. An Wu was wounded, but deputy captain Cai Yongzhen saved him and escaped. "
When everyone heard this, they were all shocked.
"Oh? Is your news reliable?" Zhang Tianhe asked.
"Captain, it's absolutely true." That person replied.
"Captain, don't worry. Now, it's up to me and Wu Dalang to collect the money." Mr. Qin stood up and said, "With this attack by the Mongolian bandits, even if they attack It's Qingfeng Village, not us. When the people within a hundred miles radius learn this news, they will definitely be very scared and worried, especially the landlords and old money! Captain, please tell me how much money you want. We’ll go down and collect as much as we can for you.”
"Nonsense! Isn't there a rule in advance for this? You can charge as much as you should. How can you collect people's money randomly? Again, the principle of voluntariness, if you have money, give more, and if you don't have money, give less. Point it out, if you really don’t have it, pull it down, and don’t rob people of their property. We are the security team, we are here to protect the local people, not beards, so the people must rest assured that we will ensure their personal and property safety,” Zhang Tianhe said. .
"I understand, captain, please rest assured that we will definitely accomplish this." Mr. Qin said.
"What do you think of the Mongolian bandits' attack on Qingfeng Village?" Zhang Tianhe said.
"Captain, your idea is better. Your trick of blaming someone else really worked. That bastard from Dibei has done all kinds of bad things and should die long ago," Tang Dalong said, "It's just that An Wuneng is indeed a good general." , and he is also loyal to Lao Feng and has made great contributions. How can this Lao Feng send people to kill him? Mr. Liu has long said that this Lao Feng does not know people well and always likes to treat villains as gentlemen and loyal ministers. When I see him today, he is indeed a bad guy."
"I predict that Anwu Neng and Cai Yongzhen will definitely come to join us," Liu Bodu said with a smile, "Congratulations to the captain, we have gained two more tiger generals."
"That's good. An Wu Neng and Cai Yongzhen are also good brothers of me and my ninth brother." Tang Dalong said.
"In my opinion, the Mongolian bandits may have been deceived in their raid on Qingfeng Village this time, or they may not have been deceived and did so intentionally," Li Sizhe said.
"Ninth brother, what do you mean by this?" Tang Dalong asked.
"The Mongolian bandits have always been cunning. They are not as simple and brainless as you think. They are old enemies with Qingfeng Village. What they want most is property and arms. As long as they can get these supplies, they will do whatever it takes." Li Sizhe said, "Among the Mongolian bandits, none of them are easy to deal with, including the bandit leader Baiyin Dalai, his younger brother Baiyin Baolege, Ya Shi, and Bao Laogao. Therefore, I guess they may already know The last robbery of arms and war horses was not done by Qingfeng Village. They besieged Qingfeng Village just for the new equipment and property from Tsarist Russia. Their intelligence work was also very good. As the saying goes, there is no airtight wall. It won’t take long for them to figure out that we did it.”
"In this way, the Mongolian bandits are so numerous that they come and leave at will. If they attack us, how can we resist them with just a few men?" Tang Dalong couldn't help but feel a little worried when he heard this.
"The best way is to go undercover," Liu Bodu said. "Do you know? Back then, during the Chu-Han War, Xiang Yu sent an undercover agent to stay with Liu Bang in order to keep track of Liu Bang's movements. This man's name was Cao Wushang. In this way, Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng were in control of Liu Bang's every move. Therefore, before the Hongmen Banquet, Liu Bang had been passive. However, at the Hongmen Banquet, Xiang Yu was still too young and was tricked out of the undercover by the wily Liu Bang. Name, Liu Bang returned to Ba and killed Cao Wushang. From then on, Liu Bang gradually got rid of Xiang Yu's control, gradually became bigger and stronger, and finally succeeded in the battle at Gaixia, forcing Xiang Yu to die in Wujiang, so it is said , one undercover agent is often better than a hundred thousand soldiers."
When everyone heard this, they nodded in agreement.
Liu Bodu continued: "If we have a reliable confidant among the Mongolian bandits, then we can use flying pigeons to send messages and know the movements of the Mongolian bandits at the first time. If they come to attack us, we can do it in advance It’s easy to take precautions. In other words, when we gradually become stronger, if they slack off and take advantage of them, we will have the latest developments and can catch them off guard.”
"Yes, what Mr. Liu said is true," Zhang Tianshuo nodded in praise, "But who should be sent as an undercover agent? The bandits are very cunning, and the risks of this undercover agent are also extremely high."
While everyone was talking, a guard came in from outside the door and said: "Report to the captain, there are two people outside the door. One calls himself An Wuneng and the other calls himself Cai Yongzhen, asking to see the captain."
"Oh? Say Cao Cao, Cao Cao is here," Zhang Tianhe said with a smile, "Everyone, please follow me to greet him."
After Zhang Tianhe finished speaking, he stood up and led everyone out to greet them.
When An Wuneng and Cai Yongzhen saw Zhang Tianhe and everyone coming out to greet him in person, they both knelt down and said, "I've heard about Captain Zhang's reputation for a long time, and it struck my ears like thunder. Today, I was framed by a villain and had no other way out. So I came here." We agree, and I hope Captain Zhang can take us in."
"For you two to come to my place today, it can be said that 'Wei Zi goes to Yin, and Han Xin returns to Han.' I couldn't ask for it more, and I welcome you so much," Zhang Tianhe said, helping the two of them up with both hands. "Brother Tang and Ninth Brother often mention the two of them in front of me, saying that they are the tiger generals of the world, brave and invincible. Seeing them today brings great comfort to my life."
An Wuneng and Cai Yongzhen did not expect that Zhang Tianhe had no airs at all and was so enthusiastic, which was quite touched.
"How can a defeated general speak bravely? I feel so ashamed." An Wuneng said.
